"Lightning Trainer?" a female figure asked through her cellphone, "The name? YOU don't know? Oh well... if he's going to interfere with Team Rocket's return, then I guess I'll have to pay him a visit!" A Quilava popped out from her Pokeball and started burining up huge flames. "Don't worry, Flare... You'll be battling soon enough." The female figure then let out a sinister laughter.
"Qui!" Flare cried.
---
Dash, Rika, Mary and Professor Oak had just got down to the pier in Lutex Town, a new town that was established two years ago. As Professor Oak walked down the rail that leads to the pier, a group of reporters came running and taking pictures of Professor Oak. As Professor Oak was crowded by the reporters, so were Dash, Rika and Mary. "So are you really the grandaughter of the famous Pokemon Researcher, Professor Oak?" a reporter asked Rika, "What are your hobbies?"
Just then, another one of the reporters spotted Dash standing beside Rika. "You there!" the reporter shouted, "You have good looks for a boy your age! What are you to Rika Maple, grandaugther of Professor Oak! Do you happen to be her lover? Her fiancee? Her bodyguard? I need answers!"
"Lay off!" Dash spat, flushing, "She ain't my fiancee!"
"WHOA THERE!" a familiar voice shouted, "Don't you all want interview me, the great Richard Armsly!" Mr. Richard was standing a few metres away from the crowd of reporters, again bulking up his biceps and upper body muscles. The group of reporters then started charging on Mr. Richard like a group of Weedles. "Now! Now! Take your chance to take pictures of my gorgeous physique!"
Dash sweat-dropped. 'He's not getting tired of doing that, is he?'
"Let's beat it first, kids!" whispered Professor Oak, "I've already booked rooms in a nearby hotel nearby! Let's go!" And with that, they all ran off, leaving Mr. Richard to show off his huge muscles.
Dash and Pip kept running, not knowing that Rika and the others took a different route at a fork. By the time they realized it, it was too late - Rika, the Professor, Eve and Mary were gone. Dash and Pip, instead, found themselves wandering around in a marketplace. They looked around for any signs of Rika or the others, but to no avail. He then took a seat on a wooden crate and Pip did the same.
"Oh man!" Dash exclaimed, "Can't believe we got seperated! Here we are... Lost in a town we don't know of..." Dash then sighed, attracting a tall bald man who was passing by.
"Hey, you!" the man said, "Hand over whatever you have in yer pockets!"
"What the?" Dash mused, eyeing the man, "Can't you see that already beaten by all that running I did? If you want a fight, then... so be it. Let me introduce myself first! I'm Dash from Kanto, the Li---" Suddenly, a mysterious figure came flying from above and kicked the man right on the jaw, sending him down onto the ground. "Huh?"
"Jeez!" the figure spat, "Looks like there are still bad guys in this place!" The figure turned out to be a girl with long and brown blonde hair with crimson eyes. She wore a blue long-sleeved jacket and a pair of blue jeans. Her right hand was covered by a black glove and her feet blue and black coloured shoes. A blue scarf was partially covering the upper part of her hair. From the looks of her, she was a few years older than Dash. "You okay, kid?"
"Yeah," Dash said, "Thanks for the save!"
"Don't mention it!" Just then, a Quilava appeared out from behind her. "Don't worry, Flare!" she assured the Pokemon, "We'll find a place to heal ya!" She then turned to face Dash. "Name's Lilka Robertson!" she said, "I'm a trainer from New Bark Town! This here is my Pokemon, Flare!"
"Quila!" Flare greeted Pip.
"Furret!" Pip greeted back.
"So what's a kid like you doing alone in this part of the town?" Lilka asked, raising an eyebrow, "I overheard what you've said just now. You said you came from Kanto, right? You're 'Dash', right?"
"Yup!" Dash said, "I'm a trainer from Pallet Town and I'm here for a vacation! Oh yeah! You can also refer to me as 'Lightning Trainer Dash Aileron'! One of the Elite Trainers entitled me with this nickname!"
'Lightning Trainer!' Lilka thought, "Wow! That's really great! I wish I could have a nickname just like you!"
"Okay then!" Dash said, "From now on, you will be known as the 'Kick In The Jaw Trainer'! How do you like it? Isn't it--"
"I hate it," Lilka said quickly, "On second thought, I'm fine with my own name. Just go back from where you came running from and take the left side at the fork! You'll be in the heart of the city. I guess all the visitors from the S.S. Anne will be staying there. Okay then! See ya!" And with that, Lilika disappeared into the crowd.
"You heard the lady, Pip!" Dash said, "Let's just hope that Rika and the others are waiting for us there!" And with that, Dash and Pip went off according to Lilka's directions.
---
Rika and Mary were standing outside the hotel looking around for Dash or Pip. Rika then spotted Dash and Pip running towards them. "There they are!" Rika said, "Dash!" She then ran over to the brown-haired trainer. "Where were you two? You had me worried sick... I'm relieved that you didn't get yourselves lost."
"I was worried too, you know!" Mary said, giving Dash a big hug, "I thought I'd never see you again, brother Dash!"
"Let's just go in, okay?" Dash suggested, "I'm so tired... and so hungry..."
"Why don't you try the restaurant infront of the hotel?" Rush suggested, "They make great food!"
"Thanks, Rush!"
"No problem!"
"WHAT IN LATIOS ARE YOU DOING HERE, RUSH!" Dash shuttered, taking a few steps back from his brother, "H-How did you get here! Why ARE you here! Are you following me!"
"Come now!" Rush said, "I was at the S.S. Anne too, you know! I knew I saw you in Vermillion City back in Kanto! You probably didn't see me 'cause... I was asleep the whole time!" He then looked around the town. "I was suppose to meet a customer here that wants to have a talk about my books! But I don't see him anywhere... So Dash, how would you--- Hm?" By the time Rush turned around, Dash and the other two girls had already went into the hotel.
"Are you Rush?" a voice inquired at him.
"Oh!" Rush said as he saw who it was, "You said you want to talk to me about something... Ash Ketchum?"
---
Dash sighed as he sat on a bench in the hotel as Rika and Mary were at the reception desk to ask where their rooms were. Pip was eating an apple, which it picked from a tree on the way to the hotel. Just then, a tall shadow stood next to Dash. Dash looked up and saw a girl with short pink hair and blue eyes. She wore a white jacket and white shorts. She also wore white shoes with pink linings. "You look like the cute boy in the picture the old prof sent to me!" the girl said, "Hiya! My name's Whitney and I'll be your babysitter from now on!"
(Total Silence)
"B-Babysitter?" Dash shuttered, "I don't need no babysitter!"
"You don't have to be shy, cutie!" Whitney said as she pinched Dash's cheeks, "If only I was a little younger, I'd totally date you and make you my boyfriend! I'm nineteen now by the way!"
"D-Dash!" Rika flustered as she saw Dash with Whitney, "W-Who's that with you! Why is she pinching your cheeks like that!"
"Look at what we have here!" Whitney said as she stopped pinching Dash but instead pinching Rika's now, "We have a cute guy and we have a cute girl! You two would make one heck of a couple! Trust me! I know couples when I see one!"
"W-What are you talking about!" Rika flustered, quickly removing her cheeks away from Whitney, "We are not a couple!" 'Jeez! Why does most people say that...'
"Brother Dash?" Mary called, "Who's this weird lady?"
"Looks like we have a cute little---" Dash then threw a paperball at Whitney's face. "What was that for! I didn't throw anything at you! You could have ruined my face for all you know!"
"You were about to do something with Mary, weren't you?" Dash asked, glaring at Whitney, "You better--- Ugh?" Two arms were suddenly wrapped around Dash's neck. Another pair was playing with his hair. Another played with his arms. "What the?"
To Rika and Mary's dislike, Dash was being hugged by three more girls! "KYAAAA!" the girls squeeled as they tightened their grips on Dash, "He is so cute! Are Kanto boys really this cute!" They then turned to Whitney. "Mrs. Whitney! Can we please keep him as a pet? He is so adrorable!"
'P-Pet?' Dash thought, gulping, 'W-What did they mean by that?'
"Sorry, girls!" Whitney said, "You can't keep him as a pet! He's already taken! Isn't that right?" Whitney was obviously talking to Rika. "He is your boyfriend, right?" Whitney then moved over to Rika and whispered something to her. "Listen! If you don't say you are his girlfriend, then these girls will take him back home for them to have 'fun' with!"
Rika nodded as she blushed. "Stop it!" Rika ordered, flushing furiously, "You can't do that 'cause... Dash is... Dash is my boyfriend!" Dash and Mary's jaws fell. "So let him go this instant!"
"What are you saying, sister Rika!" Mary flustered.
"Oh man..." the girls groaned, "Too bad, everyone..." And with that, they let go of Dash and left the hotel.
Dash flushed as he eyed Rika. "Rika?" Dash muttered, "Did you..."
"Now that that's settled!" Whitney shouted, "Why don't we go to our rooms and have a little rest?"
---
Dash was lying on his bed in his hotel room with Pip lying beside him. He stared at the ceiling and remembered about what happened earlier with Rika. 'She said what I thought she said...' Dash thought, 'Oh boy... Hm?' Suddenly, the window was shattered and out came a blazing fire. Dash grabbed Pip and ran out of his room. He then ran to Rika and Mary's room, which was just next door. "Rika! Mary! My room! Its---"
Dash's face turned completely red as he saw Rika wearing nothing but her inner shirt and her panties. Rika then blushed as she noticed this. "KYAAAAA!" Rika screamed, "DASH, YOU PERVERT! Get out!"
"What's this?" Whitney, who had just walked to the room, asked, glaring daggers at Dash, "The one thing I hate most is boys peeping girls when they're changing!" She then delivered an uppercut onto Dash's jaw, sending him flying out of the room. "And stay out!" And with that, Whitney slammed the door close.
'The Legendary Pokemons are not on my side today...' Dash thought, 'Now Rika misunderstood something about me... Wait... What was the reason I came running all the way here for?'
"Hmmmm?" a familiar voice asked, "Dash Aileron! What ever reason are you doing on the floor?" Dash looked up and saw a pair of biceps standing above him - Dash started regretting of looking up. Those biceps could only mean one person - Richard Armsly. "So we meet again, Lightning Trainer! Are you here to see me and my GORGEOUS muscles! I am so touched!"
'No...' Dash thought, 'Not him... Of all people, why him?'
"Be a man and get back on your feet!" Mr. Richard then picked Dash up by the shoulders and got the boy back on his feet. "There! That's better! I heard a scream come by here so I thought I'd check what it was... Oh well! Why don't you and me go training outside? I could surely need the exercise!"
"Sure..." Dash said, "Pip's ready to train... Where's Mumbo, your Pokemon?"
"Oh no!" Mr. Richard said, bulking up his muscles, "You've misunderstood me, Dash Aileron! I want you and your Pokeon to train with me! I shall be both your opponent!" He then started bulking his muscles more. "BEHOLD! The awesome muscles of Richard Armsly! Prepare to battle, young warriors!"
"Nooo!" Dash screamed, "GET AWAY FROM ME!"
---
Dash was lying on the ground on his face as Pip was at the same state. Richard Armsly stood next to them and as usual, bulking up his muscles. "What's the matter, Lightning Trainer!" Mr. Richard asked, "Did you think that it was unfair for you and Pip to go against me alone? You took it easy on me, didn't you?"
'I've never fought so hard...' Dash thought.
'Furret...' Pip thought, probably about what Dash had thought.
"That's enough training for today then!" Mr. Richard said, "Maybe next time we'll fight one-on-one! Man to man! You must give it your all and I shall do the same!"
'I wonder how much it'll cost me to buy a ticket home...' Dash thought.
"Prepare yourselves!" a voice shouted at them, "Prepare yourself for a burning death!" A huge fireball suddenly fell from the sky and dash barely avoided it. They then saw someone falling from the sky - someone quite familiar to Dash. "Looks like we meet again, Lightning Trainer!"
"Lilka?" Dash shuttered, "What do you think you're doing! You could've turned me into crisp just now!"
"Who is this lassy, Dash?" Mr. Richard asked.
"Name's Lilka!" Lilka said as Flare jumped onto her shoulder, "Here, I am also known as... the 'Fire Trainer'! Flare, use Ember!" Flare then surrounded Dash, Pip and Mr. Richard with blazing hot flames. "What's wrong, Lightning Trainer? Afraid of a little fire?" The fire then disappeared by a sudden electric impact. "What?"
"Don't mess with me!" Dash said, "I don't know what your reason is but if its a battle you want, then a battle you'll get! Pip! Get ready for an electrifying battle!"
"Furret!" Pip cried out as it ran towards Flare with a thunderous fist, "Furret!" Pip missed hitting Flare and made a small hole on the ground. "Furret!"
"Flare!" Lilka cried out, "Use Flamethrower!"
"Pip!" Dash called out, "Use Defense Curl and roll around to avoid Flare's attack!" Pip quickly curled itself into a ball and began rolling away from Flare's attack. "Pip! Use Fury Swipes!" Pip leaped at Flare and began scratching it with its sharp claws.
"Fire Punch, Flare!" Lilka commanded. Flare threw a Firepunch at Pip, only to be countered with another Firepunch from Pip. "What! That thing can use Firepunch too!"
'Amazing...' Mr. Richard thought, rubbing his chin, 'Pip's Firepunch may be weaker than that girl's Quilava, but its certainly stronger and more agile than a normal one. I wonder...'
"Flare!" Lilka called out, "Use Fire Blast!" Flare suddenly spitted out a fire that looked like a japanese alphabet. Pip jumped aside and dashed towards Flare. "Watch out, Flare!" Flare covered itself but Pip was still going for it. Pip gave a slight touch to Flare's body and before Lilka knew it, Flare was frozen solid! "Flare? What's going on!"
"Now, Pip!" Dash cried out, "Finish it with Thunderpunch!" Sparks started flying from Pip's hands as it charged on Flare. The attack successfully made contact, sending Flare crashing to a faraway brick wall. "That should do it!" Flare collapsed due to fatigue - swirls in its eyes. "Yahoo! We did it!"
"Furret!" Pip cried out triumphantly, clutching its elctrifying right hand.
Lilka snarled and quickly picked her Pokemon up. She then ran away as the police's siren was heard not far away from them. Dash watched as Lilka ran away without looking back while Mr. Richard was explaining the situation to them and taking the chance to show off his muscles. 'Lilka...' Dash thought, 'Wait! I remember now! That fire... in my room! Did she caused it?'
---
Lilka kept running and running, not caring where her path was leading her. 'Damn it!' Lilka thought, 'I can't believe I got beaten by a little twerp! Next time, Dash... Lightning Trainer! I will beat you next time!' And with that, Lilka ran out of Lutex Town.
