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"And now I'm stuck with you" Lio complained as he and Kristen entered through the gates of Violet City.
"Violet City" Kristen whiffed the air. "The city of nostalgic scents - and what did you say!?"
"Sorry, sorry" Lio mumbled, obviously worried. "But how the hell are we going to find that bag - I mean, the butcher could have taken it, or the grocer, or the butler, hell, even that random guy on the street".
The random guy on the street seemed to have heard Lio and approached the two. "You two look worried. You're rookie trainers, right? I'd be happy to help in anything you need."
"Yes!" Kristen answered right away. "We were actually looking for a bag we lost. It was full of Pokemon and we have no idea who stole it".
The old man scratched his head. "Well, I can't help you personally but the Master Sage knows about it for sure".
"Master Sage?" Kristen questioned.
The man chuckled. "Oh, I forgot you're from out of town. Y'see, there's a sort of cult of Bellsprout lovers that live in the Sprout Tower. They think they can achieve enlightenment by becoming one with their Bellsprouts or something. They say the Master Sage has achieved enlightenment and that he can see the world in his mind's eye. Basically, he know's everything."
"Thanks!" Lio said, running off. "You helped us a lot!"
"Thanks!" Kristen said as well, running after Lio.
The man sighed. "They look pretty smart, but they ran in the wrong direction".
"It's because of you that we went in the wrong direction!" Kristen yelled.
"Yeah, but you didn't have to follow me" Lio replied.
"Whatever" Kristen said, "the point is we got here".
The two stood before a three-story building built of logs, with a violet roof and small yellow windows. It looked quite deteriorated, as though it was about to fall apart any minute. There was a metal knocker in the shape of a Bellsprout on the front door, so Kristen knocked.
The door opened and a sage appeared. He was dressed in black flowing robes and was barefoot. His head was shaved so cleanly that the sky could be reflected on it.
"For what purpose are you here, young trainers?" The sage spoke in a mystical voice.
"We want to beat the Master Sage's ass!" Lio joked, earning a punch on his shoulder from Kristen.
"We wanted to meet the Master Sage in order to ask him some questions."
"I see, the Master Sage." The sage nodded. "You know this tower isn't just fun and games, children. Many have come to see the Master Sage in the last months so we have changed our policy. In order to see him, you must defeat all of us!"
Kristen sobbed. "Why does it have to be so hard to find a lost bag?!"
"C'mon, Kristen. I thought you would actually be happy in this situation. It's more training for your Pokemon, isn't it?"
Kristen lifted her head. "You…"
"So, are we going to start this battle?" The sage asked.
"Yeah," Lio answered as he and Kristen stepped inside the building.
It wasn't much better inside. The floor creaked, small water drops leaked from the roof and only candles lit the room.
"Let's hope this building isn't as flimsy as Bellsprouts are" Lio remarked.
"I will introduce myself" The sage said, ignoring Lio's comment. "My name is Sage Gi and I am the newest sage around here. Although not… the weakest."
"Do I have to introduce myself too? Well… My name is Aurelio Stone, I hail from New Bark Town and yeah…"
"Bellsprout, I choose you!" The sage tossed out his Pokeball and the plant Pokemon emerged.
"Bellsprout, the Flower Pokemon. Even though its body is extremely skinny, it is blindingly fast when catching its prey". The Pokedex stated as Lio scanned Bellsprout.
"Fast, huh? Well, Ace is faster! Come on, little guy!" Ace emerged from his Pokeball, flames burning brightly on his back.
"Bellsprout, use Vine Whip!" Gi ordered and Bellsprouts sent out its vines toward Ace, striking him quickly. Bellsprout and its trainer smirked, until they realized Bellsprout's hand had been caught in ever-growing flames that Ace had been producing. Bellsprout instantly withdrew his hand from Ace's back. "Sprooouuuutttt!"
"Those sages were all talk" Lio said. "Just like you"
"Well, you only beat them easily because you have a fire-type Pokemon!"
"Let's just hope the Master Sage is better than his disciples" Lio replied.
The two entered a well-lit room built more firmly than the rest of the tower. It's floor was made of logs but they were finer cut and of a different, warmer color. In the northern corner of the room rested a statue of a meditating sage with his Bellsprout beside him.
In the center of the room sat a bald man dressed in black robes like all of the sages, his legs crossed and his eyes closed.
"Welcome, Lio and Kristen" He mumbled his eyes still closed.
"H-how do you know who we are?" Kristen asked.
"I see you with my mind's eye. You have come to ask me something, I presume."
"Exactly!" Kristen replied. "We're looking for a bag full of Pokemon that was stolen!"
"A theft…" The sage mumbled. "Interesting…"
"Something looks kinda fishy about this guy. I mean, his mystic powers seem way too strong" Lio whispered. "And why are there two Zubats watching us?"
"What are you talking about!?" Kristen whispered back. "What Zubats? And why does he seem fishy to you? Maybe you're just jealous at him".
Lio grinned. "Ace, come on out!" The fire Pokemon emerged from his ball and the Sage opened his eyes.
"A Pok-"
"Use Ember on that bastard, Ace!"
Flames were shot from Ace's back onto the Sage but before the Sage could do anything two Zubats flew in from the ceiling, blocking the flames with their bodies.
"What are you doing, Lio?" Kristen gasped.
"Are you trying to kill me!?" The sage shouted.
"Nah, just trying to prove you're a fake. I'm guessing those Zubats are yours, right?" Lio asked.
"Well…"
"Whatever you say, they're yours for sure because they came to defend you. Zubat's can't see, so it takes some time to train them to sense their trainer's weight and motion or their sound. They could also feel the flame's heat. They were trained to come to their trainer as soon as heat, or mass, motion, came close to them."
"Okay, so they are mine. What do you want now?"
"Well, you can't be a Bellsprout Sage if you have Pokemon that aren't Bellsprouts, right?"
The sage started sweating. "You see… I caught these Zubats last month and the Sprout Comittee made an exception for me bec-"
Lio started laughing hysterically, pounding his fist on the ground. "WHAT'S SO FUNNY!" The sage demanded.
"It's just… that a bunch of the Sages had Hoothoots! You fell in the most common trap of criminals! Basic!" Lio returned to laughing.
"Well, then. I guess I will have to resort to more… direct means." The sage took off his cloak, revealing a black clothes with a crimson "R" imprinted on the shirt, a black cap in his hand. He put the cap on his head and sighed. "I'm actually happy you revealed me. I was getting sick of wearing those itchy robes".
Lio stopped laughing to look up and chuckled. "I think you're in the wrong asylum, buddy. We should probably move you so other people won't get infected! Guffaw!"
"Lio!" Kristen said loudly. "This is not the time to be laughing. This guy is dangerous!"
Lio stood up. "If you say so. But… I can't really see how this guy could be dangerous."
"I am part of Team Rocket! The greatest minds in the world! We can't stand anybody who is beneath us! We… will kill and conquer all."
"Ace! Now's the time to make a real fire." Lio said seriously. Ace nodded and the flame on his back grew exponentially. "Now, use Ember!" Ace hurled his flames towards the two Zubats but they artfully dodged them. "These guys have been well trained." Lio murmured.
"Go, Chuchu!" Kristen yelled and sent out a cute yellow Pikachu. She grinned. "She's so cute, isn't she! I got her as a present for my eighth birthday, specially brought from Kanto. Use Thundershock!" Pikachu started charging electricity in his cheeks but was stopped by a simultaneous attack from the two Zubat's. "Wing Attack!" The Zubats formed a circular formation and whipped their wings into Chuchu, knocking her back to the other side of the room. Kristen rushed to soothe her Pikachu and Lio was left alone with the two Zubats. He had an idea.
"Zubats, use Wing attack again!" The Rocket grunt commanded and the two flew in formation towards Lio and Ace.
Ace got whipped by the two bats and fell to the ground with a thud. "Ace, hang in there! Next time they come, we're gonna use a new attack, one that starts with an S and ends with an N". Ace tilted his head but Lio assured him that he would understand when the time came. "Use Tackle!" Lio commanded. Ace jumped toward the two but the Zubats blocked it with their bodies.
"Win-"
"Smokescreen!" Lio shouted and Ace's primal instincts took over. The fire on his back turned into grey smoke that spread 'like a wildfire' into the whole room. Nobody could see anything. "Ace! Use Ember!" Lio commanded, but before Ace could move the Rocket grunt began to speak.
"You idiot. You just explained before that Zubat's can't see. They depend on heat and sound but not visual input. They can pinpoint you just fine with smoke in the room… and bite you."
Crack.
Lio felt sharp fangs digging into the back of his neck.
Shit.
He really didn't think of that.
Thud. That was Kristen.
Thud. That was him.
He felt warm blood streaming from his wound and also his mind beginning to become slushy. "There was probably some poison in that bite" He thought. "Not probably... for sure".
"Hahahahaha!" The Rocket grunt yelled. "Idiots!"
"You're an idiot." A second voice said. What? This was probably a dream.
"Who the hell are you, blondie?" What was happening? Was this… real?
"You don't need to know. Totodile, do the honors."
"Dai Dai Dile!"
BOOM! Lio heard a huge blast and then slow dripping of water, as well as the Rocket grunt groaning.
It was Sylvester again. How much he would pay to get out of this awkward situation.
A/N: Next Up- Harsh Battle For the Zephyr Badge!
Oh my God it's Sylvester I can't believe it! Yes, yes it's the 'other guy saves the day' mechanism but what can I do, it has a purpose in the story and will only be revealed in the end :0
Please Read and Review and all that! Thanks you very much!
Lio's Team:
Ace, Cyndaquil
Moves- Tackle, Leer, Ember, Smokescreen
Hoppip
Moves- Splash
Pokemon Seen-6
Pokemon Owned-2
Badges-0