Chapter 9 – Cerulean City

"What are you buying parts for anyways?" Jirachi asked curiously as David walked out of the bicycle store, a bag in hand of a few bicycle parts.

"You'll see soon enough." David grinned pulling out a list on a piece of paper, marking off some of the things he had gotten with a pencil.

"Why you would need bicycle tubes is beyond me." Jirachi said curiously looking at the list of items.

"You'll see, you'll see." David chuckled.

"Aren't we going to go see the Gym leader and fight them to get more information?" Jirachi asked wondering that himself.

"We will in due time. Right now, this is going to be a little more important. It's going to determine your over all power and skill level in the upcoming future." David said grinning.

"If you say so…" Jirachi said shrugging. "What did Brad say he was going to go do anyways?" Jirachi asked.

"He said something about training his Pokemon…or burning Pokemon…it's hard to tell with that guy. He seems to always be saying something incoherent after all…and for some reason he had brought a pile of clothes with him…quite interesting in deed." David said walking into the mart, looking around for part on his list.

"Uh…if you say so…" Jirachi said slightly nervous about what Brad could be doing.

-----

"So what exactly IS your interest in this kid anyways?" Ghastly asked looking at Brad as they wandered down the bridge towards Bill's place.

"You know…I don't know. But I do know that that Jirachi he's with isn't exactly a common Pokemon." Brad explained to his ghostly friend.

"I've never seen you one to be that interested in Legendary Pokemon." Ghastly said.

"Its not the fact that Jirachi's a legendary that keeps me traveling with him. I'm curious as to, how you say; see where this whole fiasco leads too. From what David explained to me about the situation, it seems something incredible is going on in the future. And if something is happening in the future, that could very well be a world-changing event, why wouldn't you want to be part of it? It only makes sense doesn't it?" Brad explained to Ghastly.

Ghastly shook his body in a curious fashion. "I just don't get you sometimes."

-----

"What exactly are you making?" Jirachi asked curiously as David floating over his shoulder as he used the screwdriver on the small mechanism in his hands.

"It's almost done. Don't you worry." David grinned, twirling the screwdriver slower and slower as the bolt tightened.

"Finished!" David said holding up the small technical device. "This should help out a lot!" He said grinning. Jirachi tilted his head looking at the small device curiously. "This device acts more like a Hidden Machine then a Technical Machine, put it's a lot better than both! It's something created, in my time, about 100 years ago. It's called an LM, and it changed Pokemon battles amazingly. So, it's a little less about strategy and more about power, but it allowed for the creation of leagues of more power. It was extremely controversial and people wondered if it was actually a good thing." David said opening the device, splitting it in half.

"So, two factions opened up; one for having Pokemon as they used to be, and one for Pokemon with the use of the LMs. The traditional league got a lot more praise because it focused around strategy and being a good trainer, and the LM league got praise for having the extremely powerful Pokemon." David said looking at Jirachi grinning. "Where going to get this information one way or another, and I'd like to welcome you to the League of LMs." David chuckled.

"What does LM stand for?" Jirachi asked curiously.

"Its stands for Limiter Machine. It takes off the limit of the amount of moves any one Pokemon can learn. So, basically, you can use more than just four moves. You'll keep the four moves you know now, and then you'll learn new moves, but you won't forget the other moves you already know." David explained holding up the device.

"Is that kind of like cheating?" Jirachi asked looking at the machine.

"Not really. Its completely legal, and if you want to get technical about it, its technology from my time and is legal there. So, its just as naturally legal here." He said grinning.

"Oh, ok. If you say so." Jirachi grinned.

David reached into his blazer and pulled out the two pokeballs. "Go Vulpix and Magnemite!" David exclaimed throwing the two pokeballs, the two Pokemon emerging from there balls.

"Vulpix!" Vulpix cried wagging its tails happily.

"Magnemite!" The Magnemite said in its metallic voice.

"Here Vulpix." David said putting the two pieces of metal around her body.

"Vulpix?" Vulpix said curiously as the sparks of electricity passed along its body between the two pieces.

"All done." David said, Vulpix looking up at David blinking curiously. David did the same thing for Magnemite, then for Jirachi.

"Ok, that's all I needed. Return!" Brad said holding up the two pokeballs, Vulpix and Magnemite returning to inside there pokeballs.

"That didn't hurt a bit." Jirachi said looking at his hands.

"Now, I do believe we have a Gym Leader to go talk to." David said grinning.

-----

"Where have you been all day?" David asked looking at Brad, the both of them standing in front of the Cerulean Gym.

"Oh, I've been telling Ghastly here my plans for world domination. What else would I be doing?" Brad said.

"Ghastly." The ghost Pokemon said in response.

"Of course." David said shaking his head curiously. "Remind me later I have something for you to see." David said pushing on the door to the gym.

"Right, right." Brad said following quickly.

A loud cheer cried from the crowd that sat in the stadium seats around a large pool, as three women in bathing suits performed diving performances off of a high board. It could be seen from the open doors in front of them from the long hallway.

"Well…that's not very Gym leader-ish…" David said blinking.

"Uh dude…"Brad said pointing to a nearby sign. "Says Gym's that-a way." He said pointing down the hallway.

"Oh…I knew that!" David chuckled nervously before heading down the hallway.

-----

"Well, at least the Gym isn't dark." David said looking around at the lighted room with a pool in the center. "Still lacking in people immediately though." David said a bit disgruntled still looking around.

"They should be here in a second anyways." Jirachi said looking at the door on one side of the wall.

The door opened up and a girl with orange hair in a yellow shirt with short blue jeans walking in, looking at David and smiling.

"Oh, I see we have a challenger-" She said suddenly stopping and staring, blinking in her spot.

"Uhm…is something wrong?" David asked confused a little at the look she was giving him.

"A-Ash!?" She said, almost in pure astonishment.

David blinked in confusion, before turning to look at Brad, who was now wearing a light blue blazer-esque vest shirt with half a pokeball symbol on the bottom, a red and black cap with a green pokeball symbol on it and light blue jeans.

"Whoa, when did you change clothes?" David asked shocked at brad's new appearance.

"Ghastly." The ghost said appearing next to Brad.

"What are you talking bout, I've been wearing this outfit for quite some time now." Brad explained.

"But…when we walked into here you weren't wearing that…" David said confused, pointing at Brad.

"Wait…your not Ash." The girl said shaking her head. "I'm sorry…you're just…wearing a VERY familiar outfit." She said rubbing the back of her head.

"I get that a lot." Brad said waving his hand.

"…No you don't." David said blinking.

"How would you know? I've been traveling with you for only a few days now." Brad explained.

"You've got a point…" David said thinking.

"Um…is anyone here for a Gym battle?" the girl asked slightly confused at the current events happening before her eyes.

"Oh…uh…right." David said coughing. "I came here to battle. I'll uh…talk this over with him later about…whatever he is doing."

"I'm not doing anything." Brad said tipping his hat.

"Ghastly."

"Right. Anyways! I have some questions to ask you anyways Miss Gym Leader, so as soon as I beat you in battle I will ask and you will answer." David said pointing at the leader.

"Alright, I don't see why not, that sounds fair. And call me Misty by the way." Misty explained raising a pokeball.

"Ok Misty, what are the rules?" David said grinning.

"It'll be a two on two battle. First one out of Pokemon looses." She explained.

"Got it." Brad said nodding.

"Go Starmie!" Misty cried as she threw the pokeball, the two-layered star like Pokemon came out of the ball, the jewel in the middle of its body glowing brightly.

"Hya!" It cried entering into the battle.

"Well, I could go with Magnemite…" David whispered looking up at Jirachi. "But would you like a chance of going at it first?" David asked.

"Sure, I don't have a problem with that." Jirachi said.

"I choose Jirachi!" David proclaimed, Jirachi moving forward.

"Water Pulse!" Misty yelled pointing at Jirachi.

"Hya!" Starmie yelled, lowering its foremost star piece as vibration began to emit from it, quickly speeding toward Jirachi.

"Dodge to the right and counter with Swift!" David cried to Jirachi, Jirachi quickly moving as the waves sped past him just inches from his body, his hands glowing and him beginning to rapidly swing his arms throwing the stars at Starmie.

"Rapid Spin!" Misty yelled as Starmie began to spin rapidly flying towards Jirachi, the stars bouncing off of Starmie's spinning body.

"HYA!!" Jirachi cried as the Rapid Spin impacted him.

"Confusion now Jirachi!" David cried.

Jirachi reached out his hands and grabbed the Starmie as it stopped, his eyes flashing purple and Starmie's body being surrounded in the order. Jirachi quickly tilted his head and shot Starmie into the nearby wall.

"Hydro Pump!" Misty cried, Starmie quickly shooting out a powerful stream of water from its top while it had collided in the wall, the burst hitting Jirachi.

"Gah!" Jirachi cried spinning in the air a few times before regaining his balance.

"Rapid Spin!" Misty had already cried as Starmie was flying out and smacked into Jirachi again sending him flying.

"Counter with confusion!" David said as Jirachi eyes flashed purple once more facing the spinning Starmie.

"Hydro pump now!" Misty cried as water began to spray rapidly out of all side of Starmie, Jirachi being smacked by the rushing waters, his confusion ending.

"Gah!" Jirachi cried flying back some more before regaining his balance breathing hard.

"How you holding up Jirachi?" David asked.

"This guy's tough…" Jirachi said breathing heavily, feeling the damage being taken.

"Use Wish now Jirachi!" David said. Jirachi raised his arms as the star shot over his head.

"Water Pulse now!" Misty yelled.

"Hya!" Starmie cried as the vibrations of air rapidly approached Jirachi once more.

"Dodge it Jirachi!" David cried as Jirachi quickly ran to the side, avoiding the waves.

"Rapid Spin!" Misty cried again, Starmie spinning rapidly towards Jirachi once more.

"Keep dodging it Jirachi!" David cried to Jirachi, Jirachi flying to the side to avoid the Starmie that spun past him barely. Jirachi flew towards the wall and turned to watch Starmie still spinning at him. Jirachi braced himself as the Starmie flew quickly at him, nearly reaching him.

Jirachi quickly flew himself upwards as the Starmie flew past bellow him smacking directly into the wall, dust rising up from where Starmie had smacked right into the wall. Jirachi quickly flew away from Starmie and turned to face his direction as the sparkles from the star he had summoned glistened onto his body healing his injuries.

"All better now!" Jirachi said grinning.

"Hya!" Starmie said jumping out of the hole in the wall he had created.

"Ok Jirachi, we need to go in for K.O., got it?" David explained gripping his fist.

"Got it." Jirachi said nodding his head.

"Ok Starmie! Use Hydro Pump!" Misty cried, Starmie once more shooting the powerful blast of water towards Jirachi.

"Confusion on that Hydro Pump now!" David cried.

"Understood!" Jirachi responded, his eyes flashing purple as the blast of water made a u-turn as it reached his body, being surrounded by the purple aura, the blast then hitting Starmie directly.

"Direct hit!" David said grinning.

"Ok, do a Rapid Spin now!" Misty shouted, Starmie once more spinning and rushing towards Jirachi.

"Catch it with Confusion!" David said, Jirachi's eyes flashing and Starmie stopping in mid air as the aura surrounded it.

"Flash Cannon!" Misty yelled.

"Hya!" Starmie cried as the gem on the middle of its body lit up before releasing a huge beam impacting against Jirachi.

"YAAA!" Jirachi cried flying backwards and smashing into the wall as Starmie flew back and smashed into the wall as well.

"Oooga…" Jirachi said as his eyes turned to wiggles. Starmie's jewel flashed a bit on its body before turning off completely.

"Return Starmie!" Misty said raising the pokeball and Starmie returning into it. "You did good." She said smiling looking at the pokeball. "Now its your turn Corsola!" Misty said as she threw her next pokeball, the pink Pokemon with a coral reef look to it emerged.

"Corsola!" It cried happily as it emerged.

David picked up Jirachi and smiled at him. "You did good pal." David said picking him up and carrying him over to Brad. "Hold him for me will you?" David asked.

"What am I your maid?" Brad asked confusingly.

"It'll only be for a little bit. I'm sure the battle won't be much longer." David explained.

"Oh fine." Brad said holding out his arms and David placing Jirachi into his arms.

"Ghastly." Ghastly replied.

David turned back to face Misty and reached into his blazer grabbing one of the two pokeballs in it. "Go Magnemite!" David said throwing out the pokeball.

"Magnemite!" Cried the round metal Pokemon in its metallic voice.

"Uh-oh." Misty said looking at Magnemite. "An electric type Pokemon…"

"Yup. Type advantage is mine!" David said grinning.

"Well no matter, I'll put up a fight anyways! Corsola! Use Spike Cannon!" Misty cried.

"Corsola!" Corsola responded, its back sticking up as it glowed and began to shoot spikes as rain down towards Magnemite.

"Magnemite! Use Sonic Boom now!" David cried.

"Magnemite!" Came the metallic voice as it pointed its magnets towards the spikes coming towards him, and emitted the large booms of energy at the spikes, knocking them away, the spikes scattering across the arena.

"Now use Bubble beam!" Misty cried as Corsola opened its mouth and began firing a rapid spread of bubbles at Magnemite.

"Metal Sound!" David cried, Magnemite waving its magnets and emitting low waves distorting the air and popping the bubbles as they went by and hit Corsola directly.

"Try Ice beam" Misty cried as Corsola shout out a sharp beam heading straight for Magnemite.

"Use the Ice beam to direct your Thunder shock!" David cried.

"Magnemite!" Said the metallic Pokemon, glowing yellow with electricity before shooting a beam of electricity, it hitting and stopping the ice beam, the electricity then traveling down the length of the ice beam and hitting Corsola directly, zapping it.

"Corsola!" The Corsola cried, as it was being electrocuted.

"Come on Corsola, we can do this! Use Rock Blast!" Misty yelled.

"Cors-ola!" Corsola cried, rocks shooting out of its glowing back towards Magnemite.

"Dodge and user Thunder shock again!" David explained, as Magnemite dodged the hurling rocks getting close to Corsola, before unleashing another wave of electricity onto the water Pokemon.

"Corsolaaaa…" Corsola said wearily, falling over onto its side knocked out.

"Oh, you did your best Corsola." Misty said smiling, returning it to its Pokeball.

"Magnemite!" Magnemite said in glee as it returned to its pokeball.

"As proof of you having defeated the Cerulean Gym in a Pokemon battle, I present to you the Cascade badge." Misty said walking over to David and placing the badge into his hand.

"Oh wow, thank you!" David said grinning looking at the badge before putting it next to he boulder badge in his blazer.

"Now, what where you talking about with questions for me?" Misty asked curiously.

"Oh right." David said thinking back a little now. "I heard from the Pewter City Gym leader that you knew some things about Legendary Pokemon." David explained.

Misty placed a hand on her hip and grinned. "Well, I've run into my fair share of legendary Pokemon with a good old friend of mine." She explained.

"OH excellent!" David said happily. "Could you give me information as to where you saw them, or where you met them and how you met them and how I could possibly find them? David asked excitedly.

"And why would you need to meet any of them? Misty asked curiously looking at David.

"Well you see…Jirachi over there is one of the Legendary Pokemon too. And, during an accident in a cave, he was hit with a big rock and lost his memory. Now I'm traveling with him to try and regain his memory, and I'm hoping that the other legendary Pokemon that where his friends would be able to help him." David explained.

Misty looked carefully at David, examining him and judging his voice. "Well…you don't seem to be lying…" Misty said wording her words carefully. "You also have that honest look in your eye, reminds me of my friend." She said smiling. "Alright, I'll give you some info on the Legendary Pokemon that I've met and know of. Just don't let it fall into the wrong hands, k?" She said winking at him.

"Oh yes ma'am!" David said grinning.

-----

"So, we got the info we needed." Jirachi said looking at the piece of paper in David's hand.

"Yup, that Gym Leader was most informative." David said smiling.

"By the looks of it, we'll be going threw these specific towns in Kanto and conveniently all of them have Gym's…" Brad said curiously looking at the notes.

David looked at the two badges he currently had and grinned. "The museum's will freak out once they see this…maybe even fund my research team more…" David said happily. "I bet if I get more badges, I'll be able to get even more money." David grinned.

"So, Gym battles for the win?" Brad said curiously.

"You got that right." David grinned. "I'm going to challenge and beat every gym leader we meet!" He said happily.

"Ghastly!" The ghost Pokemon replied.

"Oh, and what was that thing you wanted to show me?" Brad asked curiously.

"Oh right." David said reaching into his backpack and pulling out the small metal device. "This is called a LM. And I think you'll like it very much…"

-End Chapter 9-