Chapter 6: The Shocking Showdown
With Alisha sound asleep, Seratus tiptoed behind the chair and slowly crept to the door. "I can't believe I lost to Falkner and she won," he muttered under his breath. The dark clouds hid the stars and blanketed the night sky in complete darkness. Even the wind was eerily silent this night as Seratus found himself scurrying along the dirt path. The lampposts gave a small amount of amber light to help guide woeful trainers who happened to be out at night. He slowly walked by the Violet City gym, and out of the corner of his eye, he saw Falkner using a hang glider heading north. "Must be the Gastly again."
After arriving at a small house, he saw a street sign. "Route 32 South, Route 35 West, Route 31 East." He followed the road south and the further he walked the darker it became as the lampposts only went as far as the city limit gates.
"There's a faint light ahead," he said squinting as a tiny glow of light emitted from a patch of grass. As he slowly crept forward, the light soon became brighter and he could a sheep like creature. The light reflected an amber color off the wool. Blue feet stuck out through the bottom matching the blue head. The pokemon had yellow and black striped horns with a matching tail with a small orange ball at the end of the tail. That ball was emitting a small light for the pokemon. "Let's see what the pokedex calls it.
"Mareep, the wool pokemon. Its fluffy wool rubs together and builds a static charge. The more energy is charged, the more brightly the lightbulb at the tip of its tail glows."
"I guess that's the electric pokemon that Rod was talking about. Totodile, I choose you."
"Totodile" he called as he bounced out of his pokeball.
"Water gun." Totodile opened his mouth and shot a jet of water hitting Mareep in the back.
"MAREEP!" it shrilled after feeling the cold blast. It began charging at Totodile leaping to get an extra boost to its tackle.
"Dodge it and use scratch as it rushes by." Totodile quickly jumped to the side using his claws to swipe Mareep across the face causing the pokemon to fall and slide on the dirt. "Water gun again."
"Toto," he exclaimed as he shot forth another jet critically hitting Mareep.
"Pokeball, go!" Seratus cried as he threw the pokeball. It quickly sailed through the air bouncing off the side of the fallen Mareep quickly capturing it. The ball fell to the ground as it rattled as usual with a red flashing light. Seratus held his breath and Totodile stared intently as the ball continued to rattle back and forth. After a few moments, the ball quit moving, "Awesome. I caught a Mareep."
"TOtoDILE!" he exclaimed jumping up and down.
Seratus walked over to Totodile, "You did great, buddy. Take a good rest." He grabbed the pokeball recalling Totodile and put the ball back in his pocket. "Now I need to get back to the pokecenter before Alisha wakes up.
As he entered Violet City, the sky grew faintly brighter with each step. "It's almost morning." He skipped through town, silently whistling. As he arrived at the pokecenter, the dawn was just arriving, and he quietly snuck in.
"Where in the world have you been?" Alisha asked tapping her toe against the hard floor glaring at Seratus.
"I was preparing myself for the rematch. I couldn't sleep, so I went to get that electric pokemon Rod told us about"
"You went by yourself! Why didn't you ask me if I wanted to go?"
"Huh," he stumbled, "it's because you were sleeping?"
"Wrong answer," she replied throwing her fist into his shoulder.
"Ow!" he screamed rubbing his shoulder. "What was the right answer?"
"You should know this."
"Huh…is it because its night night time and bugs come out to play."
"That's it. I'm going to have to hurt you."
"Please…don't hurt me. Just tell me, so I know what to do next time."
"No matter what, we do things together."
"Does that include using the bathroom?"
Alisha swung again landing the fist in the same spot, "Idiot."
"Will you quit punching me?"
"Only when you quit being stupid."
"I'm in trouble."
"Are you two all right?" Nurse Joy said coming from the back.
"We're fine Nurse Joy," Alisha replied. We were getting ready to go and have Seratus have his rematch at the gym."
"OK then," she said, "good luck."
"Thanks," Seratus said.
They both left, and the sun was finally in the air. The warm light surrounded them as they quickly made their way to the Violet City Gym. Seratus threw the doors open, " I'm back for my rematch."
Falkner was standing there anticipating the two's return. "I noticed you were successful in catching a Mareep. So, you plan on clipping my pokemon's wing with a jolt of electricity. I take that as an insult."
"How do you know I got a Mareep?"
"Easy. Rod instructs trainers that are struggling to capture a Mareep. I also personally watched your battle from above riding on Pidgeot."
"I'll still find a way to beat you."
"I'm feeling generous today, and considering you're the only trainer I'll see today, I'll battle you without you having to face a junior trainer."
"Still a two on two?"
"Yes. But you should get onto the elevator."
Seratus stood on the platform, and quickly rose about ten feet into the air. "I like it up here," he commented.
"As do I," Falkner replied as he raised his elevator higher.
The gym was opened, and white puffy clouds slowly marched over the light blue sky. A gust of wind was blowing through as Falkner's hair whipped in the wind. Seratus embraced the wind, but flinched as the sudden gust pierced his face.
Alisha sat in the bleachers swooning at Falkner. "The way that hair whips around is just so…" she said shuttering.
" Go Hoothoot." Falkner's Hoothoot quickly perched itself on Falkner's shoulder awaiting battle.
"Hoothoot, I choose you!"
"Hoot!" she shrieked as she took to the air.
"Interesting choice. Hoothoot, use agility." Hoothoot took to the air quickly flashing from one location to another.
"That Hoothoot is quick," he said to himself, "we'll need to wait for him to make a move."
"Now use peck." The quick pokemon grew closer and closer to the still Hoothoot.
"Use foresight to target Hootoot and follow it up with your own peck attack." Hoothoot narrowed her eyes on Hoothoot as it continued using agility. She anticipated its next move and quickly flew to the location with her beak extended crashing hard into Hoothoot as it appeared prepared countering with its own peck attack. Both pokemon quickly fell back into their owners' arms.
"Oh no!" Alisha cried as she saw Falkner holding his Hoothoot.
"Both pokemon are unable to battle. The match is a draw," Rod said.
"You did very well, Hoothoot," Falkner said as he caressed Hoothoot.
"I'm very proud of you, Hoothoot. You deserve a good rest," Seratus said as he held her close.
"That was good, Seratus. But can you beat this pokemon? Dodou, go!"
A twin-headed ostrich like creature emerged. It had a fat round body composed of brown feathers with two smaller matching heads connected by a brown thin neck. It had long tan legs. "Doduo, the twin-bird pokemon. Its short wings make flying difficult. Instead, this Pokémon runs at high speed on developed legs."
"Go, Mareep." Mareep appeared with small static shocks roaming through his wool.
"Doduo, use quick attack and follow up with fury attack."
"Mareep, allow it to get close." Doduo charged quickly, sprinting with both heads down ready to slam into Mareep. "Now, slightly step to the side." Mareep slowly moved over, allowing Doduo to still him. Static shock slowly ran through Doduo's body as she grazed the wool. Now use thundershock."
"Doduo, dodge it." Mareep's horns were surging with electricity, and he concentrated that into a light blue beam that was heading straight for Doduo. Doduo tried moving and remained stiff as electricity flowed through her body. The thundershock connected with Doduo, causing her to topple over.
"Doduo is unable…" Doduo quickly stood up with one head bent below the body while the second head balanced itself high. "Nevermind, Doduo looks ready to go."
"Doduo, shake off that static and use fury attack."
Seratus saw that Mareep's wool had shrunk significantly. "Mareep, counter with tackle."
Both pokemon charged at each other with Doduo alternating heads as she began pecking at Mareep. Mareep countered by turning his head using the horns to take the brunt of the damage.
"Now, use thundershock" Mareep charged its horns electrifying them as Doduo continued her fury attack.
"Oh no. Doduo, quickly jump out of the way." But it was too late. The thundershock directly hit both heads making her topple over again.
"Now finish it with tackle." Mareep charged and rammed the Doduo into the air.
"Doduo, return," Falkner declared as he called back the air born pokemon. That was very impressive handling of a newly obtained pokemon."
"Thank you Falkner."
"Thank you for a wonderful battle. As promised for defeating me in battle, I present you with this, the Zephyr Badge." Falkner extended his hand.
Seratus extended his reaching for the badge. In the process, Seratus gripped Falkner's hand giving it a firm handshake. "I said I was going to beat you and I did that."
"You did indeed," he smiled returning the handshake. He looked over at Alisha who was clapping. "Good luck to both of you."
"Thanks," they both said.
"You're next town you should head to is Azalea Town. Go south through Route 32, then you should come to a cave called Union Cave. That will take you to Route 33 that leads into Azalea Town."
"Thank you," Alisha said writing down small points on her map.
"It's my pleasure. Can I ask a favor of you two?"
"Sure, what it is?" Seratus asked.
"Well, my love of bird pokemon has me keeping in touch with honorable trainers that also have bird pokemon. Since you have a Hoothoot, I would like to have updates from you on how she is doing?"
"Oh. Yeah, I have no problems with that."
"If I also catch a bird pokemon, I'll also let you know," Alisha added.
"Thank you very much. Good luck and if we meet again, expect a rematch from me."
"Yeah, you bet," Seratus answered.
"You have a deal," Alisha added.