Chapter One: The Underground
The night sky was clear with star diamonds twinkling. A cool breeze whipped through Kris's light brown hair pushed back by the goggles on his head. A rush of adrenaline shot through his body as he gritted his teeth and tensed his muscles.
The battlefield was a small alleyway, completely unlit except by the moon and the flames emanating from Kris's Fire-type Pokemon Quilava standing next to him. Across from him was a young boy wearing a baseball cap and a light vest with an Electric-type Pikachu next to him.
"Let's do this, Quilava," Kris said. He pointed a finger toward the opposing Pikachu. "Attack! Flame Wheel!"
Quilava roared with excitement as he leapt forward and curled into a tight ball wrapped in flames, darting straight for Pikachu.
"Pikachu, Agility!" the opposing trainer called out.
Pikachu rushed from side to side, mere wisps of his image left behind as he shot through the alley. Quilava rolled passed the sped-up Pikachu and released from its ball as Kris shouted out, "Smokescreen!" Quilava opened his mouth and released a large puff of smoke that covered the area.
Pikachu stopped and looked around at the barely visible field. "Keep your ears perked, Pikachu," its trainer called. "Don't use your eyes. You can hear it coming!" Pikachu did as he was commanded and waited patiently with his eyes closed.
Kris laughed loudly. "That won't work. Quilava, do it now! Flamethrower!"
A bright light shone from the top of the smoke cloud. The light erupted into flames and shot downwards towards the waiting Pikachu. The flames struck Pikachu and he cried out in pain. Quilava burst out of the smoke from high in the air and landed gently next to Kris.
"Pikachu!" the opponent trainer called out. The smoke cleared and Pikachu stood, huffing and panting with burns covering his body. "That's my buddy! Now –"
Lights shone from behind Kris. They lit up the alley in red and blue. A loud whistle echoed off of the surrounding walls. Dark human figures rushed down the alley with smaller shadows that made sounds like Growlithe.
"Oh crap," Kris said as he snatched up Quilava. He called out to the other trainer. "Run, it's the police!"
The two kids raced through the alley away from the encroaching police, their Pokemon in their arms. This wasn't the first time Kris had been chased by cops. He became excited and couldn't help but smile and laugh as he ran.
"What are you so happy about?" the other kid asked.
Kris smirked at him. "I love the rush."
The alley branched into two different directions. The kids stood there and looked back and forth at each other. "You that way, I'll go this way," Kris said moving to his right. "Good luck on the other side!"
Quilava quivered in Kris's arms. Kris looked down and saw the worried look on his Pokemon's face. Usually Quilava liked these chases, but something with him didn't seem right. Pokemon have a keen sixth sense; maybe he knew something that Kris didn't?
The alley opened up into a large overlook. The bright lights of Celadon City almost blinded Kris. He stood on the edge of the overlook, the wind blowing and ruffling his hair and thin jacket. He loved this sight but knew he didn't have time to enjoy it before the cops caught up to him. Now … he just needed to know where to go.
Kris looked back at the alley. The cops approached with Growlithe growling at him. Quilava leapt from Kris's arms and fire raged from his head and tail. The wind picked up suddenly as a loud chopping sound deafened the air. Kris looked back and saw a helicopter rising over the ledge.
An older Officer Jenny hung from the door of the helicopter with a megaphone. "Hold it right there," she called on the megaphone. "You're under arrest for breaking curfew and for illegal Pokemon battles."
Kris turned fully to the helicopter with his eyes lowered and a dim look on his face. But suddenly he raised his head, grinning ear to ear. "You'll have to catch me first!"
Quilava, already knowing what Kris had planned, jumped on top of his head and roared with readiness. Kris rushed toward the ledge and leapt from it. Officer Jenny watched in horror as he came towards her and then plummeted straight down for the city below.
Fark stumbled through the wreck of a house with a large load of laundry in his hands. Young kids rushed around him in circles as they played. Fark cried out in pain several times from stepping on toys.
"How many times I gotta tell you guys? Pick up your toys, will ya?" Fark looked to the kitchen where he saw a glimpse of a girl not much younger than him cooking. "Jule, how's lunch coming?
"It'll be soon," Jule called back.
"That's good!" Fark took another step – right onto a toy truck. His feet gave out from underneath him and and fell backwards onto the floor, more toys stick into his back, and the dirty laundry covered his face.
Jule came out of the kitchen to see the commotion. She fixed her large glasses with a crack in the right lens and brushed back her long brown hair. "What's the ruck – Oh gosh, are you okay Fark?"
"Fine," Fark said as he sat up. He removed the pair of dirty briefs from his head. "Where the heck is Kris? He should be helping to pick up this place. It's a madhouse!"
"He probably had a late night," Jule said. "I'm sure he'll be home any –" She paused as she heard the front door open. "See, I knew he could smell my cooking from anywhere."
"Tell him he better help clean up before he gets any food," Fark said as he got up and started picking up the dirty clothes while Jule went into the front to greet Kris who had returned home. Fark then paused as he heard Jule scream in terror. He rushed into the front room and saw Jule kneeling next to a bruised and battered Kris, Quilava next to him not looking much better.
Kris, feeling the glare from Fark, looked up with a smile. "How's it going?"
"Dang it, Kris, again?" Fark said with disappointment. "You're going to get yourself killed out there one day, you and Quilava."
Kris coughed a laugh. "It'll take more than falling ten stories to kill me."
"You were chased again?" Jule asked.
Kris stood, his knees trembling in pain. "Yeah, but it's all good. Anyway," he slowly moved to the hall, "I'm going to bed. Let's go, Quilava."
"Wait!" Fark said, catching Kris by the shoulder. He stood at least a head taller than the younger boy. He turned Kris toward him and stared him hard in the eyes. "Kris, you have to stop this. We're always worried about you. We never know if you'll not come home one day. Imagine how Jule would feel. Do you care about anyone other than yourself?"
Kris pushed Fark back. "It's none of your business what I do! You're not my parent! No one is!"
"But I'm the only one who has ever had your back!"
"Well maybe I don't need you! Just leave me alone!"
Kris stormed from the room. Quilava hesitated, giving a solemn Jule and enraged Fark a sorrowful look before following his trainer.
A sudden smell wafted through the air. "Oh no!" Jule said as she rushed to the kitchen. "Lunch is burning!"
There's a knock on the door. Kris lies in bed, ignoring the knock. He hadn't slept very long, but when the knock disturbed him he felt wide awake, despite wanting to go back to sleep. Quilava was curled up against him back still snoring lightly.
There was the knock again, but this time the door opened a crack. Jule poked her head in to gaze at Kris who was turned to the wall. Jule studied him, not knowing if she wanted to disturb him or not if he was sleeping well.
"Might as well come in," Kris said, but not looking back.
Jule stepped into the room and closed the door. "I saved you some food."
"I'll eat in a bit."
Jule looked to the floor. She didn't really know what to say to him anymore. When they were younger talking to Kris was so easy, but not that Cyndaquil evolved into Quilava and Kris started participating in the battle pits they drifted apart. She always worried about the two.
"I know what you want to say," Kris said suddenly. "It's the same every time." He finally sits up, stirring Quilava from his slumber who just moves over and falls back to sleep. Kris looks at Jule with a frown. "You can't change our minds."
"Can I ask why? What's so thrilling about battles that can kill your Pokemon?"
Kris's expression brightened then as he clenched his fists with excitement. "It's such a rush! There's never been a greater feeling! To be a Pokemon trainer … and maybe a Master one day."
Jule shook her head in disbelief. "There are no more Pokemon Master, Kris. It's illegal. Even being caught with Quilava can earn you time in jail."
Kris frowned again. He remembered when they were kids, how much in love with Pokemon they were. Kris dreamed of being a Pokemon Master since he received his Cyndaquil from his dad after coming back from a business trip to Johto; and Jule had always wanted to be a Pokemon strategist. She would always think of amazing strategies for Cyndaquil to use when Kris would battle other kids in school.
"Earth to Kris!" Jule waved a hand in front of the spaced out look Kris had in his eyes. He blinked quickly and he registered that she was there again. "As I was saying it's dangerous. You should quit going to the fights. Protect yourself and Quilava."
Kris stood and stretched uncontrollably, his body forcing himself on his tiptoes and his body tensing. Finally when he gained control of himself again he smiled at Jule. "Well I'm going back tonight. Why don't you come check it out? You might like it?"
Jule crossed her arms. "Doubt it. They're so brutal."
"Come see me in one match and I'll show you what it's like. I'll show you that you can trust Quilava and me."
Jule sighed. "On one condition. If I don't like what I see then you stop fighting."
Kris shrugged. He decided he should agree with her even though he wouldn't stop either way, but he'd been wanting so long to bring her to the fights. Pokemon is how the childhood friends connected, and he wanted to be close with her like that again.
Finally Kris nodded and said, "Okay, it's a deal."
The alleys were dark as usual heading through Celadon to the Underground. Police were light on the path that Kris always took, but there were always a few out trying to catch people like Kris who entered the Underground. Getting by would be easier if the Pokeball systems still worked, but they had been shut down since the illegalization of Pokemon training.
But that didn't stop Kris. Quilava remained at his side as he and Jule snuck through the alleys, dodging the police. The place they looked for looked like a rundown shop. It had a sign above the door that read Persian's Amulet. When Kris knocked a special way on the door, it opened and the kids and Quilava entered.
The store was dusty. A lot of the shelves were bare, but that didn't keep customers from coming—at least what looked like customers. Kris knew they were guards for the Underground, and they all looked toward Kris and Jule as they entered. Jule grasped Kris by the wrist. He could tell her fear of them but gave her a smile that everything was all right.
Kris moved along to the back of the store. The clerk at the counter didn't give any kind of smile or greeting for them, but simply nodded, recognizing Kris's face, and pressed a switch under the counter. The back wall opened up, leading into a dark stairwell. Quilava lit his flames and they entered into the depths of the Underground.
Jule didn't know how long they had descended for but it felt like forever, and then she could hear cheering, and loud booms, and the roaring of Pokemon. It all made her quiver. The battles sounded brutal, but the crowd loved it. What was wrong with them?
They finally reached the exit of the stairwell. Jule was surprised to be overlooking an incredibly large stadium. The stands weren't full but still contained quite a lot of people scattered throughout it. The battle arena itself was surrounded by an enormous cage to help contain the fight and keep from outside interference. Despite the brutality of these fights they definitely believed in fairness.
A battle raged in the arena between the Rock-type Graveler and the Fighting-type Machamp. They were beating each other senseless. Both Pokemon looked ready to collapse any second, but still their trainers forced them to battle.
"Disgusting," Jule muttered.
"Find a seat," Kris told Jule. "Quilava and I are gonna register for the fights. I hope the wait isn't too long."
Jule nodded. She looked around the stadium for an empty seat away from all of these unruly-looking people, which wasn't hard to do. She sat down and looked to the arena. Another battle was raging between a Luxray and a Herdier. Jule continued to look around waiting to see Kris and Quilava return. She wondered where he could be and what kind of fight he would be in. But judging from the match now, how the two were exhausting themselves just as the last two, made her worry even more about her friends.
The fight ended with Luxray as the close victor. Jule watched as Kris was now called to the arena with Quilava at his side, along with his opponent, a black-haired boy in his late teens and a Fraxure following behind him.
Kris smiled as he clenched a fist. He glanced down at Quilava and said, "You ready, buddy? Let's show Jule just how great battling is." Quilava barked in agreement.
The black-haired boy started off. "Go, Fraxure! Dragon Rage!"
"Quilava, Smokescreen!" Kris countered.
Fraxure rushed forward and released a blast of blue energy from its mouth. Quilava let out a puff of smoke from his mouth that covered the arena. Kris put his goggles over his eyes and watched the silhouettes of the Pokemon within the smoke. Quilava easily dodged Fraxure's attack, now it was his turn to make the move.
Kris called out to his Pokemon, "Flame Wheel!"
A light could be seen through the smoke. Kris could make out the form of Quilava engulfing himself in flames and rolling through the arena, darting past Fraxure several times who barely managed to dodge each attack.
"Rock Tomb!" the opposing trainer called out.
Fraxure grabbed the ground and lifted up an enormous chunk of the arena. It chucked it through the air straight at Quilava who became visible through the dissipating smoke. Quilava froze for a moment as it saw the boulder coming at him.
"Use Flamethrower to destroy it!" Kris commanded.
Quilava barked in obedience and let loose a jet of flames that struck the rock and it burst into hundreds of pieces that laid around the Pokemon. Fraxure rushed at him fast with a charged Mega Punch. The attack hit Quilava and threw him backwards to Kris's feet.
"Get up!" Kris called out as he raised his goggles back to his forehead. "You can't fall like this!" Quilava quickly jumped to his feet as Fraxure came at him with another Mega Punch. "Now, Agility!" Quilava began darting around the arena, leaving wisps of his images in his wake. Fraxure stopped in confusion and watched as the images of Quilava circled around it.
"Now give him another Flamethrower!" Kris commanded. "Make a pillar of fire!"
Quilava, still circling Fraxure, released the jet of flame once more. It wrapped around the opponent Pokemon and shot into the air. The crowd awed at the towering flames. Jule even gulped at the strength that Quilava showed.
"Fraxure," the other trainer called, "get out of it! Headbutt!"
Quilava was caught by surprise as Fraxure rushed from the pillar of flames and hit him hard with its head. Quilava was thrown across the arena and into the wall, leaving a large hole where he hit and slid to the ground.
Jule was wide-eyed as she watched her best friend's Pokemon fall. And now Fraxure was moving over to Quilava to start using Dragon Claw like its trainer commanded. Quilava roared in pain as Dragon Claw was used against him repeatedly. Jule looked to Kris who only stood there and watched. What was he thinking? Did he not care? Why won't he give a command?
Almost there, Kris thought. He knew what had to be done to beat Fraxure, especially with it lasting through that last Flamethrower. Quilava's health had to drop just a little more. Just hang in there, buddy!
"What's the matter," the other trainer called to Kris. "You give up? Afraid of ordering another attack?"
Kris smirked. "Pokemon battles are about strategy and timing. And your time is almost up to put my strategy into play."
"What strategy?"
At that moment the flames on Quilava's head and rear erupted and grew. Fraxure backed away in surprise as Quilava stood, covered in scrapes and bruises. He was ready, Kris knew. His latent ability Blaze had finally kicked in.
Kris motioned eagerly. "Let's finish it up! Flame Wheel!"
Quilava darted forward, rolling into a ball of flames. It shot passed Fraxure once, coming from behind and knocking it back into the wall. Its trainer was stunned at Quilava's amazing speed and power. Quilava stopped as Kris ordered for another Flamethrower, which he did obediently and released the flames that pounded against Fraxure and shot in different directions.
"Fraxure!" the trainer called. He looked to Kris. "Stop this! He can't take anymore!"
"Do you surrender?" Kris asked.
The trainer bowed his head, trembling. "I – I do."
She sat at the very back of the stands where the shadows could hide her and no one would notice her presence. She sat with her legs and arms crossed, her foot dangling in the air and shaking up and down.
"He's not bad," she said to the Pikachu sitting next to her. This Pikachu had definitely seen his share of battles, but his scars were hidden by his bright yellow fur; however, the rage of battle was in his beady black eyes. Pikachu nodded in agreement to the woman.
They watched Kris's battle. It had been a great spectacle. The kid definitely had some talent and skill with the way he handled Quilava. She couldn't help but smile. It reminded her a lot of a friend she once had. She hoped to reclaim him as a friend again one day.
She stood. "Come on, Pikachu, let's go."
"Chu," said Pikachu as he followed the woman out of the Underground.