-Chapter Three: A Chance-
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!" A little yellow mouse scurried across the field. He jumped over rocks and dove under bushes. He zipped between small trees. There was nothing this little mouse couldn't get through. A small spark lingered on the mouse’s forehead. The golden spark pulsed up and down as it grew larger.
The mouse shouted out in satisfaction as it released a long ray of electrical current. The golden lightning jumped towards a blue colored serpent that stood across from the yellow mouse.
Yelping in pain, the water-type adder jumped back. He hissed in annoyance.
“Pikachu,” Ash commanded, “Volt Tackle!” The little mouse jumped forward. The three brown stripes that ran across his back glowed bright yellow.
“Hydrus -” cried the boy that stood opposite the battlefield of Ash. “Revenge!” The cobalt cobra slithered into a coil. His sharp, jagged fangs which stuck out of his mouth glowed black.
“Pikachu,” Ash said confidently, “run past the snake and then attack.” Using his speed and agility, the yellow mouse bounded past the adder. Next, it jumped. The mouse threw his legs forward. Landing, he jumped upon the adder. The adder hissed in confusion while the mouse slammed into his back. The azure adder fell to the ground, hissing in pain and confusion.
“Hydrus,” the boy said, “return.”
Ash watched his Pikachu as it jumped up and pretended to spike a football and went into a hip-swinging hula.
“Great battle, Travis,” Ash said, with a hint of relief.
“Yeah.”
“I thought you had me there for a second with that Arcanine and Kingler of yours. Hey, how about I give you my PokeNav’s number and you give me yours. We’ll battle again sometime, eh?”
“Yeah,” Travis replied, “but next time, I’ll win.”
~
Later that day, Ash, Brock, and May sat swapping pokemon with their Gameboy Advances in the local pokemon center.
“Uh,” Ash said in boredom. “I hope Nurse Joy will bring out our wine soon.” He looked back down at his gameboy. A little later, while a Nurse Joy set a bottle of whine and three glasses, “Yes, I beat Lance!”
“Isn’t it ironic,” commented Brock matter-of-factly, “that we’re playing gameboy games about pokemon training even though we are trainers?”
“Well,” Ash replied, “if you think about it, the games are a nice distinction from reality.”
“Yeah,” May added, “In Hoenn Magma and Aqua are two fraternities at Petalburg College!”
“And Giovanni is a game show host!” Ash said. May giggled.
“Not to mention Orre is a planet in Star Wars,” Brock added. Ash snickered.
“And Steven Stone is the name of that little plush rag-doll they give out at Devon Corp!” Brock laughed.
“And after they had games based off of Kanto, Johto, and Hoenn, which were like a tenth the size of real life, they decided to name the regions after 2010 boat companies – Aumar, Antia, Detrol, Orantal, and Fiore!”
Ash fell down laughing with a thud. He sat back up. Minutes later he said, “Ow.”
May, Brock, and Ash laughed even harder.
“Okay,” Ash said. He tried to not laugh. “I think. I should. Go challenge the gym.”
“Which one?” Brock asked.
“Um the one – I don’t know. With the best cheerleaders?”
May slapped him on the cheek. “Ow.”
“I don’t think we should have ordered that second bottle of wine, Ash,” May commented.
“No, you probably shouldn’t have,” Ash said firmly. “Which is the badge I need for the league?”
“Oh,” Brock replied. “Which league?”
“The League,” Ash replied, agitated.
“So you want to challenge all six-hundred some gyms in the region of Hakkou?”
“No, Brock,” Ash said angrily, “The Champion’s League.”
“So,” May added, “Regional, State, or National?”
“I don’t know, National,” Ash said.
“Okay,” Brock said, “to Rio Grande Ridge Gym!”
“Let’s go,” Ash said. He slung his backpack over his shoulder and strolled out the door. May was right behind him.
Brock was still sitting at the table they had been eating at. “Hey, guys, wait for me!”
~
Ash, May, and Brock were greeted by placid pools of water, which stood calm in the gardens that sat in front of the house. They walked past lush greens hedges, bushes, and vines that intermingled with the indigo, cobalt, crimson, and golden flowers. They walked around a large tree that sat in the middle of it all. Its leaves were a fiery pink in the mid-morning sun. The garden seemed to swing out as the three of them walked closer to the house, revealing a carefully laid brick foundation. On top of the sturdy foundation was a wall of brick. Sitting on top of the brick wall was a brass tiled roof. Ash could see the house as far back as the eye could go. Behind the front roof was another, another stood behind that, even higher. Far beyond these roofs a high tower poked out of the rest of the house.
“Wow,” Ash commented in amazement. “What a place!”
“Yeah,” May added, “that must be a huge gym!”
Ash raised the gold, Pidgeot-shaped knocker and brought it down upon the wood three times. They watched the door, and waited. They waited and waited. The tall, grandeur door didn’t move an inch.
“Okay,” Brock said impatiently, “open the door for us, already!”
The door swung open with a creak. A man stood in front of Ash, May, Brock. He wore black pants and a black suite and that was buttoned up to his neck. A long tie ran down to his waist. Upon it were avatars of two pokemon. The top avatar was in blue and was a depiction of a Machop-like pokemon. The bottom avatar was outlined in red and colored in gold. It was a depiction of a Pidgeot at the side view. The bird’s head was dwarfed by a long, flowing, ribbon-like head feather.
“Thank you,” Brock added.
“Ah, gym challengers, I presume? Who do you wish to challenge?” asked the man.
“Only one challenger, sir, um – your name?” Ash asked.
“Oh, of course,” the man said with amusement. “I am Charles Ross, the butler for Master and Mistress O’Brien. I am also the official referee for both the Rio Grande Ridge Gym and the Rio Grande Heights Gym.”
“Okay. Well then, Charles, I am the sole challenger. What do you mean by which I would wish to challenge?” Ash asked in confusion.
“Well,” Charles replied, “both Master and Mistress O’Brien are gym leaders. Master Kyle O’Brien is the leader of Rio Grande Heights Gym. Meanwhile, Mistress Cindy Staten O’Brien is the leader of the official gym, Rio Grande Ridge. Both of these gyms are housed in their fine estate, Rio Grande Manor. Would you like to have a tour before you challenge.”
“Ah,” Ash said impatiently, “no. I just want to challenge the gym.”
“Which one do you wish to challenge?” Charles asked again.
“Oh, both of them!” Ash said in frustration.
“A wise choice, Master – your name, sir?”
“Master Ash Andrew Ketchum,” Ash replied.
“Oh, how pleasant,” Charles said. His mind went back to another man with the family name of Ketchum.
~~~~~
A young man strolled through the meadows of Rio Grande Valley; he walked through forests and past glades, over rivers and around lakes. Finally, he walked into a large manor and opened his bag. He strapped five pokeballs to his belt and trotted into a large court that sat outside.
“Ah, welcome to this fine estate.” Charles greeted the man. “I see you plan to challenge Master Kyle?”
“Eh,” the man replied. He quietly unclipped his first pokeball.
“You wish to begin now, Master Andy Ketchum?” Charles asked.
“Eh,” Andy replied.
“Okay, I’ll page Master Kyle for you.”
Andy silently held his pokeball. The orb had a red top-half and white bottom half. On it was scrawled the name “Ruby.” The name was almost impossible to read. In it held a dragon so fierce, so red that all of the peoples of Hoenn, Kanto, Johto, and even the Orange Islands, feared it.
Kyle arrived. Upon his belt were also five pokemon.
“This will be a five on five match for one of the eight badges of the Champion’s League! The challenger is Andy Allen Ketchum of Palette Town, Kanto District, Japan. The gym leader is Kyle Orrick O’Brien of Rio Grande Valley, Grande Re, Hakkou. Will the challenger please release their first pokemon!”
~~~~~
Charles nodded in satisfaction. “Ash Ketchum?
“Eh,” Ash replied. Charles smiled in interest, how like Andy he was.
“Right this way.” He raised his hand, pointing down a hall. “Oh,” he whispered, “this will be a great match indeed.”
~
Charles stood on a platform that sat on top of a long balcony. The balcony ran from one end of the gymnasium to the other. May and Brock sat on a long bench that was in front of the platform. To the left and right were also benches. They were in three rows. They were rarely used, unless a notable challenger or gym leader that was challenging Cindy’s right to the official badge were to come to the gym. Then they were filled with spectators and the media.
The balcony overlooked a large wooden floor. Across from the balcony was a large scoreboard. On it was a feather and fist that were highlighted in red light. On the left side of the scoreboard was the name Ash. On the right side were the names Cindy and Kyle. Below the names on each side were three rows, each with two columns. On the floor a rectangle was painted in white. It was divided in half by a white line. On either short side of the rectangle were platforms. They stood high above the ground – almost level with the balcony. On one of these Ash Ketchum stood. He reached below his black and green vest and made sure his nine pokeballs were in order. As he gently swayed in his faded, patched, and scratched blue jeans, grayish brown mud, which caked his dull black shoes, fell to the floor of the platform.
On the opposite platform, Kyle and Cindy stood next to each other. As Kyle leaned against the railing on the back of the platform, his black leather jacket and pants folded over and tightened. On the jacket, at about his chest, a large light-red feather was etched. Cindy stood next to him in a short black skirt and a black shirt, on which a grey fist was sketched.
“This will be a six a side double battle. The challenger is Ash Andrew Ketchum of Palette, Kanto District, Japan. This challenge is for both the leader of the Rio Grande Heights Gym, Master Kyle Orrick O’Brien, and Cindy April O’Brien, maiden name Staten, of Rio Grande Ridge Gym. Will the gym leaders please release their first pokemon!”
“Pidgeotto,” Kyle announced. He raised a red and white orb that, in a flash of red light, revealed a majestic bird. The bird swung his crimson, pale gold, and dull orange wings up and down. A sinuous bright-red feather flow like a ribbon as the bird soared through the gym air. Its tail feathers were long and bright red. As the bird flew above him, Ash could see the bird’s white under-feathers and razor-shape vibrant-gold talons.
“Fisticle!” Cindy said. She raised a dark grey orb in her hand. The orb emitted a flash of red light, which transformed into a creature resembling a Machoke. It bore a toga of light-blue ice. Its eyes were deep and they swirled white and blue. The creature's fingers were covered in ice. The creature flashed its retractable claws of ice. Running down the creature’s spine were spikes of ice, which numbered five. Upon its feet were sandals of ice, and as the great ice-beast moved, the ice upon its feet quivered.
“The gym leaders have chosen Pidgetto and Fisticle,” Charles declared. “Will the challenger please release his first two pokemon!”
Ash quickly grabbed two balls of red and white. “Go, Swellow and Pikachu!” he exclaimed. A flash of red light revealed a large bird and a small mouse. The bird’s dark blue wings flapped up and down. He circled the gym in the air, eyeing the other bird with harshness. His dark blue wings flapped up and down. Meanwhile, a small golden mouse stood firmly upon the hard, wooden floor. Upon his back were three brown stripes. On both sides of his cheek were to red dots. His triangle-shape ears twitched and he glared up in fear at the large bird. He looked across the floor at the large ice-beast. He raised his jagged silver claws and emitted a shout of fervor for battle.
“May the battle begin!” declared Charles.
“Thunderbolt, Pikachu,” Ash commanded. “Swellow, Aerial Ace!”
The golden mouse scurried forward, a golden spark pulsing on his forehead. The blue bird flew forward beside him, his wings aglow a bright blue.
“Fisticle, Ice Beam,” Cindy commanded. The human-like creature of ice opened his mouth wide. A long beam of ice that twinkled in the lights of the gym flew towards the dark blue bird. Instinctively, the blue bird lunged to one side quickly while the beam of ice flew past.
“Pidgeotto,” Kyle commanded, “Wing Attack upon Swellow!” The crimson, gold, and orange bird sped towards the blue raptor. His wings glowed bright orange as he dived.
“Swellow,” Ash declared, “Aerial Ace!” The blue bird glowed a bright blue and quickly flew away from the enemy bird. The crimson, gold, and orange bird quickly slammed into his blue opponent. The blue bird was knocked to the ground.
“Pikachu,” Ash ordered, “Thunderbolt to protect Swellow!”
~~~
Connor looked at it all. He had seen battles before, but this was truly amazing. As he pressed his nose against the small glass square above the battle, he saw Ash’s Pikachu knock Kyle’s Pidgeotto to the ground.
“This is my chance,” he whispered. He quickly went to his room to prepare.
~~~
Kyle declared from across the battle court, “Perengin!” He raised a red and white orb into the sky and from it came a falcon colored bright gold. He raised his beak and raised a fierce cry into the air. It sounded as if all the pride in the world had been combined in an awesome roar. The golden falcon soared through the air, eyeing the blue and red bird suspiciously.
“Swellow, Wing Attack! Pikachu, Thunderbolt!” Ash ordered. His blue and red raptor rushed towards the golden falcon.
“Perengin, Solarbeam!” Kyle ordered.
“Fisticle, Ice Beam!” Cindy shouted. The four pokemon rushed at each other, vengeance on their faces. Kyle glared at Ash in amusement. He looked back in confusion.
Both Kyle and Cindy were unaware that above them their son was planning the greatest escape the family would ever seen.
The O’Brien’s personal cook frantically reached through the poorly arranged kitchen cupboards. Another challenger made for another frantically finished feast. Add the requests of the bratty O’Brien son, Connor, and Cook Jessica Xavier had the job of a twenty men crew. Still, the work was worth the wage. She made the equivalent of the money should make in one week at the average restaurant in just half a day.
Jessica was startled by a low pitched beep. It was Connor again. “Yes, Young Master O’Brien, what would you like now?” she said politely, though only because she knew that a cut would come her way if she didn’t.
“Yes, Jessica. I would like a platter of breaded shrimp, with the best dipping sauce you can muster up. And it better be better than last time. Also, I would like a bottle of vault.”
“Yes, Young Master O’Brien,” Jessica replied with a hint of complaint.
“Thank you,” replied Connor over the phone. The phone beeped again.
Jessica sighed in relief. At least this time it was only shrimp and a Vault. She hastily began the added work. What she would do for a job at Zapata Pasta right now.
Meanwhile, in his room, Connor was quickly stuffing his belongings into a small brown satchel. He stuffed a pokedex in, followed by a map of Hakkou and then a badge case. Next came a wallet full of the allowance he had saved up for the years. It was supposed to be for a DS, but now it would be his sole source of cash. Finally, he struggled to stuff a small green tent at the top. Next, he would have to wait until Jessica was bringing his order to his room to sneak into the kitchen for a food raid.
Connor quickly darted through the hallways, going this way and that, so that he wouldn’t be seen by Charles or the occasional maid. Finally, he stopped, with a clear vantage point of the kitchen door. It swung open, and Jessica Xavier strode down the hall the opposite way of Connor, balancing a tray on which a plate of shrimp lay.
Connor quickly walked in, grabbing a twelve pack of water bottles, a large package of brats, and buns to go along with them. That was all he could fit. “I hope Kody has more, or we’ll be in trouble,” he whispered, scurrying out of the kitchen, once again making sure he was not seen.
Connor slid his hand into his pocket and opened up a ring of keys he had copied years ago. He subconsciously slid the right key into the right hole and ripped open the door. He searched frantically through the room, ripping open drawers, ripping off paintings, and pushing back furniture. Finally, he saw it. It lay jammed between a blue leather couches two seats. He grabbed it and ran. There was no hope to find five empty pokeballs. He looked across the hall. It was just his luck.
Chapter Three is finally done! Chapter Four: Behind those Starry Eyes, coming soon!
Technically, Chapter Four is already done, though it needs some editing.
Here's a snippet:
“Charolt, come on out,” Connor said nervously, some time later. He raised a red and white sphere into the sky and from it came a young colt. His body was colored white, while his mane at tail glowed a bright red. The colt’s face was alive and was illuminated by to starry, bead-like eyes. The colt softly hummed in gratitude. He had finally been let out! He looked up to a tall boy, much taller than he was. He gazed in sadness at the boy’s angry face. What had he done to deserve such a fate? He frantically looked around to see another that might be his owner, but no one else was around. He lowered his head in acceptance. If his owner hated him, so be it. He would just have to change his view, bit by bit.