Pokémon: Agent of Entei
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Group two left early in the morning, heading for the hotel in Petalburg. The Sheldrake's lived at the house, so they didn't have to go anywhere. Mindy and both Blake's walked into a shiny glowing portal; I would have to say that took them to the reverse world. Group four was escorted away by legendaries when we weren't looking. Group three and one members took off for the hotel also. Group five was gone and unaccounted for, just the way they liked it. All of them were ready for the start of their journeys. So of course- I was having second thoughts.
I sat in my room and tried to sleep. My pack was curled up by the ever roaring fire place and Frash was inside the hottest flame he could find. (I vaguely wondered if it was regular for charmanders to sit inside sustained flame or if Frash was extra durable.) I tossed and turned, nothing could make me go to sleep. Why was I afraid of going on the journey? I was well supplied, have company, had protection, and I had the physical capability. (Original Jack had kept good care of his/my body.) What was the problem? Probably that I was marching of into the unknown with three lunatics and a pack of wild dogs.. I considered why this should scare me. In my time here I had almost died, that hadn't fazed me. I had fought a whole forest full of rabid critters. I was appalled, but not very scared. I had watched backfiring tech, telekinesis, teleportation, and tried to set myself on fire to prove to myself I was now burn proof. (On Entei's orders) What could I be scared off?
Nevertheless, the feeling didn't disappear. I drowsed off into a groggy sleep. I had dreams of hulking beasts chasing me down ancient ruins. Dreams of drowning in the ocean. Dreams of…you get the idea. I woke up at one o'clock in the morning. I got up and got breakfast toast and let the dogs out into the back. "You look like crap little brother." Manson told me cheerfully. Julia handed me a piece of buttered toast. "He's nervous. Understandable. He went and forgot everything he knew about survival. Plus he stopped being so obscenely brave." Julia told Manson. "I was obscenely brave?" I asked Julia. "Nope, just unable to assess the situation before you charged in looking for trouble." Manson replied. "Wonderful. Bet that rubbed off on my pack." I grumbled. "Of course." Manson voiced through his toast.
"That reminds me, Jack you're going to do me a big favor." Julia told me. Seeing my face of horror she amended, "don't worry, it'll help you too." "Okay, what do you need me to do that you can't?" I asked Julia warily. "You know that I've got two Electrike pups now? The shiny male and the not-shiny female? I want you to take the shiny male." Julia told me. "Hmm? Why?" I asked. "I can't take care of two pups on a long journey. We're older and have places to go that are dangerous to young Pokémon. I couldn't take either on my journey and expect them to do well. If you take a pup it's off my hands. I've already found a good home for the non-shiny female." Julia explained.
"Fine. If I raise it right the Pup would cover my massive water weakness, and since he's a dog he'll fit in with my pack just fine." I told Julia thoughtfully. "Any reason why you want him to take the shiny one?" Manson asked. "He'll be stronger than the smaller girl who's a runt. Jack will need his electrical powers if he ever wants to beat a water user." Julia told us. "I'll bring him here." Julia said happily. Manson and I watched her leave. "She wants to give me a shiny? Aren't those supposed to be super rare?" I asked Manson. "They aren't so massively rare anymore. They get caught easy because their coats make them bad hunters, which in turn makes their quality of life worse, which makes them weaker and easier to catch. Wild shinies can be pretty weak. There are reasons Pokémon are naturally colored the way they are, survival of the fittest and all that. So shinies get caught, and then because they ARE shinies they get bred a lot. They aren't so terribly rare anymore." Manson told me.
"However, if you ask me, Julia's worried about you and giving you her third strongest Pokémon's pup is her way of reinforcing you. It helps that it's not the runt, and it covers your gaping weak point some. This is Julia's weak attempt at trying to hide she's very concerned for you. You don't know that much anymore, so she's worried about you going out." Manson told me quietly. "Are you worried for me?" I asked him quietly. If Manson was worried for me, then I needed to get stronger, fast. "Not really. You're a strong battler, you just need some time and reminders. Worst case and you go down, your team mates will look after you. "Never let a brother or sister in arms go down, that's the motto of the first group." Manson told me.
"What's the motto of the second group?" I asked Manson to keep him talking. He grinned at me sidelong. "It's, 'Make a move and die, punk'," He told me. Julia came back in, carrying the pup (Who had gotten a lot bigger) under his stubby little arms. He barked at us and wagged his tail. [Ohh! It's you, with the tasty thumb to bite!] Julia put him down on the floor and he came over and sniffed me. [You smell like fire. Fire and fur.] He growled happily as I scratched his blue fur. "Does he have a name sis?" I asked Julia. "His name is Voltage." She smiled happily. "Do you like him?" Julia sounded so happy and carefree I momentarily forgot she would break my bones if I messed with her. "I think I'll just call him Volt for short." I told him as he relaxed as I scratched his furry neck. [You give good scritches.] Volt grumbled happily at me.
"So, when do you think I should introduce him to the pack?" I asked Julia and Manson. I vaguely remembered some Cesar Milan (the dog whisperer) episodes and wondered how I'd make the pack accept him. "Psh, dogs. Just throw him into the middle of them and watch sniff each other and go play." Manson told me. "What, not an animal person?" I asked Manson. "I deal with ghosts and soul damage. I like harmless little dogs just fine." Manson told me. "Your pack with accept Voltage just fine, they'll recognize his Moms scent and know if they hurt him they'll have to deal with Angela." Julia told me.
The problem was solved when Belle opened the sliding glass door and all four of my dogs ran inside. "Big brother, your dogs want to play, do you know where the ball is?" Belle asked me. I watched they pack greet Volt. They walked up and sniffed him and he sniffed back. There was a tense moment when Bones (Who's lead of the pack, making him my deputy) stopped and stared at Volt. Volt glared right back before lying down at Bones feet. Bones held him there for a second, then walked off, curiosity and need to protect the pack satisfied. "See? What did I tell you. Just dump him into the center of your pack and they'll get along like peas in a pod. The type difference won't bother them; they're all dogs and foxes." Manson told me cheerfully while he watched the pack romp with their newest member.
"So Jack, just thought I'd tell you, little Belle's birthday is today, which means you're required to buy her a gift in town and then show up before at least three." Manson told me happily. "Why wasn't I told this earlier?" I groaned to Manson. He stopped eating his toast for a second. "We told you sometime last week, and you never forget birthdays.' He told me sadly. "Err… I don't really know how to respond…" I told him after a moment of him staring sadly at me. "So then, you're going to help me shop for Belle because I forgot." I told Manson cheerfully. "Ehh? I have to go and be creepy in the basement!" He told me indignantly. "Nope!" I told him as I grabbed his arm and pulled. The pack, noticing what I was doing, came over and crowded around Manson and I. Five dogs and a large lizard make it hard to run and not trip over them, I gathered as they chased Manson down the hall as he ran for his dungeon.
"Alright, you win little brother." Manson told me as Julia and I held him down while my dogs licked his face. "Alright you lot, let him up. If he tries to run again, steal his big trench coat." I told my pack.
And that is how Julia and I forced Manson to come to town with us.
"Seems pretty lot lively." I told Julia as we walked through town. "It's a work day." She told me as we trooped through town. "Last time we here Jackie-boy, it was the weekend, and everyone was resting." Manson told me. Looking around at all the hard hats and bright orange vests I deemed the major source of income round here building, which didn't make sense seeing how little the town was. "What are they doing?" I asked Julia. "I have no idea. We don't come to town for more than just shopping and boredom." Julia told me. "There's a lumber mill on the east side of town, that way. That's the job of most people in town. There's quite the lumber operation here." Manson explained. "I'm surprised at you Julia; you never snuck into the mill?" I asked Julia.
"I always left that to Manson and you. I forgot, just like you did." Julia told me. My dogs swarmed around us, sniffing everything in sight. "Hey guys? Just a quick question, is it safe to let me dogs roam around town? They won't like, eat someone?" I asked Manson. "Of course they'll eat someone, but only if that person asks for it nicely." Manson told me. It sounded fake but his super serious face threw me off. "Stop it- they're fine, the towns people love them because they chase off Rattata and other pests from our side the forest. The Sheldrake Pokémon make the west side of Petalburg pest and dangerous Pokémon free." Julia explained. In fact, I watched a townsperson give Sune a large dog biscuit, which made the rest of my pack swarm the man for treats. (Which they got from him. He must have lots for whenever the pack comes.)
"Oi! Sheldrake's, over here!" Nathan called from a bench besides the Pokémon center where he and groups one, two, and three sat there eating sandwiches. "I thought you said you were staying at a hotel?" I asked Nathan. Several people gawked at me but Nathan explained calmly, "Jack for trainers like us, Pokémon Centers are hotels. Very cheap and likeable ones too." He told me, pointing above the center. I hadn't bothered to really examine the Pokémon center while I was here last. Seems I really should have seen the second floor. "Oh?" I voiced. "Yup. This one's really big for such a small town because the Sheldrake's paid them lots to expand their size. We actually donate money for lots of things around town." Manson reminded me.
"So, you lot got stayed here?" I asked group three. "Yup. If they run out of room upstairs they have a couple spare rooms in the basement." Harold told me. "So, what brings the Sheldrake's to town?" Nathan asked me. "It's our littlest sis's birthday and I was only just told today, so I'm going to see what I can buy her for a gift." I told group three. "How old is she?" Jesse asked me. "She's ahh…uhh… she's going to be five I believe." I told Jesse. She raised her eyebrow at me and took a bite of sandwich. "What? Give an amnesiac a break." I grumbled at her.
"Hmm, she got any game systems?" Nathan asked me. "I don't think she does." I told him. I don't remember seeing a TV or a system in her room. "Get her some books." Harold advised me. "I don't know what she reads. Sides, she's too young for that, right?" I told Harold. "Depends. I remember reads lots, even at a young age, though I don't remember how young I was." Harold told me. I turned towards Jesse. "Any suggestions?" "What kind of Pokémon does she like?" Jesse asked me. "Water types." I told Jesse instantly. "Get her some dive or net balls." Jesse told me. "Do they carry those in Petalburg's mart?" Nathan asked her. "In a small town like this you'd be lucky to find any ultraballs at the mart." Harold informed me. "I could buy her ten pokeballs and get a white ball. I forget what those are called." I voiced aloud. "Premier balls, and only conventional Devon marts carries those." Nathan told me. "The shop here has them, don't worry. In fact, they have a surplus seeing as no one would buy regular pokeballs once they started carrying great balls. Buy your sis ten great balls and they'll give you a premier ball." Harold told me. "Sounds like a plan. Let's go buy your sis some great balls." Jesse told me.
Turns out the great balls were low in stock, so we bought their eight and three pokeballs. They gave me a premier ball anyways because the new shipment of great balls was supposed to be here. We went back to the Pokémon center. "What time is it?" I asked my friends. "I saw a clock over there somewhere." Jesse told me. "Don't bother, it's two forty." Nathan told me, holding up his IPod touch. I was vaguely surprised Apple existed in the Pokémon dimension but then I saw the symbol on the back of the IPod touch was different and didn't bother about it again. "I got ten minutes to blow before I head back. I told group three. "You should probably spend that time to track down your dogs and make sure they aren't burning someone to death." Harold told me.
I hadn't even noticed my dogs were gone. I spent several minutes searching for them before I remembered they were trained to come at a whistle. I whistled loudly and waited a minute for them to all appear before heading home with my pack. I was handed wrapping paper, scotch tape, and a shoe box outside by Julia, who had arrived earlier.
We ate cake and played games with Belle. I had locked my dogs in my room so they didn't try to mess with Belle's water Pokémon. Her Poliwag and Poyo waddled everywhere. "So Belle, what are you going to wish for?" Julia asked Belle. "Can't tell, its secret." Belle told Julia. "So Belle, how old are you today?" I asked her teasingly. "This old." Belle said before holding up five fingers. "I see. So what do you want to see?" I asked Belle as I showed her all the DVDs on the shelf. Predictably she pointed to the one about finding Goldeen, which's she's watched two times since she unwrapped it, Julia's gift to her. Manson had gotten her an incredibly awesome power fishing rod, which I doubt she could even hold. Julia had gotten the movie Belle kept watching. Belle had received my gift with mixed enthusiasm and curiosity. At first she didn't know what the oddly colored poke balls were, but when they were explained to her she hugged me like she did everyone else. Mrs. Sheldrake had gotten her a pretty dress. Mr. Sheldrake had gotten her a couple thin books that told stories about various fish Pokémon.
When Belle's Pokémon retired with her to her room I let the dogs in, who quickly gathered the wads of wrapping paper and carried their new toys into my room. Someone had turned my thermostat down from one hundred degrees to seventy, and my dogs quickly warmed my room by stoking the fire with the paper and Ember attacks. Tonight was the first night Voltage would spend with us, and I could tell he was unused to the heat. Luckily it didn't seem to bother him too much, and he found a cool spot ontop of the lower bunks pillows. Frash went into the fireplace. Bones, Ripper, and Sune curled up on the bed and I grabbed Flare and put the (now much larger and heavier) fox kit on the upper bed before I went to sleep.
Today passed by as a blur. I slept until late in the day, due to my lack of sleep yesterday. The dogs slept off their exercise from their visit to town and finally woke me from my power sleep when they had to go out. The first thing I did when I woke up was check Volt. It wouldn't be good if he asphyxiated on the humidity but he was fine. Seems he gained electric power when it was nice and warm because he yawned and a couple yellow sparks danced along his blue fur.
Breakfast was buttered toast again, but this time our Parents were up. "So then everybody ready for school?" I dropped my toast onto the floor where Flare promptly grabbed the toast (Which was bigger than his head) and ran off with it. "What school!" I asked/yelled, horrified. "Hmm? Oh son you forgot this too? We take you four kids to trainer school every month and you sit with people who are trainers." Dad told me. "Us four? Manson's coming?" I asked, amused. "Hey, for people my age they have a dedicated battle arena. Bound to be a few chumps to wipe the gym floor with." Manson replied, smiling. "Just watch, he'll pick his six strongest ghosts and won't hold back. The carnage is awesome." Julia whispered to me. "Julia also doesn't need the schooling, but they're having a tournament." Mom told me. "So Belle and I are supposes to be doing what then?" I asked aloud. "Oh, most of the kids in the school will be around Belles age, we wouldn't make you sit with them and go through a class. You can just watch the fighting and maybe get in a few battles. Your Father and I are going to talk with Steven Stone and buy you some travel equipment." Mr. Sheldrake told me.
"How much do our parents know about our travels?" I asked Manson and Julia. "Or Parents couldn't stop me if they tried. If I got serious and used every ghost I should be able to beat Mom." Manson told me. "It couldn't have always been like that, what about when you first took off?" I asked him. "Remember I wasn't chosen until I met Giratina, I just traveled with a group of chosen. I told my Parents I was going off with a group of friends. The first time I just told them I was off to conquer Hoenn. Now I'll just vanish into thin air and the basement will be turned back to normal. All my ghosts will go into my Hacked I.S. and be fine." Manson told me.
"My first time I basically ran away." Julia told me. "When I returned home they weren't too mad at me because I WAS the age they had set for traveling, twelve. Of course after that they made it twelve for your initial journey and then fourteen for the real deal. You're going to have to just run it out tomorrow." Julia told me. "But don't worry, Manson and I smuggled supplies into your I.S. before they took it away after you got back from your initial journey." "What have I got?" I asked them.
"A good deal of great balls, a few ultra balls, a couple special balls and maybe one or two pokeballs." Julia told me. "Enough food for you all year. A large easy to set up tent and supplies for your dogs and any other Pokémon. Enough potions and stat boosters of all types to make the mega marts envious." Manson told me. "Other travel supplies like soap and human medical supplies." Julia told me. "Your slingshot, hunting bow, arrows, boomerang, hand grenade, one of my combat knives, a compass, maps, phone numbers for every member of any group including group five, sliced bread… The works from anything to everything." Manson told me. (I figured he wasn't joking about the weapons.) "How do I work an I.S. any ways?" I muttered to myself. "Just reach for something. The right things show up." Julia and Manson told me at the same time.
"So tomorrow I cut and run?" I asked them. "I'm going with you, and groups two and three will split up once we get to town." Julia told me. "I'll take an extra day of supply gathering and repairing the basement, as well as rounding up my ghosts before I leave. Group one will be fine if I wait it out." Manson told me. "We'll be gone before they know what's happening." Julia reassured me. "And today they are inadvertently helping us by buying you top of the line travel gear. They think it will only see use some time next year, but you'll be using it tomorrow at the latest." Manson told me. "What is this gear you're talking about?" I asked them. "Well, Devon got a hold of some sort of watch from Sinnoh and there combining it with some of their I.S. tech to make the watch do even more stuff. Then they got hold of regular advanced tech from Silph. Co. It's not going to be available to the general market because of the stolen techs, but the elite will be able to buy some. Groups one and two stole some of the last model of tech, but this time Belle and you are going to buy it. I can guarantee Nathan Stone will have some of this tech too, and he'll probably have enough influence to get them to hand over two more watches for Harold and Jesse." Manson told me.
"It's good Nathan knows his way around tech. Its imperative there is a computer smart person in most groups or they get into trouble." Julia told me. "Who's the techie on your groups?" I asked Manson and Julia. "Vidars good with computers. Something about direct line to Arceus." "I'm good with tech. Manson and I hunted down my own Rotom a while back in case I ever had tech problems. Surge lives in my I.S, so technically I'm always carrying seven Pokémon, which is lawbreaking. But Surge isn't a fighter and they'd never find him- even if they called in the world's best."
"You kids ready to go?" Mr. Sheldrake called from the Kitchen. "We'd better go select who we want with us." Julia told me, and ran off for her tower. "I whistled loudly and the pack (plus Frash) appeared. "Into your pokeballs." I told them as I used the return beam to store my dogs. "What are you waiting for?" I asked Manson. "Good point." He told me, and then he stomped on the floor. Several ghosts flowed out of the ground. "I want everyone into my I.S., now." Manson told Dusknoir. Manson suddenly became the epicenter of ghosts as a dark swirl encased him. "Alright, got all ten of my travel ghosts." He told me. Seeing my look he explained, "I leave Cofagrigus, Jellicent, Spiritomb , and Golurk at home since they are big, largely immobile ghosts. This way if a thief or stranger enters the basement will be the only door they find. They go in, and feed the ghosts. I carry the other mobile ten. Grin my Gengar, Ballerina my Banette, Dusknoir, Mismagius, Drifblim, Litwick, Shedinja, Sableye, Froslass, and Rotom. All ten of my more mobile ghosts." Manson explained. His Absol, Umbreon, and Jackal came bounding up the stairs, and jumped into his pokeballs on Manson's belt. "Ten ghosts and three darks." He told me, smiling happily.
The ride into town was eventful. Moms blue Minivan was large enough to carry all six of us Sheldrake's. Manson said he wanted to shadow travel at first until Dad told him he would have none of that. Then Manson said he wanted to get his Motorcycle out of the garage and Dad and Mom gawked as Manson explained a long story about how he had "acquired" not only a motorcycle permit but a motorcycle in Kanto and then shadow traveled it home. Mom would have none of that and told him to get into the van. Julia and I broke out laughing as he denied this. The ultimatum was he gets in the van and comes, or when we got there Mom would beat him in front of the entire school, his ten ghosts, and three dark types to her six best Pokémon. Manson got in the van.
As we drove through town I picked out all the members of group one two and three. I noticed Julia only had eyes for Nathan when we passed him, but both Manson and I noticed her slight blush. I kept my mouth shut, as did Manson.
The rest of the ride consisted of the four younger Sheldrake's spotting as many Pokémon as they could on the ride. Manson insisted he won, which Belle loudly protesting. Julia pointed out Manson wasn't supposed to use his ghosts to spot Pokémon and he admitted this means he spotted the least, seeing as he slept the entire ride.
Arrival at the school was interesting. Apparently the school sponsored meet and battle was the most popular thing in the city that day, as loads of city kids came with their Pokémon to fight. My Dex had been quite for some time now, but Entei spoke to me after I got out of the car. "Do you want any advice for these battles? Any other trainer with a Dex will be asking for support. Most of these kids will have two or three Pokémon, but they'll be good with those two or three because they're familiar. You have six powerful Pokémon with type powers. I'd suggest you keep Volt out of the battle seeing as he's actually younger than Flare, but he grows faster than your runt Eevee and he covers your water weakness. He's already old enough to be able to fight like your Eevee, and Eevee is ready to finally fight." Entei told me. "Sure help me whenever you can. My goal here is to take on trainers around my level so that I can assess my skill and how powerful my Pokémon are. Do you think I'm as strong as my group?" I asked the Dex. "Well, your Pokémon are as strong, but you're not used to them. Today will hopefully fix that."
"Talking to yourself little brother?" Manson asked me, discovering my hiding spot. He noticed my dex and pulled out a pure black dex with the ghost symbol. (If you don't know what I'm talking about: Google image: Pokémon ghost spirit energy. Third pic.)
"Time to go in and challenge a city to fight." He told me, smiling creepily.