Disclaimer: I do not own nor am I affiliated with Pokémon or any of its parent companies. I am merely a humble storyteller. Thank you, and I hope you enjoy this journey with me.
Note: I am English, so some of the wording, spellings, and expressions will be those commonly used in England.
Chapter Fifty-Four: The Next Step
The lure bobbed on the river's surface, patiently waiting for a marine Pokémon to be tempted by the Super Bait attached to it. Red had been at it for twenty minutes, coming across two Magikarp, a Goldeen, and a Tentacool, all either breaking out of a Poké Ball or getting away before he could reel them in, and was getting a little ticked off.
"I heard there's a special Poké Ball called a Net Ball," Red said grumpily to Pikachu. "But you can't get it in Kanto. One would be really useful now, wouldn't it?"
Pikachu nodded, peering down at the running water.
"This will be the last try," Red said. "If I don't get anything now, then we can go." He sighed. "Maybe we used all our catching luck with Snorlax? Wouldn't be surprised."
Still, it was not the worst activity to do in the world, was it? The smell of the river, the Water-types swimming by not tempted by the bait, the rustle of trees' leaves as the wind swept through them, the sun partially covered by clouds, not cold but not roasting either. As much as it irked him not to have succeeded at catching a Pokémon via fishing yet, there was something quite tranquil about it…
Wait! Something pulled on the line! He got a bite! He had hooked something!
Forgetting all the calmness he was starting to enjoy, Red began reeling in the hooked Pokémon, winding the rod up as quickly as he could, the muscles in his arms and back straining as the hidden creature battled back.
"Almost…" Red said through gritted teeth, his face embodying his name, "got it. Just… a bit… more."
The war waged on, human versus Pokémon, Pikachu on standby and alert, ready to subdue their foe at a moment's notice.
Then, with an almighty yell, Red yanked the Pokémon out of the water, and it hit the grassy terrain with a splat. Fanning himself with his cap, Red stared down triumphantly at it, letting his Pokédex to what it did best:
Seaking, a Water-type Pokémon, and the evolved form of Goldeen. The horn on its head is sharp like a drill. It bores a hole in a boulder to make its nest.
Ah, so this is what Misty's Goldeen would one day become. Obviously, it was much larger than a Goldeen as most evolutions were, its scales orange and white with black markings on its body, tail, and fins. Its pink lips revealed two fangs, its eyes were dark and bulbous, and the horn on its forehead looked like it could be particularly hazardous to an enemy.
Red grinned. What could the Seaking do now it was on land? All Pikachu had to do was zap it, and he would finally have a Water-type. It would be a situational Pokémon, but at least he would have a more diverse team, another teammate to help battles be just a bit easier.
"Okay, Pikachu. Shock Wave."
The Seaking's body lit up as it became engulfed by the electric pulse.
Well, that was what it seemed like at first.
The Electric-type attack connected with the Seaking, yet it all swirled towards its horn, as though being summoned there by a voice in a language only it could understand.
"What?" Red muttered, bemused. He directed his question to his Pokédex which hung off his belt: "Pokédex, what Abilities does Seaking have?"
"Seaking can have the Abilities Swift Swim or Water Veil," came the artificial voice.
"Oh." Red bit his bottom lip as, to his surprise, Seaking righted itself on its fins. "And… er… which Abilities make Pokémon immune to Electric-type moves? I know of Lightning Rod. Can a Seaking have them?"
"Abilities that give Pokémon an Electric-type immunity are Lightning Rod, Volt Absorb, and Motor Drive. A Seaking is not known to have any of them, according to the most recent research. No Pokémon species is currently known to have more than two possible Abilities."
"Looks like we might have something that doesn't agree with that," Red said. He ordered another Shock Wave, to his dismay and interest receiving the same result. "Urgh, I hope it's Lightning Rod it doesn't have."
Unfortunately for Red, that was indeed the case. Powered up by those galvanic charges, the Seaking parted its lips and delivered a Bubble Beam towards Pikachu, each bubble larger and faster than would have been expected, each one rocking Pikachu's body with the force of a megaton punch.
Poor Pikachu reeled and fell backwards.
"Pikachu," Red shouted, rushing forth and scooping the rodent into his arms, narrowly avoiding a second Bubble Beam. "Are you okay?"
Pikachu winced but managed a nod.
"Wasn't expecting that," Red said, eyeing the Seaking cagily. "Didn't realise one could battle on land at all nor one that could have a third Ability." Despite the predicament he was in by giving the Seaking such a boost in power, his pumped his fist excitedly. "A Water-type with Lightning Rod? Yes, please. And I have the perfect little fairy to take you on."
Clefairy danced on the saturated grass, humming a melodic tune.
"Head's up, Clefairy," Red said, setting Pikachu down some ways behind him. "That Seaking's super strong now."
As if to back up Red's claims, the Seaking said hello to Clefairy with yet another Bubble Beam, knocking the moon fairy onto her back. Looking rather displeased, Clefairy responded with a Magical Leaf, striking the Seaking like bullets, the fish writhing on the grass in discomfort.
But it was not done yet, oh, not on your nelly.
The Seaking became an orange and white hazy image encased in water that was lit up by the sun like a crystalline cocoon, and it charged at Clefairy, the water carrying it quickly. It rammed into Clefairy, sending her back to her Trainer. Red groaned and collapsed as he took a seven-and-a-half kilogram fairy to the gut.
"Waterfall," he moaned, picking himself up. "It knows Waterfall too. Hey, Clefairy, are you all right?"
Clefairy was already standing, scowling at the Seaking. She pointed at it, then at the mud she was now splattered with, and said something that caused the Seaking to flap its fins agitatedly.
"Don't worry," Red reassured her, "I'll give you a nice wash after we catch this Seaking. Okay, get it with Flash!"
And Clefairy did, blinding the Seaking the same time it unleashed a torrent of bubbles that sailed miles over her head and floated away, eventually popping harmlessly over the surrounding trees.
Taking advantage of the Seaking's discomfort, a Life Dew followed, ridding Clefairy of her scrapes and bruises, before a Magical Leaf did enough damage that Red thought it prudent to toss a Poké Ball at it.
The Seaking disappeared within it, and the Poké Ball landed with a splat in the mud.
One shake.
Two sh –
The PokéBall exploded into a million pieces (actually three hundred and twenty-seven pieces but who's counting?) and the Seaking reappeared, eyes slowly adjusting to the aftereffects of Flash.
Red grimaced. It must have had a low catch rate. No matter though, right? He had captured a Snorlax and its (her) catch rate was even lower. All he had to do was weaken it some more. A Draining Kiss would suffice, right?
It undeniably did, Clefairy prancing forward and landing a vampiric smooch below the Seaking's horn, transferring its health into herself. The Seaking flopped onto its side, its eyes half open, its fins twitching.
And that was that. Red would then throw his Poké Ball and Seaking would be his.
As easy as pie.
Right?
An eruption of water followed by a horrific roar interrupted what was going to be a definite capture. Red and Clefairy could only look up at the beast that burst from the river and then leap either side of the colossal jet of water aimed towards them from its gaping mouth.
"Gyarados?" Red said once he composed himself. "You're that same Gyarados, aren't you? Can't you give it a rest?"
A purple fiery sphere that sped past Red's face confirmed it.
Red's knees threatened to buckle. But he was a Trainer, was he not? He had four Badges, and his team was getting stronger. He could not let a psychopathic Gyarados boss him about.
Resolved, he shouted, "Clefairy, Magical Leaf!"
It was a nice effort. Quite admirable in fact. It was such a pity, however, that a Hydro Pump vapourised the leaves, and almost Clefairy too for that matter; she stirred feebly, on the verge of complete unconsciousness.
"Darn it!" Red said through gritted teeth, panic rising within him. He had to give Pikachu a Super Potion. He was the only way they were taking this thing down.
Nevertheless, the Gyarados seemed to read his mind. As Red darted towards Pikachu, the Gyarados unleashed Dragon Rage after Dragon Rage upon Red, stopping his charge towards the Electric-type, scarcely missing him, almost as if it was toying with him.
Red made one last attempt to get to Pikachu. He slipped on the grass and skidded all the way down to the river's edge, where the Gyarados loomed over him, fangs bared.
This was it. He had a good run, didn't he? Not the best in the world, but one he could surely be proud of. Hopefully, his mother would take good care of his Pokémon after the Gyarados gobbled him down. Oh, goodbye cruel world!
"Thunderbolt!"
Before Red's eyes, the Gyarados was lit up like fireworks against a moonless winter sky. Its body crackled and wobbled, steam rising off its scales.
"What?" he muttered dimly.
"Quick Attack!"
A yellow and black blur charged into the Gyarados' underbelly, pushing the sea serpent back to where it crushed a wooden platform into splinters under its mass.
Not questioning it, Red staggered to his feet and raced to Clefairy slipping and sliding all the way. A couple Life Dews got her up and ready, and she spared a couple more for Pikachu, who, without thanking Clefairy, darted to the river's edge and called out to the Gyarados, shouting out challenges. The Gyarados opened an eye but did not respond.
"Pikachu, leave it alone," Red said. "Let's get out of here before it recovers. Besides," he added with a little grumpiness as he stared at a patch of grass that once had a certain marine Pokémon nary a couple of minutes ago lying upon it, "that Seaking already escaped."
Although, it should be said, that losing out on a Seaking was far more preferable to losing his life. Speaking of which, who saved him?
Well, the one who attacked the Gyarados was a Pokémon would you believe, one Red had encountered and battle before. An Electabuzz. It ignored him, looking past him at a girl jogging over.
"Hey," she said with a bright smile. "How's it going? Looked like you were in trouble."
"We were," Red said, keeping a careful eye on his Pokémon and the Gyarados, the former two standing at the river's edge and calling out to the sea serpent, Pikachu being rather more aggressive than Clefairy. "Thanks for helping us. That could've gone badly." He held out his hand. "My name's Red, from Pallet."
The girl took it. "And I'm Kiiroshi, from Celadon. Nice to meet you."
Red studied the girl, her hair blonde streaked with black, her eyes that seemed to shine buttercup yellow in the sun, someone who was around a year older than him. "Are you on a journey too, Kiiroshi?"
"Yep!" Kiiroshi said, beckoning for Electabuzz to stand by her. "With Ella here." She wrapped an arm around the Electric-type and nuzzled her cheek against the top of its head. "Got her as an Elekid when I went on holiday to Johto. You were a major help in the Cerulean and Celadon Gyms, weren't you?"
Electabuzz grinned and stuck out her chest.
"Whoa," Red breathed. "You're actually taking on the Gyms too?"
"'Too'?" Kiiroshi's eyes sparkled. "You're doing it?"
"Yep."
Kiiroshi took Red by shoulders and shook him in excitement. "That makes you my rival!"
"Really?" Red said, growing dizzy. "I… guess… it does."
"Yeah! Are you any good?"
Red's world began to spin. "I like to… think so."
Kiiroshi released him and Red stumbled about, holding his head to stop the ground from trying to throw him into the sky. "We should have a battle. I'm trying to battle as many Trainers as possible, but especially those collecting Badges too."
That sobered Red up quickly. "Yeah, I'll totally battle you! This'll be great training."
"Great!" Kiiroshi said. "And we can make the battle even more exciting."
"Huh? How?"
"There's a village down south, where Routes Fourteen and Fifteen connect, Cyan Village. Have you heard of it?"
Red shook his head.
"Well, they're holding a tiny, day-long tournament there, to put the villagers in the mood for the Kanto League, get them all hyped." Kiiroshi tapped her chin and beamed. "How about we enter? There won't be many competitors, so we'll most likely meet during it. And even if we don't face off, we can just battle after it's over. What do you say?"
What was there to say?
"Yeah, I'm down for that!"
Oh. Yes, that was a good thing to say, wasn't it? Another good thing to say was were they not battling a Gyarados?
Red jumped as the Gyarados roared, twitching as the aftereffects of the Thunderbolt affected it. Pikachu's cheeks sparked and Clefairy's arms glowed green as they waited for it to recommence its attack.
But the Gyarados did not. It merely stared daggers at Red, Pikachu, and Clefairy.
It then started a slow descent back into the river, its eyes never leaving Red and his Pokémon. If it had hands, it would have done that thing when you point your index finger and middle finger at your eyes before pointing them at someone else, basically saying 'I'll be watching you'. You know, don't you? That gesture that can be super effective and cool in certain situations? Yeah, that one.
"Three times that thing's attacked us, and each time is worse than the last," Red said, half expecting the Gyarados' head to break the river's surface and blast them into oblivion with a sneaky Hydro Pump. He shivered. "I hope there's not a fourth."
"Wow," Kiiroshi said, peering into the river, the water kissing her toes. "A Pokémon with a grudge. You better be careful when near water."
"I don't plan on going near water ever again."
"You've got the Volcano Badge, then?"
"Which one is that?"
"Cinnabar Island's." Kiiroshi's eyes twinkled. "You know, island. As in 'surrounded by water'."
Red's face fell. "Darn."
"But that's a problem for future you," Kiiroshi said. "For now, we've got to go to Cyan." She detached a Great Ball from her belt and the Pokémon that emerged from it bellowed and scraped one of its front hooves on the ground.
And it was such a formidable-looking thing. It was a muscular, bovine creature, its fur light brown with a thicker, darker brown mane around its neck, curved grey horns, three grey bumps that ran down its forehead, and three tails. Three!
Tauros, a Normal-type Pokémon. They are rowdy with a lot of stamina. Once running, they do not stop until they hit something. Tauros are an all-male species.
"What's that?" Kiiroshi asked, pointing as the Pokédex.
"Oh, it's a Pokédex," Red explained, clipping it off his belt and showing it to her. "I'm meant to record Pokémon information for Professor Oak."
Kiiroshi's jaw hit the floor. "You're working for Professor Oak? The Professor Oak?"
"Yeah. Well, me, my friend Leaf, and a dumb-dumb called Blue."
"Whoa," Kiiroshi whispered to herself, staring at Red as though through new eyes. "You must be good, then."
"Tauros are so cool!" Red gushed, his hand disappearing into his mane, not registering Kiiroshi's sudden change. "Trainers like using them at the Pokémon League! Where did you get him?"
"Oh, um, just around this area," Kiiroshi said. "Really rare. Ages ago though. We only paralysed Sergio, then got him with a critical capture because I panicked and threw the Ball too early. Probably would've been better getting one at the Safari Zone, but…" She shrugged.
"Man, I would love to catch one, but I've already got a Normal-type that I haven't used yet." Red suddenly noticed the reins and the saddle on Sergio's back. "Do you ride it?"
"Yep!" Kiiroshi said happily and, as if to demonstrate, she leaped onto Sergio and settled into the saddle. "Cheaper than a bike, right?" She held out her hand. "Here, let me help you up."
Kiiroshi pulled Red up and he sat behind her, heeding her order of putting his arms around her waist and holding on tightly.
"Ever rode on a Pokémon before?" she asked.
"Recently? Brock took me to Mt. Moon on his Onix."
"Huh, the Pewter Gym Leader?" She pouted, as if imagining herself seated upon the stone goliath. "Oh well, maybe I'll catch an Onix next. Anyway, onward to Cyan!"
Sergio set off, picking up speed slowly, until he tore off at a canter.
And Red enjoyed every second of the next step of his journey.
Apart from Kiiroshi's hair going into his mouth.
o~o~o~o~o
Ten-thousand thoughts were running through Mr. Fuji's mind, but only one stood out: what was going to happen now?
It had been years, years he had grown comfortable in, years in which he thought he was safe. How naïve was he? It was only a matter of time. Oh, why did he not move away from Kanto? He could have taken Reina with her after her parents, his son and daughter-in-law, succumbed to that dreadful illness.
But he did not, and now he was sitting in his living room, sipping a cup of tea he had made for himself while he had been at Pokémon Tower.
Giovanni.
The man peered over the top of his cup and raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure you don't want a cup of tea? There's still plenty of hot water in the kettle."
Mr. Fuji stared at his trembling hands, counting the growing number of wrinkles and liver spots. "No, I am fine. Giovanni… how?"
Giovanni set the cup carefully on a coaster. "How did I find you? Merely puzzle pieces that we put together. My Executive's report, an annoying pest singing your praises, and finally researching your granddaughter's school and medical reports to tie it all together. I do hope she fully recovered from that bad case of the flu she had last year."
Mr. Fuji was certain he would have dropped dead there and then if his brain did not persuade his heart to continue beating. "You got… all that information?"
"We're Team Rocket, we can get whatever we want." Giovanni's eyes narrowed and he hissed his next words: "Except one thing."
"No," Mr. Fuji said immediately, shaking his head as though ridding his ears of water. "It's too dangerous. You know this."
"It will send Team Rocket to a new plateau of power," Giovanni said.
"It can't be controlled."
"I have a way."
"Its strength is unfathomable."
"All the more reason to catch it."
"Even if you do catch it, you'll make the world worse."
Giovanni scoffed, before catching himself and coughing. "Whatever happens to the world is none of my concern. Provided my organisation continues to grow, nothing else matters."
"How can you be so –"
"Grandpa, I'm home! I've got – oh!"
Mr. Fuji froze and turned to the front door where Reina walked in, a Pidgey in her arms.
"I'm sorry," she said. "I didn't realise you have a guest." She held out her hand to Giovanni. "I'm Reina."
With every fibre of his being, Mr. Fuji resisted the urge to tell Reina to go upstairs to her room immediately.
"A pleasure, I'm sure," Giovanni said, shaking her hand. "Your grandfather and I are former acquaintances merely catching up. I should be gone soon."
Reina giggled before becoming serious. "Grandpa, I found this injured Pidgey, so I'm going to bandage it up. I don't know the medicine doses I should give it, so will you do it after you're done, please?"
"Certainly," Mr. Fuji said, a hint of pride ever so slightly warming the ice that circulated his body. "I'll help you after my… acquaintance leaves."
When Reina was out of earshot, Giovanni smirked. "Such a polite girl. You've raised her well since you became her guardian, I'm sure. And she's learning about Pokémon medical care? Team Rocket is running low in that specific area…"
"I beg you to not do anything to Reina," Mr. Fuji said, his breathing quick, his head aching. "Please."
Giovanni waved away his plea. "Don't fret, Fuji, there is only one thing I require today; your dear granddaughter is a topic for another day. Now, while I could use her to – and I shudder to say it – blackmail you into helping us, I have another way of doing so." From his inner coat pocket, he produced a Poké Ball whose top half was black and yellow. "In this Ultra Ball is my dear Rhydon. Such a beast. Loves it when I ask it to destroy. Could you imagine it wreaking havoc on Pokémon Tower? How many Fissures do you think it'll take to turn it into rubble?"
Mr. Fuji's mouth was dry. "You… you wouldn't?"
"We both know I would. However, if you still refuse to talk…"
A regular Poké Ball this time. However, this one was scratched, fairly aged. "Rhyperior won't be too happy that you're not giving me what I want. He's never liked people getting in my way. How long do you think it'll take him to level this entire town? Less than an entire night is what I'll say. Done and gone before the authorities arrive. Not that they can do anything," Giovanni added with a hint of a serpent's hiss.
His eyes became darker, black holes that absorbed Mr. Fuji and twisted the poor old man into every shape possible, stretching and contorting him, pressing and squeezing him, powerless under the mighty force that was Giovanni. "I'll ask again, Fuji: where is Mewtwo?"
Mr. Fuji had no choice, did he? He could not let the innocents of Lavender suffer, not after what happened on Cinnabar. Maybe it would be all right? Giovanni said he had a plan, but Mewtwo was so powerful, so godlike nothing the Rocket Boss would do would ever bear fruit.
Maybe it would be all right.
With a sigh and deep, deep reluctance, Mr. Fuji told him: "Mewtwo resides within Cerulean Cave. I managed to track it there after the… tragedy. I have been keeping tabs on its since then, even hiring someone to stand guard and stop others from entering. Mewtwo has never left."
"Is this a lie?" Giovanni said coldly. "Because we've had Psychic-types constantly searching for Mewtwo's brain waves and detections of its psychokinetic powers, and they've come up with nothing. Something as powerful as Mewtwo should not be able to hide near a populated city like Cerulean."
"It's the truth," Mr. Fuji said. "The stones that make up Cerulean Cave have special properties that interfere with psychic and aura detection. You could have an Alakazam-Metagross-Lucario hybrid stand outside the cave and it wouldn't sense Mewtwo."
Giovanni remained silent but peered into Mr. Fuji's eyes, as though trying to hypnotise him. Mr. Fuji tried to look away but found he could not.
Eventually, Giovanni said, "Very well, Fuji, I reckon I believe you. However, I will still have to send a small squadron to confirm it, so tell your friend to allow them through. I want pictures of Mewtwo."
"Mewtwo will kill them if they're caught," Mr. Fuji said hoarsely.
Giovanni stood and straightened his coat. "My Grunts know what's expected of them. If they must risk themselves for Team Rocket's glory, then that is what they must do. Just tell your friend to let them pass."
Without another word, Giovanni strode out the Fuji residence, into the cool, evening air that he breathed in deeply.
They were so close. If Mewtwo truly was in Cerulean Cave, then it was almost done.
They just needed one other factor to go their way.
And if his intel was to be believed, it was within touching distance.
It was the next step.
Now, Giovanni was a suave, respectable syndicate leader, so the word giddy would never be applied to him. However, if one was to read his brain or listen to his heart, then that would be the word they used.
And you know what? He had had a good day. A good day deserved a merry whistle.
And that is what he did, all the way back to his helicopter on the edge of Lavender.
