Chapter 10: Fear
"Alright, what's wrong with you?" Delilah asked as we walked down a road.
I was humming and skipping along. "What ever do you mean?" I questioned innocently.
Delilah gave me a look. "Oh, come on. I'm not stupid. This is the first time you didn't have a nightmare after running into Gary."
I smiled. It was true. My dreams were rather pleasant the other night. "Endorphins," I replied simply.
Delilah smirked. "You actually have hormones? That's a shock!"
I rolled my eyes. "Everyone has them, Delilah."
Delilah's eyes suddenly widened. She was catching on. "Wait!" she said suddenly. "So, you- Gary-" I smiled slyly but didn't say anything. Delilah started to get excited. "You should-"
"No!" I cut her off.
"Well, how about-"
"Nope."
"If you just-"
"No!" I turned around and faced Delilah, blocking her path. I gave her a hard look. "Listen to me, nothing can happen. I'm enjoying this at the moment, but then I'll forget about it. Gary and I have a truce now. That's more than I ever imagined I would get. "
Delilah frowned. "But if you just talk to him-"
I shook my head. "No. I don't want to risk losing what I've just gained. If he comes to me and wants to talk, fine. But I'm not going to be the one to start it. End of story." With that, I turned and started down the path again. I heard Delilah sigh before following me.
"He cares, you know," she said after awhile.
I blinked. "What?" Were we still on the same subject?
"Gary," she said for clarification. "I wasn't supposed to tell you this, but he was really worried about you when you got knocked out in Grandpa Canyon."
I raised my eyebrows. "He was?" That wasn't too hard to believe, after what happened last night.
Delilah nodded. "Yeah. He wouldn't let me touch you. He was very… protective." She shrugged. "I think he cares about you but his ego is stopping him from showing it. This truce must be some sort of compromise with himself."
"Interesting theory," I mused. I tried to push my excitement down. I couldn't let my hopes get too high. If I expected little, I wouldn't be let down.
Delilah lost the next contest she was in. She decided to give it one more try at Viridian City. She was feeling pressured because this was probably her last chance. I comforted her as much as I could. Her Oddish evolved into a Gloom. She trained hard with her. I even let her catch a Ponyta that we happened across. She deserved some fire Pokemon too.
1 whole year had passed since we first set out when we finally got to Viridian City. It was interesting to be back there after so long. It would also be interesting when we returned to Pallet Town. I couldn't wait to see my family.
We were heading to the Pokemon center when suddenly we heard voices yelling. It sounded like they were saying, 'Togepi.' I gasped. "Come on!" I pulled Delilah to the direction of the voices. Just as I thought, Ash, Pikachu, Misty, and Brock were looking around frantically. "What happened?!"
"I'll tell you what happened," Misty said angrily. "Ash sent Togepi flying and now we can't find it!" Delilah and I gasped. Ash sweat dropped.
"We'll help you find Togepi," Delilah said. Misty smiled slightly at her.
We all turned our attention to two doors where we heard a noise. It sounded like Togepi! "That voice!" Brock said. We heard Togepi calling from the other side of the doors.
"It's Togepi!" Misty exclaimed. We all ran to the doors. Working together, we managed to slowly pull them open. Togepi was there waiting for us. "Togepi!" She picked her up and hugged her. "I was so worried about you. Thank goodness you're safe." I smiled. It was a nice scene.
"I wonder how it got inside," Brock said. I looked up. That's when I noticed we were in the Viridian City gym. My eyes widened at something else I saw. Brock saw the same thing. "Look over there!" Gary and the cheerleaders were sprawled out on the floor. I gasped.
"It's Gary!" Ash exclaimed.
"And the girls," Brock added.
The three of us raced towards the scene. I pushed Ash out of the way to get to Gary first. Ash blinked in confusion at this. "Gary!" I said, sitting him up.
Ash knelt down on his other side. "Gary, wake up!"
Gary slowly opened his eyes. "It's here," he murmured.
"What happened? What's here?" Ash asked.
"A Pokemon that we've never seen," Gary replied. His eyes looked distant, like he was seeing something that we couldn't. "There's something different about this one. This Pokemon's not just powerful, it's evil."
My eyes widened. "Evil?" I repeated. A chill went done my spine.
"There can't be an evil Pokemon," Ash said quietly.
"I can't believe Gary lost!" one of the cheerleaders cried. All of them started wailing. Ash, Brock, and Delilah covered their ears. I rolled my eyes. I ignored them and helped Gary stand up. He still looked troubled.
"Why are you making such a big deal about one lost battle?" Misty demanded.
"Pikachu!" the electric Pokemon put in. The cheerleaders stopped and focused their attention on Misty.
"If I cried like that ever time Ash lost I'd be waterlogged," Misty continued. I smirked slightly. Gary didn't even crack a smile. I frowned. Something was seriously wrong. He was still leaning on me for support. It was like he couldn't stand right.
Ash sweat dropped. "She's only kidding!"
Delilah smirked. "I'm sure."
"One thing's for sure," Gary spoke. He was staring out into space. "No one will ever beat that Pokemon." I wanted to know what had happened to make him act like this. I had never seen Gary that scared before. It worried me.
Suddenly, a female voice chuckled. The gym lights turned on, revealing the battleground. "Who's there?" Ash demanded. Even Gary turned to see what was going on.
"Prepare for trouble," the female voice said.
"And make it double," a male voice added. I let out a groan. I knew where this was going.
"To protect the world from devastation."
"To unite all peoples within our nation."
"To denounce the evils of truth and love."
"To extend our reach to the stars above."
"It's them!" Ash cried. I stopped myself from rolling my eyes. He always had to point out the obvious.
"Again," Brock added. They must have seen them earlier today.
"Why must you twerps always interrupt us before we get to finish?" Jessie asked angrily.
"We know what you're going to say. It's never any different!" Misty pointed out. I nodded in agreement.
"Ah, but today is very different," Jessie said.
"Something's happened that's going to make you very jealous," James said.
"Let's celebrate!" Meowth exclaimed, popping out of nowhere. I blinked. What were they talking about? "We just got a big promotion! Now we're going to get the respect we deserve." I blinked again. They deserved respect?
"That's right, Meowth," James said happily. "Because the new leaders of this gym are-"
"The three of us!" Jessie finished.
"You guys are gym leaders?!" Ash exclaimed.
"Pika?"
Jessie smirked. "That's right." She held out a badge. "Just moments ago we were put in charge of this gym and the Earth Badge."
"The Earth Badge!" Ash said in awe. That was when I remembered that he still needed one more badge.
"You mean this gym is controlled by Team Rocket?" Misty said in disbelief.
"Why would they want a gym?" Brock wondered out loud.
"You little tweebs could never understand the complex plans of an organization like Team Rocket," Jessie said.
"Oh yeah? Try us!" Ash challenged.
"They're for us to know and you to find out," James said. "What are they?" I heard him whispered to his partner.
Jessie blinked. She immediately regained her composure. "Those plans are classified information."
"She don't know them either!" Meowth said blatantly. Jessie glared at him and pushed him out of the way.
"But if you want that Earth Badge, you'll have to defeat us," James declared.
"That's just what I'm going to do!" Ash exclaimed.
"Well, step right into the ring we prepared just for you," Jessie said. All of us gasped as too podium-like boxes appeared from the floor at opposite sides of the gym. Jessie laughed wickedly. "Now get into the trainer's box, little boy."
My eyes widened. I had a bad feeling about this. I gently stepped away from Gary to run up to Ash. "Don't do it," I said urgently. "I'll bet it's a trick."
"They must have booby trapped it somehow," Brock agreed.
Misty nodded. "If you have any brains you'll back out now."
"If you run away now you won't get that Earth Badge," James taunted. I shot him a glare. Now I was sure it was a trick.
"Ash…" I said helplessly. I knew it would be no use in the end. He had that determined look in his eyes.
Ash looked back at me. "Don't worry about me," he said. He turned to face Team Rocket. "I'm not running anywhere!" He climbed up onto the podium box. I gulped. This wasn't going to end well.
"Do you think he stands a chance?"
I jumped a little when I heard Gary's voice beside me. I didn't notice that he had come back to my side. I bit my lip. "I-I'm not sure," I stuttered. I let out a sigh. "I sure hope so," I said more softly. Gary nodded.
"We will start with three Pokemon each. No time limit," Jessie said.
"Fine," Ash growled. "Let's battle!"
"All three Pokemon, go!" Jessie let out a Machamp, Kingler, and Rhyhorn. "Ha! This should be a synch."
Ash chose Squirtle. Machamp attacked him with Karate Chop. Squirtle cried out in pain. I quickly look up as I heard Ash cry out too. He was being electrocuted!
"What's that?!" Misty, Brock, Delilah, and I exclaimed.
"Pika pi!"
"Oh, that's one of the custom features here in our gym," James explained. "In the box, the trainer feels all the pain the Pokemon feel."
"Not so eager to battle now, are you?" Jessie taunted.
I glared at them hatefully. "I'll kill them!" I vowed. I tried to race forward, but Delilah held me back.
"I wouldn't provoke them if I were you," she cautioned. I broke away from her grip and shot her an angry look. This wasn't right!
The electricity stopped, and Ash slowly stood up. He called out Bulbasaur. Kingler easily hurt him. Ash got shocked again. I looked around frantically. I didn't feel right to just stand and watch.
"Do something!" I cried to Gary, grabbing onto his arm.
Gary looked at me in surprise. "What do you want me to do?"
"Tell him to give up!" I said.
"Ash!" Gary called. "You can't win! Their Pokemon are too strong!"
"I won't give up," Ash said stubbornly. "I've come too far to quit now."
Gary looked back at me worriedly. "You tell him to stop. Maybe he'll listen to you."
I contemplated that for a second. I didn't even have to think to know that it would be no use. I sighed. "I can't," I said in defeat. "I can't tell him to do something that I wouldn't do in his position." We were very similar, Ash and I. We both had that fighting spirit.
Gary looked at me in shock. "Why?"
"Yang," I replied simply. Gary seemed to understand. I looked back at the battle with renewed confidence and determination.
"I trust my Pokemon," Ash said. "We can do it!"
I had to admire his persistence. Apparently Gary did too, for he said in awe, "Maybe he can."
"Go Pidgeotto!" Ash cried. "Quick Attack!" Pidgeotto flew right into Rhyhorn. Sparks appeared at Jessie's feet. Pidgeotto attacked again. Jessie got electrocuted.
"Yes!" I exclaimed.
"James!" Jessie cried. "Why did you set it up to give shocks on both sides?! Turn it off! Turn it off!"
"I didn't think it would matter," James said defensively. "I didn't think we could lose."
"Luckily I made this little gadget in case we did lose," Meowth said. He was holding a remote control. "All I do is hit the button and, goodbye competition!"
"Oh, no you don't!" Gary cried. "Give me that thing!" He tackled Meowth to the ground. The gadget went flying. I grinned.
"All Pokemon, attack at once!" Jessie called. She let out Arbok and Wheezing.
"You can't use new Pokemon now!" Misty objected. "It's against the rules!"
"I make the rules for this gym," Jessie countered.
"Well, if those are the rules…" Ash trailed off. "Go Pikachu!"
"Pika!" Pikachu cried. He let out a Thundershock. All of Jessie's Pokemon got shocked along with Jessie. Ash's Pokemon cried out in victory. I grinned widely.
"We did it!" Ash exclaimed. "We won the battle!" He hugged his Pokemon.
"Way to go!" I said with a grin, running up to Ash as he stood up. I wrapped my arms around him in a hug. "I'm glad you're okay." Ash pulled back and smiled at me.
"He's the winner, he's our Ash! Let's all have a victory bash!" the girls cheered. "He's the victor, he's our man! No one wins like Ketchum can!"
I smirked. "That's a nice change of tune." I glanced at Gary. He seemed to be in deep thought.
"Huh, I hate to admit it, but that kid's a pretty good trainer," he said. "But still, no one's ever going to be able to beat the Pokemon that I saw." He looked troubled again. I frowned.
"If it's evil, maybe we should find it and bring it to justice," I suggested.
Gary quickly turned on me and roughly grabbed my shoulders. I winced in pain. "That's out of the question!" His eyes were angry now.
I blinked in surprise. "But wouldn't we be doing the world good if he went after it?"
"That's not the point!" Gary growled. "It's too dangerous. You could get killed!"
I rolled my eyes. "Fine, Dad." I yanked myself away from him. I had only taken one step when something dawned on me. I suddenly realized the true meaning of Gary's words. I looked back at him in shock.
Gary blinked. "Wha-"
His words were cut off from an explosion in the middle of the gym. I was instantly pulled back by Gary. I gave him a quick glance. I knew my speculations were correct. Delilah was right.
"Oh no!" Team Rocket cried. They were blasted out of the gym.
Ash caught something as it fell. "Hey!" he exclaimed. "I finally got my Earth Badge!"
"Piki Pikachu!" Pikachu looked up at the ceiling. "Pika?" I gasped. Pieces of the ceiling were raining down on us.
"The building's collapsing!" Gary cried. "Let's run for it!" I raced outside with him and everyone else. Thankfully, we made it. We all stood and watched as the gym sank to the ground.
I turned to Gary when it was over. "I knew it," I said with a smirk.
Gary blinked in confusion. "Knew what?"
"The truth about you," I said. "You may act like you don't care, but I know you're a good guy, Gary Oak. You can't fool me." My smirk grew into a wide grin at Gary's surprised look. I walked up to Delilah. "Let's go to the Pokemon Center now." She smiled and nodded. "And by the way," I said as we were walking away. "You were right."
