Disclaimer: The characters Ash, Misty, Brock and all of the Pokemon are copyrighted by GameFreak, Nintendo, and Pokemon Inc. I did not create them.
Chapter 11
The Beach
The sky was clear and blue as the balloon hovered over the earth. James sat in the basket sleeping as Jesse stood, leaned up against the basket and breathed in the fresh salty air. They had arrived at a vast beach and Jesse wanted to stop. Without asking James, who was sleeping with Raichu by his side, she began to make the balloon descend. Jesse hopped out of the basket as soon as it touched the sand. Jesse just loved the beach. She loved the smell of the salt water, she loved the feel of the warm sand between her toes, and she just loved relaxing and sunbathing on a comfy beach blanket. While Jesse was anchoring the balloon, James woke up. He peeked up from the basket with a sleeping Raichu on his head. His eyes looked up and when he spotted Raichu he tilted his head just enough to make Raichu roll and fall back down into the basket. James slowly climbed out of the basket to join Jesse. As he stepped out his left leg got tangled in the rope that held the balloon down. He gave a quick yank, which caused the knot to loosen, so he could jiggle his leg free; he ended up tripping on his own feet. James stood up and looked around to make sure no one was looking and he walked over to Jesse like nothing happened.
"This is where we are going," Jesse said to James as she unfolded her map of the area. "The Azure Archipelago Circle. Jesse set down the map and pointed to a small group of islands. "I'm just not sure which one had the gym."
"Well, we could always search each island." James rethought his idea. "But that will take longer than the boss has allowed us."
Jesse and James thought quietly as Raichu finally woke up. With a big yawn, Raichu stretched and leaped out of the basket. Raichu sat and used its right leg to scratch behind its ear. With a sudden jolt, Raichu's ears shot up. It sniffed around as it continued to listen. It heard a faint sound. It was the sound of footsteps, Raichu was sure of it. It could hear the sand being pushed around by a heavy force. Without hesitation, Raichu raced over to its friends and leaped into James's arms.
"What's the matter?" James asked.
"Did you hear something?" Jesse asked.
"Chuuuuu," Raichu nodded and pointed over in the direction it heard the sound.
Jesse padded Raichu on the head. "Don't worry about it. I'm sure it's nothing." Jesse slowly stepped behind James and without warning she pushed him toward the noise. "Go get it!"
James turned toward James. "I don't want to go get it." He pushed her ahead of him. "Why can't you go get it."
"Well, it's pretty obvious." Jesse said as she pushed James back in front of her. "You have all the strong Pokemon."
"Then here," James said as he reached onto his belt, grabbed a pokeball, and tossed it to Jesse. "Now you have a strong Pokemon."
"You have got to be kidding," Jesse said as she threw it back.
The two continued to argue as the footsteps got closer and closer. Raichu knew it had to do something to cease their arguing so Raichu charged up a little tiny thundershock and released it into their bodies.
"I think Raichu wants us to stop," James muttered as he tried to keep his balance and stay on his feet.
"I think you're right," Jesse said as they both collapsed onto the ground.
"Chu chu chu," Raichu said as it hopped up and down as it coached its friends to get up. As Raichu slowed to a stop as it realized that something was wrong. The noise had stopped, yet it could still feel that there was another presence in the area. Raichu, Jesse and James stood absolutely still and quiet as they listened to the complete silence.
Suddenly a huge blast of water shot toward the team at full force. Raichu used its agility to push its friends out of the way of the attack. Raichu scanned the area and spotted movement behind the balloon basket. Raichu charged and aimed a thunderbolt attack right towards the out of sight aggressor.
"WARRRRRRRRR!!!!!!" The attacker screamed as it toppled out of hiding. It was a Wartortle. Why would a Wartortle attack them? They did not do anything wrong.
"HEY!!!" A voice called out in the distance. The team saw a young boy running towards them, screaming at the top of his lungs! "HEY!"
The boy stopped as it reached Wartortle's side. "Get up!" He commanded as his Wartortle leaped to its feet. "And as for you..." the boy began to say as he stared at the team. "how dare you try to steal my pokemon from me!"
"HUH?" James said. He and Jesse were getting very confused at what was happening.
"Did you think you were trying to steal your Wartortle?" Jesse asked.
"NO!" The boy shouted. "I sent my Wartortle to stop you from stealing MY pokemon!"
Jesse and James looked around as Raichu stood on guard. They did not see any other pokemon around.
"Uh, what pokemon did you think we were going to steal from you?"
"The Dewgong!"
"What Dewgong?" James shouted.
"The Dewgong that had been spotted in this area," The boy explained, his voice still raised. "The one I'm trying to capture."
"Your telling me that your attacking us because you thought we were going to steal a pokemon you haven't even caught yet?"
"Yeah, cuz I'm going to catch it. I'm not going to let this rare pokemon get away from me without a fight."
"Excuse me little boy, " Jesse said as she crossed her arms and grinned. "A Dewgong is not a rare pokemon."
"You're not from around here are you. " The boy said. "Because if you were then you would definitely know about this Dewgong. It is said that this Pokemon is very aggressive and likes to attack trainers who are close to the shore and battle with their pokemon. Because of all the battling it has done it grew bigger and stronger than the average Dewgong. It weights about 285 pounds and is almost 6 feet long."
"Wow, that is pretty big." James said.
"You bet it is and I'm gonna catch it too," the boy turned and began to walk away but then stopped and then turned his head towards the team. "If I catch you trying to catch it and take it from me your Pokemon will have to spend the rest of their pathetic lives in the Pokemon Center." And with that the boy ran off with his Wartortle in search of the water/ice Pokemon.
"Well, we better hit the sky and get going before it starts getting dark," Jesse said as she turned toward the balloon and gasped. "Ahhhhhhhh!" She shrieked.
James quickly turned around. "Oh no!"
"Chuuuuuuuu," Raichu whined.
To their dismay the balloon, that mysteriously got untied, had drifted off without them.
"I thought I tied the balloon down!" Jesse said. "What happened?"
James decided not to say anything about him getting his leg caught, mostly because he did not want to look like an idiot in front of Jesse.
"Well, looks like we need to find another way to cross to the island." Jesse said. "That boy headed west so maybe if we go in that direction maybe we can find someone to help us."
And with that the team walked off to the west.
Within an hour of traveling they ran into another trainer, Tanya. All this trainer wanted was a battle, she did not want to fight with them about catching a Pokemon. This was to be a three on three Pokemon match and they both already won two battles a piece which means they each only had one pokemon left.
"Nidorina, I choose you!" Tanya shouted. Nidorina appeared from its pokeball.
"Arbok, GO!" Jesse called out Arbok who was fit and ready for battle.
"Nidorina, tackle attack!" Nidorina charged at Arbok.
"Arbok use your glare!"
"Arbok..." Arbok said as it used its powerful glare. Nidorina stopped suddenly in its tracks.
"Now Arbok, use your wrap!" Arbok slithered around Nidorina and closed a tight grip around it.
"Nidorina!!!" The Tanya shouted as she watch as her Nidorina tried desperately to wiggle out of Arbok's hold. Finally, Tanya could not take it anymore and she called back her Pokemon. "Nidorina return."
Jesse was extremely happy about her win. This was the first time she had won a battle without the help of Raichu or Dragonite.
After Nidorina returned Tanya held the pokeball close to her. "It's okay, you tried your best." She put the ball away and stepped over to Jesse.
"You're a pretty good trainer." Tanya said.
James stood behind Jesse and whispered to her, "Ask her what island the gym is on."
"Thanx," Jesse responded. "I really would love to be able test my skills at a gym, but I haven't seen one here."
"That's because there is no here."
"That's a shame." James said. "I think battling at a gym would be good for you but if there is none here then we will never know if you were good enough to beat the leader of the gym that would be here if there was a gym but there's not so you can't." James decided to keep quiet. He was so clueless about what to say he started to confuse himself.
"Hey, I know!" Tanya said. "There is a gym in the Azure Archipelago Circle."
"Really?" Jesse acted surprised. "Which Island is it?"
"I think its on Neraway." Tanya said.
"Neraway?"
"Yeah, it's the island that is in the middle of the Azure Archipelago Circle." Tanya answered.
"But I didn't see any island like that on the map." James said as she jumped back into the conversation.
"That's because the Island is too small to be on the map." Tanya explained. "The only things that are on that island is the gym, a small pokemon center, and one or two hotels for trainers to stay while they wait for a gym battle."
"Is there any way we can get there? Our balloon kind of left without us so we have no transportation." James asked.
"Sure there is a port just a mile down the shore, "Tanya said as she pointed to the north. "They have boats that leave every two hours to that island."
"That's great! Thanx." Jesse said as she and James started to leave.
"You'll love the ride too, " Tanya shouted to them. She just seemed to love to talk. "It's sure a nice peaceful ride that is worth all the money for the tickets."
Jesse and James stopped in their tracks. Money?
"How much is a ticket?" Jesse asked as she turned back around toward the girl.
"It's only 35 bucks a ticket." She knelt down by Raichu. "And only 5 bucks for Pokemon that want to ride too."
James and Jesse started to worry. They did not have any money.
"Well, I better go. I have a lot of training to do." Tanya said waved goodbye as she ran off.
James turned to Jesse. "How are we going to get to the island if we don't have any money to take the boat."
"I don't know," Jesse said. "But I'm sure we'll think of something."
Chapter 11
The Beach
The sky was clear and blue as the balloon hovered over the earth. James sat in the basket sleeping as Jesse stood, leaned up against the basket and breathed in the fresh salty air. They had arrived at a vast beach and Jesse wanted to stop. Without asking James, who was sleeping with Raichu by his side, she began to make the balloon descend. Jesse hopped out of the basket as soon as it touched the sand. Jesse just loved the beach. She loved the smell of the salt water, she loved the feel of the warm sand between her toes, and she just loved relaxing and sunbathing on a comfy beach blanket. While Jesse was anchoring the balloon, James woke up. He peeked up from the basket with a sleeping Raichu on his head. His eyes looked up and when he spotted Raichu he tilted his head just enough to make Raichu roll and fall back down into the basket. James slowly climbed out of the basket to join Jesse. As he stepped out his left leg got tangled in the rope that held the balloon down. He gave a quick yank, which caused the knot to loosen, so he could jiggle his leg free; he ended up tripping on his own feet. James stood up and looked around to make sure no one was looking and he walked over to Jesse like nothing happened.
"This is where we are going," Jesse said to James as she unfolded her map of the area. "The Azure Archipelago Circle. Jesse set down the map and pointed to a small group of islands. "I'm just not sure which one had the gym."
"Well, we could always search each island." James rethought his idea. "But that will take longer than the boss has allowed us."
Jesse and James thought quietly as Raichu finally woke up. With a big yawn, Raichu stretched and leaped out of the basket. Raichu sat and used its right leg to scratch behind its ear. With a sudden jolt, Raichu's ears shot up. It sniffed around as it continued to listen. It heard a faint sound. It was the sound of footsteps, Raichu was sure of it. It could hear the sand being pushed around by a heavy force. Without hesitation, Raichu raced over to its friends and leaped into James's arms.
"What's the matter?" James asked.
"Did you hear something?" Jesse asked.
"Chuuuuu," Raichu nodded and pointed over in the direction it heard the sound.
Jesse padded Raichu on the head. "Don't worry about it. I'm sure it's nothing." Jesse slowly stepped behind James and without warning she pushed him toward the noise. "Go get it!"
James turned toward James. "I don't want to go get it." He pushed her ahead of him. "Why can't you go get it."
"Well, it's pretty obvious." Jesse said as she pushed James back in front of her. "You have all the strong Pokemon."
"Then here," James said as he reached onto his belt, grabbed a pokeball, and tossed it to Jesse. "Now you have a strong Pokemon."
"You have got to be kidding," Jesse said as she threw it back.
The two continued to argue as the footsteps got closer and closer. Raichu knew it had to do something to cease their arguing so Raichu charged up a little tiny thundershock and released it into their bodies.
"I think Raichu wants us to stop," James muttered as he tried to keep his balance and stay on his feet.
"I think you're right," Jesse said as they both collapsed onto the ground.
"Chu chu chu," Raichu said as it hopped up and down as it coached its friends to get up. As Raichu slowed to a stop as it realized that something was wrong. The noise had stopped, yet it could still feel that there was another presence in the area. Raichu, Jesse and James stood absolutely still and quiet as they listened to the complete silence.
Suddenly a huge blast of water shot toward the team at full force. Raichu used its agility to push its friends out of the way of the attack. Raichu scanned the area and spotted movement behind the balloon basket. Raichu charged and aimed a thunderbolt attack right towards the out of sight aggressor.
"WARRRRRRRRR!!!!!!" The attacker screamed as it toppled out of hiding. It was a Wartortle. Why would a Wartortle attack them? They did not do anything wrong.
"HEY!!!" A voice called out in the distance. The team saw a young boy running towards them, screaming at the top of his lungs! "HEY!"
The boy stopped as it reached Wartortle's side. "Get up!" He commanded as his Wartortle leaped to its feet. "And as for you..." the boy began to say as he stared at the team. "how dare you try to steal my pokemon from me!"
"HUH?" James said. He and Jesse were getting very confused at what was happening.
"Did you think you were trying to steal your Wartortle?" Jesse asked.
"NO!" The boy shouted. "I sent my Wartortle to stop you from stealing MY pokemon!"
Jesse and James looked around as Raichu stood on guard. They did not see any other pokemon around.
"Uh, what pokemon did you think we were going to steal from you?"
"The Dewgong!"
"What Dewgong?" James shouted.
"The Dewgong that had been spotted in this area," The boy explained, his voice still raised. "The one I'm trying to capture."
"Your telling me that your attacking us because you thought we were going to steal a pokemon you haven't even caught yet?"
"Yeah, cuz I'm going to catch it. I'm not going to let this rare pokemon get away from me without a fight."
"Excuse me little boy, " Jesse said as she crossed her arms and grinned. "A Dewgong is not a rare pokemon."
"You're not from around here are you. " The boy said. "Because if you were then you would definitely know about this Dewgong. It is said that this Pokemon is very aggressive and likes to attack trainers who are close to the shore and battle with their pokemon. Because of all the battling it has done it grew bigger and stronger than the average Dewgong. It weights about 285 pounds and is almost 6 feet long."
"Wow, that is pretty big." James said.
"You bet it is and I'm gonna catch it too," the boy turned and began to walk away but then stopped and then turned his head towards the team. "If I catch you trying to catch it and take it from me your Pokemon will have to spend the rest of their pathetic lives in the Pokemon Center." And with that the boy ran off with his Wartortle in search of the water/ice Pokemon.
"Well, we better hit the sky and get going before it starts getting dark," Jesse said as she turned toward the balloon and gasped. "Ahhhhhhhh!" She shrieked.
James quickly turned around. "Oh no!"
"Chuuuuuuuu," Raichu whined.
To their dismay the balloon, that mysteriously got untied, had drifted off without them.
"I thought I tied the balloon down!" Jesse said. "What happened?"
James decided not to say anything about him getting his leg caught, mostly because he did not want to look like an idiot in front of Jesse.
"Well, looks like we need to find another way to cross to the island." Jesse said. "That boy headed west so maybe if we go in that direction maybe we can find someone to help us."
And with that the team walked off to the west.
Within an hour of traveling they ran into another trainer, Tanya. All this trainer wanted was a battle, she did not want to fight with them about catching a Pokemon. This was to be a three on three Pokemon match and they both already won two battles a piece which means they each only had one pokemon left.
"Nidorina, I choose you!" Tanya shouted. Nidorina appeared from its pokeball.
"Arbok, GO!" Jesse called out Arbok who was fit and ready for battle.
"Nidorina, tackle attack!" Nidorina charged at Arbok.
"Arbok use your glare!"
"Arbok..." Arbok said as it used its powerful glare. Nidorina stopped suddenly in its tracks.
"Now Arbok, use your wrap!" Arbok slithered around Nidorina and closed a tight grip around it.
"Nidorina!!!" The Tanya shouted as she watch as her Nidorina tried desperately to wiggle out of Arbok's hold. Finally, Tanya could not take it anymore and she called back her Pokemon. "Nidorina return."
Jesse was extremely happy about her win. This was the first time she had won a battle without the help of Raichu or Dragonite.
After Nidorina returned Tanya held the pokeball close to her. "It's okay, you tried your best." She put the ball away and stepped over to Jesse.
"You're a pretty good trainer." Tanya said.
James stood behind Jesse and whispered to her, "Ask her what island the gym is on."
"Thanx," Jesse responded. "I really would love to be able test my skills at a gym, but I haven't seen one here."
"That's because there is no here."
"That's a shame." James said. "I think battling at a gym would be good for you but if there is none here then we will never know if you were good enough to beat the leader of the gym that would be here if there was a gym but there's not so you can't." James decided to keep quiet. He was so clueless about what to say he started to confuse himself.
"Hey, I know!" Tanya said. "There is a gym in the Azure Archipelago Circle."
"Really?" Jesse acted surprised. "Which Island is it?"
"I think its on Neraway." Tanya said.
"Neraway?"
"Yeah, it's the island that is in the middle of the Azure Archipelago Circle." Tanya answered.
"But I didn't see any island like that on the map." James said as she jumped back into the conversation.
"That's because the Island is too small to be on the map." Tanya explained. "The only things that are on that island is the gym, a small pokemon center, and one or two hotels for trainers to stay while they wait for a gym battle."
"Is there any way we can get there? Our balloon kind of left without us so we have no transportation." James asked.
"Sure there is a port just a mile down the shore, "Tanya said as she pointed to the north. "They have boats that leave every two hours to that island."
"That's great! Thanx." Jesse said as she and James started to leave.
"You'll love the ride too, " Tanya shouted to them. She just seemed to love to talk. "It's sure a nice peaceful ride that is worth all the money for the tickets."
Jesse and James stopped in their tracks. Money?
"How much is a ticket?" Jesse asked as she turned back around toward the girl.
"It's only 35 bucks a ticket." She knelt down by Raichu. "And only 5 bucks for Pokemon that want to ride too."
James and Jesse started to worry. They did not have any money.
"Well, I better go. I have a lot of training to do." Tanya said waved goodbye as she ran off.
James turned to Jesse. "How are we going to get to the island if we don't have any money to take the boat."
"I don't know," Jesse said. "But I'm sure we'll think of something."