Flame VS Flame
p
Shan, Alex and Quin stood with doubtful looks on their faces. Mark was pointing towards a path that they all hoped would lead to Saffron city. Shan closed her eyes and smiled. "Mark are you sure that it's the right way?" She asked. Mark looked at her and frowned.
p "Yes I'm sure." He said. Quin sighed.
p "I don't think we should go by what you say. I mean you've gotten us lost four times in the last two days." Mark turned red as Alex walked forward.
p "Yea and not to mention that Ekans nest you led us into." Shan could see the three starting to glare at eachother. She quickly walked forward as Charmeleon began to growl at the three.
p "Oh come on guys lets just calm down." She said stepping between them. "Look on the bright side we all got an Ekans thanks to that uh um," Shan put her hand on her head and smiled. "Minor detour." Mark smiled at Shan and walked over next to her and put his hand on her shoulder.
p "See Shan trusts me." He said proudly. Shan looked at him with an uneasy grin.
p "Wait maybe we should let Quin take charge of the map reading." Mark fell over.
p "Oh well fine then." He said in a sad voice. "Deny me my chance to learn true trust." He looked at them. Shan sighed and rolled her eyes.
p "Well maybe this is the way to Saffron but if your wrong again your going to have to make it up to us." Shan said with a grin.
p "How so?" Mark asked. Shan looked over at Charmeleon who rubbed her stomach and smiled.
p "Good idea girl." Shan said. "Your going to buy dinner for us if you get us lost again and it can't be burgers."
p "Or pizza." Quin said quickly.
p "Or hot-dogs either." Alex said as Mark jumped back.
p "What? No way. Do you know how much Quin eats?" Shan and Alex jumped out of the way as Quin ran forward and hit Mark over the head with her backpack.
p "Mark you dork I do not eat that much!" She yelled chasing Mark down the path. Mark was sprinting ahead.
p "Uh Shan?" Alex asked.
p "Yea?"
p "Remind me not to mention how much Quin eats around her ok?" Shan smiled and nodded.
p "You bet." Shan said as they stared to walk after them.
p When they found Mark and Quin they couldn't help but laugh. Quin and chased Mark up a tree. "Come on Quin I'm sorry." Quin glared at him from her position.
p "Of course my dear Cousin. Come down and I'll forgive you." Quin said with a false smile and a sweet voice. Mark laughed and made a face at her.
p "You expect me to fall for that?" He asked. Shan rolled her eyes and looked up into the tree.
p "You two act like kids. Get down hear and lets get going. I want to make it into Saffron before nightfall if we can." Shan said in a serious voice.
p "Your right." Quin said.
p "Yea I'm coming down." Mark said and jumped down from his branch. When he landed he was blasted with a face full of water. Quin laughed as her Staryu continued it's water gun attack.
p "That will teach you to keep your big mouth shut." Mark stood soaked and looked at his cuz.
p "I'll remember that." He said. Shan sighed as Alex busted into laughter.
p "That was so . . .hilarious." Mark frowned and looked at Alex.
p "Glad you found it so amusing."
p "Charmeleon," Charmeleon said taping Shan on her leg. Shan smiled at her as her friends started into argue.
p "What is it girl?" Shan asked. Charmeleon pointed to a sign Shan stood up and read it.
p "AHHHHHHH," Shan yelled in anger. Her friends all stopped and looked at her.
p "Something wrong?" They asked. Shan turned and looked at them.
p "You bet look at that!" Shan pointed at the sign.
p "Uh oh," Mark said with a nervous laugh. "I guess I owe you guys a dinner." Shan pointed at the sign again.
p "You owe us more than that. You led us to Fuchsia city."
p "What's the big deal?" Alex asked.
p "What's the big deal? Are you kidding me now we're two days away from Celadon. And that means it will take us for ever to get to Saffron now." Mark rested his hands on his hips.
p "Your Blowing this way out of proportion Shan. It's not that bad really." Quin frowned at Mark as Shan threw her hands up and walked away. Charmeleon glared at Mark and ran after her master.
p "What's with her?" Alex asked. Quin glared at them.
p "YOU TWO INSENSITIVE JERKS!" She yelled. Alex and Mark jumped back with true fear of Quin.
p "Uh did we do something?" They asked in unison. Quin sighed and looked at the sign.
p "Shan wanted to go to Saffron for a reason, remember?" The two looked at eachother and shrugged.
p "No," they said. Quin frowned and put her hands on her hips.
p "Shan recently found out that she had an Aunt right?" The two nodded. "Well then if don't you think she might have wanted to visit her and find out about her family?" The two looked down.
p "Man we got to make it up to her." Mark said. He smiled and snapped his fingers. "I know!" He said throwing his hands up in a peace sign.
p "How?" Quin asked. Mark laughed and spun around in a circle.
p "The Safari Zone." Quin's eyes grew huge and she laughed.
p "Oh yea that would be great." She said Alex sighed..
p "Guys that is a bit expensive, don't you think? How can we afford that?"
p "Don't worry about it." Mark said. "My father owns stock in the Safari Zone and I can get us in for free that is if I can get Quin to do that wine of hers."
p "I don't have a wine." Quin said.
p "I don't know about this." Alex said running his hand threw his hair.
p "Hey it's a great plan." Mark said.
p "Yea but will Shan take it." Alex said.
p "How could she not?" Quin said. They all quieted up as Shan walked back up to them now calmer than before.
p "I'm sorry guys." Shan said. "I lost my temper." They all smiled at her.
p "That's ok," they all said. Shan laughed nervously as they all stared at her. Charmeleon tilted her head puzzled at her masters friends.
p "Lets get going." Mark said and led the way. As they walked they passed a tree that looked as if it had been hit with something. Shan looked up and walked on as her friends trued blue and looked at her.
p "I was a bit frustrated." Shan said with a nervous smile. "The tree kida got in the way."
p "Hey not prob." Quin said. "Mark hear is leading us right to Saffron and don't forget he's got to treat us to dinner." Mark smiled nervously after looking at the tree.
p "Oh yea that."
p "How far is it till we reach the town?" Shan asked after another hour of walking. mark looked at his dex and then looked over his shoulder at her.
p "I think another hour or so." Mark said. He was stopped abruptly as he ran face first into a sign. "Or maybe sooner." He groaned and fell backwards.
p "Hey yea we're hear." Quin said accidentally stepping on Mark who was still laying on the ground. He let out another groan. "I can't wait to look around."
p "Quin?" Shan said pointing down.
p "Oh sorry cuz." She said with a laugh.
p "Why me?" Mark said. "I must be cursed or something." Alex walked past him.
p "No just incredibly clumsy." Mark frowned and shook his fist at him from is seat on the ground.
p "You," He said shaking it. Shan walked up to him and held out her hand.
p "Get up you look like your a Diglett with a sugar high." Mark jumped up and laughed.
p "Thanks," he said. Shan walked on. Mark sighed and followed her.
p "Oh wow," Shan said running up to a fenced in area. "Look at that what is it." She wiped out her pokédex and scanned the pokemon.
p "KANGASKHAN: A MATERNAL POKEMON. THIS POKEMON FIGHTS TO PROTECT IT'S YOUNG." Shan shut her dex and waved at the pokemon.
p "Hi Kangaskhan." She said. The large pokemon looked at her and then went back to grazing. The baby in it's pouch opened a sleepy eye and then ducked into it's mothers pouch. Shan smiled and looked at her friends. "It's like a big Zoo."
p "Yea," Mark said. "Do you know why?" Shan shook her head.
p "This is how you get to the Safari zone and we get in for free how about that Shan." Shan stood there staring at Mark.
p "How did you manage that?" Mark smiled.
p "My dad owns some stock in this park. So We can get in for free."
p "Wow thanks Mark that is so nice of you. . .Are you feeling ok?" Mark turned red as Quin and Alex snickered a bit.
p "Hey I can be nice to you know." He said almost yelling. Shan laughed and smiled at him.
p "Chill out Mark I know you can be nice sometimes." Mark seemed to blush. "But you can be pretty selfish and arrogant most of the time." Mark fell forward and looked up at her.
p "Come on give me a break," he sat down on the ground and smiled. "I'm just a tuff trainer."
p "Lets get going." Quin said. "I want to shop for some safari cloths."
p "Just where that." Shan said.
p "No way it's been a long time since I've been hear I want some souvenirs." Quin said.
p "You must really like shopping huh Quin?" Alex asked.
p "Everyone needs a hobby." The four friends headed off towards the Safari Zone.
p When they got to the entrance Shan was surprised to see that there weren't that many trainers there. As they walked past the few trainers Shan admired the decorated grounds. Flowers of all kinds seemed to liter the ground and filled the air with pleasant smells. Shan inhaled and smiled happily. "This is so beautiful." Shan said with a smile. "I love being outside in nature."
p "Then you'll love walking though the Safari Zone." Said a voice from behind them. Shan and Quin trued to see a Tall guy walking towards them. They both turned bright red as they realized he was dressed like he was in a Tarzan movie.
p "Hey what kind of guy are you?" Mark shouted. Alex walked forward.
p "You need some cloths." The guy looked at what he was wearing and Shrugged.
p "My name is Tombo," He laughed nervously. "Sorry I startled you but this is what I always where." Shan and Quin laughed nervously.
p "Us? Startled?" Shan asked. Quin shook her head.
p "No, don't be silly." Shan and Quin looked at eachother. "This guy is cute." Quin whispered. Shan looked at her as if she were crazy.
p "Yea but a bit to old to be running around dressed like that don't you think?" Quin laughed and turned red.
p "Uh," She stared to say.
p "Ok time to get going." Mark said Pushing Shan and Quin threw the door. "Nice meeting you." Alex followed them.
p "Yea uh. . .see ya." Alex said and ran Mark.
p The Safari Zone was teaming with trainees of all ages. Half of them were in the gift shops spending money on more safrieballs. Shan and her friends quickly walked past them and entered the park. "All right we are going to catch so many pokémon aren't we Charmeleon?" Shan asked. Charmeleon lifted her claws up and smiled.
p "Char," She said in agreement. Shan took a step forward when she was stopped by an angry looking Officer Jenny.
p "Hold it right there." She said. Shan and Charmeleon looked at her.
p "Jenny?" Shan asked.
p "How do you know my name? Oh you must have met one of my relatives. Then you must have had run-ins with the law." Jenny said and glared at Shan.
p "Is something wrong?" Shan asked . Jenny pointed at Charmeleon.
p "Yes you seem to think it's ok for you to use that Charmeleon to battle in this park."
p "Well yes," Shan said with slight smile. "That is how you catch pokémon." Jenny shook her head as Mark walked up behind Shan.
p "Actually you don't." Mark said.
p "Huh?" Shan asked.
p "You use bait and that's it." Mark said handing Shan some pokémon bait. Shan looked at the apple shaped substance and then at Jenny.
p "Sorry I didn't know. Charmeleon won't battle I promise." Jenny looked at Charmeleon and frowned.
p "You better keep her out of trouble I don't want any one getting hurt. It's my job to make sure the Safari Zone is well protected and that the trainers who come hear have fun." They watched as Jenny walked away.
p "Charmeleon char." Charmeleon said.
p "I'm not carrying you," Shan said. "Your getting to heavy." Charmeleon grumbled to herself as they walked on.
p "I wonder what's going on over there?" Quin asked pointing to a group of trainers.
p "Let's check it out." Shan said running over to the group. When she got there she could see a man standing on a platform shouting out at the crowd.
p "When all of you go out and look for pokémon you must remember one thing. Do not allow yourselves to be hurt." The man smiled and pointed into the crowd. Shan looked around, most of the trainers were dressed similarly to the man." You are responsible for capturing pokémon and training them not to get hurt in the process."
p "What is this guy on?" Mark asked with a laugh. Shan smiled.
p "I don't know but he needs to cut back on the dosage. They are probably part of a school or some kind of summer program." Shan felt a hand touch her shoulder.
p "Come on," A woman said pushing her forward. Charmeleon followed grumbling.
p "Uh is there something you need?" Shan asked in an annoyed voice as the Woman practically shoved her on stage.
p "Hey what do you think your doing?" Shan shouted at her. The man looked at Shan and then at her Charmeleon.
p "I'm glad you could volunteer." He said.
p "I didn't." Shan said as Charmeleon hid behind her legs. She was spooked by all of the people and really didn't want to be around them. Shan reached down and patted her on the head to reassure her.
p "Well your hear now." He said whispering. "I just need to make a point and you seem to be the right choice." Shan sighed and then nodded.
p "Ok. But I do have things I need to do." She looked out at her friends in the crowd. They waved and smiled at her.
p "Leave it to Shan to get roped into something." Quin said with a laugh.
p "Ok trainers," The man said walking forward. "As you can see this young lady has a Charmeleon." The trainers took out note pads and began to write down what he was saying. "Now most of you will be smart and not chose a Charmander for your first pokémon because you all know that they are extremely hard to handle. As are all fire types." Shan frowned. Charmeleon came out from her hiding place behind Shan and growled at the man.
p The man smiled as one of the trainers in the audience raised her hand. "Prof. Roads, how is it that a Charmander is not a good choice?" Shan's eyes narrowed.
p "Well they are not very well mannered for one. They hardly ever listen." That did it. Shan stepped forward and glared at him.
p "Hold it!" Shan shouted. "You don't have a clue. Charmander are great." Charmeleon nodded in agreement. "They are strong and if you have the skill are not that difficult to handle. They are great companions and loyal."
p "Oh really?" Asked Roads. "Then tell me this why is it your Charmeleon is out of it's ball?"
p "That's my choice. I know that by letting her do that her legs are getting stronger and the bond that we have gets stronger." Shan said. "Besides she likes to walk around." It was getting to her, how could this person say such things about her wonderful Charmeleon.
p "Well most trainers who allow their Pokémon to walk around freely do not have any control over them." Roads said. Some of the crowd laughed. Mark and the others looked at them with angrily eyes.
p "You can't possibly want it to evolve?" Asked a guy with Glasses in the front.
p "Yea who would want such a dangerous Pokémon?" Said another girl.
p "That was a mistake." Mark said. Quin and Alex nodded.
p "Just because all of you are cowards and week trainers doesn't mean that I will have any trouble when she evolves into a Charizard." Roads laughed and walked forward.
p "She won't be useful until she gets to that stage." He said. "Besides," he said with a laugh. "How could girl like you ever hope to control a Charizard. There are only a few people who train Charizard and even they have hard times."
p "Ok now he is way over the line." Alex said walking towards the stage. "Let's get Shan before. . ."
p "Oh yea what do you know?" Shan yelled. "My Charmeleon is strong. I challenge you to a Pokémon battle." Shan yelled. Charmeleon jumped forward and raised her claws up.
p "To late." Quin said. "Oh well at least she'll put that guy in his place."
p "Young lady you can't be serious. You really want to battle me?" Shan nodded.
p "You bet let's get out of the Safari Zone and do it. You were wrong if you thought I was going to let you dis my Charmeleon." Shan said raising her fist up.
p "CHAR," Charmeleon said doing the same.
p "Fine with me." Roads said. "But you'll only lose in the long run. I will prove to you that your Charmeleon is weak." Shan jumped down from the stage and walked over to her friends.
p "Shan are you sure you want to do this?" Mark asked. Shan looked at him and nodded.
p "You bet. I am not going to let him get away with calling her week." Shan said causing the crowd to look at her.
p "She's right Mark." Quin said. "I know that I would do the same if someone said that to me about my pokémon infront of a huge crowd." Shan smiled at her friends. Alex sighed.
p "I guess we'll have to put off the hunt for a while. To bad I was looking forward to getting a Venoat." He said.
p "There will be time for that later Alex." Shan said. They walked out of the Park where Shan and her friends saw the large group of trainers gathered. Some were placing bets. It wasn't that she felt Nervous but Shan had never really battled infront of so many people. She stood her ground as her friends cheered her on.
p "IF your so good why do you have that bite mark on your leg?" Shouted one of the trainers Shan looked down at her leg, it had been hot so she was wearing shorts. She smiled and looked at the trainer.
p "None of you business punk." She said. The trainer frowned and stepped back into the crowd. Charmeleon looked up at Shan and smiled.
p "Ok so now that were hear I guess I should get humiliating you over with. Now how about we battle two pokémon each." Shan stood ridged she was already getting into the battle fully. Everyone except for Roads seemed to disappear.
p "Fine by me." Shan said flatly. Roads apeared to be a bit scared by Shan's quick personality change.
p "Go Arcanine ." Roads shouted. Shan smiled to herself and took out a pokéball.
p "Time for you to get yours. Go SCAR!" Shan shouted. The crowd exploded with laughter. Scar looked back at Shan.
p "(What ever it is I am all for it now. How dare these humans laugh and me.)" Shan smiled.
p "Well then shall we Scar." Scar nodded. Roads smiled and pet his Arcanine on it's head.
p "I see you want to play the evolve game." Shan stood staring forward waiting for him to make a move. "I take it you know what that game is." Shan didn't reply she only waited.
p "She's scared." Shouted a trainer. Shan didn't move.
p "Look at her." Mark said. "I wish I could block everything out like her."
p "Yea but I wonder why she gets so into theses battles. She pushes her pokémon and herself in every battle she does." Alex said watching. Mark and Quin looked at him. "It's almost like she. . ." He laughed and smiled at them. "Forget never mind."
p "Come on what were you going to say?" Quin asked.
p "Well it's almost like she's been trained to do that herself. I know it sounds silly but," Mark laughed.
p "Nah she's just dedicated." They all looked back over at the two.
p "If you want me to go first then I will be all to happy to oblige. Arcanine Dig." Shan watched as the large dog dug a hole. She smiled and waited.
p "Scar," Shan said. "Jump and use Flame-thrower. . .Now!" Scar complied just as the Arcanine came busting threw the ground. Scars flame hit it causing minor damage but it was impressive enough to make the crowd go silent. "Scar use your Agility." Shan said. Scar began to run in circles around the Arcanine who jumped about trying to keeps her eye on him.
p "Not bad." Roads said. "Arcanine use your takedown." The Arcanine jumped to the side and then took off running at Scar.
p "Growlithe ," Scar barked and began to glow. Shan smiled and looked at Roads. Scar jumped out of the Large dogs way and howled.
p "Scar PSYFIRE." Shan shouted. Scar howled again as heat began to rise from his body. He let lose another howl as a pillar of Fire formed infront of him. Roads and the Arcanine stood dumbfounded by the new attack.
p "What is that?" Roads asked. Shan smiled and put her hand on her hip.
p "The winning move." Shan said. Scars fur stood up as the Pillar shot out at the Arcanine sending her flying. She howled in pain as the psychic and fire attack did it's work. Roads quickly recalled her.
p "I never read of an attack like that." He said. "You'll have to tell me all about it." Shan stood her eyes narrowed and what looked to be an evil grin on her face.
p "Send out your next Pokémon." Shan said recalling Scar. She knew that he would be week after the new attack. "Charmeleon go!" Shan shouted. Charmeleon jumped forward.
p "Well lets just keep playing the Evolve game. Go Charizard!" Roads shouted. Shan watched as a huge dragon like pokémon formed infront of her. She smiled as it raised it's large head and stretched it's bright orange wings.
p "ZARD," It bellowed. Shan's face became serious again.
p "Ok girl this isn't going to be easy but try your best. I know that you can do it." Charmeleon smiled at Shan and looked forward. The large Charizard slammed it's tale onto the ground causing the ground to shake a bit.
p "Char Charmeleon ," Charmeleon barked.
p "Zard Chaza," Charizard growled. The two stood glaring at eachother.
p "Oh wow," Quin said in a scared voice. "That thing is so big. Is that what Charmeleon will look like?"
p "Not at first." Alex said. "She's still pretty young. That one looks like it might be around ten years old."
p "Charizard slash attack." Shan watched as the huge pokémon looked at it's trainer and growled. She loosened up as it let out another shout. IT looked at Charmeleon and ran at her. Charmeleon jumped out of the way.
p "Hmm, it's not listening to him." Shan said aloud. "Charmeleon use your old trick." Charmeleon smiled and stood facing the huge Dragon. It let out another growl and ran at her. This time Charmeleon jumped to the side as the Charizard ran past her. Then she grabbed onto it's tale and held on for dear life.
p "ZARD CHARZA," It yelled as it waged it's tale about. Charmeleon dug her claws into it's tale and began to craw up to it's back.
p "Charizard obey me use your. . .Ah do something!" Roads yelled. Shan waited until Charmeleon was between the Charizard wings.
p "SLASH," she yelled. Charmeleon slashed at the huge beast sending it bucking like a bronco. It flapped it's large wings in an attempt to get Charmeleon of it's back. With a loud yell the Charizard flipped it's head back sending Charmeleon flying and crashing into the ground. Charmeleon got up and groaned. As you can guess the Charizard was not happy. IT lowered it's head and glared at Charmeleon Shan gasped and looked over at her Charmeleon. "Leer back at it." She shouted. Charmeleon did the same. Both were looked onto the other.
p "Oh man what a battle." Shouted a spectator. Mark and the others watched as the Glow in Charmeleon's eyes intensified.
p "How long can the leer attack last?" Alex asked.
p "I don't know but it's usually a quick one. I am totally stoked." Mark said and then jumped forward. "Shan do it to it."
p "Charmeleon try flame thrower." Charmeleon opened her mouth to the attack when the massive Charizard plowed into her knocking her back into a near by tree. Shan gasped as Charmeleon slowly stood up. "Return." Shan shouted taking out a pokéball. the beam missed Charmeleon. Roads laughed.
p "I knew you would lose." Shan ignored him looked over at Charmeleon. She was leaning against the tree and breathing heavily. The Charizard stood over her it's mouth open. Shan gasped and ran forward.
p "SHAN NO!" Her friends shouted. Shan jumped infront of Charmeleon just as the Charizard lunged forward knocking Shan hard against the tree. Shan remained standing refusing to allow the Charizard to harm Charmeleon.
p "How foolish." Roads said running forward. His Charizard roared and looked at Shan who stood straight. Charmeleon looked up at Shan and smiled weekly.
p "Recall it!" Mark shouted as he ran at Roads. Roads looked at Mark and smiled.
p "Why should I do that?" HE asked taking off his Lab coat. Mark gasped as the man laughed. "Charizard attack the crowd." The Charizard turned it's head and looked at the crowd. They all took off running in many directions. Soon the only ones left were Shan and her friends. Shan fell to her knees and hugged Charmeleon close.
p "Are you ok?" She asked. Charmeleon licked Shan's hand.
p "Aww now that is so cute." Said Roads. "But it's not going to save you." He jumped high into the air and landed a few feet from were he was but now he was dressed differently. He was wearing a black suit and had long flowing purple hair which was tie into a ponytail.
p "Who is this?" Quin asked running over to help Shan. Shan pushed her back and stood up.
p "I don't know." Shan said. "But you guys stay out of it." Shan walked forward and winced as she did.
p "My you really are a strong one aren't you. Slick was right about you." Shan frowned. Alex and Mark ran to help her. Shan raised her hand and they stopped.
p "So your from the league?" Shan asked. "Way to go you attacked a crowd of people. Your not going to be happy when Officer Jenny shows up and busts you." Shan said.
p "Who said I was staying that long?" The man said. His Charizard roared and walked up behind him. It lowered it's head and he pet it gently. "Nice Job my old friends. But it was a little to close we can't let that brat's weakling Charmeleon beat you."
p "This guy is strong." Alex said as he wiped the sweat from his forehead.
p "SO what do you want?" Shan asked. "YOU already know that I'm not going to join the league until I earn it." The man smiled at her.
p "I know that. I'm not hear to convince you to join." He said closing his eyes and smiling.
p "Then why are you bugging me?" Shan asked. The man narrowed his eyes and smiled evil.
p "Well if you must know," Shan heard three screams from behind her she turned to see her friends in handcuffs. There were other league agents there. Shan turned and glared at them. "I'm hear to help stop a potential threat." He walked up to Shan who turned to face him.
p "Shan," Alex shouted. "Get out of hear." Shan gritted her teeth.
p "Let them go now." Shan said angrily. Her eyes flashed making the man stop in his tracks.
p "I don't think you understand the game little girl." He said.
p "I'm not a fan of games." Shan said. Charmeleon growled at the man. "who are you anyway."
p "My name is Flash." He said. Behind her she heard Quin yelling at the other League members.
p "What do you want?" Shan demanded. Flash recalled his Charizard and looked at her.
p "I just want to talk to you." He said. Shan relaxed herself a bit.
p "Talk." Shan said.
p "I heard allot about you." He walked past Shan who followed him with her eyes.
p "Yea so?"
p "So I got curious about you. I mean who knew that there was such a powerful psychic out there." He smiled and laughed a bit. "I mean imagine my surprise when I heard that you were still sane." Shan looked at him.
p "Your not good at tricking me out." Shan said. "I've heard it all before. I'm not insane and I know that I can keep control of my power." He laughed.
p "Oh yes I see it all clearly now." He said. "Your going to lose it eventually kid. I know that for a fact. Do yourself a favor and come with me." He looked over his shoulders at her friends. They all struggled. Shan fought back her anger.
p "No!" She said. He made a gesture with his hands and the other League members released Quin, Mark and Alex. He laughed.
p "Very well then. I'll let you go for now." He smiled at Shan. "I am impressed with your battling skills so I think I'll battle you again one day. Until then try not to kill your friends." Shan stepped back as if he had slapped her. He laughed and disappeared in a puff of smoke. Shan stood staring at her friends who were now free. They ran up to her.
p "Shan?" Mark asked waving his hand infront of her face. "Yo Shan snap back to reality." Shan blinked and then frowned.
p "What a creep," she looked at her friends. "That guy actually thinks that I'm going to . . ." She smiled. "Never mind." Her friends all looked at her with worried faces. Shan laughed and put her hand behind her head. "Come on guys lets get back to the Safari Zone I thought we were going hunting."
p "Are you ok?" Quin asked. Shan slapped Quin on the back.
p "Hey I'm fine I really had that guy going huh?" Shan ran ahead. "Last one there is a slowpoke." She shouted as she ran. Her friends watched as Shan ran into the Safari zone with Charmeleon following closely. Once inside Shan leaned against a wall and took a breath.
p "You ok?" Asked a voice. Shan turned to see Tombo looking at her. She blushed and smiled at him.
p "Yea just hangin out till my friends get hear." She said.
p "You looked like you had a problem." He said. "I saw the battle from the trees. You did really well." Charmeleon sat down next to Shan and let out a tired sigh.
p "Charmeleon did all the work." Shan said.
p "I admire people who stand up for their pokémon. It reminds me of when I was a kid." Shan looked at him oddly.
p "Well no office but it's kind of hard to believe a guy in a loincloth." Tombo blushed and laughed.
p "Hey I'm not saying anything about what your wearing." Shan laughed.
p "Sorry," Shan said and extended her hands. "My name is Shan."
p "Well you already know my name. Tombo."
p "Yo Shan," Mark said running up to her. Shan sighed as he ran up to her. "Come on let's get going."
p "I'll be right there." Shan said. Tombo smiled at Mark who seemed to frown a bit.
p "I take it you guys are looking for some pokémon. I know every inch of this place if you want I can show you some great pokémon."
p "That would be great." Shouted Quin as she ran up to them.
p "Thanks," Shan said. Mark laughed.
p "Come on guys lets get going. If jungle boy wants to show us were the choice pokémon I say let him." Tombo laughed.
p "your funny," Tombo said.
p "So were are they?" Alex asked. Tombo smiled and stared to walk.
p "You'll see." He said. Mark looked at Shan who seemed to be thinking.
p "Can we trust this guy?" Shan looked at him.
p "I don't know lets just go." She walked on. Her friends followed.
p "This isn't going like I hoped it would." Mark said as they jumped across stones to the other side of a river. Shan was ahead of them. "All because of that Flash creep."
p "Yea," Alex said. "I was hoping that it would cheer Shan up after your mistake."
p "Hey." Mark said stopping on one rock. "I said I was sorry." Quin jumped onto a rock and looked him.
p "I wonder what it must be like for her." Quin said sadly.
p "What do you mean Quin?" Alex asked jumping onto another rock.
p "Well I was just thinking about my family. Lucy is a pain but she's my sister."
p "Yea," Mark said almost falling into the water.
p "I just wondered what it would have been like if I didn't have her or mom or dad or even you." She looked down and closed her eyes. "I couldn't stand that. It made me realize how lucky I am to have you guys." Mark smiled.
p "Please don't cry Quin." Mark said reading Quins face.
p "I'm not going to but maybe. . ." Quin looked ahead. "Maybe Shan doesn't know what to think about finally having family. I mean she found out that she had an aunt after having no one for so long. How would you guys feel if that happened to you."
p "Confused." Shan said looking at them. They all looked at her. Mark turned to quickly and stumbled back falling into the stream. All of them laughed.
p "Great." Mark said standing up in the shallow water. After a while they came to a clearing to rest. Shan was sitting under a tree when Quin sat next to her.
p "Shan?" She asked.
p "Yea?"
p "IF you ever need to talk to someone you can talk to me you know. I won't tell they guys." Shan looked at her fired and then looked down sadly.
p "I don't know what to think anymore Quin." Shan said. "Why did Sabrina wait so long to find me. Maybe she never wanted to."
p "Don't think like that Shan." Quin said. "It will only depress you." Shan sighed.
p "I've been think about something else to. I didn't tell you guys this but I own a gym." Quin almost fell over.
p "NO way really?" Shan nodded.
p "It belonged to my father but I don't know what to do about it." Quin smiled widely.
p "Wow a gym? You really are going to make it Shan." She said Shan frowned.
p "No I'm not." She said flatly. "I don't see how I can." Quin sighed and set back.
p "Cheer up ok?" Quin asked. "I hate to see my friends unhappy."
p "I will Quin." Shan said forcing a smile. Quin elbowed her and smiled.
p "Hey Tombo is way cute don't you think." Shan blushed.
p "I guess." Quin laughed.
p "I knew you thought that." She said. Shan turned even redder and stood up.
p "Ok time to get some pokémon." Shan said walking away quickly. Quin laughed and ran after her. Mark and Alex were doing the usual thing arguing like crazy.
p "Lets just let them get it out of their system." Quin said. Tombo, who was perched in a tree looked down at them and smiled.
p "I see a herd of Pokémon a few miles from hear." He jumped down infront of them.
p "Really?" Quin asked. "Well lead the way." Shan looked at her friends who smiled at Tombo.
p "Char," Charmeleon said with a yawn. Shan knelt down and smiled at her.
p "You should rest girl. Return." Shan recalled her and walked off with Quin and Tombo leaving Mark and Alex continued their argument.
p Shan, Quin and Tombo looked out from a vantage point on a hill. They were laying down hoping to escape the view of the wild Pincers below them. Quin let out a small scared moan. "Bugs?" She said nervously.
p "Wow cool." Shan said. "Those things are strong. Image Drakes face when I show him that in our next battle." Shans aid smiling. Quin smiled, happy that Shan was back to her old self, but still they were bugs.
p "You have to be careful when you approach them." Tombo said sitting up. "Do you think you can follow me." Shan laughed.
p "Ha," She laughed. "You don't know who your talking to." Shan said. Quin laughed nervously.
p "Uh maybe I'll stay hear." Tombo looked at her.
p "If your scared you can wait hear but you'll miss all the excitement." Quin blushed.
p "NO I'm not scared. And believe me I am not lacking on excitement." Tombo smiled at her and stood up.
p "I'm lucky," He said. "I hardly ever get to show pretty girls around this place." Shan and Quin stood up quickly as they turned red.
p "Well I think I can keep up with you Tombo." Quin said. Shan smiled.
p "You got over that Quick." She said. Quin frowned at her.
p "Yea well. . ."
p "They're moving." Tombo said and ran at the herd. Shan followed. Quin did the same but kept back. Shan ran around the Pincers looking for a strong one. Tombo did the same.
p "All right." Shan said spotting a large Male Pincer. "I know the one I want." She took our a safrieball and held it above her head. "Go." She hurled the ball. When it hit the Pincer it bounced off. Shan frowned and took out another.
p "Cer." It said looking at Shan. Shan smiled at it and walked forward.
p "Don't get close." Tombo said. Shan ignored him and walked towards the Pincer.
p "No pokémon escapes from me." Shan said. The Pincer looked at Shan and lowered it's head. Shan felt he power rise as she lifted her hand up. The Pincer looked up at her and slowly walked forward.
p "Cer," It said as Shan petted it on it's head.
p "Now," Shan said and hit it on the head with the Safari Zone. It disappeared into the ball. Shan looked at the ball as it twitched three times and stopped. She picked it up as it disappeared. Tombo had been watching with interest and smiling. Shan looked at him snapping out of her battle mode.
p "All right I got one." He walked up to her and smiled.
p "Wow that was neat. How about you Quin why don't you try?" Quin laughed and threw a ball. It hit a small Pincer but didn't capture it. The whole herd ran.
p "Oh well," Quin said. "Lets get back Shan." Quin said. Shan nodded.
p "Yea we really need to go." She said. Tombo smiled and waved good bye as they walked back towards Mark and Alex.
p "I got a Pincer," Shan said laughing. "Drake is going to be so jealous." Shan jumped down the hill and laughed when she Saw Mark and Alex soaking wet.
p "I am sick of this." Alex a said taking out a pokéball.
p "Me to time to put you in your place." Mark said. They both held the balls above their head just as Officer Jenny rode up on her bike parking in between them.
p "Both of you must leave. I won't allow battles inside this park now go." Shan and Quin frowned at them.
p "Way to go guys." Quin said. "now we can't even hunt. Let's just get going." Shan smiled.
p "Don't forget mark you owe us all a dinner." She said walking away. Mark sighed.
p "Oh you remembered that?" He asked.
p "OF course and after today I am in the mood for some good takeout. And since you boys got us kicked out of the Safari zone you both can go and pick it up." Shan said.
p "Aye Aye Leader lady." Mark and Alex said. Shan laughed as the exited the park.