PoKéMoN
The Journey – An Other Trainer story by BenRG
Legal Disclaimer
Pokémon, the Pocket Monsters and all characters and institutions connected with them are the property of Nintendo Entertainment, Game Freak Software and 4Kids Entertainment. This is a non-profit work written for free distribution through the world-wide web. No infringement of any copyright or legal property intended.
Peter Croft and Lia McAlester are entirely my creations, as are all the other original characters. Keep your eyes open, for there could be an FF.NET author in there somewhere!
Author's Notes
Some New Trainer stories are good, some are not so good and some are just dire. I've never tried this genre before, so I'm going to try it now. If this is bad, then say so for pity's sake and I'll stop!
Okay, usual warnings apply. I don't know the continuity or the moves very well, so I'll be faking it most of the time.
Text in Italics is thought.
Text in "Quotes and Italics" is speech from some kind of loudspeaker, phone, etc.
Censor: PG – Because Pokémon fight, and fights can be unpleasant things.
Continuity Note: Ash is 17; Misty is 18, nearly 19; Brock is 25.
Chapter 11 – The Hard Path (Boulder Badge Part II)
"So you are going to go for it today?" Lia asked Peter, her eyes alight with life and excitement. "You are going to challenge Flint for the Boulder Badge?"
The cafeteria in the Pewter City Pokémon Centre was not too busy this morning, but there were still dozens of young novices and older full Trainers talking about what they wanted to do that day. Peter grinned excitedly at his friend and travelling companion. "Yeah!" he said firmly. "I know just how I'm going to do it too!" Peter took a moment to look at his seven Pokémon, who were all affected by his confidence and excitement. He tickled Shadow between the ears before turning back to Lia. "What about you?"
"Hey, plant-types are good against rock-types," Lia reminded Peter, patting her Chikorita on his head leaf. "I can't lose, so why should I wait any longer?"
"Ah-ah, Ms. McAlester," Peter said, wagging a finger warningly, deepening his voice so that he sounded a little like Master Ash during his impromptu lecture yesterday. "Remember the price of overconfidence." Lia stuck out her tongue impishly and both youngsters laughed, feeling confident and very excited.
[Well, they seem ready for just about anything,] Shadow remarked. Shock and Spark the Pikachus looked at their vulpine friend thoughtfully.
[I just hope they really are ready,] Shock said nervously. Fighting the Pokémon of other trainers was one thing, but from what the older Pokémon she had met over the last two days had told her, fighting a Gym Leader's Pokémon was something completely different.
[Ah, come on!] Spark shot in, grinning confidently. [This is going to be great! I can't wait to show them that a Pikachu can beat anything.] Both the small electric-types had felt very insulted by the suggestion that they could not beat rock- or ground-types. Spark, the more adventurous of the two, couldn't wait to prove the conventional wisdom wrong.
[Some of us, of course, don't even have to try hard,] Chikorita commented smugly. Ever since the Pokémon had learnt that they were to fight rock-types, the plant-type had been parading his type advantage like it was a badge of honour.
[We'll see,] Shadow said thoughtfully. From what he had seen yesterday, Flint Slate was no pushover in terms of skill. He would have faced, and beaten, plant-types before.
Curious, the baby Pichu, had been watching everything and listening to everything in a thoughtful way. She didn't understand everything, but she was smart enough to figure out that something big was scheduled to happen today. She also had figured out that it would involve a fight. [Will I fight too, when I grow up?] she asked.
There was a long pause as everyone at and around the table considered the cute Pichu's innocent question. "If you want to," Peter said at last.
[Don't be in a hurry, though,] Shock advised.
***
A mile away, in the Gym Leader's residence of the Boulder Gym, two young people were awakening to the new day in a slightly more luxurious manner than that experienced by the novices in the bunk beds at the Pokémon Centre.
Ash was curled up on his bed with Misty spooned up against his back, making him feel happy and content. It had been a bit of an embarrassment when Flint had calmly given them a room with a double bed. However, after a moment's hesitation, they realised that they shouldn't be so silly. They had slept curled around each other on the road many times, so why not in a decent bed for once?
Of course, this was the first time they had stayed at the residence, although they had been to Pewter City many times. Since the second and third children of the family, Diamond ('Di') and Steel had moved out (Diamond on her Pokémon Journey and Steel to his own apartment), Flint now had the room to keep houseguests. Ash and Misty were the only guests in the house right now. Tracey and Karlie had departed on Tracey's Pidgeot for some kind of romantic tryst in Fuchsia City and Joy had her rooms at the Pokémon Centre. Brock, as the eldest son of the family, didn't count as a guest.
[Ash…? Ash, it's time to wake up!] Raichu said gently, nuzzling his Trainer's face with his nose. When Ash didn't immediately respond, he began to charge up his cheek pads for an electric awakening.
"Don't think about it," Misty said in a dangerous, warning tone. Raichu blinked in surprise. He hadn't realised that his Trainer's mate was awake, but although her eyes were closed she clearly was aware of what was going on around her. Raichu stepped back and let his attack drain away through his tail. If Misty said 'no,' you took her word for it, if you wanted to stay healthy.
"Thanks, Misty," Ash said with a slight smile, his eyes still firmly shut.
Suddenly the bedroom door burst open and a girl with glorious long walnut brown hair and amber almond-shaped eyes ran in. "Hey guys! Rise and shine!" Emerald ('Emma') Slate announced in a high, excited tone of voice. The girl looked at the young man and woman that she had known since she was just seven years old and sighed in annoyance. "Come on, you'll miss breakfast," she snapped. She hauled the quilted cover off the bed, totally ignoring Ash and Misty's state of complete undress, and stomped away, feeling only disgust at the two slugabeds.
There was a long pause as Ash and Misty stared after the departed girl. "Not even slightly worried about bursting into someone else's bedroom," Misty said at last, laughter sparkling in her green eyes.
"That's what you get from coming from such a huge and close family, I guess," Ash said with a slight smile.
"I guess," Misty agreed. Although she had three sisters, they had never been as close as Brock's family, who all clearly enjoyed a friendship and ease with each other that she had never known at the Cascade Gym.
A few minutes later, a still yawning Pokémon Master and his League Trainer fiancée entered the dining room of the Gym Leader's residence. They enjoyed the typically ethnic Japanese breakfast (including a wonderful tea that Brock proudly announced was his sister Sapphire's speciality). Meanwhile, Ash found his eyes searching the room, looking for those little clues that would tell him a little about the quiet and thoughtful Pewter City Gym Leader.
His eyes finally came to rest on a set of photographs. The portrait of the whole family, taken during Ash, Misty and Brock's visit to Pewter City three years ago was a familiar image, although the scowl on Steel's face didn't fit with the other generally happy siblings. Ash had just beaten Brock's brother in a battle for the first time and Steel had still been trying to figure out how this had happened.
What Ash had never seen before was the wedding portrait: Flint and Brock's mother, who his best friend spoke about only rarely. Remaining casual, Ash stood up and walked over for a closer look. He was pretending to be looking at the photographs from Di's recent victory in the full Indigo League. When he got close enough, he realised that there was something familiar about Brock's late mother (he remembered that her name was Maddie).
Ash walked back to the table thinking furiously. Suddenly he found himself thinking of a familiar face. He subtracted the fawn brown hair and made the woman a titian like Brock's mother. Add reading glasses and a rather cold and formal demeanour in place of Maddie's joyous smile and… Oh my God! Professor Ivy! This explained Brock's incredible trauma and his unwillingness even to talk about his experiences on Valencia Island. It also explained why Professor Ivy, when Ash, Misty and Tracey visited her last year, still had a picture of Brock (taken during his time on the Island) on her desk.
Unconsciously, Ash's eyes moved over to where Brock was eating his breakfast. To Ash's surprise, Brock was looking right back at him, his amber eyes filled with pain, but also approval and thanks. Brock had been tired of keeping his horrible secret, and he knew that he could trust Ash.
"So what are you planning to do next?" Ash nearly jumped out of his skin. He turned to face Flint and tried to get his mind back on track.
"Oh! Uh…" Ash shook his head. "Well, we're going back to Pallet Town for a few months, then I have to make an official tour of all the League's gyms as the new Pokémon Master. Basically it is so all the Gym Leaders can check me out or something. After that, I've got to decide what I want to do, as I'm not allowed to compete in the Leagues anymore: Stay at the Plateau full-time, have my own gym, or whatever."
"Ash is going to set up a gym," Misty added, looking excited at the prospect. "It's going to be in Pallet Town. He's decided to call it the Blue Thunder." Misty looked around the others at the table. "I think that's a great name," she added, sounding defensive for some reason.
"Well, it's about time that the town had its' own Gym," Flint remarked. "I'm surprised that Gary didn't do that himself rather than take over the Earth Gym."
Ash shrugged easily. He had made his peace with Gary a long time ago and had come to terms with the other man's many good qualities. "Gary loves the Earth Gym too much to start again somewhere else," Ash said. "It gave him drive and direction when he was still feeling very low over being disqualified from the Johto League for a technical infraction." That (frankly petty) decision had enraged Ash at the time and his official protest to the League Commissioners had been the first major step in his reconciliation with Gary.
"Giselle has helped him heal too, in her own way," Misty said, her expression bland. Brock and Ash both nearly choked on their breakfasts.
After that moment had passed, Ash decided that making small talk was better than thinking about Professor Ivy. "So, how is Mick doing?" he asked Flint. Flint's youngest child, Mica Slate, had left early that spring on his own Pokémon Journey.
"He's reached Cerulean City," Flint said. "He is currently trying to find a plant-type or two to use to fight for the Cascade Badge." The Boulder Gym Leader looked at Misty. "Daisy and Lilly say 'hi,' by the way," he continued. "Or, more accurately," suddenly, Flint modulated his voice into an airy falsetto with a thick Northeast Coast accent, "they said: 'like, hi Baby Sis!'"
Ash and Misty were staring at each other in utter shock at this impersonation of the Sensational Sisters. Then everyone at the table started laughing.
***
Peter was suddenly experiencing the most profound performance anxiety that he had ever known. He was standing at the entrance arch of the Boulder Gym again. He had Shadow, Shock, Buck, Bugsy, Thumper and Stinger the Weedle (who was doing very well). He had been training hard (and had done some more this morning) and he was confident in his strategy and moves, but even so…
"For crying out loud, get on with it," Lia said impatiently. Peter jumped and looked at her. "Go in before I have Chikorita carry you in," the oriental girl continued, gesturing at the entrance. Lia didn't look nervous at all, and that affected Peter's pride. If she was confident and relaxed, then he was worrying about nothing.
"I was just finishing my victory speech in my head," Peter announced and immediately kicked himself mentally for saying something that was so arrogant it was simply stupid. Lia must have recognised Peter's reaction to his own words because she had to fight to keep her laughter in. Curious, who was sitting in one of the pockets of Peter's coat, didn't even bother to try.
"Hi! It's good to see you again!" Ruby called out. "How are you?"
"Geo-eo-dude!" her Geodude added, waving its' powerful arms in greeting.
Peter and Lia were both surprised at the Gym Leader's daughter having recognised them, but they got over it quickly enough. "Hello Ruby," Peter said. "We're here to challenge for the Boulder Badge."
"Oh, now that is good news," Ruby announced, her smile suddenly looking rather vicious. She turned to enter the fighting arena and gestured for them to follow her.
The three young people entered the fighting arena, which was quiet this afternoon. A few Trainers were practising off to one side and Peter could see Steel teaching a class of very young novices at the other end of the arena. "Of course, it isn't as simple as walking in and challenging Dad," Ruby continued. "You have to show that you are ready to challenge him first." Ruby giggled infectiously for a moment. "The official League literature says that you must 'prove your worthiness to challenge the Gym Leader.'"
Peter blinked in surprise at this unexpected check. Lia sighed and rolled her eyes. "Okay, how do we do that then?" she asked. She barely kept the sarcasm out of her voice.
"Simple," said another voice, one very similar to Ruby's. "You face and defeat us!" Another oriental girl suddenly stepped forwards from where she was leaning on the back wall of the arena. This newcomer was nearly identical to Ruby, except that her hair was shorter and instead of a red tank top and blue jeans, she was wearing a blue tank top and red slacks.
"My twin sister, Sapphire," Ruby explained. Suddenly, she whirled to face the two novices. "Let's do it, Peter," she said. "Two on two. The one with a Pokémon standing at the end is the winner! Go Granite!"
Peter was taken by surprise as Ruby's Geodude (named 'Granite,' obviously) shot forwards from his Trainer to hover in between her and Peter. "Hey, this is a bit quick isn't it?" Lia protested, backing away from the scowling rock-type as quickly as she could. The absolute confidence in the expressions of the Slate twins had managed to dent even her self-confidence.
"A good Trainer has to be ready to battle any time, anywhere," Sapphire said, her face twisted with a contemptuous smirk. "I'll show you exactly what that means. Go Diglett!" Sapphire pulled a Pokéball from behind her and tossed it forwards. The ball split open and disgorged a flash of light that resolved into the brown mole-like ground-type. Diglett hit the ground digging and her head emerged from a hole a second later. The little ground-type glared at Lia dangerously.
Ruby and Sapphire smiled at each other. "They look frozen with fear, Sis," Ruby said with a smug laugh.
"Yeah, I guess that they aren't ready," Sapphire said with an equally smug chuckle.
Peter growled angrily. There was one thing that he could not stand and that was people looking down at him in this condescending way. "Okay, you want a fight, then you've got one!" Peter snapped. He pulled out a Pokéball. "Shock, I choose you!"
Ruby stared in disbelief as the Pikachu materialised opposite her Geodude. "Haven't you listened to anything anyone has told you about rock-types?" she asked. "Electric attacks just don't work on them!"
"Who said anything about using electrical attacks?" Peter asked. Ruby frowned and looked at her opponent with sudden concentration.
"I'll show you to not shoot off your mouth," Lia growled angrily. She pulled out a Pokéball and released her Rattata.
"Okay then," Ruby announced. "Let's see what you've got, Peter. Granite… Tackle attack, now!"
Peter gestured and Shock darted to one side, avoiding the rock-type's sudden charge. "Use Tail Whip!" Peter ordered. Shock complied, batting her stiff thunderbolt-shaped tail across the rock-type's face. Granite reeled back, a little stunned. "Now use Growl!" Peter ordered.
"Use Tackle again!" Ruby shouted. Granite obediently shot forwards, but Shock's sonic attack affected him, causing him to slow and waver in his charge. Shock was still knocked flying, but Peter could see that she wasn't badly hurt.
"Okay, Shock, use Tail Whip again!" Peter ordered.
[Okay Rock-face, take this!] Shock squeaked. She leapt forwards and slapped her tail across Granite's face again.
"Use Mega Punch!" Ruby called. The rock-type lashed out, but Shock's agility meant that the attack missed by a comfortable distance.
"Okay, Shock, use Quick Attack!" Peter ordered. Shock darted forwards, almost turning into a yellow blur because she was moving so fast. The impact of several high-speed slaps and kicks sent the Geodude tumbling away with a roar of pain.
[Yay! Go Sis!] Curious cheered excitedly.
"Granite! Are you okay?" Ruby asked breathlessly.
"Dude-geo-dude!" Granite replied, giving his Trainer a thumbs-up.
"Okay, use Rock Throw!" Ruby ordered. Peter shouted at Shock to dodge, but even she wasn't fast enough to dodge the lump of rock that Granite ripped out of the sandy floor of the arena and threw at her.
"Shock! Be careful!" Peter shouted. Shock turned to look at the Geodude again and Peter could tell that she wasn't hurt, she was angry. "You can take it! Use Quick Attack again!" Shock blurred forwards again, and another series of slaps and kicks drove Granite back several paces.
"Use Rollout," Ruby ordered. Granite tucked in his arms and suddenly rolled forwards like a living bowling ball.
Amazingly, Shock managed to dodge all but the last of the five fast passes that Granite made at her. "Use Pound," Peter ordered. Shock leapt forwards and drove her feet against the rock-type, driving him into the loose sandy ground before he had the chance to unfold back into his fighting posture. Granite's glowing yellow eyes crossed over in pain and he made a strange, rumbling, groaning sound.
Ruby winced, raised a Pokéball and recalled her beaten Pokémon. "Not bad," she allowed. "Let's see how you do against my starter, though. Go Avalanche!" Ruby threw forwards another Pokéball. Another Geodude materialised, this one much larger and clearly much stronger.
Peter wasn't going to take any chances with this thing. "Okay, that's enough, Shock," he said quietly. From the look on her face, the little Pikachu was very glad to run back to his side. "Okay, go Buck!" Peter ordered, releasing his Rattata.
Over to the left, Peter could see that Lia's Rattata had made short work of Sapphire's Diglett, but the little normal-type was clearly having a lot of trouble with the other girl's Zubat.
"Rattata, use Tackle!" Lia called. Rattata threw herself forwards, but the agile sonic/flying type easily dodged that attack. "Okay, use Quick Attack instead! You are faster than him, I know it"
"Use Screech!" Sapphire countered. Zubat made the most awful sound that Lia had ever heard and Rattata went staggering backwards, her eyes closed in pain. A concussion wave of sonically compressed air slammed into the normal-type less than a second later and knocked her over onto her side.
"Rattata! Oh no!" Lia was horrified at this turn of events. "Quickly! Get up!"
"Let's finish this Zubat," Sapphire called. "Use Bite!" The bat-like Pokémon fluttered forwards and drove his sharp canine teeth into Rattata's side as the normal-type was staggering to her feet. Rattata squealed in pain and fell over again. This time, her eyes stayed closed and she didn't get up.
"Rattata!" Lia shouted, tears starting in her eyes. She ran over to hug her injured and unconscious Pokémon. "Oh, Rattata, I'm sorry," she whispered.
"Okay, we're even now," Sapphire said. She held out her arm so Zubat could land on it and fed him a treat. She noticed the way that Lia was hugging her fallen Rattata and decided that the girl was having second thoughts. That was no shame. A good Trainer never pushed his or her Pokémon further than they were ready to go. "Do you want to yield?" Sapphire asked, all business.
Lia felt really angry at what had just happened. Worse still, this had affected her confidence. How could that pathetic fluttering thing have beaten Rattata so easily? Was she really good enough to win the Boulder Badge? Lia's doubts suddenly changed into anger as she recalled her hurt friend to her Pokéball. "I don't give up ever," she announced angrily. "Go Spark!" Lia released her Pikachu.
Sapphire immediately realised that she was in trouble. Although the leaders of the Boulder Gym often used members of the Zubat evolutionary chain, it wasn't a rock- or ground-type, but a flying-type, which had a disadvantage against electric-types. She threw Zubat into the air, giving him a little assistance in taking off. "Use Leech Life, Zubat!"
Zubat's powerful bug-type attack boiled forwards and sucked energy from Spark, which he immediately added to his own power. Lia gasped in fear. "Spark?"
The Pikachu shook his head in shock. [I'm okay!] he called.
"Okay, use Thunder-shock!" Lia ordered. Sapphire shouted at Zubat to dodge, but it was too late. The massive electrostatic pulse slammed into the fluttering Pokémon and sent him crashing to the ground. Much to Lia's surprise, he pulled himself up again and was able to respond to his Trainer by using a Screech attack. "Don't panic Spark!" Lia called desperately. "Use Thunder Wave!"
The wall of electrostatic charge flashed over Zubat and made him squeal in pain, a more ear-perforating sound than even his Screech attack. "Zubat! Are you okay?" Sapphire called out.
"Zu-zu-uuu!" Zubat groaned. He was barely moving. Obviously, the electrical attacks had done something aggravating to his nervous system and had paralysed him.
Sapphire sighed slightly. "Okay, you did your best," she said. She recalled Zubat to his Pokéball. "So it's two-one to you," she concluded.
"Ha! Yes! That's what you get!" Lia shouted out exultantly. She knelt and held her arms out so Spark could leap into her arms. "Who's the best? Come on, let me hear it!"
"Why don't we ask your Rattata instead?" Sapphire asked acidically. Lia's mouth dropped open and she had to fight against the tears pressing against the back of her eyes. "Never forget how afraid you were for her," the older girl snarled. "Remember that every time you feel the need to gloat over a victory!"
Lia swallowed and was about to retort with something suitably nasty along the theme of 'poor losers.' However, the look in Sapphire's eyes dissuaded her. She suddenly realised that this was something important. Sapphire was clearly upset and worried about Zubat. So worried, in fact, that she had yielded rather than continue fighting. Lia did know how that felt. Lia looked inward as she tried to absorb this radical new concept: Empathy. It wasn't something that her father encouraged, although her mother seemed to be of a different mind to him on the subject. However, Usimi McAlester was very ethnic, and she would never defy her husband in front of the children.
Lia shook her head and looked over at Peter. Ruby was comforting her second Geodude, who Shock had just knocked down with a Quick Attack. Peter was feeding the Pikachu a Restore-HP potion and was stroking her head in gentle gratitude. Curious was hugging her sister and congratulating her loudly, her laughing voice filling the air with joyful feelings.
***
Flint had been looking at the battle between his daughters and the two Novices, Ash decided, but he didn't actually seem to be watching it. He seemed very far away this morning. Suddenly he spoke. "Ash," he said in a quiet, worried tone of voice. "I… Uh… I spoke to Lance yesterday."
Ash stiffened slightly when he heard that name. "Yeah?" he said without enthusiasm. "Still trying to find someone to convince me to appoint him my advisor and mentor?"
Flint smiled slightly. "Something like that," he said. "I'm more worried about his parting crack, though. He made a very specific comment about the 'next Pokémon Master valuing his friendship more.'"
Ash nodded. "He figures that I won't be able to keep the title too long," he said. "He said as much to Misty a few weeks ago when she refused to help him." Ash laughed in a slightly sour way. "I think he has actually got a candidate lined up to challenge me next season." Ash's eyes darkened. "It just proves how shallow his attempts at 'reconciliation' really are."
"Well, so long as you are prepared," Flint said. "Lance is a determined man with very few scruples, Ash. You'd be well advised to watch your back."
"I always do," Ash responded.
Suddenly, the two novices, the brown-blond-haired boy with the glasses and the oriental girl with shoulder-length black hair strode forwards. The boy, who had a Pikachu riding on his shoulder, licked his lips nervously before speaking. "Gym Leader? I am Peter Croft of Pallet Town. I challenge you for the Boulder Badge!"
Flint smiled as the girl stepped forwards to her friend's side. "As do I, Lia McAlester of Pallet Town!"
"That's just fine by me," Flint said. "Which of you goes first?"
That led to a moment's confusion between the novices that made Ash smile slightly. Finally, the boy shrugged. "That's me, I guess," he said. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his Pichu and handed him to the girl. "Look after Curious for me, Lia," he said. That is when Flint recognised him. This was the boy with the seventh Pokémon who Ash had gone out on a limb to help yesterday. Well, this promised to be an interesting battle.
***
"The lesson of the Boulder Badge is simple," Flint announced from the other end of the fighting arena. "No matter how powerful the Pokémon you fight, if your defence is strong enough, you can prevail. We will see now if you have learnt that lesson." Flint pulled out a Pokéball and weighed it in his hand for a moment. "This will be a two-on-two match. Are you ready?" The young boy from Pallet Town nodded firmly. Ash noticed the nervousness in his posture and smiled slightly, remembering his own horrified disbelief when Brock beat him the first time. "Okay," Flint said, "Let's begin. Go Graveler!" Flint threw his Pokéball, which split apart mid-air and spat out a flash of light that resolved into a beach-ball sized boulder with four arms, two huge heavy clawed arms and two lighter ones with fine manipulator hands. Graveler was the evolved form of Geodude and was every bit as powerful as it looked.
Peter swallowed slightly as he stared at the huge floating rock-type, but he was as ready as he was going to get. "Bugsy, I choose you!" he shouted, releasing his Butterfree.
There was a long frozen moment before Flint opened up with Graveler's most powerful attack of use against a flying Pokémon. The massive rock-type physically ripped one of the huge boulders littering the arena floor out of the sand and threw it at Bugsy. The bug-type just barely managed to avoid the attack. "Use Confusion!" Peter shouted. Bugsy's eyes began to glow and Graveler staggered back, clearly shocked by the sudden painful psychic attack. Although it caused some damage, it didn't come close to stopping Graveler.
"Don't panic, Graveler," Flint urged, "use Defence Curl and then Tackle!" Graveler curled up, folding his arms against his body until he resembled a massive floating boulder and threw himself at Bugsy, shrugging off a second Confusion attack as he charged. Once again, the bug/flying-type dodged the attack, but it was only by a narrow margin this time.
Peter came out in a sweat. Bugsy's most powerful attack hadn't caused very much damage, and he clearly wasn't agile enough to avoid Graveler long enough to win a battle of attrition. Suddenly Peter realised exactly how to handle this. "Use Harden, Bugsy!" he commanded. Bugsy shot his Trainer an incredulous look, but he trusted Peter's judgement enough to comply without question. Another flying Tackle from Graveler barely missed Bugsy and, much to everyone's shock, Peter had his Butterfree use Harden again.
This time, Graveler didn't miss and Peter visibly winced as Graveler flattened Bugsy against the arena wall, leaving a substantial crater. The rock-type backed off. "Bugsy? You okay, pal?" Peter called out.
Amazingly, Bugsy pulled himself out of the crater and fluttered away to hover over Peter's head. [Down, but never for the full count, Boss,] the Butterfree said, sounding a bit woozy, but not too weak to fight. [Let's rock! Pun intended, of course.]
Peter grinned. "Okay, use Confusion again!" he commanded.
"Damn it!" Flint hissed. "Okay, use Tackle again, Graveler! Wear him down!" Another psychic attack slammed into Graveler as he charged forwards. Bugsy dodged the attack this time, and countered with a Tackle as the rock-type shot past. Graveler scored a glancing hit with his next attack, but Bugsy's hardened skin protected him from too much damage and Bugsy was again able to counter with a Tackle of his own. As Graveler attacked a third time, Bugsy hit the rock-type with another Confusion attack. This time the psychic attack seemed to do some damage and Graveler's Tackle went wide. The rock-type smashed another crater in the arena wall and struggled to free himself for a few moments.
"Okay, use String Shot and then Tackle!" Peter shouted, holding in an urge to cheer. The sticky silken strands that Bugsy spat all over Graveler tangled up the rock-type's arms and he had to struggle to free himself. He was unable to respond as the Butterfree slammed himself against the larger Pokémon's rocky tiara-like brow ridge. Graveler grunted in pain and reeled backwards. Amazingly, Bugsy didn't seem too affected by having just struck a living rock head-on.
"Use Defence Curl again, Graveler!" Flint commanded. Graveler folded himself up into a rocky ball again.
"Use Confusion!" Peter ordered. Bugsy's eyes glowed with power and Graveler groaned in pain. The rock-type unfolded and fell limply to the ground. Flint smiled ruefully and recalled him to his Pokéball without comment.
"Yeah! Great job, Bugsy!" Peter shouted in glee.
"You go, boy! Great work, Peter!" Lia called out. Curious, who was sitting on the girl's head was also loud in congratulation.
Peter felt a bit giddy, but he wasn't so happy that he forgot his debt to Bugsy for fighting so well on his behalf. According to his Pokédex, the bug/flying-type had used up a third of his attack power in fighting Graveler, and his health was at 33%. "Okay, you did a fantastic job Bugsy," Peter said quietly as the Butterfree landed on his raised left arm. Peter stroked Bugsy's head gently and gratefully. "I am so very proud of you being so brave and strong. Now rest up for a bit."
[A rest would be good,] Bugsy admitted, sounding a bit out of breath. Peter raised his Pokéball and recalled his friend.
"Not at all bad, Peter," Flint said. "Now lets' see how you handle an opponent with more raw power." Flint pulled out a Pokéball. "Go Rhyhorn!" Peter looked on in more than a little horror as the four-limbed armour-plated one-ton tank materialised in front of Flint. Rhyhorn was one of the more destructive of the Rock-types. Far from intelligent, but with so much raw power that it just simply didn't matter.
Peter fretted for a moment before coming to his decision. There was only one Pokémon he had who he felt could handle this particular opponent. He pulled out a Pokéball and threw it forwards. "Go Shadow!" he called, releasing his Eevee. The little evolution fox looked almost pitiful as he stood in front of the gigantic rock rhino.
[You joking!] Rhyhorn giggled maliciously.
[We'll see who's laughing in a few minutes, stone-brain,] Shadow replied scornfully.
"Rhyhorn, use Stomp!" Flint commanded in a level tone of voice.
"Dodge it, Shadow!" Peter called. The Eevee barely avoided a ton of falling rock, but was unhurt. "Okay, use Sand Attack!" Shadow reversed his position and kicked some sand and grit from the arena floor into Rhyhorn's glowing yellow eyes. The rock-type roared in pain and surprise.
"Keep calm, Rhyhorn, use Horn Charge!" Rhyhorn shot forwards with a credible turn of speed for something of her size and weight. However, partially blinded, the attack didn't stand a chance of hitting its' target, and left the rock rhino wide open for a counter-attack. Shadow used Pound to stamp Rhyhorn's head into the soft floor, although the attack didn't seem to do much damage. Shadow danced backwards to avoid another Stomp attack.
"Now use Tail Whip!" Peter ordered.
[Yeah! Take this!] Shadow barked, shooting in to slap his tail across Rhyhorn's snout a few times. He immediately got clear, knowing that the other Pokémon was still strong and capable of a powerful response if he stayed at point-blank range.
"Don't panic, Rhyhorn," Flint called out. "Use Earthquake!" With a furious roar, Rhyhorn reared up onto her rear limbs and then dropped back down, smashing her forelimbs against the ground. A huge shock wave roared out and knocked everyone off of his or her feet.
"Oh wow!" Peter said. "Shadow, are you okay?"
[Uh… no,] the Eevee said as he staggered to his feet. He had clearly been stunned and badly hurt by the attack. He was trembling visibly as he tried to focus his eyes on his enemy. Peter briefly considered swapping him for Bugsy, but he wasn't sure if the Butterfree would be any better.
"Shadow, I know you hurt, but you are doing well. We've set him up and now he is going to take the fall! Use Focus Energy!"
"Counter with Horn Charge!" Flint cried out as Shadow began to sparkle with red-gold earth energy and threw himself towards Rhyhorn. Both Pokémon met head-on. There was an enormous red-gold flash of discharging earth energy and Shadow flew backwards from Rhyhorn's attack. The Eevee fell to the ground hard and then lay still.
Peter ran over to his fallen friend. "Shadow! Are you okay? Oh, God! Please don't be dead!" Peter skidded to his knees beside his friend and hugged him, tears pouring down his face.
[I'm… still… here… Peter…] Shadow said quietly. The Eevee closed his eyes and fainted. Peter hugged him again, feeling unutterably guilty at having sent his starter Pokémon into a battle where he was knocked out. When he looked up, he saw that Rhyhorn was still standing as the dust kicked up by the two attacks settled. There was a pause and then the rock-type fell on his side with a massive 'thud' that made everything and everyone in the arena shudder.
Flint shook his head. "Is your Butterfree still able to fight?" he asked Peter. Peter was surprised at that question and had to think hard for a moment before he could remember that, while weak, Bugsy was indeed still able to fight. He nodded mutely. "In that case, I have to congratulate you, Peter," Flint continued. "You have just won the Boulder Badge."
Shock leapt into the air with a wild cry of victory. Lia ran over to hug her friend warmly. "You did it Peter! You are just great!" Lia cried out excitedly, laughing and crying at the same time.
***
After seeing Peter win in such style, Lia felt much more confident. Of course, poor Shadow had fainted, but he had done his bit. Yes sir, she just couldn't lose now! "Okay, Chikorita, show them what you've got!" she called out, releasing her plant-type.
Flint smiled slightly. "You seem very confident, Lia," he said. "We'll see if that is justified. Go Larvitar!" Flit threw a Pokéball which released a small bipedal Pokémon with a green armoured hide and a fin-like projection from the top of its' head.
Peter blinked in surprise and pulled out his Pokédex. He had never seen or heard of anything like that before. He scanned the small creature and waited for a result.
"Pokémon #246 – Larvitar," Dexter reported, "a rock-type Pokémon. Larvitar is a powerful Pokémon from the Johto region of Kanto Island. As well as knowing several powerful attacks, Larvitar also has a very tough rock-like hide that makes it very difficult to injure in battle. Additionally, Larvitar is fast moving and agile, making it difficult to hit with ranged attacks.
"Larvitar is renowned for its' bad temper, and only the best Trainers can get good results from this Pokémon. Additionally, Larvitar only begins to learn powerful attacks at high experience levels, meaning that training a Larvitar is a long-term investment in time and effort.
"At experience level 30, Larvitar evolves to Pupitar, which in turn evolves to Tyranitar at Experience Level 55."
"You don't scare me with that thing! My Chikorita still has a type advantage," Lia said, and immediately regretted it. It made her sound like a silly, insecure baby.
"Use Sandstorm, Larvitar," Flint ordered. The small rock-type span on the spot and used its' powerful fan-shaped tail to blow up a storm of grit and dust. Both Pokémon vanished in the maelstrom and Lia heard Chikorita squeal in pain.
"Back off Chikorita!" Lia called. Chikorita staggered out of the storm of grit around Larvitar, looking shocked and hurt. Lia racked her brains for a counter-move for a moment before coming to a decision. "Use Growl, Chikorita!" The plant-type began to make the deep infrasonic tone that induced fear and weakness in other Pokémon.
Both Trainers began to sweat and Ash found himself wondering who would break first. As it turned out, it was Lia. "Okay, use Tackle!" Chikorita charged into the sandstorm, wincing in pain as he was struck by bits of gravel and dirt travelling at high speed. However, visibility wasn't so bad that he couldn't see Larvitar, and his attack struck home, sending the rock-type skidding across the ground. "Okay, use Vine Whip!" Lia shouted. Chikorita's vine whips lashed out and struck Larvitar across the face, making it shriek in pain.
"Use Bite, Larvitar!" Flint ordered. The rock-type staggered forwards, but Chikorita's Growl attack earlier had affected him and he wasn't able to strike with all his might. It left him exposed and vulnerable to another Vine Whip attack that sent him down for the count. As Larvitar fell, the Sandstorm attack began to dissipate.
"Yeah! Great job, Chikorita!" Lia yelled. She hugged her battered plant-type and gave him a Potion to restore his strength after the beating he had taken from the Sandstorm.
Flint recalled Larvitar without a word and released his Onyx. It was much bigger than the one trained by Barney the Spelunker in Diglett's Cave. It very nearly filled Flint's half of the arena. Oh my God, what is that thing? an appalled Peter asked himself. Level 40 or more? "Be careful, Lia," Peter warned.
"You don't have to tell me that," Lia said quietly. "Okay, Chikorita, use Poison Powder!" The little plant-type's poison attack looked pathetically small as it puffed around the massive rock-type, but it was doing damage, of that both Peter and Lia were certain. "Now use Vine Whip!"
"Use Screech," Flint ordered. The sonic-type attack rippled across the arena and sent Chikorita tumbling away with a cry of pain and surprise.
"Oh!" Lia was horrified at having one of her Pokémon hit like this again. "Chikorita, please get up! I know you can do it!" The plant-type staggered to his feet and looked at Onyx dangerously. "Well done! You're a winner! Now use Vine Whip!" This time the whips struck home across Onyx's face, making him bellow in pain. "Yeah! That showed him!" Lia crowed. It was unclear whether she meant Onyx or his Trainer.
"Use Tackle!" Flint ordered. Onyx launched himself forwards, curving across the ground like a river of living rock, and slammed into Chikorita, sending him tumbling through the air. "Now use Bind!" Flint commanded. Onyx curved his huge body around the stunned plant-type before Lia could think of a response. As the horrified girl looked on, the massive rock-type tightened his hold until there was a sudden awful crunching of breaking bones. Chikorita gasped in agony, his eyes closed and the plant-type went limp. Onyx dumped the unconscious Chikorita at Lia's feet and curved back across the ground to his Trainer's side.
Lia was in tears as she hugged her knocked-out starter Pokémon. Peter knelt beside her. "Is he…?" he couldn't bring himself to finish the question.
"He… he's alive, but very badly hurt," Lia said quietly. She bowed her head and tears fell freely onto Chikorita's side. Now Peter looked carefully, he could see that Chikorita was still breathing… barely.
"Do you want to go on?" Peter asked. Lia seemed totally broken by the way Onyx had beaten Chikorita. "There's no shame, you know. Flint would understand if you wanted to take Chikorita to Nurse Joy…"
"No!" Lia suddenly looked up at Peter and wiped the tears from her eyes impatiently. "No, I have to win this now, or Chikorita would have been hurt for nothing!" Lia stood up and pulled out Chikorita's Pokéball so she could recall her Plant-type. After a few moments, she came to a decision about her next move. "Go Spearow!"
Flint's eyebrows went straight up as Lia's flying-type materialised. "Now that is bad strategy, Lia," he said. "Flying-types are weak against rock-types!"
"We'll see," Lia spat. "Spearow, use Leer!"
Flint responded to this attack with Tackle, but Spearow was fast enough to avoid the huge rock-type. Lia used Leer again and again until Spearow was knocked out of the sky by a Rock Throw attack. "Now use Bind!" Flint ordered.
"No!" Lia almost screamed. "Spearow, get in the air! Please! You've got to fly!" Spearow looked at his Trainer for a moment and felt something that he had never felt before. He felt belief, belief in a human and in her commands. He shot upwards, avoiding Onyx's coils as they lashed out to seize him. Onyx was clearly in trouble from Chikorita's earlier Poison Powder attack and he was getting slower and slower. "Use Scratch!" Lia shouted. "As hard as you can!"
Spearow shot forwards with a defiant scream and slashed his claws over the huge rock-type's massive snout. Onyx bellowed in pain and reeled backwards. "Onyx!" Flint called out. "Don't focus on the pain! Use Tackle!"
Onyx was in no fit state to listen. "Use Scratch again!" Lia called out. The little flying-type did as his Trainer commanded and this time, Onyx fell to the ground. After a moment, it became clear that he was not going to get up again. Lia seemed to go into shock as Spearow landed on her right shoulder. After a moment, he bit her ear for attention. Lia looked at him stupidly for a moment and then grinned stupidly. "Oh, my wonderful Spearow," she said, stroking his breast feathers. "I… I am so proud of you!" Much to her frustration, Lia was crying, but she was so happy that she couldn't help it.
Peter grabbed Lia in a strong hug and the girl responded to her friend gladly. All of their Pokémon out of their Pokéballs began to cheer loudly in their own languages.
There was a flash of red light as Flint recalled Onyx to his Pokéball. The Gym Leader walked over to the two Novices. "That was well done, both of you," he said quietly. He reached into his jacket and pulled out two brown, octagonal badges. "For the skill you have shown and the love that you clearly have for your friends, you deserve this. You have both won the Boulder Badge."
Lia stared at the badge in her hand stupidly. Peter held it out at arm's length and grinned stupidly. "I… I did it!" he said. "I've won the Boulder Badge."
"No, not like that," someone cut in. Peter looked up and saw Master Ash, who had been watching the whole battle from the sidelines, walk over. "Do it like this." Ash reached into his jacket and unfastened his own, now scuffed and slightly discoloured Boulder Badge. He held it out at arm's length and cried out: "Yeah! I won the Boulder Badge!" He pulled his arm back to hold the badge against his chest and thrust his other hand in a 'V-for Victory' sign out to arm's length.
Peter was puzzled, but he tried that himself, and it made him feel good for no reason that he could figure out. Lia giggled at that demonstration, and copied Ash too.
"Great," Misty said to herself with a rueful smile. "Two more Ash Ketchums in the world. Just what I need!"
***
"Your Pokémon are all fighting fit," Nurse Joy announced with a broad smile, handing thirteen Pokéballs over to the two young novices. "While you are here, I also think congratulations are in order for winning your first Gym Badges!"
Peter blushed slightly and muttered: "It was nothing really."
"No, it isn't 'nothing,'" Joy said firmly. "You have done something very special, Peter. You would be surprised to learn that there are some Novices who don't even win one badge because of their lack of skill. You should both be proud at having reached this goal."
"We both are," Lia said, nudging Peter hard to make him come out of his shell. "But…" Joy waited for the girl to continue. "Nurse Joy, Flint could have killed Chikorita! Shadow too! Those attacks he used…"
"But neither of them are dead," Joy said with a slight smile. "Lia, Flint knows how to get the best out of his Pokémon. He knows the difference between a disabling move and a killing move. Your Pokémon were never in the slightest bit of danger of permanent injury in there."
"I guess…" Lia said, slightly reassured. "I suppose it is going to get even harder after this."
"You can be sure of that," Joy said with a broad, mischievous smile. There is a reason why the Boulder Badge is the first badge that Novices try to win, you know!"
Peter had released Shock, Curious and Shadow from their Pokéballs and he was busy hugging his Eevee and making sure that his starter Pokémon was fully recovered. "I'm really sorry about getting you hurt, Shadow," Peter said quietly.
[I won, didn't I?] the Eevee said with a grin. [Peter, you directed me as well as you could against a much more powerful opponent. I have no complaints.]
Peter felt pleased and a bit ashamed that his friend could accept what had happened so easily. Shock bit him on the ear to catch his attention. [Peter, we all know that you can get hurt in fights,] the Pikachu said quietly. [Don't feel guilty because that happened. Your commands let us to victory, and then you saw to it that we were healed. What more could we ask?]
Peter sighed and stroked Shock's head. "I guess I shouldn't be so worried," he said. "But I hate seeing my friends hurt."
[And that is why you are our friend,] Shadow said. Shock nodded in agreement.
While Lia talked to the other Trainers in the Atrium, Peter went over to the telephones. He had a promise to keep. He inserted his ID card into the ATM slot on one of the payphones and dialled his home telephone number.
***
With all their reasons for being in Pewter City dealt with, Peter and Lia could have been forgiven if they had left on Route 3 for Mount Moon the very next morning. However, they were two young people and neither of them had been to Pewter City before, so they decided to take another day to relax, train their Pokémon and see the sights.
Therefore, the two young friends found themselves Pewter City Museum of Natural History gaping at a huge skeleton mounted in the palaeontology exhibition. "Aerodactyl," Peter said, reading the information display next to the skeleton. "A Pokémon that originally lived during the Jurassic period, some 120 million years ago. The Aerodactyl is a contemporary of the dinosaurs and was the top aerial hunter of its' era. The team at the University of Kanto's bio-genetics laboratory on Cinnabar Island created some examples of Aerodactyl by cloning from genetic material preserved in amber seven years ago. Shortly after this breakthrough, Gary Shigeru Oak discovered a group of Aerodactyl in 'Grandpa Canyon' north of Neon City. It is believed that these specimens were preserved by some kind of suspended animation until they were freed by blasting during the construction of the Saffron City to Goldenrod City bullet train line."
"Quite a story," Lia said thoughtfully as she stroked Spark's cheek pads.
[Big,] Spark chirped in a cryptic tone of voice as he looked up at the skeleton too.
The two novices continued to look at the large but light bones of the Aerodactyl, but their thoughts elsewhere. Peter was thinking about how much his life had changed over the last few weeks. He was having the expected adventure, but his Journey was turning out to be more than just that. He had gained several loyal friends, including a human friend (something he had not been particularly successful doing beforehand). He had found a vocation that had allowed him to grow in ways that he couldn't believe as yet. And now he had won a Gym Badge and was on the way to becoming a League Trainer.
Lia, on the other hand, was thinking of only one thing. She had been hovering in the background as Peter was talking to his family (who all seemed like nice people). She had seen how at ease her friend was with his father and with his younger sister, and she had felt unaccountably jealous. She would give a lot to have a family as close and as caring as his. She loved all of her Pokémon, but she longed to have that kind of relationship with a human.
The two novices and walked to the next display, one that dominated the entire gallery. It was a single skull about the size of a two-storey house. The skull was clearly that of a predatory animal, and it had a selection of teeth longer than they were tall. "Gojirra, a Pokémon native to the Jurassic period," Peter said, reading the display. "The largest predator ever to walk the earth. Wow!"
Lia looked up towards the top of the huge skull. "I wonder if they are ever going to try to clone that?" she said in amazement.
***
Peter was quite surprised to meet a familiar face in the Pokémon Centre that lunchtime. Ruby Slate was talking to Nurse Joy and looked slightly impatient. Her round, friendly face lit up with recognition when she saw Peter. "Hi, Peter," she said. "How are you doing?"
"Okay, I guess," Peter said. "What's up?"
"Ruby is looking to expand her Pokémon collection," Joy explained. "She wants to trade for some bug-types, though why she should want to do that, I will never know." Joy shuddered delicately at even the thought of owning a bug-type.
Peter's eyes lit up. Here was an opportunity that he had hoped to have before he left Pewter City. He had been having trouble with his Beedrill, Hornet. Basically, the bug-type had never forgiven Peter for capturing it out on Route 2. It obeyed him, but only slowly and reluctantly. Additionally, he found that he didn't really need his new Caterpie, Buggo. He had wanted to find them a decent home, but didn't know how to go about finding them one. "I have a Beedrill and a Caterpie that could use a new home," he said cautiously. "But I have to be sure that it is a good home."
Ruby looked at Peter levelly. "Peter, I assure you that the Slates treat all their Pokémon well," she said. "Besides, Dad would kill me if he even thought that I was mistreating a Pokémon."
"Maybe," Peter allowed. He cast his mind back to how he had seen other Trainers haggling and tried to copy their confident and measuring posture. "But Buggo and Hornet are both pretty powerful Pokémon, and I've invested a few days Training on both of them. They both know quite a few moves that you won't find in most of their kind. So…" Peter paused to moisten his lips, "what could you give me that could persuade me to give them up?"
Joy hid her laughter as Ruby smiled at Peter in a slightly sardonic way. "Would a freshly-caught level-8 Spearow interest you?" she asked.
"For Hornet, maybe," Peter said, wondering if he was pushing it too far, "but no newly-caught flying-type is worth two trained Pokémon, even bug-types."
"I guess not…" Ruby admitted thoughtfully, looking at Peter through narrowed eyes.
***
It was a bright morning when Peter and Lia took to Route 3. Shock was riding on Peter's left shoulder, as usual. Curious was in her travelling sling while Shadow and Chikorita were running along ahead of their Trainers.
Peter was exercising his new Spearow, who Ruby Slate had named 'Shrike,' after a bird of prey native to Europe. The flying-type deserved the nickname. She was already demonstrating the bad temper and aggressive nature that was associated with her species. Nonetheless, she was reluctantly listening to Peter's commands, an obedience that came a little easier after her new Trainer taught her Wing Attack.
"So you traded Buggo and Hornet for a Spearow and a Training Machine," Lia said, watching Shrike soar overhead on her blurring small wings. "Which one did you get anyway?"
"Number 34," Peter said. "I think that is called 'Bide.' I saw Master Ash's Rhydon use it once. It is pretty powerful, especially if your Pokémon's defence stats are high." Lia nodded thoughtfully and turned back to watching the road.
Peter recalled Shrike, who was tiring quickly. He turned to talk to Lia. He wanted to know if she had any tips about training one of the quick-tempered Spearows. At that point the ground suddenly opened up and all the travellers fell into a 12-foot-deep pit.
Peter was the first to recover. He checked Lia and the Pokémon for injuries. They were all a bit startled, but they seemed to be in generally good health. "Okay, who's the joker?" he shouted out, angry and nursing an ankle that had twisted under him as he fell.
"Actually, it isn't a joke, Twerp," shouted a very familiar voice.
Lia shook her head. "Oh no, not them again," she groaned.
"Prepare for trouble, because you are in a pit!"
"And make it double, as vengeance is a hit!"
"To infect the world with devastation,"
"To blight all people of every nation,"
"To denounce the evils of truth and love,"
"To extend our wrath to the stars above!"
"Ned!"
"Kelly!"
"We're Team Rocket: Circling Earth all day and all night!"
"Surrender or die in the fight!"
"That's right!"
[Just go away,] Shock suggested, her cheek pads beginning to spark with power.
"Ah, ah, little Pikachu, don't do anything rash!" Ned taunted. To Peter and Lia's horror, Ned and Kelly were both carrying powerful-looking machine pistols.
"You know, the funny thing about these is the way they have hair triggers," Kelly remarked with a sick smile. "If the person holding them so much as twitches, they start firing!" The two terrorists grinned at each other infuriatingly. Kelly turned back to the group down in the hole. "So, if you don't want to be hit by a stray bullet, I'd avoid using an attack that might make us twitch!"
Shock growled uselessly and relaxed slightly. Peter glared up at the two Rockets helplessly. "What do you want anyway?" he hissed.
"Oh, the usual," Kelly said easily. "You know, vengeance, your Pokémon…"
"A little song, a little dance," Ned continued, "and your heads both mounted on a lance…" Kelly looked at her partner in surprise. She never knew that Ned had any poetry in his soul. Come to think of it, she hadn't even realised that he had a soul.
Kelly shook her head and pulled something off of her belt. Peter didn't recognise it, but he bet it was no good. "Now, take a deep breath of this gas, Twerps," she said. "It will all be over in a second. We'll have your Pokémon and you won't even have to worry about someone having to dig you a grave!"
Peter realised that this was bad, very bad. He was about to order Shock to use Thunder-Shock on the terrorists and damn the consequences when another voice rang out. "Leave them alone!"
Ned and Kelly swung around to see two men glaring at them. The shorter of the two was a heavily built, black-haired young man wearing jeans, a brown bomber jacket and a red-and-white League cap. The taller man had messy black hair, classically oriental features and a green body warmer festooned with pockets over his orange tee shirt. A Bayleef stood between them, and the shorter man had a Raichu hanging onto the back of his jacket. "If you two are smart, you won't mess with Team Rocket!" Ned declared, brandishing his sub-machinegun. "Just walk away!"
"I've never been accused of being smart," the shorter of the two interlopers said with a grin. "Bayleef, use Vine Whip!" The plant-type's vine whips shot out and snatched the guns from the terrorists' hands before their brains could process the fact that they were under attack.
Kelly shouted in rage and released her Vulpix. "Fry that walking weed, Vulpix! Use Flame-thrower!" Ned, taking his lead from his partner, released his Magnemite.
The younger man smiled grimly. "Okay, let's get 'em, Brock!" With a single movement so smooth and practised it was hard to follow, the man recalled his Bayleef and released a Blastoise before Kelly's Vulpix could even launch his attack.
The taller man threw a Pokéball. "Don't wait for me, Ash! Go Graveler!" The man's rock-type materialised. "Graveler, use Tackle on that Magnemite!"
"Oh crap! Magnemite, use Thunder!" The electrical attack boiled uselessly around the Graveler and Magnemite was sent tumbling away by the impact of the Tackle attack. Simultaneously, Blastoise deflected Vulpix's Flame-thrower with a Hydro Pump attack launched from the cannon-like ducts on his shoulders. A second Hydro Pump attack blew Vulpix backwards several yards.
"Ned, I need you to use you Magnemite on this damn overgrown tortoise!" Kelly yelled.
Unfortunately for Kelly, Ned's Magnemite was rather busy at the moment. It had knocked Graveler back with a Screech attack, only to get a rock the size of a subcompact car thrown at it, nearly flattening it against a tree, which was knocked down like a twig by the impact. "Use Mega Punch!" Graveler's Trainer… Brock… commanded. The massive blow sent Magnemite tumbling backwards until he hit a tree and dropped unconscious at its' base. Simultaneously, Blastoise used Skull Bash to smash Kelly's Vulpix flat. The huge water-type jumped upright and, surreally, put on a pair of biker's sunglasses. "Blas-toi-toise!" the big Pokémon said in a way that seemed to say 'I am the coolest of the cool.'
Kelly shouted in fury. She recalled her beaten fire-type and released her Spinarak. Simultaneously, Ned released his Buttout. The new Pokémon fared no better than their teammates did. "Raichu, use Swift!" Ash shouted.
"Raaaiii!" the Raichu cried, turning into a tan-coloured streak. Before Spinarak could react, let alone attack, the electric type struck home with a tremendous blow and sent the bug/poison-type tumbling away.
"Use Poison Sting!" Kelly called.
"Agility," Ash responded. Raichu avoided Spinarak's attack easily. "Okay, now use Thunderbolt!"
Raichu leapt up into the air and bent forwards as he gathered his power. "Rai… rai… Rai… CHU!" The Thunderbolt attack struck home and fried Spinarak where he stood. The bug-type fell on his side, quite unconscious. Buttout landed beside him, having been knocked silly by a series of Rollout attacks by Brock's Graveler.
Ned and Kelly were reaching for their sidearms when a large horny hand landed on both their heads and gripped them hard. The two terrorists rolled their eyes skywards and saw Ash's Blastoise, still wearing his sunglasses, looking down at them with a smile that seemed to say: 'You two draw, then I twist and it is saiyonara, baby.' Both Ned and Kelly made a show of moving their hands as far from their pistol holsters as they could.
"Barely a workout," Brock muttered as Graveler joined his big friend in menacing the two terrified Rockets.
"Are you two kids okay?" Ash asked, running over to the hole in the road.
"We… we're fine, Master Ash," Peter said. Inside, he was shouting angrily at himself for missing his hero in action like that. All he had heard were the occasional shouted command and cries of pain as the Pokémon Master swept the two Rockets aside with such consummate ease.
Lia let out a long-held breath in relief when she realised that they had been rescued. She released her Pidgeotto. "Pidgeotto, be a darling and carry Chikorita out of this pit would you? When you reach the top, Chikorita, use your vine whips to lift the rest of us out of here."
When Peter, who was the last one Chikorita picked up, emerged from the hole, Ned and Kelly were on their knees with their hands on top of their heads. "Okay, who are you two jokers, and where did you get those uniforms?" Ash asked angrily. When neither Ned nor Kelly answered, Ash grabbed Ned by the front of his tunic and got in his face. "I'm still asking nicely," he snapped. "Would you like me to get out my Charizard and my Sandslash and then ask nasty?"
Ned swallowed. "N… Ned Fallow, and she is Kelly Roland," he said at last.
Ash released Ned and stood back. Now the two had started talking, he knew that it would be more difficult for them to stop. "We're from Team Rocket, of course you idiot," Kelly hissed. "Rest assured that you will pay for this interference!"
"Oh, I've heard that before," Ash said with a grin. "Domino, Butch, Cassidy, hell even Giovanni himself have all told me that." Ash sobered slightly. "However, I was under the impression that Team Rocket was extinct."
Kelly sneered. "Team Rocket will never die."
"That remains to be seen," Ash said. "I obviously have to clean up the remains that I left lying around."
Kelly paled and seemed to lose the ability to speak. "Ash Ketchum?" Ned squeaked in terror. Ash gave the purple-haired man a mock bow. "Don't kill us!" Ned screeched. "Please, we weren't going to do any harm!"
Brock was looking at one of the grenades that Kelly was about to drop on Peter and Lia when he and Ash arrived on the scene. "TQ nerve gas," he said, reading the serial number. "Lethal to humans, but it just knocks out Pokémon."
"You were going to kill those Novices and then steal their Pokémon?" Ash asked, his friendly face almost expressionless. Ned tried to babble an excuse and Kelly looked on the verge of fainting, she was so pale. "Oh spare me," Ash snapped. "You two are still alive for one reason: I want you to pass a message for me to your new Boss. Tell him to keep away from Pokémon Trainers everywhere. Keep them out of Kanto."
"You don't scare us," Kelly managed to sneer around her fear.
"I should," Ash said with a smirk. "Raichu, use Thunderbolt!"
There was a flash of blue-white electricity and Ned and Kelly were launched into the air. "Now we're blasting off as well!" they screamed as they vanished into the sky.
There was a long pause as the four people took stock of what had just happened. "Thank you for saving our lives, sir," Peter said at last.
"Yes, thank you," Lia said. She sucked in a deep breath and did something that came hard to her: offer a compliment. "You really are a Master."
Ash smiled gently. "I'm sorry," he said. Peter and Lia blinked in surprise as the Pokémon Master apologised to them! "I have left a job half-done and it nearly got you two killed," Ash explained. "I really thought that after cutting off the head, the body would wither. Well I was wrong. I thought that I would never see that symbol again. I won't make that mistake again." Ash blinked and looked at Peter and Lia levelly. "It is going to be a dangerous time, the next few years," Ash suddenly announced. "Travelling Novices like you two are going to be in the thick of it, but I think that you two will manage to survive it all."
"Th… thank you," Lia said, not sure for what she was thanking the Pokémon Master.
Ash pulled two cards out of his pocket and handed one each to Peter and Lia. "I have a job for you two Novices," he said. "Are you game? It could be dangerous."
"Master, you only have to ask," Peter announced, making Ash smile broadly.
"That is my mobile telephone number," he explained. "If you see any sign of Team Rocket activity, I want you to call me, okay?" Peter and Lia nodded, feeling a deep sense of shock as everything that had happened over the last few minutes caught up with them. Worse still, the Pokémon Master himself was giving them a special assignment. "No heroics," Ash added, raising a finger in warning. "Just keep your eyes open, okay?"
Peter and Lia were quick to assure Ash of their understanding. Behind them, Brock's Graveler had just finished filling in the hole that Ned and Kelly had dug in the road. The two heroes turned and prepared to leave their newfound allies. "Take care of yourselves," Ash said. "I hope to see you both in the League next season."
Ash and Brock walked off, leaving Peter and Lia standing there, staring after them in amazement. "When I started my Journey, I wanted an adventure," Peter said quietly. "Somehow, I wasn't expecting this!"
To be continued_
Afterword
Well, that is the end of 'The Journey' for now. I need to concentrate on finishing 'Avenger' and 'Team Rocket Neo.' From now on, those are the only ones of my stories to be updated, although the occasional one-off might appear from time to time. However, 'The Journey' will continue, probably early next year. Stay tuned folks!
