"Chapter 18: Trainer Tussle!"

By: Agent Baron

"Packrat is in Saffron City," Von Stupor mumbled to himself, looking at a map. "And my next badge is... hm. 'Tis in Saffron. I shall head there now!"

He looked to his side and saw the two mates than had beaten him down walking along the dock the S. S. Anne was harbored. He clenched his fist.

I had forgotten, he thought to himself.

He began marched over to the dock and stood at the junction between it and the land. The mates, walking toward him, noticed him and stopped short.

"Didn't we just..." one of them said out loud.

"You said to me that if I wished to board the ship, then to do it myself, correct?" Von Stupor asked them. "...And not to use my pokémon? You have falsely accused me of such, your violent action was highly uncalled for."

"Your rat pokémon hit me in the face! You're responsible for your pokémon's actions!"

"He is no pokémon, you fool!"

"What? That's a lie."

"Whether I speak truth or lies, I believe we should have a more adequate chance to settle our differences, than taking a mere pot shot, don't you think?"

The mate stepped forward. "You challenging me to a fight?"

Von Stupor chuckled and pulled out his flyswatter. "Come, arrogant sailor, and let us see who is worthy of sailing the seas!"

"I beat you once and I'll beat you again!"

The mate walked to Von Stupor and went to grab him. Von Stupor pushed his hand down and using the momentum, propelled himself up and over the mate, landing behind him. Turing quickly, he gave the mate a fierce slap on his back with the flyswatter. The mate arched his back in pain.

The second mate tried to approach him from behind, and Von Stupor swung his foot backward, hitting the mate in his genitals. The mate, hunching over, was then hit by a hard hook from Von Stupor. He stumbled toward the edge when the first mate recovered. He grabbed Von Stupor by his shoulder and reared back his fist.

The mate swung it at him, and Von Stupor moved his head into the punch. The blow stunned him, but the mask had successfully made a fierce crack against the mate's hand.

"Gaaah!!!" he cried. "What the hell is that thing made of???"

The second mate stood up straight and turned to face Von Stupor. Von Stupor whipped out a mouse ball and threw it at the mate's head. The mate failed to block it, and Von Stupor came while he was distracted and slapped him across the face with his hand, then his flyswatter. The mate, unflinching, punched him square in the chest.

Von Stupor fell backward and tumbled across the dock, rolling over the edge. He grabbed it just in time.

The two mates approached him and stared down. One raised its foot up to stomp his hand, when Von Stupor swung under the dock and out of sight. The two mates looked around for him, but saw nothing. Suddenly, a thud was heard behind them and they turned to see Von Stupor land on the other side of the dock.

"He... he swung across the supports underneath the dock!" the second mate sputtered in disbelief.

Von Stupor dashed toward the two mates and threw his cope at them. Catching it, they opened it up to catch Von Stupor in it when Von Stupor went into a slide and hit both sailors in their genitals as he passed. He slid off the dock and as the second mate crumpled from the pain, Von Stupor swung under the dock and appeared on the other side. As he returned, the mate, hunched over, met him there.

The mate threw a punch, but was too busy coping with the pain for it to amount to anything. Von Stupor ducked it and walloped the mate with an uppercut, followed by several flyswatter smacks. The mate wobbled back a bit and Von Stupor hit him once more with a shoulder charge. Wobbling back more, the mate's foot slid on the edge of the dock and he slipped off, hitting his other leg on the top of the dock on the way into the water.

The second mate, still crumpled in a heap, gave Von Stupor the universal 'time out' gesture and mumbled, "Times, I give."

Von Stupor picked up his cope and left without saying another word. On the way toward the underground passage, he saw an all-too-familiar face.

Baron Von Engar stood before him, clapping slowly.

"Very good job back there, I didn't think you had it in you..." he said coolly.

"What do you want, Baron Von Engar?" Von Stupor asked in reply.

"Hm? I don't see your angry rat with you. Lost?"

"That is none of your concern! What are you here for, Engar? I have important, time-restricting things I must tend to."

"Fine, then. I'll keep it simple. Give me that bag." He pointed at the backpack Von Stupor sported.

"This is not your bag to take! It shall stay with me!"

"Have it your way!!!"

Engar dashed at Von Stupor, who turned and ran away from him. He tore back into Vermilion city, where Officer Jenny caught the two running.

"You two, halt!!!" she commanded firmly, blowing her whistle.

Von Stupor ran to Officer Jenny as Engar skidded to a halt.

"I want that bag!!!" he shouted, tossing out a pokéball, revealing a large, winged dragon. "Charizard, fly us out of here!"

Hopping on the beast's back, he flew away into the horizon.

Jenny looked at Engar flying away and looked back to Von Stupor.

"Come with me, pal. You have some explaining to do," she said to him.

OIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIO

"So you're returning this bag to Ash Ketchum? That's pretty noble of you. Why not just leave it with us and we'll take it back?" Jenny asked Von Stupor.

"I would, but I am more likely to see him along my path towards Indigo Plateau. You see, if I follow in his tracks, I will undoubtedly see him at Indigo Plateau for the finals, eh?"

"We could just take it back to his house, though."

"'Tis most possible, but... something in my heart tells me that 'tis my duty to take this to him."

"What about that other guy? Why does he want it so much?"

"I don't know! He is some strange man making a mockery of me by calling himself Baron Von Engar!"

"Sounds like some sort of teenage rivalry to me. Does he bully you?"

"I don't know him and I am not a teenager, I'm 20 years old!"

Jenny stared at him oddly.

"I cannot waste my time here, I must press on to catch up to Ash. Good day, ma'am."

Baron Von Stupor walked briskly out of the building, annoyed.