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Chapter 43: Unlikely Help
?Are we heading to the gym, yet?? Nick asked during the day.
?Nope, you guys aren?t moving forward yet. We have to find out something.? Makoto said.
?Says who? You?re not the boss of us!? Nick retorted.
?Says me. I saved your life kid, so you?re in debt and I?m not leaving until you pay it.?
?What do you say, Gary?? Nick asked me waiting for my agreement.
Of course I want Makoto to stay because I have to ask him something.
?I think Makoto?s right.? I said. ?We should find out about those swarms.?
?What? Gary I thought I trusted you!? Nick muttered.
?Nick, sorry but this is really important and he needs to stay for a while.?
I heard Makoto muttering something about being slaves but then, he said nothing more.
~*~*~*~
?So you guys found the swarms here, right?? Makoto said as he examined the dead grass.
?Looks like it,? Nick muttered.
?You know what?s weird? They were so many of them last night. Now, there?s no trace of them. Not even a single slime!? I exclaimed.
?You?re right, Gary.? Makoto said as he picked up a clump of dead grass. ?It could be a teleport or something.?
?A teleport?? Nick asked. ?What are you talking about??
?A teleport could have easily transported Grimer at night and make them go at day.? Nick replied.
My mind came to the man who attacked me in Saffron City. ?Hey, didn?t that Karen person mentioned someone called Will?? I asked.
Makoto nodded. ?Of course. This must be will?s doing!?
I seem to be right since nothing but a psychic Pok?mon could transport an army of Grimers.
?Then it must be Will that made the Grimers strong against psychic attacks?? Makoto murmured.
Makoto studied the area for a while and rested the whole afternoon. I soon realized that this was my chance to ask more about dad.
?Makoto,? I said as I glanced over to Nick and Emily. They were just sitting on the ground, silent. ?I?I want to know more about my dad.?
?What you say?? He said as he looked at me.
?Is my dad?what?s my dad like?? I asked him.
?Green? Well, I don?t really know about him. He?s just some regular guy to me. Yeah, yeah.? He simply replied.
?Makoto, in one of my visions, Sakaki told you about feeling someone?s emotions.?
?Oh that?? Makoto laughed. ?That?s my only power. Sometimes, I could feel how someone feels. But only when someone has a powerful emotion. Then I could sense it.?
?I want to ask you something else.?
?Ask away.?
I summed up my courage as I began my question. ?You gave me back to my mom, right?? He nodded. ?Can you?can you tell me what my mom is feeling right now??
?What?s she feeling right now?? Makoto said, stunned. ?I?m not sure. She might be needing privacy right now.?
?But?please. I just want to know how she feels. I miss her so much and I don?t know when I?ll be back in Pallet Town.? I pleaded.
?No way, kid. Look, if you guys want to challenge the gym leader, go ahead.? Makoto said to all of us.
?Really?? Nick exclaimed then ran up to me. ?This is out chance, Gary!?
I thought for a while. ?Okay??
~*~*~*~
Makoto decided to stay behind while Emily, Nick and me traveled to the gym. We finally reached the gym without ease. However, something stopped us. It was a sign that was posted in the gym door.
?Fuchsia City Gym closed for investigation. Sorry for the inconvenience.?
?Investigation?? Nick muttered. ?What investigation??
?It?s been suspected, young one.? Said a voice from behind us. We turned around to see an old woman leaning on her staff. She was wearing shawls to hide her bright, young eyes. ?Lately, poison Pok?mon were attacking the city. Now, the people were suspecting that the leader sent out poison Pok?mon to attack the people.?
?Are you sure about that, ma?am?? I asked.
?Not sure. But I can tell you where the leader is.? She replied.
?Where is the leader?? Nick asked from behind me.
?Ah, follow me then.? She said as she began to walk towards the other direction. The old woman walked slowly which slightly irritated Nick and drove some of my patience away. Then, she stopped in an open field.
?I see no gym leader,? Nick muttered.
?Fool, you?re in front of her.? The old lady said.
?You mean that the old lady is the leader?? Nick exclaimed, quite shocked.
?Who you callin? old?? The old lady said as she took off her shawls to reveal a much younger woman with dark hair and sharp eyes. ?I Janine shall destroy you!?
?Wait!? I yelled. ?Why did you lead us here? Is the gym really under investigation??
Janine stopped. ?Yes,? She said. ?I have been suspected of attacking my own town?which is utterly incomprehensible. Just because my father was once a member of Team Rocket, I was immediately a suspect.?
?Wait, maybe we can help.? I said to her.
She laughed. ?I?m not taking advice from children.?
?But maybe you can from me,? I heard a voice from behind me. It was Makoto.
?You again? I had enough seeing you around the city!? Janine spat.
?Easy, easy. I just want to help. I think I know where these swarms are coming from.?
?You do? Well, show me!? Janine yelled as she stormed in front of Makoto.
?Too feisty about it, huh? Just hang on to your robes. I know where it all starts.? I could see Makoto?s trademark smirk even though Janine was just in front of him, blocking his face.
~*~*~*~
?Are you sure they appear here?? Janine said in the darkness.
?Yep, and I bet there?s someone else who goes with them.? Makoto replied.
We were in darkness and waiting for the Grimers to appear. Makoto pointed out that the grass in this part is gone and that it won?t grow back. He then added that it must be a place where they have appeared and reappeared for several times.
Now, here we are. Waiting for them to appear.
?Can?t we have a light on?? Nick muttered.
?Shh! I can hear something.?
It was true. I could hear a humming sound?the same sound I?ve heard in Sabrina?s gym.
?What is that sound?? I asked Makoto.
?What sound??
?That sound is a psychic wave emitted by Xatus.? He replied. ?And that means that they?re a bunch of them.?
?I can?t hear any sound.? Janine snapped. ?Are you people trying to con me??
But then, a flash of light changed her mind. The light faded and soon, we could hear hundreds of Grimers surrounding the area.
?That?s it, spread and devour the surroundings!? I heard Will?s voice in the darkness.
?I hate psychic Pok?mon?? I heard Makoto mutter as he took out an Ultra Ball.
Nick, Emily and me took out ours and so did Janine.
?Now, don?t leap out yet unless I say so.? Makoto muttered as he stood up and approached Will in silence.
?Well, well. If it isn?t little Willy?? Makoto taunted.
?You! Hikari!? Will then swore. ?What are you doing here??
?Oh nothing. Why don?t you move your Grimers away? They?re really annoying, you know.?
?Silence! You have said enough, Hikari! Die!? Will sent out two Xatus immediately without warning. I tried to stand up but Makoto must have heard me. ?Stay down!? I heard him yell. ?Fenrir, ice beam!?
He sent out his Kingdra and fired two ice beams simultaneously without any error.
?So you have company with you, eh?? Will gloated. ?Attack them, now!?
As he said the words, I felt two Grimers holding my hands. The pain of their toxic sludge returned.
?Not again,? Nick muttered.
I looked at both my friends and I saw that the Grimers already held them. Janine however, avoided the Grimers quickly.
?Take down!? She commanded. I looked and saw that she released her Ariados and made it attack the Grimers around us.
?Attack! No mercy for them!? I heard Will yell. Then, I saw Grimers hold Janine by her leg.
?This is not going to harm me,? She muttered as she commanded her Ariados to use another take down.
?You?re mine, you?re not harming them!? Makoto yelled. ?Fenrir, ice beam!?
While we were busy being covered with Grimers, Makoto started to battle Will. I was interested in taking off the Grimers that I didn?t notice that battle.
?Abby, psychic!? I said as I finally got out Abby?s Pok?ball. However, the attacks didn?t seem to affect them. ?Fire punch!? Abby?s fist flared up as she punched a Grimer just next to me. The attack was successful.
Janine and me continued to attack the Grimers all at once until Emily and Nick were freed.
?Thanks,? Nick said as he took out a Pok?ball. ?My turn, Crunch!? He said as he sent out his Mightyena. His Pok?mon attacked dozens of Grimers that surrounded us.
I looked over at Emily and noticed that Grimers behind her were ready to attack her as she was about to take out her Pok?ball.
?Emily, watch out!? I yelled as I jumped and pushed out of the way. It was just in time since and I had enough of my strength left to make her land on top of me so that she won?t get hurt.
She looked down at me and blushed. ?Th?thanks,? She stammered.
We both quickly stood up, aware of the danger around us. ?No problem,? I said as I commanded Abby to perform another fire punch.
The Grimers were getting fewer and fewer by the moment. Soon, Abby had already punched the last Grimer. Then, a scream was heard.
?No! This can?t be happening!? Will screamed as he realized that he was defeated.
?Shame on you Willy,? Makoto taunted again. ?Now, where are my manners? I should be doing this!? He said as he quickly moved forward and punched Will at the face. Will immediately fainted as the punch connected. Makoto sighed then looked at us and grinned.
~*~*~*~
?Thank you so much,? Janine said gratefully as she bowed at Makoto. ?Without your help, I could have been in a lot of trouble.?
It was dawn already and I was feeling tired. We battled all night to fend off a whole army of Grimers that mysteriously disappeared after we defeated them.
?My help? Nah, you should be thanking them,? Makoto said as he pointed at us.
Janine approached the three of us. ?Ah, I am in your debt, young ones. If there is one thing that you desire, I would do anything in my power to do them for you.? She said.
?Well, there is one thing?? Nick said tiredly. ?We need a battle for a gym badge and??
Before Nick could continue, Janine took out three pink, heart shaped badges. ?Here you are,?
?But, aren?t we supposed to battle you?? I asked her.
?Saving my reputation was enough for me to give these to the three of you,? She smiled then handed each of us a badge.
Emily looked at her first badge. She didn?t hesitate when she took it and smiled.
?Now, I?ll all be seeing you later!? Janine said as he picked up the unconscious Will and dragged him to the city.
?Wow,? Nick gasped. ?That was easy,?
?Easy? It took me all night to beat that?? Makoto muttered as he replaced a swear word that was easily knows to be Will.
?Oh well,? Nick muttered. ?I need sleep?? He then yawned.
I sat down and leaned against a rock that was just right beside me. I didn?t notice Emily yawn and lay her head on my shoulder as she slept peacefully.
To be continued
