Little Gyms...
ByAmi Warning: I don't own these characters. If you didn't know that, then please leave. I don't have room for stupid people. This story has almost (Again, note the almost) no swearing, and is basically safe. There's a pokemon battle and a slap, but that's about it.
James opened his eyes. His head ached horribly. Where was he? The last thing he remembered was falling from the window. If he hadn't fainted on the way down, the ground had relieved him of his consciousness.
He looked around. He appeared to be back in Viridian Forest, where he and Meowth had been camping. That wasn't right. How had he gotten away? Giovanni had definitely seen him. Had he let him escape? If so, why? What was he doing out here, anyway?
"Char-bok!" (good morning!) James suddenly found his face inches away from that of a familiar snake. "Char, char bok?" (How is James feeling?) The snake asked worriedly.
James jumped backwards from the surprise, then looked up. "Arbok! Don't scare me like that!" Arbok grumbled something along the lines of `chicken-boy', but apologized. James slumped down. Just that little movement had made him nauseous. He rubbed his neck. "What happened?"
"Charbok, boku, charbok." (Arbok was going to ask James the same thing.) James looked up at the snake questioningly, and Arbok tried again. "Char.. bok... char bok... bo-ku." He said slowly. (It is not hard... listen carefully...) James shook his head lightly to show that he didn't understand. Arbok sighed. "Charrrbok. Char bok!" He stood up as high as he could, and pretended to look at something.
"You're supposed to be me now, right?" James guessed.
"Char." (Right.) Arbok hissed at the unseen window, then fell over backwards. "Char... bok!" Arbok hissed as he hit the ground. he lay still for a few seconds, not moving at all. Finally, James crawled over to see if he was okay. "Char!" Arbok sat up, and James fell over backwards.
"Would you stop that?!" James put his arms over his aching head. "You're not helping!"
"Charboku, boku char..." (Arbok normally eats chicken, not help them.) Arbok hissed, flustered by the boy's cluelessness. "Charbok char charbok." (Jessie would understand.) Then he looked down at the spot where he had been lying. Slowly, he dragged the invisible body off. Then he looked up at James expectantly. "Charbok."
"So, you're saying that you saved me?" James asked. Arbok nodded and waited. "What? Something else? Let's see... I fell?" Arbok fell over.
"Charbok? Charbokku?!" The large snake was beginning to get flustered. James stared back blankly. "Charbok.. Bok?" Arbok went back to the invisible window. "Charbok! Charbok?!" He looked from the `window' to James, then back.
"Oh, I see. You're asking what I saw, aren't you?"
"Bo-ku." Arbok nodded, thankful that James had finally gotten it.
"Well...." James rubbed his head again, trying to focus. He was still rather woozy. Suddenly he seemed to remember as his face went blank with dull horror. "He... He, he." James began to shake again. "He's a monster."
"Charbok? Char? Charbok bok?!" (Who? What? What happened to Jessie?!)
"I don't know, something awful. He was killing her, I think. She was in so much pain... I couldn't help her." James looked at the huge snake. "He's totally insane. I don't know if she's still alive, but she won't be for long if we don't save her." He tried to stand, then fell back as waves of sickening dizziness swept over him. "Tomorrow." He added, lying back down.
"Char..Bok!" Arbok protested. "Charboku char-bok!" (James cannot wait! Jessie cannot wait for him!) James was already asleep. Arbok sighed and curled up around the blue-headed boy. It was a frigid night. Arbok could at least make sure James was comfortable. As much as he acted like he disliked James, he knew the young man was his only hope for saving his own beloved master.
Giovanni walked up to the limp young girl. "Jessie, wake up!" He commanded. She didn't move. He frowned. "Jessica, answer me!" He brought down a hand hard on Jessie's cheek, and she squealed.
"What? Who? Where am I?" She looked around nervously, and her eyes landed on the sinister man in front of her. She cleared her throat. "Who are you? What's happening?" She asked fearfully.
"Who am I? You don't remember?" He asked incredulously. She looked straight at him, and he noticed her eyes were lightly glazed over with a eerie lavender dullness. While they retained most of their blue, they had lost nearly all of their original shine.
"You..." She mumbled. "Yes, you do look familiar." She nodded. "Jessica, you called me. That is my name, isn't it? Yes, I'm sure that I've met you before." She looked at the machinery that held her in place. "What is this thing?"
Giovanni considered the question for a moment, then decided to stick to his original lie. "Well, Jessica, you see, you've been feeling a little depressed lately." She nodded. "Two days ago, you let it really get to you, and threw yourself off a cliff. We've been working for the past 36 hours to try to revive you. This is our first success. Congratulations, Jessica. You are now officially alive again."
"I tried to kill myself? That doesn't sound right." She frowned. "Am I really like that? That seems wrong."
"Well, of course it does now." Giovanni said hurriedly. "Most people who try to kill themselves change their minds after it's too late." He smiled. "I'm just glad it wasn't for you." He reached up and undid the strap. "Do you know who you are?"
"My name is Jessica." She recited. "I am a new recruit to the infamous Viridian Gym. I have been given high honors, and will be entering at a surprisingly important job. Why would that make me want to kill myself?" She questioned. "Am I missing something?"
Giovanni breathed a sigh of relief. A new recruit, just like the programming had called for. It was working better then he had hoped. "Nothing important, my dear." He smiled.
"`My dear'? Are we a couple?" She asked, surprised. Deep inside, a small part of her wanted to throw up from the mere suggestion. But why? She couldn't remember a single reason to hate him. He had just saved her life, hadn't he?
"Well, you'll just have to figure that out on your own." He said mysteriously as he released her from the restraints, then began removing the wires. "Now come, We have things to do. The ceremony is tomorrow!" he grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the door-wall.
"Ceremony? What ceremony? Mr. Giovanni, where are we going?" Now she knew his name. The program must still be telling her things. Of course, that could have come from her old memories... Giovanni decided to ignore the second option.
"Come along, Jessica. You'll find out... But we must make haste." The older man hurried through the large doors leading to his office. Becky looked up nervously, her gaze brightened when she saw the girl following him.
"Jessie! You're okay!" She said happily. "I'm so glad, I was so worried... What happened?" That last part was aimed more at the Boss, as Becky realized that she had no idea what was going on.
"Are you really so surprised?" Giovanni said warningly. "Not everything is so likely to fail as some of our employees. Jessica here was totally revived after her little `problem'. She seems to be perfectly okay. Isn't that right, Jessica?" He turned proudly to the girl next to him.
"Do I know you?" Jessie frowned, trying to remember. "I'm sorry, I seem to be incredibly forgetful today." She smiled. "Please, call me Jessica. And your name is?"
Becky looked at her sadly. So Jessie hadn't made it through the Legion, after all. This `Jessica' may look like her, but she was just the Boss's little toy now, poor thing. "I'm Becky." She turned to Giovanni. "What are you going to do now?" Her boss grinned in his dark way.
"I've got some big plans for this girl." He said, placing his hand on Jessie's shoulder. "Now, we'd better get going." He looked at Jessie. "Shall we go?" He offered her his arm.
"It was nice to meet you, Rebecca." Jessie smiled, taking her Boss's arm. "I hope to see you again." Becky just stared at some papers, avoiding both of them.
James walked through the town. He needed to think of a way to get back into Rocket head quarters, but he couldn't think of any way. Arbok had chosen to stay in the forest rather then go back into his Pokeball.
"...And for these reasons, I've decided to give up being the leader of the Viridian City gym." James looked at the TV in the store window. There was his ex-boss, apparently holding some sort of press conference. "This afternoon I will fight my final battle, the qualifying battle for my replacement. They will begin tomorrow."
"Who is he? Is he a strong trainer?" A reporter asked.
Giovanni chuckled. "I'm afraid `he' isn't a he at all. Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce the soon-to-be leader of Viridian Gym, Miss Jessica Ann Miyamoto!" A young red-head stepped up to the microphone. She was wearing what she normally did, save that her Rocket shirt had been replaced by a simple button up blouse she left unfastened most of the way down. A thick, black leather belt draped loosely across her waist, covered in Pokeballs.
"Hello, Everybody." She said warmly. However, to James, her voice sounded slightly more hollow then usual. "I am honored to be here, and I hope to be a strong and worthy Gym Leader." She smiled. "Are there any questions?"
"How long have you been working with Pokemon?"
"Since I was five years old. I love them." She answered coolly.
"Well, how old are you now?"
"I will be celebrating my twenty-seventh birthday next month." She smiled. "I may look younger than that, but I assure you that I have an impressive amount of experience."
"How many pokemon do you have?"
"Forty-eight."
"Have you earned all of your badges?"
"I have a Master's Badge." She said confidently. "I have completed everything necessary to become a leader. I am confident that I am ready."
"What city are you from?"
"I was born and raised here in Viridian City." She replied. "I lived only a few blocks from the gym, and always used to dream of running it. I am ecstatic to finally see my dreams come true. Are there any other questions?"
"Is there any truth to the rumor that the Viridian Gym is under the control of Team Rocket?" A voice shot out from the back.
Giovanni looked nervous, but Jessie just smiled and replied: "I can honestly say that I have never worked for Team Rocket. I would never steal another's pokemon, because I so highly prize my own. I would hate to have someone steal them. I believe my colleagues would say the same thing."
With the crowd showing a general approval, she bowed slightly and stepped away from the podium. Giovanni took her place. "Ladies and gentlemen, Jessica Miyamoto!" A cheer came up as she left the room.
James just stared at the screen, stunned. What had happened to her? She seemed so distant. Besides, Jessie could never lie with a straight face, and the only truthful thing she had said was that she would hate to have her Pokemon stolen. What had they done to her? Why had they made her lie about her age? Jessie wasn't even going to be 18 for another three months. Under-age people were allowed to control gyms, Sabrina and Erica were both teenagers. Was it even her? "Jess?"
"Yeah, she is a looker, isn't she?" A voice came from behind James, and he turned around to find himself facing a teenage boy. "I bet the Viridian Gym gets a lot more challenges starting tomorrow." The young man looked down at the Pokeballs on his own belt. "Maybe I'll go back into training."
"Huh?" James asked. What on earth was this guy talking about?
"The new Gym leader. That's what you were staring at, wasn't it?" The boy pointed to the TV. "Unless you're into creepy old men." James looked around for the first time since he had seen the report. He realized he was pressed against the window, gawking at the screen like a little boy at a toy store.
"Oh, yeah." He blushed, pulling away from the glass. "She's pretty hot, all right." That was probably the strangest cover-up he'd ever used, pretending to check out a girl to hide the fact that he really cared about her. "Well, I'd better go." He hurried off. He had work to do. He had to get into the gym soon. Tonight was the battle. Security would be too tight. First thing in the morning, however, he would sneak in. "I'm coming, Jess." He whispered.
"Are you sure all of these are mine?" Jessie asked, looking over the wall covered with shelves, most of which were lined with pokeballs. There were dozens, much more then she remembered. "Wow..." She picked one up. Taki-chan, a level 72 dratini. "I've got some good pokemon. This is incredible." She turned to the Boss. "But where are yours?" She questioned.
"Don't worry about it, Jessica." Giovanni smiled. "I've got plenty." He had only kept a few of his strongest pokemon, the rest were all given to her. Not that he cared about any specific one, they were all just like toys to him. He would get more from his minions, so it really didn't bother him.
"I had no idea I had so many." Jessie commented, her voice tinted with awe. She picked up another ball. Zapdos, level 53. "These are great. With all of these pokemon, I'm sure I'll be a great gym leader." She frowned slightly, as if trying to remember something. "Sir? How many gyms are there?"
"Well." He explained. "There are eight main gyms. The system was set up for eight gyms. However, lots more have been added to the league. You can normally find a small, but officially sanctioned gym just about anywhere there are people. Why do you ask?"
"Little gyms...." She mulled over this for a moment. "Yes, that must be it."
"What do you mean?" He asked testily. He normally didn't get into his worker's backgrounds, but he had heard of Big Jess and Little Jim. Could she be talking about... No, that couldn't be it.
"I seem to remember a Little Gym." She answered. "Something very important about one. Did I ever work at one of these Little Gyms?"
"Not that I'm aware of." He barelly managed to keep the growl out of his voice. She didn't seem to notice, and turned back to the pokeballs. He watched her for a moment, then turned to leave. "The match is in three hours. May I assume you'll be ready?" He questioned.
"Of course, Sir." She grinned. "I'll be looking forward to it. I will do my best, sir." She pulled another ball off the shelf.
"Good luck, Jessica."
"Thank you, sir." She checked another one. Didn't she have an Arbok? With all of these strong, exotic pokemon, something as common as an Arbok probably shouldn't have mattered to her. However, she really felt like she should have one.
Giovanni sat down at his desk and frowned, deeply concerned about the previous conversation. Did she remember James? She didn't seem to remember anything else. If she did, why? It had always seemed to him that the two were barelly friends, certainly nothing more. While the boy seemed to follow her around like a little puppy, she had seemed insulted to be stuck with such a looser. Was he wrong?
No. He was never wrong. Jessie was his, she would always be his. If the boy didn't like it, to hell with him. Let James try to get her back, he would be waiting. Giovanni grinned. "Do you want her back, child? Go ahead and try." He said aloud. In the end, he would win, he always got what he wanted. A deep chuckle filled the room.
"Well, Jessica?" A reporter asked. She didn't seem to notice, and he repeated himself. "Miss Jessica?" Jessie jumped slightly, then caught herself, turning smoothly towards the man. "Do you think you're ready for this match?" He questioned.
"Yes, of course I'm ready." She assured him confidently, then quickly turned back around. "I can handle this..." She was speaking more to herself.
"Jessie, Jessie you can do it!" A hauntingly familiar voice echoed through her head. `Jessie'. There was that name again. Why did everybody keep calling her that? And who was this man, and why was he cheering for her? She shook her head slightly, trying to clear her mind.
"The current leader, Mr. Don Giovanni, has arrived." A voice announced over the PA. "Would the challenger, Miss Jessica Miyamoto, please enter on her side?" Jessie snapped to attention, then hurried to the entrance where she was to open.
The Viridian Gym, newly remodeled after it mysteriously blew up, was more impressive than ever. On the opposite side was Giovanni's balcony, towering over the arena. On either side of the arena was a line of pillars that emphasized the immense height of the room, followed by a few rows of seats for spectators. These were filled, and people crowded out to the ropes hastily drawn across the pillars. Jessie stepped into her box, and waved nervously to the crowd.
A general cheer went up, and she smiled more confidently, waving more as her box rose to a height nearly the same as Giovanni's balcony. Then the dark man stepped out, waving calmly to the crowd before sitting in his throne-like chair. A large Persian sat next to him, purring softly.
A young man walked to the center of the arena, holding a microphone. "The opponents will have three pokemon each." The announcer explained. "Whichever challenger runs out of usable pokemon first is disqualified. The match will now begin!" He waved a flag, then ran to the sidelines.
Giovanni pulled out a ball and casually tossed into the ring. A Rhydon exploded out, and Jessie smiled. "Victrybel! Go!" She threw the ball into the arena, and her victrybel came out. "Victrybel, Vine whip attack, now!"
"Tackle, Rhydon." Giovanni was leaning on one palm, confident or bored. The rhydon charged Jessie's pokemon, but was quickly subdued by it's vines.
"It's super effective! And Jessica's victrybel seems to have the advantage!"
"Return, Rhydon." Giovanni commanded. He pulled out a second ball. "Go, Magmar!" The magmar stood at attention. "Magmar, fire spin." The fire pokemon spat out huge flames, quickly surrounding Victrybel.
"Victrybel... Eat it's head?" Why did that sound so familiar? "I mean, return!" Jessie took out her next pokemon. "Taki-chan, Go!" The Dratini popped out of it's ball. "Taki-chan, surf!" She yelled.
"Ti-i-i, ti-i!" the dratini's eyes glowed for a second, and a burst of water broke through the floor, flooding the arena. Magmar attempted to dodge, but soon found itself trapped by the water.
"Magmar, return!" Giovanni called back his second pokemon and growled. He hated to lose, especially with this crowd, but he knew Jessie was supposed to win. It would be foolish to call out Mewtwo. Besides, he realized, he had no idea if Jessie would react to her controller. But he didn't want to make it too easy for her. "Eletcabuzz, go!"
"But dragon pokemon are strong against electric attacks!" Jessie protested to herself. "Why on earth would he..."
"Electabuzz, thunderbolt." Giovanni said smugly. The electabuzz howled and released a powerful shock, and Jessie realized what his plan was. The wet ground carried and amplified the attack, spreading out to a blinding glare that engulfed the entire arena. Jessie squealed and put an arm in front of her face, shielding her eyes from the light. When it finally ended, a scorched dratini fell to the ground.
"Taki-chan, return!" Jessie commanded, wincing. Her last pokemon was Zapdos. As a flying type, he was a horrible choice against an electric type. Plus, his electric attacks wouldn't do very much. She pouted, hesitating.
"Jessie, Jessie, she's the best!" That voice again! She spun around, scanning the crowds for the person who had yelled. Giovanni scowled and motioned to two guards standing behind him, who quickly ran off. "Let's go, Jess!" The voice continued.
"Who?" Jessie frowned, unable to find the owner of the voice in the thick crowd. Finally, her eye caught a blue-headed man being dragged towards the door. Was that him? She held her breath, silently praying he would look up at her. He didn't, however, and was soon gone. She turned back towards her opponent, suddenly inspired. "Zapdos, go!"
The huge bird entered the arena with a piercing shriek. "Zapdos, Thunder Wave, now!" The bird shrieked again and released a stunning blast of energy... literally. The electabuzz was frozen in place. "Zapdos, drill peck!" It wasn't very effective. "Keep it up, Zapdos! He's weakening! Just keep going! Use your Thunder technique!" The bird screeched and expelled a bolt of energy equal to the one Electabuzz had used on hers. Giovanni's pokemon fell to the ground.
"Electabuzz, return." Giovanni returned his third ball to his belt. "Most impressive..." He smiled.
"And the winner, and new Gym Leader, is Jessica!" Jessie squeaked with excitement and barelly restrained herself from jumping off her box lowered itself back to ground level. Somehow, she managed to keep her excitement hidden as she walked past the crowd, giving handshakes and accepting complements. Finally, she stood in the middle of the arena, waiting for Giovanni. He walked to her and reached into his coat pocket, retrieving a paper and a small box. She accepted both and bowed slightly to him. Then she faced the crowd, proudly displaying the two items over her head. It was the official certificate of leadership, signed by the Elite Four and stamped with the Pokemon League's distinguishing seal. The box contained dozens of Earth Badges, one of the highest badges a trainer could receive.
"Very good, Jessica." Giovanni walked up behind her, leaning over her shoulder and speaking into her ear. She shuddered slightly. "You've come a long way." Although she had no reason to feel like it, that man scared her.
From the street, a slightly battered James smiled with satisfaction. "That's my Jess." He informed himself, beaming like a proud father. She had won. Jessie was still alive. Whatever Giovanni had done to her body, her soul was still there. He could feel it. For now, life was good. He would find away to save her. He knew he could.
That wasn't so bad, was it? I like this one. It's a little shorter than the rest, but it just seemed like such a good place to stop. Yes, Taki-chan is another one of my pokemon gone to that big pokemon center in the sky. So is Zapdos, but I've only got one left to pay tribute to, so bear with me. Oh, and there's an old song (Like, several centuries old) called Don Giovanni That's where I got his name.
Okay, I give. I fixed the link to my site in my profile. If feel you must ruin the series, it's all there. I also have a bunch of art from my various stories. If you have to, please come back & give me reviews, or at least sign my guest book.