Keepin' It Wierd
Disclaimer: Caesar's Palace was not harmed during the production of this motion picture. However, Crassus and the gladiators went down for the count.
--When In Rome...
*****
~Cirrus~
We sat on fallen logs that faced each other. Other Trainers had used this as a camping site, the remains of a dead campfire lay between us.
This may sound wierd.
I considered my present circumstances and shook my head, smiling, "Not likely!" I said.
He looked up at me with narrowed blue eyes. That's not what I meant. Now shut up and listen.
Shocked into silence, I only nodded.
One year ago I competed in the Pokémon League and lost in the fourth round. After the initial embarassment faded, I resigned myself to an intense training regimin. Intense training for both myself and my Pokémon. He paused, waiting.
"Whaaa? You and your Pokémon? You are a Pokémon, Flare..."
No! It is true. It's true and call me by my real name...Gary.
I blinked, I knew of only one Gary who'd lost in the fourth round. I grinned, "You think you're Gary Oak!"
Flare...I mean, Gary stood up and walked over to me. I noticed he was taller than when I'd first rescued him.
I let Gramps know I was going away for a while, to train in a remote location that he had trained at when he was younger. I was kidnapped by Team Rocket after a tough day of training. They took me to the lab run by Xanady. He paused and took a breath.
"You okay? You don't have to tell me. I believe you.."
No, just listen. Under Giovanni's orders, I was turned into this. Team Rocket is kidnapping teenagers and transforming them. It's an unending supply of smart Pokémon. A Pokémon with the intelligence of a human.
"But hasn't anyone noticed all these kids disappearing? Surely the parents would send up an alarm or something." I stretched.
They would, but these are specially sought after kids. Teenagers that have run away or are orphaned. Team Rocket knows how to cover its tracks. I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.
"So when I had to get Ash's Pikachu...Why did you run off with Prism's Pokéball? You knew it was wrong, right?"
Huh? No. I just didn't want Pikachu to recognise me. Do you know how humiliating it would be to have Ashy-boy laughing at me?
"I don't think he would've laughed at you." A thought. "Prism, is she?"
Gary shook his head. No, she's pure Pokémon, as far as I can tell and I know a lot about Pokémon.
"They must have a reversal for this. I'll get it for you."
A reversal?
"Yeah. If one of the scientists got injected, they'd want to be human again. So they must have a reversal, an antidote." I stood up, stretching again. "I just have to play along, send nine unlucky Pokémon to Team Rocket, and get your antidote."
He stared up at me skeptically. You'd do this for me? Why?
I knelt down to him. "Because we're friends."
He stared at me and unexpectedly threw his stubby arms around me, hugging me. Thank you, he whispered fiercly.
I smiled, hugging him back. "You're welcome."
*****
In the next two weeks, we caught eight Pokémon. I remembered each capture. A Spearow, Magnemite, Oddish, Bellsprout, Grimer, Horsea, Tentacool, and a Ponyta.
Prism and Flare worked side by side, always a two on one battle. I knew it was unfair, but I had to get this done quickly. Gary let me call him Flare during battle only, otherwise I was to call him Gary.
Prism would sing the unlucky Pokémon to sleep and Flare would tackle, ember, or leer our victims to a low enough state, then it was Pokéball time. It was a stratedgy that worked most of the time; it only failed twice. Each capture was instantly transported to Xanady and a money card was teleported back.
We were walking along a river one day. It was sunny and warm and Prism requested a bit more sleeping time, she was not one to walk around when sleeping was so much better.
I wish I could've been the one sleeping instead of walking, I thought to myself, listening to the river sloshing its way downstream.
Suddenly a blue shape lept out of the bushes and directly in our path. It was a Poliwhirl, as indicated by a quick draw of my Pokédex, and it was very pissed off looking. I sent out Prism, but she was roughly tackled into a tree and fainted immediatly.
I recalled her.
"Flare!"
I'm all over it!
I watched him battle, the types pitted against him. Attack after attack, I watched him weaken, but he got in a few good shots of his own and soon they were both huffing and puffing.
They stood, staring at each other and suddenly the Poliwhirl snapped, tackling Flare roughly and he flew to my feet.
"Are you okay?" I asked, crouching down to him.
No answer.
I heard a rumbling growl and looked up to see the Poliwhirl stalking towards us. I stood up in front of Flare.
"Bug off! He fainted and you win! Leave us alone!" I threw my arms up, trying to look bigger and threatening.
It didn't work and it snarled and raced towards me. I braced myself for the hit and shrieked, more in fright than in pain, though that was big too, as I went flying through the air and fell roughly against a tree. I groaned, pain everywhere.
Cirrus!
Stars swimming in my sight I closed them, "Not yet Mom, just a few more minutes..." I called out from my place at the base of the tree. I could see Flare and the Poliwhirl facing off again.
You're one of us, what are you doing with that human?
Aah, the Poliwhirl speakeths, I thought numbly.
She's my trainer...and my friend.
Muahahahaha!!! Traitor! Looser! I will enjoy putting you out of your misery!
They fought again, this time the Poliwhirl used a Water Gun attack which tossed Flare into another tree.
The Poliwhirl laughed and stalked over to me. I will enjoy taking you to Xanady. You might make a good Shellder!
I grimaced and almost blacked out as the Poliwhirl lifted me onto its shoulders, making its way back to the river.
No.. My thoughts were as numb as my body. Gary...help me... We passed him, slumped at the base of the tree and I struggled and called out, "Gary!" in a weak voice.
Suddenly Flare started glowing white and stood up, the glow lasted a few seconds more and then faded, revealing..
"Charmeleon!" I gasped, before loosing consciousness.
*****
When I came to, it was dark. A campfire blazed cheerfully to my left, so I knew I wasn't in a lab, but no one was around. Someone had gotten me in my sleeping bag and my backpack was nearby. I opened it, pausing as a wave of nausea passed through me, and found that the last Pokéball was missing, a money card in its place. Prisms Pokéball was also missing.
Whaa?
Gary was no where in sight either, but his Pokéball lay empty near the campfire. I struggled to get into a sitting position and lost. I couldn't get up without feeling like hurling and my sides hurt. I could breathe okay, albeit painfully, so hopefully no broken ribs, but I was gonna have a whole lotta black and blue marks.
I looked up at the stars, twinkling through the leafy tree branches. The full moon was high overhead and I fell asleep, wondering where my Pokémon were at.
When I next woke up, it was to a rustling in the bushes to my right. The moon had almost set beyond my view and the campfire was a pile of smoldering embers.
Please, please not that Poliwhirl again! I don't wanna be a Shellder!
The bushes rustled again and a tall reddish form stepped out and I sighed in relief. It was Gary/Flare, the flame on the tip of his tail was burning bright and lit an area four feet around him.
"Where's Prism and what happened to the Poliwhirl?"
Nice to see you too! How are you? Oh, I'm fine and you? Oh not much, just saved my trainers ass that's all.
I blinked, "Oooh-kay. Is this Mr. Attitude a Charmeleon thing or were you always so delightful?"
Come on! You knew I was kidding. Sheesh, and here I went and got a potion for you from the Pokécenter and everything. Some thanks I get.. He strode over to me, holding a strange shaped bottle.
"That won't hurt, will it?"
No more than you're hurting now. Hold still, A mist of glittery stuff fell over me and I breathed some of it in. Almost immediately, I felt a difference. I felt instantly awake, everything felt great! I sat up without any difficulty and grinned at him. "Wow, thanks! I feel....dizzy.." Suddenly everything spun out of control and I lay back down. "Thanks, really. What happened to Prism and that insane Poliwhirl?"
He looked uncomfortable. I caught the Poliwhirl with the last Pokéball. I must've activated something when I did because when that last Pokéball vanished so did Prisms and Prism was in it. Xanady must have them all, plus Prism. I'm sorry.
"No, don't worry. We'll get back to Viridian somehow and then I'll go to Xanady's lab. I'll leave you on the outskirts of the Headquarters because I don't wanna loose you too. I could probably even get the antidote at the same time." I paused. "When Ash's Charmander evolved, it began to disobey him. But you're not like that. And why didn't you vanish when Prism did?"
More than likely, I didn't vanish because I wasn't yours to begin with. You rescued me and then acquired me. Xanady didn't have time to adjust my Pokéball. I don't know how to answer your other question other than the fact that I wasn't born a Pokémon. Plus, I really...respect you, Cirrus. He looked down at me and then lay down beside me. Now get some sleep. I'll watch over you.
*****
I dreamed that night about MewTwo. Or was it a dream?
I was floating, flying high among the clouds. Far below me, a forest lay quiet. The moon was overhead farther still and to my left.
From the corner of my eye, I saw a small pink shape dart past me, into a thick cloud bank.
"Hello?" I called out, my voice echoey.
Good to see you, Cirrus.
A familliar voice. MewTwo!
I turned and saw him flying towards me and I smiled. "Hi," I said, greeting him.
It is done, MewTwo seemed uncomfortable. What you foresaw for me...and Ash. It came to pass as you told me, showed me.
"Was it difficult for you?"
He pondered for a moment. Yes. I saw it coming and was unable to control my emotions, my sense that what I was doing, that my actions were so right...but I was wrong. MewTwo smiled. He has much wisdom for one so young.
"Ash?"
I have learned much from him. From his actions.
"There is something very wrong going on around here." I told MewTwo of Xanady's actions and he frowned.
I do not believe that Giovanni has any involvement in this. He is cruel, maniputive, and calculating, but he has morals. She is doing this behind his back.
I doubted his words, but nodded anyway.
Be carefull around her, Cirrus. She has nothing to loose and I will not be around to help you out anymore.
"What do you mean?" My turn to frown. "Where are you going?"
To a secret place I have created. I have taken the clones there so they may live peacefully and so I can think of my actions. I need some reflection time and to make peace with myself.
I smiled, "Thank you, MewTwo." I said and suddenly, I was awake, the sun just rising.
It was time for me to meet Xanady, face to face.
Okay, I hope all of you Gary-lovers won't shoot me or send me nasty and wicked emails. I promise he won't be killed off. I just thought Gary didn't get enough fanfic attention. I swear, he WON'T BE KILLED OFF!!!!