This is Chapter 7. Read on for a few surprises.
Later that evening, Gold sat in the living room of Green's house, thinking about the fight. All of the members of their set had gathered there, and were busy whipping themselves up into a frenzy. Gold had talked to them before about why they fought, and he had come to four conclusions: Ruby fought because he found it exciting, Sapphire because she hated Rockets, Green to test himself, and Red to be like everyone else. Gold had left his cut-off sweatshirt at home, wearing his dark green three-quarter-sleeve shirt and his usual shorts. He felt odd without the sweatshirt, but it would hinder his ability to hit people.
The four boys had had a tag battle before the fight, so they were pumped up. Green was as impassive as ever, but even he admitted to being excited about the upcoming fight. He was wearing a tight black shirt and jeans, with a black wristband on his left wrist. It was Green who had suggested they meet at his house (a prospect which Professor Oak didn't like, but put up with). He was now in a heated argument with Sapphire, who was planning on fighting with the boys.
"I don't like the idea, Sapphire," Green was saying in a quiet tone. "Your parents will kill me if you get hurt, and I can't stand the thought. This isn't like you fighting a lone Rocket in the hallway. This is a full-scale fight, and I don't think you should be in it."
"Come on, Green," Sapphire told him. "I'll grab a little one and pound him into the dirt. What's the difference?"
"Yeah, Green, let her fight," said Ruby from the corner. "Everyone should get a chance to fight. Skin against skin, she won't get hurt,"
"Well, we will need every man—or woman—we can get, but I don't know." Green looked concerned.
"Look, Green," said Gold, speaking up for the first time in a while, "If it were blades or anything else it'd be different. She's tough, she'll be OK."
"Alright," said Green in a defeated tone. "But you be careful, OK?"
"Sure, I will." said Sapphire. "How come you don't worry about him so much," she added, looking at Ruby. "He's the one needs watching out for."
"Hey, that's one kid I don't have to worry about." Green said, an uncharacteristic grin spreading across his face. "He can use his head for one thing, and that's to grow hair on!" He wrapped his arm around Ruby's neck, ruffled his hair, and sprinted out the door. The rest of the fighters ran out, whooping and hollering, while the three other girls yelled to be safe.
As they approached the site, Green turned to Ruby and Sapphire. "Listen to me, both of you. If the cops show up, you two beat it. It's bad enough we'll get jailed, but you two'll get in even bigger trouble, know what I'm saying?"
"Sure," said Sapphire. "But they won't dare call the cops, 'cause they know better!"
"All the same, you two beat it out of there, you hear me?" When Ruby nodded, Green settled down, and they walked toward the grassy patch where the fight was to take place. They arrived to find that Pearl and his gang were already there. Pearl had a black jacket over his orange and white striped rugby shirt, and he stared out at the field as they walked up.
"How you doing, Pearl?" said Green, holding out his hand.
"Pretty good," Pearl responded, shaking it. He turned to Gold. "You're the one who threatened the Rocket that started all this, right?"
"Yeah," Gold answered apprehensively.
"Good going, kid. Diamond always said you were a good kid." When Gold stared at him, he added, "My parents sent Diamond and Platina to boarding school for the next six months. Diamond got caught breaking into a drugstore, the little..." He launched into a stream of expletives that he seemed to consider terms of endearment. The glow of headlights interrupted his tirade, and he threw his jacket aside as five cars pulled up.
Twenty-three Rockets climbed out of the five different cars, all dressed in their usual white button-down shirts and khakis. Gold noticed that Butch was there, and so was Eusine, Crystal's ex-boyfriend, but James was missing. The gang turned to face the Rockets, and he saw Green standing at the head of the group. The Rockets spread out to form a wide line, and one of the Rockets stepped up. This particular Rocket had a navy jacket and black sweatpants on, and his brown hair fell into his eyes.
"Hello, Green. Long time, no see." the Rocket said.
"Hello, Paul." Gold saw Ruby staring, and he realized that it was Paul from Sinnoh. He had been the most aggressive battler on Violet's Poke Cup team before being kicked out. Obviously, his fortunes had changed, and he was back in Johto to fight his old friend.
"I'll take you," said Paul simply, and Green smiled coldly. Just then, a shout echoed from the distance.
"Hey, wait up!" Gold looked to see who it was, turned back, and a fist hit his face hard. The fight was on! Gold jumped back up and slammed his fist into the Rocket's stomach, causing him to fall in pain, but the Rocket kept fighting, throwing punches left and right. Nearby, Sapphire had jumped on Eusine, and was tearing at the older boy's cape, trying to get to the arrogant honor student. Green was trading punches with Paul, knocking him down several times. Gold looked over and saw Silver kicking one of the Rockets as he lay on the ground. He ran over to Silver, who nodded as he punched another Rocket across the face.
"I thought you were in the hospital!" yelled Gold, grappling with a large Rocket.
"I was!" called Silver, throwing yet another Rocket over his shoulder. "I'm not anymore!"
"How come?"
"Talked the nurse into it, with Red's boxcutter! Don't you know a fight ain't a fight unless I'm in it?" Gold digested this quickly, as Red passed by, fighting off Attila, one of Butch's 'lieutenants'. Pearl had wrestled one of the Rockets to the ground, and was lying on top of the larger boy, hitting him as hard as he could. Sapphire had successfully gotten to Eusine, and had knocked him down with three swings, and he started to crawl away as the Rockets called for a retreat.
"They're running!" yelled Red, as Green threw Paul to the ground. Paul began to run, too, and Red yelled again, "Look at the dirty Rockets run!" It was true. The Crewers let out derisive howls as the Rockets fled the scene, battered and bruised, to leave their rivals victorious. Green ran over to Sapphire, and was checking to see if she was alright. She grinned at him, raised her arms in triumph, and celebrated with the rest of the Crewers, screaming victoriously as the last Rockets jumped into their cars and raced away. Silver grabbed Gold and dragged him away.
"Come on," he ordered. "We're going to see Emerald." Gold was too beaten up to argue, and the two of them ran to Silver's car. They roared down the road, avoiding pedestrians like traffic cones, and reached Goldenrod in record time. Gold climbed out first while Silver parked the car, and the two boys ran into the hospital to Emerald's room. Emerald lay face-up, eyes closed, his burns more pronounced in the dim light.
"Hey Emerald," said Silver encouragingly. "We beat the Rockets. Stomped 'em. Chased 'em out of out neighborhood."
"No...use." whispered Emerald. "Fighting's useless. I've thought about it a lot, and it's true. Fighting won't solve anything."
"Hey, don't talk like that, kid." Silver growled. His face softened. "You know, they're writing great stories about you in the papers, about being a hero. We're all proud of you, kid."
"Gold," Emerald said weakly. Gold leaned in closer, and Emerald spoke again. "Keep the team together, Gold, 'cause I'm not able to anymore...." With that, Emerald stopped talking, and moved no more.
"Come on, Emerald," said Silver, and then he jumped up. "Come on, don't die on me now, kid. Come on, Emerald, don't die. Please don't die!" Silver suddenly sprinted out of the room, and his face was wild. Gold got up, told the doctors what had happened, and left the hospital. Not wanting to walk home, he summoned Majestic, his Pidgeot, and flew back to New Bark. When they arrived, Gold dropped to the ground and burst into his first real tears in a while.
That's that for Chapter 7. I know the surprises during the fight may have been expected, but I think I might have made the end of the chapter a bit depressing. All in all, I hope you like it. Read/Review as always.
