Chapter 5
When Team Rocket arrived at the entrance to the main chamber, the whole
hallway was dark. Ash and his friends confidently flung the door open, releasing a faint floral smell into the hallway. With the torches and candles extinguished, the only light in the amphitheatre came from a few small windows at the back of the room.
Lorelei and Sasami remained in the center of the dark, smoke-filled amphitheatre with her
back to the doorway. Felina Ivy was nowhere to be seen. Poking their heads around the corner of the chamber's doorway, Jessie, James, and Meowth watched a typical scene unfold: Ash trying to win another gym badge.
"I'm Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town, and I request a battle with the leader of this
gym!" he proclaimed. Team Rocket rolled their eyes. The twerp was at it again.
Lorelei turned around and smiled. "Hi Ash, remember me? We met back on
Mandarin Island last year."
"Brock remember me Sailor Chibi moon" Chibi moon talk to Brock
"Pika pika!" squeaked Pikachu happily.
Ash was dumbfounded. "Are you"
"PRIMA!" gushed Misty, her eyes glowing. "I thought it was a dream come true
that I got to meet you just once, but now I get the chance to see you again in person! This is such an honor, you have no idea!"
"No I not Remember you Chibi Moon but WOW PRIMA!" cried Brock, blushing a bright red. He ran forward and pushed Ash and
Misty out of the way, taking hold of Lorelei's hands. "It's a pleasure to make your
acquaintance, Miss. I just have to know what a beautiful lady like yourself is doing in a creepy, deserted place like this? I'd be glad to whisk you away from here, preferably to a nice, quiet spot somewhere that the two of us could be alone?"
Misty grabbed her friend's ear and dragged him away from the Elite Four trainer.
"Why don't you whisk yourself away from here, Brock?" she sighed, thoroughly
embarrassed. Lorelei smiled.
"Chibi Moon here I come I'm Sailor Mercury" said to Chibi Moon.
"Sailor Mercury you are here" Chibi Moon ran to Washu. Washu hold Sasami in her arm.
"So this isn't a Pokemon gym?" Ash asked, looking around the room.
"I'm afraid not, Ash to give me life to save you." said Sailor Chibi Moon calmly. "I just came to this place to do a bit of
special training, away from the crowds."
"Aw man!" Ash grumbled. "I wanted another badge!" He turned around to walk
out of the room. Pikachu jumped onto his shoulder as he walked.
"Cheer up, Ash," said Misty, running after him. "That gym's got to be around
here somewhere."
Brock was still trying to get Lorelei's attention. "Are you sure you won't give me
your phone number?" he pleaded. Lorelei chuckled as Misty dragged him towards the door.
Suddenly, Team Rocket watched Professor Felina Ivy stand up behind Lorelei, another
test tube in her hand and a demented smile on her face. She advanced shakily through the hazy dimness towards the Elite Four trainer Sailor Scout trainer, who was waving goodbye to Ash and his friends, totally unaware that Ivy had regained consciousness.
"Prima! Watch out!" yelled Jessie, James, and Meowth as Ivy prepared to throw
the contents of the test tube at Lorelei and Sasami. The Elite Four trainer and Sailor Scout trainer instinctively ducked as the chemical splashed out, burning another hole in the floor. Ash and his friends spun around to see Professor Ivy's expression change from a twisted smile to a look of utter hatred.
"Professor Ivy?" yelled Ash and Misty.
"NO!" screamed Brock, fleeing from the room.
"Who was it that warned me?" asked Sasami (Sailor Chibi Moon).
"What! What is as?" Mercury said look around.
As if on cue, Jessie and James leapt from the doorway and stood back to back as
they glared at Ivy. Ash and Misty stared at the two Rockets, their mouths hanging open in surprise.
"You rotten sneak, prepare for trouble!" Jessie began, dramatically pointing at
Ivy.
"And I'd suggest you make it double!" added James, also pointing at Ivy.
"Youse two said the motto already!" yelled Meowth, jumping into the room.
"Let's get on with the show!"
"Right!" said Jessie and James, nodding once.
Professor Ivy's eyes narrowed to slits. "I should have disposed of you two when I
had the chance. On the other hand, there's really nothing you can do to interfere any longer." The professor turned her attention to Ash. A nasty smile contorted her face. "You, Ash you're awfully fond of Pokemon battles, aren't you?"
"You bet I am!" yelled Ash.
"Then I have a proposition for you," Ivy said in a sickeningly sweet voice. "How
would you like to battle me, one on one your best Pokemon against my best Pokemon? And if you win, there's a special reward in store for you."
"Don't do it, Ash!" cried Misty and Sasami fearfully. "I don't trust her for a minute after
what she tried to do to Sasami!" Sasami at misty upset face.
"Don't worry, I'll be careful," said Ash, a confident smile on his face.
Ivy smirked, knowing she had him now. It was just as she had always suspected:
a young, impetuous trainer would never turn down the opportunity to prove himself in a battle against a strong opponent. And this battle could be his last.
"Pikachu, are you ready?" asked Ash.
"Pika!" growled the electric mouse, cheeks flashing with electricity.
"We're ready when you are!" Ash yelled, a look of total determination on his
face.
Behind Ash, Misty carefully put Togepi inside her red backpack. "You'll be safe
in here, Togepi," she cooed, nervously watching Ivy withdraw a Poke ball from her
robes.
"Be careful," whisper Sasami from the side of the room, never taking her eyes
off her evil mother.
From the doorway, Team Rocket anxiously looked on.
"Hey, kid!" yelled Jessie.
Ash looked back at her in annoyance. "What do you want?"
"Good luck!" she cried, giving him a thumbs-up.
"Beat that wacko like you always beat us!" added James.
"You can do it, Pikachu!" chimed in Meowth.
Ash smiled confidently. "Yeah." Then he returned his attention to Ivy. "Are you
ready yet?"
"Ash. I going to battle too" Sasami toll Ash.
"Just waiting for you," she answered in a saccharine voice. "Vileplume, let's go!"
"Go Gatomon go help Pikachu' Sasami Said.
The Professor Felina Ivy forcefully hurled her Poke ball into the center of the room and the
orange-petaled Pokemon materialized in a brilliant flash of red light. "Vileplume" it drawled in a breathy voice.
"I've noticed that only truly deranged people train Vileplume," commented Jessie.
"You're right, Jess," said James. "This crazy professor, Jessebelle" He
shuddered involuntarily.
Pikachu ran forward into the makeshift battlefield. "Chu!" it growled.
"I'll even let you make the first move, Ash," said Ivy, a sly smile crossing her
face.
"All right, Pikachu, start off with your Quick Attack!" commanded Ash.
"Pika!" squealed Pikachu, dashing forward.
"Stun Spore!" yelled Ivy.
As Pikachu's attack connected with the huge flower, a stream of sparkling,
greenish pollen poured from the center of the blossom. The pollen encircled Pikachu's head before the mouse could run away.
Breathing in the Stun Spore pollen, Pikachu tottered from side to side, its eyes
watering terribly. Staggering around the battlefield, the small mouse soon collapsed to the ground, unable to move.
"No!" screamed Ash. Ivy smiled evilly.
"Looks like you're finished," she gloated. "Your Pikachu's too dizzy to battle."
"Gatomon use your light paw" Sasami shut. Gatomon light paws hit Vileplume.
"Not yet!" yelled Jessie. Everyone turned to look at Team Rocket as James
tossed a corked test tube to Ash.
"What's this?" asked the young Pokemon trainer, turning the test tube of clear
blue liquid over in his hand. The label read 'Stun Spore Antidote'. "Oh wow! Pikachu, quick! Drink this!" Ash tossed the test tube to his dizzy Pokemon. "It's an antidote!"
From the other side of the room, Ivy swore under her breath.
"I don't get it," said Misty and Sasami, looking skeptically at Team Rocket. "You're
supposed to be bad guys. Why are you helping Pikachu?"
"You know, we're really not as evil as you twerps make us out to be," answered
Jessie, as Pikachu pulled the stopper from the tube and began drinking the antidote.
"We're just normal people trying to make a living we may be members of
Team Rocket, but we're not heartless!" added James.
"Would youse quit gabbin'?" interrupted Meowth. The cat looked back at Ash.
"You gotta battle ta win, kid!"
"Right!" said Ash, more determined than ever. "Pikachu, are you okay?"
"Chaaa!" answered Pikachu, wiping his mouth with the back of his tiny yellow
paw.
"Okay! Pikachu, Thunder Attack!"
"Pi ka CHUUUUUU!"
The entire room lit up with the blast of Pikachu's strongest Electric Attack, but
Vileplume hardly seemed to be affected by it.
"Is that the best you can do?" taunted the Society Mother. "Vileplume, finish it
off with Allergy Bomb!"
"What kind of attack is that?" Washu (Mercury) said.
"Allergy Bomb?" asked Ash, as Vileplume closed its eyes, preparing to attack.
"We've got to get out of here, Jessie!" whispered James in a panic. "You know
how bad my allergies are!"
"Now looks like a good time for Team Rocket to blast off," she said softly,
nodding once. "They'll never miss us in the confusion."
"We done our good deed, now let's split!" added Meowth. "Dat kid knows what
he's doin'."
As Team Rocket hurried out the door, Vileplume crouched down. Suddenly,
there was a huge explosion of toxic yellowish pollen from the center of the flower. As the pollen began to settle, Pikachu started sneezing uncontrollably, its eyes becoming reddened from the intense allergic reaction. Grabbing its head with both paws, Pikachu squealed in pain as it clumsily staggered away from the poisonous Flower Pokemon. Ash watched in horror as his beloved Pokemon painfully collapsed to the ground and laid very still.
"PIKACHU!" he cried in anguish, running over and scooping his best friend into
his arms. "Oh Pikachu, please be all right!"
"That's not a real attack, Mom, and you know it!" cried Chibi Moon indignantly,
stepping forward as Ash cradled the yellow Pokemon in his arms. "What are you trying to pull?"
Sasami ran to her Mother "Mother" Sasami shout.
"Sasami, dear," cooed Ivy, "never underestimate a Pokemon's special abilities. I
would have thought you of all people would realize that special training could bring
out certain attack powers."
"You know that Pokemon are only allowed to use League-approved attacks in
official battles," she answered angrily. "Otherwise, you're cheating!"
"Oh really?" Ivy asked innocently. "My mistake. Anyway, I'm finished playing." The professor looked over to her Vileplume and pointed at her daughter. "Vileplume, you know how to get rid of intruders."
"What" Sasami said confuse face.
As Sasami turned to run, the huge flower Pokemon plowed into her with a mighty Tackle attack. Knocked to the ground, the Sailor Scout trainer looked up to see Vileplume release another cloud of Stun Spore. Sasami turned her head away, waving her hands in a futile attempt to blow the poisonous pollen away from her. But within moments, she was passed out on the amphitheatre floor.
"Sasami!" shrieked Misty, covering her mouth and frantically running to
Sasami's side. "Sasami, please wake up!" She gently tried shaking the Physic Pokemon trainer. Sasami lay still.
"Sasami" Washu shout. Washu look at Vileplume. "Mercury Bubble Ice Blast" move her hands around. Bubbles look like Ice and hit Vileplume.
"Felina Ivy!" screamed Ash, quickly looking around the room for the mad professor.
Ivy had vanished without a trace.
When Team Rocket arrived at the entrance to the main chamber, the whole
hallway was dark. Ash and his friends confidently flung the door open, releasing a faint floral smell into the hallway. With the torches and candles extinguished, the only light in the amphitheatre came from a few small windows at the back of the room.
Lorelei and Sasami remained in the center of the dark, smoke-filled amphitheatre with her
back to the doorway. Felina Ivy was nowhere to be seen. Poking their heads around the corner of the chamber's doorway, Jessie, James, and Meowth watched a typical scene unfold: Ash trying to win another gym badge.
"I'm Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town, and I request a battle with the leader of this
gym!" he proclaimed. Team Rocket rolled their eyes. The twerp was at it again.
Lorelei turned around and smiled. "Hi Ash, remember me? We met back on
Mandarin Island last year."
"Brock remember me Sailor Chibi moon" Chibi moon talk to Brock
"Pika pika!" squeaked Pikachu happily.
Ash was dumbfounded. "Are you"
"PRIMA!" gushed Misty, her eyes glowing. "I thought it was a dream come true
that I got to meet you just once, but now I get the chance to see you again in person! This is such an honor, you have no idea!"
"No I not Remember you Chibi Moon but WOW PRIMA!" cried Brock, blushing a bright red. He ran forward and pushed Ash and
Misty out of the way, taking hold of Lorelei's hands. "It's a pleasure to make your
acquaintance, Miss. I just have to know what a beautiful lady like yourself is doing in a creepy, deserted place like this? I'd be glad to whisk you away from here, preferably to a nice, quiet spot somewhere that the two of us could be alone?"
Misty grabbed her friend's ear and dragged him away from the Elite Four trainer.
"Why don't you whisk yourself away from here, Brock?" she sighed, thoroughly
embarrassed. Lorelei smiled.
"Chibi Moon here I come I'm Sailor Mercury" said to Chibi Moon.
"Sailor Mercury you are here" Chibi Moon ran to Washu. Washu hold Sasami in her arm.
"So this isn't a Pokemon gym?" Ash asked, looking around the room.
"I'm afraid not, Ash to give me life to save you." said Sailor Chibi Moon calmly. "I just came to this place to do a bit of
special training, away from the crowds."
"Aw man!" Ash grumbled. "I wanted another badge!" He turned around to walk
out of the room. Pikachu jumped onto his shoulder as he walked.
"Cheer up, Ash," said Misty, running after him. "That gym's got to be around
here somewhere."
Brock was still trying to get Lorelei's attention. "Are you sure you won't give me
your phone number?" he pleaded. Lorelei chuckled as Misty dragged him towards the door.
Suddenly, Team Rocket watched Professor Felina Ivy stand up behind Lorelei, another
test tube in her hand and a demented smile on her face. She advanced shakily through the hazy dimness towards the Elite Four trainer Sailor Scout trainer, who was waving goodbye to Ash and his friends, totally unaware that Ivy had regained consciousness.
"Prima! Watch out!" yelled Jessie, James, and Meowth as Ivy prepared to throw
the contents of the test tube at Lorelei and Sasami. The Elite Four trainer and Sailor Scout trainer instinctively ducked as the chemical splashed out, burning another hole in the floor. Ash and his friends spun around to see Professor Ivy's expression change from a twisted smile to a look of utter hatred.
"Professor Ivy?" yelled Ash and Misty.
"NO!" screamed Brock, fleeing from the room.
"Who was it that warned me?" asked Sasami (Sailor Chibi Moon).
"What! What is as?" Mercury said look around.
As if on cue, Jessie and James leapt from the doorway and stood back to back as
they glared at Ivy. Ash and Misty stared at the two Rockets, their mouths hanging open in surprise.
"You rotten sneak, prepare for trouble!" Jessie began, dramatically pointing at
Ivy.
"And I'd suggest you make it double!" added James, also pointing at Ivy.
"Youse two said the motto already!" yelled Meowth, jumping into the room.
"Let's get on with the show!"
"Right!" said Jessie and James, nodding once.
Professor Ivy's eyes narrowed to slits. "I should have disposed of you two when I
had the chance. On the other hand, there's really nothing you can do to interfere any longer." The professor turned her attention to Ash. A nasty smile contorted her face. "You, Ash you're awfully fond of Pokemon battles, aren't you?"
"You bet I am!" yelled Ash.
"Then I have a proposition for you," Ivy said in a sickeningly sweet voice. "How
would you like to battle me, one on one your best Pokemon against my best Pokemon? And if you win, there's a special reward in store for you."
"Don't do it, Ash!" cried Misty and Sasami fearfully. "I don't trust her for a minute after
what she tried to do to Sasami!" Sasami at misty upset face.
"Don't worry, I'll be careful," said Ash, a confident smile on his face.
Ivy smirked, knowing she had him now. It was just as she had always suspected:
a young, impetuous trainer would never turn down the opportunity to prove himself in a battle against a strong opponent. And this battle could be his last.
"Pikachu, are you ready?" asked Ash.
"Pika!" growled the electric mouse, cheeks flashing with electricity.
"We're ready when you are!" Ash yelled, a look of total determination on his
face.
Behind Ash, Misty carefully put Togepi inside her red backpack. "You'll be safe
in here, Togepi," she cooed, nervously watching Ivy withdraw a Poke ball from her
robes.
"Be careful," whisper Sasami from the side of the room, never taking her eyes
off her evil mother.
From the doorway, Team Rocket anxiously looked on.
"Hey, kid!" yelled Jessie.
Ash looked back at her in annoyance. "What do you want?"
"Good luck!" she cried, giving him a thumbs-up.
"Beat that wacko like you always beat us!" added James.
"You can do it, Pikachu!" chimed in Meowth.
Ash smiled confidently. "Yeah." Then he returned his attention to Ivy. "Are you
ready yet?"
"Ash. I going to battle too" Sasami toll Ash.
"Just waiting for you," she answered in a saccharine voice. "Vileplume, let's go!"
"Go Gatomon go help Pikachu' Sasami Said.
The Professor Felina Ivy forcefully hurled her Poke ball into the center of the room and the
orange-petaled Pokemon materialized in a brilliant flash of red light. "Vileplume" it drawled in a breathy voice.
"I've noticed that only truly deranged people train Vileplume," commented Jessie.
"You're right, Jess," said James. "This crazy professor, Jessebelle" He
shuddered involuntarily.
Pikachu ran forward into the makeshift battlefield. "Chu!" it growled.
"I'll even let you make the first move, Ash," said Ivy, a sly smile crossing her
face.
"All right, Pikachu, start off with your Quick Attack!" commanded Ash.
"Pika!" squealed Pikachu, dashing forward.
"Stun Spore!" yelled Ivy.
As Pikachu's attack connected with the huge flower, a stream of sparkling,
greenish pollen poured from the center of the blossom. The pollen encircled Pikachu's head before the mouse could run away.
Breathing in the Stun Spore pollen, Pikachu tottered from side to side, its eyes
watering terribly. Staggering around the battlefield, the small mouse soon collapsed to the ground, unable to move.
"No!" screamed Ash. Ivy smiled evilly.
"Looks like you're finished," she gloated. "Your Pikachu's too dizzy to battle."
"Gatomon use your light paw" Sasami shut. Gatomon light paws hit Vileplume.
"Not yet!" yelled Jessie. Everyone turned to look at Team Rocket as James
tossed a corked test tube to Ash.
"What's this?" asked the young Pokemon trainer, turning the test tube of clear
blue liquid over in his hand. The label read 'Stun Spore Antidote'. "Oh wow! Pikachu, quick! Drink this!" Ash tossed the test tube to his dizzy Pokemon. "It's an antidote!"
From the other side of the room, Ivy swore under her breath.
"I don't get it," said Misty and Sasami, looking skeptically at Team Rocket. "You're
supposed to be bad guys. Why are you helping Pikachu?"
"You know, we're really not as evil as you twerps make us out to be," answered
Jessie, as Pikachu pulled the stopper from the tube and began drinking the antidote.
"We're just normal people trying to make a living we may be members of
Team Rocket, but we're not heartless!" added James.
"Would youse quit gabbin'?" interrupted Meowth. The cat looked back at Ash.
"You gotta battle ta win, kid!"
"Right!" said Ash, more determined than ever. "Pikachu, are you okay?"
"Chaaa!" answered Pikachu, wiping his mouth with the back of his tiny yellow
paw.
"Okay! Pikachu, Thunder Attack!"
"Pi ka CHUUUUUU!"
The entire room lit up with the blast of Pikachu's strongest Electric Attack, but
Vileplume hardly seemed to be affected by it.
"Is that the best you can do?" taunted the Society Mother. "Vileplume, finish it
off with Allergy Bomb!"
"What kind of attack is that?" Washu (Mercury) said.
"Allergy Bomb?" asked Ash, as Vileplume closed its eyes, preparing to attack.
"We've got to get out of here, Jessie!" whispered James in a panic. "You know
how bad my allergies are!"
"Now looks like a good time for Team Rocket to blast off," she said softly,
nodding once. "They'll never miss us in the confusion."
"We done our good deed, now let's split!" added Meowth. "Dat kid knows what
he's doin'."
As Team Rocket hurried out the door, Vileplume crouched down. Suddenly,
there was a huge explosion of toxic yellowish pollen from the center of the flower. As the pollen began to settle, Pikachu started sneezing uncontrollably, its eyes becoming reddened from the intense allergic reaction. Grabbing its head with both paws, Pikachu squealed in pain as it clumsily staggered away from the poisonous Flower Pokemon. Ash watched in horror as his beloved Pokemon painfully collapsed to the ground and laid very still.
"PIKACHU!" he cried in anguish, running over and scooping his best friend into
his arms. "Oh Pikachu, please be all right!"
"That's not a real attack, Mom, and you know it!" cried Chibi Moon indignantly,
stepping forward as Ash cradled the yellow Pokemon in his arms. "What are you trying to pull?"
Sasami ran to her Mother "Mother" Sasami shout.
"Sasami, dear," cooed Ivy, "never underestimate a Pokemon's special abilities. I
would have thought you of all people would realize that special training could bring
out certain attack powers."
"You know that Pokemon are only allowed to use League-approved attacks in
official battles," she answered angrily. "Otherwise, you're cheating!"
"Oh really?" Ivy asked innocently. "My mistake. Anyway, I'm finished playing." The professor looked over to her Vileplume and pointed at her daughter. "Vileplume, you know how to get rid of intruders."
"What" Sasami said confuse face.
As Sasami turned to run, the huge flower Pokemon plowed into her with a mighty Tackle attack. Knocked to the ground, the Sailor Scout trainer looked up to see Vileplume release another cloud of Stun Spore. Sasami turned her head away, waving her hands in a futile attempt to blow the poisonous pollen away from her. But within moments, she was passed out on the amphitheatre floor.
"Sasami!" shrieked Misty, covering her mouth and frantically running to
Sasami's side. "Sasami, please wake up!" She gently tried shaking the Physic Pokemon trainer. Sasami lay still.
"Sasami" Washu shout. Washu look at Vileplume. "Mercury Bubble Ice Blast" move her hands around. Bubbles look like Ice and hit Vileplume.
"Felina Ivy!" screamed Ash, quickly looking around the room for the mad professor.
Ivy had vanished without a trace.