Chapter 11 – Gym Membership
Lucario stepped into the moonlight. "We'd better get a move on, before Garchomp discovers that you tricked him."
"I heartily agree. Not that I couldn't take him, but I don't think I'd like that." Shade replied.
Xander quietly looked on as the two other pokemon conversed.
They headed quietly into the night, hoping to find Jake at the last place they found him.
Jake sat up quickly. "Damn…fell
asleep again." He quietly grumbled, while recalling the dream he
had just had. "Why do I keep seeing him?" He asked himself.
The
dream about the black pokemon was bothering him. Jake knew who the
pokemon was, because it had saved his life two years after the events
in his dream took place. The question Jake wanted answered was what
was it?
"Not even I know." The pokemon said to him when he asked four years ago.
How could he not know what he was? If he did know, it would answer a great many questions for Jake.
Jake didn't intend to dwell on any of those questions here and now though, because the most important thing was to find Lucario and Xander. He could worry about the origin of that mysterious creature later.
He pulled out his pokegear and listened to the radio. The sound of DJ Mary's sweet voice always put him back to sleep when he was younger. Rascal lay by his side next to the rock.
After a couple of minutes DJ Mary's voice was interrupted by a breaking news bulletin. "We're broadcasting live from Mahogany Town where just moments ago, the pokemon trainer that was slated to succeed the missing Pryce as Gym Leader has decided to step down. He didn't give a statement as to why he was stepping down, except that he was compelled to not accept his new role of Mahogany Gym Leader."
If Jake hadn't been lying down, he would have fallen on his face. "What??"
"Furthermore, Prof. Oak has also been reported missing by his granddaughter, and fellow researcher, Daisy Oak." The reporter added.
Jake switched off the radio and got on the phone. After several rings, Ben answered his home phone. "Jake!" He yelled looking at the caller id.
"Yes sir. Have you been watching the news?" Jake said, cutting straight to the chase as usual.
"Yes, I just heard about the Gym Leader, and Prof. Oak. Oak was kidnapped the day after you left." Ben said.
"Is that gonna put a damper on your plan to catch the pokemon thieves?" Jake asked.
"Jake this goes way beyond pokemon thieves. Three days ago, Interpol sent me a fax with the info of two people seen entering Olivine Port the day after you left. I think they may be two of eight trainers, who call themselves The Titans. I'm uploading a picture of one of them now." The picture appeared on the screen. He resembled that of a weightlifter. "His name is Mars, named for the god of war on Mt. Olympus. If you run into him, you're in deep trouble. As for the disappearance of Oak, and the stepping down of the Mahogany Gym Leader, It will cause the Pokemon League to cancel the Johto Conference. I've got another idea though. Call me back tomorrow at nine A.M. sharp!" With that Ben hung up.
Jake lay back down, his heart was racing. If they cancelled the Johto Conference, it would mean he came for nothing. The Titans didn't come as much of a surprise.
Jake woke up the next morning at 8:45 and picked up his pokegear.
Ben answered the phone grumpily. "I said nine sharp!"
"I don't have time for this Ben. I've gotta find my Lucario." Jake said just as grumpily.
"Okay, so here it is. Prof. Elm has agreed to take Prof Oak's place as a judge in the Pokemon League, but trainers can't win a gym badge from a gym that doesn't have a Gym Leader. That's where you come in; you're going to take the Gym Leader aptitude test. I know that you would mop the floor with anyone who would take that test." Ben explained.
"But we just got finished registering me for the Johto League." Jake replied.
"Exactly. You have to be registered in order to be a Gym Leader." Ben answered. "Well?"
Jake looked around. "I'll do it. When is the test?"
"Three days. I wouldn't have even asked you if I didn't think you and Rapidash could make it from there to Mahogany in three days." Ben said.
"Piece of cake." Jake replied with a grin. "But I will have to find Lucario and Xander before I do anything else."
"Understood. Your mission is to pass that aptitude test, and become the Gym Leader of Mahogany Town." Ben answered.
"Got it. I'll be there in three days." Jake answered.
Jake hung up and set out to search for Lucario and Xander.
Lucario, Shade and Xander had been walking since midnight. Now the sun was rising, and it was obvious that they were being followed. Lucario glanced back at Shade who had been behind Xander. The only problem with that was the fact that Shade wasn't back there anymore.
"Lucario?" A voice asked quickly. "I've been looking everywhere for you." Jake stepped out into the trail and smiled. "C'mon, we gotta go!"
Lucario was overjoyed at seeing Jake again. He ran up to Jake and hugged him for the first time since he was a Riolu.
Jake threw up a pokeball, which contained his Rapidash, and then returned Lucario and Xander to their pokeballs, and climbed onto Rapidash's back. Rascal walked up beside Rapidash and looked up at Jake as if to say, "Let's go!"
Jake grinned and together they rode away into the afternoon sun.