Showdown at the Weather Institute
After their quick adventure in Mauville City, Beka, Brendan, and May continue on their journey through Hoenn. Their adventures crossing Route 118 had now lead them on to Route 119 and they headed north toward Fortree City and to Beka's next gym battle. The route was clear and sunny, but possibly the most difficult challenge for them was the long, tall grass that awaited them and the challenge of crossing this massive overgrowth, which to Beka, seemed like a dense jungle.
"Brendan? May?" shouted Beka, who was now lost in the overgrowth, "Where are you guys?"
"I don't know, but I can hear you!" shouted May from another direction.
"Hey guys!" came Brendan's voice, "I found a clearing! Come toward my voice!"
"Okay," came May's voice, "but keep talking!"
"About what?"
"I don't know, sing something!"
And so, Brendan began singing, which was a little off key, "This is A Song That Never Ends" until Beka and May tumbled out of the thick grass. Beka then knelled down and pulled off long grass blades that had entwined around her legs.
"Well," stated Brendan, looking over his Pokenav, "the good news is that we don't have to travel through that tall grass again since we're about a ten minute walk from Fortree City."
"Well, that's good news," said May, who was also pulling out grass from her brown hair.
"It sure is," Beka also commented.
Suddenly, out of no where, a blast of freezing wind hit the trainers. They lifted their arms up toward the wind's direction in order to block the wind from their line of vision, but continued to close their eyes shut. The wind stopped and when Beka opened her hazel eyes, she saw not only her, but also Brendan and May, with snow up to their waists. Beka tried to pull herself out of the snow, but she was stuck.
"May! Brendan!" she shouted, "Can you guys move from the waist down?"
The two tried but couldn't.
"Nope, where stuck as well," said Brendan.
Just then, Beka heard something above her. She looked up to see a small creature that seemed to be surrounded in a whirlwind-design body.
"No way! A Castform!" exclaimed Brendan.
Castform, a Normal Element, then released a sphere of white light that was surrounded in a pale blue light. The light headed toward Beka.
"Castform's using Weather Ball!" exclaimed Brendan again, "and since it's in its Ice Form, it could freeze Beka!"
"Beka!" exclaimed May.
Beka shut her eyes, waiting for the ice attack to slam into her and possibly freeze her in time…
"Anubis, use Flamethrower!" came the voice of a man.
Beka opened her eyes and saw a powerful Flamethrower hit the Weather Ball and incinerated the attack. Beka turned to see a man, about in his twenties, with short light blue hair and mahogany eyes, wearing a white shirt and tan pants with a white lab coat over them, standing behind a Houndoom.
'Wait,' thought Beka, 'is that…'
"Now Anubis, use Roar!"
Anubis, which was his Houndoom, released a series of high pitched barks. Castform, who now began to be startled by the Roar attack, began to glow a bright red and then transformed into a concentrated beam of red light. Beka saw the man had held out a Pokeball and was recalling the Castform. The man sighed and said:
"Sorry about that. Anubis, use Sunny Day!"
Anubis raised its head toward the sky and released a powerful howl, which caused more sunlight to pour down onto the land. Beka felt the warmth of the rays soaking deep into her skin, creating a warm, serenity sensation to flow through Beka's body. She then felt her pants softly soaking and looked down to see that the snow was melting into large, clear puddles of water.
"We're free," said May.
"Good job Anubis," said the man, who gently rubbed the top of the Dark/ Fire Element.
"Hound-doom," Anubis growled softly, enjoying the rub.
The man then looked up, facing Beka, and said:
"Well, you must be Beka, right?"
"Yes," said Beka, "and you must be Professor Aries."
"Professor Aries?" questioned Brendan.
"Yeah, remember Professor Aquarius?" said May, "This is her future husband, Professor Aries."
"Oh that's right, it's just been a while," said Brendan, scratching the back of his head and giving an innocent smile.
"Very sharp," said Aries, "and this here is Anubis. Anubis, say 'hello'."
"Hound!" Anubis gave out a cheerful bark.
"Say, you guys must be exhausted. Why don't you come to the Weather Institute and have a quick rest?"
"That sounds great," said Beka.
0o0o0o0o0o0
The four Magma Grunts, hiding in some nearby bushes, were spying on the small group.
"That must be her with the red hair," one of them stated, "and her companions."
"The other is the Professor with the information we want," said another.
"We'll keep an eye on them," said the leader of the group, "then we go in when the time is right."
"Yes sir!" the three other Grunts replied and continued their watch.
0o0o0o0o0o0
It didn't take long for the trainers, Professor Aries, and Anubis to reach the Weather Institute, which was just over a small hill. The Institute was a huge white building with satellite dishes and antennae on the roof, along with some orange weather socks and solar panels. Professor Aries lead the group to a small bench outside of the building, next to a small swimming pool.
"So what's with the pool?" asked Beka.
"Oh," said Aries, "we use that pool as a research project with weather patterns and with the other Castform that we keep here."
Beka soon saw some Castforms slowing levitating toward the professor and the others. They gently floated up to the group, curious of the new people that had come to visit.
"Well," said Aries, with a slight chuckle in his voice, "these Castforms are very friendly and not scared to get close to humans."
"Aww," said May, hugging a few of them, "you're so cute!"
"Cast!" said the Castforms around her.
Another Castform levitated around Brendan and then, out of curiosity, began tugging at his headband in its mouth.
"Hey!" shouted Brendan, "Come on! You can't eat that!"
Beka was gleefully laughing at the group of Castforms that were on her lap, shoulders, and head. Aries laughed as well and stated:
"Well Beka, they certainly like you a lot."
"Hey Professor," asked Beka, "what about that other Castform that attacked us?"
"Oh, that one," sighed Aries, "well, that one's a trouble maker and all it wants to do is battle the other Castforms. Say, you're a trainer right? Why don't you battle this Castform for me? Just so it can get a good fight out of itself and to get some of its extra energy out of it."
"Sounds great!" said Beka, standing up and letting the Castforms levitate off her, "May I borrow your pool for the battle?"
"Of course," said Aries, "we also use that pool as a battle arena when we need battle practice."
"Okay," said Beka, running up to one end of the pool.
She then grabbed a Pokeball from her belt and threw it, calling out:
"Feebas, I choose you!"
The Pokeball opened and Feebas appeared.
"Fee-bas-fee!" cried out Feebas, and then dove into the water, in which it then resurfaced.
"Okay," said Professor Aries, "Castform, come on out!"
The professor threw out the Pokeball that he used to recall Castform and the Pokeball opened. Castform soon appeared from its white light form and was levitating in the air.
"Cast-form!" cried out Castform.
Battle Situation:
Beka's Feebas vs. Professor Aries' Castform
This battle is a practice, one-on-one with no time limits
BATTLE BEGIN!
"Castform, use Sunny Day!"
Castform released a high pitched cry, causing the sun light to grow strong. It then was surrounded in a sun-shaped form around its body.
'Great,' thought Beka, 'Feebas' Water attacks are cut, but that won't stop us.'
"Feebas, use Hypnosis!"
Feebas' eyes soon began to glow in a pale blue light and sent out psychic waves to put Castform to sleep.
"Castform, use Toxic!"
Castform then released a purple sludge-like substance from its mouth, toward Feebas.
"Feebas, Dive now!"
Feebas stopped its Hypnosis and dove under the water, the Toxic hitting the surface of the water and only forming a small splotch on the surface.
"All right Castform, now use Ember on that Toxic!"
Castform opened its mouth and released a wave of embers, hitting the Toxic and causing the Poison attack to burn up.
'What is he…?' Beka thought until she heared him say:
"You see this one of our experiments we try out in the pool. If a toxic spill happens, we can just use the Castform to burn the spill and help the environment."
"Interesting," said Beka, "Feebas, use Tackle!"
From out of the water, Feebas slammed into Castform from underneath.
"Nice one," commented Aries, "now Castform, use Attract!"
Castform opened its mouth and released a pink light, shaped in a heart, toward Feebas.
"Feebas, Dive again!"
Feebas dove into the water and the Attract hit the water's surface, causing it to disappear and was useless.
"Now Castform, use Rain Dance!"
Castform called out toward the sky again and this time, the bright sunlight dimmed and was replaced by dark, storm, clouds. From these clouds poured gentle drops of rain. Castform's body also transformed from a sun-shape to the shape of a blue water drop.
"Now Feebas, use Tackle again!"
As before, Feebas jumped out of the water and slammed into Castform, seeming to cause more damage than the other Tackle from before.
"Castform, use Thunder!"
A chill went down Beka's spine. She knew Thunder was a powerful Electric attack and in combination with Rain Dance, its accuracy greatly raises to 100, yet, Beka had a plan. Castform's body began to glow in a ball of yellow electricity and then shot out the powerful attack toward Feebas.
"Now Feebas, dodge the attack!"
Feebas dodged the Electric attack and had seemed to have disappeared from the sight of Castform and Professor Aries.
"Huh?" asked Aries, "Where did it go?"
"Now Feebas, use Water Pulse!"
From out of nowhere, Feebas released a powerful Water Pulse attack, hitting Castform. Although it was a Water-Element for the time being, it was caught by Water Pulse's ability to confuse the enemy.
"No Castform!" cried out Aries.
"Now Feebas, use Tackle again!"
Feebas came at Castform again, in a blinding speed.
"No you don't!" declared Aries, "Castform, Thunder!"
Castform released another Thunder attack at Feebas.
"Feebas, Endure!"
Feebas stopped and took the Thunder attack. The Water Element, now being heavily damaged by the Thunder, continued to endure the attack until its HP was at a slight sliver.
"Now Feebas, use Flail!"
Feebas came at Castform again, its tail glowing in a white light. It then leaped out of the water and slammed Castform with its attack, causing the Normal-Element to faint, thanks to Flail's ability. The battle was over and with a bright smile, Professor Aries recalled the rouge Castform and then walked up to Beka, in which now, she had picked up her Feebas and was congratulating it on a great battle.
"Aquarius was right," commented Aries, "you are a powerful trainer and I think someone as you should…"
Just then, a rain of Shadow Balls began falling from the sky and hitting in the area around the trainers and professor. The Castforms, which were with the group, fled in terror to their hiding places near the institute. The group looked up ahead of them and at the next sight she saw, Beka's hazel eyes hardened into emeralds. It was a group of Team Magmas, two males and two females, with three Mightyenas by their sides.
"Professor Aries, I presume," said the leader of the small band, pointing at Aries.
"What do you want?" demanded Aries.
"We've come for the information of the whereabouts of Groudon."
"You'll never get the sample," said Aries.
"Fine, then we'll have to help ourselves. Team, make sure that they stay put."
"Right sir!" said the team.
The leader ran toward the building while his group and their Mightyenas were running up to surround the trainers and professor.
"Don't worry Professor Aries," said Beka, "I'll catch up to that Magma."
"Beka no! It's too dangerous and…"
But Beka ignored the professor and ran after the Magma leader.
"Don't let her get away!" shouted one of the Magmas, "Mightyena, Hyper Beam!"
The Mightyenas opened their mouths and released concentrated beams of energy toward Beka.
"No you don't!" exclaimed Aries, "Anubis, use Hyper Beam as well!"
Anubis opened its mouth as well and released also a concentrated beam of energy.
"Aggron," shouted Brendan, throwing out one of his Pokeballs, "use Hyper Beam as well!"
His Pokeball opened and his Aggron appeared. The Rock/ Steel Element then released another Hyper Beam as well.
"Delcatty," May also shouted, throwing out one of her Pokeballs, "use Hyper Beam too!"
Her Pokeball opened and her Delcatty, a Normal-Element with a cream colored body, purple ears, forehead, tail tip, and collar-like fur around its neck, and black eyes, appeared.
"Del-catty!" it called out in a calm voice and then opened its mouth, releasing a third Hyper Beam.
The six Hyper Beam attacks hit each other and counter-reacted by exploding in midair. The smoke cleared and then Aries stated to the Magmas:
"If you're going after her, then you'll have to battle us first."
0o0o0o0o0o0
Beka ran along the corridors and hallways of the institute. She had lost the Magma leader and was desperately trying to find him before he got the information about Groudon.
'Where could he have gone to?' Beka questioned in her mind.
Beka then heard a door crash open from a hallway ahead of her. She looked up ahead and saw the Magma leader, standing there with a small dish in his gloved hands. He turned to her, his black eyes meeting her emerald-green eyes. A smirk pressed against his face.
"Well, well," he said, "so you must be the girl Team Sky is after."
"And?" questioned Beka.
"Oh, I don't know," said the Magma, sounded sarcastic, "it's just that we of Team Magma have been seeking out for you too, and let's not forget about Team Aqua as well, they want you too."
"How come?" demanded Beka.
"Well, according to Team Sky, you're some kind of key to unlocking the legend of the epic story of the three ancient legendaries of Hoenn, who helped create this part of the region."
"Yeah, I know Team Sky's been after me for months, but why does Team Aqua and Magma want me too?"
"Like I said before, you will unlock the mystery of the three legendaries and with that power; you can help us revive the legendary Groudon, Legendary of the Land."
"Why resurrect Groudon?"
"Simple, we want to control the land and expand it, creating new lands for humans and Pokemon alike. Yet, Team Aqua wants to expand the sea for Pokemon and want you so you can resurrect Kyogre, Legendary of the Sea."
Thoughts swirled in Beka's head. So many questions she wanted answered. So many problems she wanted solved. How can she be an important key in summoning the greatest creatures to have lived in Hoenn?
"So, if you don't mind," said the Magma, breaking her thoughts, "why don't you come with us?"
"I don't," Beka simpled said.
"Oh, but you will," the Magma smirked, grabbing her wrist and holding it tight.
Beka was then brought up to the Magma's face and peered deep into his dark eyes that reminded her of a black poison.
"You have no choice," he smirked.
"I wouldn't be so sure," said Beka, with a hidden smirk on her face as well.
Beka lifted her leg and slammed her knee into the Magma's stomach, causing his grip from her wrist to loosen and for her to break free. She then sent down a powerful chop on his wrist, in which was that hand that held the dish. The dish was let go of his grip and Beka grabbed the dish before it broke onto the floor. She then dashed back about ten feet from him and watched him recuperate. He laughed and said:
"Well, you certainly play hard to get."
Beka then held out a Pokeball and demanded:
"Listen, challenge me to a battle. If I win, you and your thugs leave the institute alone and keep them out of your plans."
"And what if victory is bestowed onto me?"
"Then, I go will you with the sample."
"Well, what a lovely proposition," said the Magma, pulling out a Pokeball as well and smiling evilly, "and if I win, I'll have to make you my girlfriend."
'Yeah right, you creep,' Beka's thoughts flowed in her mind, 'do that, and I won't be the only one to give you a nasty blow.'
The Magma threw out a Pokeball and called out:
"Torkoal, go!"
His Pokeball opened and Torkoal appeared.
"Tor-koal!" cried out Torkoal, releasing a stream of smoke from its nostrils.
"Vibrava," said Beka, throwing out her Pokeball, "I choose you!"
The Pokeball opened and Vibrava appeared.
"Vib-ra-va!" called out Vibrava.
Battle Situation:
Beka's Vibrava vs. Team Magma Grunt Leader's Torkoal
This will be a one-on-one battle with no substitutions or time limits
BATTLE BEGIN!
"Torkoal, use Toxic!"
Torkoal opened its mouth and released a purple mess of toxic sludge from its mouth toward Vibrava.
"Vibrava, use Protect!"
Vibrava surrounded itself in a sandy-gold aurora and deflected off the Toxic attack.
"Torkoal, use Toxic again!"
Torkoal, just as before, released another mess of purple sludge.
"Now Vibrava, dodge it with Quick Attack!"
Vibrava disappeared from where it was and the Toxic attack missed once again. Vibrava then reappeared and slammed into Torkoal with its Quick Attack.
"Torkoal, use Toxic again!"
Torkoal tried for a third time and sent out another Toxic attack.
"Vibrava, Protect!"
Vibrava, as before, surrounded itself in a sand-golden aurora and deflected off the Toxic.
'Why is this guy using Toxic so much when it's just failing?' Beka questioned in her mind.
"Torkoal, now use Body Slam!"
Torkoal came at Vibrava and then bounded in the air, hoping to cause a Body Slam on the Dragon/ Ground Element.
"Vibrava, use Dragonbreath!"
Vibrava released a green, dragon flame and it slammed into Torkoal's under belly. Torkoal flinched and returned back to its side of the field. The Magma growled softly and said:
"Torkoal, use Toxic again!"
Torkoal released another Toxic attack at Vibrava.
"Vibrava, Protect!"
Vibrava surrounded itself in the Protect aurora and deflected off the Poison attack.
"Now Torkoal, use Attract!"
Torkoal released a pink heart from its mouth and sent it toward Vibrava.
"Vibrava, Protect!"
Vibrava tried to set up another Protect, but it failed.
'Oh no, I forgot!' thought Beka, 'If Protect is continued to be used; its effect begins to wear off.'
The Attract hit Vibrava and Beka saw her Vibrava was blushing at Torkoal.
"Aww, isn't that precious," said the Magma sarcastically, "your Vibrava is in love with my Torkoal. I say we should be that too once you lose."
An anger filled Beka's heart and she shouted:
"I will never be in love with you! You and the rest of Team Magma, Aqua, and Sky are nothing but a bunch of hardened criminals wanting to disturb the world once again. Also, I've already pledged my love for someone else and it's defiantly not you! Vibrava, use Rest!"
Vibrava, knowing the next order wasn't a command to attack Torkoal, closed its eyes and began to sleep.
'I hope Attract will wear off with Rest,' thought Beka.
"Oh, give it up!" said the Magma, "Torkoal, use Toxic!"
Torkoal spewed out another Toxic and it hit Vibrava, but to Beka's horror, Toxic had stuck to Vibrava and had caused the sleeping Vibrava to be stuck onto the floor.
"No! Vibrava!" said Beka.
"You see," said the Magma, "I wasn't trying to poison Vibrava, I just wanted it to be immobilized and helpless. And as soon as this battle is won by me, you will be just like your Vibrava, immobilized and helpless."
Beka's anger inside of her was growing. She looked down at her Vibrava, who was still stuck on the floor and was now struggling since it had awakened.
"Vibrava," said Beka, tears streaming down her cheeks, "I so sorry. I didn't mean this to happen to you."
"Aww, does someone need a hug?" said the Magma, making his way toward Beka.
"STAY AWAY FROM ME!" screamed Beka at the top of her lungs.
She back away from him, but was soon stopped by a wall. The Magma came up to her and placed his hand under her chin and lifted it up. Her hardened eyes faced his once again. A dark smirked filled his face. Beka closed her eyes shut and began shouting a prayer in her mind.
'Lord…please…please help me…'
As if the prayer was answered, a shout came from the Magma. Beka opened her eyes to see something slam into the Magma and knocking him back away from her. Beka then saw her Vibrava, free from the Toxic sludge and levitating in front of her.
"Vibrava!" exclaimed Beka.
The Magma stood back up and was about to throw a fist at Vibrava.
"Vibrava, use Crunch!"
Vibrava opened its mouth and bit the Magma's punch, causing the Magma to recoil from the attack. Just then Beka notice something about Vibrava. Its body began to sparkle a little bit and then it was surrounded in white light. Beka watched in amazement as Vibrava's body was changing and growing in the aurora. Soon, the light disappeared and Beka saw, standing before her, was Flygon, a Dragon/ Ground Element with a light green body and wings, green antennae on its head, black eyes surrounded in red, glass-like domes, red outlines along the wings, small claws, green patches on its light green legs, and a long green and light green designed tail with a light green and red-lined fan at the tip.
"Fly-gon!" cried out Flygon.
"So, now your dragon just grew bigger," said the Magma, and then turned to Torkoal, "Torkoal, use Body Slam!"
Torkoal came at Flygon.
"Flygon, Earthquake!"
Flygon did a fancy somersault in the air and then slammed its long tail into the ground, causing massive shockwaves to rumble toward Torkoal. Torkoal was hit by the powerful attack and fainted.
"No Torkoal!" cried out the Magma, recalling his Pokemon.
"And now," said Beka, jumping onto the 6' 7" dragon's back, "this is for trying to make me your girlfriend. Flygon, use Hyper Beam!"
Flygon opened its mouth and fired the Hyper Beam at the Magma. In terror, the Magma ran away from Beka.
"Don't let him get away!" said Beka, gently tapping on Flygon's side with her feet.
Flygon flew after the Magma, and was surprisingly faster than Altaria using Aerial Ace, so it was never far behind from the Magma. The Magma eventually got outside and called for his team to retreated, but was found in front of a police barricade that had surrounded the institute.
0o0o0o0o0o0
"So," said Beka, who was now back with Professor Aries and her friends, "there was a silent alarm in the room the Magma leader broke into and that was how the police made it here so quickly?"
"Of course," said Aries, "the leader had entered into a top secret room that had the Groudon sample was in."
"Well, at least the sample is safe," said Beka, pulling out the dish that contained a thin, red scale.
Aries took back the sample and thanked Beka.
"Well, this maybe an odd award, but Beka, remembered the Castform you battled earlier?"
"The trouble maker? Yeah, I do."
"Well, how about I give you that Pokemon as your own."
"Really?" said Beka, "Oh, thank you professor Aries."
"But Beka, said Brendan, "you can only carry six Pokemon with you on a journey since you've registered to be in the Hoenn League."
"That's right," said Beka, "but since I've registered at your dad's laboratory, Castform will go to him, right?"
"Yeah," said Brendan.
So Beka took the Pokeball from Professor Aries that contained Castform. As soon as the Pokeball touched Beka's hand, the Pokeball disappeared in a white light…
0o0o0o0o0o0
At his laboratory, Professor Birch heard the sound of the Pokeball transfer beep. He turned and saw the machine spew out white light in a Pokeball holder and a Pokeball materialized.
"Well, wondered who sent that?"
He went to a computer beside the machine, typed in some information, and Beka's picture appeared on the screen.
"Well, Beka finally caught a seventh Pokemon," said Birch with a smile, "I wonder what kind…"
He took the Pokeball and opened it. Castform appeared before him.
"Cast-form!" cried out Castform.
"My, a Castform," said Birch.
The Castform stared at him and then made a Tackle at him in the chest.
"Hey, what was that…" Birch was about to ask, but then Castform began Tackling all over the place. Professor Birch knew he was going to have a rough time with this Pokemon in his lab…
0o0o0o0o0o0
"Well, I guess it's time for us to leave," said Beka, who, along with her friends, were about to leave for Fortree.
"Good luck on your next gym battle," commented Aries.
"Thanks," and then the three turned and made their way down the road toward Fortree.
Aries then pulled up a cell phone, dialed a few numbers, and brought it up to his ear.
"Aquarius, she came…yes, Team Magma came as well…well, I still have the sample and waiting for the other one you sent me…oh, I see…I understand…well, let's just hope Beka can make it toward Lilycove if that barrier they created is true…
0o0o0o0o0o0
RW: Next chapter will be of Beka facing Winona for her sixth badge.
