One More Step Up the Ladder 26
I looked at the S.S. Cactus, the ship that was going to take Jarod, Tess, and me to Cianwood City. It was pretty big and white and looked like a standard cruise ship. Heck, there was even a dining area on top of the deck! Which looked fantastic, I figured I would have to eat there before I got off the boat. I looked at the others who would be getting on the boat: John, Mike, Brandon, and Connor.
"You guys ready?" I asked them.
"You don't need our permission," John laughed as he gave his ticket to the teller and got on the boat. Jarod and I approached the ticket booth with Tess in tow. We handed him the two tickets and he gave us a puzzled look.
"There are only two tickets here," The captain said, "And I see three people."
"So?" Jarod said.
"It means you're not going on the ship," He said.
"What if I told you that I'm Jarod Tanaka," My brother smiled.
"Jarod Tanaka! My daughter would have a fit if I didn't let you on board for free!" The captain said, "Come on in! I'll announce your arrival on the intercoms!"
"No," Jarod said, "Don't tell anyone I'm on this ship!"
"Okay," The captain said. The three of us walked onto the ship and I looked at Jarod.
"You sure have a way with people," I said.
"It comes naturally when you're the best," Jarod smiled.
"You know, for being the best ever, I've only seen you win one battle," I snickered.
"Hey! The story isn't about me is it? It's about you!" Jarod snapped.
"You're right," I said as we walked into our rooms. The cabin had two bunk beds and had a computer in the back of the room. The room also had wooden flooring and a closet to put our supplies.
"Time to answer my fan mail," Jarod said and hopped on the computer.
Tess sighed and decided to wander the ship. I decided to go to the dining room on top of the ship. When I got there, I realized that the tables were surrounding a battlefield. I recalled that the last time I had eaten in a place like this; I had to battle the waitress for my food. I groaned and sat down. A waiter came by.
"Excuse me sir, would you like something to drink?" The waiter said.
"Am I going to have to battle you for it?" I inquired.
"No sir, this drink is free," The waiter said.
"In that case, I need some lemonade," I said. The waiter went back and came out with a glass of lemonade; he put down the glass as I grabbed it and began to drink.
"Do you know that the battle block is about to start?" The waiter said.
"The what now?" I replied.
"The battle block, where several trainers gather together and battle while we serve a meal," The waiter said.
"Just my luck," I sighed as several trainers began to sit down.
"Just let me know if you want to participate," The waiter said as he took out a microphone.
"Welcome to the S.S. Cactus' Battle Block! Here several trainers will battle it out while you enjoy a meal! If you wish to participate, step up now!" The waiter said. One kid, who was wearing a purple T-shirt with blue jeans and white skin, stepped up and onto the battlefield. Another kid, with white hair, green eyes, and glasses took to the battlefield.
"And here we have two trainers ready to brawl!" The waiter exclaimed and pointed at the purple shirted kid, "What is your name?"
"Jon," The kid said.
"Jon! And on the other side we have the trainer named," The waiter said and pointed to the other kid.
"Carl," The kid said.
"And Carl," The waiter said, "Now remember you are only allowed to use two Pokemon, so choose wisely," he said before holding up a flag, "Begin!"
Jon took out a Pokeball and sent out a Charmander. The opponent sent out a Goldeen.
"Ouch," The waiter said, "Can Charmander overcome this type difference?"
"Charmander use metal claw!" Jon exclaimed.
"Goldeen use Horn Attack!" Carl ordered.
Charmander flew forward with its armed glowing with some kind of grey energy. Goldeen jumped over the attack and drove its horn into Charmander's body. The fire lizard flew back but lunged at Goldeen again, this time; it scratched the fish Pokemon's face. Goldeen flinched before firing a water gun at Charmander. Charmander dodged the attack and scratched Goldeen across the face. The fish then hit the ground and flew toward Charmander, easily nailing the lizard's stomach again. This time however, Charmander countered by hitting Goldeen with a metal claw.
"Is that the best you've got?" Carl laughed.
Jon sighed, "You want to see the best I've got? You'll be sorry you said that," Jon recalled his Charmander and sent out a Magikarp.
"Really," Carl laughed, "A Magikarp is your secret weapon? What kind of moron uses a Magikarp?"
"Magikarp, Tackle," Jon said calmly. Magikarp seemingly zoomed toward Goldeen at break neck speed, sending it right into the ground. Goldeen was instantly knocked out.
"What!" Carl exclaimed, "Impossible! Come on out Machoke!" Carl yelled and sent out his next Pokemon. Jon ordered his Magikarp to use tackle and the battle was soon over. Carl gave Jon a look of annoyance mixed with amazement and confusion.
"The winner is Jon!" The waiter exclaimed as Jon and Carl went back to their seats. Jon soon got up however and sat next to me.
"Wow," He said.
"Wow what?" I replied.
"I've never seen someone with blue hair before," Jon said, "It's kind of unsettling," The boy then took out a notepad and began to draw something.
"What are you drawing?" I asked him.
"You," He replied, "You're pretty interesting."
I sipped my lemonade as I debated whether to take that as a compliment or an insult to my blue hair.
"So do you draw a lot?" I asked the kid.
"All the time," Jon smiled, "But I'm known for my Magikarp."
"I'll say," I said, "You thrashed that Carl guy."
Jon nodded, "Of course I'm debating whether or not to evolve it into a Gyardos."
"Whatever seems good to you," I said.
Jon stopped for a second, "Your name doesn't happen to be Jesse, does it?"
"It is," I said, "Why do you ask?"
"You can talk to Pokemon can't you?" Jon inquired.
"What? Me? Talk to Pokemon?" I laughed, "Don't be so foolish!"
Jon gave me an odd look, "So, I take it you're off to challenge Chuck in Cianwood City."
"There is a gym leader in Cianwood?" I asked him.
"Yeah there is," He said, "You didn't know?"
"Well of course I did," I said, Gosh Jesse how could you have forgotten that? I thought
"Maybe you did," Jon said as he looked up.
"Now time for a daily double battle," The waiter exclaimed as two other trainers walked out of the arena, "Who will be the trainers that will be participating in our double battle today?"
Jon got up and looked at me, "Do you want to come up?"
I shrugged and nodded. Upon getting up, The two of us were faced with a trainer with blue hair and an orange vest on and the other trainer was none other than Roger.
"Jesse long time no see," Roger smiled.
I nodded, "Yeah, I'll admit we haven't battled in a long time."
Roger took out a Pokemon, "This'll be a good fight!"
"You betcha," I exclaimed.
"Now the rules for this battle are that you four are only allowed to use one Pokemon and one Pokemon only!" The waiter said, "You may talk with your teammates before you begin."
Jon and I didn't say a single word to each other…which was not the best strategy once you think about it. Jon sent out his Magikarp and I sent out Nelly.
Roger sent out a Masquerain while the other trainer sent out a Hariyama. The battle was soon under way as Nelly sent a shock wave flying towards Masquerain. The attack hit as the flying bug shook its head and began to send out a powerful sound wave from its wings. The sound waves flew forward and hit Magikarp who didn't seem too fazed by the attack. Magikarp then propelled itself into the air before headbutting the Hariyama's head. The Hariyama growled and stumbled around for a second before grabbing Magikarp, spinning it around and throwing it into the ground. Magikarp got up like it was nothing. Nelly leapt at Hariyama this time and bit it on its arm. Several volts of electricity flew through the Pokemon's body before it managed to slug Nelly into a table. Nelly got up and realized he was covered in food.
"Uh, sorry about that," He laughed as he jumped off the table, "Wait a second! That gives me an idea!" Nelly grabbed one of the plates filled with food and threw it at Hariyama. The food flew into Hariyama's face and left him open for a brief second. Magikarp flew forward and hit the Pokemon in the stomach, knocking it on the ground. Masquerian began send a repulsive wind at Nelly, "What foul stench is that!" Nelly exclaimed as he caught a whiff of the attack, "Did you eat garlic or something?"
Masquerian shook its head as Hariyama wiped the food off his plate. Nelly hopped onto another table and grabbed tabasco sauce and squirted it in Hariyama's eyes. The Pokemon began to run around, screaming as Nelly and Magikarp focuses their attention on Masquerian. Magikarp got ready with another tackle as Nelly got ready to use his spark attack. The two Pokemon hit Masquerian at the same time and sent it tumbling into the ground, knocked out. Hariyama tried to attack but couldn't get past the fact that hot sauce was in his eyes. Nelly looked at Magikarp.
"You want to finish Hariyama off?" Nelly asked his partner.
"With pleasure," Magikarp laughed as Nelly then kicked him towards Hariyama. Magikarp hit the fighting type Pokemon like a missile and sent it toppling over.
"It looks like we have our winners!" The waiter exclaimed as I looked at Jon. The two of us sat back down and began to talk about our adventures during our journey to climb one more step up the ladder.