Sibling Rivalry

by voyager1713

A pokemon journey. PLEASE R&R

5. Act 5

Sibling Rivalry

By Ross Jacobsen (rbjake@teleport.com)



Chapter 83-A New Move

By the time Ross stepped out of the front seat of the car, it was about

half an hour to

curfew. Ross said goodbye to his driver and scaled the steps in front of the

pokemon center.

Inside, a Nurse Joy and a Chansey was behind the front desk. The entry

room was empty

of life except for the nurse and pokemon.

"Just in time," said the Nurse Joy behind the front desk, "I was just about

to have

everyone start for bed."

"Before you do, I have a couple of seriously burned plant pokemon that I

just caught,"

explained Ross.

"Alright," commented the nurse, "Chansey, could you heal his pokemon for

me?"

"Chan-sey," agreed Chansey, taking Ross's belt of pokeballs. Ross got set

for bed while

he waited for Chansey to finish treating his pokemon. When Ross got his belt

back, he walked

over to a cot and slid his stuff under it.

**************************************************************************** ****

The next day, Ross got up to visit the rock gym. He grabbed some breakfast

from the

trainer's buffet and started out.

Outside, everyone was talking about evolution stones. Fire, leaf, thunder,

water, mind,

mist, and moon stones. Several people were talking about stone deposits and

claims. According

to Ross's pokedex, the best place to dig for evolution stones was on evolution

mountain, only a

few hundred feet away.

On his way to the gym, Ross noticed an evolution zoo. Ross heard the cries

of several

pokemon inside and decided to go in later to check it out.

The gym was shaped like a giant boulder and just about everything in it was

gray. Ross

didn't have to wait too long before the gym leader opened the main gym.

"My name is Brick Stone," introduced the gym leader, "I lead this gym, do

you want to

challenge me?"

"Yes," stated Ross.

"3 on 3, basic rules," explained Brick, "I will start with Rhyhorn, GO!"

"Machoke, GO!" called Ross, "Low kick!"

"Stomp!" instructed Brick.

Machoke ran up at Rhyhorn before sliding in like a baseball player would.

Rhyhorn

reared up and stomped on Machoke's leg as it approached for the low kick.

Machoke was

pinned and wasn't able to kick.

"Karate chop!" shouted Ross.

"Horn attack," ordered Brick.

Rhyhorn tried to stab Machoke with its horn, but Machoke dodged and managed

to land

a karate chop on Rhyhorn neck. Rhyhorn was knocked away and Machoke was able to

stand up.

"Seismic toss!" proclaimed Ross.

"Tail whip!" called Brick.

Machoke grabbed Rhyhorn's tail and one of his rear legs before spinning

around in a

circle. Before too much longer, a gray form was launched across the room.

Rhyhorn crashed

into the opposite wall and fainted.

"Rhyhorn, return," called Brick, "Go Golem!"

The large boulder replaced the fainted rhino, ready to continue the battle.

'Machoke might not be able to battle Golem with that weak leg,' thought

Ross.

"Machoke, return," recalled Ross, "Wartortle, GO! Water gun!"

"Rock throw!"

Golem was hit hard by the water before chucking several rocks at Wartortle. Instinctively, Wartortle withdrew into its shell. The rocks just bounced off

Wartortle's shell.

"Bubblebeam!" cried Ross.

"Harden," instructed Brick.

Golem turned a dark black before being hit by the stream of bubbles. Golem

was hit

hard, but still hanging in there.

"Explosion," ordered Brick.

Golem glowed white and vanished in a cloud of dust. When the smoke

cleared, two

unconscious pokemon were visible. The trainers called back their pokemon and

threw out their

last pokeball.

"HITMONLEE!" called Ross's tan pokemon.

"OONNNNN!" roared Brick's long rock snake.

Ross's jaw dropped open. "Oh SHOO..."

Ross was interrupted by another roar from Onix. Hitmonlee was a little

nervous, but

took a confident fighting stance.

"Tackle," called Brick.

"Rolling kick," replied Ross.

Onix's head went straight down at Hitmonlee. Hitmonlee dodged easily,

rolling under

Onix to land a kick to his mid-section. Onix doubled over in pain until its

trainer called out

another order.

"Bind!" called Brick.

"Jump kick," shouted Ross over another one of Onix's roars.

Onix surrounded Hitmonlee and tried to close in around him. Hitmonlee was

still to fast

to be caught and landed a kick on Onix's elevated head. Onix was left dazed

while Hitmonlee

landed elegantly.

"Screech!" ordered Brick.

"Double kick," instructed Ross.

Onix let out an ear-piercing sound which threw off Hitmonlee. Instead of

doing the

double kick that Ross asked for, Hitmonlee started swinging a foot around until

he seemed to be

floating in the air, approaching Onix.

Uncertain what Hitmonlee was doing, Ross analyzed the move. "Hitmonlee is

doing an

unknown attack," claimed the voice.

"Rock throw Onix!" exclaimed Brick.

Onix spat several rocks at Hitmonlee. Hitmonlee adjusted his altitude and

kicked each

rock, reducing them to dust.

"YIKES!" yelled Brick and Onix simultaneously.

'Incredible,' thought Ross.

"I YIELD!" shouted Brick. Petrified for his pokemon, Brick held up a

pokeball and said,

"ONIX, RETURN!"

Onix was hit by the return beam and had a smile the size of Saffron City on

his face.

Hitmonlee eventually stopped and held his head in dizziness, stumbling to

maintain balance.

"Woah," Hitmonlee said about hit new move, "I think I'm going to take a

little nap

now." Hitmonlee fell flat on his back, tired and dizzy, but still conscious.

Ross and Brick ran out to Hitmonlee. Hitmonlee sat straight up, looked

straight at Brick

and said, "I hope you don't expect me to do that all the time."

Brick chuckled at how Hitmonlee mistook him for Ross. Ross smiled and

waving his

hand in front of Hitmonlee's face, Ross said, "Over here bud."

Hitmonlee turned to Ross and grabbed his shoulder to be sure. Ross helped

his friend to

his feet and held him in place. When Hitmonlee regained his balance, Brick

handed Ross a gray

badge resembling a rock.

"Your pokemon skills are impressive," complimented Brick, "With a little

practice,

Hitmonlee here will be able to start a battle with that move instead of

finishing with it."

"Great," said a sarcastic Hitmonlee.

"Speaking of which," said Brick, "What are you going to call that attack?"

Ross thought for a little while before a name popped into his head. "I

think I'll call it a

cyclone kick," stated Ross.

"I'll see you around sometime," commented Brick.

"Okay, bye," stated Ross as he helped Hitmonlee to the door.

**************************************************************************** ****

Brick opened a cell phone and dialed. After a couple rings, the phone was

answered.

"Pika?" asked the tiny voice.

"Hey Pikachu," replied Brick, "Is Brock around?"

"Pika," said the Pikachu before elevator music started to come out the

speaker.

After a few moments, Brock's voice was Brick's ear.

"Hello?"

"Hey bro," started Brick, "A kid just came in with a Hitmonlee which did a

new move."

"Really?" asked Brock, "What did he call it?

"A cyclone kick," explained Brick. Chapter 84-Up Evolution Mountain

At the pokemon center, Ross healed Machoke, Wartortle, and Hitmonlee

starting up the

nearby evolution mountain. Ross figured that he might be able to find some

evolution stones to

keep or trade.

Ross used his pokedex to scan through the soil in an unclaimed area for the

stones. He

was paying so much attention to what was below him that he didn't notice what

was above him.

THUD!

Ross fell backwards and looked at what hit him. "A leaf stone?" wondered

Ross, "Why

would a leaf stone be flying through the air to hit me in the head?"

Ross was helped to his feet by Machoke, only to be knocked back down by a

mind stone.

"This is a weird mountain." commented Ross. Ross stood up again and was nearly

hit by half a

dozen thunder stones.

"HEY!" shouted Ross at an overhead cliff.

A girl's head popped out and asked, "What?"

"Will ya' stop stoning me already?" asked Ross.

The girl blushed and said, "Sorry, I'm looking for a water stone."

"Don't they sell them in town?" asked Ross.

"Yes," commented the girl, "but I'm broke and need to evolve my Poliwhirl."

"What's your name?" asked Ross.

"Jewel," answered the girl, "What's yours?"

"Ross Jacobsen," answered Ross, "Why do you need to evolve your Poliwhirl?"

"My family won't let me work at our local gym until I do," answered Jewel.

Ross

opened his backpack and pulled out the water stone he won in at the carnival a

while back.

"If you want, I have a water stone that I don't need," commented Ross,

"you're welcome

to it."

"What's the catch?" asked Jewel.

"No catch," answered Ross, "Just catch." Ross threw the stone up to Jewel

who easily

caught it.

"Thanks," said Jewel, "I'll see you around." Jewel disappeared before

hurrying down the

cliff to Stone Town.

"I thought that you were saving that for Staryu when he was ready to

evolve," said

Hitmonchan as Jewel disappeared from sight.

"I was," said Ross, looking at the stones on the ground, "but I think that

I can trade some

of these stones for at least ONE water stone. Let's see if we can't find some

more stones where

she was digging."

Ross climbed the cliff and started to dig with his shovel. It wasn't to

long before Ross

started hitting pay-dirt.

The cliff face was full of evolution stones there was so many stones that

Ross had to put

all of his pokemon away to prevent them from evolving. There was some of all the

known types

of evolution stones except water. Exeggcute seemed to be in a hurry to evolve

though because it

kept getting out of his pokeball and looking for the pile of leaf stones.

At about lunchtime, Ross thought that he had enough to carry. Ross started

to load them

into his net. He was so busy with his net that he didn't notice that Exeggcute

had snuck out of

his pokeball and started after a lone leaf stone, still stuck in the dirt wall,

that Ross missed.

"Almost got it," muttered one of the eggs a little too loudly. Ross turned

around and saw

Exeggcute barraging at the dirt around the stone.

"Hold it," called Ross. Just then, the stone fell out and started to roll

towards Exeggcute.

Exeggcute hopped happily while Ross hurried to stop the stone. Exeggcute

rushed to

beat Ross to the stone and succeeded. The eggs and stone started to glow green

until Ross

picked up the stone.

Exeggcute stopped glowing while Ross's hands, gloves, and the leaf stone

glowed. Ross

closed his eyes, thinking that the glow was from Exeggcute, using hypnosis.

When Ross looked

again, his hands and Exeggcute were still the same, but now, his gloves had a

green leaf behind

his initials, and the leaf stone was gone. Chapter 85-ZOOm in on Stone Evolution

Back at Stone Town, Ross had deposited half of his stones and ate lunch

before going to

the evolution zoo. Ross paid the admissions fee at the gate before going in.

The zoo was semi-

crowded with a gift shop by the entrance/exit.

Ross first looked at Eevees in their evolved forms. Vaporeons were

splashing in a pool

while Jolteons and Flareons glared at each other from different cages.

Ross pulled out his pokedex and started to scan the pokemon. "Vaporeon, a

bubble jet

pokemon, Jolteon, a lightning pokemon, and Flareon, a flame pokemon," stated the

pokedex,

"These pokemon evolve from Eevee when exposed to the water, thunder, or fire

stone."

An unusual looking group of blue-green Eevee was in a cage labeled

Lunareon. Another

cage looked like a mixed breed between a Vaporeon, a Jolteon, and a Flareon.

Ross examined

the last two with his pokedex.

"Lunareon, the alien pokemon," explained the voice, "Once believed to be a

myth,

Lunareon was a mystery. It is now known that Eevee evolves into Lunareon when

exposed to a

moon stone."

Ross turned to face the crossed breed pokemon. "Ultreon, the multi-type

pokemon,"

explained the voice, "Ultreon's existence was unknown until a recent accident

revealed that if

Eevee is exposed to the thunder, fire, and water stone at the same time, Eevee

will evolve into

Ultreon. While most pokemon display only one or two types, Ultreon displays

three, fire,

electric, and water."

Before Ross left the Eevee area, he saw a solid green pokemon. "Leafeon, a

plant

pokemon," commented the pokedex, "Only one out of four Eevees are capable of

evolving into

Leafeon when exposed to the leaf stone."

Ross looked at the pokeballs he got from the cheating carnival booth. He

had gotten

seriously disappointed when he found out that all 6 were unevolved Eevees. Ross

would have to

check to see if one of his Eevees could become a Leafeon later.

Ross walked past the Leafeons to the leaf stone evolved pokemon portion of

the zoo.

There were three more dens. One held walking coconut trees, another held

flowers with red

blossoms, and the last held yellow carnivorous flowers.

"Exeggcute, the walking tree pokemon," proclaimed the red computer, "With

multiple

faces, this pokemon evolves from Exeggcute. Some believe that this evolution is

not as wise as

it would seem."

Turning to the red flowers, the voice said, "Vileplume, a flower pokemon.

The third

stage in Oddish evolution. Attracts pollinating insects with its sweet smell."

Ross pointed the lens at the yellow plants as they ate some insects.

"Victreebell, a fly-

catcher pokemon. The third stage in Bellsprout evolution. In the wild, it

tries to eat anything it

can catch."

"Yikes," muttered Ross as he walked to the mind stone exhibits. Chapter 86-Don't Mind Me

Five pokemon were in different pens. One sort of reminded Ross of a clown,

another

looked like a Kadabra except with a big head. The third one was pink with a

shell hat. The

fourth was completely yellow with pendulums, some of which were floating

straight up! The

last one was some sort of duck.

Ross first looked at the clowns. "Mimic, a mime pokemon," explained Ross's

pokedex,

"The recently discovered evolution of a Mr. Mime. Makes motions to mime out a

powerful

protective barrier."

Ross next looked at the pokemon with large shell hats. "Slowking, a dopey

pokemon,

the third form of Slowpoke evolution. When exposed to a mind stone, Slowbro

kills its tail

parasite and turns it into a hat."

The third pokemon Ross examined were the pokemon with pendulums. "Sleepy,

a

hypnosis pokemon, third stage in Drowzee evolution. When Hypno evolves, its

mental power

increases with the elevation of its pendulum.

Looking at the pink/blue ducks the pokedex stated, "Morduck, a

water/psychic pokemon,

third stage of Psyduck evolution. No one is certain how this pokemon was

originally mistaken

for a Modok."

"Someone thought THAT was a Modok?" Ross asked no one.

Finally, Ross looked at the pumped up Kadabra. "Alfamazoo, a mental

pokemon,

believed to be the fourth stage of Abra evolution. Alfamazoo's brain is

believed by some to be

the equal of Mewtwo. So far, no one of stature has proven that Alfamazoo is the

evolved form

of Alakazam."

'Hello,' Ross said in his mind. The Alfamazoos looked around. 'Over here,

on the path,'

thought Ross.

'Finally! A smart human!' thought the Alfamazoos.

'I was wondering if I could ask you all a few questions,' thought Ross.

'Ask away,' said a thought behind Ross, 'If you don't mind answering some

of our

questions.'

'Why can't you Sleepys just talk among yourselves instead of spying on

everyone else?'

asked an Alfamazoo.

'What would be the fun in being a psychic pokemon if you don't use your

powers?'

asked one of the Sleepys.

'Hard to argue with that," stated a Mimic.

'To the questions,' thought a Morduck.

'I was wondering if the Alfamazoos really were the fourth stage in Abra

evolution,'

stated Ross in his mind.

'Only if we can get strong enough,' answered an Alfamazoo.

'Why are we being held here?' thought a Morduck.

'So that in case your natural environments disappeared, you will still

exist,' explained

Ross.

'Why would they disappear?' asked a Mimic.

'Well,' considered Ross, 'Some people aren't as caring or smart as they

should be.

Sometimes, pokemon are driven to extinction by other pokemon. Predators and so

forth.'

'About how many different types of pokemon are there?' wondered an

Alfamazoo.

'When the total number of species was last counted,'started Ross, 'There

was about 200

different species and 15 types, but that was a few months ago.'

'What are the different types?' asked a Morduck.

'Shouldn't we let the Slowkings ask a question?' wondered Ross.

'If we tried,' stated a Alfamazoo, 'Then you would be here all day.'

'Okay, well,' Ross pondered over the 15 types, 'There's normal, ghost,

electric, ground,

bug, flying, poison, grass, fire, ice, water, psychic, fighting, rock, and

dragon.'

'What's your name?' asked a small Alfamazoo.

Ross smiled and thought, 'Ross Jacobsen, pokemon trainer.'

'What's a trainer?' asked a Morduck.

'Well,' started Ross, 'I work with pokemon to make both of us stronger and

learn from

each other. We battle other trainers and wild pokemon to build our team and

obtain money to

survive.'

'Oh,' thought a Mimic. A zookeeper drove into the area with a golf cart

full of food.

"How's it going?" asked the zookeeper.

"Alright," said Ross honestly, "Just talking with the pokemon."

"Yeah right," replied the zookeeper, "These pokemon can't understand you."

'Really?' thought a Sleepy, preparing to fire a psybeam at the zookeeper's

back.

'I don't think that's a good idea,' warned Ross, 'You might not get fed.'

Realizing that Ross was right, the Sleepy disappointedly relaxed.

'I better go if I'm going see the other pokemon,' thought Ross to the

psychic pokemon,

'Nice talking with you.'

'Same here,' thought a Mimic. Chapter 87-"I Motion For Evolution."

The next exhibit Ross came to was a couple of mist stone exhibit. One held

some

pokemon that Ross originally thought was some Mews on some serious steroids.

"Chronamew,"

stated the pokedex, "a psychic pokemon that evolves from Mew when exposed to a

mist stone."

The second one held what looked like overweight, short, blue Pikachus with

a ball on the

tip of their tails. "Pikablu," stated the pokedex, "A water/electric pokemon,

when some Pikachu

are exposed to a mist stone, it evolves into this ultra-rare pokemon. Catching

one in the wild is

nearly impossible and a feat that no one has been successful in."

Ross was interested for a little while until he proceeded to the water

stone evolutions. A

large pool held three different pokemon species. Some were Cloysters like the

Ice Lord had,

others were 10-point starfish, and there was also some blue amphibians with a

spiral center.

Pointed at starfish, the computer said, "Starmie, a psychic/water pokemon.

A 10-point

starfish that evolves from Staryu with the water stone. Exchanging speed for

size, Starmie uses

psychic powers to fight"

"Poliwrath, a fighting/water pokemon, evolves from Poliwhirl when exposed

to a water

stone," the pokedex identifying the amphibians, "With its powerful muscles,

Poliwrath fights of

predators on land and in water."

Ross watched the pokemon play in the water before he heard a shrill voice

call out,

"CHU!!!!"

Looking at a cage in the next section, Ross saw a large orange rat with a

yellow lightning

bolt on the tip of its tail. "Raichu," introduced the pokedex, "An electric rat

pokemon. Evolved

from a Pikachu, Raichu can shock a Dragonite into unconsciousness."

Ross breezed through the moon stone evolutions fairly quickly. He found

those pokemon

fairly boring and proceeded to the fire pokemon. Some large dogs and foxes were

in separate

cages, very similar to the pokemon that Trella Flame had.

After Ross watched the pokemon for a while, Ross walked into the gift shop

with an

adjoining evolution stone trading booth. Chapter 88-Let's Make A Deal

"May I help you?" asked the man running the trading booth.

"I'm in the market for some water stones," explained Ross, leaning against

the glass

case, "And I have several other stones for trade."

"We're a little short on thunder and fire stones," commented the trader,

"How many

water stones do you want?"

"I want about half a dozen water stones," explained Ross. Trying to gain

the upper hand,

Ross said, "I have a few thunder stones, a couple leaf, and some of all the

other stones."

"How about one of both for a single water stone," suggested the trader.

"That's a rip-off!" exclaimed Ross, "I can get a better deal from some poor

shmuck on

the street. How about a fire and thunder for two water stones?"

"Not likely," commented the trader, "How about 2 fire, 2 thunder, 1 mind,

and 1 mist of

your collection for 6 of our water stones?"

'Not a bad deal,' thought Ross, 'I trade a few of my stones and still have

all the stones

that I already deposited.'

"Okay," said Ross, setting his backpack on the floor. Ross opened it up

and removed his

half-full net of evolution stones. He carefully grabbed a fire stone with both

hands.

Suddenly, the leaf on his gloves illuminated and the fire stone disappeared

in his hands.

Ross thought that he was just clumsy and dropped it. Ross pulled out another

fire stone and set

it on the counter.

Ross reached in for a thunder stone which promptly disappeared in his

hands. Slightly

confused, Ross reached for a mind stone, but it also vanished.

'What is going on here?' wondered Ross as he reached for a mist stone,

which also

disappeared.

"Is there a problem?" asked the clerk.

"No," lied Ross, "No problem."

Ross looked straight at one of his mind stones and put it on the counter

without any

problem. Ross then managed to do the same with a fire, thunder, and mist stone.

Once the clerk had verified that all of the stones he requested were on the

counter, he slid

them off into a box and set 6 water stones in their place. Ross picked up some

of the stones in

each hand at once and set the two stones in his left hand and one in his right

hand. Ross stood

back up and picked up the last two stones on the counter, one in each hand.

Ross bent down and

set the stones with the others.

Ross put the net away before closing and shouldering his backpack.

"Pleasure doing business with you," stated the clerk, extending his right

hand.

"Same here," replied Ross, shaking the friendly man's hand.

"Nice gloves," complimented the man.

"Thanks," said Ross. Looking at them, Ross's jaw nearly dropped. Now,

instead of a

single leaf on the background or just his initials, there was a 6-point star.

Ross's initials were in

the center hexagon with a leaf, flame, water drop, lightning bolt, brain, and

snowflake in the six

surrounding points.

"Where'd you get them?" asked the clerk.

"Oh, I altered a pair from a garage sale," lied Ross.

"Nice job, they look like they're brand new," stated the trader.

"Yeah, right," said Ross, "I better go."

Ross walked out of the trading room and into the gift shop, all the while

looking puzzled

at his gloves. Chapter 89-The Glowing Gloves

In the gift shop, Ross looked through the books, still puzzled over how his

gloves

changed themselves twice within 3 hours. Ross found an interesting book on

stone-enduced

evolutions and the resulting pokemon and started to flip through the book.

'ROSS!' yelled a voice in his head. Ross jerked his head up at the sound

of one of the

Alfamazoo's thoughts. 'Some people are taking us away! HELP!!!'

Dropping the book on a nearby shelf, Ross ran out of the gift shop for the

mind stone

evolutions.

**************************************************************************** ****

"Hurry up! The cameras will be up again!" ordered a male's voice.

"I'm moving as fast as I can," complained a second male struggling with a

large

Slowking.

"Maybe you should just give up now," suggested a new voice. The two

thieves looked

and saw Ross standing on the path to the exit.

"Do you know who you're dealing with!?!" asked the first man.

"Sure I do!" exclaimed Ross, "The Beavis and Butthead of pokemon training,

Mike

Crosby and Nick Grahm! And please spare me that awful poem."

"Awful!?!" exclaimed Mike.

"Articuno," called Nick from the Slowking pen, "Freeze our friend's

pokeballs."

Articuno stepped out from behind Ross and used ice beam to freeze his belt

in a ring of

ice.

"How are you going to fight us now?" asked Mike.

"With my fists and feet to my last ounce of strength," quoted Ross as he

took a fighting

stance.

"Alakazam, Fearow, Muk, Charmander, Bulbasaur, GO!" called Mike.

"Haunter, Marowak, Lickitung, Squirtle, Dratini, join the other pokemon!"

ordered Nick.

Ross found himself against eleven pokemon and one trainer. Ross started

out with a

psychic attack, but didn't make a dent in most of the pokemon. Ross put up a

barrier next to

avoid serious injury, but was hit all at once by a several of the pokemon's

special attacks.

Next, Ross tried to rush the pokemon with a series of punches and kicks,

but was kept

back by a whirlwind from Fearow. Ross was knocked into a guardrail and weak

from the

attacks.

"Why don't you give up know and save yourself the pain," suggested Nick.

"Because you shouldn't treat pokemon that way," complained Ross, stumbling

to stand

up with the guardrail.

"But we are," said Mike, "and soon, I'll have my Hitmons back."

Marowak ran up at Ross, bone raised for a bone club attack. Ross dodged

the bone and

let Marowak attack a guardrail. The rail shook violently and Marowak shook with

it.

"MA~A~RO~OW~WA~A~A~AK!" called the pokemon. Ross grabbed the crude

weapon and Marowak by the back of the neck.

Ross's glove started to feel funny on his hand. The top of the star,

decorated by the leaf,

and the third point counter-clockwise, the brain, glowed as Marowak grew weak

and Ross

gained strength.

Eventually, Marowak fainted while Ross was back at full strength. Marowak

turned into

a mass of red energy and was sucked into one of Nick's pokeballs, with its bone

club still in

Ross's right hand.

'How did I learn to do Absorb?' wondered Ross.

A long tongue wrapped around the bone in Ross's right hand.

'Guess I'll have to figure it out later,' thought Ross, struggling with the

fleshy tongue.

He pulled out his pocket knife and plunged it into the slobber-ridden tongue.

"TTTOOUUNNNGGE!" exclaimed the stabbed pokemon as it let go of Ross's

weapon.

"You want this back?" asked Ross, side-winding up to throw the bone,

"CATCH!"

Ross threw the bone with a wicked spin to it. Muk tried to catch it, but

lost some of its

sludge, scattered to the four winds. The sludge caught Mike and Alakazam in the

eye.

The bone started to curve around and fly for the pokemon again. Haunter

floated in front

of it, ready to stop it. The bone flew through Haunter, right between the eyes.

Haunter cried out

in pain as the bone flew into Ross's hand.

'How did I learn bonemerang?' thought Ross.

Articuno flew up and after Ross. Dodging, Ross tried to hit Articuno with

a fire punch.

Articuno also dodged and Ross started to get really mad. Ross held out his

right hand as the

second clockwise icon, the flame, glowed. Flames started to fly out of his

right hand and pelt

the Articuno.

'Now a flamethrower?' thought Ross, 'What's next? A thunderbolt?'

Ross wasn't far off. Once the flames stopped and Articuno flew off, the

lower-most

icon, a bolt of lightning, turned a bright yellow. Sparks popped over the

insignia.

Ross held both fists at Fearow. Electricity flew out and shocked the bird.

Fearow

dropped and fainted. Ross stopped to rest while Lickitung, Muk, Alakazam,

Haunter, and

Fearow were called back and Mike rubbed the sludge out of his eyes.

Bulbasaur, Squirtle, Charmander, and Dratini nervously took a fighting

stance.

'Better take out the Dratini first,' figured Ross, 'Ice would be nice.'

No sooner had he thought it then the second counter-clockwise insignia, a

snowflake,

turned a bright white. Holding an open hand at Dratini, a blue beam emerged

from Ross's hand

and hit Dratini right on the head, encasing it in a block of ice.

Dratini was called back and Ross turned to Charmander. Thinking about a

water gun

attack, the third clockwise icon, the water drop, shimmered blue. Water flowed

out of the

Slowking pen, washing out Nick, trying to get the last pokemon, and soaking

Charmander

Ross focused his attention on Bulbasaur, releasing a steady stream of

mental energy with

occasional surges of power.

"What was that!?!" asked a bewildered Nick when he saw the strange mental

attack.

Mike called back Bulbasaur.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" stated Ross.

Squirtle looked around nervously for support, but only saw all of the

evolved pokemon

that got away from Nick. Team Rocket was definitely freaked by the fact that

they were

surrounded.

"Psychic pokemon!" exclaimed Ross, "Trap Team Rocket in a barrier!"

The psychic pokemon focused and a large, clear-white bubble surrounded Team

Rocket.

"I don't believe this!" yelled Mike, "How could we lose when he didn't even

use any

pokemon!?!"

"Maybe we should have just ignored that weird letter?" suggested Nick.

Ross used a fire

punch to remove the ice surrounding his belt as the security guards ran up. Chapter 90-Eevee-ning Puzzlers

In the security office, Ross was trying to explain what happened with a

fake story where

his belt was never encased in ice. The guards were slightly confused by the

story contradicting

their video of the end of the battle. Yet they were glad that none of the

pokemon were missing.

By the time Ross finished answering the police's questions and bought the

book that he

was looking at earlier, the sun was setting. Leaving town was out of the

question today, so Ross

walked back to the pokemon center.

**************************************************************************** ****

"I still don't understand what happen," complained a guard to one of his

friends.

"So?" replied the friend.

"So," started the guard, "Maybe we should check with the pokemon league

about this

one. How did that 'Dataeater' kid know that there was trouble? And no matter

what really

happened, pokemon were involved, and we still have the copy."

**************************************************************************** ****

In the training section of the pokemon center, was talking with his Eevees.

Some of

them detested evolving into some evolved forms while others wanted to be able to

keep

swimming. Ross got so confused, that he assigned each Eevee a number and

started a chart. 1 2 3 4 5 6

Flareon

Vaporeon

Jolteon

Leafeon

Ultreon

Lunareon Since only 2 could had the ability to become Leafeon, Ross marked the

others out of

becoming Leafeon. 1 and 5 wanted to be able to swim without any trouble. That

meant that

they both had to become one evolutions that was at least part-water. 1 2 3 4 5 6

Flareon x x x

Vaporeon x x x x

Jolteon x x x

Leafeon x o x x x x

Ultreon x x x x

Lunareon x x x After Ross showed pictures of the different pokemon, 3 wanted despised the

thought of

looking like Jolteon while #4 was begging to become it. #1 liked Vaporeon while

3 and 6

preferred Lunareon. 1 2 3 4 5 6

Flareon x x x x

Vaporeon o x x x x x

Jolteon x x x o x x

Leafeon x o x x x x

Ultreon x x x x o x

Lunareon x x x x Ross knew that he'd have to make a good choice, or the upset Eevee might

pick a fight

with him. Or worse. All of the remaining Eevees liked the looks of their

choices, but #3 didn't

like the thought of not being able to enjoy water sports at all. Ross altered

his chart accordingly

and was relieved to see that it was complete. 1 2 3 4 5 6

Flareon x x x x x o

Vaporeon o x x x x x

Jolteon x x x o x x

Leafeon x o x x x x

Ultreon x x x x o x

Lunareon x x o x x x One at a time, Ross evolved each Eevee. The most challenging of the

evolutions was #5

into Ultreon. Getting Ultreon to be exposed to the three stones took a little

thinking before Ross

finally decided to set Eevee onto the three stone gathered in a flat formation.

Only the Eevee

just jumped out of Ross's hands onto the stones. The goofball Eevee still

evolved into Ultreon,

but was starting out to be the group's clown. Chapter 91-A Basic Day?

The next morning, Ross waited until he was halfway to Vermilion City before

taking a

break in a shady glen. While the pokemon ran off and did their own thing in the

moderate size

field, Ross used his pokedex to scan his gloves

"Six unidentified pokemon of different types," claimed the pokedex, "1 of

the following

detected: Fire, Water, Plant, Ice, Psychic, and Electric. Please contact

Professor Oak via cell

phone option to record new pokemon or attacks."

"Attacks?" commented Ross, "I should tell him about Hitmonlee's cyclone

kick then."

Ross pushed a button on the screen flashing and an antenna slowly emerged.

He pushed

an on-screen button and waited for Professor Oak's face to appear.

"Hello," stated the professor's face as it appeared on the screen, "This is

Professor Oak.

Whom may I ask is calling?"

"Hey professor. This is Ross," introduced Ross, "My Hitmonlee did a new

move and my

pokedex said to report it."

"Really? How exciting!" proclaimed the Oak on the screen, "Could you have

him

demonstrate it for me?"

"Hold on a sec," said Ross. After talking to his pokemon, there was room

cleared and

Hitmonlee stood ready to do it. "Okay Hitmonlee, cyclone kick!"

The camera watched Hitmonlee closely as he spun around in mid-air. When

Hitmonlee

landed, Hitmonlee was once again dizzy, but spent less time trying to maintain

balance.

"How interesting," commented the professor, "You wouldn't by any chance

have

recently left Stone Town, would you?"

"Yes," answered Ross truthfully, "Hitmonlee first used the attack in the

gym battle to

scare Onix out of fighting. How did you know?"

"I thought so," stated Oak, "The local gym leader already reported that

move, but thanks

for the extra documentation on the cyclone kick."

"You're welcome," answered Ross before adding under his breath, "I guess."

"I suppose that you haven't heard about the pokedex update,' commented Oak.

"Actually..." started Ross when the professor on the screen started

coughing

uncontrollably. "You okay prof?"

"Yes," claimed the Oak on the screen, "I'm fine. If you want, I'll have

the update

waiting for you in Vermillion."

"Fine, I'll talk to you later," stated Ross. "And take care of yourself,"

added Ross before

the screen went black.

"You know what Ross?" Looking up Ross saw Hitmonlee holding Hitmonchan's

shoulder and saying, "I think that I AM getting better at recovering from this

dizziness."

Everyone laughed as Hitmonchan said, "I don't think so bud, Ross is over

there."

**************************************************************************** ****

"Have you sent the letters?" asked the man in the prisoner's uniform.

"Yes Mister Oak," answered Aroduc, "It'll probably still be a while before

the trainers

get the letters though. Are you sure that you wanted us to give away

FIRST-class ticket? We

could have cut the expenses of this trap by HALF if we used third-class

tickets."

"You can catch more flies with honey than vinegar," quoted 'Mr. Oak,' "I

should be out

of here in a few more weeks. I'll want a tally of the pokemon 'borrowed' by the

end of the

week."

"No problem boss," promised Aroduc.

**************************************************************************** ****

Ross and company stopped for the night next to a log that fell across the

stream. Again,

it only took a brief while to set up and start dinner.

Ross did some more scanning and found out that with the gloves on, Ross

could use

several more attacks. He also found out that the attacks he could do without

the gloves were

more powerful.

The meat started to sizzle for a while before Ross flipped the hamburgers.

The pokemon

were relaxing and talking. Talking about the day's battles, talking about

evolving, and talking

about how annoying Team Rocket was. Ross joined in the conversation until the

meal was done

cooking.

All of the pokemon took a portion of the meal and the conversation slowed

as everyone

started eating. It was a pretty basic evening until about halfway through the

dinner.

A small Pikachu's head popped out of a bush across the stream, sniffing the

air. Hungry,

the tiny pokemon walked down the slope along the thin river.

"Come and join us," called Ross's Pikachu.

"There's plenty of food," commented Ross.

The wild, baby Pikachu was clearly scared of the crowd and considered his

options. In

the end, hunger won over fear and the small Pikachu ran across the log, taking a

seat on a pile of

bushes. Graveler dished some food onto a leaf plate and handed it to the

helpless Pikachu.

"Thanks!" muttered the small yellow pokemon before starting to cram food

into its

mouth at lightning speed.

"Sure is hungry for such a small pokemon," commented Gyarados as he chewed

out a

dying tree.

"What happened to you?" asked Ross.

The wild Pikachu popped the last of his first serving into his mouth and

swallowed

before talking. "I was originally born into a herd of Pikachu," explained the

small pokemon,

loading up more food. "Unfortunately, I was born as what the herd considered to

be a runt.

When the herd migrated around, I had trouble keeping up."

"Poor Pikachu," commented Onix.

"Yeah," added the wild pokemon, sitting back down, "One morning, I woke up

and the

herd was gone. They moved on in the night, leaving me behind."

"How awful," commented Ross's Pikachu.

"I agree," Ross stated. Turning to the small pokemon, Ross invited, "Why

don't you stay

with us? It'll be safer to stay in a group."

Considering its options, the small Pikachu agreed. Once everyone had eaten

their fill, the

party settled down for the night. Ross in his sleeping bag and cracked open

tent. The some of

the grass and water pokemon in the stream while the others slept either near the

fire or in the

tent. The wild Pikachu lay awake near the fire, trying to figure out his next

move.

**************************************************************************** ****

In his tent, Raticate debated with Ross. "I still think that you should

have battled that

wild Pikachu," stated Raticate.

"Why?" asked Ross, "That Pikachu is weak and scared."

"Then you should have caught it!" protested Raticate.

"It wouldn't be happy," pointed out Ross, "With any luck, the herd will

come back for

him."

"I don't know..."started Raticate. Ross just shook his head and drifted

off to sleep. Chapter 92-On the road to Vermilion City

The next morning, Ross was groggy and couldn't see very well. He grabbed a

glass and

looked for his water holder. Ross eventually found his yellow teapot and

reached for it.

"PikaCHUUU!!!!" yelled a high-pitched voice as it sent electricity through

Ross's body.

When the small, wild Pikachu was finished, Ross wasn't groggy anymore.

"Good, morning," announced the shocked trainer.

"Sorry," apologized the small mouse.

"It's alright," forgave Ross, "I needed an eye-opener anyway." Reaching

for the

CORRECT yellow teapot, Ross washed off his face. "Let's start some breakfast,"

suggested

Ross, stepping out of his tent.

"YAY!" cheered the awake Pikachu, following Ross out. By the time the

other pokemon

woke up, Ross and Pikachu had a hot breakfast ready for them.

"What are you planning on doing next?" asked Onix as everyone ate.

"I don't know," commented Pikachu, "I won't be able to stay wild on my

own."

"If you want," started Ross, "We could walk you to the pokemon center. You

might find

a trainer there or just help out. From there, we could also send you to the

electric pokemon gym

in Gringe City. No one would know more about Pikachu than the leader there,

except for maybe

the one at Indigo Plateau."

"Those all sound like good ideas," commented Ross's Pikachu. The wild

Pikachu had to

agree.

"Then it's settled," decided Ross, "Pikachu #2 will travel with us to

Vermilion City. It

shouldn't take us too long to get there if we keep a fast pace. With any luck,

by lunch, and we

can stuff ourselves." All of the pokemon cheered.

After everyone finished breakfast, they took down camp and started down the

path.

**************************************************************************** **

'Pikablu is believed by some to be among the strongest pokemon in the

world. Rare to

find in the wild, Pikablu soaks its target before launching an electric attack

to paralyze any

enemy. Even if this enemy is of the ground type. While most believe that weak

Pikachus can

only evolve into Pikablu, some think that a recessive gene enables Pikachu to

become this

pokemon.'

'What's a recessive gene?' wondered Ross. Ross was walking down the path

with some

of his pokemon, reading from his new book.

Flipping to the back of the book, Ross found an entry in the glossary on

"recessive gene."

"Recessive gene," started Ross, reading outloud, "The second type of gene,

the

characteristic of a recessive gene will only occur if no dominant genes are

present. Normally a

one in four chance."

"That sounds about right," commented Kadabra.

"I don't have any idea of what I just said," said Ross.

"Alright, so," Kadabra explained to Ross, "More than likely, one out of

four Pikachu can

evolve into Pikablu. Just like one out of four Eevees can evolve into Leafeon!"

"OH!" nodded Ross, wearing a look of total confidence.

"You still don't have the faintest idea," asked Kadabra, "Do you?" Ross

shook his head.

"Let's try it from the top."

"Just a sec," replied Ross, noticing how tired the wild Pikachu was. He

slowed until the

tiny pokemon caught up with him. "How's it going?" Ross asked the small

Pikachu.

"I'm getting tired," complained the pokemon. Ross picked up the panting

pokemon and

set it on his shoulder.

"Why don't you just ride up here for a while," suggested Ross. The Pikachu

on his

shoulder didn't argue. Before too much longer, Vermilion City was seen in the

distance.

"What's the matter Hoss?" asked a snide voice behind them, "Pikachu not

feeling well?"

Ross stopped and replied, "What do you want Adam?" Facing his brother Ross

wished

that he wasn't called that.

"A pokemon battle," answered Adam, "I challenge you."

"Fine by me," answered Ross, setting Pikachu and his backpack down. "I'm

trying to get

to Vermilion for lunch, so this will have to be quick. 2 on 2"

"It will be quick," stated Adam, "and painful! Pokeball, GO!"

"Ultreon," called Ross, "GO!"



Chapter 93-Who Gets the Vermilion Victory?

Ross's mixed breed ran out while Adam's pokemon took shape. A familiar,

short, white

figure with brown paws stood on its hind legs.

"Meowth!" cried its quick voice.

"Fury swipes!" ordered Adam.

"Dodge with agility!" instructed Ross.

Meowth charged at Ultreon and began to fiercely swing its claws. Ultreon

got out of the

way in time and didn't have a scratch.

"Bite!" called Adam.

"Flame thrower!" stated Ross.

Meowth ran up at Ultreon, mouth wide open. Ultreon in turn opened his

mouth and spit

fire into Meowth gaping jaw.

"MEOW!" yelled the cat, grasping its throat. Meowth was clearly in pain

and couldn't

keep fighting.

"Ladies and gentlemen," commented Ultreon, "Meowth, the fire eater!"

"Meowth, return," celled back Adam, "Dugtrio, GO! Earthquake!"

The three moles appeared and the ground shook violently. A nearby tree

fell onto the

shaken Ultreon, preventing it from defending itself. Before Dugtrio could

attack, Ross called

Ultreon back and sent out Pidgeotto.

"Slash!" shouted Adam.

"Whirlwind the moles out!" called Ross.

The strong wind proved too much for group and three moles were blown out of

the hole

and into the open.

"Razor wind!" called Ross.

"Fissure!" retaliated Adam.

The ground-based attack didn't touch Pidgeotto as he pumped his wings. A

large wind

gathered sand, dirt, rocks, and leaves and carried them to Dugtrio. The

gathering swirled around

Dugtrio at a high rate of speed, shaving off skin in many places. When the wind

dissipated, two

of Dugtrio's heads were out and the third was exhausted.

"Dugtrio, return!" called Adam, angered by his defeat, "Here's your cash."

Adam threw

some money at Ross's face. "I'll see you later!"

Adam stormed off at a run to the city in the distance. Machoke calmly

stood up and

walked over to Ross as he watched Adam run off.

"Do you think that he'll ever get tired of bugging us?" Machoke asked.

"I doubt it," commented Ross, "Humans have an expression for this. We call

it a 'sibling

rivalry.' It usually occurs when one sibling becomes jealous of the other."

"Will it ever end?" asked the tiny Pikachu now riding on Ross's Pikachu's

shoulders.

"Sometimes it goes away when one sib(ling) doesn't feed the rivalry with

anger,"

explained Ross, "But sometimes one sib's jealousy is enough to keep the rivalry

going."Ross

picked up his pack and said, "We better get going, we have a gym battle to win

before lunch!"

All the pokemon cheered and raced towards the town. Chapter 94-Maybe the Postal Service ISN'T Slow

In the pokemon center, Ross walked to the front desk with the tiny Pikachu

riding on his

shoulder again.

"Actually," commented the nurse, holding four envelopes, "I have FOUR

letters here for

you."

"Four letters!?!" asked Ross, "You sure?"

Nurse Joy rechecked the names on the four envelopes. "They're all

addressed to Ross

Jacobsen." Ross took the letters, thanked Nurse Joy, and sat down on a bench.

Ross opened the

first letter.

Inside, there was only a ticket. "A first class ticket for the S.S.

Marie!" exclaimed Ross,

"Where'd this come from?" The envelope didn't have a return address or name of

sender.

"It was probably your parents," commented the tiny Pikachu.

"Then why did they send me THIS letter?" asked Ross, holding up another

envelope with

his home address on it. Pikachu didn't have an answer to this as Ross tore open

the letter from

home.

**************************************************************************** ****

Dear Ross;

Mom and Dad here. We heard from Professor Oak that you managed to catch a

Hitmonlee! We couldn't wait for your next phone call, so we decided to write.

We also had the

professor check your pokedex count, 43 pokemon, including both Hitmons,

Articuno, and

Moltres! We are so proud of you. It won't be too long until you replace Ash

Ketchem on Indigo

Plateau!

We found an elderly trainer with a pair of Mr. Mimes for sale, we sent one

to your

brother and the other one is included in this letter. We wish you the best of

luck in the

remaining gyms.

Sincerely,

Mom and Dad

**************************************************************************** ****

Looking inside the envelope, Ross saw a compressed pokeball. Ross pulled

it out and

attached it to his belt.

"Maybe your friend on Indigo Plateau sent the ticket," suggested Pikachu.

Ross shrugged and opened another letter.

**************************************************************************** ****

Dear Ross;

This is Ash and Pikachu. We talked to Professor Oak and he says that

you're up to 43

pokemon and 9 of the required badges. We didn't catch 43 pokemon until a year

after we

started our pokemon journey! He also says that you would be in Vermilion City

soon so I hope

to see you there before I leave on the S.S. Marie. We would love the chance to

have a practice

battle with you.

Sincerely,

Ash Ketchem and

o%

O

**************************************************************************** ****

"It wasn't Ash," stated Ross.

"What about this professor?" asked Pikachu.

"It would have been in THIS letter," commented Ross, holding up a bulky

envelope with

a stamped-on return address.

Opening the package, Ross found a new pokedex.

**************************************************************************** ****

Dear Ross;

I have decided that it would be easier for you to just send you a new

pokedex with the

update. This pokedex will also grant access to anyone who knows the proper

password that you

choose. Please send me your old pokedex to be updated for someone else.

Professor Oak

**************************************************************************** ****

"This ticket is definitely a mystery," commented Ross, "But the S.S. Marie

doesn't leave

for another hour, and we have a badge to win." Chapter 95-Hassling Haunter

The main gym held a scrawny male in glasses at one end with Ross at the

other end.

"My name is Nick Spelmerkle. I run the Vermilion City pokemon gym for small

pokemon. Do

you wish to battle me?"

"You bet!" exclaimed Ross.

"3 on 3," explained Nick, "Pokeball, GO!"

"Articuno, I choose YOU!" called Ross.

Articuno, much stronger than when it first hatched, flew out to battle

Nick's pokemon.

Out of Nick's pokeball emerged a Diglett.

'Another Diglett?' wondered Ross, remembering Seymour's pokemon, 'Guess

I'll just

have to beat this one too.'

"Sand attack!" ordered Nick.

"Ice beam!" called Ross.

Diglett launched sand at Articuno's face but missed when Articuno flew over

him. Next,

Diglett tried to duck into its hole in the soil gym floor. Articuno hovered

right over the hole and

blasted an ice beam into the hole and onto Diglett's head. The hole filled with

ice, trapping

Diglett.

"Diglett, return," called Nick, "Go Grimer, minimize!"

"Blizzard," instructed Ross.

Grimer became smaller and harder to hit. The room started to get very

cold, making

Grimer stiff.

"Sludge attack!" called Nick.

"Wing attack!" stated Ross.

Grimer may have been slower, but blinded Articuno while it approached.

Articuno

wasn't pained, but couldn't see.

"Articuno, return," said Ross, "Mr. Mime, GO! Confusion!"

Nick opened his mouth to speak when Grimer was bombarded by mental energy.

The

pile of sludge didn't stand a chance against Mr. Mime's psychic powers.

"Grimer, return," ordered the gym leader, "Caterpie, GO!"

The powerful Caterpie tied Mr. Mime up in string shot before Ross could

retaliate.

"Mr. Mime, return!" called Ross, holding up the proper pokeball.

'Caterpie will have to string shot any opponent in order to attack,'

thought Ross, 'What

pokemon can't be tied up?'

Ross threw a pokeball out with an answer.

"Gas-tly," called the gaseous pokemon.

"Night shade!" instructed Ross.

Caterpie instinctively used string shot when the room went dark. When the

night shade

wore off, Caterpie was unconscious and upside-down in a web of string shot!

"Caterpie, return," ordered the defeated trainer.

"Way to GO, GASTLY!" cheered Ross.

"Raw, raw, sis-boom BAW!" called the small Pikachu on his shoulder, wearing

a

cheerleader outfit.

Seeing the small pokemon dancing with pom-poms, Gastly let out a

side-splitting laugh.

Gas was starting to spill out of Gastly's mouth, hiding his form.

"Gastly?" asked the Pikachu, stopping his cheer.

"There isn't any Gastly here. Only," commented a new raspy voice,

"HAUNTER!" A

solid purple pokemon with separate hands burst out of the dissipating gas,

scaring the small

Pikachu half to death!

"NYA!" screamed the panic-stricken pokemon as it cowered behind Ross's

right leg.

"Ha-ha-haha!" laughed the ghost, enjoying every moment of Pikachu's fright.

regaining

his self-confidence, Pikachu jumped out and shocked Haunter. "ha," laughed

Haunter as it fell

to the ground.

"Now aren't you two a fine sight!" commented Ross.

"He started it," accused Pikachu.

"Did not," argued Haunter, trying to at least SHARE the blame.

"Did too!" protested Pikachu.

"Did not!" stated Haunter.

"Did too!" claimed Pikachu.

"Not!"

"Too!"

"Not!"

"Too!"

"NOT!"

"ENOUGH!" shouted Ross, stepping between the two pokemon.

"Too," stated Pikachu, sticking out his tongue in a final insult.

"Do you want this badge or not?" asked Nick, standing next to Ross with

something in

his hand.

"Just a sec," Ross said to the man beside him. Turning to the pokemon,

Ross said,

"Pikachu, BACKPACK!"

Pikachu started, "But Haunter..."

"Don't worry about Haunter," commented Ross. Pikachu sulked as he climbed

up Ross

and hopped into his backpack. Haunter was laughing it up until Ross, looking

straight into the

ghost's face, added, "He's not getting off Scott free either."

Haunter let out a resounding gulp before going into one of Ross's

pokeballs. "They seem

like a handful," commented Nick.

Ross just shook his head and calmly asked, "You have my badge?"

"Oh," said Nick as he snapped back to reality, "Right here." Nick held up

an open hand

holding a metal Diglett pin only half the size of any other badge.

Ross gratefully took it and realized that he had to ask a question. "Why

do you train

SMALL pokemon?"

"They're easier to handle, not as scary," pointed out Nick, "And a lot

faster!"

Still slightly puzzled, Ross said, "Oh," shaking his head in false

understanding. Chapter 96-All Aboard!

At the Vermilion docks, the S.S. Marie was making final preparations to

depart. At first,

Ross thought that the ticket man would kick him out. A counterfeit ticket or

something. But

Ross was let on like anyone else.

A large feast and convention was going on in the main chamber and pokemon

battles

were in a roped-off area on deck. It was definitely going to be a great cruise.

According to his ticket, he was in room #458. Ross took the elevator four

floors down

and walked down a right-hand hall. It wasn't long before Ross found a door

plaque that read

458.

Inside the room, there was a living room, a bathroom, and a bedroom with

four bunks.

"Four bunks!?!" Ross did a double take. Sure enough, two bunks lined each

wall next 90

degrees to the door. Closing the door, Ross looked around the accommodations.

A small wood

table with four room keys sat under a porthole. "I still don't now who sent me

that ticket,"

commented Ross, rubbing a finger along a wood table under the door, "But they

have good

taste!" Snatching a room key off the clean table, Ross bent over on the lower

bunk behind the

door and shifted through his stuff.

Behind his back, the door popped open and knocked Ross upside-down against

the

shadowy wall. A Pikachu ran in and jumped onto the table with the keys. "We

found them!"

shouted a voice behind the door.

"Do you MIND!?!" asked Ross to the unseen figure as he kicked the door

shut.

"OUCH!" complained the voice.

"pi-Ka-CHU!" called a high pitched, lightning fast voice from the table.

"GYA!!!!!" cried Ross as he was electrocuted. Once the electricity

stopped, Ross

collapsed in a heap. The door opened again and someone walked in, but Ross

couldn't see from

his angle. "First I get assaulted by a door when I'm checking my stuff, "

commented Ross the

human lightning rod, attracting his guests attention, "And now this."

The tiny Pikachu hopped out of Ross's backpack and helped Ross get sorted

out.

Eventually, Ross managed to climb out the bunk and see three other people in the

room.

"ROSS!" exclaimed one of the humans in a red hat and the table-bound

Pikachu.

"Ash?" wondered Ross, "Pikachu?"

"Isn't that the kid that crashed on Indigo when he was being chased by Team

Rocket?"

asked an orange-haired photographer. Ross stood up to his full height

"Sure is!"exclaimed another black-haired man with a bruised nose, "What are

you doing

here?"

"I have a ticket!" explained Ross, pulling his ticket out of the backpack,

"See?" The

photographer took Ross's ticket and compared it with his own.

"I guess he was also assigned this room," commented the camera-bearer.

"Excuse me," started Ross, looking at the stranger, "But who are you?"

"I'm Todd," introduced the picture-taker, "I'm here to help document the

pokemon

convention."

"How are things going?" asked an enthusiastic Ash.

"Pretty well," commented Ross, "I have more evolution stones than I could

ever need, 44

different pokemon, and 10 more badges to go with the beginners' badge I already

have!"

"Not bad for only about a month and a half!" commented Ash's Pikachu.

**************************************************************************** ****

Misty later joined Ross, Ash, Todd, Brock and Pikachu at the banquet. Ross

explained

how the small Pikachu was alone and abandoned when he found it while everyone

ate.

"I gave it some suggestions and led it into town," explained Ross, "It

still hasn't decided

what to do."

"Well it does have until we return to Vermilion in a few days," pointed out

Todd.

The Pikachus started to converse, but Ross talked with the trainers and

didn't listen in.

Most of the conversation was about experiences with Team Rocket and Todd's

recent journey to

Pokemon Island.

"Those Charmander must have been really hungry," commented Todd, "Because

every

time I threw out some bait, they would start screeching and jumping around like

it was

Thanksgiving or something!"

"That must have been a great shot!" commented Ross.

"You better believe it," proclaimed Todd, "And on my way back to develop

the film, an

Arcanine leaped out of a lava pit and shook like a normal wet dog!"

"That must have stunk," stated Ross.

"Speaking of stinking," added a voice behind Ross, "If it isn't the

stinking trainer from

Pallet." Turning around Ross saw Ricky standing like the world was at his feet.

"Who're your loser friends?" asked Ricky.

"LOSERS!?!" shouted Misty, jumping up with red in her eyes.

"Where do you get off insulting my friends?" asked Ross.

"Yeah!" added Ash's Pikachu.

"I had to say SOMETHING to get through that thick skull of yours,"

commented Ricky.

"That's IT!" proclaimed Ross, "I challenge you to a pokemon battle!" Chapter 97-Rough Seas

On the deck of the ship, water was seen in all directions. No one else was

using the

battle area except Ross and Ricky. Ash and company were lined up along one side

with BOTH

Pikachus.

"Boundary rules," proclaimed Ricky, "Best out of 5 1-on-1 rounds."

"Agreed,"stated Ross, "Haunter, I choose you!" Haunter floated out and

pretended to

breath in the salty sea air. Ricky was slightly nervous about battling a ghost.

"Did Gastly evolve?" asked Ash, knowing that Ross caught one in Lavender,

"Or is this

another ghost?"

"Evolution," answered Ross as Ricky sent out a Charmander.

"Hypnosis,"called Ross.

"Slash!" ordered Ricky.

Charmander swung a claw through Haunter while everyone else looked away.

Haunter

flashed a spectrum of colors before Charmander started snoring. With the first

round won, Ross

and Ricky called back their pokemon.

"Moltres, GO!" called Ross.

"Graveler, GO!" retaliated Ricky.

"Fire spin!" stated Ross.

"Rock throw!" instructed Ricky.

Moltres flew over the water to launch a fire spin, but was hit by a rock.

Moltres fell

towards the ocean until Ross called it back. Pleased with his victory, Ricky

recalled Graveler

and sent out Rhyhorn.

"Hitmonlee, GO!" shouted Ross. A crowd was developing to watch the ensuing

battle.

"Use the cyclone kick!"

"Horn attack!" called Ricky.

Hitmonlee started to spin, swinging his left foot around and around.

Floating towards

Rhyhorn, Hitmonlee let out a war cry. Rhyhorn stabbed at the spinning pokemon

until it was

kicked into a concrete barrier, cracking it. Rhyhorn was out of it and was in

no condition to

continue fighting.

"Stomp!" called Ricky.

A slightly startled Ross called out for a jump-drop kick. Hitmonlee jumped

into the air

in the general direction of his opponent. Instead of coming straight down,

Hitmonlee started to

do cartwheels in mid-air. Rhyhorn tried to position himself, but was hit hard,

and fainted.

Ricky called back Rhyhorn while Hitmonlee stumbled out of the field and

steadied

himself against the cracked barrier with Ash and friends.

It was Ross's turn to send first since he won the last match. "Tangela,

GO!" he called.

"Nidorino, GO!" called Ricky.

"Vine whip!" called Ross.

"Poison sting!" retaliated Ricky.

Tangela's vines were stung several times, releasing a deadly toxin into

Tangela's body.

"Call it back!" called some guy in the crowd, "Poison can grind grass

pokemon INTO

grass!"

'He's right,' thought Ross, 'Tangela doesn't stand a chance!'

"Tangela, return!" called Ross, holding a pokeball pointed at Tangela.

Tangela

reluctantly returned and Ricky called back Nidorino.

Ross selected his fifth pokeball while Ricky tossed his. "Oddish,"

introduced the small

pokemon. Ross threw his out.

"Mon-CHAN!" exclaimed the boxing pokemon.

"Tackle!" called Ricky.

"Ice punch!" exclaimed Ross.

Oddish ran at Hitmonchan and tackled Hitmonchan's fist! Oddish flew

motionless in the

air and fell in front of Ricky's feet, spinning motionless in a shade of light

blue. Ricky angrily

picked up the frozen pokemon, dropped some green bills, and walked to the

stairs. Chapter 98-Spotting Rockets

Back in the convention room, Hitmonlee was asking what happened during the

fight.

"...Then you did sort of a combination between a jump and rolling kick and KO'd

Rhyhorn!"

explained Todd, "I got some great shots of it!"

"A second new move from the same Hitmonlee. First the cyclone kick and now

a

somersault kick" commented Ross, looking at the Hitmonlee beside him. "You're

definitely

unique."

"Thank you," said Hitmonlee. Hitmonlee then stopped and said, "Not again."

"What?" asked Brock. Hitmonlee just pointed into the crowd.

"Hitmonlee," whispered Ross, seeing the problem, "Into the pokeball."

Hitmonlee was

only too happy to oblige.

"I don't get it," stated Misty, "What is it?"

Facing away from the problem, Ross jerked a thumb over his shoulder and

asked, "Do

you see that waiter there?"

After looking past Ross, Ash said, "Yes, what about him?"

"His name's Mike. He made a lousy trade with me involving a Spearow for

the

Hitmonchan you saw me use today," explained Ross.

"So?" asked Brock.

"So," continued Ross, "After a while, he showed up again and made a bet on

a battle we

had. He lost and I also got his Hitmonlee."

"And he's been bitter ever since," finished Todd, "Right?"

"Not only that," corrected Ross, "You remember that adventure in Stone Town

I told you

about? He was one of the Rockets in the zoo!"

"If only one Rocket is in sight," started Ash, "Others might be all around

you. Stay on

your toes."

Everyone nodded as Ash continued, "Look around for any other Rockets, but

don't

confront them."

Again the nod as the group worked their way around the Rocket. After

looking around,

the group returned to the male's quarters.

**************************************************************************** ****

"Anyone recognize more Rockets?" asked Todd, sipping a can of soda.

"I spotted eight more that I know," stated Ross, "Nine including Mike. The

worst one

was Aroduc from Cloud City."

"That makes a grand total of 23 KNOWN Rockets," pointed out Brock, "I think

that this

is a trap."

'It would explain why there was no return address on my ticket,' reasoned

Ross.

"So what do we do?" asked Misty.

"If I was in charge of a job this size," started Ash, "I would wait until

we were as far out

to sea as possible where there is little chance of interference."

"Wouldn't that be sometime tomorrow?" asked Ross.

"Yep," commented Todd, "And they'll probably do it when no decent trainer

would miss

it."

"I say we talk to the captain," said Misty.

"We don't know if HE'S a Rocket," pointed out Ross.

"Then we wait in the convention room until they spring the trap," stated

Ash, "And hope

we don't get caught in it." Chapter 99-Confrontation

That night Ross had a dream, the first one in a long while. In this one,

Ross was on the

S.S. Marie as it was capsizing. Ross heard a loud clang and a blue blur was

leading him through

a weird forest. At the end of the forest was a computer. Ross started typing

on it and one word

flashed across the screen, DATAEATER. Ross turned around and he was on his

inflatable raft,

rowing towards an island full of pokemon cries.

Ross sat straight up and thumped his head on the overhead bunk. "Ow," he

whispered,

rubbing his head.

"Ross?" asked a sleepy-eyed Pikachu, sticking his head down from the bunk

above Ross.

"Sorry Pikachu," apologized Ross, "Did I wake you?"

"Nah, I was thinking about your gloves," stated the upside-down electric

mouse.

"Whatever," whispered Ross, turning away, "Goodnight."

"You can stop pretending with me Ross," commented Pikachu, "I know that you

can

understand me, clear-as-a-bell."

"How do you know that!?!" asked an astonished Ross.

"Your gloves," explained the mouse, "They symbolize many things, like one

who can

understand pokemon. By any chance, have they ever illuminated?"

"Several times actually," confessed Ross.

Pikachu then asked, "Did the brain icon ever glow while you were touching a

pokemon?"

"Yes," commented Ross, "When I was holding a Marowak in the Stone Town

battle."

"And you were then able to use some of Marowak's attacks," added Pikachu,

"Right?"

Ross opened his mouth to speak, but Todd tossed in his sleep. "An Arcanine

and

Growlithe are jumping out of those lava pits!" claimed Todd, "Gotta get a

picture of THAT!"

Pikachu chuckled while Ross whispered, "Growllllllllllllll-lithe!"

"I'm not going to hurt you puppy," commented Todd, "I just want a nice

close-up."

Pikachu nearly fell apart at this while Ross just smiled and said,

"'Night." Chapter 100-Water Rockets

The next morning, everyone woke up to the combined sound of four alarm

clocks. Those

sleeping in upper bunks fell out and crashed onto the floor. When the offending

noise-makers

were shut off, Ross, Ash, and Brock got dressed and walked into the parlor where

someone was

knocking on the door.

Brock answered it. "It's about time you guys woke up!" complained Misty,

"I've been

waiting for an hour!"

"Is she always like this in the morning?" asked Ross as he sat down to tie

his tennis

shoes. Misty took offense and punched Ross in the back of the head.

"Only when she hasn't had her coffee and doesn't get enough sleep,"

answered a calm

Ash. Misty dealt another punch to Ash.

"Are we going or what?" asked Misty.

"We're waiting for Todd to finish loading his cameras for when TR attacks,"

explained

Brock. At that moment, the bedroom door opened and Todd was loaded by about 10

cameras.

"Was he loading cameras?" asked Misty, "Or were the cameras loading him?"

"Very funny Misty," commented Todd. The five humans walked off to

breakfast, with

the two Pikachus riding.

**************************************************************************** ****

After a hearty breakfast and about a gallon of coffee(half of which was

drunk by Misty),

everyone walked back to the convention and spread out. Ross had everything he

brought on

board in item balls and his backpack. Ross just had a sinking feeling that he

would want

everything with him.

The convention was full of selling booths and recruiting stations. A

smooth talker was

trying to sell some Magikarp to a group of waiters. A man at another booth was

handing out

'advanced' pokedexes. A final booth sold sea pokemon that the crew of the S.S.

Marie caught

but had no use for. Of course, that was where Ross ran into Misty, trying to

get the salesman to

lower the price on a Tentacool.

"Do you really think anyone is going to give you $1000 for a pokemon as

common as

Tentacool?" asked Misty.

"Someone bought one yesterday," claimed the man.

'What a lousy lier,' thought Ross. Apparently though, Misty believed him

and stormed

off to the deck.

Ross walked around a few more times before spotting Ash, trying to haggle a

man at the

custom bike shop. When the man refused to lower the price, Ash got angry,

counted his money,

and marched off to where Misty was.

Todd was looking at a high-power lens admirably. Although he frowned

looking at the

price tag. Setting it down, Todd did some more walking.

Brock was at a breeder booth, trying to smooth-talk the girl running it.

When Todd

walked by, Brock pulled him over and told him to take pictures of them.

Once Todd used about 20 exposures on the couple, Brock said, "Now I want 4

8-by-10s,

4 wallet size, and 6 10-by-13s!"

"Okay, okay!" said Todd, "I got it!"

After Todd walked off in one direction, Brock walked towards Ross. Ross

grabbed

Brock's elbow and said, "You're sad. You know that?"

"Yeah," commented Brock with hearts in his eyes, "And your point would be?"

Ross wasn't sure what to say until the doors slammed shut. Several men and

women tore

off crew uniforms and civilian clothes revealing Team Rocket uniforms.

'Show time,' thought Ross as the Team Rocket poem played over the intercom.

At the

end of it, a voice ordered everyone to turn their pokemon in with a member of

Team Rocket and

no one would be hurt.

"You'll have to beat me FIRST!" someone called out.

"Nido!" called a pokemon.

Soon, everyone sent out pokemon to fight off Team Rocket. Joining in, Ross

sent out

Kadabra, Staryu, Growlithe, his Pikachu, Ivysaur, and Charmeleon.

Without time to send out their pokemon, Team Rocket soon lost and was blown

off the

ship by a very large whirlwind. Ross and the wild Pikachu got caught up in the

after-gust. Ross

clung to a support beam with Pikachu on his backpack.

Finally, the wind stopped and Ross fell to the floor. Ross looked for the

Pikachu but

found a loud thunder clap and major tilt in the ship instead. 'Uh-oh,' thought

Ross as he ran

through the now open door with all of his pokemon giving chase.

"The ship is going to sink!" proclaimed the same unseen voice as the last

two times, "Get

to the lifeboats!"

There was a rush out of the convention room as everyone hurried to safety.

Ross put his

pokemon into their pokeballs as the ship rocked towards Ross. Trying to regain

his balance, a

plump blue pokemon jumped out of Ross's backpack and ran into the convention

room.

'A Pikablu?' wondered Ross as he followed the Pikablu as it darted through

the forest of

legs.

"Come back here Pikablu!" called Ross, "The boat is going to sink!"

Pikablu just

laughed and kept running, thinking it was a game. After darting between

overturned tables and

panicked people, Ross finally managed to get a hold of Pikablu when the ship

tilted again. Ross

ran back out but all of the life boats were gone. No one was left on- board!

**************************************************************************** ****

"Wow!" shouted Todd, readying his camera for when the S.S. Marie would

sink.

"Where's everyone else?" asked Ash.

"Probably on another life boat," commented Todd, focusing his camera, "Or

maybe not."

"What do you mean?" questioned Ash. Todd handed the camera to Ash and

pointed at a

spot on deck. Ash looked through the camera at a person still on board. Chapter 101-Definitely NOT the Love Boat

'Now this could be a challenge,' thought Ross. He pulled out Fearow's

pokeball and

looked for a opening in the lifeboats. Ross didn't see any and thought that he

was going to wind

up stuck on the ship when the boat flipped behind him. Ross was sent tumbling

into the sea.

Ross was in the chaotic storm water, being pulled down by suction from the

sinking ship.

Thinking fast Ross pulled out an item ball and opened it. The yellow raft

emerged in the water

and floated upwards.

Ross grabbed it and rode it up to the surface. Ross took several gasping

breaths of air

while Pikablu hopped into the raft. Ross attached Fearow pokeball back to his

belt and climbed

into the raft, glad to be out of the water. Ross pulled out his pokedex and

started it up. Ross had

to select a password for future use and selected 'DATAEATER.' He soon found a

navigation

feature.

"According to this," started Ross, pointing past the ripples where the S.S.

Marie had

been, "The closest point of the mainland is a couple miles in that direction. A

peninsula about

10 miles from Gringe."

"Then let's GO!" proclaimed Pikablu. Ross picked up the oar secured to a

side of the

raft and started rowing.

**************************************************************************** ****

"Well, will you look at that!" commented Todd, looking at a yellow raft as

it worked it's

way through floating debris. He was taking pictures of the remains of the ship

when he noticed

it.

"Incredible," commented the uniformed crewman. Most of the boats had

started rowing

away from the storm towards Vermilion, but some were staying behind for pictures

or memories.

"AHOY!" called Ross as he worked his way through the debris.

"Ahoy!" called back Ash's Pikachu.

"Where are you going?" asked Ash.

"To the nearest land!" proclaimed Ross, rowing alongside the lifeboat.

"But Vermilion is THAT way and the storm is turning right in front of you!"

stated the

sailor.

"Vermilion's not closer, and once I'm clear of this debris, I'll have

smooth sailing!"

claimed Ross.

"You won't stand a CHANCE against that storm alone!" called the familiar

voice.

"Who says I'm alone?" asked the smiling Ross, glancing at Pikablu.

"Good luck then sailor!" called one of the rowmen, "You're going to need

it!"

"So long!" called Ash, "I hope you make it!" With that, the boats

separated and Ross

called out a Gyarados to push him.

**************************************************************************** ****

"Do you really think that he'll make it?" asked Todd.

"I don't know," commented Ash, "What do you think Pikachu?" No response.

"Pikachu? Where's Pikachu!?!"

**************************************************************************** ****

"Well, it looks like we've got ourselves a stowaway," commented Ross as the

boat sped

ahead of the storm, "What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to have an adventure without Ash," claimed Pikachu, "That and I

wanted to

keep talking with you."

"What about?" asked Ross.

"I feel that I should warn you that the design on your gloves also bares a

terrible curse,"

started Pikachu, "Those that bare the six point star usually face a great deal

of hardships."

"I knew that collecting the badges would be difficult," commented Ross,

"That's one of

the reasons why I became a trainer."

"But you will be facing many more difficult challenges," claimed Pikachu,

"The worst of

which will be at the highlight of your career."

"How hard could it be?" asked Ross.

"Once, a trainer had to battle a pure ghost pokemon," stated Pikachu, "ON

HER OWN!"

"What happened?" questioned Ross.

"She lost the match..." stated Pikachu, "And her HEAD!"

"Are there any other perks that I should know about these gloves?" asked

Ross.

"Let's see," hummed Pikachu, "Losing them is impossible. You can learn any

pokemon

attacks that you see. Most pokemon will do what you say unless they haven't

been beaten

before. Oh yes! I just remembered!"

"What?" asked Ross.

"According to the legend," said Pikachu, "One of those burdened managed to

dispel his

curse and keep his skills."

"How!?!" drilled Ross.

"He supposedly passed 3 final tests," said Pikachu, "He battled a terrible

gang of thieves,

saved the ruling family, and defeated Death's pokemon."

"I take it that the pure ghost was Death's pokemon," stated Ross.

"Yes," answered Pikachu, "This earned him the right to carry the seventh

marker on his

gloves, a fist on a heart background, the symbol of courage, loyalty, and

strength. Wearing the

seventh icon, this person developed a seventh point on his stars."

"Interesting," commented Ross.

"Some pokemon think that this story is just that. Others say it was true,"

explained

Pikachu, "But I know it's true because, because I saw that girl who lost her

head."

"Who was she?" asked Ross.

"Her name was Agatha," stated Pikachu, "She was the mother of Hagatha from

Lavender, and one of the last set of the Elite Four. Maintaining her status of

an Elite Master was

her high point and engaged the curse. I will never forget what that horrible

ghost pokemon said

before decapitating her."

"What did it say?" questioned Ross.

Pikachu looked up at Ross and said, "It said,

'Here me now at your moment of death,

just before you take in your last breath.

The six-point-star,

it has brought you far.

But now at your mastery,

your doom it can foresee.

This curse will continue to spread,

bringing forth even MORE dead.

Your friends will grieve at the loss,

as you slowly turn into moss.

Only one can beat me,

but will soon join thee.

I can't wait to meet this trainer.

The one who calls himself DATAEATER!'"

Ross could hardly believe it when Pikachu quoted his pseudonym at the end

of the poem.

"What was the ghost's name?" asked Ross.

"I think he said that it was Phantos," stated Pikachu.

Ross opened the pokedex and accessed the record on Phantos. "Phantos, the

pure ghost

pokemon," stated the electronic voice, "Unseen by humans, Phantos is described

by pokemon in

numerous legends as 'Death's pokemon.' All pokemon fear Phantos, including

other ghosts and

even Mewtwo."

"This Phantos sounds like one bad pokemon," commented Ross.

"Land HO!" proclaimed Pikablu.

Off in the distance, the peninsula was coming into view. Chapter 102-The Zapdos Storm

Ross called back Gyarados before stepping onto the sandy beach after the

Pikas. The sun

was fading out of sight. The storm had turned again and was heading after the

island.

"It's the curse," explained Pikachu, "The storm is coming after us."

"Then we had better find a safe place to stay the night," stated Ross,

"We'll never make

it to Gringe before the storm."

"Z~Z~Z~A~A~A~P~P~P~P~P~DOS!" hollered the storm. The loud voice scared

Pikablu into one of Ross's pokeballs, officially making it Ross's pokemon.

"That's a Zapdos storm," commented Pikachu, "Brought to you by the gloves

as a

blessing and a curse."

Ross opened the file on Zapdos storms. "When flocks of Zapdos get riled up

during

mating, an intense storm develops called a Zapdos storm. When not mating, most

of the Zapdos

turn into electricity and destroy anything in their path," explained the

pokedex, "Capturing a

Zapdos while it is part of a storm is considered impossible."

"That's about right," commented Pikachu, "Zapdos has only been caught while

they are

alone. Taking on a flock is suicidal!"

"Then we better find cover!" exclaimed Ross, scooping up and running with

Pikachu.

The group had to run for quite a while before they finally came across a

Diglett's cavern.

The pair took cover while the Zapdos storm raged on outside.

"That was close," stated Pikachu while Ross shuffled through his backpack.

"What are

you doing Ross?"

"That storm's not going to let up in time for us to leave," explained Ross,

"So I'm setting

up my hammock for the night."

"Why not just sleep on the ground?" asked Pikachu when a Diglett popped its

head out.

"That's why," commented Ross, acknowledging the Digletts and Dugtrios as

they

appeared.

Pikachu made small talk while Ross tapped some stakes into the walls and

hung his

hammock. Ross called out his pokemon and started a fire.

"It's really nasty out there," stated Mew

"At least we're save in here," claimed Ivysaur, generating more kindling

with razor leaf.

"Maybe we just have the wrong approach to this weather," suggested Pikablu.

"I don't think so," stated Mew, "I just keep getting the feeling that

Mewtwo is going to

run in from the storm."

"The odds of that happening are insurmountable," pointed out Jynx.

"Anyone know any good stories?" asked Growlithe, wagging its tail.

"I could tell you about the Phantos," commented Ash's Pikachu.

"A ghost story!" commented Kadabra, "Excellent choice for the current

predicament."

BERRR-RING! BERRR-RING!

"Excuse me," said Ross, picking up his pokedex. There was a lot of static

on the other

end. "Hello?"

"Ross, this is Ash," introduced the static voice, "By any chance, is

Pikachu with you?"

"Ya, he's right here," answered Ross.

"Good," sighed Ash on the phone, "Where are you?"

"We're in a Diglett cave next to the route 26," stated Ross, "The storm

caught up to us

and we're taking shelter for the night."

"Okay," answered Ash through a surge of static, "We'll be waiting for you

in Gringe

City."

"Okay," commented Ross, "We'll see you there. 'Bye"

"Bye," answered Ash.

"Who was that?" asked Ross's Pikachu.

"That was just Ash," answered Ross, "He'll meet us in Gringe City."

"Isn't that where you said the electric gym was?" asked Pikablu.

"Sure is," commented Ash's Pikachu, "Now about that story."