Wow, have a bit of spare time on my hands so thought it was time to update! I'll admit I'm having a good time writing this fic, hope yere enjoying reading it. Well, hope to achieve a lot in the line of new team members, new adventures, as well as some sibling rivalry.
Thanks go out to MultiplePersonas and general Andrew for there continued support. Hope the story is worth it.
A/N Ok, with this chapter, I noticed how hard it would be to tell it apart from the different characters, so from now on, 3 lines will indicate the start and end of a chapter as shown below. Two lins will indicate I've moved on to a different main character, while one line indicates that I've switched Character thoughts. If this confuses you, let me know, and I'll try sort it out. You can ignore it, and see what I mean in the story too.
Watching from high in the branches, the party of people and Pokemon, didn't know they were being watched very closely. Only the tree swaying slightly was any indication of a presence.
Squirtle was confused. Both humans were nervous while his orange water gunning buddy was upset. It was only dark after all, and why should he be afraid. He was invisible. Unless that weird ray of light shone on him. That took away his power! Evil invention. Wondering how it would look through a bubble, he continued to follow Samantha and Mario contemplating the destruction of the accursed contraption.
Buizel on the other hand was cheering up slightly. Follow the leader, while not the most entertaining of games, did pass the time. Copying every move Mario made, he fixed a serious face on, and swung his left and right arms while walking. Trying not to laugh as Mario tripped and fell on his face, Buizel fell forward making a shock face and a gurgled sound. Buizel knew he'd win the game now!
"Mario! Are you alrite? The roots here are dangerous…"
Helping Mario back to his feet, she turned to Buizel who was also on the ground.
"Aww, poor Buizel, let me help you up."
Buizel got helped up rather fast while blushing.
Samantha just shook her head. Pokemon aren't meant to resemble their trainers that much!
Hurriedly, they continued through the forest until the sound of branches breaking ahead of them, stopped them.
Grouping together, they stared fearfully ahead, trying to see through the bushes. Even the light from there flashlights didn't help matters.
"Hello! Anyone there?" came the shaky voice of Mario.
He really tried to keep the fear from his voice, but then again, he was lucky to have a voice at all.
A high shriek for a response, caused him stumble back into Samantha, where both tripped and ended up on the ground. Trying desperately to get up, they stopped as the bushes in front of them parted.
Enough games! After stalking to the front of the group, he made the error of landing badly on a branch, causing it to break. Good thing he could hover slightly. Well, giving them a small warning might add to there terror but he needed to act swiftly before they ran.
Hearing the human talk though, told him they were not scared enough. A high shriek sorted that out, but it was time to show himself. Using his blades, he parted the bush in front of him and stared at the party. They could see him clearly now, the terror written on their faces. Smiling, he knew now why he loved his job.
Mario was the first to react.
"Bla…Blaze, Ember attack now!"
From Mario's extended hand burst Blaze.
Glancing back at his master and friends, he turned and stared at his opponent.
Eyes widening in shock, he looked back at Mario again.
"Cynda!! Cyndaquiiiiil….. (Oh my Arceus! I'm dead….)"
In front of him towered a large green mantis type creature, with huge razor sharp blades in place of arms. Wings extended, and smiling faintly, it practically screamed Predator. Of course the red liquid dripping from its blades didn't damage the image.
Opening his mouth, he fired as many fireballs as possible at the thing, but it merely vanished!
"Scy….TER!" came the shriek from all sides.
Blaze stared in horror as from all sides, Huge green mantis creatures emerged. They were surrounded.
Blaze ran back into Mario's arms, huddling into his chest. Nothing more he could do.
Buizel stared at all the green things laughing. More competition! Copying Mario, he looked to each creature, flinching at the sight of each one. He was going to win!
Squirtle looked at the creatures eagerly. Samantha was holding him tightly. Tight enough that if he didn't have a hard shell protecting his chest, he'd have considerable trouble breathing right then. Still, looking at the green thing, he couldn't help muttering.
"I want some Razz Berry too!"
Blaze couldn't help thinking at least the idiot would die unhappy. Even now he thought of food. Shutting his eyes, he watched as all the mantis's raised there blades and lunged forward!
After a relaxing shower, and eating breakfast, both Myles and Dylan departed the Pokecenter. Their destination was the Pokemon Gym that was to the north east of the city.
The sun was well and truly up when they reached the fortress. That was the only word to describe it. Seven foot walls with barbed wire surrounded the complex. Security cameras every few feet, with a security booth at the entrance.
Dylan shook his head in amazement. Not even Area 51 had security like this. At least he thought not. Hard to know about the area when none know where it is.
Making sure he had his two Pokeballs, while Myles ensured he had his four, they approached they booth.
"Yes? What do ye want? Well? Speak up before I release the Mightyenas!
Surprised at the onslaught, Dylan eventually spat out that they wished to battle the leader.
The man nodded and turning to his computer, typed a series of words. A moment later the gate opened, where they were they were met by two large intimidating dogs. Grey/black in colour and with vicious snarls, both Myles and Dylan made to run, but were stopped at the appearance of another security personal.
"Follow me."
Wondering if this was a good idea, they both followed the man, and two Mightyenas through a series of doors, each one with a different lock system ranging from passwords, to voice activation, and even a fingerprint checker.
Eventually though, they reached a large room painted in black. With black flooring, it was hard to distinguish the battlefield that was designed in silver lines. Along the walls were several pedestal, upon each one was a small light flame. Overall the room was creepy. Even more so by the appearance of a man on crutches. He simply appeared out of the shadows.
A man in his twenties by his appearance, he was over five feet tall, average weight, with sharp facial features. Black clothing and hair allowed him to blend in with the background, so much so, that both Myles and Dylan could only see his face at times. The torches cast little light, making more shadows in the process.
"So, you wish to battle me? I'll admit I am not in perfect shape at the moment, but rules state I must accept challenges if I am present in the Gym. Names Dimitri, and I am known as the Dark Prince."
Nodding, Dylan stood forward.
"I'm Dylan," and gesturing to Myles continued, " and this is…"
"Myles, yes. We have already met. He was instructed that until he had more badges and experience, to wait before challenging me again. So Dylan, how long have you been a trainer?"
Rubbing his head embarrassed, he replied "bout two days."
Dimitri merely shook his head.
"You haven't a chance then boy. I'd advise you to spare yourself the embarrassment and wait till you have gotten better."
"If its all the same to you sir, I would like to try anyway."
Seeing the two Pokeballs on Dylan's belt, he nodded.
"Fine. Rules state I must accept. You use your two Pokemon, I'll use one. When I win, accept your loss gracefully and don't return till you have gotten better. Agreed?"
Dylan nodded.
"Houndour! My Pokeball please."
A small black dog appeared with an orange muzzle and belly. It had silvers ridges down its back, and a silver ring around each leg. Its forehead was also slightly silver. In its mouth was a Pokeball, which it gave to Dimitri.
"Umbreon, Assemble!"
The materialisation of Umbreon prompted Dylan to thrust forward his two Pokeballs.
Out came Bulbasaur and Pidgey. Dylan realised this was his first time seeing Pidgey since he had been caught.
"Ok this will be a two on one battle. The Challenger, Dylan versus the Darkness Prince, Dimitri. No Substitutions, no time limit. Begin!"
Dylan looked to the sidelines where the security guy from earlier was acting as referee. Only then did he realise the battle was underlay already.
"Thorn, Leech Seed now!"
Turning to Pidgey as Thorn readied his attack, he said, "Pidgey, this is a battle. Attack the black dog with your tackle attack, and don't get hit."
Pidgey cooed and darted forward. To him, any kid able to defeat him in battle, deserved some obedience.
Dimitri just waited. Even when the Bulbasaur fired off the seed and the Pidgey got close, both he and Umbreon waited.
"Now!" Dimitri muttered.
Umbreon lowered himself to the ground and forming a black sphere in its mouth, allowed the seed to be dissolved in it. Pidgey merely flew into his side, but due to Umbreons low center of gravity, merely bounced of him.
"Kid, give it up."
Dylan nodded and returned both his Pokemon. Muttering praise to both of them, he fixed both Pokeballs to his belt.
Dimitri walked forward, as Myles approached from behind.
"Told you he was powerful," Myles whispered.
Extending his hand, Dimitri asked, " Why did you surrender? Usually I get ignored."
Shaking hands, Dylan merely replied, " Why should my friends suffer for my pride. I seen how easily you stopped our strongest attacks, and knew it was pointless. They would only have gotten hurt."
Dimitri nodded. Handing Dylan a Pokeball he turned and walked back.
Without turning around, he said, "That there was the Houndour you seen earlier. He needs a journey, and you will be a good trainer for him. Take good care of him and return to battle when you think you are ready."
Dylan just looked at Dimitris back. Holding the ball close to him, he vowed to get stronger, and with a new team member. It was more than likely to happen.
Myles merely stared, shocked. Eventually he turned Dylan around, and lead him out of the complex. A new guard also accompanying them to the gates.
Once outside, Myles said, "where to now"?
Clicking the ball to his belt beside his other two Pokemon, he pointed north.
"To Pewter City. Where I will get my first badge, and be on equal footing with you."
Myles merely smirked and said, " hah! Maybe to your first badge, but you will need more practice to be better than me."
Nodding and laughing, both trainers headed towards Viridian Forest with a light heart.
Sitting in the gloom of the battle room, Dimitri didn't notice the approach of the referee.
"Sir, that Houndour…. He was your Houndooms pup. Why?
Sighing and lowering his head, " He doesn't know his Houndoom is dead. How would you react to hearing your dad was dead. This way, I can keep that information from him a little bit longer. He deserves some happiness and that was the first chance I had to give it to him."
Nodding solemnly, the referee turned and left the room. Closing the door behind him and leaving Dimitri in total darkness. Dimitris first Houndoom took a bullet meant for him in Sinnoh and gave birth before she finally passed. That pup had been the light in both Dimitri and Houndooms life. He knew Dimitri needed time to grieve both losses.
Alex was fit to cry. After an hour of sleep he had awoke to the cry's of Larvitar. Plagued with nightmares, the little guy roared when Alex shook him awake. Reacting out of terror, it released a strong blast of wind from its horn. If being cut multiple times by sand wasn't enough, Shai had had to be returned, as his taillight was nearly smothered from the sand. After an eternity, Larvitar calmed down enough to be consoled but Alex was practically buried under a foot of sand. The room was fireproof, not sandstorm proof.
After a sleepless night, Shai took over and playing with Larvitar who looked completely rested, ( must be used to sleeping for short periods) left Alex sleep till lunchtime.
After all three ate in the room ( which was delivered by a startled Nurse Joy) they lay on the bed waiting for Blain to arrive.
Shai was the first to find the remote and had learned fast. Flicking through the channels he immediately stopped when he seen the compliment giving, blonde haired trainer.
Alex stared transfixed at the screen. It was Mario and Samantha!
They continued to watch as they walked through the forest, getting frightened by the noise until he watched the finale. Laughing out loud at how the Scyther used Double Team to surround the group and terrify them, it lunged forward and swiped down. All the copies disappeared upon contact with the trainers. Suddenly they were swamped in light as the host of the show appeared. Shai turned up the volume.
"Trainers! You've just been PokePunked!"
The trio watched the rest of the show until a knock at the door disturbed them.
It was Nurse Joy again.
"There is a trainer called Blain waiting for you in the lobby. I'll move him to the private dining room where you can have it all to yourselves. Don't think I want the Center to be buried in Sand."
Nodding and thanking her, Alex carried Larvitar, (who was hiding beneath the jacket) and followed Shai to the dining room.
Standing there was Blain. A little smaller than him, his hair was the same colour, but impossibly, always managed to be neat unlike his own.
"Hey bro! You didn't get very far did you?"
Fuming inside, Alex smiled. "Was just taking my time. So you coming with me?"
Blain nodded, and finally noticed Shai and Larvitar.
"Awesome, a Charmander and Larvitar!"
Extending his hand forward, he grunted when it hit a green barrier. All three were enveloped in it. Alex grinned and rubbed Larvitar's horn thinking, Larvitar certainly had skills. Keeping his brother away was a big perk.
Blain, took his hand back scowling.
"So Alex, up for a battle?"
He revealed the two Pokeballs, and the widening of Alex's eyes was deeply satisfying for him.
"Eh, I don't know if Larvitar here is ready for a battle, but Shai, could use the practice. There is a battlefield out back."
Smirking, Blain led the way. Every trainer in the center stared at Alex submerged in a green ball. Apparently Larvitar disliked crowds. Although you couldn't even see the guy, he was hiding beneath the jacket so much.
Standing on opposite ends of the battlefield ( which was just a rectangular box painted on the ground with a few rocks serving as cover), Alex motioned for Shai to step forward.
Banging his chest Shai bared his fangs and growled loudly.
Blain just smiled at the performance and threw forth his Pokeball. From it emerged a small orange puppy with black markings on its legs and back. It had a white furry mane, and white fluffs of fur on its head.
"Grow? Lithe! (Orders? Battle!)". Its eyes lit up when it seen Shai.
"Ok Alex, one on one, no time limit?"
Alex nodded and with that they begun.
"Ember Scruf!"
Laughing Alex repeated "Scruf?"
Shai ducked beneath the fireballs as both trainers conversed, while Scruf just sat down patiently.
"He came with the name, and he likes it."
Alex nodded and remembered he was supposed to battle.
"Shai, show him your Ember!"
Shai grinned revealing his fangs and focused before letting loose a torrent of fireballs. Practice did pay off.
Blain just stood there though, and Alex realised his mistake.
The fire upon reaching Scruf swirled all around him, and coated him with a red aura.
"Hah! Flashfire, Ember back now!
All the aura focused on Scruf's mouth as he let loose a single flame, larger than himself towards Shai.
Alex shocked at the size ordered a Metal Claw.
"Divert it Shai!"
Hands glowing silver and glinting in the firelight, he managed to strike the ball of to the side of him, narrowly diverting a barbeque.
Blain stared annoyed and shouted, "Bite!"
Scruf stood and darted forward. Leaping over the few rocks, he was upon Shai before the lizard knew what happened.
Shai still celebrating the dodging of a fireball, shrieked loudly as he felt a searing pain from his tail. Looking down, he saw the mutt chewing on his tail.
"Char!Man!Der! (Get off!My!Tail!)"
Slashing the pup after each yell, he worked up a flame in his mouth, but remembering the last experience swallowed it. Opening his mouth quickly, he breathed out a thick dark cloud covering both Scruf and him. Still feeling the mutt on his tail, he swung it with all his might, sending the pup crashing on the other side of the battlefield, outside the smoke.
Alex stared in shock as Shai attacked in anger and then unleash a torrent of smoke.
Listening to Blains Pokedex, he heard,
Smokescreen. This attack serves to hide the user, while hindering sight for the opponent.
Seeing Scruf fly out of the smoke and land hard before Blain, left Alex smiling.
Blain seeing Scruf on its last legs quickly ordered a Roar attack.
Scruf rose weakly to its feet and facing the smoke, left of a bellowing roar. The wind from the attack sent the smoke blowing, as well as knocking Shai of its feet, where he landed hard on its tail.
Shai stood and with its tail searing in pain, fell forward as both Scruff and Shai hit the ground simultaneously.
"A draw…."
"Yeah a draw Blain….Good battle."
"You too."
That battle served to weaken the tension between them, and Blain released his second Pokemon to help Scruff to its feet.
It was a small yellow duck like creature. This time Alex scanned the creature.
Psyduck, the duck Pokemon. This Pokemon is constantly plagued with a headache. Be warned! When this headache worsens, strange powers are often experienced from the Pokemon. Some are known to not suffer from aches. Further study into that are required.
Blain laughed at that.
"Oak had that added after scanning my Psyduck. It isn't affected by a headache and can use its powers freely. Ain't that right buddy?"
"Psy! (Yup!)" it replied lifting both Shai and Scruff of the ground mentally.
The appearance of Shai floating caused Alex to laugh nervously. He disliked Psychics.
In they went to the Pokecenter, where they had Nurse Joy heal there Pokemon, before heading out towards Viridian Forest.
Both had been a little happier seeing that neither was the better trainer just yet. Only time will tell the truth.
Samantha was fuming. A joke! It had all been a joke. Having Razz Berry juice dripping from Scyther's blade to seem like blood infuriated her. True Squirtle was happy at grabbing one of the berries, but that was beside the point. She groaned loudly! Humiliated on TV.
At least they had gotten a lift to Pewter City's Pokecenter. Too annoyed to see the city she had stormed to her room.
After a while though she smiled faintly. At least there had been a consolation prize for both her and Mario. Fingering the Pink Heal Ball, she clicked the button releasing a Pink Caterpie. She would make them pay, but for now, she was happy to finally have her second Pokemon!
Mario was happy it had been a joke. Organised to humiliate him on purpose, he had found out. Since he had defeated the bug trainers and laughed at bugs, they organised the TV company. It was their Scyther that had followed him through the forest. All the shrieks were from trainers Pokemon acting and they eagerly awaited his return. Having Samantha only made the show more interesting for the TV company. The show, Punked by a Poke, was a hit show. True he was a little embarrassed, but like Samantha, he had received a Pokemon. With Blaze, Buizel and Beldum, he would destroy the Gym here.
That's all lol. I thought, Dylan Mario and Samantha deserved a new poke, while Alex and Blain just deserved to kill each other…..that may be next chapter ;) Myles played the innocent bystander, but he has four pokes, so his turn will come.
Hopefully you get what I meant by seperating characters etc by lines.
Anyways, R&R and let me know if ye like it. Any suggestions, let me know. Till next time.