Getting Powered Up
The Kanto Power Plant is a tall structure had a history for frequently being shut down and reopened. The reason why it gets shut down as it is considered a habitat for electric Pokemon and history states that the legendary bird Zapdos will appear there on occasions. It is reopened during power crisis' but is shut down again once the problem is over. Most equipment is left behind as electric types like Voltorb and Magnemite feed off them.
Leaf was wandering through the dark, empty halls, her Diglett's PokeBall in one hand in case an electric type came out, and a torch in the other. The beam showed her the damage caused by the Pokemon as well as fellow trainers and looters. All the lights were broken and roof tiles had fallen out to reveal wires and plumbing. Glass was shattered and Leaf nearly fell into a hole in the floor.
"Come on Zapdos, just show yourself so I can get out of this hell hole." Leaf mumbled to herself. Behind her, one of the floorboards creaked. Leaf turned around and the torch's light caught a pair of trainers as their owner turned and ran into a room. Leaf put Diglett's PokeBall back on her belt and pulled a small canister out of her bag. Slowly she waked to the room, turned the handle and opened the door. Leaf used the torch to scan the room and could see nothing was in there except for a few Voltorb having lunch from a power socket. Leaf shrugged and went to leave when a hand appeared from behind the door and grabbed her shoulder. She screamed as loudly as possible and pressed down on her canister of pepper spray and released the spray, blinding the mysterious figure as she turned and ran. The Voltorb wer angry at being interrupted and they start to glow a bright white before releasing a burst of white energy. The floor building shaked slightly and Leaf tumbled over. She looked around and saw someone walking out of the room, coughing and rubbing his eyes…
"RED YOU ARSEHOLE!" Leaf bellowed. "WHY DID YOU HAVE TO SCARE ME LIKE THAT?" And she stood up and slapped him.
"Jesus, do you have to put me in more pain?" Red moaned. "I just thought it would be a funny practical joke."
"Oh yeah, real funny, ha fricking ha!" Leaf shrieked.
"How about I make it up to you?" Red said.
"How exactly?" Leaf asked, tapping her left foot.
"How about a battle?"
After Red began to feel better, the two stood on either side of a field outside of the plant near a stream.
"My offer is a three-on-three battle. If I lose, I will pay you a significant sum and will allow you to harm me as you please. If I win, I remain unharmed but get no cash, agreed?" Red asked.
"Of course, no girl would turn down that sort of opportunity." Leaf grinned. Red rolled his eyes and pulled out his first PokeBall.
"Charmeleon, let's win this one!" He yelled as he tossed it in the battlefield. Red's newly evolved starter came out and let out a roar and fired flames into the air.
"Hmm, nice choice." Leaf smiled. "Let's see how you handle my new Vulpix!" Out of the PokeBall came a small red fox with six curly tails, curly hair on her head and a white underbelly.
"Ok Charmeleon, start off with Fire Fang." Red ordered.
"Vulpix use Safeguard." Leaf said with a smile. As Charmeleon charged forwards, a white-blue ring appeared around Vulpix and Leaf. Charmeleon jumped through the ring and bit down on Vulpix, but the Pokemon didn't even move. Red gasped as Charmeleon leapt back to him.
"Vulpix's ability is Flash Fire which prevents damage from all Fire-type attacks." Leaf explained. "And the Safeguard protects my whole team from getting any status problems, such as a burn."
"Why did you bother blowing your strategy?" Red asked.
"I want a good fight not an easy fight, and I think that telling your strategy can help teach you how to improve if by seeing how they counter." Leaf replied.
"Point taken. Charmeleon, use Dragon Rage." Red cried.
"You're like a broken record!" Leaf laughed. "Vulpix use Flamethrower." Charmander fired a ball of large orange-yellow fire and Vulpix fired a stream of fire. The two attacks passed each other and both Pokemon were hit and rolled backwards.
"Ok Charmeleon, go in with a Seismic Toss!" Red said.
"Vulpix, get in there first with Quick Attack." Leaf commanded. Charmeleon and Vulpix ran towards each other though Vulpix was faster and slammed into Charmeleon. The Flame Pokemon grabbed Vulpix by her tails and threw her down the field.
"Charmeleon, strike with another Dragon Rage." Red cried.
"Vulpix use Faint Attack." Leaf said smugly. Vulpix stood perfectly still as Charmeleon fired the ball at her. Red whooped as it hit her, causing the ball to explode. Charmeleon looked for Vulpix but it had disappeared. Then, six red tails appeared out of no where and whacked him in the face. The lizard cried out as he rolled backwards.
"Faint Attack, nice trick." Red smirked. "Charmeleon, Fire Fang."
"You know that won't work!" Leaf cackled. "Vulpix, Quick Attack!" The two charged forwards once again. Vulpix slammed into Charmeleon's stomach before he bit down on her neck. Vulpix cried out and flames began to encircle her body. Leaf gasped as she realised the Safeguard had worn off.
"You need to focus on the game and not on the possible prize." Red laughed. "Charmeleon, use Dragon Rage again."
"Vulpix use Safeguard." Leaf squealed. The white-blue ring appeared again as the Dragon Rage attack passed through and slammed into Vulpix. The fox squealed from the attack and then again as her burn caused more pain. Both Pokemon were rather tired and both panted as their trainers speculated attacks.
"Charmeleon, Seismic Toss again." Red said at last.
"Ok Vulpix, use a Flamethrower when he gets close." Leaf said. Charmeleon charged forwards and picked up Vulpix and jumped up to perform the attack. Vulpix opened her mouth and fired the stream of flame and hit Charmeleon square on. He cried out but managed to throw Vulpix across the field. Both Pokemon landed and Charmeleon sighed as the flame on the end of his tail grew bigger.
"Hah, Blaze isn't going to save you this time." Leaf sniggered. Red glowered at her and looked at Charmeleon.
"Do you still want to battle?" Red asked. Charmeleon nodded.
"Ok then, another Dragon Rage."
"Finish this with Flamethrower Vulpix." Leaf cried. Charmeleon roared and Vulpix let out a cry as the two fired their fiery attacks. Both attacks collided and caused an explosion. Vulpix jumped to avoid the force from it but Charmeleon was hit and was sent flying backwards into Red's arms. The trainer caught him and looked to see his starter had fainted.
"Looks like you win that one." Red called out. Leaf smiled in delight, but Vulpix's burn was too much for her and she collapsed as well. Red laughed in joy as the two trainers brought their Pokemon back.
"Butterfree, come on out!" Red said, still laughing.
"Pidgeotto, I choose you!" Leaf exclaimed. Red's trusty Butterfree came out and flapped her wings in delight. Leaf's choice was the evolved form of Pidgey and had the same colours, but was much bigger and the plumage on her head and tail was longer and was a different colour (red on the head, red and yellow on the tail).
"Oh your rat with wings evolved into an even bigger rat with wings, how wonderful." Red smirked.
"Pidgeotto will wipe the floor with your petty bug!" Leaf sneered.
"We'll see." Red grinned. "Butterfree, Psybeam."
"Pidgeotto, use Quick Attack." Leaf cried. Pidgeotto flapped her wings and charged forwards and slammed into Butterfree. Butterfree rolled backwards in midair before multi-coloured circles appeared from her eyes and struck Pidgeotto.
"Butterfree use Bug Bite." Red called.
"Pidgeotto use Air Slash." Leaf called. Pidgeotto began to spin to perform the attack but Butterfree flew forwards and bit down on Pidgeotto's right wing and made her flinch and caused the attack to go astray.
"Use another Psybeam Butterfree." Red smirked.
"Pidgeotto use a Twister attack!" Leaf cried. Butterfree stayed still as she fired the multi-coloured circles towards Pidgeotto who was creating a tornado with her wings. The attack hit and Pidgeotto's went cross eyed and dived in her own tornado and spun around before being tossed out and slammed into Leaf.
"Nice shot Butterfree! Now use Silver Wind." Red called.
"Pull yourself together Pidgeotto and try to use another Air Slash." Leaf said. Butterfree flapped her wings furiously and silver particles came out but they missed Pidgeotto. The confused Pokemon spun in circles and managed to fire a white line of energy that hit Butterfree.
"Pidgeotto's ability is Tangled Feet which means its evasiveness increases when confused, so I suppose it counteracts your Butterfree's Compoundeyes." Leaf said gladly. Red growled but then smiled evilly.
"Ok then, Butterfree use Whirlwind!" Red said in delight.
"Pidgeotto use Quick Attack, quickly!" Leaf squealed. Pidgeotto dived into the ground and Red laughed. Butterfree flapped her wings again and a strong gust of wind hit Pidgeotto who cried out as she turned into energy and went back unwillingly to her PokeBall. Leaf stamped the ground in anger as one of her PokeBalls flew into the air and opened and another Pokemon came out. Wartortle, the evolved form of Squirtle, was bigger than Squirtle and his colours were darker. His tail was now white and he had a wave pattern on it which and an identical pattern on his ears.
"Excellent!" Red grinned. "Butterfree use Psybeam."
"Wartortle use Withdraw." Leaf said. Wartortle ducked into his shell and glowed blue while Butterfree fired the multi-coloured circles.
"Ok Butterfree, return!" Red called and pulled out two PokeBalls.
"Wartortle use Rapid Spin on which one of his weaklings he sends out." Leaf said and she and Wartortle laughed loudly.
"How's this for weak? Zapdos, finish this!" Red cried. Leaf and Wartortle stopped laughing and their jaws dropped and their eyes bulged. Out of the PokeBall came a giant yellow and black bird with a long, thin beak and spiky feathers. Zapdos cried to the skies and caused Thunder to sound around them.
"H-h-how do you catch it?" Leaf gasped.
"I was looking for an electric type and came across Zapdos in one of the offices. I had brought Onix with me and I also have an Abra that knows Ice Punch so I used them to battle against it." Red explained. "It was easy to catch as Abra kept freezing it and then Onix would crush it. It allowed to be captured in the end. I have had it for a few days and we get on well." Zapdos nodded at this and glared down at Wartortle. The turtle gulped before ducking inside his shell and spinning up towards Zapdos and hitting it.
"Nice try. Zapdos, use Charge." Red said. Zapdos spread its wings wide and electricity crackled around it.
"Wartortle use Withdraw." Leaf said sadly. Wartortle ducked back inside his shell and glowed blue again.
"This is too easy. Now Zapdos use Discharge." Red laughed.
"Wartortle use Water Pulse." Leaf whimpered. Zapdos let out a cry before glowing yellow and released electricity from all over its body. Wartortle cried out as it was blasted backwards before opening his mouth and let out a blue circle of water. It hit Zapdos who became cross eyed. Red cursed as Leaf grinned in delight.
"Zapdos use Charge." Red sighed.
"Ok Wartortle use Water Pulse again." Leaf grinned. As Zapdos charged, Wartortle fired another attack which pushed the Pokemon backwards.
"Keep charging Zapdos." Red called out.
"Wartortle use Bite." Leaf said brightly. Wartortle leapt up and chomped down on Zapdos who cried out. Red was about to tell it to charge when Zapdos' eyes refocused.
"Excellent! Now Zapdos, use Thunderbolt!" Red said exuberantly.
"Quickly Wartortle, Withdraw." Leaf squealed. Zapdos glowed yellow again and fired a large stream of electricity which hit Wartortle before he had the chance to go back inside his shell. The turtle was fried and he fell to the ground, unconscious.
"Nice try Wartortle." Leaf sighed as she pulled out his PokeBall. "You have practically won this, but there's no harm in trying. Pidgeotto, come back out." Pidgeotto came out, unconfused, but was shocked to see Zapdos.
"Sorry Pidgeotto." Leaf said sadly.
"Ok Zapdos, Ancient Power!" Red said with glee.
"Pidgeotto strike it FeatherDance." Leaf said, depressed. Pidgeotto fired a number of feathers towards Zapdos as the Electric Pokemon brought dust from the Earth to form rocks which were sent flying towards Pidgeotto, who cried out as she was hit with them.
"Zapdos use Charge." Red said.
"Pidgeotto use Quick Attack." Leaf called. Pidgeotto charged forwards and slammed into Zapdos.
"Zapdos use Thunderbolt!" Red cried triumphantly.
"Pidgeotto use another Quick Attack!" Leaf said, whimpering slightly. Pidgeotto sped and once again hit Zapdos but was unable to avoid the powerful attack and was blasted backwards again. Leaf's eyes watered as Pidgeotto became paralysed and could barely move.
"Zapdos, Charge for a final attack." Red grinned.
"Pidgeotto, use… use… Quick Attack." Leaf cried. Pidgeotto was too paralysed to move.
"Zapdos, finish this with Discharge!" Red yelled.
"QUICK ATTACK!" Leaf screamed as she collapsed onto her knees in sadness. Pidgeotto tried to move but failed and Red yelled in triumph as Zapdos glowed and released the electricity. Leaf screamed as Pidgeotto was hit and she ran to catch her Pokemon as it fell to the ground. Zapdos flew down and Red hugged it, but looked over towards Leaf as she cried over her severely injured Pokemon…
The next day, Red was on a chair outside the Pokemon Centre with Zapdos nestling on the roof. He sat there, staring over at the Power Plant in the distance.
"I promise I'll bring you back here one day for a visit." Red called up. Zapdos cooed in the agreement. Behind him the doors of the centre opened and Leaf walked out with Pidgeotto on her shoulder.
"Hello Red." She said and sat down next to him. Pidgeotto flew up to talk to Zapdos.
"Hey. I am glad your Pidgeotto made a speedy recovery." Red smiled.
"Thanks. You put up a really strong battle." Leaf grinned and she moved closer to Red.
"Cheers, you put up a strong fight as well. You would have won if I hadn't used Whirlwind." Red said.
"Yeah, you are really good at battling." Leaf said, blushing slightly. "Sorry for what happened yesterday, with the pepper spray and all." Red laughed.
"It's fine. Why'd you get pepper spray anyway?"
"Well, just in case I was attacked while my Pokemon weren't out." Leaf explained, edging closer to Red. "But if we travelled together, you could protect me." And she went to grab Red's hand, but he stood up, oblivious to her.
"No thanks, I am glad with our rivalry and wouldn't want it any other way." He chuckled. Leaf huffed and crossed her arms. Pidgeotto and Zapdos sighed and rolled their eyes.
"Pidge pidge Pidgeotto otto pidge pidge otto*." Pidgeotto said.
"Zapdos zap, Zapdos dos dos zap Zapdos dos zap**." Zapdos replied.
"Come on Zapdos, we better be going if we want to get some training in for the next gym battle." Red called. "See you around Leaf!"
"Yeah, whatever." Leaf huffed. Red rolled his eyes and waited for Zapdos to come down before climbing on its back and flying off. Pidgeotto flew down and landed on Leaf's shoulder.
"Pidgeotto, you are lucky you don't have boy trouble." Leaf sighed. Pidgeotto rolled her eyes before slapping her across the face with her wing. "OW, what was that for?" Pidgeotto just sighed and rested her head on the edge of her wing. Leaf huffed and walked off towards the sunset, daydreaming about life.
* Translation: Humans are so stupid when it comes to love
** Translation: I agree, why don't they just kiss and get over with it
