No. This could not be happening.
My beloved Benny was betraying me. Handing me over to a man who lived in this sinister place. A man who would bind up Missy, his guest, without a second thought. From what I'd seen of him it was a wonder his Pokemon listened to him enough for him to be a gym leader.
Later I was to learn more about Giovanni, nearly all of which would only support my first impression, including being leader of Team Rocket. In fact, he had kidnapped the trainer named Valdera simply in order to use her Pokemon to bind Missy. Valdera would one day kill him, but nobody knew that then.
"Ah, my little girl," purred Giovanni. It took me a second to realize her was talking to me.
I crouched and tensed my muscles. My gut was telling me there'd be a fight any second. "A silly child," Giovanni remarked. "These things must be done delicately. You shall be mine, but not now. Now we shall talk. We shall make the transition."
"Ninetales." I was playing dumb.
"No need for that nonsense here. You and I both know who you are."
I clamped my mouth shut.
"Hmm... If you want a fight, then I suppose I should oblige," Giovanni pondered. "Nidoking, go."
This was not going to be an easy battle. I was strong, yes, but Giovanni must have strong Pokemon to be a gym leader. He must also be a good trainer. I had no trainer, for it was obvious Benny had done his part. But I also had desperation on my side. Giovanni had everything to lose. I had nothing now, so I could lose nothing.
"Nidoking, start with Tackle."
I clenched my teeth. I had no one to shout instructions to me, so I decided to keep up the monologue myself. "Agility," I whispered, while doing it at the same time.
I couldn't be too sure, but I thought I saw Giovanni smirk, like he'd expected that move.
I managed to dodge Nidoking, but only just, and I would never win the fight this way.
"Roll Out," Giovanni directed.
"Gab," I muttered.
Nidoking, who had been about to smash me into the ground, suddenly slowed, and finally stopped. Fast asleep.
But not for long.
Before Nidoking could recover, I launched an Inferno. The attack is aptly named. And, like all infernos, can quickly get out of control.
I've taken down Charizards in one blow with Inferno. But I've also messed up and nearly Knocked Out myself.
Inferno is desperation. Only someone with nothing to lose (or more to gain than lose) would use it.
A perfect description of my situation.
My face grim, I reared on my hind legs and began to gather fire.
Something went horribly wrong. My outburst of fiery power had turned against its creator. I stumbled and fell hard to the ground, beaten. All traces of the power that had once been mine were gone now. It was only my scorched, bruised, and limp body on the cold cruel floor, myself and Giovanni and shadows.
Shadows. That would be my life from now on. I would be Giovanni's - but Giovanni would not be mine. It would not be a partnership, but a dictatorship. Giovanni would command, and I would obey. Doing his dark bidding. Another rare and powerful plaything. I lifted my tired eyes and saw him reach out a Pokeball, a Pokeball that would not be a home, but a prison....
At that moment, Missy struggled free, shrieking my name.
We had all forgotten her, Giovanni and Benny, who had been watching our battle with a smug expression, and I.
Missy was free of the vines. "Firetongue!" she called. "Firetongue!" She dashed towards me, but she'd never get there in time. She was all the way across the gym.
I looked up at Giovanni again. Words were forming on his lips, telling the Pokeball to capture me and end my free life. I looked beyond him and saw several of his Pokemon, which he had foolishly set loose in order to step in more quickly should Nidoking fail. Immediately I knew what to do.
"Diplomacy," I whispered. I talked in my mind, broadcasted my thoughts, and, lo and behold, they listened.
And Giovanni's own Pokemon turned against him.
"Noooo!" he yelled, helplessly, as he went down among Razor Leafs and Tackles.
"Uncle!" Benny rushed to Giovanni's side.
"Missy!" I exclaimed as soon as I was sure both were delayed.
"Oh, Firetongue!" she sobbed, burying her face in my mane. "I'm so sorry... I should have seen...."
"It's all right," I told her. "We'll talk later, but right now we need to get out of here while we can."
She sniffed. "You're right," she agreed. "Let's go."
We hurried from that sinister place, her hand on my back.