Author's Notes
Last chapter we saw Chase take on and defeat the Aspertia Gym and acquire the Basic Badge.
"Where the hell is it?" I muttered aloud.
"Where's what?" Shimone asked me curiously. I ran my hand through my hair in frustration then answered
"The path down to cliff to the Virbank side of Route 20. We've been walking up and down Route 20 for the last hour trying to find it".
Lisbeth landed on my head then said "I know the place you're talking about. I can lead the way". Then without waiting for an answer she started flying off leading the way so we followed her. As we walked my Xtransceiver went off and I saw Professor Juniper's name pop on my screen. "Hello there Chase."
She said in a cheery tone as she appeared on video call.
"Hello there Professor Juniper." I responded.
"I just wanted to say hello and thank you for becoming my newest assistant.
"She told me gratefully. My hand went behind my head and I said a little hesitantly "Yeeaaahhh , about that…".
Professor Juniper gave me a look that said go ahead. "Truth is I only agreed to become your assistant so my mum would let me have my own Pokémon journey".
I told her apologetically. Professor Juniper nodded then smiled and then answered "I know and that's not a problem. Half the assistants I have generally focus more on battling then helping me with my Pokémon research. That not an issue I'm just happy to help a new trainer have a reason to start a journey".
I smiled gratefully then responded "Thanks for being so understanding Professor". Professor Juniper nodded then answered
"You're welcome Chase." She then heard a voice calling for her and she said
"Sorry gotta go but if you need help understanding how you're Pokémon can evolve or anything else for that matter just give me a call".
The screen then went black and a few minutes later we made it to the cliff passage to the Virbank side of Route 20. About an hour later we made it to Virbank City. I looked at my Pokémon who were looking exhausted as we had encounter a number of wild pokemon who had wanted to fight us. "Alright guys first things first we're going to the PokéCentre and get you all healed up." I told my team before recalling the four of them into their Pokéballs.
I then headed to the PokéCentre getting lost a few times along the way. When I got close to the PokéCentre I could the sound of arguing so I quickened my pace. When I arrived I saw a young woman about my age arguing with a man in a captain's uniform who appeared to be in his early to mid 40's. As I got closer I could actually here the argument so I stopped to listen in curious to know what they were arguing about. "…as well as being in a band." I heard the man yell.
"That's because I can balance both without inconveniencing anyone. What you want to do is just going inconvenience everyone Dad." The girl yelled heatedly.
"I've made up my mind and you're not stopping me. I'm following my dream." The man told her stubbornly then walked off in a huff. The girl looked like she was about to explode with rage so I decided to go over and talk to her before that happened. I walked over to the girl and said with a smile "Hey. That was a pretty heated argument. You wanna talk about it?"
The girl turned to me her look of rage turning to a look of incredulousness. "You listen to a private argument between me and my father and then just walk up to me and ask if you want me to talk to you about it." She exclaimed after staring at me for a few seconds.
I shrugged then responded "Pretty much. I'll also buy you a coffee or something".
The girl let a laugh then answered "Alright alright. So do you have a suggestion as to where go".
I thought for a moment then answered "Well this is the first time I've been to Virbank but I did see a place called Café Poison but I don't know how to get there from. I saw it by accident while getting lost on the way here".
The girl smiled then responded "That's a good. It's my favourite place and don't worry I know how to get there from here". She then walked off and I followed her. As we walked, I took a proper look at the girl. She was wearing a blue and magenta striped shirt that appeared to be too big for her or it was actually a dress I wasn't sure which, I notice it has been intentionally cut at the bottom though for what purpose I had no idea and I notice she was wearing bicycle shorts underneath her shirt/dress thing. She had white hair tied up in a high spiked ponytail that was held in place by a bead hair band in the same colours as her top and she had a guitar strapped to her back. I thought she was rather cute in a punk rocker kinda way. About 10 minutes later we arrived at the café. Just before we went in I looked at the girl and said a bit sheepishly with my hand behind my head "So before we go in and sit down I suppose I should know your name".
She turned to me and responded "The name's Roxie Venenum. And you are?"
"I'm Chase Graceson." I answered as we entered and sat at a table. We sat at the table in silence while we waited to be served. As we sat there I stared at Roxie over my menu. She had rather white skin but it still had a healthy glow to it and her eyes were a piercing pale blue. She wasn't just cute I thought but a rather beautiful girl. A couple of minutes later a waitress came over and asked "Excuse me sir are you ready to order?"
I shook my head then answered "No I haven't".
Roxie then chimed in "Just get him the same as me but just the coffee today. Thanks Lilly." The waitress nodded then walked off to inform the baristas.
I raised an eyebrow asked curiously "I'm guessing you're here frequently?"
Roxie nodded then answered "Yeah though I usually get food with my coffee". I nodded but before I could answer Lilly the waitress brought us our coffees. I took a sip of my coffee noticing it was a black coffee which I was pleased with. We sat there drinking our coffees for a few minutes before I finally asked "So what was that argument between you and your father?".
Roxie put down her coffee, sighed then responded "Was kinda hoping you'd forgotten about that and we could just drink our coffees while pleasantly chitchatting".
I smiled then responded "We can do that if you want".
Roxie shook her head then responded "No its alright," she paused to collect her thoughts then continued "My father is the captain of the ferry that goes between here and Castelia City but he also wants to be a movie star and since Pokéstar Studios is a coupla hours north of town he decided to he would fulfil that dream".
I nodded then questioned "And I take it the time he's been spending at Pokéstar Studios is interfering with his duties as ferry captain?"
"Yes! The ferry is meant to do a return trip from Virbank to Castelia once a day yet it hasn't gone in two days. That damned idiot doesn't realise that other people are being inconvenienced by his selfish desires. My father can be so damn stupid, idiotic, moronic, imbecilic, dimwitted and dense." She told irritably before letting out a sigh of annoyance and frustration.
"He said he wants to do so because you're able to balance with your duties," I told her in a calming tone then continued, "could you tell me what you're balancing. I'm guessing part of it involves music".
She nodded then responded "Sure. Well you're right about the music part, I'm the lead vocalist and guitarist in a band which I balance with my duties as the Virbank Gym Leader".
I nodded, took a sip of my coffee then said "That seems like they would be difficult to balance". Roxie shook her head then responded "Not as difficult as you would think," she then drained the last of her coffee then continued in a grateful tone "anyways thanks for the talk Chase. It felt good to actually vent to someone about my father. Even if that someone was an interfering busybody stranger".
I knew she was just teasing me so I smiled back and responded "You're welcome Roxie".
She then got up and left but before she turned back to me and said "Seeya later Chase. I'll be waiting for you at the gym." I finished my coffee, paid for mine and Roxie's coffees then headed back to the Pokémon Centre to heal my team.
"Ok young man here's your Pokémon."The Centre nurse said to me handing me back my fully healed team.
I took my team back and then responded "Thanks. Oh do you know anywhere I can train?"
The nurse nodded then answered "You can either train on Route 20 or you can go to the Virbank Complex". I nodded my thanks and headed out. I proceeded to find my way to the Virbank Complex. Once I got to Virbank Complex I let out my Pokémon out and told them "Alright guys we'll be training here for the next few days before we take on the Gym".
"So Chase are you gonna explain why you took that young lady too a café for your talk instead of in front of the Pokémon Centre? Did you perhaps develop feelings for her?" Shimone asked me in a teasing manner.
I chose to ignore that and told them "I'll have you guys train in pairs. Zelen you'll partner up with Shimone and Lisbeth you'll be with Bronzor".
Lisbeth landed on my head and said "She is a rather pretty human. I could see you looking at her through my Pokéball".
Zelen deciding to get on the teasing of me said with a smirk "You humans have a saying love at first sight. Is this what happened to you Chase?" I blushed red at their teasing but refused to let them know their teasing got to me.
"You guys will keep fighting the wild Pokémon in the complex til you start getting weary then come to me and I'll use healing items on you." I told them. They acknowledged my orders then went off to train. We spent three days training nonstop. At the end of the third day of training my Pokémon were beyond exhausted. I recalled my Pokémon then made my way out of the complex. Just before I left a Magnemite appeared in front of me. "BZZT human please BZZT let me join you BZZT." It told me.
"Sure but only if you stop that BZZT." I told it.
"Very well human. The name's Khaeg". Khaeg said to me
"And I'm Chase nice to me you." I responded becore tapping a Pokéball on Khaeg to capture it then made my way to the Pokémon Centre. When I arrived at the Pokémon Centre I handed the nurse my Pokémon who put them on the Centre's healing machine. Once the machine beeped the nurse turned to me, handed me Khaeg's Pokéball and said "The rest of your Pokémon will need at least a day before they can battle".
I nodded then asked "What time does Roxie's Gym close?"
The nurse glanced at the clock which read 8:30pm then answered "About two hours or so". I nodded then walked off deciding to call Cheren. After about thirty seconds Cheren answered me
"Hey Chase, what can I do for you?" Cheren greeted.
"I wanted to ask you a question." I told him.
He nodded then responded "What do you wanna know?".
"How well would a Magnemite go against Poison Pokémon?" I asked.
Cheren thought for a moment then answered "Well against poison Pokémon it should do quite well as it has an immunity to poison, as well as a resistant to most types. Fighting, fire and ground moves are its only weakness. So you should do fairly well".
I nodded my thanks and said "Thanks Cheren".
"Anytime Chase. Good luck with your gym battle." Cheren told me before hanging up. I then closed my eyes thinking on what I should do. After about thirty minutes I opened my eyes having decided what to do.
I let out Khaeg and told it "Alright Khaeg you and I are gonna go take on the gym". Khaeg buzzed happily.
It responded "Alright we will electrify our opponents". I then turned and got ready to leave when I heard the sound of Pokémon popping out of their balls. I turned around and saw the rest of my team standing behind me. "You're not going to that gym without us." Zelen told me. Shimone and Lisbeth chorused their agreement.
"You're gonna follow me aren't you?"I asked with a sigh. Zelen nodded and I let out another sigh then headed out the door of Pokémon Centre. Just before I exited I turned back to my team and asked "You guys coming or what?" About 15 minutes later we arrived at the gym which about to be a club of some kind. We went inside and saw Roxie was playing and singing along with two others who were accompanying her with one on drums and the other on guitar. They were playing for a rather large crowd. I decided to lean back against the and listen to her playing.
Seems like everywhere I go
Everybody wanna know
What's it like to be a girl in the music world
Woah
Wanna make it disappear
Tell em what they wanna hear
If the truth ain't pretty when you ask me anyways
You love me love me ugly
So tell me what's a woman to do
Scratch that tell me what's a human being to do with the fact that
What gets us ahead holds us back more
Is a level playing field too much to ask for?
And I know that by sayin it
I'm bringing attention to an issue that might be better left unmentioned
But someone's gotta say it gotta call up the scene
The scene is obscene, my sanity is split at the seams
So that all of y'all making this just about ass and tits
We're here to set the record straight it don't gotta be this way
We can change the game rearrange the way to fame
Make a bigger deal about the talent than the face
See I got little girls watchin me wanting to be like me
I wanna show em they don't gotta be like me
They can do their own thing
They can rewrite the rules
They can get respect without acting like fools
So let's not make it harder than it has to be
I'll keep making music you stop asking me
What's it like to be a girl in the entertainment world
Cause now you know
Seems like everywhere I go
Everybody wanna know
What's it like to be a girl in the music world
Woah
Wanna make it disappear
Tell em what they wanna hear
If the truth ain't pretty when you ask me anyways
You love me love me ugly
Seems like everywhere I go
Everybody wanna know
What's it like to be a girl in the music world
Woah
Wanna make it disappear
Tell em what they wanna hear
If the truth ain't pretty when you ask me anyways
You love me love me ugly
Roxie then started singing another song
Flying down the highway like a bat out of hell
My buddy Bradley's in the middle
Darcy's lookin' out the window
We just got high and hopin' no one can tell
But with the icky of the sticky
It don't matter where the wind blows
Lighter in my hand and I've got nothing to burn
Except a little turpentine inside of those five paint cans
Get grandpa's shotgun and we'll all take turns
But don't you ever say a word
'Cause you know momma's gonna hate that
The dice that we've been rollin'
With our lives are better stolen
When you're walking through the fire for fun
Tidal wave in motion
You can't hide from the explosion
In 3, 2, 1
We're smokin' dynamite
Too many fuses to light
(Got kingdom come, on the run)
Gonna steal, beg, and borrow
A thousand fahrenheit and we're about to ignite
So keep the throttle to the bottom
We may never see tomorrow
If tonight's our time to go, the one thing I know
We'll need a coin for the ferryman
Leave us a coin for the ferryman
Countin' every nickel, dime and five dollar bill
So we've been stealin' gasoline and laying low out on the backroads
The city lights are glowin' over the hill
And we can make it, but we take the chance of never coming back home
The dice that we've been rollin'
With our lives are better stolen
When you're walking through the fire for fun
Tidal wave in motion
You can't hide from the explosion
In 3, 2, 1
We're smokin' dynamite
Too many fuses to light
(Got kingdom come, on the run)
Gonna steal, beg, and borrow
A thousand fahrenheit and we're about to ignite
So keep the throttle to the bottom
We may never see tomorrow
If tonight's our time to go, the one thing I know
We'll need a coin for the ferryman
Leave us a coin for the ferryman
One for the road and one for those in heaven
One for the lord and take it from the devil
Don't even try, 'cause you know you can't hide
Better run, better run, better run
We're smokin' dynamite
Too many fuses to light
(Got kingdom come, on the run)
Gonna steal, beg, and borrow
A thousand fahrenheit and we're about to ignite
So keep the throttle to the bottom
We may never see tomorrow
If tonight's our time to go, the one thing I know (the one thing I know)
We're smokin' dynamite
(Got kingdom come, on the run)
A thousand fahrenheit
So keep the throttle to the bottom
We may never see tomorrow
If tonight's our time to go, the one thing I know
We'll need a coin for the ferryman
Leave us a coin for the ferryman
Once the song was finished Roxie told the audience "Alright every just give me a minute or two to rest my voice then I will get back to singing". I decided to take this opportunity to leave as I didn't want to bother Roxie with my gym challenge while she was playing a concert.
"Alright guys lets go. We'll come back tomorrow." I told my team and then started to leave but then Roxie started to play another song.
Define your meanin' of fun
To me it's what we do when we're bored
I feel the heat comin' off of the blacktop
And it makes me want it more
Because I'm hyped up, outta control
If it's a fight I'm ready to go
I wouldn't put my money on the other guy
If you know what I already know
It's been a long time comin'
And the table's turned around
'Cause one of us is goin'
One of us is goin' down
I'm not runnin'
It's a little different now
'Cause one of us is goin'
One of us is goin' down
Define your meanin' of fun
To me it's when we're gettin' done
I feel the heat comin' off of the blacktop
So get ready for another one
Let's take a trip down memory lane
The words circulate in my brain
You can treat this like another all I'm sayin'
But don't cry like a bitch when you feel the pain
It's been a long time comin'
And the table's turned around
Cause one of us is goin'
One of us is goin' down
I'm not runnin'
It's a little different now
'Cause one of us is goin'
One of us is goin' down
This is hardly worth fightin' for
But it's the little petty shit that I can't ignore
When my fist hits your face
And your face hits the floor
It'll be a long time comin'
But you got the message now
'Cause I was never goin'
Yeah, you're the one that's goin' down
One of us is goin' down
It's been a long time comin'
And the table's turned around
Cause one of us is goin'
One of us is goin' down
I'm not runnin'
It's a little different now
'Cause one of us is goin'
One of us is goin' down
One of us is goin' down
I realised she'd spotted me and was using the song to not only to let me know It was fine if I battled her now as well as challenging me and getting me pumped for the battle. My Pokémon and I then made our way onto the stage.
A/N
Well will Chase survive the next Gym Battle or will it end disastrously. You'll have to wait for the next chapter to find out.
The songs I used in this chapter are:
Now You Know - Icon for Hire
Coin for the Ferryman - Nickelback
You're Going Down - Sick Puppies
I urge you to give them a listen as they are great songs
Caught
Khaeg the Magnemite
Deaths
None
Badges
Basic Badge
As always I hope you enjoyed the chapter and please review