Absolutely Heroes
Chapter 4: P is for Pokédex, Poison, and Purple boats
"It always seems impossible until it's done." - Nelson Mandela
A/N: So after a long wait, I have finally written chapter four! Oh, and also, we see a bit of Pokémon language being spoken, instead of the usual telepathy. It's in italics and it's being spoken by Absol and a certain Koffing.
*Throws leftover cookies from chapter three for everyone to catch* Thanks to those who reviewed, favourited, followed, and read so far!
The usual buzz of the Pokémon Center lifted Hilbert's spirits. He felt happier, knowing that he wasn't the only one keeping Pokémon when it was against the law.
"Nurse Joy, how do you keep this place open?" Hilbert asked Nurse Joy when he placed his Pokéballs on the counter. "I mean, the Pokémon Center isn't funded by the government now, ever since Team Plasma took over."
"The Gym Leaders give us money to stay open," replied Nurse Joy. "When Team Plasma took over, Clay argued that since only Gym Leaders will be using this place, they should still keep the place open. But that also gives normal people a chance to keep their Pokémon, since we can heal them."
Nurse Joy placed the Pokéballs into the healing machine and examined each Pokémon one by one, even though only two Pokémon were injured.
"Oh my," cried Nurse Joy, looking at another machine. "Your Absol has high levels of an unidentified energy."
"Is that dangerous?"
"Though I cannot identify the energy, it doesn't seem to be harmful. May I have a bit of Absol's fur, please?" asked Nurse Joy.
"Okay then," said Hilbert. Hilbert let his mind wander while Nurse Joy got Absol out. Was the energy giving Absol the ability to talk? Did 'she' give Absol the energy? Hilbert could tell that it wasn't normal for an Absol to have lots of the energy.
"This fur will be given to our scientists to research," said Nurse Joy, finally pulling out a bit of fur from a reluctant Absol. She then returned Absol into his Pokéball.
"Please, come back again any time!" she said.
Hilbert walked away from the counter and saw Bianca at the magazine corner. He made up his mind to tell Bianca about the substance.
"Maybe, it's some kind of radiation that was interfering with the Pokédex," she said thoughtfully, looking up from her magazine.
"I never thought about that," replied Hilbert.
"Well, I could be wrong," said Bianca humbly. "Absol is in his Pokéball where the radiation wouldn't reach the Pokédex, so maybe, you can see if it works."
Hilbert nodded. He took out his Pokédex and pushed the 'on' button. However, he was greeted by a blank screen. Still not working, he thought.
"Well, it doesn't really matter, and we can find that out later, not now," Hilbert said. "Let's go board the ferry now."
When they reached the crowded pier, they boarded the purple ferry. Hilbert gazed at the ocean. He made out the figure of many purple boats in the distance. He looked at them through his binoculars. There were Team Plasma grunts on them, many of which were fishing.
"Let's go inside that cabin," he suggested to Bianca, pointing to the purple boats.
It was better to be free than to get into Team Plasma's dull prison cells, he thought. When they entered the room, an extremely loud noise greeted his ears. He looked around and spotted a purple stage. There was a purple banner draped on the stage. It had a peculiar Koffing pattern on it and it had the words 'The Koffing' strewn around it. There were three people on the stage playing a guitar, a bass, and the drums. Hilbert guessed were the band. Next, he saw lots of people. They were cheering in the most ear-splitting noise they could manage, apart from the ones whose throats were already worn out.
"And now, for the star of the show!" yelled the girl with the bass. "Now, scream!"
"KOFF-FING!" shrieked the excited fans. The girl hurled a Pokéball into the air, and a Koffing came out of it. It was, as stated before, purple, and it had a skull and crossbones on its body. It was twirling around the fans, saying, "Koff-koffing!"
"Ooh, I've never seen that Pokémon before," stated Bianca, snapping photos with her camera that Hilbert was sure he had never seen before.
"And now, here's our hit song, 'Toxination'!" announced the girl. The crowd cheered wildly, waving about their arms.
Hilbert soon found himself cheering with everyone as the band played their instruments. He didn't normally like rock, but he had to make this an exception. He decided that Absol shouldn't be left out of all the fun.
"Absol, come listen to this!" he cried. He threw the Pokéball up into the air, and Absol immediately came out. He surveyed the area for a while.
"Isn't this what Zekrom would like?" he asked.
"Zekrom's too big," replied Hilbert. "Anyways, I thought you might like this."
Absol took a quick glance towards the band. "Well...it seems okay."
"I knew you would like this!" Hilbert cried joyfully.
"But first, I want to talk to that Pokémon," said Absol, looking at Koffing. "I've never seen that Pokémon before."
Absol leapt onto the floor and slinked towards the Koffing.
"Hey there," said the Koffing, who had spotted him. "You new here?"
"Well, I've never been here before," answered Absol. "Say, what are you?"
"A Koffing, and probably the best of my kind," said Koffing proudly.
"Humph, you're too much like Zekrom."
"Hey, you can't talk to me, the most awesome Pokémon in the whole wide world, like that."
"You really are like Zekrom."
"I don't know who this Zekrom is, but you still can't talk to me like that, 'cause Roxie's so gonna murder you if she ever understands the awesome Pokémon language."
"Brat."
"Normal dude."
"Spoiled brat."
"Uncool Pokémon."
"Horrid Pokémon."
"Nerd."
"I guess this is what being pampered by a rock band turns a Pokémon into."
"You just don't even know how awesomely awesome it is. And Roxie's the best."
"Really? Oh, and forgive me for forgetting to indroduce myself," apologized Absol, remembering that he didn't tell his name to Koffing.
"Who do you think you are – a polite-freak?" scoffed Koffing.
"Shut up. I'm an Absol. I'm on a quest to stop the takeover of the world by the humans that call themselves Team Plasma," declared Absol.
"That's impossible!" exclaimed Koffing, forgetting their previous argument. "They try to capture every single Pokémon they get their hands on, and they always win! The impossible is just impossible!"
"The impossible is possible!" retorted Absol, who was older than Koffing. "Hundreds of years ago, flying could only be done by Pokémon that had wings, and now, humans made big machines called aeroplanes that enable them to fly! Hundreds of years ago, the only ways to get from place to place was to ride a Pokémon or to walk, and quite recently, a rather strange but wonderful machine called the car was invented! Many, many, years ago, no one knew what it was like outside the little ball we call Earth! But the humans learnt how to make rockets and, they sent people out there to learn about it! The word 'impossible' is only a distraction from the possible!"
Absol stopped for a while, panting. "Do you understand now, why the bad guys have to be stopped before it's too late?"
"I wonder where you get that ability to make lectures unboring," remarked Koffing, amused.
"Oh, listen! Someone's speaking," said Absol, cocking his head towards the stage.
"Everyone, everyone! I hope you've enjoyed our show, but, the ferry's going to dock soon, and we really don't want to make the captain angry, so, everyone, scream one last time!"
"KOFF-FING!" shrieked the crowd.
"Well, I have to go now, brat," said Absol.
"Don't call me that," grumbled Koffing. "But, bye, unawesome guy. By the way, you made me forgot to listen to Roxie's awesome music, so, don't be surprised when I spit some poison at you the next time we meet."
"And don't be surprised if I hit you the next time we meet," said Absol, smirking.
When Absol was about to leave Koffing, all of a sudden, there was a huge commotion! Hordes of Team Plasma grunts had entered the boat and they were checking for anyone who was illegally carrying a Pokémon. Koffing was returned to his Pokéball. A wave of panic immediately rushed through Absol. Should he make a run for it and find Hilbert and Bianca? No, that was too risky; he would be easily identified as Hilbert's Pokémon. Should he just stay here? No, a common citizen would be accused of owning him. Many questions popped up in Absol's mind, but the answer to all of them was no.
He had only one idea in mind. Run. And avoid Team Plasma. His legs pushed himself into a dash, in an attempt to avoid Team Plasma. He scanned the room every now and then, looking for Hilbert or Bianca, if possible, both. Then, he spotted them. Among some other people, Hilbert was being searched by a Team Plasma grunt. No, he thought. If they take his Pokéballs, or worse, send him to jail, that would send them back to square one. Or to square zero if they chose the latter.
He had only one choice. Absol scrambled towards Hilbert, readying his Night Slash attack. Then, he sprang into the air, and his attack was fired towards the Team Plasma grunt's hands.
The Team Plasma grunt bawled in pain as he comforted his sore hands. Absol jumped back onto the ground, grinning.
"Absol! You came!" cried Hilbert, smiling. But his smile was turned upside down as more Team Plasma grunts grabbed him by the arms and hauled him into their purple boats. Absol was fast, but not fast enough, as some more Team Plasma took him into their purple boats.
Absol had to think of a plan, and fast. They had to escape.
A/N: Okay, the real baddies are here! But don't worry about Hilbert and Absol! Team Plasma doesn't have any guns or stuff to hurt them. Btw, and the next chapter may take a long time to be published, since I'm going on a vacation to who-knows-where. I don't know if I can find myself an internet café (I'm not bringing a computer). Candies for those who review! :D
Next chapter: More Purple Boats