Pokemon2:The New Dimension

by Sarie Cigam

The beginning's not to good, but it gets a lot better... this is not your average Ash&Misty fic

2. Chapters 29-45

Chapter 29

Popular Pokemon get Squashed

After a fitful slumber beneath the ruined gym roof, the five frightened trainers awoke to the horrible scene of devastation left by the Siriuses. All five were in a mild state of shock, but surprisingly, Alec was the most calm out of the group.

"Something tells me we need to keep going like normal trainers." He said slowly as he faced his four new-found friends.

"Go on... with this in our heads?" Taro said smirking. "Believe me, it's not too easy to forget these things."

"I think he's right. Something keeps telling me to go on." Adnap said, the fear in her voice still evident.

"So, we keep going?" Sarie asked, at a loss for words.

"Yeah. We keep going." Alec said, looking at each frightened face in turn.

"Ok, then, the last stop is Veridian, then the Pokemon leagues." Beth said, wiping a dirt-encrusted hand across her sore eyes.

"Well then, lets go. Each of you, use your flying pokemon to get there faster." Sarie said, looking at Stryka's pokeball.

"Adnap, you can ride on Nails with me." Taro said nervously.

"I have one pokemon to use. Go, Tripoles." Alec sent out a large Magnaton, who buzzed with energy at the sight of its ruined home.

"Well, there's always peeves." Beth sighed, sending out her ghost pokemon.

"Haunter!" It exclaimed.

"When did it evolve?" Sarie asked.

"I was awake last night talking to him, 'cause I was scared of the Siriuses, and he evolved so that I wouldn't be scared. He figured that the larger he was, the more protected I'd feel." Beth said, patting the Haunter on the head. Personally, Sarie thought a Haunter might make her more frightened, but she didn't say anything.

"All right then, everyone, lets go." Sarie said, releasing Stryka. Stryka stepped back in fear from the desolate island scene, but calmed down when she saw Sarie nearby. In the typical dodrio fashion, she trusted Sarie like a chick would trust its mother. Sarie gracefully mounted the dodrio and stroked its downy feathers while her friends arranged themselves on their own flying pokemon.

"Let's go!" She exclaimed as Stryka rose swiftly into the rose-colored sky, leaving the death and pain behind. In a strange flock, the five trainers headed North to Veridian City and an uncertain fate. Adnap clung tightly to Taro's back, thinking of what Angemew had told her. She hoped the Dark man would never find them.

Veridian City was a small town north of Pallet, and few new trainers ever even bothered to stop there. However, for older, more experienced trainers, Veridian was the last stop on the road to the pokemon leagues. Sarie loved the old building, with its lush, green ivy tracing its way up the old stonework...

"Ok, go in to land there, Stryka." Sarie directed her dodrio. The dodrio landed, followed by her four friends. They drew quite a crowd, mostly composed of younger children and new trainers.

"Wow, a Fearow! Look, Spear, your evolution!" Said one boy, holding up his arm to Nails. A small, obviously young Spearow was perched on his fist, looking bored.

"A magnaton and a Haunter!" One little boy said, looking up with awe at Alec and Beth.

"Eeew, a dodrio! Why a dodrio? They're so mean!" One girl cried, pointing at Stryka. Stryka's sad head drooped lowed while the happy head lost its smile and the angry head looked... angry.

"Well, then, what's your idea of a good pokemon?" Sarie asked, standing up for her pokemon.

"My favorite is Jigglypuff! She's the best pokemon in the whole world! Her and Pikachu!"

At this, Chester and Helia both popped out of their pokeballs and angrily growled at the girl. Pika stayed where she was and made a mental note to ask for a thunder stone.

"Raichus are ugly! I like pikachus better. Besides, Pikachu could beat Raichu any day!"

"Why don't we test your theory? My 'ugly' Raichu and 'mean' dodrio verses your Jigglypuff and Pikachu?" Sarie asked, saying the word Jigglypuff as if it were something sour.

"Fine! Go, Pookymon!" The girl said, sending out a sickeningly cute Jigglypuff to battle.

"Ick! Go, Stryka!" Sarie sent out her pokemon confidently.

"Put that icky bird to sleep with Sing, Pookymon!"

"One drill peck is all we need, Stryka!"

Stryka was obviously faster than the Jigglypuff and smarter too. While the idiotic puffball pokemon rummaged in its master's backpack for a microphone, Stryka attacked with her swirling beak. Pookymon fell to the floor, deflated.

"Good job, Stryka! Your turn, Helia!" Sarie said as she reached into her backpack for a rice ball. She broke it into three even pieces and gave them to each head of the dodrio, who munched on the rice happily.

"Poor Pookymon! Oh well, at least I can win with Pikaboo! Go, Pikaboo!" the girl said, sending out a pikachu, who promptly squealed 'PiKAchu!" In its normal, if not dumb, way. "Pikaboo, Thunder!"

Helia chuckled as lightning waves danced around her body. She then turned to Sarie for a command.

"Helia, show that puny rat a real thunder."

"RaaaaaaaaaiCHU!!!!!" Helia let loose all her pent-up energy and anger at Pikachus on that one little specimen. With a flash of light and a bolt of thunder that messed up the electricity for miles around, the pikachu was down.

"Poor Pikaboo! Return! I still say your pokemon are ugly!" The girl shouted, running off.

"Great job, Sarie! You showed her a thing or two about pokemon." Beth said.

"It looks like Pika wants to evolve! No wonder, after that fight!" Adnap said smiling as she handed a stone to Pika. The small pikachu became a powerful Raichu, much to the other Raichu's delight.

"Hey, look! A Magnaton! Isn't that cool, pikachu?" Said a familiar voice.

"Awwww, not him..." Sarie said, turning to see Ash, the boy who had his pikachu on a string, walking up to them.

"Wow, you haven't evolved your pikachu? That little girl had an excuse, she just caught that thing. But you? Hah!" Beth mocked.

"It doesn't want to evolve!" Ash shouted. His pikachu nodded.

"You want a battle? Or is Pikachu your only pokemon?" Beth asked.

"I have 6! I'll win against you, too!" Ash said boldly.

"Fine. It's your skin! Go, Peeves!"

"Go, Muk!"

"Hah! Peeves, Psychic attack!"

"Muk, Sludge!"

Peeves finished Muk with one attack.

"No! Return! Go, Squirtle!"

"HAHAHAHAH!!!! It's still a SQUIRTLE?? Go, BUBBLEBEAMER!" Beth shouted.

"Squirtle, skull bash!"

"Bubblebeamer, Bite!"

Bubblebeamer bit hard into Squirtle's shell, fainting it as easily as Peeves had fainted Muk.

"Return! Goooooo, Bulbasaur!"

"Again with the unevolved? Go, Moonstone!"

"Bulbasaur, Vine Whip!"

"Hah, bulbasaur's weakest attack! Moonstone, Ice Beam!"

Moonstone used the TM induced attack to faint the bulbasaur.

"Return! Go, Pidgeotto!"

"This is starting to get annoying... Evolve them for cryin' out loud! Or do you just use the pikachu, is that it? Go, Fang!"

Ash blushed. "Pidgeotto, gust attack!"

"Gust? What a joke. Fang, Your best attack! Hyperfang!"

Fang, the faster pokemon, bit pidgeotto as softly as possible, and the pidgeotto fainted.

"What? No! Go, Charizard! Please listen to me! Just this once!"

"Go, Waterpup! Hydro pump!"

"Fire Blast!"

Waterpup carefully watched the massive Charizard, waiting for it to make a move, but the fire lizard merely curled up in front of ash and took a snooze. Waterpup cautiously walked up to it, poked it on the snout, then trotted back to Beth.

"I declare Charizard out of the match, due to the fact that he's *eherm!* sleeping. Go, Chester!"

"NO! Go, Pikachuuuuuuuuuu!"

"Chester, use your physical attacks! Mega Kick!"

"Pikachu, agility now!"

Chester watched as the pikachu leaped around like a fool, trying to confuse him. He laughed and kicked the electric rat as it came close to him.

"Chuuuuu!" The thing squealed dramatically.

"Oh boy." Chester though, staring at the pathetic excuse for a pokemon. "I can't beleive I evolved from THAT."

"Chester, finish it off." Beth said with boredom evident in her voice. "Thunderbolt."

"Rai.... chu...." Chester said, grinning at the pikachu. It began to gather energy in its cheeks. "RaaaaaaaaaaaiCHUUUU!" Chester shot a huge bolt of thunder at Pikachu, who whined pitifully for a moment before fainting.

"Hah. Easy. Train harder Ash, and evolve the rat." Beth said, patting Chester on the head.

"You just got lucky, that's all! I'll see you at the pokemon leagues!" Ash shouted, picking up his fainted Pikachu and running off towards the pokemon center.

"Wow, Pikachus are quite popular these days. I hate 'em." Sarie sniffed.

"So, lets all go to the gym, how about?" Alec suggested.

"We come, we see, we battle." Taro quoted.

"Well, then, let's get going!" Adnap said with great enthusiasm.

Chapter 30

Boss Rocket for a last time

"All right, this is it. The final gym. Are we ready? This'll be no picnic." Sarie said, staring at the gym she loved so much.

"Let's go in. We'll get no further by standing here gawking." Taro said, entering the dark, dank, musty gym. Sarie looked past him, rather miffed that he had ruined her moment. She couldn't see what Adnap saw in him.

The gym was the darkest of all gyms they had entered so far. Beth wrinkled her nose at the small of decay, and Adnap huddled close to Taro in the gloom. Sarie, however, loved the place.

"Hello? We need a badge!" Alec shouted, his thin, reedy voice disappearing into the shadowed corners.

"Walk strait." Said a harsh metallic voice. Sarie knew she had heard the voice before, but she couldn't put her finger on it.

"Ok..." Beth mumbled, walking further into the gloom. The darkness was frightening even her, and she longed for a fire pokemon to light the way.

"Stop. Before you fight, we will make a wager. If you win, you get the badges. If you lose, I get one of your pokemon." The voice said, a sinister undertone beginning to show in the voice.

"Guys, I think he's..." Sarie started, but broke off as lights burst on, revealing a battle arena surrounded by Team Rocket members. "Boss Rocket..." Sarie finished, gulping.

"Who will be first?" The man asked, holding up a pokeball.

"If it's 1 on 1, I'm fist!" Beth shouted.

"All right, all battles are 1 on 1. Go, Golem."

"Easy. Go, Bubblebeamer!"

"Golem, Rock throw."

"Bubblebeamer, Hydro Pump!"

The golem was hit hard by the hydro pump, and fainted with one blow.

"Too easy. My badge, please?" Beth held out her hand. As if by magic, a green earth badge floated into her hand. Sarie sensed powerful psychic waves, but not from Boss Rocket. They were obviously from some pokemon... a powerful pokemon.

"I'm next!" Taro shouted.

"All right.... go Machamp."

"Go, Nails!"

"Sisemic Toss"

"Drill peck!"

Machamp rushed at Nails, intending on grabbing it and throwing it into a wall, but Taro's fearow was faster. It flew at Machamp in a rush of amber-colored wings and attacked the fighting pokemon viciously. In moments, Machamp had fainted. Taro was given his badge in the same way Beth had received hers.

"My turn! Gooooo, Otachi!"

"Otachi??" Sarie said in amazement as a foot-high brown, squirrel-like pokemon appeared at Adnap's feet.

"Yeah, Otachi. I put Pika in the pokemon box and got him out. He's a gift from my mom and dad for winning the race. Isn't he cute? His nickname's Tails."

"Enough chatter! Go, Hitmonchan!"

"Tails, Quick Attack!"

"Hitmonchan, Comet Punch!"

Tails quickly rammed his small head into Hitmonchan's stomach, leaving the fist-fighting pokemon winded. Hitmonchan glared at his small adversary and began to fire quick, vicious punches at him.

"Tails, Mud Attack!"

Tails broke away from Hitmonchan's deadly embrace and kicked up black, sticky mud from the floor into Hitmonchan's eyes. Hitmonchan rubbed his grimy eyes and attempted to attack Tais, but missed and crashed into a team rocket member. With an angry cry, it fainted.

"Yay Tails!" Adnap said as she picked up the small creature. It squealed a victory cry and licked Adnap's cheek like a growlithe.

"I'll go next." Alec said, a glint of defiance in his eye.

"Go, then, Rydon." Said the boss, anger tightening his voice.

"Go, Cyberr!" Alec shouted, releasing his most powerful pokemon, a porygon.

"Rydon, Horn Attack!"

"Cyberr, Conversion!"

Rydon found his horn embedded in solid rock as Cyberr became the same type as the rock rhino pokemon.

"Rydon, Dig now!"

"Cyberr, Psybeam down the hole!"

Cyberr aimed a highly concentrated beam of psychic energy into Rydon's hole, then floated high up to the roof as Rydon's weakened form smashed through the ground.

"Finish it, Psychic!"

Sarie could tell Alec was no psychic, but his porygon managed to pull off his maneuver with expertise worthy of an Alakasam. Rydon fell.

"All right, this one's easy. Choose your pokemon, Boss Rocket." Sarie said boldly. The powerful psychic she had sensed had not been used up until now, why should it appear at the last moment?

"I will not lose this battle. I choose the most powerful pokemon ever born, Mewtwo." He growled, his synthetic voice full of malice. Sarie shuddered when she heard the name.... Mewtwo had killed her father. "Because Mewtwo is the most powerful pokemon alive, you may use two pokemon at once." The boss said.

"I won't need to. I choose you, Tassadar!"

Tassadar stood, flecks of amber light flying from his eyes as a door in the far end of the room slowly opened. Sarie strained her eyes to see, waiting for the trademark feline features, the drab grey skin, the lashing, purple tail. But what met her eyes through that door was something she had never seen the likes of in her life. The thing walked on two metal-encased legs, upright like a human. It's head was enclosed in an oval shield, much like the knights of olden days. On its chest was a plate with wires and cables running all across its protected body, under its skin, into its brain. Sarie shuddered and nearly ran from the thing, but stood her ground instead, refusing to let her pokemon die beneath this cat's powers.

"Mewtwo, Psychic."

"Tassadar, Toxic." Sarie said, mentally.

After a few minutes of waiting, Tassadar for Mewtwo, Mewtwo for Tassadar, the Boss angrily asked why Sarie wouldn't command her pokemon. "Are you afraid?" He asked contemptuously.

"No, I told him to attack. Tassadar, now." She said, pointing a finger at the Mewtwo.

"AlakaaaaSAM!" Tassadar spat poison acid at Mewtwo, covering it in the highly caustic substance. Mewtwo shuddered as its armor was eaten through by the poison. Soon, holes formed all over the metal, the normal grey skin showing through.

"Tassadar, now use Psychic!" Sarie shouted, her eyes glowing a bright amber as she focused her power. Mewtwo cried out in pain before falling to its knees, cursing loudly in pokemon and English alike.

"Finish it." Sarie said telepathically. Tassadar glared at the Mewtwo and blasted superheated molten lava at the mewtwo, in a move known as fire blast. Mewtwo fainted, burns turning its skin black.

"I'll take my badge now." Sarie said, lifting a shimmering badge from the Boss's shirt pocket psychically.

"Alakasam." Tassadar said, teleporting the five outside.

"That was weird." Adnap said, rubbing the back of her head.

"Yeah. Really." Beth said, staring again at her sister.

"Look, what the heck is that??" Alec screamed as a 20ft long bird thing landed close to them, followed by two cats, a brown robed Charmelion, an owl in armor, and a small dragon.

"We are the chosen pokemon. I am the Triceragrif." The creature rumbled.

Chapter 31

Jedi and Giffans and Dragons, oh my!

"What is a Triceragrif?" Beth asked, looking wide-eyed in fear up at the huge creature.

"I am a Triceragrif." The beast said, blinking its falcon-like eye fiercely. The Triceragrif had the head of an eagle, covered with pearl-grey feathers that stood out like a mane on its huge head. Two spiral ram's horns curved out from behind its eyes along with one long, sharp unicorn horn that protruded from its head. Its body was that of a lion with powerful muscles bulging and rippling underneath the red-brown coat. On its four paws were three huge claws, black and a foot long each. Curling behind it like a mad beast was a long, green, scaley tail. The most striking feature on the beast, however, were its glorious wings. They spread nearly 40 feet, with shimmering reds and blues on each feather. The primary feathers were forest green, moving like waves on the ocean. "I am here to tell you of an occurrence that concerns all of you."

"We came here from the first dimension to protect you." Said the Charmelion.

"You are the ones chosen to save the pocket worlds, as well as all worlds connected to it." One cat, a black female, said quietly.

"And we're here to help you!" The white cat stated.

"Indeed, you are the chosen ones."The dragon said, his tail lashing from side to side nervously.

"Now listen to what we will tell you." The owl hooted, flapping one set of iron wings.

"We have been sent by your first-dimension selves to help you in your fight. Our world is to damaged to be saved, but yours must not suffer the same fate. I am Triceragrif, a high-stage pokemon. Pokemon of the 2^nd stage or higher have characteristics that no other pokemon have. I am of the unknown stage, a stage so high that there is no other creature that can destroy me, other than another unknown stage pokemon."

"I am Charbe-wan Kenobi, a Jedi charmelion. I am of the second stage, but have powers rivaling those of a stage 10 pokemon." Charmelion said, standing closer to Taro.

"I am Titoismon, a creature from the digital world that was sent here to help you. Although I am weaker in this world, I still have the power of a stage 10 pokemon." The owl hooted, landing on Adnap's shoulder.

"I am Luna, from the sailor dimension." The black cat purred, stepping daintily to Beth's side.

"And I'm Artamus, another Sailor creature. We each have the power of a stage 5 pokemon, and we both belong to Beth." The white cat also sat next to Beth.

"I'm Spyro, a dragon. I am a stage 9 pokemon." The dragon looked at Alec.

"Well, you can see who has been chosen by whom. You can not use us in battles, but we can fight. Wait until you understand, then you may fight with us. For now, take these." The Triceragrif, who had padded over to Sarie, handed each child a green and white pokeball. "These are pet balls. We can be carried in these for now."

Each trainer held up their pet ball and returned their creatures. Sarie stared at hers.

"That was weird."

"This just keeps getting stranger." Taro mumbled.

"Well, I'm not scared anymore with this owl guy around." Adnap attacked her pokeball to her belt.

"Let's keep going." Alec said

"I agree." Beth placed her own pet ball on her backpack.

The five chosen children walked in silence back to the pokecenter, each thinking their own thoughts. No one knew what was in store for them.

Chapter 32

The Fila Strain Emerges

Ryblade opened one white-on-black eye, growling low and angrily in his throat. His growl, once loud and low, full of menace, was now bubbly and weak. He sat up in the darkness, snarling for Nightshade. "Nightshade! Bring me the Pikachu!"

Nightshade dragged a small, weak looking pikachu towards his master's feet, one limp paw hanging off the ground. Ryblade placed a huge paw on the pikachu's throat and growled "Cell Combination."

The pikachu uttered a long, low moan of pain as his whole body began to glow a sickly green, a river of light particles floating from Ryblade's eyes into its own. The glow became a halo of light, obscuring everything within it. It grew larger, the pikachu's cries of pain becoming snarls of anger. After a particularly bright burst of light, the creature that had once been a pikachu was now a very large cat-creature with long, yellow fur and spiked wings. The creature struggled to its feet and stared angrily at Ryblade, a snarl forming deep in its throat.

"Why did you do that to me?" It roared, leaping at Ryblade's face. Ryblade merely placed a huge paw over the creature's tail, effectively and painlessly stopping its accent. The cat creature sat on the dirt floor and growled, "Why did you turn me into... THIS?" It asked, staring down at its spiked coat.

"Tell me, did you have an owner?" Ryblade asked.

"No, I was wild."

"Well, you have an owner now. Fight for me and I'll see to it that no harm will come to you. Run from me and . . . lets just say traitors to the Ryvee clan never last long." Ryblade laughed, his black eyes shining.

"Then I shall serve you..." The creature hissed.

"Good. You are the Filathund, and you will be honored in my army. Go now with Ryporeon, she will show you your cavern. That is where you will sleep. RYFLARE!!!" Ryblade shouted, summoning his Fire slave.

"Yes, master..." Ryflare knelt before Ryblade, his scarred nose close to the ground.

"Bring me the charmander." He growled. Ryflare obeyed and brought a young Charmander to Ryblade. Ryblade once again used the attack Cell Combination, and soon a large cat made of fire stood in front of him.

"You are the Filaflare, and you are to serve me in my army." Ryblade growled.

"I will." Filaflare said without resisting.

"Now, Ryflare, take him to his cave." Ryblade then called for Ryteon to bring a bulbasaur to him. He repeated this process to create a cat of grass, then a cat that was reminiscent of an eevee. Finally, he called for his strongest servant.

"Rydareon, bring me the Alakasam." He roared. In moments a large creature made of rock carried an unconscious Alakasam to Ryblade. The creature, a Rydareon, had skin made of rock and a frill around its neck made of needle-like spines, each one thin and deadly. Its tail had a scorpion's tip and its ace was adorned with two electric sacks.

"Good, Rydareon. Now wait here while I create the last one." Ryblade repeated the Cell combination performance, but this time the glow was bright purple, and the creature that emerged was nearly as large as Ryblade himself. It had long, purple and blue wings and a huge furry tail, as well as having iridescent fur all over its cat-like body.

"You are the most powerful of my children, you are the Filunar. You will serve me unconditionally, and I will let you live." Ryblade snarled into Filunar's face.

"I will." the creature said.

"Good. Now, Rydareon, take Filunar to her cave. With these creatures at our side, we shall avenge the humans who did this to us..." He growled viciously at the memory of the girl who had broken his jaw and his power. "We will have our revenge..."

Chapter 33

Victory Road at last

"Well, people, here we are. Victory road. This is what all trainers work towards, and only a few ever survive long enough to get here. Once we get through this, we'll be at Indigo Stadium, the home of the pokemon leagues." Sarie said solemnly, pointing towards a building with several signs advertising the pokemon leagues.

"It says the leagues are in three days, so what are we waiting for? Let's go!" Beth shouted, entering the building.

The security inside was strict and the five trainers had to hand over their pokemon and badges many times to be inspected by numerous guards before being admitted to the cavern, the only path to Indigo Stadium. The cavern was the final challenge for trainers, and only the truly determined were able to get through to the other side. Many trainers who had stopped to rest challenged anyone they could, looking to gain a little more experience before the league. Halfway through the cave, the five footsore trainers decided that they, too, would stop for a rest.

Sarie let out her pokemon from their balls to stretch their legs and look around. Her four friends did so also, and Sarie was surprised by Alec's other pokemon. In addition to his Porygon and Magnaton, he owned an Electrode, a ponyta, and a Golem.

"Wow, nice pokemon. What are they're names?" Sarie asked Alec.

"This is Pokeball." Alec said, motioning to his electrode. "And this is Epona, my ponyta, and this one's Gravles. He liked his name, so I didn't change it when he evolved." Alec said, patting his Golem on the head.

"Hey, five pooped trainers and their puny pokemon! What's say we steal them?" Said Millicent, stepping into the dim light.

"Lets!" Said Draco, standing next to Millicent.

"Puuf! We'll teach them to mess with our Boss!" Their Jigglypuff friend had evolved into a Wigglytuff, a pokemon Sarie preferred over Jigglypuff.

"Go, Slash and Snuff!"

"Go, Slythren and Bat!"

"Go, my cute self!"

Millicent sent out her Persian and evolved form of Growlithe, Arcanine, as Draco sent out his Arbok and a Golbat. Wigglytuff sent herself out, of course.

"Who are these weirdos?" Alec asked.

"I think they're team rocket!" Taro growled, remembering the offer he had once received to join the terrible team.

"Looks like we'll have to deal with them again..." Sarie yawned.

"Why don't we just liberate your pokemon from you now and save us the trouble?" Millicent said, holding out a hand for the pokeballs.

"I think not. Can I get rid of 'em, can I?" Alec asked.

"Go ahead." Beth said.

"Epona, Fire Blast!"

Epona shot a star-shaped fire bolt at Team Rocket, tossing them up through a hole in the ceiling.

"Looks like Team Rocket's Blasting off again!!!!" Team Rocket flew out of sight yet again, providing more entertainment for the five trainers below.

"Well, I'm rested!" Taro said, stretching his arms. He returned all of his pokemon except for Tauros and leaped to his faithful pokemon's back.

"Good Idea, we'll cross the rest of the cave on our pokemon!" Sarie said, returning Powerplant, Helia, and Tassadar. Nida voted to run along side the dodrio while Mew sat on Sarie's lap.

Alec returned all of his pokemon except for Epona, who kneeled and allowed her master to mount her back. Sarie knew his pokemon were obedient because ponytas were known to burn any other humans who they didn't trust.

Beth rode up along side Sarie on Fang's back and whispered in a giggly voice, "do ya think Adnap'll ride on Tauros with Taro?"

Adnap gave a strange look to Beth and returned all her pokemon except for Growlie and leaped to the dog's back. "Let's go." She said, directing her Arcanine towards the exit.

After an hour of trekking through the dust cave, the five trainers saw light and heard the chatter and announcements that marked the Indigo Stadium entrance. The five found themselves in a mass of trainers and pokemon of all sizes and shapes, from a lowly Pidgy to a huge Snorlax. Each trainer shoved to the front of the line to register their pokemon and get into the Trainer's village, a small town that only registered league trainers were allowed to inhabit.

"Well, let's stand in line..." Sarie said, choosing the shortest line, which was actually quite long.

"No need! As a Cinbarr scientists' son... or a former scientists son..." Alec turned away to conceal a tear for his father, then turned back to his friends with a permit. "I have this here pass to the special line!"

"Yesss! Alec to the rescue!" Beth grabbed the pass and ran to the special line, which had a grand total of zero trainers in line.

"Wait for me! You need me to verify the pass!" Alec shouted, following Beth. Sarie ran after, with Adnap and Taro following.

The five had finally made it to the big leagues.

Chapter 34

Registration and Recuperation

A kind faced woman greeted the trainers at the booth and asked for their permit, which Alec proudly showed. The woman stamped the pass and directed them to another booth to get their pokemon registered.

"All right, just put your pokemon in these slots and I'll record them." Another woman said as the three approached the stand.

"Do we need six to enter?" Alec asked nervously.

"Yes, a minimum of six pokemon is required to join the league." The woman said.

"All right, then here." Alec placed Pokeball, Epona, Tripoles, Gravles, and Cyberr into the slots and took out his pokedex. He tapped a few buttons and another pokeball appeared in his hands. He place it in the slot and put his pokedex away.

"All right, a Ponyta, an Electrode, a Magnaton, a Golem, a Porygon, and a Kabutops? All seems in order. Thank you! Next!" She called. Sarie whispered to Alec as she placed her pokeballs into the slots, "Why didn't you have the Kabutops with you?"

Alec whispered back, "It doesn't like me."

Sarie suppressed a giggle and took her pokeballs back.

"You have a Nidoqueen, Persian, Venusaur, Alakasam, Raichu, and Dodrio? Ok, then! Next!" The woman called Beth up next.

"Here, this Raichu doesn't like being in his pokeball. Can I just give you his pokeball without him in it?" Beth asked, holding Chester up.

"Sure. All right, a Raichu, Clefable, Haunter, Vaporeon, Blastois, and Raticate. All seems in order. Next!" The woman gave Beth her pokeballs back, smiling at Taro, who handed her six pokeballs.

"You have a Tauros, Fearow, Cloyster, Rydon, Muk, and Nidoking. Great! Next!"

Adnap held out her pokeballs to the woman.

"Arcanine, Vileplume, Otachi, Paras, Dragonair, and Butterfree? Great! You five have some great pokemon. I hope you do well!" Secretly, the woman was surprised to find no Charizards, Pikachus, or Pidgeots in their group. It was nice to have some variety in her life.

"On to the Battle registration area, peeps!" Sarie said, looking at a map she had gotten from a vendor. The registration area was filled with horrendous lines, but Alec's pass helped them again. After passing through groups of friendly time-passing battles, they found a registration board for those who had passes.

"Please place your pokedex in this slot one by one, please." She said, smiling in the same way the other women had.

Sarie put her pokedex in the slot, then Beth, then Taro, Adnap, and Alec. Afterwards, the woman handed them each a slip of paper that came out of a small computer console. They each read the paper, which contained the name of their first challenger, the time of battle, and which field they would be fighting on. The four fields were made to represent an element type, and each created a particular challenge for the combatants. The four fields were ice, rock, grass, and water. The battle list read like this:

Name: Sarie Cigam

Challenger: Ash Ketchum

Field: Ice

Time: 12:00 AM

Name: Beth Burts

Challenger: Richie Flash

Field: Rock

Time: 3:00 PM

Name: Taro

Challenger: Misty Waterflower

Field: Water

Time: 6:00 PM

Name: Adnap Shiddo

Challenger: Jake Polgyste

Field: Grass

Time: 11:00 AM

Name: Alec Flare

Challenger: Brock Bedrock

Field: Rock

Time: 9:00 AM

"Look, two gym leaders! Misty from Cerulean and Brock from Pewter. Good luck, guys, yer gonna need it to beat them. And it looks like their on their own element fields, too. I'm battling Ash... that should be an easy victory... and Beth's fighting Richie. I wonder who he is? And Adnap's fighting Jake whatsisface... hmm. We'll have to watch each other's fights, ok?" Sarie said, looking at each person's sheet.

"Sounds good to me. The battles shouldn't take too long, and the stadiums are close together." Taro said.

"Yeah, and it seems as if they're all on the same day. Ok, all, on to the Room registration!" Sarie said, once again leading the group to another desk. This one was to allow trainers to rent cabins or rooms at the pokemon village for free. Trainers received many free gifts for being in the league. Everything from rooms to food to clothing were supplied by the Elite Four Association, a group that sponsored the annual Indigo Island Pokemon Leagues.

"We'd like one five-room cabin, please." Sarie asked the woman at the desk.

"Sure. Cabin #550 is right down that street, near the stadium. Have a nice stay!" She waved at the three and directed them to Doduo street, one of the 149 streets that lined Indigo Plateau's massive Pokemon Village. The street ran close to the stadium where shouts and cheers from the first battles of the day could be heard. The novice competition lasted three days and decided those that would go on to face the Elite Four, a group of trainers who had mastered the art of pokemon training. Those that beat the Elite Four were allowed to remain in their league and take a job as an Elite Four member or a gym leader. If a Gym Leader was chosen, the trainer had to once again beat the Gym leader. There was a catch, however. Gym Leaders with high-level pokemon had to make their pokemon wear level-restriction bands so that young trainers could beat them. If a Gym Leader was challenged for his or her gym, they were allowed to battle with their pokemon at their highest levels without the level restriction bands. It was rumored that most Gym Leaders had level 80 or above pokemon.

When the five reached their cabin, they could barely believe their eyes! What they had expected was a small place with not to many add-ons or frills; after all, it was free. The cabin, #550, was huge! It had three stories and was large around, as well. The inside was spotless, and it contained a huge kitchen, five bathrooms (one in each of the five bedrooms), a pokemon healing center, a pool, and a study.

"This place is HUGE!" Beth exclaimed, putting her backpack down in a plush chair.

"You said it! Look at these beds!" Adnap looked into one of the bedrooms to see a queen-sized bed with plush comforters and a thick doduo down mattress.

"Man! What a kitchen!" Sarie ran a finger along the stove top and stared at the dining table made of finished oakwood.

"All this for free!" Alec said, plopping down in an easy chair.

"And a pokemon healing center!" Taro said, peering at the healing machine.

"Well, let's go choose rooms." Sarie said, running up the stairs.

"This one down here is mine!" Adnap shouted, tossing her backpack onto the bed.

"Me and Chester chose this one!" Beth pointed to the room at the very top of the stairs.

"Well, I'll take this one then." Taro chose a room on the second floor over the Kitchen.

"Only one room left for me then." Alec entered the final room, one which was on the first floor next to the Study. "I also get the study for my computer." Alec set his backpack on the study desk and placed a small, high tech laptop on top of it. He connected a power cord and a phone line and turned on his computer.

"I suppose we'll have to draw straws to see who's doing dinner." Beth sighed, not really wanting to cook.

"Ok! Here, shortest straw gets to cook." Sarie snipped the bottom off of a straw and held it and four others in her hand.

"Umm, it'll be a public safety hazard if I cook." Alec said, stepping back.

"Fine, it's just me, Beth, Taro, and Adnap then." Sarie removed a long straw and held her hand out to her friends. They each picked one, and Sarie's was the shortest.

"Yay! I get to cook! Lessee what's in the fridge... hmm... go, Nida and Mew... hlep me cook..." Sarie busily got to work on the food.

"She likes to cook..." Beth said, shouldering her backpack. "I'm off for supplies. See ya later!" Chester waved to the three other humans and followed Beth out the door.

"All right, then. I've got some research to do." Alec sat down at the desk and began to type rapidly on his computer.

"I've gotta go train my pokemon. Tar and Rex are a little low in level." Taro sent out a massive Muk and a tall Nidoking.

"Eeeew, what smells! A Muk! Oh, and a Nidoking! Can I see it?" Saire ran over to the nidoking and looked it over. "I just love Nidorans!"

"I have to go train it." Taro said, returning it and the Muk into their pokeballs.

"Well, good luck!" Sarie said, returning to the kitchen. Adnap glared at her. She'd better not be trying to steal Taro...

"I'll just call my parents and see what they're up to." She said, picking up a cordless phone.

Several Hours Later.....

"Food's done!" Sarie called everyone to the table and placed a huge pot of Spaghetti and Meatballs in the center of it.

"Ooh, smells good! I got some poke vitamins for our pokemon. Ya made enough for them too, right?" Beth said, handing a box of pokemon vitamins to Sarie.

"Yep, there's enough for all, just serve yourselves." Sarie said, scooping some spaghetti into thirty small bowls. She powdered one vitamin into each bowl and placed them on the floor across from the table. Everyone let their pokemon out to eat, including Alec's Kabutops. The Kabutops glared at him, then smelled the food. It ran over to the bowls and grabbed the largest one for himself. The others made room for the Kabutops and ate their own amongst happy chatter of their fellow monsters.

(Translated)

"Wow, this is good stuff!" Powerplant said, gulping down a few more noodles.

"You said it!" Fang snatched a fork from the table and practically inhaled his food.

"I never tasted this before. 'Tastes like those tomatoes I used to eat." Tauros said, munching down on a huge blob of Spaghetti.

"Wazza Tomato?" Tails asked Tauros, picking up a meatball and stuffing it into his cheek pouches.

"Tomato: a red fruit that grows from a vine. Beep." Cyberr said as it hovered around Tails's head, levitating spaghetti into its mouth.

"It's good, but then again, my master cooked it so it should be." Said Nida, finishing off her pasta.

(Human speech)

"We outta make Sarie cook dinner every night!" Beth said, serving herself more spaghetti.

"Hey, then I wouldn't have to cook!" Said Alec brightly.

"He's a genius." Taro mumbled.

"Oh, shut it! Quit arguing!" Sarie said, removing several empty dishes from the table. "You two are worse than Growlithes and Persians!"

"That'd be funny to see..." Adnap mumbled under her breath, taking her bowl to the sink.

"Well, I didn't have time to make dessert so I suppose it's time for bed, all." Sarie said, hopping up the stairs two at a time.

"Someone's been on sugar..." Beth giggled, picking Chester up and carrying him to her room.

"What about the pokemon?" Taro asked.

"Let 'em sleep down here." Adnap said.

"As long as they don't snore!" Alec faked a grimace and fell over, his hands on his ears.

"Hey, quiet down there! Pokemon Master Supreme needs some sleep!" Sarie called down the stairs.

"Pokemon WHAT? Excuse me, but you haven't battled yet!" Beth said, bonking Sarie on the head with a pillow.

"I'll beat 'em all tomorrow! You just wait!"

Chapter 35

Before the Storm

Sarie stepped out onto her balcony, turning into the warm early-morning breeze. A few loose strands of hair whipped around her face. She pushed them back with one hand and leaned on the railing with another. What a wonderful day for victory.

She walked quietly back into her room, knowing that Beth was asleep next door and Taro was probably snoozing below her. She walked over to her dresser and grabbed one of her five pokeballs and opened it, letting Tassadar out. The Alakasam sat on her bed next to Nida, who was sprawled out across the foot, blankets wrapped around her tail and ears. Nida refused to get into her pokeball, claiming that she felt stronger if she was free. Sarie had just let Tassadar out to talk to him.

You know your one of the most important pokemon in my team. She said psychically to him so as not to wake Nida.

I know that. But do not rely on me entirely. It will backfire.

Few pokemon can resist your attacks, you know. It should be easy to beat any opponents who get past Nida.

I trust Nida. She'll do well. In my opinion, you should lead with her. She's strong in many categories and can take down several different types of pokemon.

That's why I'm leading with her.

I am weak in the face of bug or strong normal-typed attacks.

Don't worry, to few people play Parasects, and most people forget about Hyperbeam.

Still, be on guard.

I will.

Sarie walked over to Nida and tapped her. Nida opened one sleepy eye and sat up, yawning.

"Time to get up. We're all going down to watch the early battles. Maybe we can catch a few strategies. Come on, we'll pick up breakfast on the way." Sarie let out Mew and Helia and clipped the other two pokeballs to her waist. She would let Powerplant and Stryka out once she was outside.

She crept downstairs, almost laughing out loud when she saw the piles of pokemon sleeping in a huge ball in the living room. Off in one corner was Tar the Muk, his smell kept the others at bay. Sarie's pokemon, all except for Nida, had wanted to sleep inside their pokeballs, safe from the others.

"Hey, what are you doing up?" Alec asked in surprise as he stepped over a sleeping pokemon that was blocking his door.

"I was going to watch the battles. Wanna come?"

"Sure, let me get my shoes and pokemon."

Soon the two were outside, walking towards the stadium with twelve pokemon in tow. They stopped for a quick bagel breakfast at a local bakery and continued to the grass field where the first battle was scheduled.

"The red trainer, Laura Laury, has chosen Rapidash. The blue trainer, AJ Dnas, is leading off with a Sandslash." The announcer cried. The two trainers glared steely-eyed at each other, thinking of their first move.

"Of course the best thing to do would be to use a ground-based attack on the Sandslash's part, but if the Rapidash trainer leads with fire spin she could hold the other forever." Sarie whispered to Alec, watching the two.

"Sandslash, Dig!"

"Rapidash, Fire blast!"

Sarie watched as the Sandslash stumbled from the flames, but came back with a powerful Dig. Rapidash was finished.

"And the Red Trainer is down by one pokemon!"

"Go, Blast! Hydro Pump!"

"No, Sandslash! Return! Go, Raticate!"

The battle went on for a while until the Blue Trainer, AJ, succeeded in beating Laura.

"Ya know, you really outta teach these two that pokeballs are good." Alec said as he, Sarie, Nida, Mew, and Cyberr exited the stadium.

"Oh look who's talking Mr. Porygon. I've noticed that it's always hovering around your head." Sarie laughed, picking Mew up and placing her on her shoulders. Nida followed.

"Cyberr is a cybernetic pokemon and thus is able to slip in and out of Cyberspace, making him able to become invisible on a whim. It's easy to take him around, especially since he can fit into my pokedex for easy storage." Alec explained.

"Nida hasn't been in her pokeball unless it was because she was in critical condition or had to be. She's just trained to trust that I won't put her in the ball. Mew just has a natural bold streak and figured that because Nida was out she'd be out to. It's no big deal, they enjoy obeying me. Oh, yeah, and Tassadar is usually somewhere around 'cause using his psychic powers he can become invisible or teleport to wherever." Sarie said, stroking Mew's soft, creme colored fur. The two headed for one of the pokecenters to heal up their pokemon for the match.

"Hey, you're the person I'm supposed to beat in the first round!" Ash shouted to Sarie, walking up with Pikachu on his shoulder.

"You... beat ME? Haha! I think someone's ego is off the scale..."

"Hey! Pikachu and me have been training for a long time for this! No one's gonna take our victory away!"

"I almost feel sorry for ya, having to lose on the first round... ALMOST being the key word there."

"Grrrr, I'll beat you and your Raichu just like my Pikachu beat Lt. Surge's Raichu!"

"Agility won't work here. Helia's one fast mouse."

"Pikachu's faster!"

"We'll see. Nurse, joy, can you heal me and Alec's pokemon? Nida, Mew, Cyberr, and Tassadar will just stay out of their pokeballs, if ya don't mind." Sarie said, telling Tassadar in her mind to appear.

"No, of course not. Just as long as they're tame." Nurse Joy said cheerfully, taking the pokeballs and pokemon to the healing deck.

"Can you take my pokemon, too?" Ash asked, placing Pikachu on the counter.

"Sure!" Joy also placed Pikachu and Ash's pokeballs on the deck.

"Hey Ash!" Another ten-year-old, this time a carrot-top girl, ran up to Ash waving her hand. A young man followed behind her.

"Hey Misty and Brock! How are you two! Long time no see!" Ash cried, running to meet his friends.

"Hey, aren't you Misty? And you're Brock, aren't you? I remember beating you for the boulder badge!" Sarie said, walking up to the two gym leaders.

"Err, yeah. You're that Cigam kid, aren't you? The one with the Nidoran?"

"Yeah. She evolved."

"Wow. You'll provide some tough competition for Ash over here." Brock said, pointing a thumb at Ash.

"Haha! Misty, I met your sisters in Cerulean. I suppose you were away on one of those Gym leader trips?"

"Actually, no. I was following Ash around to get my bike back. He still hasn't payed me back."

"Really? Why weren't you two with him when my sister, Beth, beat him down in Veridian?"

"We split up for a few months to gather some more pokemon and train and stuff that only Gym leaders can do." Misty explained.

"Ah. Well, no offence, but Ash could use a little training himself." Sarie giggled.

"You're right about that!"

"Hey!"

Suddenly the loudspeaker blared out Alec's name. "Will Alec Flare please report to the Rock Field Registration, please!"

Then Brock's name was announced. "Will Brock Bedrock please report to the Rock Field registration!"

"Gotta go!" Alec said, running towards the stadium.

"Me too." Brock followed.

"Nurse Joy, are my pokemon ready?" Sarie asked.

"Your friend Alec just took his. Here are yours." Nurse Joy handed Sarie three pokeballs as Nida, Tassadar and Mew stood next to Sarie.

"We gotta wake the others up. We can't miss Alec's battle!"

You like him, don't you?

No comment...

Admit it.

Fine. A little.

Hah, thought so.

Shut up.

Chapter 36

Flare vs Bedrock

Sarie, Beth, Adnap, and Taro ascended the stone steps to their seats in the bleachers surrounding the rock field below. Alec faced Brock for what looked to be an interesting match.

"The Red Trainer, Alec Flare, faces Pewter City's Gym Leader, Brock Bedrock!" The announcer cried.

In the stands behind brock nearly a hundred people stood waving silver and grey pompoms and cheering for Brock, whereas Sarie, Adnap, Taro, and Beth had only a small sign with 'Go Flare!' written on it in red ink.

"Go, Cyberr!"

"Go, Onix!"

"And it's a porygon versus an onix! Will Porygon be able to defeat this rock-hard foe?"

Sarie thought the onix looked larger than the one she had fought in the gym and she remembered that gym leader pokemon were actually very high in level.

"Cyberr, Conversion!"

"Onix, bind!"

Cyberr managed to convert to a rock type as Onix bound it up in his strong coils.

"Cyberr, Blizzard!"

"Onix, keep it up!"

Cyberr attempted to freeze onix, but instead hurt itself. It did, however, manage to slip from Onix's coils.

"Cyberr, hang in there! Recover!"

"Onix, Earthquake!"

Cyberr recovered its wounds as it was thrown around by Onix's earthquake. Being a rock type from the conversion, it was weak to the ground-based attack.

"Cyberr, try another blizzard!"

"Onix, Earthquake one more time!"

This time Cyberr managed to hit Onix, freezing it in place. For a moment Alec thought he had the advantage, but then Cyberr fell to the floor with a thud.

"Both trainers are down to two pokemon each! Who will be used next?"

"Go, Epona!"

"Go, ninetails!"

"It looks like an evolved fire type versus an unevolved fire type! This looks bad!"

"Epona, Stomp!"

"Ninetails, Fire Blast!"

Epona narrowly dodged the fire blast and stomped hard on one of ninetails's tails. The firefox glared in utter hatred at the Ponyta.

"Ninetails, Agility!"

"Epona, Stomp again!"

Ninetails ran circles around Epona, who viciously tore at the rocky ground with her hoof. Everyone knows that Ponytas hate being slow.

Epona gave an angry whinny and began to glow, evolving into a Rapidash.

"Wow! A mid-battle evolution! Ponyta has become Rapidash, the fastest of the flame pokemon and in the top ten in over all speed!"

Epona smashed her hoof into Ninetails, fainting it with one stroke.

"Ninetails! Return! Go, Golem!"

"Epona, you can't win 'em all. Return! Go, Kabuteri!"

"Golem, Rock Throw!"

"Kabuteri, Hydro Pump!" Alec said a quick prayer that Kabuteri would obey him.

Kabuteri glared at Alec, but seeing the boy's frightened eyes, the blade pokemon had pity and obeyed him. With one quick Hydro Pump, Golem was gone.

"There goes the battle! Alec Flare has defeated Brock Bedrock! Way to go, Flare!"

Alec's four friends rushed onto the field to congratulated him while Brock shook his hand, commenting him on his excellent pokemon handling. Alec just blushed and patted his Kabutops's head proudly.

"I owe it to my pokemon. They fought well." He said when the news reporters asked him for comments.

"All right, next match is for Adnap." Sarie said, reading from the match list as the five trainers headed for the grass field.

"It's the grass field, so Oddy will have an advantage. Plus, if anyone else is playing Grass types I'll just use Growlie to torch the grass. I've got Free to round out my squad as well." Adnap said, looking over her pokeballs.

"Good luck to you. At least you don't have to battle a gym leader." Taro said, frowning.

"You'll do fine!" She said, patting him on the shoulder.

"You too."

"Thanks"

Chapter 37

A ghostly Battle

Adnap shuddered slightly as she walked onto the battle arena. She stood facing her challenger, a boy of twelve named Jake Polgyste.

"Shake hands!" The ref said. The two trainers shook, although neither was even thinking friendly thoughts.

Adnap walked onto the battle platform, sweat trickling down her nose. This was it. Who would she send out first?

"The Red Trainer, Jake Polgyste, is facing the Blue Trainer, Adnap Nottap. Let the battle begin!"

"Go, Growlie!"

"Go, golbat!"

"Growlie, Fire Blast!"

"Golbat, Hyper Beam!"

Growlie blasted superheated molten lava at Golbat, who fell to the ground, baked to a crisp. Still, the flying pokemon soared high into the air and shot a beam of concentrated power at Growlie, knocking the dog pokemon over.

"And it looks like both pokemon are taking heavy blows!" The announcer screeched.

"Well, duh..." Sarie mumbled, getting rather annoyed at the announcer.

"Growlie, Dragon Rage!"

"Golbat, dodge it!"

Golbat had to recover its energy, and therefore was unable to attack. Growlie took this pause to his advantage and used one of his TM induced attacks, Dragon Rage. He attacked with the strength of an angry gyrados, creating a flaming tornado of energy that held Golbat in its spiral. Golbat, though, was one tough fighter.

"Golbat, toxic!"

"Growlie, Take Down!"

Golbat circled Growlie, taunting it before spitting highly toxic poison all over his body. Growlie howled in pain, trying to shake the poison off. The sticky fluid, however, had done it's work. Growlie felt the poison seep through his veins, but refused to fall. He leaped into the air, catching Golbat off guard. He slammed his massive bulk on the bat pokemon, injuring himself in the process. Growlie shook his head, fighting to stay up, but the poison combined with thee effects of his take down attack were too much. With one last, defiant howl, he fainted. Adnap returned Growlie, anger evident in her eyes. The golbat looked as if it was about to faint as well, but it stayed in the air.

"That's it. No more ms. Nice Trainer. Go, Free!" Adnap sent out her own flying pokemon, Free the butterfree.

"Easy, Golbat. Wing Attack!"

"Free, Psychic!"

Free was by far faster and had all her hit points in tact, and so was able to land the devastating psychic attack before Golbat could move. This was too much for the bat pokemon, and it fell to earth with a thump.

"And it goes down after a good fight! Both trainers are down to two pokemon! This battle is heating up!"

"Go, Chabokk! Acid!"

"Free, Psychic again!"

Chabokk was an enormous Arbok, nearly twice the size of Draco's. Free failed to dodge an acid attack, and the caustic substance ate through the delicate butterfly pokemon's wings in seconds. Free still used a Psychic attack, but fell soon afterwards.

"No! Return, Free. Go, Tails!"

"Chabokk, Wrap!"

"Tails, Mud attack!"

Tails was a speedy creature, and managed to cover Chabokk in mud before the snake could attack. Even then, Chabokk only managed to grab Tails's tail due to the mud in its eyes. Tails escaped easily and viciously attacked with a second mud attack. Chabokk fainted.

"Taken out! Now it's this bold Otachi versus . . . a Gengar!"

Jake had sent out an angry Gengar to fight.

"Tails, Mud again!"

"Ghost pkmn, Hypnosis!"

Tails kicked up more mud, blinding the ghost. Gengar attempted to wipe the mud from his eyes, but didn't succeed. With the sticky goo in its eyes, the ghost couldn't use hypnosis.

"Tails, water gun the ground!"

"Ghost, lick!"

Tails was resistant to the ghost attack of lick, as all normal pokemon are. Tails blasted a stream of water at the ground, turning the dirt to mud. The Gengar nearly sank but flew into the air at the last moment.

"Now, Tails, Mud attack!"

"Ghost, Nightshade!"

Tails kicked up tons of wet, sticky, black mud at the Gengar, completely covering it in the fluid. Gengar angrily shook the mud from its face and attempted to use Nightshade on Tails, but failed.

"Finish it, Water Gun!"

Tails shot water at the Gengar, cleaning the mud from its body, and fainting it in the process.

"Wow! What a fight! And the winner is the blue trainer, Adnap Shiddo!"

"Go Adnap! Yeah! All right! Go!" Taro screamed in the stands amongst his friends who cheered almost as loud. Of course, no one had lungs as strong as Taro's...

"Yes! I won! Tails did it!" Adnap cried, running to meet her friends. Tails was perched on her shoulder looking pleased with itself.

"Great job!" Taro hugged Adnap, but quickly pulled away when he saw the perplexed look on his friend's faces.

"What?" He asked, throwing his hands out. Adnap, meanwhile, busied herself with checking on her pokemon.

"Oh, nothing..." Sarie giggled, petting Nida's head.

"All right, next one's mine. We'd better hurry over to the ice field. This ought to be easy." Sarie said, laughing to herself.

"Go easy on him. Hah, it still shouldn't take too long to beat him." Beth giggled.

"All right, to the ice field!"

To the Ice Field

"Nidoqueen!"

"Dodriooo!"

"Veenusaur!"

"Raaaichu!"

"Perrrsian!"

Sarie, followed by six loyal pokemon and four friends, walked confidently towards the ice field and an almost certain victory.

Chapter 38

Ketchum and Cigam

"The battles are heating up today on the ice field! This battle is Ash Ketchum Verses Sarie Cigam! Let the battle begin!"

Ash turned his cap backwards and hurled a pokeball into the arena.

"Cookiecookie!"

Sarie smiled to herself. She slipped a pair of purple bike gloves onto her hands and flipped her own Mewtwo cap around and tossed Mew's pokeball into the arena.

"Perrsian!"

'A persian! Just like the Boss of Team Rocket! I can beat it!' Ash though to himself.

"Kingler, Hyper Beam!"

"Mew, Dodge it and Thunderbolt!"

Mew leaped to the side as the sizzling bolt singed her fur on her tail. With a less-than-happy snarl the leaped on Kingler's back and shot a bolt of energy through it.

"NOOO! Kingler! Crabhammer!"

"Mew, finish it! Body Slam!"

Kingler was quick enough to slam a heavy claw into Mew, but not agile enough to dodge the cat's Body Slam attack.

"No! Kingler return! How are your pokemon so strong??" He yelled into the speaker.

"Training."

"Go, Charizard!"

"Go, Tassadar!"

"Wow, two amazingly strong pokemon in a novice tournament! This is unbelievable!"

"Charizard, slash!"

"Tassadar, Psychic

Charizard looked back at Ash and snorted black smoke, showing his contempt for his own trainer. He looked back at the Alakasam and, seeing as it was a worthy opponent, decided to fight . . . his own way.

"Alaaakasam!"

Before the huge lizard could pull off a move, Tassadar had it pinned to the floor with psychic. The fire beast roared in anger, blasting spurts of blue-white flames onto the icy ground. This was his mistake. The flames and the heat of his body melted the ice and Charizard fell through with a splash.

"No! Charizard!"

Charizard thrashed about in pain and fear, sending up plumes of boiling water from the puddle. With a mighty roar, he threw himself onto the ice, panting as he did.

He can't fight. Tassadar said into Ash's mind. The Alakasam didn't want to harm the Charizard further.

"Aaah! Where's Mewtwo??" Ash panicked, thinking the psychic voice was that of the feared Mewtwo.

"It's my Alakasam, you weirdo. And he has a point. Charizard can't fight anymore." Sarie said, hands on hips.

right. Return it. Tassadar pointed a spoon at the Charizard, healing it as Ash returned it.

"Wow! Pokemon compassion! That Charizard is out of the battle!"

"Ash, use your starting pokemon and I'll use mine." Sarie said into the speaker at the front of her battle platform.

"Fine! Your loss! Go, Pikachu!"

"Return, Tassadar. Go, Nidoqueen!"

"Pikachu, thunder attacks won't work! Use your double team now!"

Sarie, startled by this new bit of strategy, almost ordered the wrong attack.

"Nida, re-cover the water with ice so you don't fall in! Blizzard!"

Nida blasted the entire battle area with a thick sheet of ice, taking out nearly all of pikachu's decoys. Pikachu, however, seemed to be quite fast. It dodged the streaming ice shards, leaping in and out of the rocks surrounding the ice pond.

"That's it, Pikachu! Now to start attacking! Use the attack I showed you how to use on Hitmonchan! Mega Punch!"

"Nida, earthquake won't work on this ice! Use your Strength and throw the ice!"

Pikachu was surprisingly fast and smashed a small fist into Nida's jaw, knocking her backwards a few feet and cracking the ice. Nida let out a low, menacing growl and grabbed a piece of the newly broken ice and threw it at the small electric rat. Pikachu couldn't dodge this time, and was smashed beneath the heavy ice shard.

"Pikachu! Light Screen!"

"Nida, Surf!"

Pikachu lit up the arena with a sheet of light, guarding itself from many special attacks. Nida snarled and flipped a surfboard into the water and leaped onto it, riding the wave into Pikachu. Pikachu stifled a scream as its small, helpless body was tossed into Ash's battle platform by the waves. The brave mouse refused to give up for it's master.

Sarie was taken aback by this creature's devotion and it's determination. She knew she had to end this quickly or else watch the creature suffer. She hated pikachus, but this particular one had gained her respect, even if the smelly little thing wouldn't evolve.

"Nida, finish it off! Body Slam!"

"Pikachuuuu! Noooo!" Ash screamed as Nida threw herself at the creature. Before she could attack, though, a red beam of light encircled the pikachu and returned it to its pokeball. Nida gave a cry of horror and fell through the ice into the freezing cold, deadly liquid below.

"Nida! Return!"

"And both trainers have recalled their last pokemon! It's a draw! Both will go onto the next competition!" The announcer cried.

"Good job, Ash. Ya proved me wrong." Sarie said into the speaker.

"You too. I hope we get to battle again!" Ash said, his pikachu on his shoulder. Before walking down the stairs, Sarie sent out Tassadar.

That was interesting. He said, staring at Ash.

Yeah, was it ever. He's one heck of a fighter! If his pikachu had evolved, I might have lost.

Next time don't be so cocky. Don't return your pokemon until they faint or are at a disadvantage.

Thanks, I'll think about it. Sarie said, patting Tassadar's shoulder.

"Good job, Sarie!" Beth said, smiling.

"Yeah, that was intense! If Nida hadn't fallen through that ice, you would have won!" Adnap said.

"He's tough. Tougher than his friends." Taro mused.

"Right. Brock was easy, but then again he might be out of practice."

"Yeah, I figured." Sarie said, pushing her red-brown hair out of her eyes. She loved her hair. It was so shiny.

He's staring at you.

Sarie looked at Alec, who was indeed Staring at each her. Both blushed awkwardly, turning away.

"Hehe, so Adnap's not the only one with a crush, eh?" Beth said, poking Sarie in the ribs with her elbow.

"Oh be quiet!" Sarie said, shoving Beth away. She giggled. "He is kinda cute, though."

"Ha!"

Chapter 39

Radic and Red, Master Trainers

"Who's Richie Flash?" Beth asked as the five trainers ordered a quick lunch in KFD, or Kentucky Fried Dodrio. KFD didn't really serve Dodrio, of course.

"Well, good luck. Hope he's not someone tough. It would be a shame to see you out on the first round." Sarie said, taking a big bite of a KFD chicken sandwich.

"Yeah, even Alec got past the first round." Taro mumbled.

"Hey! I'm a scientist! And by analyzing the skill of your opponent and your own skill, I'd say it'll be you who will get out on the first round." Alec sniggered.

"Dictionary mouth." Taro whispered.

"Break it up!" Adnap said, frowning at the two.

"Always count on Adnap to stop a fight! Good job, Adnap!" Sarie cheered.

"Thanks."

"All right, Beth's battle is next at 3:00. We've got some time to kill, so let's go shopping!"Adnap suggested.

"Let's!" Beth agreed.

"Indeed!"

"Girls."

"Shut it, Taro."

"You shut it!"

"Break it up!!"

The marketplace in the pokemon village was a sight to see. Everything from Pokemon T-shirts to old trophies were on display for sale. Sarie bought a Nidoqueen shirt, Beth got a Raichu hat, Taro got a Tauros horn sharpener, Adnap got some Vileplume perfume, and Alec bought a pricy pokedex programmer package which came with a pokedex-to-computer link cable, software to input info into a pokedex, and a special pokedex cover.

"Hmm, do you think Stryka would like something?" Sarie asked, thinking of her dodrio who rarely got presents.

"I dunno, send her out and see." Beth suggested.

"Go, Stryka!" Sarie let out the Dodrio, turning a few heads. Dodrios were not very often seen in the pokemon leagues for their bad rep and imagined weaknesses.

"Look, Takachan, a dodrio like ya!" Said a boy, around the same age as Sarie.

"Who are you?" Sarie asked the boy.

"My name's Radic. What's yours?"

"I'm Sarie. Nice to meet ya. What a nice dodrio! What's his name?"

"He's Takachan. What's your Dodrio's name?"

"Stryka."

"Cool."

"I've got a Blastois, Raichu, Ninetails, Persian, and Parasect too." Said Radic, eager to show off his pokemon's abilities.

"I've got a Raichu and persian, too! I've also got a Nidoqueen and Alakasam. What to see 'em?"

"Sure!"

"Come out everyone!" Sarie sent out all five of her pokemon, including the freshly healed Nida.

Who is he? Tassadar asked.

His name's Radic.

"You're a psychic, aren't you? You're eyes are glowing." Radic stated.

"You're observant. Yeah, I'm psychic. This here is Tassadar, my psychic pokemon. He can basically take down anything that Nida or Mew can't. By the way, this is my starting pokemon, Nida." Sarie said, scratching behind Nida's ears.

"This is Accident, my Blastois. He's my starting pokemon."

"Why is he named Accident?"

"Long story."

"Hey, do you want to battle?" Sarie asked, recalling all of her pokemon except Mew, Nida, and Tassadar into their pokeballs.

"Of course! How about a six on six match?" Radic asked, turning his cap backwards.

"Haha, he'll lose. Hi, Radic! It's the world famous pokemon loser, Radic!" Said another boy, the same age as Radic.

"Red! Why are you here?" Radic exclaimed, staring at the other boy.

"I'm in the pokemon leagues too, ya know. I just won my first battle, did you win yet?" Red sneered.

"For your information I did win!"

"Haha, prolly against a loser like yourself!"

"Excuse me, could we get on with the battle? I need ta go watch my sister's battle in a bit." Sarie interrupted the boy's argument.

"All right, if Red here would get off my back! Go, Accident!"

"Go, Nida!"

"Accident, Hydro Pump!"

"Nida, thunder!"

Nida, who was surprisingly faster than the Blastois, pulled off a powerful Thunder attack that sent the water pokemon spinning on its shell. Accident pulled himself upright and, growling low in his throat, blasted a high-pressure jet of water at Nida. Nida, being half ground, was weak to the Blastois's attack and fell to the ground with a thud.

"Nida! Are you ok?" Sarie asked, placing a hand on her nidoqueen.

"Accident, finish it! Surf!"

"Nida, Dig it!"

Nida dove underneath the ground just as the Blastois attacked with a powerful Surf. Accident looked around with a puzzled look, searching for his opponent. Just then, Nida came bursting from the ground, crashing into Accident with a rage. Accident's shell cracked on the bottom, but the Blastois stood ready to fight still.

"Nida, Take Down!"

"Accident, Skull Bash!"

Nida rammed into Accident's tough shell, cracking it further and bruising her skull in the process. Accident grunted softly in pain before pulling his head into his shell, preparing for the attack.

"Nida, finish it with another thunder!"

"Accident, now!"

Nida leaped towards the Blastois, but was caught a hefty blow to the stomach by the big beast's head. It caught her off guard, and she fell to the floor, winded and hurt badly.

"All right, you can have this round. Nida, return! Go, Helia!" Saire returned Nida, hoping the poison pin pokemon was Ok.

"Accident, Earthquake!"

"Helia, Thunderbolt!"

Helia was defiantly faster and shocked Accident into a faint before the water-type could even think of attacking. Radic returned a scorched and burned Accident to his pokeball and sent out his own Raichu, Nova.

"Helia, use Mega Kick now!"

"Nova, Mega Punch!"

Helia slammed a hard paw into Nova's stomach, knocking the wind out of her opponent. Nova grimaced and retaliated with a Mega Punch that sent Helia reeling.

"That's it, Nova! Now quick attack!"

"Helia, Hyper beam!"

Helia leaped aside as Nova ran towards her, intent on knocking her backwards. The Raichu spun around on her foot, braced herself in the dirt, and shot a beam of energy at Nova, knocking her backwards into Radic's leg.

"Raaai!"

"Hang in there, Nova! Body Slam now!"

"Helia! No!"

Helia's legs buckled as Nova bashed her, sending shockwaves through her small body. Helia, worn out after her attack, fell to the ground in a small, sad heap.

"Helia! Return! Go, Mew! Body slam!"

Mew hurled herself onto Nova, smashing the mouse pokemon into the ground and fainting it.

"Nova! No! Return! Go, Ruby!"

"Mew, Screech!"

"Ruby, slash!"

Mew was a very, very fast cat, but all of Radic's pokemon were at higher levels than Sarie's, so Ruby attacked first. Using her long, razor-sharp claws, Ruby slashed Mew from ear to hindquarters, the cut going over an inch deep. Mew screeched in pain and nearly fell, but refused to give up. The blood running freely onto the ground made the earth slippery, but Mew kept her foothold and screamed at Ruby, lowering the other cat's defense greatly.

"Ruby, finish it! Bite attack!"

"Mew, Body slam!"

Powered by adrenalin and the lust for victory, Mew dodged Ruby's Bite and laughed insanely as the other Persian's snout hit the ground, then slammed herself onto Ruby's back, breaking her left front paw. Ruby was stunned from the impact and rolled over, her limp paw dragging on the ground.

"That's it, Mew! Now finish it with slash!"

"Ruby, No!"

Mew dug her own claws into Ruby, gashing the feline straight down her back. Ruby gave a final scream and fainted.

"Ruby! Return! Go, Takachan! Drill Peck!"

"Mew!"

Takachan swiftly struck Mew with its three swirling beaks, finishing the work that Ruby had begun. Mew fainted.

"Mew! Return! Go, Stryka!"

"Takachan, Fly!"

"Stryka, Fly!"

Both dodrios flew high into the sky, glaring and screaming at each other, testing dominance. Without a command from either trainer, they began to attack each other furiously in an aerial battle. Each head beat up the other, and claws fought claws. In the end, both Takachan and Stryka fell to the ground, fainting on impact.

"Return!"

"Return!"

Both trainers stood, glaring at the other, thinking hard of how to gain the upper hand. Both though of their pokemon and the injuries they had sustained, and both were angry at the other for harming their pokemon.

"Go, Kitsune!"

"Go, Powerplant!"

Although Sarie was a psychic, she never used her powers to cheat, and therefore never saw the ninetails coming. Now she was at a horrible disadvantage and knew the battle would be short.

"Kitsune, Fire Blast!"

"Powerplant, Leech seed!"

As Sarie predicted, Kitsune was faster. Powerplant fell to the fire fox's attack, the ultimate fire attack. The Venusaur stood no chance.

"Return! Go, Tassadar!"

"Kitsune, quick attack!"

"Tassadar, Psychic!"

Tassadar knew how to destroy minds, and was deeply hurt by his friend's pain. He did not like to fail his friends, and knew all their loss would be for nothing if he did not win. He knew he could strike fear into the hears and minds of the boy and his pokemon, but instead of a show of power, all he said was, I will not let this pain go unpunished. It was so quiet after that statement had been placed into the ninetails's and boy's minds that you could hear a pin drop. Before Radic could even tell an attack was going on, ninetails had fainted. Tassadar had used a special attack that rarely ever showed in his victims. The only sign of the attack was a slight yellow glow in his eyes and around his spoons.

"Kitsune, no! Return! Go, Calima!"

Tass, this could be bad. Really bad. Sarie said mentally into Tassadar's mind.

It is bug. I am psychic. I see the weakness.

Use the recovery tactic. It may be our only hope.

"Tassadar, Toxic!"

"Calima, Spore!"

Tassadar spat the toxic acid all over the Parasect's body just as the sleeping spores passed over Tassadar. The bug reeled from the poison as Tassadar flopped down in the grass and Mew's blood, asleep.

"Calima, Leech Life!"

Wake up!

Slee-e-e-ee-ep...

Calima sunk both claws into Tassadar's shoulders, draining the life from the Alakasam. Tassadar thrashed about wildly in his sleep as his hit points went lower and lower, the claws still draining life from him.

"No... Tassadar! Psychic!" Sarie cried as two red marks slowly formed on her shoulders, her psychic connection to the Alakasam giving her the same wounds as he had.

Sleep..... Tassadar gave up trying to wake up. His head thudded into the grass, his whole body in faint. Sarie fell to her knees and returned Tassadar to his pokeball, feeling stupid for not packing a revive in her bag. Radic knelt beside Calima and gave her an antidote, silently thanking her for her work. Calima made small chittering noises of happiness.

"Good fight, Radic. Good luck in the leagues." Sarie said, shaking Radic's hand. Her shoulders hurt terribly and her head was splitting, but she couldn't be uncourteous or unkind.

"Thanks. You did really well yourself!" Radic said, returning Calima. Red snorted derisively in the background.

"Hah, that was no match. Both of you are born losers. Pardon my rudeness, but I have some business to attend to." Red sneered, walking with head high towards one of the hotels.

"Don't mind him. He and I are rivals. Do you have a rival?" Radic asked.

Sarie looked up at Radic as she placed a band-aid on her shoulder. "I sure do! Her name is Krad. She's not much of a rival, though." She sniggered, remembering her previous encounters with the snobbish brat trainer.

"Will Beth Burts and Richie Flash please report to the rock field now!" the loudspeaker blared, causing Beth and Friends to stop what they were doing and head quickly towards the rock stadium.

"Gotta go, see you later!" Sarie said to Radic. She let out all of her pokemon, who were dead tired.

Tass, could ya use recover on all of us? Sarie asked Tassadar.

Aye. Tassadar, who was now strong enough to use his attacks, used the move recover on himself, Sarie, and his five friends. After being healed, the six and their trainer followed Beth towards the field and a truly stunning match.

Chapter 40

Fury

"Here we go . . . " Beth mumbled as she stepped into the arena. The sun had passed its zenith and had begun to sink slowly towards the horizon. Bathed in the glow of the afternoon sun, Beth faced her opponent in a fight that she had waited her whole life to win.

"Red trainer Beth Burts is battling the blue trainer, Richie Flash! Let the battle begin!"

"Go, Chester!"

"Go, Sparky!"

Raichu faced Raichu, cheek sacks buzzing, tails whipping, eyes glowing. Neither would give any mercy, and utter hatred was the order of the day between the two.

"Chester, Mega Kick!"

"Sparky, Quick Attack!"

With an angry growl, Sparky threw himself at Chester, knocking the other Raichu to the ground. Chester retaliated with a mighty mega kick to Sparky's stomach, winding the electric rat.

"Sparky, Body Slam!"

"Chester, Hyperbeam!"

Sparky proved himself to be stronger and faster and used his speed to smash Chester into Beth's battle platform. Chester stood, blood trickling from between his lips. With a cry of rage, he blasted Sparky backwards into Richie's platform with hyper beam. Sparky gave a groan of pain, but refused to give up. With a snarl of rage, he smashed his head into Chester's leg, snapping it.

"Chester! Thunder!"

"Sparky, finish it!"

Chester gathered all his strength and leaped out of the way just as Sparky came crashing into a rock just behind him. With a mad laugh, Chester thunder attacked the other Raichu. Sparky fell with a heavy thud onto the rocks, his will to fight gone.

"Return, Sparky! Go, Zippo! Fire Blast!"

"Chesteeeeeeeeerrr! Nooo! Return! Go, Bubblebeamer!" Beth cried, tears in her eyes. Chester's pain was something that hurt her very much.

"Zippo, Dig underground!"

"Bubblebeamer, Withdraw!"

Bubble pulled his head and arms into his shell as the Charizard dove underneath the rocky ground, spraying both trainers with rock dust. After a few tense moments, Zippo re-appeared underneath Bubblebeamer, breaking the Blastois's shell. Bubblebeamer rolled a few feet before dazedly standing up on a rocky outcropping. He attempted to retaliate with a surf attack, but Zippo's hefty slash across the face came sooner. With a groan of agony, Bubblebeamer fell to the floor, too wounded to fight. Beth recalled her Blastois, disbelief in her eyes. The announcer did little to help.

"Oh, a Charizard has taken out a Blastois! I've never seen anything like this before!"

Beth was about to send out Waterpup to fight, Moonstone's pokeball opened up first.

"Clef, fable! Clefablefable!" Moonstone cried, hugging Beth.

"You want to avenge Bubble and Chester's fainting? Ok, then! Go, Moonstone!"

"The red trainer has a death wish! Clefable versus Charizard! This must be a last resort!" The announcer cried.

"Zippo, Dig!"

"Moonstone, Metronome!"

Moonstone dodged several large chunks of falling rocks, then began twitching her fingers back and forth. With a whoosh of air and a flap of tiny pink wings, Moonstone flew into the air high above the crowd. With a wild cheer, the audience stood up and clapped furiously for the Clefable. None of them liked the announcer, and everyone wanted him to be wrong.

"Zippo, not yet!!!" Richie cried desperately, but Zippo had already broken through the rocky surface.

"Moonstone, NOW!" Beth screamed as Moonstone dove in a flash towards the Charizard, holding her sharp little claws outward. With a cry of victory, she smashed Zippo's head into a rock, causing major damage.

"Zippo, Fire blast!"

"Moonstone, Bubblebeam!"

Moonstone dodged the searing bolt of flame and blasted a stream of bubbles at Zippo, fainting the Charizard in moments.

"Wow! Charizard is down!"

"Return, zippo! Gooooo, Happy!"

"Moonstone, Blizzard!"

"Happy, Psychic!"

Happy the butterfree tried to dodge the streaming ice but was hit with several huge chunks and fainted as quickly as it had come out.

"The Red Trainer has won!"

The crowd stood up and screamed their cheers, waving banners about wildly. Richie hung his head, but still walked up to Beth, offering his hand.

"Great battle!" He said, raising his head. Beth could see the tears glistening in the corners of his eyes and said, "You were great. It was luck that I won."

"Nah. You had equal-level pokemon. If happy had been better trained... but ya know, someone's gotta lose for the others to win. Thanks for a tense battle! I'll watch ya and cheer for ya!" Richie said, patting Beth on the back.

"Thanks, Richie." Beth saw that Richie was a true master trainer, even if he had lost. He had the heart of one, anyway.

Chapter 41

Taro Leans that brute strength really does win!

"All right, my turn." Taro growled, tightening the headband more firmly around his tousled hair. He entered the water stadium, many glares from Cerulean City trainers telling him to go back. He glared right back, refusing to give up and let Misty win. He had beaten her once, he'd do it again.

"The red trainer, Taro, will be battling the blue trainer, Misty Waterflower from Cerulean. Let the battle begin!"

"Go, Starmie!"

"Go, Tauros!"

"Tauros, Thunder!"

"Starmie, Psychic!"

Tauros turned his head from the harsh psychic blow, his brain splitting from the internal shockwaves. With a bellow of rage, Tauros reared up and, following his instincts rather than Taro's orders, bashed a hoof into Starmie's gem center. Starmie, who had an extremely low defense, reeled from the blow. Taro realized that his Tauros was right in thinking of the physical attack and planned a totally new strategy.

"Tauros, Take Down!"

"Starmie, Recover!"

Tauros was swifter this time and slammed his massive bulk into the Star-shaped pokemon. Starmie reeled and fainted into the water just as Tauros fell to his knees. Both trainers returned their pokemon, rage evident in their eyes.

"Go, Seadra!"

"Go, Tar!"

"Seadra, Hydro Pump!"

"Tar, Body Slam!"

Although Tar was badly injured by the Seadra's water attack, he wasn't weak enough to faint. With an oozy cry of anger, the Muk covered Seadra in slime as he body slammed the unfortunate seahorse pokemon. Seadra gave an angry cry as its body froze up, paralyzed to the spot.

"Yes! Tar, we've got it now! Sludge!"

"Seadra, Quick Attack!"

Seadra summed up its strength and smashed itself into Tar, leaving a small dent in the behemoth sludge monster's side. Tar retaliated with sludge, fainting the Seadra.

"No! Return, Seadra! Goooo, GOLDUCK! Psychic!"

"Tar, return! Go, Chip!"

"Golduck, slash!"

"Chip, Spike Cannon!"

Golduck cautiously approached the huge, deadly, well armored Cloyster and extended three small, sharp, deadly claws. It waited, watching the Cloyster for any signs of it opening its shell. When a few moments had passed, Golduck slashed three deep scores into Chips's shell. Chip barely felt it and as soon as Golduck stepped within rage, the wily Cloyster let loose with a bombard of razor-sharp needle spines, strait into Golduck's leg. Golduck reeled and fell into the water, knowing its only hope was in its own medium. The Cloyster followed, still shooting spikes at the duck pokemon.

"Golduck, Thunder now!"

"Chip, Aurora Beam!"

Taro had only a split second to figure out how to stop Golduck from fainting Chip, but he came through amazingly with a plan. In order to keep Golduck from electrocuting Chip, some sort of wall had to be made. Ice would keep the thunder out.

Chip blasted a freezing beam of ice at Golduck, covering the water top with ice and blocking the thunder. Golduck, who was running out of energy and breath, panicked and desperately tried to break through the ice, but failed and fainted. Chip, who had learned compassion from his master, saw that Golduck would suffocate if without oxygen, so he broke the ice and lifted Golduck onto the crust. At that moment the Golduck stopped playing dead and landed a Thunder directly into Chip's system, instantly fainting the shell pokemon. Taro let his mouth drop open in surprise, fury, and sadness. He slowly raised the pokeball to return Chip, his eyes beginning to water. How could he lose?

"And the Red Trainer has lost! Misty is the winner!"

"No!" Misty shouted, completely freezing the audience in place. Taro looked up, wiping a grubby hand across his nose. What was Misty doing? "He won! Golduck would have fainted if Cloyster had left him! It was only 'cause Golduck cheated that I won. Give the victory to him, he needs it more than I do!" Misty shouted to the announcer. After a moment of complete silence, the entire audience leaped off their chairs, screaming and cheering wildly for the noble act by the Gym Leader. Amongst the cheers and blaring announcer, no one could hear Taro mumbling thanks to his pokemon. No one had to. It was his own private moment, and nothing would spoil it.

"Dang! I thought you were gone there for a minute!" Beth cheered as the five walked back to the cabin.

"Yeah, so did I." Taro sighed, still stunned form his near loss.

"Haha, I had no doubts!" Adnap said.

"She wouldn't..." Sarie mumbled to Beth.

"What was that?" Adnap asked.

"Oh nothing..." Sarie said, whistling a nameless tune.

"You know, can we all just get along?" Alec asked.

"Shut up!" Everyone cried, laughing. "We do get along!"