NB: You actually owe this chapter to Farla, because she motivated me to write it. Thanks, Farla.
Review thank-yous, as always, at the end of the chapter *smile*.
Return: Zoe's Story, by Morbane: A Pokémon Tale
Chapter 5
It felt like less than a minute later that my Pokéball was flung with such violence that I, having been automatically released, found myself sprawled on a rock.
Amazed, I saw that Ben was also on the ground. Blazebrand, her mane- and spur-fires dancing wildly, bent towards him, whickering, and he painfully reached up to her. Scrabbling in the dirt, he returned me.
Although my Ball was shaken around tremendously, I wasn't flung out again. When I was finally released onto the path, Ben and Blazebrand looked much the worse for wear. Clearly, Ben couldn't ride, and had done his best to cling onto Blazebrand in the interest of emergency speed.
What a ride they must have had. I pitied them both, and for their courage, they increased in my estimation.
We were now right up close to the swooping Team Rocket helicopter. I didn't know how Javelin had been evading it, but I was sure that we could never have arrived too soon.
"Bramble!" coughed Ben. "Best Razor Leaf you've got - aim above the cockpit!"
I could help here. Javelin passed over us, and as the helicopter dived again, Bramble shot just three leaves. I concentrated on the middle one - so that it actually penetrated the metal. They must have felt that. The helicopter zigged a bit and then landed, so close that we were forced to back away.
Behind us, there was a huge crash.
"Javelin!" said Ben, horrified. The helicopter began to rise again, and Ben turned, and ran.
"It's me, Javelin!" he screamed, and threw a Pokéball. He was just in time. The helicopter swooped over him, and a black and white ball with a red 'R' bounced off the ground where Javelin had lain.
As one, Ben's team and I rushed to surround him. Backing him up, we waited. The helicopter slowly, ominously lowered itself into the clearing that Javelin's crash had made.
Ben released Javelin behind him, and she collapsed with a low, harsh cry, onto the path. Her wings were spiked with twigs and brambles. She was a mess - an exhausted mess.
"She has Fly," Grit whispered to me. "That's why they want her."
So that was how she'd managed to evade the helicopter.
"How'd she get that move?!"
"Later."
Two Team Rocketeers jumped down from the now-silent helicopter.
"That's our Fearow," the taller snapped. He was a man in his early thirties and his partner was no younger. "We found her, we pursued her, we weakened her. You should know you've got no right to her. Hand her over."
"No."
Elizabeth picked up his belt from where he'd lain it on the couch, and activated both its balls at once. "Druid! Omen! Time for your homecoming."
The Pokéballs burst open. Raoul was divebombed by Omen and hugged around the waist by Druid. "Hi," he said, smiling, and all too glad to be practically attacked.
"Toldja they were happy to come back," Elizabeth said.
Raoul nodded, looking rather emotional. He made his way to the couch and sat down, immediately joined by his Kadabra and Murkrow.
Elizabeth smiled, and beckoned Alakazam to follow her out of the room. Raoul looked up, confused, and she shrugged. "Back in a minute," she said.
They're very special Pokémon, Psilence 'pathed without jealousy.
Well, he's an extraodinary trainer, she reminded him, and he sent her a mental chuckle.
They can do it, he added.
You'll need to help. Are you sure they're up to... what we're planning? We're talking about Team Rocket here! For all I know, they're far ahead in their Dark defenses... Elizabeth mentally shuddered.
There's nothing that'll stop Omen and Druid, working together, Psilence told her. They can be defeated in battle, of course, but you yourself don't realise how unique we are. Remember that Omen helped Druid evolve - by lending him energy - he's different, and Omen made him that way. And it wouldn't have worked if they hadn't already been different... Elizabeth followed his thoughts into the Pokémon Centre's lounge, where the two Pokémon were. Their minds were like a Venn diagram, of which the two circles overlapped just a small bit... Raoul, by training them together in the beginning, had started something amazing.
There are different kinds of differences, Elizabeth said cryptically. I just hope that this difference is one that'll help us.
The Rocket looked completely taken back by Ben's refusal.
"No?" his partner said, a small smile giving her the chance to bare her teeth. "Look at us. Are you sure about that?" She was only barely shorter than her partner; they were both tall. Neither looked especially muscular but I would have bet that they were both stronger than Ben. She had short, dull orange hair, and he had black hair. They wore sunglasses, pale ones through which their eyes could be seen, but not their eyes' colour.
"I could call Officer Jenny with this," Ben pointed out, holding up his Pokédex-attached phone. "I wonder how she'd settle the matter."
"No Jenny's going to catch us," said the man, smirking. "We'll be away before she gets us. And if not, perhaps... tell her there will be hostages... taken..."
"He's bluffing," Grit muttered to me.
"But Ben believes him," I hissed back.
"Javelin's my Pokémon," Ben said, tossing the Pokéball he'd just caught her with in one hand. "Registered to me. But I'll fight you for her, two on two, no revival."
The man smirked even more. I wasn't surprised. Being given a challenge by a thirteen-year-old boy must seem like a joke to him. "Of course," he agreed. "And when we win, we'll take all of your Pokémon, boy. Team Rocket doesn't do things in a small way."
Ben didn't waver. "Joel," he said, and he handed Bramble a potion for Javelin. The female Rocket laughed, her laugh tinkly, like ice cubes in a glass.
"Go ahead - heal her. It'll save our money."
"I've chosen my first champion," Ben reminded her.
"Go.... Dugtrio." She threw the ball high into the air, in a showy way more common to a certain clique of posh trainers. Its Pokémon formed on the ground.
"Fight."
Joel faced his opponent, looking absolutely terrified. He began to growl. It wasn't an attack and it wasn't words - just defiance.
"Neeee!" Blazebrand cried... cheering him on.
It was a brutal battle. Joel flung himself all over the place, trailing fire behind him, trying to avoid the Dugtrio's Dig. He used Bite on the one occasion when he could, but it was the only time he was able to get physical contact with his opponent. He chased the advantaged Ground-type with hopeless fire attacks. Eventually, Dugtrio was burned, but by that time, Joel was barely on his feet.
Ben snatched up an item. The bloody noble idiot - he strode into the battlefield and sprayed a Super Potion all over Joel. Then Dugtrio emerged from underground and most of the Dig power (coming from vibrations in the earth that the Dugtrio had set up) hit Ben.
He went green, buckled - Blazebrand leapt forward, snatched him away by grabbing his clothes in her jaws, and dumped him two metres away where he was violently sick. He looked awful. A huge bruise bloomed on his leg. He tried to kneel and failed the first time.
The Rockets looked on, absolutely astounded. Ben choked, when he could look up, "There were no rules about items. Just no revives."
Of course, trainers rarely used items in mid-battle, at the cost of danger and pain.
Both Dugtrio and Joel seemed to have paused in their battle. Joel shook himself, snarled, and used Takedown while the Rockets were distracted. Dugtrio fell, and Joel's legs shook. He snarled again.
Wordlessly, the Rocket woman returned her Pokémon.
Her team member called out a Gloom.
I was sure that Blazebrand would ordinarily have been Ben's next choice, but not only was Ben preoccupied, Blazebrand was tired - more tired than she looked - from her ride here.
I was the only high-level Pokémon left. I walked forward, past Joel and towards the Gloom, as though this had been Ben's plan all along.
Grass against Water was bad news for me; Psychic against Poison was bad news for them. I used Confusion. It grazed the Gloom, who leapt aside.
Hurriedly, afraid of certain Grass attacks that a Team Rocket Pokémon might have, I used Rain Dance... enough to dim the sunlight.
That wasn't wise. Aided by my delay, Sleep Powder was the Rocket man's next order.
Unnnghhh...
"Water Gun, Zoe! Hurry!"
It was a Pokémon voice... I obeyed, using instinct to wash water over myself, and as my mind cleared I recognised Javelin's words. Despite the mist I'd gathered in the air, the Gloom's powder had still been effective.
But I was alert again. I was fighting for all of them now.
I blasted the Gloom with Confusion until it fell. I felt funny... confused... mentally tired from all the energies I'd been focusing through my brain.
I joined Joel at the sidelines. Ben, now standing, (although he was leaning against Blazebrand's side,) smiled.
"Bramble," he whispered, "vine whip." In moments, each Rocket was secured by one vine around each of their necks and chests, their arms pinned down to their sides.
"Now what am I going to do with you?" asked Ben. His grin wasn't friendly.
"You know," he added thoughtfully, "I think I would have time to call Officer Jenny..."
"You get us caught, and we'll get even with you," snarled the man. "Team Rocket will put a price on your head."
Yeah right, I thought scornfully. Why would Team Rocket waste effort on a barely-teenage trainer, even if he could beat a pair of their members? It was far more likely that these two would get reprimanded or laughed at for being defeated by Ben.
"Turn around," Ben ordered pleasantly, "unless you want second-degree burns, at least." Puzzled, they obeyed.
My mind was clearing. I began to drag Joel and myself back to the rest of the team. Ben frowned, and tossed us each a berry. They helped tremendously.
"You don't know my name," Ben continued, "just my team and my general appearance. I could have my Slowpoke wipe those memories easily enough."
I looked up at him. I hoped that was a bluff. I didn't think I could actually do that - and even if I had enough power, which I didn't think I did, I'd never have the control.
My mind was clearing. I began to drag Joel and myself back to the rest of the team. Ben frowned, and tossed us each a berry. They helped tremendously.
"Slowpoke can't do that," the Rocket woman said assuredly.
"Are you willing to take a risk on that?"
"Yep," she said with confidence.
"Hmm..."
Now I cursed my inability to communicate with Ben. I thought that if I used a custom-tailored Confusion on the two adults, I might muddle them enough to create the effect Ben wanted. But I couldn't say it. I jumped up and down to get his attention, and then tried to mime - I sent a silent Confusion attack off to the side, then pointed at me, then pointed at them, then -
But it hadn't been a good idea to tell the pair to turn around.
Bramble suddenly screamed - "Saaaaur!" He whipped back the vine he'd been holding the man with; the Rocket man triumphantly brandished a knife. He must have had it in his pockets or something - he must have been working it free all this time... Bramble's right vine bled from a shallow wound, with the viscous, sap-like blood that Bulbasaur have.
The man brought the knife down towards his partner's bindings, but before he could slash Bramble's other vine, Bramble withdrew that one too. More quickly than we could stop them, they leapt for their helicopter, recalling the Gloom along the way.
I couldn't use Confusion on them now that they were protected by the walls of the helicopter, but I could use Disable and hold the helicopter in the air. It wasn't easy... I was slipping... the helicopter rose a fraction. I hoped they hadn't noticed.
Ben had.
"I'll let you go," Ben shouted, "if you give me one of your Pokémon."
What was he playing at now??
Incredibly, the Rocketeers laughed.
"Why here you go! I'm sure it's fair, after all, we did lose to you. Enjoy your new Pokémon!" they cried from the cockpit, and as they tossed a Pokéball out, my Disable crumbled.
"Dammit," cursed Ben, "they got away."
He moved to Javelin's side and released (hopefully) the new Pokémon as, with his other hand, he began to remove some of the debris from Javelin's wings.
But the new Pokémon was a shocking sight.
It was a tiny, tiny Persian, with fur coming away in patches, with its ribs showing, and its eyes dulled. Ben dropped to his knees beside it, his mouth open, as the rest of us gathered round, almost afraid to touch the poor creature for the obvious tenderness of its skin.
Now for my kind reviewers!
Pikacar/Marle: I'm glad you like it! Here you go, and I didin't even take ONE month, thanks to Farla, so… enjoy, I guess!
Lightning-Strike: Aahhhh! Okay, I saved Javelin. I was always going to. No more creative names, but even so, I hope you like this chapter!
Miss Black Dragon: Thanks, again, for sticking with me! Javelin has been rescued so I hope you're happy. ;) I'll try and give Raoul a bit more of the spotlight in later chapters, okay? Things are starting to get moving!
Farla: Thanks for your perceptive comments, which motivated me to write this chapter. I'm glad that you think Raoul is a competent, compassionate trainer; what with all the fics that people (like you) have written, pointing out the negative side of Pokémon, it becomes harder and harder to write about trainers who are defensibly 'good', and 'responsible'. I don't mean that in a negative way. It's just that your arguments for the negative side of Pokémon are so compelling. I'm honoured to think I've managed to create at least one defensible trainer.