Chapter 4: North, Fire, and More Battles
I was woken up at 7, not by Wing, but by Leaf. She was sitting in the corner, doing who knows what, but she was being loud. I went behind her, and saw that she was eating a pie. I watched as she finished it. Then, I woke up my other Pokemon and we went north, to where Scott was sleeping against the bridge post. I tried to sneak past him, but he must be part Abra or something, because he woke up when I passed him. He looked at me and spoke.
"You again? You're such a weakling! Why keep trying?" he said, laughing.
"You'll be surprised. I've gotten much stronger. Try me again." I responded, while Sparky growled.
"Alright. How about an old favorite? Go, Spearow!" he declared, letting said Pokemon out.
"Sparky, you're up." I said, and Sparky jumped off my shoulder, cheeks sparking.
Without either trainer giving a command, they started. Sparky let loose a Thundershock, and Spearow let off a Sand Attack. Sand got in Sparky's eye, but it didn't matter. Spearow was down.
"Grr. Go, Rattata!" Scott said, withdrawing the now unconscious Spearow, and letting out Rattata.
"Alright, Sparky, come back. Choppy, you're up." I said. Sparky tried to jump on my shoulder, but overshot, hitting the ground behind me. Choppy snickered, and beat the Rattata with one Karate Chop. He stepped back, and Scott sent out a Sandshrew. Leaf stepped forward before I could call her, and hit it with a Vine Whip, hurting it badly. Sandshrew attacked with a strong Scratch, and I think I saw some blood leak out. Leaf hit it again, knocking it out. Suddenly, a bright light flashed from Leaf, who grew and her bud became more colorful and flower-like. She evolved!
"Alright, I guess you are a little stronger." said Scott grudgingly. "But I dare you to go one on one with my Eevee. And no Mankey!"
"I can live with that. Wing?" I said, calling my bird forward. Leaf stepped back, then towards the river, where she started to check out her new body. Wing looked at the tiny dog Pokemon, whose tail was wagging again, and laughed.
"What kind of game are you playing?" he asked me, still cracking up. Eevee took his opportunity and attacked Wing, who spun around and used Fury Attack, repeatedly stabbing it with his beak. Eevee fell back, nursing its various wounds, and growled. Wing struck with Fury Attack again, but didn't do as much damage. Of course, Growl lowers attack. Eevee Tackled Wing, who once again used Fury Attack and knocked him out. Then Wing started to glow. Another Evolution?
"Fearow!" He screamed to the sky, looking down on the unconscious Pokemon in front of him. Then he flew back to me, and stood next to me. Scott looked at me, surprised, then ran past me, back into the town, throwing money in my general direction. Sparky, who had cleared his eyes, grabbed the money and turned towards me. He gasped, and dropped it.
"When did we get a Fearow?" He asked, staring at Wing. "Wing will be so excited!" Then he saw Leaf. "And an Ivysaur? Whoa!"
Wing blinked. "You are oblivious. I am Wing, and that is Leaf."
Sparky's eyes grew wide. "WHOA! When did that happen?"
"While you were blinded by sand. Now shut up and be normal." said Choppy, stalking off.
"I vote we kick him off the team." whispered Sparky conspiratorially to the other two. Leaf giggled, and Wing smiled, a first.
"I heard that." I said, but I couldn't hold back a grin.
All three jumped, and they gave me a guilty look.
"That's all right, he bothers me too. But don't say it in front of him, he might explode on you, and I don't like this city. I want to stay out of it as much as possible. Now, where to next?"
"I think we are supposed to go over the bridge, but there seem to be people blocking the way." said Wing, nodding sagely.
"Then we beat them." I said, shrugging.
We started across, easily whipped the five trainers, and a strange man stopped us at the end of the bridge. I could see a black shirt under his trenchcoat.
"Hey, I saw how you battled. I think you have what it would take to be a member of Team Rocket." He opened his Trench Coat, and I saw the same red R that the goons in Mt. Moon were wearing. "We have benefits." he added, seeing the look on my face.
"What happens if I say no?" I asked, looking thoughtfully at the uniform.
"Well, then I have to battle you and steal your Pokemon." he said simply.
I thought for a few seconds. "What the heck. Sure, I'll join."
Sparky looked shocked. Choppy was looking away. Wing looked thoughtful. Leaf was utterly confused.
"Awesome! Here's a uniform, and you can change into it the next time you get the chance!" he said, then handed me a Nugget and a uniform. Then he walked away, whistling.
"What the heck!" asked Sparky, staring at me. Wing looked like he understood, because he had that look in his eye that meant he understood. I nodded, and he explained.
"He wants to be able to sneak through what we will almost certainly find to be Team Rocket secret lairs. This is actually a rather brilliant plan. Good thinking." he said, nodding.
"Eh. I've heard better plans." said Choppy, shrugging.
"Guys-" said Leaf, but Sparky cut her off.
"That's brilliant!" he shouted.
"Guys-" Leaf started again, but Wing cut her off unintentionally.
"I know!" he said to Sparky.
"GUYS!" shouted Leaf, catching everyones attention.
"What?" me, Sparky, and Wing all said together.
"There is a fire over there. A big grass fire." she said, pointing with her head.
"Oh." I said. "So what do we do?"
"Obviously, we try to figure out what is causing it." she said, groaning.
So we walked towards the flames. When we got there, we saw a wimpy looking trainer cowering in fear as a cute looking Charmander set fire to everything. He saw us and ran at me.
"You gotta stop him!" he cried woefully. "He won't stop burning things!"
"Never fear!" I said heroically. "I'll stop him, with the help of the Super Power Four!"
"Make that three." said Leaf, backing away. "I don't do well with Fire-types."
"Right, forgot that. The Super Power Three!"
Choppy groaned, walked up behind the Charmander, and Karate Chopped it. It fell over, unconscious, and miraculously, all the fires it had started went out. He walked back over, kicked me, and went back in his Pokeball.
"We stopped him!" I cried, striking a pose. Wing spread his wings and cawed at the sky, while Sparky made sparks fly through the air. The nerd looked at us for a moment, then tossed a Pokeball at my feet.
"He's yours, just don't hurt me crazy man." he squeaked out before running away. I looked at the Pokeball for a moment, then knelt down, tapped the Charmander with it, and shouted "BLAZE!" in reference to my newest Pokemon.
We all ran back to the Pokemon Center, where, after I healed them, I let Blaze out for the first time.
"You look like an idiot with that hat." he said, glaring at Choppy, who had stolen my hat at some point.
Choppy flicked him off and threw the hat on the ground. Blaze lit it on fire with Ember, and Choppy grinned. First time I have ever seen that thing happy.
"You're alright." he said, shaking hands with Blaze. "And just so you know," he whispered, "this guy is nuts. He joined Team Rocket so he would have an easier time taking them out."
"That actually sounds like a good idea." Blaze said. Choppy glared at him and turned his back. So much for making new friends.
"Alright, we're going to try to go to the gym now, anyone who absolutely will not compete?" I asked, looking them over. Blaze gave me the "are you kidding me" look, so I knew he wouldn't. Choppy looked thoughtful for a moment, then shrugged. If needed, he'd fight. My other three were all for it.
Moments later
"What do you mean, closed?" I asked incredulously, staring at the sign on the gym door. "I want to get this over with!"
"Bill has disappeared, and Misty went to find him." said some random guy hiding around the corner. "Find him, and she'll come back so you can battle her."
"Where might I find this 'Bill?'" I asked, scratching my chin.
"I dunno. Check his lab." he said, then disappeared.
"Off to Bill's lab!" I cried.
"It's almost 7pm, but I have no idea how. Let's wait 'til tomorrow to do that." said Wing, looking at the sky.
"To the Pokemon Center!" I cried, leading the way.
Finally! A win! I beat Scott, and not only that, I got Charmander! The team now:
Sparky, the Hyper-active Pikachu: Level 20
Wing, the Intelligent Fearow: Level 20
Choppy, the Apathetic and Sarcastic Mankey: Level 18
Leaf, the Girly (no better idea yet) Ivysaur: Level 17
Blaze, the Slightly Less Sarcastic Pyro Charmander: Level 11
Til next time, Adieu!
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