Hey everybody! This is the best day ever! (And no, I'm not copying SpongeBob.) I just defeated the Elite Four in Pokémon Pearl! *does a happy dance* I can't wait to start digging up new fossils! Ha, the end of the credits says "Fin". Ha! Anyways, here's chapter four!
Disclaimer: Griffin does not own Pokémon
Pokémon Ember Saga Ch 4: Catch that Thief!
The sun rises cheerfully over Cerulean City. The people hit the streets with smiles on their faces and Pokémon at their sides, on their way to work.
But Ember is not among these people. Ember is sleeping peacefully at the Pokémon Center, her wrist in a cast and the Pokémon curled up around her.
Professor Oak brought Ember to the Center the previous day, as soon as they had left Rock Tunnel. It had been late and Ember had wanted to start her search for clues about her father, but both the nurse and the Professor had insisted that Ember stay at the center for the night. Professor Oak had left for his lab, and Ember had fallen asleep just moments after her head hit the pillow.
Now, Ember's eyes flutter open as the sun hits her face. She smiles and sits up, stretching as she does. Her Pokémon awaken as her body shifts.
"Nagi, Nami, Aston," Ember says cheerfully. "Good morning."
"Vul!"
"Growl!"
"Char!"
Ember's three Pokémon respond with energy.
"All right!" Ember says. "Today is the day we pick up on Dad's trail!"
"Well, aren't we feeling energetic today," the nurse says from the doorway.
"I feel good," Ember replies, nodding. "Well rested. I am allowed to leave now, right?"
"The overnight stay was just to make sure you hadn't received any other more serious injuries," the nurse explains. "Just let me check your cast and you can be on your way."
As the nurse checks the cast, Ember swings her legs over the side of the bed. Her Pokémon jump down to the floor. When the nurse gives Ember a nod of approval, Ember hops down and hurries to get dressed, eager to start her search.
Ember plans to start her search at Cerulean's Gym, thinking that the Gym Leader might know the most about the goings-on on the city. However, Ember finds that the Gym Leader is gone for the day, so, because this is Ember's first time away from home, she decided to take in the sights while she waits.
"The people here sure are friendly," Ember says, waving to a passing lady with two Meowth. As Ember walks through the northern part of the city, something catches her eye.
A man dressed in black, with grey boots and gloves and a large red "R" on the front of his shirt, is climbing out of the window of a house, snickering.
"One TM28," the man says. "I can't believe how trusting these people still are! You'd think that the citizens here would have installed security systems by now."
"Hey thief!" Ember shouts. "Stop right there!"
The thief freezes for a second, and then takes off running down a road leading out of town. Ember doesn't hesitate and races after the thief, her Pokémon right at her heals. They chase him down a boardwalk and along a dirt road.
Okay, I'm getting sick of this Ember is feeling ticked off.
"Nami, use Ember!" she shouts. "Cut him off!"
Nami exhales fire and sets the grass ahead of the thief ablaze. The thief spins to face Ember and her Pokémon.
"So," the thief snarls, "you want to fight, is that it?"
"If you turn yourself in and give back that TM you stole, I won't thrash you," Ember says as her Pokémon slide into attack positions.
"I'd have to say… no!" the thief yells, tossing out three Pokéballs. A Machop, a Rattata, and a Drowzee appear in front of him. "Machop, use Low Kick! Drowzee, Pound! Rattata, Tackle!"
"Nami, Quick Attack!" Ember responds. "Nagi, Bite! Aston, Scratch!"
The six Pokémon charge at each other. Nami impacts the Machop hard but takes Machop's Low Kick in the chest. Nagi chomps down on the Drowzee's leg, and Drowzee delivers a hard blow to Nagi's face. The Rattata slams into Aston's midsection, and Aston responds by scratching at Rattata's back until the Rat Pokémon leaps away. All six Pokémon fly away from each other, landing on their feet in front of their trainers.
"Your Pokémon are pretty good, kid," the thief sneers, "but not quite strong enough. Rattata, Quick Attack; Machop, Karate Chop! Target the Charmander!"
Damn it! Ember's mind screeches. He's already figured out that Aston is the weakest!
"Nagi, Nami!" she shouts. "Use Ember! Stop them!"
Chunks of fire shoot from the Nagi and Nami's mouths, setting the grass on fire again and stopping Rattata and Machoke in their tracks. The thief grins wickedly.
"Drowzee!" he shouts, sounding triumphant. "Use Disable!"
Drowzee's hands begin to glow a strange yellow, and all three of Ember's Pokémon stagger back, glowing with the same yellow light.
"What did you do?!" Ember shouts.
"Disable blocks one of each of your Pokémon's moves," the thief says. "You can't use Ember anymore!"
"If you think that'll make me turn tail and run," Ember snarls, a plan all ready forming in her mind, "you've got another thing coming. This is just a little setback. I can still win."
"Good luck," the thief sneers. "Machop, Karate Chop; Rattata, Tackle; Drowzee, Pound!"
"Dodge everyone!" Ember yells. "Nami, use Tail Whip! Aston, Growl! Nagi, use Bite on that Drowzee!"
Ember's three Pokémon dodge the thief's Pokémon. Nami's tails swirl around her, glowing red, and Aston makes growling noises. The three enemy Pokémon glow the same red as Nami's tails as their Attack and Defense points fall. Nagi throws himself at Drowzee and bites down hard, this time on Drowzee's arm. After a few seconds of flailing, Drowzee finally lands a glancing blow on Nagi, who jumps away, landing solidly on his feet. Drowzee staggers back and collapses, unconscious.
"How did you…" the thief exclaims.
"What, did you forget?" Ember mocks. "Bite is a Dark-type move now, and Dark works great against Psychic-type Pokémon!"
"I'm not out yet!" the thief shouts. "Machop, Low Kick; Rattata, Quick Attack!"
"Nagi, use Roar!" Ember yells. "Stop them! Aston, get as close to them as you can!"
Nagi braces himself, opens his mouth, and bellows out a deafening roar. Machop and Rattata freeze in their tracks, terrified. Aston darts forward and stops just a foot away from the enemy Pokémon.
"You had a good plan going, but you made one mistake," Ember says. "You Disabled Aston's Scratch. Now Aston, use Ember!"
Aston's mouth opens and chunks of fire fly out. At that close range, the fire sends Machop and Rattata flying. They slam into the thief with enough force to send him flying as well. In a tangled mess, the three of them crash into a tree trunk and the thief is knocked out.
"All right!" Ember cheers. "Well done, everyone!"
"Well done indeed."
Ember spins in place, startled by the voice behind her. Along with three police officers in generic uniforms, there is a girl with red hair accompanied by a Starmie and a Golduck, and a boy with spiky brown hair accompanied by a Graveler and a Rhyhorn.
"Arrest that man," the red head tells the police. "Check him for stolen property."
"It's a TM," Ember says, "28, I believe he said."
"That TM teaches Dig," the boy says. "It's a valuable TM. I'm not surprised that Team Rocket is after it."
"We haven't introduced ourselves," the girl says. "I'm Misty, Cerulean City's Gym Leader. This is Brock, the Gym Leader of Pewter City."
"Misty's city has been having trouble with thieves lately," Brock explains. "She asked me to come and help, but it looks like you handled it yourself."
"You must be Ember," Misty says, smiling.
"How do you know my name?" Ember asks.
"Professor Oak told us about you," Brock replies.
"He must see a lot of potential in you," Misty says, "to give you Charmander."
"I don't know about that," Ember says.
"It's true. We can see it too," Brock says. "You fought well against an opponent stronger than you. You kept a level head even when you were in a tight spot."
"Not many people could have handled a multi-Pokémon battle as well as you did," Misty adds, "especially injured. And you were able to think on your feet. You figured out the one flaw in your opponent's plan and exploited it for the win."
"It's not that big of a deal," Ember says, blushing. "I knew what I had to do, and I just… did it."
"Don't sell yourself short," Brock says. "You're an excellent battler."
"Excuse me, Ms. Misty?" one of the police officers says. "We have secured the thief and recovered the TM. I suggest we head back now."
"I agree," Misty says, nodding, "but I would like you to escort Ember here back to the Pokémon Center. Her Pokémon are injured and she may have put too much strain on her wrist."
"Yes, Ms. Misty," the officer says. "Right this way Ember."
"Hang on," Ember says. "I need to ask you something first, Misty."
"What is it?" Misty asks.
"I was wondering if you remembered a man, a scientist, who lived here once," Ember says. "It could have been a while ago, six or seven years. He would have lived here for about a years and then left suddenly."
"I'm sorry, Ember," Misty says, shaking her head. "I can't help you there. I was still just a kid back then."
Ember hangs her head, disappointed.
"I think I know who can help you, though," Misty continues.
"Really?" Ember says, her spirit lifting. "Who?"
"There's an old couple who live on Route 5," Misty says. "They run a Pokémon daycare center out of their home. If anyone will know anything about this man you're looking for, it will be them."
"Why are you looking for him?" Brock asks. "The Professor wouldn't say."
"He's my dad," Ember explains. "He's been away for a long time, unable to communicate with Mom and me. But now Mom's sick, and I have to find him."
"I'm sorry about your mother," Misty says.
"I hope you find your dad real soon," Brock adds.
"I hope so, too," Ember says.
I hope you liked it. This is one of my favorite chapters. Ember meets the Gym Leaders! And byt the way, what is up with you people! I know I haven't asked, but isn't it a given to review? Please review!
Anyways, that's it for this week. I'm going to play more Pokémon and read the Warriors series. See you next Friday. Dewa kore de!
