Sibling Rivalry

By Ross Jacobsen (rbjake@teleport.com) Chapter 103-Zap the Zapdos

It was a restless night. The Zapdos storm raged clear through the night and

into the

morning. Even when Ross woke up, the storm was still too intense to travel

through.

"Pikachu?" asked Growlithe.

"What is it Growlithe?" asked Ash's groggy Pikachu.

"After the Zapdos are done breeding, where will they nest?"

"Well," started Pikachu, "Most of them will probably nest in one of the

abandoned

factories in Gringe, where they can divert electricity. Others will nest in

forests. And some will

find caves."

Ross got a little concerned at the word 'cave.' "What would the Zapdos

consider to BE

an ideal cave?" Ross inquired.

"A cave far from civilization,(pause) plenty of food,(pause) roomy,"

described Pikachu,

"Uh-oh."

"This is an ideal Zapdos nest," commented Poliwag, "Isn't it?"

Ash's Pikachu just nodded. "Do the Diglett's know?" asked Ross.

The Digletts and Dugtrio just nodded and said, "We're ready to fight any

Zapdos that

come after our home."

"We can't just leave them here!" complained Butterfree.

"We have to help!" proclaimed Beedrill.

"It's not easy," commented Golbat, hanging upside-down, "Zapdos has the

powerful

combination of flying and electricity."

"That doesn't really appeal to me," commented Scyther.

"I'm not going to force anyone to fight the Zapdos that doesn't want to,"

stated Ross,

"But I'm going to be fighting because its RIGHT! These Diglett are going to be

fighting for

their home. It's just not right for ANY pokemon to come along and kick them

out."

"ZAAAAAAAAAP!" screeched a voice at the cave's entrance. A pair of yellow

birds

stood, blocking the exit. Beyond them, the storm had stopped and sunlight shone

around the

birds' forms.

Ross pulled out his pocket knife and bone he got from Stone Town. Ross

took a fighting

stance and asked, "Who's fighting?"

All of Ross's pokemon looked at the Zapdos, who screeched loudly.

Panicking, Ross's

pokemon leaped into their pokeballs. Only Butterfree, Beedrill, Ash's Pikachu,

Ross, and the

wild ground pokemon stayed to fight. The Zapdos flew outside where they could

maneuver and

everyone followed.

One of the Zapdos sat in a tree while the other one flew into a battle

position. The

ground pokemon were up first. The battle was short and painful for the Digletts

and Dugtrio.

Unable to reach Zapdos, Zapdos easily beat them with a few well placed pecks.

Pikachu ran out next, but couldn't shock the electric bird. The battle

lasted longer than

with the ground pokemon, but Pikachu wound up having to run.

Butterfree and Beedrill flew out next, but a drill peck to Beedrill and

thunder shock to

Butterfree ended the battle.

Only Ross was left. He started with a bonemerang, missing Zapdos the first

time.

Zapdos charged for a thunder bolt, but missed when the bone hit it on the

return. The bolt hit

the tree holding the second Zapdos, setting it on fire.

Zapdos #2 flew at Ross to peck him in mid-air as he jumped. Ross caught

the bone and

slammed it across the beaked face.

The two Zapdos flapped next to each other and began to gather electricity.

Realizing that

the Zapdos were teaming up on him, Ross raised a psychic barrier.

Electricity flew between the birds and Ross, protected by the barrier.

After about a

minute of attempted electrocution, the fatter of the two birds collapsed and the

second one

stopped.

'Now's my chance!' thought Ross as he pulled out two ultra balls. One from

his first day

as a trainer and the other he bought. Ross threw the two without making a

sound.

Ross caught the birds by surprise as the powerful pokeballs sucked them in.

The leaner

of the two escaped while the second was still shaking in the ultra ball.

"ZAAAPDOOOS!" screamed the angry bird, flying at Ross.

Ross pulled back his right hand, holding the pocket knife in an ideal

throwing position.

Zapdos charged at Ross, not the least bit scared of the blade. Ross threw the

knife and ran after

it.

Zapdos ducked and Ross just stomped over its back. Ross grabbed his empty

ultra ball

while the Zapdos turned around and the second ultra ball stopped shaking. Ross

focused on an

ice blue beam emerging from his hands.

An aurora beam shot out and encased the second Zapdos in a sheet of ice.

Ross tossed

the ultra ball again and waited what seemed like an eternity until the struggle

indicator went out.

Ross did a back flip as he shouted out a victory cry. "We did it!" he

exclaimed while

Ash's Pikachu came out of hiding.

"You caught BOTH Zapdos!?!" asked a surprised Pikachu, "Incredible!"

"We better get to Gringe fast," commented Ross, "I think one of them is

going to lay

eggs soon!"

Ross called out Fearow and flew to Gringe with Pikachu. Chapter 104-Zapdos Eggs

At the pokemon center, Nurse Joy took the two Zapdos back into the

treatment room

with Ross. Pikachu waited at the front desk for Ash and company to arrive.

"You thaw out the male," instructed Nurse Joy, "I'll handle the female with

Chansey."

"Okay," answered Ross, taking a stretcher with the frozen male to the thaw

machine.

After about 3 minutes, Zapdos cracked out of its ice shell and stayed near the

heater.

"Wh-wh-why did you stop us from c-c-claiming our ne-ne, ne-ne-ne, nest?"

asked the

chattering bird. Ross checked Nurse Joy and saw that she was having trouble

with the female as

it worked out the first egg.

"That cave was already occupied," whispered Ross, "This hospital is also a

better place

for your eggs to be laid."

"Rem-mind me to th-ithank you later," stated the male Zapdos before

cringing in pain.

Ross opened a drawer and removed some potion.

"This will help with the pain," explained Ross as he administered the

medicine. Zapdos

relaxed when the medicine took effect.

"I could use some help here ROSS!" called Joy.

Turning around, Ross saw Nurse Joy and Chansey struggling with the female

Zapdos.

"Be right back," said Ross as he ran off to help restrain the girl Zapdos.

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

"Well where are they?" asked Misty. Pikachu pointed towards the treatment

room.

"He's SO lucky," commented Todd, "Imagine. Catching a male and female

teenage

Zapdos with the female about to lay eggs!"

"I wonder what he'll do with them all," stated Ash.

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

"4 eggs and both parents are just fine," claimed Joy when both Zapdos were

asleep.

"Incredible," said Chansey.

"The Zapdos and eggs won't be ready to leave until tomorrow," reminded Joy,

"Question

though is this. What are you going to do with 6 Zapdos?"

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

"How are they doing?" asked Misty when Ross walked out of the treatment

room.

"4 eggs and the two parents are doing fine," stated Ross, "They should be

able to leave

tomorrow."

"Any idea what you're going to do with all of those Zapdos?" asked Brock.

"Well," started Ross, "I was hoping that you all could take care of them

until I finish my

journey."

"REALLY!?!" exclaimed Ash, Pikachu, Misty, and Brock at once. Todd was

startled by

the shout and nearly dropped his camera.

Ross smiled and said, "Yes. Unless, of course, you don't want to or can

suggest someone

better."

"We'll do it," answered Ash, "We're going to go to the old electric plant

for a while.

There's tons of pokemon in there. Do you want to come?"

Ross looked at his watch before saying, "Why not? I've got some time

before the gym

closes."

"Great!" stated Todd, "Let's go." The group walked out of the center and

along the

waterfront to an old power plant. Chapter 105-The Gringe Power Plant

Inside, the old power plant was dark and dingy. Ash led the way down a

long hallway.

Ross wondered what pokemon would live there.

"Mostly electric and sludge pokemon," answered Ash, "Ground pokemon, like

Sandshrew and Cubone are ideal to bring here."

"I thought that you had more than enough pokemon," stated Ross.

"We're here to find more pokemon for tournament prizes," answered Brock.

*clang*

"What was that?" asked Misty, spinning around to look back down the hall.

"What was what?" asked Todd.

*Clang*

"THAT!" answered Misty.

"You must be hearing things," stated Ash.

CLANG!!!

"Hearing very LOUD things," added Brock.

"Sounds like metal on metal," commented Ross.

"An electric pokemon," stated Ash, pulling out a pokeball, "Sandslash, GO!"

A yellow shrew with a brown back appeared, staring intently down the hall.

Another

loud clang. A Magnemite floated into sight and crashed into the wall with

another clang.

"I don't think that Magnemite is in any condition to fight," said Ross.

The Magnemite clanged into the wall again.

"I think you're right," mentioned Brock, "It can't seem to float straight."

"It looks like it has a screw loose," suggested Todd.

"That's not a very nice thing to say about a pokemon," argued Ash.

"No," complained Ross, "It really DOES have a loose screw. Look!"

Ash turned to the Magnemite and saw that its right screw was trying to fall

out.

"It shouldn't take too long to fix," commented Ross, pulling out his pocket

knife and

flipped out a screwdriver. Ross walked over to Magnemite, slightly nervous, but

stayed put.

After a few easy turns, the Magnemite was floating perfectly balanced.

"There we go," mentioned Ross, "Good as new."

Magnemite floated a little higher before encircling Ross.

"What is it doing?" asked Misty as Magnemite continued its slow circle,

facing Ross the

entire time. Todd was snapping pictures of the Magnemite while everyone else

just watched.

"Let's go," stated Ash, "There's still lots more pokemon around."

Ash, Pikachu, Brock, and Misty resumed walking down the corridor with

Sandslash.

Todd took another couple pictures before following. Magnemite continued to

circle Ross until

Ross walked past it after the group.

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

'Generator room,' read Ross on the door before him.

"Most of the pokemon will be in here," explained Misty, "I hope we find a

Pikablu!"

"PiKA!" complained Pikachu.

"No offense," apologized Misty.

"Are we ever going to go inside?" asked Brock.

"Yeah," stated Sandslash.

'I am starting to get tired of being Doctor Dolittle," thought Ross. Ash

turned the handle

and walked into the illuminated room.

"I thought you said that this place was overrun by pokemon," commented

Ross, "Why

are the lights on in here?"

"Some of the pokemon keep a couple generators running to make this room

more

hospitable to them," explained Brock.

"I have to get some pictures of that!" exclaimed Todd, jogging off towards

one of the

active generators.

It wasn't too long before Todd screamed as electricity flew through the

air. Sandslash

ran over to help and disappeared around a corner.

Moments later, Sandslash was sent flying into what looked like a stand- up,

broken-down

tape-player from the 80s. Ross instinctively pulled out his blade and readied

it for battle.

"That might not work," pointed out Misty, "A ground pokemon would be

better."

Walking cautiously to the corner, Ross looked around the corner.

POW!

Ross was sent flying into another oversized tape-player by a yellow fist.

Holding his

head, Ross shook out the cobwebs and looked at a pair of yellow pokemon with

black stripes.

One had the neck like a giraffe, while the other had electric probes on its

head.

When the figures walked towards Ross, Brock identified them. "Electabuzz

and

Tenroo!" Brock cried, "We have a serious problem."

"Let's beat these pokemon!" ordered Ash, sending out several of his

pokemon.

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

Before too long, all of the pokemon were out cold. "We have to make a run

for it Ash!"

proclaimed Misty, "Before..." *sniff-sniff* "Uh-oh."

"GRIMER!" exclaimed Pikachu in a panic.

"RUN FOR IT!" shouted Brock.

Everyone ran for the door. The wretched smell and sound of flowing sludge

increased.

Ash carrying Pikachu ran out. Then Misty, Brock, and Todd. Suddenly, 4 Grimers

slid past the

door and a single Grimer blocked the door. Ross was trapped between a Grimer, a

Tenroo, and

an Electabuzz. Ross pulled out four pokeballs.

(NOTE: For those of you that haven't already figured it out, I have made

several

presumptions on info provided by various websites on the new pokemon gold/silver

game.

Others I just made up, like several of the psychic pokemon from Stone Town

Evolution Zoo.)

"Mew, Kadabra, Haunter, Mr.Mime, help our friends down the hall against the

4

Grimer!" ordered Ross, throwing the pokeballs.

The four pokemon appeared behind the Grimer and ran down the hall. Ross

pulled out

another two pokeballs and sent them out in opposite directions.

"Porygon," introduced the pokemon in front of Grimer.

"Graveler!" exclaimed the opponent for the electric pokemon.

"Graveler, earthquake the electric pokemon," instructed Ross, "Porygon,

psybeam

Grimer!"

The concrete block under Graveler and the electric pokemon shook violently,

injuring

and disorienting them. A beam of light shot from Porygon and hit Grimer between

the eyes.

The electric pokemon tried to retaliate with a thunder shock, but were so

out of it that

they electrocuted each other. Grimer hocked up some sludge and missed Porygon,

but hit

Graveler in the back of the head.

Now, Grimer was reeling from the psybeam, Graveler was dirty on the back,

Porygon

was in peak fighting form, and the electric pokemon were fighting each other for

the thunder

shock they each got.

"Graveler, Porygon, psychic and earthquake Grimer!" ordered Ross.

Grimer was shaken and totaled by the attacks, leaving it a 2-on 2 battle.

"Pokeball, GO!" called Ross throwing a pokeball.

But instead of sucking Grimer IN, a pokemon came OUT! After a while, the

pokemon

was revealed to be...

"DIGLETT!" exclaimed Porygon, "What are you doing here!?!"

"I was sick of doing nothing all day but gardening," explained Diglett, "So

I stowed

away."

"Fine," said Ross before throwing another pokeball at Grimer. This one

proved to be

empty and easily captured Grimer.

"OOF!" shouted Porygon as he was hit from behind by the still fighting

electric

pokemon.

Ross pulled out his bone weapon and said, "Stand back." Graveler, Diglett,

and Porygon

stepped back from the wrestling pokemon.

Winding up, Ross threw the bone at the two pokemon. The bone bounced off

Electabuzz's head, nailed Tenroo's adam's apple, and sailed back into Ross's

hand.

Exhausted by the fight with each other, Electabuzz and Tenroo fainted and

were easily

caught. Ross was gathering up the pokemon when Ash and company showed up with

Ross's

psychic pokemon.

"You okay?" asked Brock.

"I'm fine,"stated Ross, "I managed to catch a Grimer along with the two

electric

pokemon."

"Impressive," commented Todd.

"HELP ME!" yelled a small voice, too small for the location to be

pin-pointed, "Hot

water, HOT WATER!"

"Hear that?" asked Misty, "A Pikablu!"

"Where's it hiding?" asked Todd, eager for a nice close-up of a Pikablu.

Ross ran over and shut off the only water boiler in the room. Brock caught

on and ran

over to a drain control. Brock turned the handle until the hot water was

replaced by the cool sea

water from outside.

"WHEW!" called the voice, splashing in the fresh water, "This is MUCH

better!"

Misty walked over to a ladder and climbed it to the top of the water tank.

"Well hello there," Misty said into the tank, "Are you going to come out of

there or not?"

A blue blob climbed onto Misty's shoulders. Misty just smiled and worked

her way

down the ladder.

"Looks like you finally got that Pikablu you wanted since they've been

discovered,"

commented Ash when Misty had both feet on the floor.

"Maybe," replied Misty, scratching Pikablu behind the right ear. Pikablu

clearly liked

this, as he cooed happily.

"I don't think that there are any 'maybes' about it," mentioned Todd.

"Well MAY-BE I should get out of this place before the local gym closes,"

suggested

Ross.

"Bye," called Ash after the two silhouettes. Chapter 106-The 'Loser' Leader

"Okay, Ross Jacobsen," stated the receptionist after reading Ross's name on

the sign-in

sheet, "You'll be up in a little while. Have some evolution candy."

Ross saw a large bowl full of wrapped candies on a corner table with some

magazines.

Ross took a half-dozen candies and stuffed them into his pocket.

Two plaques adorned the wall. Both of the electric gym leaders.

One read, "Lieutenant John Surge, Currently re-enlisted in the Army."

The other read, "Thundra Surge, Daughter of Lieutenant Surge, Assumed

leadership of

Gringe gym on March 10, 2001."

'This is still an electric gym,' thought Ross, 'Except it has a fairly new

leader. I doubt

there's a soil floor in there, so Diglett's out of the question.'

"Ross Jacobsen!" called the receptionist. Ross walked over to the window

and the

receptionist said, "You're up."

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

"This will be a 4 on 4 battle," explained the young woman in Army

camouflage,

obviously Thundra Surge.

"Fine by me," stated Ross, "I'll start with Graveler, GO!"

Graveler emerged and held his hands above his head.

"Electrode," called Thundra, throwing a pokeball, "I choose you!"

Out of Thundra's pokeball came...an oversized, upside-down pokeball. The

odd pokeball

buzzed and rolled up to it's opponent.

"That's either a very weird pokemon," reported Graveler, "Or a possessed

pokeball."

Ross just smiled and said, "Keep your distance, use rock slide!"

"Thunder bolt!" called Thundra.

Electrode tried to electrocute Graveler, but the part-ground pokemon wasn't

affected.

Graveler retaliated by coughing up three rocks and rolled all of them at

Electrode. The metal

ball was knocked back and dented by the rocks.

"Tackle!" called Thundra.

"Rock throw," stated Ross.

Electrode rolled into Graveler, but didn't hit very hard. Graveler coughed

up another

rock and knocked Electrode into a wall with it. Electrode was in bad shape and

had to be called

back by Thundra.

"Magneton, GO!" summoned Thundra, "Sonicboom!"

A group of three Magnemites appeared and a large gust knocked Graveler of

his feet.

Graveler stood back up and tackled a Magnemite into a wall, making it faint.

"Thunder ring!" called Thundra.

The two remaining Magnemites encircled Graveler, generating a ring of

electricity

around him. Working their way closer, the Magnemites' electricity ring became

more intense

and smaller.

"Earthquake!" called Ross.

Graveler started to vibrate, but was hit hard by the unusual attack.

Graveler was left

paralyzed and defenseless.

"Graveler, return," called Ross, holding up Graveler's pokeball, "Onix, GO!

Bind

attack!"

The rock snake appeared and let out a rafter shaking roar.

"Use agility to avoid getting caught!" shouted Thundra over the roar.

The two Magnemites apparently didn't hear Thundra and Onix easily caught

both of the

remaining Magnemites.

"RETURN!" ordered Thundra, holding up a pokeball, "Go Tenroo!"

The familiar long-necked pokemon appeared with an angry look on its face.

"Rock throw!" called Ross.

"Thunder butt!" ordered Thundra.

Tenroo ran after Onix and rammed into him with an electric-covered head.

Onix barely

even felt the attack as he extended to his full height. Onix coughed a rock

right onto the slightly

dazed Tenroo, pinning him.

"Tenroo, return!" called Thundra, "Raichu, GO!"

The orange electric rat appeared from the pokeball and was ready to fight.

'That's a tough looking Raichu,' thought Ross, 'Onix might be too tired to

beat it.'

"Onix, return!" called Ross, "Go Haunter!"

Haunter let out a loud laugh as Raichu looked on in terror.

"Thunder bolt!" called Thundra.

"Night shade!" retaliated Ross.

Raichu charged up and shocked Haunter before getting clobbered by the night

shade.

"Now a confuse ray!" called Ross.

Raichu was hit by the purple ray and was left confused and playing 'This

Little Piggy.'

"This little piggy stayed home," muttered Raichu, holding one of his toes.

Haunter laughed at this turn of events and licked Raichu, paralyzing it.

Thundra looked

on and couldn't believe what she was witnessing.

"Raichu, return," called Thundra, "I can't believe that I lost AGAIN!

That's the tenth

time TODAY!"

Haunter looked on in pity while Thundra pulled a badge out of her pocket.

"Here's your badge!" stated Thundra, tossing a metal lightning bolt to

Ross, "Now get

out of here!" Thundra turned and ran through another door.

"Come on Haunter," said Ross, "I think she wants to be alone."

Haunter looked longingly at the door before entering his pokeball. Chapter 107-TR After the Zapdos

At the pokemon center, Ross checked in on the Zapdos, healed his pokemon,

and

munched on a light dinner. About an hour later, Ash and company walked in and

saw Ross

alone in the training room.

"What on earth is he doing?" asked Misty, watching Ross practice a cyclone

kick.

"I think a cyclone kick," answered Brock. Ross stopped while Hitmonlee

talked to him.

"I can see THAT!" Misty hissed back, "But how is he doing it?"

"Why don't you just ask him?" suggested Todd as he took more pictures of

Ross doing

another cyclone kick.

"HEY ROSS!" shouted Ash.

The sudden shout threw off Ross's concentration and sent him crashing onto

the target

dummy. Everyone laughed as Ross struggled to get back up.

"What are you doing here?" asked Ross, feeling like someone just pulled

down his pants.

"We lost track of time and now its too late to go back to Indigo tonight,"

explained Ash.

"What were you doing?" asked Misty.

"Training my pokemon," stated Ross.

Todd said, "Yes, but..."

BOOM!

The explosion rang from the main entrance and everyone ran out to the hall

to see what

was wrong. From his angle, Ross could see a large hole in the wall with a KO'd

Voltorb, a boy

and girl in Team Rocket uniforms, and a very cranky Mankey.

"Team ROCKET. Blast off at the speed of LIGHT!" ordered the female Rocket.

"Surrender now or prepare to fight!" instructed the male Rocket.

"MANK!" shouted a Mankey.

"What do you want?" asked Nurse Joy.

"We want the Zapdos and eggs!" claimed the male Rocket.

"They don't belong to you!" defended Joy.

"And who do they belong to?" asked the female Rocket.

"ME!" proclaimed Ross, stepping out of the hallway shadow.

Mankey leaped to the attack, but Ross caught his right fore and back paws

and used

seismic toss to send him the other way. Mankey collided into a support pillar

and fainted.

"You knocked out our mascot!" proclaimed the male Rocket, "Cubone, GO!"

"Sandshrew, GO!" ordered the second Rocket. Both pokemon were clearly

untrained

"Wartortle, Vaporeon, GO!" called Ross, throwing two pokeballs,

"Bubblebeam!"

The TR pokemon didn't stand a chance and were soon too weak to battle.

"RUN FOR IT!" yelled the TR girl.

The two trainers got to the hole in the wall when a Magnemite floated in

the way,

gathering electricity.

"I'm no psychic," explained the TR boy, "But I can foresee pain."

The Magnemite shocked TR into paralysis and floated over to Ross.

"Looks like it wants to be with you," pointed out Todd. Chapter 108-A New Day

Ross and a Pikachu was crawling through some air ducts in very dirty brown

clothes.

Eventually, they reached a room with Ricky and Aroduc talking.

"I'm telling you that we should replace all of the gym leaders NOW!"

complained

Aroduc, "Before they get a chance to revolt."

"I already beat them all once," stated Ricky, "And no one can get onto

Indigo Plateau

unless I give the word."

"CREE~EE~EEK!" went the air duct.

'Uh-oh,' thought Ross before the air duct collapsed, sending Ross crashing

to the floor.

"Big uh-oh," whispered the Pikachu still in the overhead air duct.

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

The lights clicked on and Nurse Joy was at the switch saying, "Okay

everyone, time to

get up!"

Everyone moaned and Ross forced himself to sit up. Ross thumped his head

on the bunk

above him. "Ow," said Ross.

"I don't think that these things like you," joked Ash's Pikachu.

"I know," muttered Ross, rubbing his head. Ross climbed out of his bunk

and walked for

the restroom while the other trainers were still tossing in their sleep.

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

Pikachu and Ross were about halfway through breakfast when Ash, Brock,

Misty, and

Todd walked in.

"Well," commented Pikachu, "Look what the Persian dragged in."

"Don't start with me Pikachu," warned Ash, "It's too early in the morning."

"Rough night?" asked Ross.

"You might say that," answered Brock.

"Where's my coffee?" asked Misty.

The group just sat down when an annoying voice interrupted them.

"Who's the loser crew?" asked Adam.

"LOSERS!?!" shouted Misty.

"What do you want Adam?" asked Ross.

"A pokemon battle," stated the younger brother.

"Why should I? I'm eating my breakfast right now," reminded Ross as he

took a bite.

"Then I'll battle one of your chump pals," stated Adam, "Unless you're all

too chicken."

Adam started to make chicken sounds and walk around like one. This

infuriated Misty

(Especially since she hadn't had her coffee yet.), and she accepted the

challenge.

The pair walked outside and started the battle. Everyone else watched from

the window

as Misty's Golduck knocked Adam's Weepinbell and self confidence down to size.

Adam's Diglett and Dodrio also suffered the same fate against Misty's

Seadra and

Starmie. Angry, Adam tossed some cash into Misty's face and marched inside

where Ross was

finishing up.

"Now that I'm warmed up bro, I'll take YOU on," stated Adam.

"If it'll get you off my case for the day," confessed Ross, gulping down

the last of his

orange juice. Chapter 109-Down and Dirty in Gringe

"2 on 2," stated Adam, "Pokeball, GO!"

"Magnemite, GO!" called Ross.

A Pidgeotto appeared to battle Magnemite.

"Thunder shock!" called Ross.

"Gust!" ordered Adam.

Electricity flew from Magnemite and injured Pidgeotto. Pidgeotto wasn't

paralyzed

though and flapped its wings, sending all sorts of junk into Magnemite.

"Swift!" called Ross.

"Quick attack!" stated Adam. Pidgeotto was hit by several stars and fell

out of the sky.

"Finish it with a thunder wave!" instructed Ross.

Pidgeotto started to flap its wings in an attempt to take to the skies

again when it was

paralyzed by the waves of electricity.

"Pidgeotto, return!" called Adam, "Growlithe, GO!"

A small puppy appeared, ready to fight. Ross decided against continuing

the battle with

Magnemite and sent out Poliwag in its place.

"Water gun!" ordered Ross.

"Bite!" yelled Adam.

Growlithe wound up drinking to much water and coughed as it struggled to

regain its

bearings.

"Leer!" ordered Adam.

"Hypnosis!" stated Ross.

Growlithe looked up and fell asleep leering into Poliwag's spinning spiral.

"Growlithe, return!" ordered Adam. "Your cash," identified Adam, throwing

money

onto the ground.

Ross waited until Adam had disappeared into the pokemon center before

picking up his

winnings and going in after him.

Misty was just finishing up a cup of coffee when Ross walked back to the

table with a

potion from the front desk.

"I just don't see how you two can be brothers," stated Brock.

"Sometimes it baffles me too," answered Ross, applying a potion to

Magnemite. Chapter 110-Two New Pokemon

After breakfast, Ash and company left for home while Ross started down the

road to

Saffron City, home of the grass pokemon gym. The morning walk was the same as

always. A

few pokemon battles, some training exercises, and the break every hour or so.

It was a basic day

until...

"Hmm," spoke a bush near the path, "Berries."

"Will you be quiet?" hissed another voice, "He's coming!"

Since Ross was the only one he could see, Ross figured that it was a lousy

TR trap. Ross

checked his map and noticed that the road curved back around a forest.

'Going through the forest would mean that I could avoid TR, get to Saffron

by nightfall,

and maybe even find some more pokemon!' thought Ross.

So he walked into the forest, looking and listening for pokemon.

"WOW!" exclaimed a voice, "A Rhydon skeleton! This must be my lucky day!"

Ross looked to his right and saw a Cubone looking through pieces of a large

skeleton.

Ross sent out Ivysaur to attack the Cubone as he picked up the skull and

right-hind leg bone.

"This will be a nice helmet," mentioned Cubone while Ivysaur and Ross took

a strategic

position. Cubone changed helmets and took a few practice swings, still facing

away from Ross

and Ivysaur.

"Defend yourself or be captured!" offered Ivysaur. Cubone turned around

and stood

ready to battle.

"Vine whip," ordered Ross.

Ivysaur swung its long vines around Cubone, restraining it. Ivysaur swung

Cubone into a

couple trees before dropping it on its old helmet. The old helmet broke in two

pieces while

Cubone was perfectly safe in its new one.

"Now mega drain!" called Ross.

Energy began to flow in a constant stream from Cubone to Ivysaur. Cubone

managed to

escape the stream by running behind a tree. Cubone stepped into the open and

charged Ivysaur,

bone raised.

"Razor leaf!" instructed Ross.

Sharp leaves flew from Ivysaur and created deep scratches in Cubone's new

helmet.

Cubone stopped charging and grew angry from the gashes in him and his helmet.

Cubone's eyes

started to glow red.

'Cubone's mad' thought Ross.

Cubone started to thrash at Ivysaur. Ross wasn't sure how to stop it until

Ivysaur

released his sleep powder. Both pokemon were caught in the powder and fell fast

asleep.

Throwing a pokeball at Cubone, Ross captured Cubone and called back Ivysaur.

Ross didn't find any other pokemon in that forest. A Mankey found HIM, and

it wasn't

too happy. Unable to call out any of his pokemon, Ross proceeded to battle the

Mankey himself.

"Man-KEY!" yelled the fighting pokemon, enraged over the psychic attacks

launched at

him.

Ross used telekinesis to slam the Mankey between rocks and trees.

Eventually, Mankey

managed to grab hold of a rock, but it didn't stop Ross's attack. The Mankey

wound up

dragging along the rock and became a Mankey sandwich when it was slammed into a

tree.

Mankey was so out of it, that it didn't even know what pokemon it was and tried

to fly away!

Mankey fell to the ground and sat there for a while, sucking its thumb. Ross

threw a pokeball

and captured Mankey.

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

Back on the road...

"I thought you said he was coming!" stated a voice.

"I don't understand," stated a catty voice, "I saw him up the road."

Footsteps could be heard approaching.

"It's about time," answered a third voice, "Spring the trap!"

The first figure pushed a button and a cage dropped onto the unsuspecting

victim.

"We've got you now Ross!" proclaimed the Meowth running out of his hiding

place,

"Now hand over the poke..."

"PRIME-ape!" screamed a large white gorilla in the cage. Several other

Primeapes

around the cage turned to face Meowth with anger in their eyes.

(Due to the excessive amount of violence in this scene, I was forced to

exclude it for

younger readers. We now will skip ahead to Ross entering Saffron City.) Chapter 111-Saffron City

'Team Rocket just doesn't ever seem to be able to catch a break,' thought

Ross,

remembering how beaten up they were on the side of the road.

Ross walked down the street, looking for the pokemon center.

'What's that smell?' wondered Ross, 'Is that... perfume?"

Following the smell, Ross found a large perfume store next to the pokemon

gym.

Shrugging it off, Ross asked a trainer with shoulder-length green hair in front

of the gym for

directions to the pokemon center.

The trainer smiled, pointed down the street, and said, "It's a block down

that way and to

the right. You can't miss it."

"Thanks," said Ross, walking in the direction indicated.

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

After healing his pokemon at the pokemon center, Ross ran back to the gym,

hoping that

he wouldn't have to wait until tomorrow. When Ross got there, he still had 10

minutes before it

would close. A girl at the front desk said that the leader, Erika, was in Arena

#2.

"Thanks!" called Ross as he hurried down the hall. The hall echoed with

his pounding

footsteps. Ross eventually found the door labeled "Arena #2" and stepped

inside.

Empty. No one was in the gym except for Ross. Disappointed, Ross sat down

on the

bench for a while to catch his breath.

"What are you doing here?" asked a voice. Ross looked up and saw the

green-haired girl

he asked earlier that day for directions.

"Well, after I healed my pokemon at the pokemon center, I ran back here to

try and battle

the gym leader today," explained Ross, "I got here in time and ran here since

this is where I was

told the leader was."

"Oh," commented the girl.

"And when I got here, the gym leader was gone," stated Ross.

"How terrible," commented the girl, "Would you happen to have a leaf stone

on you?"

"Too many in fact," said Ross. Opening his backpack, Ross removed a leaf

stone.

"Here, I have another dozen of them in my account."

"Thank you," said the girl taking the green stone. Holding out her hand,

the girl said,

"My name is Michelle."

"Mine's Ross," stated Ross, shaking her hand.

"Erika is usually working in the garden," commented Michelle, "She might

still be there,

follow me."

Michelle walked out the door with Ross following her. Michelle led Ross

down several

halls until she finally stopped in front of a bright green door labeled

"GARDEN." Michelle

opened the door and let Ross in.

"Hello," greeted a Vileplume.

"Hello there Smiley," stated Michelle, "Seen mom?"

'Mom?' wondered Ross, 'I thought we were looking for Erika.'

Vileplume nodded and led the two humans through the garden to another

green-haired

woman that was kneeling over a flowerbed.

"Hey mom," greeted Michelle, "This is Ross. He came here to battle you."

"Oh, I'm sorry," apologized the gardener, "I'm Erika, I came here a little

early to get

some gardening done."

"It's alright," forgave Ross.

"Michelle, why don't you call dad and tell him that we'll be a little late

for dinner,"

suggested Erika.

"Okay mom," answered Michelle, walking off to the door.

'So,' figured Ross, 'Erika is Michelle's mother.'

"We can battle over here," explained Erika, leading Ross over to a

clearing. "3 on 3,

boundary rules."

"Okay," agreed Ross, selecting his first pokemon. Erika threw out her

first pokeball. As

did Ross.

"Leaf-e-ON!" called Erika's pokemon.

"MOL-tres," proclaimed Ross's.

"Start out with a sand attack!" ordered Erika.

"Flamethrower," summoned Ross.

Leafeon launched a wave of sand at Moltres as Moltres shot fire from its

beak. The

intense heat melted the sand, which fell to earth as shards of glass, and

ignited Leafeon. Leafeon

screamed in pain as it rolled in an attempt to extinguish the fire. Erika

tossed a bucket of water

onto Leafeon and put out the fire before calling her next move.

"Razor leaf."

"Fire spin!" called Ross.

Moltres started to fly around Leafeon, leaving a trail of flames behind it.

Leafeon tried to

hit its target, but the flames incinerated the leaves. Leafeon was soon dizzy

and surrounded by a

wall of flame.

"Leafeon, return!" called Erika, holding Leafeon's pokeball, "Venusaur,

GO!"

A large green pokemon with a flower on its back growled as it took the

field.

"Another fire spin!" instructed Ross.

"Ready the solar beam!" called Erika.

Venusaur began to glow as Moltres flew around it and trapped Venusaur in a

wall of

flame. Venusaur stopped glowing just as the fire spin started to wear off.

"Drill peck," called Ross.

"NOW!" shouted Erika.

Venusaur's flower glowed as a strange beam of light hit Moltres and made it

faint.

"Moltres, return!" shouted Ross, "Articuno, GO! Make a BLIZZARD!"

"Growth!" called Erika.

Venusaur grew slightly larger before being hit by immense cold and icicles.

Venusaur

was obviously reeling in pain.

"Venusaur, RETURN!" called Erika, "Go Exeggcutor!"

A large walking coconut tree stepped out, slightly off balance.

"Ice beam!" called Ross.

"Hypnosis!" retaliated Erika.

Exeggcutor's eyes started to glow and everyone but Articuno looked away.

Articuno

slowly declined until it finally fell fast asleep.

"Articuno, return!" ordered Ross, "Go Haunter, Night shade!"

"Barrage," ordered Erika.

The attacking coconuts went right through Haunter before the room was

plunged into

darkness for a few seconds. When the lights came back on, Exeggcutor was in

pain.

"Confuse ray!" called Ross.

Haunter fired a purple ray of light that confused Exeggcutor. Uncertain of

what to do,

Exeggcutor ran off to the stands and out of bounds.

"Exeggcutor, return!" called Erika, "Looks like you beat me."

Erika moved a nearby potted plant and picked up a badge resembling a tulip.

She then

walked over to Ross and handed him his new badge.

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

"Looks like the Zapdos have finally settled in," commented Professor Oak,

watching the

Zapdos at Indigo Plateau via video phone.

"And since the incubation period is so much shorter than other birds,"

started Lorelei,

"They should be hatching in a couple days or so."

"I can't wait to see those baby Zapdos hatch," proclaimed Oak before having

another

coughing fit.

"Are you okay?" asked Ash, worried about his friend.

"I'm fine," claimed Oak, "I take it that Todd is going to be taking

pictures of the Zapdos

when they hatch."

"You better believe it!" stated Todd. Chapter 112-On the Road to Celadon City

The next morning, Ross was eager to get to Celadon City. The streets were

empty except for a few early risers. Ross was soon on the road that would take

him to Celadon by lunch. Ross encountered and beat 3 trainers before spotting a

wild yellow shrew digging a hole.

"Staryu, GO!" called Ross, "Water gun!"

The yellow shrew was blasted with water before trying charging at Staryu.

"Harden!" stated Ross.

Staryu flashed and developed a hard coat. Sandshrew ran up and swung a

right claw in a slash. Sandshrew was unable to make a mark in the hard Staryu.

"Now a spinning tackle!" called Ross.

Staryu started to spin until it was impossible see clearly. Staryu then

ran, flew, whatever, at the shrew. The hard Staryu acted like a saw blade and

made a gapping wound in the poor ground pokemon.

"Pokeball, GO!" shouted Ross, throwing a red-white orb at the exhausted

pokemon. The Sandshrew shook once, twice, three times, and the pokemon was

captured.

"Yes," said Ross to himself, "Sandshrew will come in handy against the

poison pokemon of the Celadon gym."

Ross collected Staryu and Sandshrew and continued on to battle several

other trainers.

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

"How long will they being staying here?" asked Aroduc, "It takes a lot of

work to keep this gym running right. I don't need more bodies to keep track

of."

"We just need you to store some of the loot while the cops search the game

corner," explained Giovanni, "We're talking an occasional extra squad and stuff

in storage for three days. We have everything packed for the transfer and

enough spare vehicles to make the move in under 2 hours."

"Fine!" surrendered Aroduc, "I give up, make the move during the lunch time

pause."

Giovanni checked his watch and saw it was only 10:00 AM. "Okay," agreed

Giovanni, "We'll start the move at 11:25." Chapter 113-Celadon Gym

Ross was glad when he walked into town. Finding the pokemon center in

Celadon was much easier than in its sister city, Saffron. Ross breezed through

the healing process fairly quickly and it was half past eleven when Ross was

leaving for the poisonous pokemon gym.

It was bright outside so Ross pulled down the brim of his hat and put on

some $5 sunglasses. Ross walked until he reached the pokemon gym.

Several moving vans were in the few parking spaces, unloading plain

cardboard boxes with different colored marks on them.

"You here to help?" asked a mover in one of the vans. Ross opened his

mouth to speak but was shoved a box and told to follow him.

'What the hay," figured Ross, 'It won't kill me to be nice.' Ross followed

the man as he led the way into the gym.

"What a lousy job," complained the mover, "I thought that working here

would bring me nothing but action."

'Action?' thought Ross, 'As a mover? Something's screwy around here.'

"All I've done so far is haul goods and hand out assignments," stated the

mover, "I tell you, those loaded paper-pushers can kiss my-"

"Take this stuff into the main gym's storage," stated a man. Ross looked

up and saw Giovanni checking the color on his box. "This goes in here," stated

Giovanni, tapping on a door.

Ross was awe-struck in seeing Giovanni, but opened the door anyway. Inside

was several other boxes, some open, holding pokeballs, others closed. Several

men and women in Team Rocket uniforms were shifting through the boxes,

"Put that with the others," ordered a large burly man, pointing at a stack

of boxes.

Ross set the box down as he was told and noticed that the pokeballs were

labeled with names like Dratini, Alfamazoo, Clefairy, Pikablu, and the like.

'All rare pokemon,' thought Ross, 'I think that I might be in trouble.'

"Little HELP!" shouted a man, trying to stabilize a wobbling tower of

boxes. While everyone else ran to help the man, Ross snuck out of the room and

down the hall.

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

"Are you almost done yet?" asked Aroduc, anxious to get the transfer over.

"Just one more van load and we're gone," explained Giovanni.

"Good," stated Aroduc, "I've done too much work establishing a position

here for it to be blown."

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

THUD!

A door slammed shut down the hall, cloaked by the dark shadows.

"At least this is almost over," pointed out a voice.

'And I might get caught,' thought Ross, working his way backwards.

There didn't seem to be a way out when Ross saw a nearby air duct. Ross

closed his eyes and focused his mind.

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

"What was that flash?" asked the first Rocket.

"Just someone using a door," answered a second Rocket.

Ross watched as the pair of Rockets walked down the hall and out of sight.

"Talk about CLOSE!" stated the tiny Ross as he walked down the large metal

chamber, footsteps booming like thunder in his small ears. "Maybe shrinking

into here WASN'T such a good idea," he muttered, "At least no one can hear me."

It took Ross two times through "I was 99 miles from home," or an hour to

find the main gym's door at his diminished size. Ross stuck out his head and

didn't see anyone, approaching, leaving, or otherwise.

"Time to get out of this tin can," stated Ross, closing his eyes again.

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

"So," asked Aroduc, "What's your name wimp?"

"Michael McIntyre," claimed the gruff voice.

"Well Mikey," started Aroduc, "This will be a 4 on 4 pokemon battle."

"Alright," stated 'Mikey,' "Who do you choose first?"

"Muk," stated Aroduc, throwing a pokeball, "Get ready for battle."

A large pile of purple sludge appeared and raised a dripping right hand.

"Kadabra, GO!" called Michael.

"Pound," called Aroduc.

"Psybeam,"ordered Michael.

A beam of white light hit Muk, reducing it into an unconscious blob.

"Muk, return," called Aroduc, "Golbat, GO! Leech life!"

The purple bat flew at and sank its fangs into Kadabra's body, draining its

energy.

"Confusion!" shouted Michael.

"Confuse ray!" commanded Aroduc.

Kadabra was hit first by the quick bat and started to dance ballet.

"Kadabra, return," stated Michael, "Go Electabuzz, thunder punch!"

"Bite!" said Aroduc.

Golbat flew at Electabuzz mouth open to attack. Electabuzz swung its fists

and clobbered Golbat with thunder punch after thunder punch. Golbat was

eventually cornered and was called back.

"Weezing, GO!" shouted Aroduc, "Smoke screen."

"Thunder shock," requested Michael.

The arena filled with smoke, making trainer intervention impossible. When

the smoke screen cleared, Weezing was doing that and Electabuzz was sick.

"Electabuzz, return!" called Michael, "Mr. Mime, confusion!"

The clown ran out and made Weezing fly between the walls a few times before

it fainted. Aroduc replaced Weezing with a cobra.

'An Arbok!?!' thought Michael, 'I HATE snakes!'

"Glare," stated Aroduc.

"Psychic," instructed Michael.

Arbok glared at Mr. Mime, paralyzing him from attacking or defending.

Michael called him back and sent out his last pokemon of the battle.

"Cubone, GO!" called Michael, "Bonemerang!"

"Leer," instructed Aroduc.

Cubone quickly wound up and threw his bone, knocking some sense into Arbok

as he watched the bone hit him the first time. The bone curved around and hit

Arbok in the back of the head on its way back.

"Bite," stated Aroduc as Cubone caught his bone.

"Bone club."

Arbok slithered up to Cubone, opened his mouth, and tried to eat Cubone's

skull helmet. Cubone swung his club into Arbok's side, launching him into

Aroduc.

"Chararar-bok?" asked the Arbok weakly.

"Get off of me!" commanded Aroduc, throwing Arbok at Cubone.

"Look OUT!" warned Michael as Arbok flew at Cubone.

Cubone jumped out of the way in time and the snake crashed into Michael,

knocking off his hat and sunglasses and revealing Ross's face. With the

unconscious snake keeping Aroduc from seeing his face clearly, Ross snatched his

glasses and tried to put them on.

"Arbok, return," called Aroduc, "I guess you beat me Michael."

Ross adjusted his glasses so they were on straight and slapped his cap on

sideways. Aroduc walked over and slapped the wall with his fist. The wall

opened and Aroduc pulled out a badge shaped like a skull-and-crossbones for

Ross.

"Here you go," said Aroduc, yielding the badge, "Now get out."

Ross quickly stepped out of the arena. Chapter 114-Bridge Bike Gang

Ross groaned as he sat up on the cot. After lunch and informing the cops

about Team Rocket, Ross had gone on a shopping spree at the department store and

trained the rest of the day away. Today, he had to ride his bike across the

10-mile bridge to the Sunny Town Normal- type Pokemon Gym.

After Ross cycled through the restroom, he grabbed some food, jogged out

the door, and mounted his bike.

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

"I still don't understand how Michael found out," stated Aroduc, watching a

video tape of Ross in a police station.

"I don't think that's his real name," chimed in another Rocket, "I saw a

video from Cerulean of a similar person who dropped off a letter signed

'Dataeater.' That letter wrecked our robbery at the convention."

At that moment, Mike Grahm and Nick Crosby walked in and saw the screen.

Mike asked, "Where'd you get the footage of Ross?"

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

"Whew," sighed Ross as he sat down on a bench, "What a work-out." Ross had

ridden the entire morning and was only about half-way across the bridge. He had

stopped at a break spot with a hot-dog vendor for lunch.

The pokemon were eating with him, enjoying the fresh air. His bike was

propped up next to Ross. And the vendor was sorting out the bills.

"This is pretty good," proclaimed Pikablu, chewing on his end of a hot- dog.

"I'll say," agreed Pikachu, eating the other half.

"I'm happy just to be able to swim in deep water again," commented

Gyarados, swimming in the bay.

Suddenly, the vendor closed up shop and high-tailed it towards Celadon.

"What's going on?" asked Mew when a whirring sound was heard coming from

Sunny Town. A flag and group of bicycles appeared over the horizon on the

bridge.

"Uh-oh," stated Ross.

"Everyone into the pokeballs!" exclaimed Tenroo. All of Ross's pokemon

jumped into their pokeball while Ross gulped down the rest of his meal and

hopped onto his bike.

The squad of seventeen bicycles surrounded Ross and blocked his exit. The

apparent leader was a female riding on a Zapdos designed bicycle.

"Who do you think you are?" asked the snide leader.

"Just a trainer on his way to the Sunny Town gym?" asked Ross.

"I don't think so," answered the leader, "Not through our turf without a

pokemon battle."

"I thought this bridge was public property," stated Ross.

"Yeah," answered one of the other bikers, "And we're the public!"

"If you want a pokemon battle," answered Ross, "Then so be it. 2 on 2."

"I'll send you home crying," claimed the leader, pulling out a pokeball, "I

choose you Cloyster! Crush this wimp!"

A large shell with a vertical crack down the middle appeared. The bikers

started chanting the leader's name, "Ty-RA, Ty-RA, Ty-RA."

"Hitmonlee, GO!" called Ross.

Several of the bikers were surprised by the sight of the tan pokemon. The

leader wasn't frightened though.

"Spike cannon!" called Tyra.

"Somersault kick!" summoned Ross.

Cloyster shot several spikes at Hitmonlee, missing the air-borne pokemon by

several feet. Hitmonlee flipped forward several times before slamming a foot

onto the crack, forcing it open.

"Now a mega kick to the inside!" called Ross.

"Clamp it with your shell," said an eerily calm Tyra.

Hitmonlee thrust his right foot into Cloyster's shell who started to pinch

it. Hitmonlee called out in pain at the crushing attack.

"Cyclone kick!" ordered Ross.

Hitmonlee nodded and started to swing Cloyster around in a fast circle.

Cloyster was losing his grip and about to do the same with its lunch. Cloyster

finally flew off of Hitmonlee and crashed into a steel support girder. The

tough Cloyster fainted on impact.

Hitmonlee took a fighting stance for its next challenger, but collapsed in

pain, holding his right ankle. Tyra and Ross called back their pokemon and sent

out a new one.

"Go-lem," stated Tyra's new pokemon.

Ross's long blue serpent just roared from the side of the bridge.

"What am I supposed to do?" Golem asked Tyra.

"RUN AWAY!" answered the panicked bikers. Tyra called back Golem and

started to peddle like mad with the rest of the biker gang to Sunny Town.

Gyarados roared again and they peddled even faster.

"They move fast for such little guys," stated Gyarados.

Ross just laughed and put Gyarados back in his pokeball. Concerned about

Hitmonlee, Ross called him back out. Hitmonlee appeared sitting on a bench and

Ross felt his right leg.

"I don't like this," stated Ross as he felt a curve in Hitmonlee's right

leg, "I think it may be broken."

"Don't be ridiculous!" argued Hitmonlee, standing up. Hitmonlee's right

leg gave way and let him fall to the concrete.

"I better get you to the pokemon center ASAP," stated Ross, helping

Hitmonlee back on the bench. "Looks like you made the break worse when you

tried to stand on it."

Ross was right, instead of a gentle curve in Hitmonlee's leg, there was now

a visible corner. "This is going to hurt at first," warned Ross, holding the

leg segments around the break, "But it will reduce the pain later."

"Like Nike says," started Hitmonlee.

Ross smiled and finished, "Just do it." He jerked his hands in a quick

motion and Hitmonlee howled in pain.

When he stopped expressing his pain, Hitmonlee said, "Know that wasn't so

bad."

Smiling again, Ross put Hitmonlee back in his pokeball and started to cycle

after the bike gang.

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

"Shouldn't you go and confront your fear?" asked the black-haired man in a

leather vest.

"Chopper, would YOU want to try taking on a trained GYARADOS!?!" asked

Tyra.

"How bad can it be," argued Chopper, "It's trained, remember?"

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

Ross was on the last mile of the bridge when storm clouds boomed overhead.

'Now this could get nasty,' thought Ross as rain started to fall. He

suddenly heard the whirring sound of several bicycles over the horizon.

The bicycle gang had finally gotten over their scare and was after him in a

wall formation. Ross wondered what to do when the road up ahead started to

split.

"A drawbridge," said Ross to the storm, "That will be me a little time

before I encounter the bike gang."

When the bridge was high enough to hide the bike gang from Ross's sight,

Ross stopped and dismounted. Ross placed his bicycle into an item ball and

pulled out another one.

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

"I thought that boat would never go by," commented a biker as the draw

bridge slowly went down.

"That kid should be waiting, just like us," pointed out Tyra.

"Then where is he?" asked a girl on a bike.

Sure enough, when the bridge went down, no one was waiting on the other

side.

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

'Finally,' thought Ross, when the cruise ship went by the bridge. Ross

started to paddle under the bridge in his raft. Chapter 115-Hospital Hitmonlee

Ross sat in the lobby, waiting for Nurse Joy to come out of the treatment

room with news about Hitmonlee. Hitmonchan sat next to him, concerned about his

friend.

"Hitmonlee breaking a leg," commented Hitmonchan, "Is like me breaking my

arm!"

Hitmonchan was leaned against his lap and Ross was trying to cheer him up.

"What's wrong Beavis?" asked a joking voice. Ross and Hitmonchan looked up

to see Hitmonlee propped up on a stretcher. "You look like your best friend

died."

Hitmonchan jumped up and gave Hitmonlee a noogy with one of its

boxing-glove hands. Ross just stood up and asked how Hitmonlee was doing.

"He has a mild fracture in his right tumor," explained Nurse Joy.

"Huh?" asked the Hitmons together.

Seeing the confusion in the Hitmons faces, Nurse Joy translated in lament's

terms. "Hitmonlee broke his leg," she explained, "He'll have to stay off it for

about 12 days, meaning no battling."

"A fighting pokemon that doesn't fight for 12 days!?!" exclaimed Hitmonlee,

"I'll go stir crazy!!!"

Ross inquired, "And after 12 days?"

"If Hitmonlee's leg is healed, he'll be able to resume battling," stated

Nurse Joy, "Worst case scenario, however unlikely, the leg would have to

amputated."

"ENGLISH doc," stated Hitmonchan.

"The worst possible and least likely thing to happen would require

Hitmonlee's leg to be chopped off," Ross plainly stated.

Hitmonlee's eyes rolled to the back of its head as it fainted.

"But I expect Hitmonlee to make a complete recovery," said Nurse Joy, "The

best thing you could do is leave it at a proper pokemon medicine facility for

the 12 days."

"I have a few ideas of where that place might be," stated Ross.

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

RING-RING-RING, RING-RING-RING, Phone call! Phone call!

"Pallet Town Pokemon Center," answered the nurse, "Nurse Joy speaking."

Ross's face appeared on the screen. "Hi Joy," said the flat Ross, "I was

wondering if you could keep an eye on a Hitmonlee with a broken leg for a

while."

"How long?" asked the cautious Joy.

"Just 12 days while the leg heals," answered Ross.

"Okay," agreed Joy, "But I won't be able to exercise it, I've been busy

here lately."

"Thanks Joy," said Ross, "I'll have it transferred over and I'll talk to

you in 12 days."

"Got it. Bye Ross." Chapter 116-Confronting Chopper

Ross was waiting for his turn in the gym to battle the leader. He had

already sent Hitmonlee to Pallet Town and set a countdown clock in his pokedex.

Ross was busy going through which pokemon to use.

'Let's see,' thought Ross, 'Normal attacks don't hurt rock very well, and

fighting attacks are excellent. I can use Graveler, Onix, Mankey, Hitmonchan,

and Machoke. Hitmonlee would have been perfect.'

"Ross!" called the gym leader. Ross looked up and the man said, "You're

next."

Ross stood up and was ready to fight. His opponent wore sunglasses, a pair

of khaki pants, and a leather vest over his bare chest. A name tag on his vest

read, 'Chopper.'

"6 on 6!" proclaimed the Chopper.

"Fine," agreed Ross, realizing that he still had one pokemon to choose.

"Tauros, GO!" shouted Chopper. A bull pokemon appeared.

"Machoke," called Ross, "I choose you!"

"Tackle," stated Chopper.

"Low kick,"retaliated Ross.

Tauros ran at Machoke, head down to ram him. Machoke ducked and swung a

powerful leg under Tauros, tripping it.

"Karate chop!" stated Ross.

Machoke raised a hand and brought it down hard on Tauros's chest. Tauros

started to have difficulty breathing and was called back.

"Raticate, GO!" declared Chopper, "Hyper fang!"

"Seismic toss!" stated Ross.

Raticate sunk its powerful jaws into Machoke's arm and refused to let go.

"Karate chop!" instructed Ross.

Machoke swung his arm fiercely, but Raticate still wouldn't let go.

"Try kicking it!" suggested Ross.

Machoke did, but Raticate still wouldn't release.

"ARGH! Machoke, return!" recalled a frustrated Ross, "Go Onix, tackle!"

"Super fang!" called Chopper

Onix charged the rat, but it tried to bite at the rock hard Onix. Ross

thought about what to do for a couple seconds before he had an idea.

"Ultra fang!" declared Chopper.

Raticate tried to bite Onix again, but Ross was ready.

"BIND!" ordered Ross.

Onix wrapped its body around the unfortunate rat, sending it to a crushing

defeat. Chopper recalled Raticate and sent out a balloon-like pokemon with long

ears.

"Wigglytuff, SING!" instructed Chopper, covering his ears.

Ross did the same and asked for a rock throw. Wigglytuff started to sing

and Onix, with nothing to cover its ears with, fell fast asleep.

"Onix, return," recalled Ross, "Go Hitmonchan! Ice punch!"

Before Chopper could react, Hitmonchan appeared and punched Wigglytuff,

encasing it in ice. Chopper recalled Wigglytuff and sent out Kangaskhan.

"Dizzy punch!" ordered Chopper.

"Agility!" stated Ross.

Hitmonchan's speed increased before being knocked silly.

"Mega punch!" called Chopper.

Both pokemon thought it was their trainer and swung a powerful fist at each

other. Hitmonchan missed from the last blow and was knocked across the room,

out cold.

"Hitmonchan, return!" stated Ross, "Go Mankey! Fury swipes!"

Mankey swung his claws deep into Kangaskhan's face before kicking into its

stomach. Kangaskhan grew angry and went into a rage.

"Slash, karate chop, then seismic toss!" Ross rattled off.

Mankey ran at Kangaskhan and slashed him into facing down. Mankey then did

a flip, laying a karate chop onto Kangaskhan's back before landing behind him.

Mankey then turned around, grabbed Kangaskhan's tail, and started to swing his

opponent in a circle. Finally, the blurry spin released Kangaskhan, sending it

into the hard floor, too weak to continue.

"Kangaskhan, return," ordered Chopper, "Persian, GO! Bite!"

A large cat appeared and charge at Mankey. Ross called on Mankey's most

powerful attack, thrash. The two pokemon went into frenzy, lasting several

minutes. Finally, Ross's pokemon threw Persian, knocking it out. However, the

pokemon had shackles and was much bigger.

"PRImeape," stated the pokemon.

"Persian, return!" called back Chopper, "Porygon, GO!"

The digital pokemon appeared and unleashed a mental attack that easily

defeated Primeape.

"Primeape, return," instructed Ross, "Graveler, GO!"

Graveler ran out and tackled Porygon. Porygon next used a psychic attack,

confusing Graveler into exploding, knocking out both pokemon.

"I guess you won," commented Chopper, "I'm out of pokemon and you're still

able to send out one more."

Chopper pushed a button a model Zapdos flew out from behind a light and

dropped a 2- dimensional Rattata. Ross picked up the badge and pinned it inside

his coat.

"Enjoy your badge," congratulated Chopper.

Ross turned to leave when Tyra ran in.

"Chopper, I-"

"YOU!" exclaimed Ross. Chapter 117-Hitmonchan's Revenge

"You two know each other?" asked Chopper.

"Know each other!?!" shouted Ross, "Her Cloyster broke my Hitmonlee's leg!"

"WHAT!?!" complained Chopper, "You said that he took you by surprise with a

Gyarados and you all ran!"

"Well," started Tyra, "We confronted him and he sent out a Hitmonlee first.

Cloyster clamped Hitmonlee's leg and Hitmonlee kicked him off. That was when

he sent out the Gyarados and we got scared and ran."

"I see," said a disappointed Chopper, "When I send you out in charge of the

gang, I expect you to be totally honest."

"I was honest," protested Tyra, "I just forgot to mention some things."

"Like breaking a Hitmonlee's leg," reminded Chopper.

"Maybe I should let Hitmonchan have at you. He is Hitmonlee's best

friend," suggested Ross, "Tyra, I challenge you to a pokemon battle. My

Hitmonchan against any one of yours."

"That's a good idea," confirmed Chopper.

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

After treating and informing Hitmonchan, Tyra stood at the other end and

sent out a Pidgey. Hitmonchan was extremely mad and was punching a mile a

second.

"Thunder and ice punches will work best," reminded Ross.

Hitmonchan nodded and ran out. The fight was so fast that neither trainer

could keep up. Pidgey tried to attack several times, but Hitmonchan always

answered with a powerful punch, deflecting the attack.

Finally, Hitmonchan went on the offensive. With a vicious combination of

thunder, ice, and fire punches, Hitmonchan cornered Pidgey into a corner.

Pidgey was in bad shape. As a final blow, Hitmonchan mega-punched Pidgey right

through the wall!

"Pidgey!" cried Tyra, running past Hitmonchan and reaching through the

hole. When removed, the little bird had spirals in his eyes along, a large

bruise on its chest, along with burns, paralysis, and frozen body parts.

"Mo-mmy?" asked the dazed bird.

Hitmonchan let out a huge sigh before walking back to Ross. The small

Pidgey broke into a round of singing 'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.'

"Incredible," commented Chopper, "Especially since flyer pokemon have the

advantage over fighting pokemon." Tyra didn't have anything to say as she ran

past Ross for the door. "I must say that it has been, interesting to meet you."

"Likewise," complied Ross. Ross and Hitmonlee walked through the door for

the pokemon center to revitalize the other pokemon. Chapter 118-These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things

"HEY! HITMONLEE!" called Nurse Joy.

They were in a training section of the pokemon center where Hitmonlee

giving pointers to other pokemon.

"You got an audio letter," called Joy.

A look of joy spread across his face as he hobbled over to the door on

crutches. Joy handed Hitmonlee a tape player and cassette before leaving for

the desk. Hitmonlee pressed the play button and Hitmonchan's voice emerged from

the speaker.

"Hey Hitmonlee," spoke Hitmonchan's voice, "We heard that you're doing

well. It's a shame that you had to miss the normal gym. Ross managed to win

and on our way out, we encountered none other then Tyra."

"Hitmonchan totally beat the snot out of her Pidgey," announced Ross,

"Hitmonchan didn't even get a scratch and mega-punched the lousy bird clear

through a wall!"

'And I missed it,' thought a disappointed Hitmonlee.

"We'll see you in a few days," chimed in Hitmonchan, "Take care of

yourself."

The tape became quiet.

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

"Are you sure?" asked Ross, "Once I evolve you with a stone, there's no

going back."

Staryu, Pikachu, Growlithe, Exeggcute, Mew, and Vulpix confronted him that

morning, claiming to be ready to evolve. After considering what Ross said for 3

seconds, they confirmed that they were ready. Ross dug out the stones he would

need and paused for a moment. This was going to be the last time he sees his

friends in their original forms.

"If you're sure," surrendered Ross, "I guess there's no stopping you."

Ross placed a water stone before Staryu, thunder before Pikachu, fire in

front of Growlithe and Vulpix, grass before Exeggcute, and mist before Mew. The

pokemon looked at each other, those that could saluted the others, and collected

their stones. As the pokemon changed shape, Ross could only let out a long

sigh.

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

For the first time in his journey, Ross had to choose which way to go.

There was a fork in the road before him. The right-most path was labeled to Hop

Hop Hop Town and the heavy gym. The center right path led to Dark Town, a place

that housed the Large Pokemon Gym. To the center left, was a path leading to

the Fushcia City Fighting Pokemon Gym. The fourth, left- most path led to the

Ancient Pokemon Gym of Grandpa Canyon.

No matter which path Ross took, he was going to have to backtrack for at

least one gym, so Ross took the longest of the paths to the far-left.

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

Several days later, Ross stepped into the small town at Grandpa Canyon and

let out a huge sigh of relief. Hitmonlee was supposed to be well enough for

Ross to claim in a couple days.

Ross had to wait until tomorrow before he could go to the Ancient Pokemon

Gym. But that was fine with him. He had been battling all day and was ready

for a break,

But someone at the pokemon center wasn't about to let him.

"Why don't you just leave me alone?" Ross asked his brother.

"Because I'm not about to let you have a moment's peace until I can finally

beat you in a pokemon battle!" proclaimed Adam.

"Fine," surrendered Ross, "But only if you'll let me have some peace for a

week."

"Okay," admitted Adam, "2 on 2.

"Chronamew, I choose YOU," called Ross, throwing a pokeball. A white cat,

bigger then Mew, but smaller than Mewtwo appeared in a fighting stance.

It took Adam a few moments to regain composure before sending out a

Dugtrio.

'Psychic,' thought Ross.

Adam called for a scratch. Chronamew knocked out one of Dugtrio's heads

with the psychic attack before getting a scratched toe.

"Dig," called Adam.

'Barrier,' countered Ross.

Dugtrio dug into the ground and emerged into Chronamew's barrier. The hit

knocked out another one of Dugtrio's heads and scared the last head.

'Finish it with a swift attack!' confirmed Ross.

Chronamew opened its mouth, sending several stars at the last of Dugtrio's

heads. The final Dugtrio head panicked and fainted before the stars even hit

it.

"Dugtrio, return," called Adam before sending out a new pokeball.

"Victreebell," introduced the pokemon.

"Part poison?" asked Ross, "Poor choice. Chronamew, psybeam!"

Chronamew blinked and a powerful ray of light shot out from them and

knocked out Victreebell in one hit.

"I don't believe it!" hollered Adam, attracting the attention of several

passers-by, "You didn't even give your pokemon any commands!"

"Did I? asked Ross with fake innocence. Adam stormed into the pokemon

center and didn't say a word for the remainder of the evening.

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

Back in Pallet Town, Professor Oak receives some terrible news.

"You have the final stage of Zymerman's disease," diagnosed the doctor by

his side, "There is no cure."

"How long do I have?" asked the demanding Professor.

"A week," confessed the doctor, "More than likely less."

"Please contact the following people to come here," started Oak, "The Elite

Masters, my family, and the gym leaders." Chapter 119-A Shocking Discovery

The next morning, Ross stood in front of the Ancient Pokemon Gym. It

didn't take long to get inside, Ross was only third to arrive. The other

trainers filed in and out rather quickly, complaining about the rock and water

combination pokemon.

'Rock and water are both suckers to plants,' thought Ross, 'Everyone knows

THAT!'

Ross walked into the arena and saw a man in a lab coat.

"I am Professor Archaic," introduced the man, "I study ancient pokemon and

their techniques here. I presume that you wish to battle me."

"Yes," answered Ross, "How many pokemon?"

"Three 1 on 1 matches," stated Archaic, "And you must win all of them.

Your first opponent will be Omastar, GO!"

A blue pokemon in a spiked nautilus shell appeared, ready to fight.

"Bellsprout, GO!" exclaimed Ross and the flower ran out. "Vine whip!"

ordered Ross.

"Spike cannon," proclaimed the professor.

Two spikes flew at Leafeon, who caught both of them and slammed them into

Omastar's mouth. With Omastar stunned, Leafeon slammed its vines against the

sides of Omastar's shell. Omastar couldn't take much more, so Archaic recalled

Omastar, as did Ross with Leafeon.

"Kabutops," stated the professor, "You're up."

A pokemon that Ross thought looked like a Scyther appeared and readied to

battle.

"Oddish, GO!" called Ross, "Mega drain!"

This battle lasted even shorter than last as Oddish drained Kabutops of all

its energy in one attack. Archaic recalled Kabutops and sent out a familiar

flyer.

"Aero!" cried the Aerodactyl.

"Oddish, return!" stated Ross, "Articuno, GO! Blizzard!"

"Supersonic," instructed the professor.

Articuno turned a bright blue as a blizzard appeared in the room. Unable

to see where it was aiming, Aerodactyl used supersonic on a wall before falling,

encased in ice.

"Dang," cursed Archaic, "I guess you win."

The professor flipped a light switch and the floor behind Ross opened up.

A stand ascended from the hole, holding a badge resembling a helix fossil. Ross

took it and stepped outside as a phone rang somewhere.

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

"Now," Ross asked himself, looking at a map, "Where do I go now?"

Suddenly, Ross was trampled by someone from behind. When Ross looked up,

he saw Professor Archaic calling out another Aerodactyl.

"What's the rush?" asked Ross.

"Professor Oak is dying!" explained the professor, flying up into the air

on Aerodactyl, "I have to leave for Pallet Town."

'WHAT!' thought Ross. He whipped out his pokedex and dialed the number Ash

gave him in an emergency.

"Hey Ross," answered the Ash on the pokedex screen, "I can't talk, I'm in a

bit of a hurry."

"To Professor Oak's I take it," said Ross.

"You know?" asked the bewildered Ash over a screeching Zapdos in the

background.

"I just battled Professor Archaic when he heard," Ross explained, "I'll see

you there!" With that, Ross hung up the phone, called out Fearow, and started

on his way to Pallet Town. Chapter 120-The Hospital

When Ross and Fearow landed in front of the hospital in Pallet Town, Todd

was sitting outside, WITHOUT a camera. Ross put Fearow back in his pokeball,

took off his hat, and brushed his hair back.

"How's he doing?" asked a concerned Ross.

"Not well," stated Todd in a grave tone, "He doesn't have long. Room 259."

Ross nodded and walked inside. Instead of waiting for the elevator, Ross

ran up a flight of stairs and hurried down the hall until he saw Ash's Pikachu

sitting next to an open door.

"Hi Pikachu," said Ross. Pikachu's eyes were filled with tears as he

acknowledged Ross's presence.

Ross walked in and saw about twenty people inside and one occupied bed.

Everyone let Ross by as he walked up to the bed.

Professor Oak looked at Ross and weakly said, "Well, if it isn't Ross."

"Hey Oak," greeted Ross, "How do you feel?"

"I doubt I could feel any worse," stated the once proud professor, "But I'm

glad that you could make it."

"When I heard that you were dying," started Ross, eyes filling with tears,

"I had to find out if it was true."

"I'm afraid so," admitted Oak, "At least I could see the boy that managed

to obtain three of the four legendary pokemon so quickly before I die."

"Actually," corrected Ross, "It's now all four."

"You managed to obtain an Arcanine," asked a surprised Oak before having a

coughing fit. When Oak stopped, he asked, "May I see them?"

Everyone decided to step outside. But when the room was empty, the male

Zapdos Ross caught and left in Ash's care was still in the room. Ross pulled

out three more pokeballs and dropped them.

Arcanine, Articuno, and Moltres emerged. The three birds sat on Ross's

shoulders and head while Arcanine was propped up against the bedside.

"Well I'll be," commented Oak, "You managed to get them."

"I still have a lot more pokemon to get though," confessed Ross, "A lot of

the I can find in the Safari Zone and Seafoam Islands."

"Well," started Oak, "I think that I can help you with some of them." Oak

opened a bedside drawer and removed a small chest. "This chest holds the

account of my most prized pokemon, fossils, and cures," explained the professor,

"Since you were the only one of my trainers that showed up without being asked,

I want you to have them." The professor held out the box.

Ross looked at it and said, "I don't think I can take that. Shouldn't you

give it to one of the gym leaders?"

"They already have received all of the knowledge I gathered in my entire

profession," reminded the professor, "Take it, I insist."

Ross reached out and grabbed hold of the chest with both hands. As a tear

trickled down his left cheek, Ross said, "Thank you. It has been a sincere

pleasure to have known you Professor Oak."

The professor smiled and said, "The pleasure, was all, " The

great man's eyes slipped shut before he could finish his last sentence.

"Professor Oak?" asked Ross, shaking his arm, "Professor Oak?"