Disclaimer: Pokémon is not owned by me.
A Zeppelin of Rockets
I didn't know where my friends and I were headed but we seemed to be following Leaf.
'Hey, Leaf, why are we going to the professor's lab?' I asked.
'We need to talk.' Camilla stated falling in line at the back with me.
I understood that the dream was the same, or at least similar, we all remembered Mewtwo, but I didn't know how we all had the same dream, maybe the professor could help us with understanding, that was if he was up.
I didn't know if the dream was my aura or Camilla's ESP, it could have been both, but four people rarely ever have the same dream the same night at the same time, so this was pretty weird. I normally knew when my aura was active, I couldn't control it, but I normally knew when it was active, I saw things in a sharper detail.
I knew my dad had aura, but he had learnt to control it unlike me, but no-one else knew if anyone had ESP like Camilla, someone must have, she couldn't be the only one. Her parents gave no indication when we saw them, they also didn't like the idea of Camilla travelling with me because of my dad. I don't know how they knew so much about my dad. I didn't dwell on that, it wasn't important.
'Why didn't we talk at my house?' I asked.
'Your mum was still asleep.' Leaf replied as if it was obvious.
I knew that, although we didn't want to wake her up it would be the same at the professor's lab, we wouldn't want to wake him, I didn't know why we couldn't speak outside on the hill that Rachel and I shared on sunny days.
We reached the steps to the professor's lab, Leaf ran up them. Brock, Camilla and I walked, it was too early for me to run. I woke up like just over ten minutes ago.
I stepped in and found that Leaf was talking with the professor, so maybe he was up.
'…well Jordan has aura.' Leaf said as we reached them both. 'Brock, Camilla and I thought that might be the reason.' Leaf explained.
The professor nodded to us as we reached them.
'Maybe we should take this somewhere else?' The professor suggested speaking with all of us.
I agreed silently, I would not like to stand up while all this was going on.
We all walked into the living room area.
Brock, Camilla, Leaf and I sat on one of the sofas, while the professor sat on the opposite one to ours.
Both Camilla's Pikachu and mine fell asleep on our laps respectively.
'So, do you know why you are all here?' The professor asked.
'A dream, or memory?' I guessed.
'Can you explain to me about it?' The professor asked.
'After Jordan's eighth Gym battle we were all invited to an island by a Pokémon known as Mewtwo, he despised humans, actually hated them because he had been mistreated by them more than once, this gave him the conclusion that all humans were bad and that they only used Pokémon as tools.' Leaf started.
'You all recall this?' The professor asked to which we all nodded, this was not part of the dream I had, but I knew everything about those events now.
'Mewtwo then asked us to battle, but instead he captured all our Pokémon in black Pokéball's…' Brock said.
'A new Pokéball?' The professor interrupted.
'We don't think so, this Pokémon, Mewtwo was not registered in the Pokédex. He had created these Pokéball's himself.' I told the professor before I gestured for Brock to continue.
'The Pokéball's went down a chute while others were being captured, all of us tried returning our Pokémon to their Pokéball's, but the black Pokéball's encapsulated our Pokéball's, so we were helpless. Jordan grabbed onto the Pokéball that his Pikachu was captured in before it was taken down the chute, Jordan with it.' Brock summarised.
'And what was down there?' The professor asked.
It was now my turn to speak.
'I saw an array of complex machines, they had wires connecting to tubes with a kind on green slimy liquid in them, in some of these tubes they had Pokémon in them, I found out these were clones. Mewtwo was creating a clone army, he hated humans and every Pokémon that sided with humans was ones he was going to destroy, he created clones to destroy our Pokémon, his experiment was to show that clones were all powerful and superior. Mewtwo was the clone of Mew and that's why he was called Mewtwo.' I explained.
'So, he was jealous of being created from another Pokémon?' The professor asked.
I nodded in confirmation. 'As soon as I let all the Pokémon out I walked up to where everyone was with them to show Mewtwo that we cannot be pushed around. I would not have him hurt any of our Pokémon or my friends.' I added.
'And then what happened?' The professor then asked.
'Jordan's attempt was futile, Mewtwo already had all the Pokémon cloned. He ordered his Pokémon to attack ours, no Pokémon had no choice to attack back. Then Mewtwo had all his attention on us. Jordan tried to reason with Mewtwo saying that not all people or Pokémon were bad, just because he had a bad experience doesn't mean that they are bad, but Mewtwo was not persuaded. Every person that made it to the island followed Jordan because we told him about his achievements. Then he went and did something stupid and killed himself by putting himself between Mewtwo's attack and Mew's.'
'He looks pretty much alive now.' The professor countered.
'I somehow came back to life.' I explained.
'Was that the end of it?' The professor asked.
'Not quite.' Brock started. 'Once Jordan came back to life he stood in front of all of us and threatened Mewtwo that he would protect us.'
Camilla, Leaf and I blushed.
'Liam, stood in front of me to protect me from Mewtwo.' Leaf managed.
I was proud of her, she said a whole sentence without breaking down, she looked very close, but otherwise she was okay.
'Jordan, put me behind him.' Camilla blushed and so did I. 'But he made sure that everyone was behind him.
'Why did he protect you most?' The professor asked curiously.
Camilla blushed, so I answered instead.
'I didn't want Mewtwo to detect her ESP and use it against her.' I replied.
'She has ESP?' The professor asked.
Brock and Leaf looked at me and Camilla in surprise.
'What is ESP?' Leaf asked.
'ESP is Extrasensory perception, or a sixth sense, it means that Camilla can gain things from the mind, so she can see something that others would not be able in her mind, like if she could control it she could see the books in my lab area from here, that's the same with the other senses, so she could feel, taste, smell, see and hear things that other people could not. Also in her dreams she could recall things forgotten or she could see things that may happen.' The professor explained.
'Just like I did.' I said.
'You what?' The professor asked.
'On our journey I had dreams about the future, I had dreams about the event with Mewtwo and other things that seem real, but they may just be dreams.' I replied.
'You might need to tell your dad when you see him next, Riley also might have some insights on this.' The professor told me.
I knew that I had to tell my dad, I couldn't really tell him while he was here we had to catch up, plus I forgot about it completely. I would definitely tell him the next time I talked to him.
'Did you know you had ESP?' Leaf asked Camilla.
'I was told about it from my mum before I went on my journey, she said she knew someone who could help me, but I don't know who it is, she said she would tell me when I was a little older, she hasn't told me yet. So, my ESP can't be that bad.'
'If it does get bad then we'll call your mum up to ask who it is.' I said.
I didn't want the ESP to effect Camilla in any way.
'Anyway, After Jordan came back alive and he stood in front of all of us to protect us Mewtwo spoke a bit more before leaving us and wiping our minds, so that is why we didn't know until now.' Brock finished the story.
'I think I know why you forgot.' Professor Oak said.
He didn't continue so I pressed him.
'And?' I asked.
'You say Mewtwo was a Pokémon and there was no data or recording from him in the Pokédex?' He asked. 'Well maybe he was a psychic Pokémon and he wiped your minds, as for why you remember it could have been caused by either Camilla's ESP or Jordan's Aura, but I can't be sure. You will have to talk to an expert, you never know there could be someone somewhere in the Orange islands.' The professor said.
Mewtwo being a psychic Pokémon would make sense. It would explain why we forgot the event and then why we remembered.
'Now, I think you should all get some sleep before you head off later, you will need all your energy, your ride to the Orange islands will be in Viridian at eleven 'o' clock later today.' The professor told us. 'There are beds upstairs so you can sleep for a bit.' The professor continued.
All four of us stood up in unison, I wasn't sure that I would get to sleep, as I had woken up and it would be hard for me to sleep now.
We all headed upstairs and picked a bed each. I laid down before closing my eyes and trying to get some sleep. I must have been sleep deprived as I fell asleep a few minutes later.
I woke up and realized that I didn't dream of anything. That was a change from earlier that night.
I could see the light from outside trying to escape inside through the closed curtains.
I sat up slowly and looked around for the clock, but couldn't find one along the walls.
I got up from out of bed, now I took a look at the new clothes my mother made me. I had a dark grey short-sleeved t-shirt with black linings at the waist, the end of the arms and the neck. I had blue jeans, they weren't as faded as my last ones. I also had a red hoodie jacket with a white line on each side where the zip was. My trainers were black with white soles. I put the cap that Rachel gave to o on my birthday.
I slipped on my trainers and strapped on my Pokéball belt before descending the stairs with Pikachu trailing behind me.
I found a clock in the living room and found out it was nine 'o' clock. I had a dreamless sleep for just under five hours.
The ride will be in Viridian in two hours.
I noticed that no-one else was up, this wasn't really new for me, normally I was the first up, but I didn't know with Leaf. I hadn't travelled with her much so I didn't know when she normally got up.
The professor might be up, but I didn't know where he was, if he was.
Camilla and Leaf were next to come downstairs.
My Pikachu immediately got up to meet Camilla's.
'Are your Pikachu always like that?' Leaf asked.
'Most of the time.' I replied
'You're always up first.' Camilla commented.
I nodded. I didn't know why, but everyone woke up after me. Normally Rachel was the one to wake up after me, Camilla normally woke up around that time also, Brock occasionally woke up before them, his times were always varied.
'Aren't I normally?' I asked rhetorically.
Camilla took her usual place beside me, whereas Leaf sat on the sofa that was opposite the one we sat on.
She looked at us in an analysing glare which instantly made me uncomfortable.
'Leaf? What are you doing?' I asked.
'I'm confused.' She replied.
'Why?' Camilla asked.
'Why do you two always sit next to each other?' She asked.
'What do you mean?' Camilla asked.
'Every morning since I set off on this journey-when I've been in the same Pokémon centre as you-Camilla you have sat next to Jordan, you even do it now.' Leaf said.
'Force of habit.' I suggested.
Leaf sat back, she sighed, obviously she wasn't satisfied with my answer, but she took it nevertheless.
Brock came into the room a few seconds later.
'I've got it!' Leaf exclaimed.
This shocked Brock so much he almost fell backwards.
Camilla and I looked up in shock at Leaf.
The professor came in a few seconds later.
'What is it?' The professor asked.
Leaf blushed and shook her head in embarrassment.
'Don't worry.' Leaf replied.
It can't have been that important, she didn't seem keen to share it, Brock was in the room and then the professor came in. Maybe Leaf was now reluctant to share.
'Well since you are all here, I have all the information you need between here and Valencia island which is where professor Ivy is.' The professor started. 'The mode of transport is a Zeppelin and it will arrive in Vermillion around eleven 'o' clock. It will take you straight to Valencia Island, once you land you will need to travel for a few hours before reaching professor Ivy's lab to deliver the GS ball.' The professor told us.
It seemed pretty easy, it didn't sound too difficult and as soon as we had delivered the GS ball then we would come back. Not much of an adventure, but I had accepted this because the professor was unable to.
I was glad I was going with my friends though, this would be so boring alone. If I was to go on another adventure then I wondered how it would differ from my previous one, especially since Rachel wasn't on this journey with me.
Leaf was a great friend, she wasn't like Rachel, but she was as easy to talk to as Rachel was and we were such great friends when we were younger, it seems nothing changed in the years that Leaf had lived in Lavender town.
Leaf shot up ready to go before any of us were.
'What are we waiting for?' She asked rhetorically.
I didn't object, I stood up and almost immediately Pikachu bounded towards me.
'You ready bud?' I asked as soon as he was perched upon my shoulder.
'Pika!' He replied in confirmation.
I guessed he was eager as I was to go on another adventure. Like trainer, like Pokémon, I guess.
Camilla's Pikachu followed my Pikachu's example by jumping onto Camilla's shoulder before Camilla's could even stand up.
'You seem ready.' Camilla said a little surprised, he Pikachu was never the ambitious type, it just seemed to follow Camilla everywhere with the same goal in mind as her, maybe now Camilla's dream had ended her Pikachu had learnt to enjoy the sense of adventure more, or my Pikachu had something to do with it.
Brock was the last to get up.
We all made our way out of the professor's lab, he went back to his research as we all followed Leaf out of the lab.
She ran down the steps, I think she was even more ambitious than I was, sure it was exiting, I bet she was hyped about meeting professor Ivy, and learning about all the Pokémon in the Orange islands Archipelago.
'You seem eager Leaf.' Camilla commented.
'I might learn more about Pokémon from a completely different professor.' Leaf replied not turning around, hopping down the steps away from the professor's lab.
She stopped at the bottom and waited for us to reach her.
I realized Brock hadn't said a thing this morning.
'You okay Brock?' I asked turning behind me.
'Huh, yeah.' He replied. 'Just deep in thought.' He replied.
I gave the girls a look, they both understood and walked ahead while I stayed behind to talk to Brock.
'What's up Brocko?' I asked.
I was concerned, Brock wasn't normally this quiet, he was always cheerful and had helpful insights to anything that we didn't know.
He sighed before replying, this clearly bothered him in a big way.
'I know you wouldn't understand, but it's been almost a whole year since I've seen my siblings, they look and act completely different, it was hard for me to adapt. Forrest is so much more independent and now he is willing to help dad. He was happy to see me, but he along with my other siblings seem to have gone their own way, in some sense. I did provide for all of them before my father returned and now they seem to be more independent. It's hard for me because I always cared for them and for me to see them growing up, I am sad, but happy that they all have their own opinions now. It's harder for me as I spent a year away from them and now to see them a year after I left, a year older, it's just a completely different atmosphere.' Brock explained.
He was right, I didn't understand how he felt. I never had any siblings, it was different with me. But I understood what he meant. When I arrived in my house yesterday it didn't feel like my house, I felt like a stranger in it. It wasn't the same as what Brock felt, but I understood how the atmosphere felt.
'Do you miss it?' I asked.
That caught him off guard.
'Miss what? Being with my family?' He asked. 'Yeah, I do, but I'm discovering myself, doing what I want to do.' He replied. 'And going on a journey with you around Kanto, that was the greatest thing I have ever done. I would never have dreamed of something like that, being on an adventure with no way to know what will happen next, that's how I like it, plus its better with friends.' Brock replied.
I was more ambitious about adventure as Brock, but he definitely summed up how great a journey was and that it was better to travel with others than just by yourself.
We entered route one together, the girls were still chatting amongst themselves, but I was enjoying my talk with Brock, we never normally got to do this, a guy talk. I'm not sure Liam would be like this, he wasn't the talking type.
'Sorry I'm dumping all of this on you, Jordan.' Brock apologised.
'Hey.' I shot back. 'You need someone to talk to, would you rather speak to the girls?' I asked rhetorically. 'Besides if I had any worries, I'd dump them all on you.' I joked.
Brock shook his head at my childishness.
'Thanks, Jordan.' He said.
'Anytime.' I replied.
Brock forced a smile before he raced ahead of me and squeezed in between the girls as we reached the halfway point of route 1.
I was thankful that Brock felt better, this whole journey with him looking all gloomy would not be the way I would like to spend this journey.
Camilla slowed down until I was in pace with her.
'Problem?' I asked.
'They're talking "technical" Pokémon stuff.' Camilla replied using air quotations.
'Ah.' I breathed.
'You excited about this journey?' Camilla asked me.
I looked at her like she was crazy.
'Sorry,' she apologized. 'Silly question.' She added.
Camilla was just making sure that I wasn't backing down, but truthfully it wasn't a silly question, all we were doing was taking a mysterious Pokéball to a professor in another region then coming straight back.
We may spend a few days with the professor to learn all we could from her, and we could explore other islands because they may have different species, or Pokémon we had never seen before.
'Not silly.' I replied. 'It's a good question, we are going to one place for one reason and then coming straight back.' I said.
'I'm sure we'll find something to do there.' Camilla said.
We neared the end of route one and we were about to catch our ride to Valencia island, but there was something I wanted to do before we caught or ride, this was important to me. I knew it had been almost one whole day, but I couldn't wait any longer.
As soon as we entered I ran.
I must have surprised my friends, but I needed to get there before our ride was here.
'Hey!' Leaf exclaimed.
'Jordan?' Brock asked.
It seemed that Camilla had the same idea as I looked next to me and sure enough she was keeping up with me.
We reached the Château and stopped.
We looked at each other before making our way through the doors.
'Hello and welcome…' Jared started.
'Hello Jared.' I said.
'Duchess Camilla.' Jared bowed.
So, Camilla still had her title.
'Jared.' Camilla said giving a small curtsey.
'What brings you here?' He asked.
'Please, Jared.' We heard Nita say, she walked through one of the back doors with Tara right behind her.
Jared bowed as Nita came toward us.
All four of us bowed.
I knew Brock was hesitant, he was debating whether to bow, or declare his undying love for Nita. I'm glad he chose the first option.
'How can I help ya all?' Nita asked.
'Is Rachel here?' Camilla asked.
'I'm sorry pet, she left this morning with me sisters.'
I was really looking forward to seeing Rachel and now I wouldn't be able to.
'Oh. Okay, we were hoping we could see her before she left.' Camilla said.
'I'm sorry again pet.' Nita once again apologised. 'Congratulations on ya tournament, Jordan.' Nita congratulated me. 'For ya first one I'd say that was pretta impressive.'
I didn't feel like it was, but I nodded in thanks.
'Sorry to have taken your time, Miss Nita.' Leaf apologised.
'Not to worry, pet.' Nita said.
We all walked out of the Château and saw a zeppelin next to the Pokémon centre.
It was a few feet off the ground, but I was pretty sure it was for us.
We weren't in any hurry, and I was sure the people in the zeppelin were not either, so we walked to the zeppelin.
I had never been in a zeppelin, so I wondered how the ride would differ from anything else.
There was a rope ladder that led into the zeppelin, I was the first one to climb it, it was quite difficult, but I eventually made it into the zeppelin.
I looked around and saw I was in a huge room the size of the zeppelin.
Metal framework was everywhere with catwalks and steel wires keeping the frame together.
I froze as I saw who was in this zeppelin. It was filled with team Rocket grunts.
What happened to them disbanding? Did Giovanni not keep his promise? Would I have to beat him again?
Camilla gasped as she entered, realizing that team Rocket was in the zeppelin.
'A familiar face.' I heard a voice I instantly recognised.
I turned to my right and saw Archer.
'Archer.' I growled.
'Come now, Jordan. I am trying to be civil with you.' He said.
'What happened to disbanding team rocket?' I asked in the same tone as before.
'Giovanni ordered us to go our separate ways, we did for a while, but I thought that this was strange behaviour for the boss so, I got some new recruits and they followed me into setting up team Rocket to gain the bosses attention.'
I was confused.
'Gain the bosses attention?' I asked.
'You see, I believe that the boss is in hiding, if we attract enough attention he will come to aid us again, and make us bigger and stronger to conquer the whole world.' Archer explained.
'Okay one more thing.' I started. 'New recruits?' I asked.
All the grunts are new recruits. I have Petrel and Proton working for me, I got rid of Ariana, she could not be trusted, and those two are the only ones I trust, neither of them like you, but you won't need to worry about them.' Archer told me.
So, Archer was trying to get Giovanni's attention and no-one but the executives/admins were the same, except for Ariana.
'I've got an idea.' Archer started. He clicked and I realised that my friends were then trapped by team Rocket grunts.
I was getting tired of this.
'I'll battle you for their freedom.' I said to Archer.
He looked happy as if he wanted me to say that.
'That's exactly what I wanted.' Archer said.
'You got this buddy?' I asked.
He jumped in front of me sparking his cheeks.
'Weezing.' Archer said.
He had the exact same Pokémon.
'A one-on-one, if you win we will let you and your friends go, if not, well I will give you and your friends to Petrel and Proton, and trust me, they do not like you at all' Arche said naming the terms.
I was fine with them.
A one on one would be easy.
'Poison gas.' Archer started.
I had to avoid this, I was rusty I hadn't had a battle in a while.
'Agility.' I said.
Pikachu ran around trying to avoid the poison gas attack.
'Double team.' I said.
Pikachu broke off into loads of copies.
Now there was a chance that Pikachu may or may not get poisoned.
I had to think of something. I couldn't risk Pikachu getting poisoned. I had to save my friends, what was I to do now?
A thought came to me, it was definitely not the best idea, and Pikachu may get poisoned, but it would put Archer in a tight spot, hopefully reverse the roles.
'Pikachu, use quick attack. Then hold on to Weezing.'
'Dodge.' Archer called, but it was too late.
Weezing had already been hit, but Pikachu held on to Weezing to escape the poisonous gas.
My plan had worked, now I just had to wait for the poisonous gas disperse.
'Toxic.' Archer called.
This is something I had not expected.
I didn't know that Archers Weezing would have two poison status moves, but if Pikachu could just hang on a little longer.
The toxic attack took effect and Pikachu cringed in pain, this made it hold tighter.
'You okay bud?' I asked Pikachu.
He just nodded, I knew the pain would get worse for him, that meant we had to wrap this match up before it got too bad.
'Use thunderbolt.'
Pikachu charged up and while still clinging onto Weezing released a thunderbolt hat hit Weezing causing it to cry out in pain, in that moment Pikachu jumped off and landed on the ground, its cheeks were sparking with electricity.
I hope this next move worked, it was a long shot and always was, but it normally worked. I hope it wouldn't fail me now.
'Weezing, sludge bomb.'
Weezing sent out a purple blob, toward Pikachu.
'Pikachu dodge and use thunder.'
Pikachu dodged easily, as it was quicker, I had used agility earlier, it jumped and summoned all of its power and created a black cloud directly over Weezing.
Pikachu shot a huge thunder attack directly down toward Weezing.
Weezing fell to the ground and I saw static electricity causing around it. I had paralysed it and now it was grounded. Weezing hadn't fainted and I was so sure that the thunder would faint it.
Pikachu staggered as the poisoning got worse. I needed to end this battle, and now.
'Weezing, use belch.'
At the same time Archer called out that attack I called out an attack for Pikachu.
'Quick attack.'
I had not seen what belch did, and I didn't fancy seeing it today, it sounded like it was powerful, but since Pikachu was quicker Weezing never got to use the move and was hit with Pikachu's quick attack.
Weezing fainted and I knew I had won.
I went to pick up Pikachu.
Archer returned Weezing.
He clicked and my friends were released.
'Well done Jordan, you definitely are a trainer we all need to watch out for, but with our next confrontation, I will not be so nice.' Archer said.
Nice? I thought. Archer was nice? He was a member of team Rocket, nice was not a word that screamed out when you hear the name "Team Rocket".
Archer whistled and every member of Team Rocket came down, he pushed a big button and red flashing lights went around sounding an alarm.
'This ship is going down, and I hope we don't see each-other again.'
With that Archer jumped out, he was followed by all the Team Rocket runts. I saw Petrel and Proton I the mix, the purple hair of Petrel and the blue hair of Proton were unmistakeable.
I locked out of the Zeppelin and every single one of them had a parachute.
The Zeppelin gave way to the left and thankfully I fell in.
'This Zeppelin is going down.' Brock said.
We all stayed put on the ground hoping that the crash landing wouldn't be bad, but I could feel the air resistance start to rip away the Zeppelins fabric coating, we would be able to see where we crashed and where we were going to crash.
We broke through the clouds as I made my way toward the opening.
I saw an island below us, so much green on that island, but there was a town on the island next to the sea. Thankfully we headed toward the trees, so not as much damage as landing on solid ground, we would land in the trees.
I was thinking that death was imminent, but…nope there was no good way to see that.
There wasn't much chance of survival, sur I had died already, but my friends hadn't.
'Fearow, go.' Camilla said, not her usual way of sending out a Pokémon, but this was a crisis.
'Golbat, you too.' Brock called.
Brock held on o Golbat's feet.
'Get on.' Camilla said to Leaf and I as she hopped on Fearow.
Both Pokémon let their wings spread and the air pushed them upwards a little before letting them glide.
We were too close to the trees, but the Zeppelin crashed a few feet from where we were, but the Pokémon glided and landed inside a forest now filled with frightened wild Pokémon.
I was just glad that the Zeppelin crashing hadn't caused a fire.
Now my friends and I were stuck in a forest with no clue as to which way we should head.
The frightened Pokémon ran past us, so we followed them, but at a slower pace.
This is the third chapter up, so much quicker than the last one. My life as calmed down for now, thank goodness. Anyway, I hope you like this chapter and it is up exactly a week after. My updates should be weekly, but I can't guarantee that. There will always be less than two weeks between every update until this arc is finished, this Arc will have around twenty chapters, so a lot shorter, but the next chapter the group meets professor Ivy and her Pokémon sanctuary. Then the chapter after that will be the introduction of a new character. So, the poll that's on my profile will be closing as soon as chapter 5 is up, so get voting. As always, the next chapter should be up in a week's time. Thanks to all my reviewer's followers and favourites, and thanks to my readers also.
Chapter four: B-rock and Ivy