To Be Legend
Chapter 2: Goodbye, Dear Friend
In the middle of June, the warm weather is at its finest. There was a cool breeze that constantly hit me in the face, as I leaned over a rail at the front of the cruise ship. The S.S. Anne was our cover, the way that we were shipping a couple hundred of us over to Johto. I had my plan. I'm going to take out the leader from the start, crushing the heart of the rest of their team. Once the strongest goes down, it's only natural for the rest of the beast to go with it.
One thing bothered me though. You don't just start a war for no reason, power or not. What happened? Why did team Galactic take it upon themselves to invade Unova? Their leader, Ghestis of team Plasma, was stopped years ago. Is it as simple as team Galactic is trying to fulfill its dream again and desires the power of another region to do so? Or is there more detail to it than that? Why did Team Magma and Team Aqua decide to attack us? What is there to gain? There are too many questions. I guess the only thing I should be worried about is the immediate threat. Only one crime syndicate is going to terrorize Kanto and Johto, and that's us.
I could feel the breeze swaying my spiky black hair back and forth, my blue eyes fixed on the water, but my mind lost into images of things to come. The shirt I wore was white with the picture of a pokeball on it. I wore my long black shorts, with a single red stripe down each side, to just below my knees. No Rocket clothes for us, we have to be a little less conspicuous.
"You seem to be deep in thought." A voice came. The man leaned up on the rail next to me.
"Yea well, what can I say," I smirked and shut my eyes, "it's not every day you are sent to war, especially in an odd situation such as this."
"Haha, are you scared?" The man smirked back. "If you are, just let me and Growlithe take care of everything. You know I'm a better battler anyways. I should've gotten the promotion."
"Dante, the last time we battled, I kicked your butt." I chuckled.
"Yea, but that's only because I couldn't use Growlithe. They made use that stupid Weezing. Why do we all have one of those things? I'm never going to use it." Dante spat. "I'm going to catch my own Pokemon over there for battle. They always give us crap Pokemon."
I laughed at him. Dante is my right hand man. He was training under Giovanni with me. We became really good friends, and it turns out that the 19 year old is the son of Elite Four member Lorelei. There are secrets everywhere I suppose. He never told me why he was here with team Rocket though.
He's a little taller than me; I'm 5'6 which would make him around 5'9 or 5'10, with a tan skin tone. His purple hair, more of a fuchsia color that matched his eyes, came down to the middle of his neck, and today he was wearing his signature black button up that displayed two golden dragons, both heads came to the collar of the shirt while their bodies spiraled down the arms.
Anyways, there were 7 of us total in Giovanni's training. At the end of our training, we had battles to see who the best out of us was. It came down to me and Dante, and I pulled out the victory. It's true that he didn't use his Growlithe, it had become exhausted from the fights and he decided to rest him for our fight. Giovanni allowed it and gave him a Weezing. It's his own cockiness that caused his downfall. I barely used my Charmander; instead I used the other Pokemon given to me, resting my strongest Pokemon. Strategy is just as important in battle as strength is.
"You know," I started to talk; "I didn't bring any of the Pokemon they gave me."
"So you are going there with only your Charmander? Our 'general' is leading us into battle with a single Pokemon?" Dante's jaw dropped.
"No, and don't tell anyone I did this," I replied chuckling, "I left Machoke and Golbat back at the headquarters, then traded that Weezing for a Krabby back in Vermillion. Remember when I said I had to go to the Pokemart? I kinda lied."
Dante looked at for a moment, and busted out laughing.
"You are one of a kind. You know, I don't see you as a general." Dante replied patting me on my back.
"You shouldn't. We are best friends and equals." I replied.
"That's right. I'm excited for this! There's going to be so much action! I heard Goldenrod has some babes too!" Dante smirked.
"The women in Johto are beautiful. You're gonna go nuts." I laughed.
The horn of the S.S. Anne blew loudly as we approached the Cherry Grove City. Normally, the ship would take us to Olivine, or we would take the Magnet train, but with the recent addition of Port Cherry Grove, it made boat travel not only shorter, but safer, and we had too many people to take the train.
It only took a matter of seconds. I found myself gasping for air only to find it had been replaced with gulps of water. I swam furiously trying to reach the surface. So close to Cherry Grove and the ship was flipped. I coughed uncontrollably as I hit the air finally.
Charmander! I had forgotten about my Pokemon! I don't keep him in a Pokeball! I sucked in a deep breath as I dove back into the water. I saw him, eyes closed, drowning, his tail fire gone. Grabbing his arm, I made my way back up to the surface. Every Rocket member on the ship was trying to make their way to shore. We were so close.
"Krabby, get us to land!" I blurted out, clicking Krabby's pokeball.
Krabby poked his eyes and pincers out of the water and I grabbed onto his shell. With a happy face and a click of his pincers, he made his way through the water.
I could still barely breathe. The amount of water I sucked up in the surprise flip was taking its toll. The adrenaline kept me awake, but as the adrenaline began to fade, so did my sight.
I looked up to find a blur; a huge, serpent like Pokemon with a man on top of it. I fought to keep my composure but, within seconds, I blacked out.
When I awoke, I found myself lying on a hard bed, hooked up to a heart monitor machine. I sat up and grabbed my head. It didn't take long for me to take off the wires attached to my skin.
I made my way out of the room and found myself in the main room of the Pokemon Center. I saw Dante, head down towards his knees with his face in his palms.
"How is everyone?" I whispered as I sat down next to him.
"Everyone is in shambles right now. It was a surprise attack from Team Aqua. We met a few trainers on land when we came to shore, Team Magma trainers. Barely took them out. Apparently they were occupying this town already." Dante explained, not removing his hands.
"It was a surprise attack, nothing we could do about it." I sighed, closing my eyes. "How's Charmander?"
"He was in critical condition for a while," Dante started as he poked his head up, a tear came down his left eye, "just got an update 10 minutes ago. Blade, Charmander is gone."
My whole world began to spin. The only thing I had left in this world, taken. Just like everything else in my life. Those words echoed in my head, over and over; it made me nauseous. I got up and walked out of the Pokemon Center, back towards the sea.
A friendly breeze blew gently in my face. It was soothing and somehow sympathetic. I walked until I got to the shore. All I could think about was Charmander. We went through so much together. From beaches like these as a kid, to him saving me in the Tin Tower, to training with team Rocket, and everything in between. He was always there with me.
"I'll miss you… Buddy." I whispered as I looked towards the sea. I realized that tears were running down my face. I didn't care to wipe them.
The temperature was warm and the sun was just starting to set, giving off a brilliant red glow for all to enjoy. At least the night was calm. This was going to be my last peaceful night. After this night of mourning, there will be no leaf unturned. The vision of my Charmander was burned into my brain. Every Team Aqua or Magma member found was going to feel the hurt that I feel. I had already felt like a lost soul searching for a purpose, now I feel like a dead shell with no purpose. My best friend was gone.
"So long, Charmander. I may capture new Pokemon, but no one will take the place of the only one that mattered to me. I love you, buddy." I spoke softly.
"Where do you want the funeral?" A hand came on my shoulder.
"No, Dante. I won't be there. I don't want to see him dead. I'm only going to remember him when he was alive." I replied. "I'm not going to wait around here. I know people are happy we liberated their city, but if officials catch on to who we really are and what's really going on, we are gonna have problems."
"Haha, Blade, always thinking ahead, even in a time like this. You can mourn, you know. I don't know what you're feeling, but I couldn't imagine losing Growlithe." Dante spoke.
"Truthfully, the more I think about this, the worse it'll get. I know it won't come off my mind, but if I stay here it'll only get worse. I'm leaving for Violet City tonight. I'm hoping to make it by morning." I turned to him.
"Well, alright, guess I'm coming too." Dante replied.
"You don't have to." I replied to him.
Dante laughed and then sighed.
"This isn't about Team Rocket anymore. This is personal now. Whether or not you still care about team Rocket raining supreme, I'm interested in getting them back. Charmander was a friend of ours. They messed up man." Dante smirked.
I smiled and looked down. Maybe I do still have friends.
"You're a good friend, Dante. We will leave the rest of the Rockets here. This is in our control now, can't have people taking it over." I replied. "You go tell the men to occupy this place, and I don't want any trouble from them right now. Meet me at the end of the city, the entrance to route 30."
"Alright, I'll let the suckers know. Meet you there in five." Dante spoke.
I turned and started to walk away.
"Oh and Blade," Dante called back to me, "Charmander will always be here. So keep your head up, or you might make him light you on fire."
I laughed and put my hand up in agreement as I continued to walk away.
