Hey hey it's Friday again! I'm feeling upbeat 'cause I didn't have to go to school today… the roads were too icy.

I would like to give a big shout out to my two reviewers, ANON and Golden-Owl. You made great comments. That being said, I need to explain how I approach fan fiction. I've written what I want to read, so the plot will not change. It is absolutely, positively unmovable. Now that that's taken care of, let's move on the more complicated issue.

You brought up some good points in your reviews, but you see, all the chapters for Pokémon Ember Saga have already been written. All twenty of them. I wrote most of it in between classes last semester, and then typed it over the holidays. Even so, I would follow your advice (really) but the fact is that as it is now, I just don't have the time. I have five novels to read for one class, two for another, papers, tests and quizzes to worry about. And I don't want to stop updating. So, sorry if I disappoint you or piss you off. I really do appreciate the advice!

Oh, and ANON, Ember is a Fire Pokémon trainer, so of course she's going to get Charmander.

Thank you for your patience. Here's the regular reminders:

Nagi – Ember's Growlithe. He hatched from a Pokémon egg when Ember was little. His full nickname is Izanagi.

Nami – Ember's Vulpix. She hatched from a Pokémon egg when Ember was little. Her full nickname is Izanami.

Aston – Ember's Charmander. He was given to Ember by Professor Oak. He has a nervous personality.

Eggy – a Pokémon egg given to Ember by the Day Care Couple. What kind of Pokémon will hatch from it?

Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon, and I can't think of any clever way to say it.


Pokémon Ember Saga Ch 7: A Shocking Battle

After gleaning all the information she can from the members of the Pokémon Fan Club, Ember is absolutely convinced that the S.S. Anne is the source of the Pokémon kidnappings. She gets ready to investigate the ship.

"I'm going to leave my egg here," Ember says, "and eggs need heat, so Aston will be staying too."

"I know that you will find our missing Pokémon," Mr. President says, "but can you do me one favor?"

"What?" Ember asks.

"Can I borrow your Vulpix to cuddle?" Mr. President asks, his eyes big and watery.

Well, I am just going for reconnaissance Ember concedes mentally. She nods, and Mr. President scoops Nami up into his arms. With a heavy sigh, Ember and Nagi head for the ship.


When Ember and Nagi reach the S.S. Anne, all the doors and bulkheads are shut tight, and the gangplanks are withdrawn.

"If I didn't know any better," Ember says, "I'd swear that they knew we were coming."

"Growlithe," Nagi agrees.

"Well, we're not getting in this way," Ember says. "It's time to show off your swimming skills, my friend."

Ember and Nagi slip into the water. Ember wraps her arms around Nagi's neck and the little Dog Pokémon swims silently around to the back of the S.S. Anne. It doesn't take long before the finds an anchor chain that Ember can climb up. Ember recalls Nagi and climbs the chain up to the deck of the ship. Once there, she re-releases Nagi.

"I think I was the crates a couple of floors down from here," Ember says. "Let's go check it out."

Sneaking along hallways and down stairs, Ember and Nagi reach a large room filled with crates.

"This looks promising," Ember says, glancing around.

"Growl growlithe," Nagi says, giving Ember's sleeve a gentle tug.

"What is it?" Ember asks.

"Lithe," Nagi says, motioning with his head towards the right. There, on the ground, is a Pokéball.

"Good eye, Nagi," Ember says.

Ember walks over to the Pokéball and bends down to pick it up. Just before her hand touches the Pokéball, it moves all on its own. It spins, revealing two angry eyes. It jumps into Ember's face, discharging bolts of electricity.

"Stop it!" Ember shouts, as the ball zaps her and Nagi over and over. "Nagi, use Ember!"

Nagi exhales chunks of fire, which send the ball-creature ricocheting away.

"That was weird," Ember says. "Are you all right, Nagi?"

As Ember asks, Nagi suddenly collapses.

"Nagi!" Ember exclaims, rushing to the fallen Pokémon's side and kneeling. "What's wrong?"

"Looks like it's in shock," a male voice says behind her.

Ember spins, still on her knees. Behind her there is a man with blond hair in a buzz cut, wearing a camouflage shirt and blue jean pants. Behind his is a crowd of sailors. Glancing behind her, Ember sees that there are more ball-creatures, some with red on top and others with white, along with the occasional silver Magnemite.

"Voltorb are known for delivering nasty shocks," the blond man says. The sailors behind him laugh. "Just be glad it wasn't an Electrode; it would have been ten times worse."

"Who are you?" Ember demands.

"Who am I?" the blond man says. "I'm Lieutenant Surge. I'm one of Team Rocket's top dogs, and I run this ship!"

"What do you want?" Ember asks.

"As if you don't know," Lt. Surge sneers. "You're a trespasser. And I'm well known for running a tight ship."

"Are you the ones who have been kidnapping the local Pokémon?" Ember demands.

"Kidnapping she says!" Lt. Surge exclaims, to the laughter of the sailors. "We're saving these over-protected, over pampered Pokémon! We're liberating them! And, if we make a little money on the side, all the better for us!"

"You twisted son of a…," Ember snarls, climbing to her feet. Behind her, Nagi opens his eyes and shifts into a crouching position.

"You've got a fighting spirit, kid," Lt. Surge says, "but do you really think that you can take on all of us with just one Pokémon?"

Ember doesn't say anything, but gives Nagi a telling glance.

"That's what I thought," Lt. Surge says. "It's time to finish this."

A shadowy figure appears behind Lt. Surge, moving forward with the sound of clanking chains. It's a Pokémon, a good foot taller than Surge and covered in yellow, black striped fur. Its arms, legs, and wrists are bound with shackles and chains.

"This Electabuzz is a nasty sucker," Lt. Surge says, sneering. "I can't even get it into a Pokéball. I thought that it would make the perfect guard dog."

Lt. Surge makes a sharp gesture with his hands and the shackles snap open. The chains fall off of the Electabuzz.

"Attack!" Lt. Surge shouts, pointing at Ember and Nagi.

The Electabuzz is on them in an instant. Ember is shocked by the large Pokémon's speed. The Electabuzz aims a punch at Ember, but the flame-haired girl jumps out of the way, pushing Nagi with her. The punch slams into the floor and breaks right through it, leaving a smoldering hole in its wake.

"That's just a little taste of what ThunderPunch can do," Lt. Surge says.

Ember glares at Lt. Surge. A plan is already forming in her minds as man and Pokémon approach her.

"He won't miss this time," Lt. Surge says.

"Wanna bet?" Ember snaps. "Nagi, use Smokescreen!"

Nagi opens his mouth and thick black smoke billows out. The smoke fills the room in a matter of seconds.

And when the smoke clears, Ember and Nagi are gone.


Ember peers around a corner and down a hallway. It doesn't look like anyone has followed them. Relieved, Ember slides into a sitting position, her back against a wall. She looks down at Nagi, whom she is carrying in her arms.

"That was a close one," she says, petting the little Pokémon. "You did great with that Smokescreen. And you just learned that move yesterday."

Nagi smiles at the praise, but then he winces in pain.

"I hate to say it," Ember continues, "but we've got to get out of here."

Ember gets back up, still holding Nagi, and starts to ease around one corner. Immediately, she darts back. A familiar silver Pokémon is now hovering in the hall, looking around.

A Magnemite! Ember glances into a nearby room and sees more Magnemite.

They're everywhere. I bet they're looking for us.

Seeming done with the area, the Magnemite begin moving deeper into the ship.

Something tells me I should go this way Ember moves in the opposite direction. She hugs the wall and moves in an awkward squatting, shuffling way, with Nagi still in her arms, as other Magnemite pass by. When Ember reaches a ladder, she shifts Nagi to one arm and manages to climb using one hand and her elbow.

I don't think this is the way out but what choice do I have?

Ember reaches the ship's deck and starts to sneak across. She has just starting to have hope, when a flash of silver catches her eye. Ember turns to see not a Magnemite but a Magneton hovering behind her. A loud screeching sound, like metal grinding against metal, fills the air, and Ember screams in pain. Ember is surrounded by four Magneton in a pyramid shape. Lt. Surge comes walking up with his Electabuzz not far behind.

"Well, well," Lt. Surge says. He bends down and lifts the unconscious Nagi up by the scruff of his neck. He holds Nagi over the side of the ship.

"No, stop!" Ember cries, lunging forward. Her head collides with something hard, slanted and invisible.

"What is this!" Ember demands, beating her fists against the invisible wall. Quickly the Magneton surrounding Ember rise into the air, and Ember rises with them.

"That's an electronic barrier," Lt. Surge says. "It's stronger than steel. Now, say goodbye to your little friend."

And he drops Nagi into to water.

"No!" Ember shouts. "Nagi! Izanagi!"

"And now," Lt. Surge says, "to show you what happens to kids who stick their noses into other people's business. Electabuzz, Thunderbolt!"

Several bolts of electricity erupt from the Electabuzz's palms and fingers, and all of them shoot into Ember.

Ember throws her head back and screams with such force it feels like her throat is burning. Her body snaps as ridges as a board as the electricity courses through her. Her vision dims to the tiniest if pinpricks. When the pain finally stops, Ember slumps over, unable to move.

"That's enough," Lt. Surge says. The electric field dissipates and Ember drops into the water.

Ember feels herself sinking. She barely has enough presence of mind to hold her breath. She tries to move, but can't even get her pinkie to twitch.

But what good would it do? Ember muses. I can't swim anyway.

Ember watches as the surface grows more and more distant.

What's Mom going to do without me?

Ember closes her eyes.


"I guess that takes care of that," Lt. Surge says.

He turns away from the railing, a self-satisfied smirk on his face. Then, something explodes out of the water and lands on the deck with a bang. Lt. Surge spins, wondering what it could be.

It's an Arcanine, large and majestic. On its back, with one arm wrapped around its neck is Ember. She releases her grip and slides onto the ship's deck, landing in an undignified heap. The Arcanine, clearly an evolved Nagi, glares at Lt. Surge and his Electabuzz, growling. The Electabuzz raises its fists.

"Uh…" Lt. Surge stammers, backing away. "I think I left the bathtub running…"

Nagi and the Electabuzz charge at each other. Ember raises herself into a sitting position just in time to see Nagi lower his head and ram into the Electabuzz's stomach, sending the Electric Pokémon flying towards Lt. Surge.

"Not Take Down!" Lt. Surge exclaims. He tries to get out of the way, but the Electabuzz slams into him and carries him over the side of the ship


An hour later, back on shore, the police have taken over the show. Ember watches, with Nagi at her side, as dozens of sailors are lead off in handcuffs.

"They didn't find Lt. Surge, though," Ember murmurs to herself.

Turning away from the procession of perps, Ember watches as the people of Vermilion City are reunited with their kidnapped Pokémon.

We did find all the missing Pokémon Ember smiles. There's just one more problem….

"Ember, dear girl!" Mr. President calls out, running up to Ember. Nami and Aston are beside him and a woman carrying Ember's egg isn't far behind. Ember is quick to take her egg back.

"Hello Mr. President," Ember says, sounding nervous.

"I heard!" Mr. President says. "There's no way we could ever repay you!"

"Yeah, well…," Ember says.

"And this is Nagi?" Mr. President asks, pointing. "Did he evolve?"

"He did," Ember says, "but he's still cute, right?"

Mr. President gives a forlorn sigh. Then her grabs Ember by the collar and starts shaking her.

"Tell me!" the diminutive man demands. "What happened to my little Abra?!"

"Well, you see," Ember says, "while it was gone, your little Abra…"

Ember steps aside, revealing a tall, brown and yellow, human-like Pokémon with a long moustache and a spoon in each hand.

"… evolved into a big ol' Alakazam!" Ember finishes.

Mr. President stands stone still for what seems like forever. Then, with a shriek, he faints. As members of the Pokémon Fan Club gather around their president, worried. Ember shakes her head. She isn't sure if the situation is funny or tragic.


That's all folks! Now that you're done reading, REVIEW! You know you want to! Flames will be used to heat up Moonpies. Mmmmm…. Moonpies…… Now, if you will excuse me, I have to rest up for my parade on Sunday. Dewa kore de!