Pokémon - The Final Journey in Fenyuu
Chapter 42: Black Rocket's Revenge
It was a quiet day in Viridian City. The sky was clear, the sun was blazing hot, yet there was no wind. The birds were silent; even Pokémon could not be heard dashing in the grassy fields of Route 1.
Jordon, who was once again the head of the Elite Four, had just woken up. Alone, in his house close to both the Indigo League, and Viridian City, this seemed like another typical day. He would get up, eat something, shower, brush teeth, dress, then go down to the Indigo League to mostly check on Trainers' status; who recently began training, who had their license suspended due to misconduct, or trainers who have retired. He would also hold small meetings with Paul, Simon and Hans once a week.
However, today would be different.
He poured himself a cup of coffee when suddenly the phone rang. Since the coffee pot was right near the phone, he simply reached with his right hand and picked up the receiver.
"Hello?"
"Jordan! Thank God I got hold of you!"
"Hans? What's going on? How come nobody's here today?"
"Something's come up. Didn't you watch the news last night?"
"No; I don't have cable."
"Well, surely you've heard about it somewhere. Apparently some protestors are starting up a campaign which forbids the capture and training of Pokémon."
"You mean the M.A.P.C.? I thought the courts ruled against their pleas how long ago was it...five years?" Jordan took a sip of his coffee, then shuddered, as he had forgotten to add in sugar.
"I think they have some more funding. They only started this campaign when some irresponsible rookie trainer lended his Pokémon to his younger sibling. He accidentally threw the Pokémon while in its Pokéball in the river. Eventually the Pokémon inside freaked out, and released itself. However, since it was a rock type, it drowned."
"That's ridiculous; I knew that they shouldn't have bumped down the trainer requirements. I still think that one should be eighteen before getting their first Pokémon."
"As much as I hate it, too, there are a lot of talented Pokémon trainers out there. We're going to have to find a way to stop this protest once and for all."
"Well, come on down and we'll write up some ideas."
"No can do. My wife's very sick today and she needs me to help."
"Sick again?"
"Yeah, she's caught another cold."
"Have you taken her to the doctor yet? This is her third one in the past two months, isn't it?"
"Yeah, I really have to get her to relax. But hey, give me a shout later to see how your ideas are coming. I'm really interested in what you have to offer."
"Okay then, so I guess I'll talk to you later." Jordan placed the receiver back on its hook as he took another sip of his coffee. He once again shuddered. "Ugh, why do I always do that?" He instantly grabbed some sugar packets.
* * *
"Capturing Pokémon to follow human commands for battle is EVIL and CRUEL!"
"Pokémon should not be put under bondage of anybody!"
Those plus various other chantings could be heard with the angry mob who was just outside the locked Pokémon Center. Lizzie and Matt were sitting in the lobby along with many other trainers; all of them were getting annoyed with the noise pollution.
"Joy, have you called the police yet?" Matt yelled, however it didn't seem to be loud enough as he was being drowned out by the mob's yelling.
"Yes! I even called them again!" Joy replied. She then pointed to the back room. "All of you, let's get inside; all this noise can't be good for us!"
Some of the trainers couldn't hear her, but others could hear her perfectly as they all followed Nurse Joy into the back room. She locked the door and turned the lights on.
"I'm sorry it's not very comfortable, but I don't think sitting out there in the lobby's too comfortable either."
"This is better," Lizzie commented.
Some of the other trainers were chatting away in the corner, while Matt and Lizzie stood around, mostly in thought.
"Do these protestors actually think they can pull this off?" Ace asked.
Matt turned around; he never noticed Ace in the center before, but didn't ask him why he was there.
"Well, I still don't know what happened," Matt added.
"Oh, you want insight from some stuck-up rich snob, do you?" Ace sneered.
Matt sighed. "Look, I'm sorry, but what you said frustrated me and...well, I don't have any excuse saying what I did."
"You really hurt me; I'm not rich at all. As a matter of fact, my brother and I were going into poverty right after I got my trainer's license. Fighting Pokémon trainers is the only thing that keeps me and my brother fed."
"Well, you certainly didn't show that with your attitude towards me. Dressing up so preppy and acting like you're the greatest trainer who ever lived," Matt added.
"When did I ever say that?"
"You didn't have to say it. I don't care what kind of life you had or the life you're living now, but the way you treated me earlier is no excuse."
"Look man, I swear I didn't know your friend was shot," Ace responded.
"Well, that makes us even--" Matt quickly looked at Lizzie; "how does he know what happened?"
Lizzie sighed quietly. "I told him. We met right after I left one of the gyms earlier."
"Why? It's none of his business what happened."
"You're right, but she volunteered to tell me. You know, just because you think I'm some snob, doesn't mean I really am. I only act this way so I don't get pushed around by young, confident trainers. However, I don't know why you have to act the way you do."
Suddenly, memories of Matt commanding Onix replayed in his head. Lizzie getting shot, Onix crushing the Black Rocket boss, the sound of his heart beating. They all replayed in his head at the same time.
Matt was speechless; he couldn't say anything.
"Well? Why have you gotten so quiet all of a sudden?"
"Go away," Matt responded, walking towards the corner of the room, he crossed his arms, and leaned against the wall.
"My, what a sulker," Ace added.
Lizzie's face turned red. She was now angry. "You know, you don't know what he's had to go through. He's had to put up with trainers just like you ever since he started. With Team Rocket, tournaments, and the Pokémon League. I'd like to know what give you guys pleasure to pick on him." Lizzie then turned around to join Matt in the corner.
"Don't act all innocent! It's not like he's never done anything wrong!"
Images of the Black Rocket boss' death, Nibolto, replayed in Matt's head yet again.
"Perhaps not, but he at least admits his mistakes, and tries to overcome them. That's more than I can say about MOST trainers." She then joined Matt in the corner.
Ace shrugged at Nurse Joy. "Just a bunch of strange trainers if ya ask me. The less we have of 'em the better." He then walked towards the other trainers and started talking with them.
* * *
Matt rested still in his bed at the Pokémon Center. Even with the police on the scene, the protestors were still loud. Even after throwing the pillow over his head, the noise was still unbearable.
"This is fricking ridiculous," stated a muffled Matt.
"You can't sleep either?" Lizzie asked.
Matt threw the pillow off his head and looked at the clock. "For the love of God, it's frickin' one in the morning and they're still rioting outside!"
"Matt, calm down."
"I'm sorry, I'm just really tired," Matt complained and violently allowed himself to collapse on the bed again. "It makes me just want to pick up my tents and sleeping bags and just go somewhere in the forest and sleep, just like we used to back in Indigo."
Lizzie smiled. "Yeah, that was kind of fun. With you, me and Jordan...."
"You know what? Why don't we do that?"
Lizzie looked worried. "We could be followed and harrassed by those protestors."
Matt looked around. "There's an emergency exit around here somewhere."
"Matt, are you nuts? If you use that, the fire alarm will go off! If the police see us, we could get in a lot of trouble!"
Matt sighed. "Then I guess we're trapped here for tonight."
"The noise will go down, just be a little patient."
"Sorry, Lizzie, I've been patient ever since I hopped into bed, and now it seems like that damn rioting is never going to stop." He picked up his pillow from the floor and placed it back on the mattress. He then lay himself back down and pulled the blankets over himself. "I still don't know what happened...."
* * *
"Sorry, I'm late. I was forced to ride my bike here. If I took my van, those idiots would have turned it over," Simon said, out of breath. He then looked around. "Hans still hasn't arrived?"
"It's his wife," Paul replied. "She's gotten sick again."
"Again? Well, that sucks," Simon pulled off his jacket and hung it up on the hanger. He also removed his bike helmet and placed it on top of the same peg. "So what's up? Any updates?
"Well," Jordan began, picking up a news report, "about a thousand protestors were arrested for disturbing the peace around Celadon city, about two hundred were arrested everywhere else. Seven hundred were arrested here. Geez, where are all these protestors coming from?"
"What about the other leagues?" Paul asked.
"Let's see," Jordan replied, rummaging through the other reports. "Orange League has been relatively calm, Johto's pretty bad, but Fenyuu is the worst."
"Fenyuu? That exclusive place?" Simon replied, confused. "How'd those protestors get in there? And how did so many of them get in there?"
"That's a good question," Jordan added. "I never even thought of that; how DID they get in?"
"They must have connections with some people pretending to be trainers, or..." Paul trailed off.
"Yo, what's up?" Simon asked.
"What about that Black Rocket organization? I heard it took a pretty nasty fall when all of their secret organizations were completely destroyed."
"What I find more interesting is that the leader of Black Rocket was brutally murdered, so I don't think they could be involved," Simon added.
"Not all of the secret headquarters must have been destroyed then," Jordan added. "I checked the story which originally lead to this, and there were no news regarding the death of any rock Pokémon."
"Are you sure?" Paul asked.
"I'm certain. I was here all day yesterday checking out each and every article that started this riot, but each of them only stated that it was just a rumour."
"Wow, Black Rocket is a bigger organization than we all contemplated," Simon added. "But how did all of them manage to get into Fenyuu?"
"I'm finding that out now," Jordan replied, typing away on his laptop. "Apparently there is a Black Rocket member who is traveling around as a trainer in Fenyuu. She's currently residing in a Pokémon Center in the Silver Quadrant of the Fenyuu League."
"Which center?"
Jordan continued loading up information. "The area with the three consecutive gyms: Worral, Dheng, and Melee."
"We have to tell the authorities!" Paul exclaimed.
"Just a second, I'm loading up more information," Jordan replied. What he saw made him freeze entirely.
"Yo, Jordan, what is it?" Simon asked.
"Jordan?" Paul took the laptop and turned it towards him. He then proceeded to read: "'Authorities believe that a Black Rocket member entitled 'Miss X' is residing inside the Fenyuu League disguised as a Pokémon trainer. Rumour states that the member was the very same person who finished first in the Indigo League earlier this summer before the information was erased by another Black Rocket member disguising herself as an Elite Four member.'" He then looked over at Jordan.
Simon looked confused. "Was it that girl we were supposed to fight?" He then looked over at Jordan. "Jordan, what's up, why do you look so shocked?"
"Lizzie..." Jordan replied quietly. "Matt is traveling with a Black Rocket member...."
* * *
"Are they still out there?" Matt asked.
Lizzie nodded. "Not as many as before. With any luck, we should be able to leave by this afternoon."
"That's good," replied Matt as suddenly the phone rang. He quickly dashed and sat down on his bed before picking up the receiver. "Hello?"
"Matt? It's Jordan."
"Jordan?! How have you been man; we haven't heard from you in such a long time!"
"You know of the protest going around, right?"
"Are you kidding? We couldn't get any sleep because they were so loud!"
"Well, I've done some research with the Elite Four, and we've found some shocking news. Black Rocket is the one behind all of these protests."
"Black Rocket? That doesn't sound like them at all," Matt added.
"Exactly, they're just trying to throw everybody off, but we've also found some other information that we really feel you must know."
"Oh? What?"
"We've done some tracking, and it seems that a Black Rocket member is staying in the very Pokémon Center you're resting in, Matt."
"What?! Who, who is it?!"
Jordan sighed. "You're not going to like this, Matt, but...--"
"Who?! Tell us already?!"
Lizzie turned her head away from the window. "Matt? What's going on? What's Jordan telling you?" Matt held his hand in front of him as an action to get Lizzie to quiet down.
"Well, my sources are only rumours, but they think that...it's Lizzie."
Matt's jaw dropped; he really couldn't believe it. Lizzie? That's impossible, he thought. I knew all along she was with Black Rocket but...oh no.
"Matt? Matt? I know this must be hard for you to accept, but why would I ever lie to you?"
Matt continued to remain silent.
"Matt? What's going on?" Lizzie asked.
"Matt? Matt! Come on, say something!"
Matt slowly placed the receiver back down, and stood still, completely quiet. Lizzie ran from the window, sat next to Matt and stared at him straight in his eyes.
"Matt? What did Jordan have to say? What's wrong?"
Matt continued to it still. he then raised his head and looked eye-to-eye with Lizzie. He took a deep breath. "We thought we had gotten them, but we were wrong. Another organization that Arrmun missed is still hiding around."
"I don't get it, what's going on?"
Matt sighed, and then took another deep breath. "It's Black Rocket...they're trying to frame you."
TO BE CONTINUED.
Chapter 42: Black Rocket's Revenge
It was a quiet day in Viridian City. The sky was clear, the sun was blazing hot, yet there was no wind. The birds were silent; even Pokémon could not be heard dashing in the grassy fields of Route 1.
Jordon, who was once again the head of the Elite Four, had just woken up. Alone, in his house close to both the Indigo League, and Viridian City, this seemed like another typical day. He would get up, eat something, shower, brush teeth, dress, then go down to the Indigo League to mostly check on Trainers' status; who recently began training, who had their license suspended due to misconduct, or trainers who have retired. He would also hold small meetings with Paul, Simon and Hans once a week.
However, today would be different.
He poured himself a cup of coffee when suddenly the phone rang. Since the coffee pot was right near the phone, he simply reached with his right hand and picked up the receiver.
"Hello?"
"Jordan! Thank God I got hold of you!"
"Hans? What's going on? How come nobody's here today?"
"Something's come up. Didn't you watch the news last night?"
"No; I don't have cable."
"Well, surely you've heard about it somewhere. Apparently some protestors are starting up a campaign which forbids the capture and training of Pokémon."
"You mean the M.A.P.C.? I thought the courts ruled against their pleas how long ago was it...five years?" Jordan took a sip of his coffee, then shuddered, as he had forgotten to add in sugar.
"I think they have some more funding. They only started this campaign when some irresponsible rookie trainer lended his Pokémon to his younger sibling. He accidentally threw the Pokémon while in its Pokéball in the river. Eventually the Pokémon inside freaked out, and released itself. However, since it was a rock type, it drowned."
"That's ridiculous; I knew that they shouldn't have bumped down the trainer requirements. I still think that one should be eighteen before getting their first Pokémon."
"As much as I hate it, too, there are a lot of talented Pokémon trainers out there. We're going to have to find a way to stop this protest once and for all."
"Well, come on down and we'll write up some ideas."
"No can do. My wife's very sick today and she needs me to help."
"Sick again?"
"Yeah, she's caught another cold."
"Have you taken her to the doctor yet? This is her third one in the past two months, isn't it?"
"Yeah, I really have to get her to relax. But hey, give me a shout later to see how your ideas are coming. I'm really interested in what you have to offer."
"Okay then, so I guess I'll talk to you later." Jordan placed the receiver back on its hook as he took another sip of his coffee. He once again shuddered. "Ugh, why do I always do that?" He instantly grabbed some sugar packets.
* * *
"Capturing Pokémon to follow human commands for battle is EVIL and CRUEL!"
"Pokémon should not be put under bondage of anybody!"
Those plus various other chantings could be heard with the angry mob who was just outside the locked Pokémon Center. Lizzie and Matt were sitting in the lobby along with many other trainers; all of them were getting annoyed with the noise pollution.
"Joy, have you called the police yet?" Matt yelled, however it didn't seem to be loud enough as he was being drowned out by the mob's yelling.
"Yes! I even called them again!" Joy replied. She then pointed to the back room. "All of you, let's get inside; all this noise can't be good for us!"
Some of the trainers couldn't hear her, but others could hear her perfectly as they all followed Nurse Joy into the back room. She locked the door and turned the lights on.
"I'm sorry it's not very comfortable, but I don't think sitting out there in the lobby's too comfortable either."
"This is better," Lizzie commented.
Some of the other trainers were chatting away in the corner, while Matt and Lizzie stood around, mostly in thought.
"Do these protestors actually think they can pull this off?" Ace asked.
Matt turned around; he never noticed Ace in the center before, but didn't ask him why he was there.
"Well, I still don't know what happened," Matt added.
"Oh, you want insight from some stuck-up rich snob, do you?" Ace sneered.
Matt sighed. "Look, I'm sorry, but what you said frustrated me and...well, I don't have any excuse saying what I did."
"You really hurt me; I'm not rich at all. As a matter of fact, my brother and I were going into poverty right after I got my trainer's license. Fighting Pokémon trainers is the only thing that keeps me and my brother fed."
"Well, you certainly didn't show that with your attitude towards me. Dressing up so preppy and acting like you're the greatest trainer who ever lived," Matt added.
"When did I ever say that?"
"You didn't have to say it. I don't care what kind of life you had or the life you're living now, but the way you treated me earlier is no excuse."
"Look man, I swear I didn't know your friend was shot," Ace responded.
"Well, that makes us even--" Matt quickly looked at Lizzie; "how does he know what happened?"
Lizzie sighed quietly. "I told him. We met right after I left one of the gyms earlier."
"Why? It's none of his business what happened."
"You're right, but she volunteered to tell me. You know, just because you think I'm some snob, doesn't mean I really am. I only act this way so I don't get pushed around by young, confident trainers. However, I don't know why you have to act the way you do."
Suddenly, memories of Matt commanding Onix replayed in his head. Lizzie getting shot, Onix crushing the Black Rocket boss, the sound of his heart beating. They all replayed in his head at the same time.
Matt was speechless; he couldn't say anything.
"Well? Why have you gotten so quiet all of a sudden?"
"Go away," Matt responded, walking towards the corner of the room, he crossed his arms, and leaned against the wall.
"My, what a sulker," Ace added.
Lizzie's face turned red. She was now angry. "You know, you don't know what he's had to go through. He's had to put up with trainers just like you ever since he started. With Team Rocket, tournaments, and the Pokémon League. I'd like to know what give you guys pleasure to pick on him." Lizzie then turned around to join Matt in the corner.
"Don't act all innocent! It's not like he's never done anything wrong!"
Images of the Black Rocket boss' death, Nibolto, replayed in Matt's head yet again.
"Perhaps not, but he at least admits his mistakes, and tries to overcome them. That's more than I can say about MOST trainers." She then joined Matt in the corner.
Ace shrugged at Nurse Joy. "Just a bunch of strange trainers if ya ask me. The less we have of 'em the better." He then walked towards the other trainers and started talking with them.
* * *
Matt rested still in his bed at the Pokémon Center. Even with the police on the scene, the protestors were still loud. Even after throwing the pillow over his head, the noise was still unbearable.
"This is fricking ridiculous," stated a muffled Matt.
"You can't sleep either?" Lizzie asked.
Matt threw the pillow off his head and looked at the clock. "For the love of God, it's frickin' one in the morning and they're still rioting outside!"
"Matt, calm down."
"I'm sorry, I'm just really tired," Matt complained and violently allowed himself to collapse on the bed again. "It makes me just want to pick up my tents and sleeping bags and just go somewhere in the forest and sleep, just like we used to back in Indigo."
Lizzie smiled. "Yeah, that was kind of fun. With you, me and Jordan...."
"You know what? Why don't we do that?"
Lizzie looked worried. "We could be followed and harrassed by those protestors."
Matt looked around. "There's an emergency exit around here somewhere."
"Matt, are you nuts? If you use that, the fire alarm will go off! If the police see us, we could get in a lot of trouble!"
Matt sighed. "Then I guess we're trapped here for tonight."
"The noise will go down, just be a little patient."
"Sorry, Lizzie, I've been patient ever since I hopped into bed, and now it seems like that damn rioting is never going to stop." He picked up his pillow from the floor and placed it back on the mattress. He then lay himself back down and pulled the blankets over himself. "I still don't know what happened...."
* * *
"Sorry, I'm late. I was forced to ride my bike here. If I took my van, those idiots would have turned it over," Simon said, out of breath. He then looked around. "Hans still hasn't arrived?"
"It's his wife," Paul replied. "She's gotten sick again."
"Again? Well, that sucks," Simon pulled off his jacket and hung it up on the hanger. He also removed his bike helmet and placed it on top of the same peg. "So what's up? Any updates?
"Well," Jordan began, picking up a news report, "about a thousand protestors were arrested for disturbing the peace around Celadon city, about two hundred were arrested everywhere else. Seven hundred were arrested here. Geez, where are all these protestors coming from?"
"What about the other leagues?" Paul asked.
"Let's see," Jordan replied, rummaging through the other reports. "Orange League has been relatively calm, Johto's pretty bad, but Fenyuu is the worst."
"Fenyuu? That exclusive place?" Simon replied, confused. "How'd those protestors get in there? And how did so many of them get in there?"
"That's a good question," Jordan added. "I never even thought of that; how DID they get in?"
"They must have connections with some people pretending to be trainers, or..." Paul trailed off.
"Yo, what's up?" Simon asked.
"What about that Black Rocket organization? I heard it took a pretty nasty fall when all of their secret organizations were completely destroyed."
"What I find more interesting is that the leader of Black Rocket was brutally murdered, so I don't think they could be involved," Simon added.
"Not all of the secret headquarters must have been destroyed then," Jordan added. "I checked the story which originally lead to this, and there were no news regarding the death of any rock Pokémon."
"Are you sure?" Paul asked.
"I'm certain. I was here all day yesterday checking out each and every article that started this riot, but each of them only stated that it was just a rumour."
"Wow, Black Rocket is a bigger organization than we all contemplated," Simon added. "But how did all of them manage to get into Fenyuu?"
"I'm finding that out now," Jordan replied, typing away on his laptop. "Apparently there is a Black Rocket member who is traveling around as a trainer in Fenyuu. She's currently residing in a Pokémon Center in the Silver Quadrant of the Fenyuu League."
"Which center?"
Jordan continued loading up information. "The area with the three consecutive gyms: Worral, Dheng, and Melee."
"We have to tell the authorities!" Paul exclaimed.
"Just a second, I'm loading up more information," Jordan replied. What he saw made him freeze entirely.
"Yo, Jordan, what is it?" Simon asked.
"Jordan?" Paul took the laptop and turned it towards him. He then proceeded to read: "'Authorities believe that a Black Rocket member entitled 'Miss X' is residing inside the Fenyuu League disguised as a Pokémon trainer. Rumour states that the member was the very same person who finished first in the Indigo League earlier this summer before the information was erased by another Black Rocket member disguising herself as an Elite Four member.'" He then looked over at Jordan.
Simon looked confused. "Was it that girl we were supposed to fight?" He then looked over at Jordan. "Jordan, what's up, why do you look so shocked?"
"Lizzie..." Jordan replied quietly. "Matt is traveling with a Black Rocket member...."
* * *
"Are they still out there?" Matt asked.
Lizzie nodded. "Not as many as before. With any luck, we should be able to leave by this afternoon."
"That's good," replied Matt as suddenly the phone rang. He quickly dashed and sat down on his bed before picking up the receiver. "Hello?"
"Matt? It's Jordan."
"Jordan?! How have you been man; we haven't heard from you in such a long time!"
"You know of the protest going around, right?"
"Are you kidding? We couldn't get any sleep because they were so loud!"
"Well, I've done some research with the Elite Four, and we've found some shocking news. Black Rocket is the one behind all of these protests."
"Black Rocket? That doesn't sound like them at all," Matt added.
"Exactly, they're just trying to throw everybody off, but we've also found some other information that we really feel you must know."
"Oh? What?"
"We've done some tracking, and it seems that a Black Rocket member is staying in the very Pokémon Center you're resting in, Matt."
"What?! Who, who is it?!"
Jordan sighed. "You're not going to like this, Matt, but...--"
"Who?! Tell us already?!"
Lizzie turned her head away from the window. "Matt? What's going on? What's Jordan telling you?" Matt held his hand in front of him as an action to get Lizzie to quiet down.
"Well, my sources are only rumours, but they think that...it's Lizzie."
Matt's jaw dropped; he really couldn't believe it. Lizzie? That's impossible, he thought. I knew all along she was with Black Rocket but...oh no.
"Matt? Matt? I know this must be hard for you to accept, but why would I ever lie to you?"
Matt continued to remain silent.
"Matt? What's going on?" Lizzie asked.
"Matt? Matt! Come on, say something!"
Matt slowly placed the receiver back down, and stood still, completely quiet. Lizzie ran from the window, sat next to Matt and stared at him straight in his eyes.
"Matt? What did Jordan have to say? What's wrong?"
Matt continued to it still. he then raised his head and looked eye-to-eye with Lizzie. He took a deep breath. "We thought we had gotten them, but we were wrong. Another organization that Arrmun missed is still hiding around."
"I don't get it, what's going on?"
Matt sighed, and then took another deep breath. "It's Black Rocket...they're trying to frame you."
TO BE CONTINUED.
