Chapter Thirty-Seven:
Welcome to East Okam!
Morning (8:23 A.M), Cerceta Port
"WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Jackie whooped aloud, his arms spread wide in the air as he gazed at the port city, "Cerceta Port, we have arrived!"
Hazel sweatdropped, "You're sure hyper,"
Jackie turned to her and smiled, "Of course! I only need five more badges, and I'm here to get'em!"
"Hmhmhm," Hero chuckled, "Getting a little impatient, aren't we?"
"Duh!" Jackie crossed his arms, "So, where do we head to next?" he took out the map and examined it.
There were three routes they could take: northeast to Rojo Town, east to the Pardo Village mountain settlement, or south to Anaranjadoville.
Hero peeked over his shoulder, "I think it'd be best if we go to Pardo Village first, there's a lot to see there,"
Jackie pulled away from him, "Like what?"
Hero explained, "There's a Gym, a mountain to explore, Okam's TV broadcast station, and…" his face paled, "…Monster,"
Jackie blinked while Hazel recoiled in fright, "Who's Monster?"
Hero gulped, "A member of the Elite Four, and the most vicious one at that,"
Jackie grinned defiantly, "Really? I can't wait to meet this guy," he turned to Hazel, "So, where are you going?"
She sighed, "I think I'll head down to Anaranjadoville,"
"Oh," Jackie nodded, "That's your hometown, isn't it?"
She nodded, "Yeah,"
He smiled as he pulled out a Poké Ball, "Well then, how about we have a battle before we go our separate ways?"
She giggled as she took out a Poké Ball of her own, "Why not? How does a one on one battle sound?"
"Awesome!" Jackie threw the Poké Ball into the air, where it split open, releasing its occupant in an arc of red energy, "Go, go, Sonja!"
"(Awww right!)" the Noibat cheered as she was released.
"My turn!" Hazel threw her own Poké Ball, "It's up to you, Vixi!"
"(Greetings.)" the Braixen curtsied. The bipedal fox's fur was mostly yellow, with black legs, white arms, face, and neck, and a dark orange tail tip. A small mane of white fur covered her shoulders and chest. Long, wavy tufts of dark orange fur grew out of her ears, their color matching her eyes and small nose which tipped her pointy muzzle. The yellow, skirt-like fur above her legs swept out to the sides, its underside, like her thin legs, was black. A stick emerged from the top of her bushy yellow tail.
"Let's go!" Jackie threw his right arm to the side, "Sonja, use your new move!"
"(Yes!)" Sonja nodded as she used Dragon Breath, which Jackie had taught her through the TM he had received from Chase.
"Vixi, dodge and use Psybeam, then follow up with Ember!" Hazel ordered.
With a grin of delight, the Braixen evaded the blast of breath, "(My turn!)" she pulled the stick out of her tail and pointed it at Sonja.
"(Geh!)" Sonja shook her head as it was hit by a peculiar ray of psychic energy.
While the Noibat struggled, Vixi ran forward and jumped up at her, "(Take this!)" she spat a wad of flames, setting Sonja ablaze.
"(Aieeeeeeeeeeee!)" Sonja shrieked as she caught on fire.
"A battle between rivals, really takes me back to the good old days," Hero sighed in reminiscence. He looked around at his surroundings, gazing at the various large and towing buildings.
His eyes stopped on one in particular, "Hmm? Why am I getting this weird feeling?"
Morning (8:43 A.M.), Route 7
"Grr!" Milky Way growled in frustration as she trudged along the path beside Cigar. Behind them walked two robed scientists and a group of grunts, "I can't believe we got stuck with such a lowly job as this!"
"Hmph! Don't act so high and mighty," Cigar chided her, "We have an important mission to accomplish,"
"Yeah, yeah," Milky Way crossed her arms, "Why did Circinus order us to do this?"
"Simple," Cigar replied, "He was following the orders written down by Andromeda, which we are to follow while the Grandmaster is away,"
"Bah," the female Galaxy Lord kicked a stone away with her foot, "What's so important about the TV broadcast station in Pardo Village?"
"You will see," Cigar told her. "Besides, this should draw attention away from Gris Village to the north, leaving Doctor Sirius free to continue his operations in capturing you-know-who,"
She sniffed in disdain, "How hard is it to capture a semi-legendary? Seriously, she's doesn't even have the other members of her trio. Virgo found her alone, said that she's always been alone, and even captured her and brought her here! Then she gets away, and we have no way of capturing her. How the heck did Virgo capture her in first place?!"
Cigar frowned at her fuming, "You are a bitch,"
She looked over to him, one of the giant, thick hair spikes overshadowing her left eye, "Yeah, I am. Got a problem with that, you fat old bastard?"
"Too many to list," Cigar replied, his expression unchanging as he pulled out a cigar and a lighter.
Morning (8:50 A.M.), Cerceta Port
"Vixi, end it with Psybeam!" Hazel called out.
"(It's over for you!)" Vixi her drew her stick and pointed it at the still-burning Sonja.
"(GAH!)" the Noibat, drained from the burns and confusion, collapsed as the peculiar ray struck her mind, "(D-Darn…it…)"
"Looks like Sonja's down for the count!" Hero announced, "The victory goes to Hazel and Vixi!"
"You did good, Sonja," Jackie sighed as he recalled her, "Looks like you won," Jackie congratulated her as he coughed up 700 pokédollars as victory money.
"It's all thanks to Vixi here," Hazel grinned as she patted the Braixen's back.
"(Oh, it was nothing.)" Vixi answered sheepishly to her praise.
"Well, this is it," Jackie sighed again, "Here's where we go our separate ways,"
Hazel pulled him into a little hug, "I'm sure we'll meet again, maybe then we could have another battle,"
Jackie blushed as he returned the embrace, "Sure, I can't wait!"
Hero frowned, "No hugs for me?"
She pulled away, "Goodbye, guys!" she waved to them as she ran south, Vixi following behind her, "See you later!"
"You too!" Jackie yelled as she disappeared from view. He held up Sonja's Poké Ball, "First things first, let's get you healed up, then we'll move on to Pardo Village!"
"That we will," Hero nodded as they headed for the Pokémon Center. He cast one last glance back to the building that had caught his eye earlier. I'm certain of it…