ALTERNATE REALITY STORY 1 - WHAT LEGENDS ARE MADE OF
SAGA 1: THE LEGEND BEGINS
© Copyright 2000 by Flareon
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Pokémon. I wish I did, but I do not. I just write these fanfiction.
^These things^ - Means thought or psychic communication.
'Apostrophes' - Means Pokémon language deciphered into human language.
[Brackets] - Means author notes.
TheseStrangeThings - Means change of scene.
Narrator: "Last time, Ash met up with AJ, the Sandslash Trainer. Ash battled the hard-core trainer and won in a surprising upset. Now, Ash is headed to Vermilion City, through fog, it seems..."
Misty: "Episode 9: Proving our worth!"
Ash, Pikachu, Brock, and Misty were stopping for a break. They had been traveling for a full day in a thick fog. It was quite depressing, as they couldn't see where they were going and they had walk their bikes along, they didn't want to bike fast and run into stuff.
Brock, stopping: "Hey, I've got something to perk us (well, me) right up!"
Misty, perking at an idea: "What is it, Brock?"
Brock, sniffing a large can: "Ahhh, 100% deep-roasted Cerulean Coffee. You guys are too young for this, but its really quite good. (Showing them a can of something) Instead, how 'bout some prune juice?"
Ash: "Ughhh. I think I'll pass."
Misty: "How 'bout some herbal tea?"
Ash, judging the idea: "That might be good."
Brock: "Good idea! I brought my official Pokémon tea set!"
Ash, a bit incredulous: "Don't you think that will break pretty soon? You carry it around in your backpack."
Brock, ignoring Ash and scrounging through supplies: "The key to good tea and good coffee is good water. And I just happen to have a generous supply of sparkling, delicious, mouth-watering, Mt. Moon Spring Water! (In french accent) And fo ze specal snack I have fo yu some French crepes."
Misty, clapping her hands together: "Ohhh, I love French things! They're so romantic!"
She daydreamed of France.
Ash, waving a hand in front of her face: "Misty, snap out of it!"
Misty, snapping out of it: "Stop it! You're ruining my romantic daydreams!"
Brock, chuckling: "And I thought Ash was your romantic daydreams!"
Ash and Misty gave Brock a look that would melt iron. But not quite Brock. [Brock-rock? Get it? Fine, you don't have to throw things at me!]
Brock, hastily: "Um, by the way, I can't cook crepes, and I can't boil water, IF I DON'T HAVE A FIRE! One of you is going to have to go into the forest and find some firewood."
Ash, nodding: "I'll do it. C'mon, Pikachu."
Pikachu: "Pika." 'Okay.'
Ash searched in the forest for firewood. After half an hour, he got desperate.
Ash, cupping his hands to make his voice carry farther [he's cracked up!]: "Heeere firewood! Come out, come out wherever you are! (Looking at his hands disgustedly) I'm calling for firewood! Hmph. I can't see any firewood here, Pikachu, the fog won't let me."
Pikachu, pointing: "Pika pi, pikachu!" 'Someone's there!"
Up ahead was a yellow light.
Ash, brightening: "Hey! Looks like a fire! Maybe they have firewood we could buy..."
******
Up ahead, a boy on a treadmill was running while another boy asked him questions and other boys were gathered around.
Question boy: "Okay, what's the name of this one?"
He held up a picture of a Pidgey standing on the ground.
Running boy: "Is it a Zubat?"
Other boy: "Listen, just because its foggy out here, doesn't mean your brain has to be in a fog."
Running boy, gritting his teeth: "Its a Pidgey."
Question boy: "Nice guess, you just got lucky."
Other boy: "Okay, now tell us what its special attack is."
Running boy: "Pidgey's attack is Gust! At level nine, Sand-Attack, at level twelve, Qui-"
Question boy: "Everyone knows that. Now could you just tell us at what level Pidgey evolves, and what the name of Pidgey's advanced stage is?"
Running boy, gritting his teeth more: "Uuuumm..."
A voice: "Pidgey evolves at level 18. Its evolved form is Pidgeotto. When evolving, it normally grows from about 1 foot and 4 pounds to about 3 feet 7 inches and weighs 66 pounds. Then, at level 21, it learns Whirlwind. At level 31, it learns Wing Attack. Then, if its lucky, it will evolve at level 36 into Pidgeot, the fastest flying Pokémon recorded. It grows to about 4 foot 11 inches and weighs about 87 pounds. With its new wing span, it can fly to up to 3.2 kilometers into the air without trouble and wing up to speeds of Mach 2. At level 40, it will learn Agility, making it faster, and at level 49, it will learn Mirror Move, its final learned-without-special-training attack. Of course, this is if its Trainer is average, and hasn't taught it any special techniques. Other techniques that can be taught to Pidgey, Pidgeot and Pidgeotto include: Mimic, Razor Wind, Swords Dance, Toxic, Take Down, Double-Edge, Fly, and others."
Boys, as one: "Who is that???"
Ash stepped into candlelight.
Ash: "I'm Ash Ketchum. What's going on here?"
Question boy, licking his lips nervously: "Um, nothing is going on here. Sir."
Ash, puzzled: "Why do you call me 'sir'?"
Other boy, licking his lips: "Only the advanced class of this school knows that by memory. We have to call them 'sir'."
Ash: "I'm not of this school. Why are you pestering this poor guy?"
Other boy: "Well, sir, the standards in this school must be kept, and we like helping our fellow students reach those standards by questioning them from time to time.
Ash, angry: "If this school is turning out snobs like you guys, the standards there must be pretty low."
Misty, appearing from nowhere out of the fog: "That's right! You tell them, Ash!"
Ash: "Please, Misty, stay out of this. I can handle it."
Misty, sighing: "You're right Ash. There's no reason for two of us to fight. I'll let you take on all five of them by yourself, if you really want to."
The students looked at Ash and thought of what he had said earlier. They looked sort of scared.
Misty: "I'll be waiting on the sidelines, cheering you on, and ready to drag their carcasses away at the end."
Other boy: "We don't fight. (Looking scared) Fighting's for cave men."
They start walk off, quite quickly. As they are walking, another boy remarks.
Question boy: "And if we wasted our time having a fight with a Neanderthal like you, it would just make Pokémon Tech look really bad."
Other boy: "See you back at the Tech, Joe."
Joe, calling after them: "Okay!"
Misty: "Hey, maybe you cowards are just afraid to fight someone like Ash!"
Question boy, acting brave: "The only thing we're be afraid of is how easily we would beat a little punk like him."
Ash: "Who do those guys think they are?"
He grabbed some firewood he just found by the treadmill and handed it to Brock, who had somehow appeared behind them, mixing a pot. He started boiling the water.
Brock, stirring crepe [is this how you spell this word? Is there some punctuation?] mix: "So. Those are the infamous Tech students."
Ash: "Tech students?"
Misty: "Pokémon Tech. I think its short for Pokémon Technical, a school for Pokémon Trainers. Now, I know I had a flier here somewhere. (Reaching in pocket) Yeah! Here it is!"
Ash, surprised: "A Pokémon school in the middle of nowhere?"
Brock, taking the flier: "Hmm. Let's see what is says here about this place. 'Pokemon Technical Institute, a high-class
boarding school for serious Pokémon Trainer preparation. All students guaranteed to enter Pokémon League upon graduation. Pokémon Technical is the educational facility for exceptional students who want to become Pokémon Trainers in a very short time. Without having to travel on difficult badge-collecting journeys.' Oh, so that's the story."
Ash, puzzled: "But wouldn't getting into the Pokémon League without earning badges be too easy?"
Brock, looking back down to the paper: "There's more. 'Student entrance fees and tuition are in keeping with the high standards set by Pokémon Technical.' "
Misty, crossing her arms across her chest [well, breasts]: "You know what that means, don't you, Ash? Its one of the snotty, private schools, where only millionaire's kids can go to."
Ash, angrily: "Torturing kids just because they can't remember as well isn't fair! Where is this place, anyway?"
Joe, pointing right in front of Ash: "Its right over there."
Loud speaker: "Today's special class: Fog-battle techniques is now ended. Tomorrow's lesson will be: Snow competition secrets."
Ash and Misty had sweatdrops because they had been right in front of the school and had talked about it in a derogatory manner. Joe sighed.
Joe, sighing in a defeated manner: "Oh well. I guess tomorrow they'll make me into a snowman again."
Ash, shocked: "They treat you like that all the time?"
Joe, looking forlorn: "My friends are just trying to help me."
Misty, amazed: "You call them friends?!"
Brock, darkly: "With friends like that, who needs enemies?"
Joe, trying to defend his 'friends': "They help me study to learn what level Pidgey evolves, what Pidgeotto evolves to, and how fast Pidgeotto's evolved form can fly. You're right by the way. Pidgeot can fly up to speeds of Mach 2."
Misty, frustratedly pushing a strand of hair into place: "I don't get it. If you know so much about Pidgey, why didn't you answer before?"
Joe, looking down: "Sometimes I make believe I don't know all the answers, because if I do they just make the questions that much harder. But I have to stay here at Pokemon Tech. My parents groomed my whole life for this, and spent most of their money, so if I let them down it would be as if all their work was for nothing. You see that guy over there?"
Joe pointed to a man sitting beneath a tree, reading a book.
Ash, eyes narrowing: "Yeah."
Joe: "He's an upperclassman. But the classes are so hard here, some students are held back for many years. Everyone's too ashamed to go home without getting a diploma. That guy, he's in the Beginner's class with me."
Brock, curious: "Beginners?"
Joe, turning to Brock and nodding: "Beginners have the same qualifications as someone with two Badges. The Intermediate class have the qualifications of four, and the Advanced have the same as six. Once you graduate, you can enter the Pokémon League without collecting Badges. That guy's a Beginner. But because he's so much older than anyone in the class, the kids don't bother to help him like they help me."
Misty, disgusted: "And what do the teachers say about that kind of help?"
Joe, in a confidential whisper: "They don't even know about it. Or if they do, they pretend not to."
Ash, clenching a fist and gritting his teeth: "Well, I for one think this is a violation of student's rights that should be stopped immediately, if not sooner! (Proclaiming to the world) I want to meet the student in charge of this system and see that it stops!"
Joe, pulling out a photograph: "Here's a picture."
Misty, looking at the picture and blanching: "It's a...girl?"
[What's wrong with girls?? Strange, you don't expect her on the show to be sexist about her own gender...or do I just totally not know what I'm talking about?]
Ash, blushing a little: "Oh, yeah. You can be sure about that."
Brock, blushing hard: "She can violate my rights any time."
Misty, really, really not blushing [though her eyes were turning red watching the other guys blushing...Brock she could understand, but Ash?? J): "Hey! If she's making your life so miserable, why the heck are you carrying her picture around?!"
Joe, with impeccable logic: "I hate the way she treats us, but I like the way she looks."
Misty, growling: "We're going to go and teach her a lesson, aren't we, Ash?! (Turning at no response) Ash?"
She turned to Ash and saw Brock and himself still blushing and staring at the picture.
Misty, pissed off [for good reason]: "HEY! WHILE YOU TWO ARE DROOLING OVER HER PICTURE, I'M GONNA FIND THAT LITTLE WITCH AND STRAIGHTEN HER OUT! (Marching off) Ooh that student, what's so great about her?!..."
Ash, shaking his head and looking up after her: "Hey, Misty, you're right! Wait, we're.. (looking at Brock who was still looking at the picture, as if mesmerized)..okay, I'm, coming too!"
Ash caught up with Misty and they walked to the building, followed by Joe. After a few seconds, Brock remembered who he was and followed along hastily, catching up with Joe then Ash and Misty.
******
Meowth was looking at the group and then at the school.
Jesse, slowly: "That place brings back memories, James."
James, in a mournful tone: "It sure does, Jess. And all of them are awful."
Meowth, putting away his binoculars: "Tell me your tale of failure again."
Jesse, head drooped: "We studied for the big test..."
James, also down: "...So sure we would beat all the rest."
Meowth: "And here's the part I like the best."
Jesse: "We frolicked that night, for our future seemed bright."
James: "But things weren't right."
Jesse and James, clutching each other and wailing: "WE GOT THE LOWEST SCORE IN THE HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL!"
Meowth: "You should look on the bright side."
Jesse and James, looking up at him: "What's the bright side?"
Meowth, in an Indiana Jones outfit: "At least you guys were the top of the bottom."
Jesse, hugging Meowth: "Ooh, you're the top Meowth! What a kind thing to say! You're so cyuute!"
James, simultaneously and hugging Meowth: "Ooh, you're the top Meowth! Such a kind little Pokemon! Cutie!"
Meowth, thinking: ^These two need serious help! Maybe I can warn the boss before its too late....^
******
Joe was leading Ash and Co. through a room full of computer-simulation devices.
Joe: "Jazelle has always practiced here, in the simulation room. She can battle a simulation of any Gym Leader or high-ranking Pokémon League member. I've never see anyone or anything beat her before."
Misty, incredulous: "So you mean you could fight me here?!"
Joe, curious: "What Gym are you from?"
Misty, crossing her arms across her...chest [well, you get the idea! O-O***]: "Cerulean City."
Joe, eyebrows raising in recognition: "Oh, the Water Pokémon Gym! I fight Cerulean City a lot. (Off-handedly) I always win."
Misty, mouth dropping open incredulously: "What?!! You have beaten Cerulean Gym?!"
Joe, a little uncomfortable under her gaze: "Well, yeah. With their predictable Water types, it's pretty easy to win if you have an Electric or Grass type Pokémon handy. Watch. See?"
On the screen, a Voltorb zapped a Starmie and Joe won.
Misty, dubious: "But that's just a simulation! This is real life! I challenge you!"
Ash, hissing: "Misty, we don't want a fight here!"
Misty, glaring back at him: "Quiet Ash! I have my Gym's honor to uphold!"
Joe, smirking: "I accept."
They went to a battle set-up.
Misty, throwing a Pokéball: "Go Staryu!"
Joe, throwing his own Pokéball: "Go Voltorb!"
Pikachu, psychically to Ash and Misty: He's gonna get whipped.
Ash nodded to Pikachu, and Misty smiled at the little creature's confidence in her.
Misty, pointing at Voltorb: "Staryu! Use Bubblebeam then Spinning Tackle attack!"
Staryu sent out flashing bubbles which exploded upon impact, knocking Voltorb back a little and making it shiver. Staryu launched itself through the air before the bubbles even hit. The Tackle sent Voltorb flying.
Joe, gritting his teeth: "No! Voltorb return!"
A voice, sharply, from behind Joe: "Joe! You've embarrassed the whole school!"
Joe, straightening suddenly, then turning and mumbling apologetically: "I'm sorry, Jazelle."
A girl Misty's age walked out of the shadows.
Misty, eyes narrowing: "So. You're Jazelle."
Jazelle, smiling a way-too-perfect smile: "Yes. I'm the very top Beginner of the most exclusive Pokemon Prep school in the world. Pokemon Tech. Its sad others aren't blessed with my beauty, my talent, my humble attitude. People call me a star, but, I'm just Jazelle!"
The attraction Ash and Brock (might've had) flushed down the toilet.
In a tree, Team Rocket watched with disgust and disbelief.
Jesse, shaking her head slowly: "I think she's even more conceited than we are."
James and Meowth, sticking their tongues out: "That's for sure!"
Jazelle: "I want to continue to help my classmates be the very best they can be. To teach each other, respect each other, and ensure the Pokemon of tomorrow. (Suddenly glaring at Joe sharply) But you're a weakling!"
Joe, as if slapped: "Unhh..."
Jazelle, glaring at him: "You'd better get stronger fast, or before you know it, your fellow students will turn their backs on you, for good! Hmph."
She turned and started walking away from Joe.
Misty, incensed: "Hey! An actual friend wouldn't turn their back on a friend just because he was having a little trouble with his studies! You may look beautiful, but you remind me of the saying where beauty is only skin deep!"
Jazelle, turning to Misty: "Yes, well, jealousy isn't a very charming characteristic, either, now is it."
Misty, bristling: "I'd only be jealous of you if you somehow found an Omanyte lying on the ground while you were polishing your nails!"
Jazelle, laughing 'prettily': "Dear, dear. Don't tell me, you sleep outside with germs and bugs every night, and I bet you like it. That would explain a lot. Let me guess, you wince when you look in a mirror?"
Misty, shouting at her: "Only if I'm looking over your shoulder!!"
Ash, to Brock, looking worried: "I'd better do something!"
Brock, gripping Ash's shoulder with a firm hand: "Not yet, Ash! Wise Pokémon Trainers never get involved in a cat fight."
Ash, turning helplessly back to the quarrel: "But...Misty..."
Pikachu, into Ash's ear: "Pika pika pika pi." 'He's right, Ash."
Jazelle, fingering a Pokéball that appeared in her hand: "Well, how about we settle this in a Pokémon battle?"
Misty, eyes flaring: "Agreed!"
Jazelle, throwing a Pokéball: "Against your Water Pokémon, I'll choose...Graveler, go!"
Brock, startled: "Graveler?! But Graveler's weak against Water types!"
Ash, nudging him in the ribs: "Brock! Pikachu beat Onix, remember!"
[Luckily for Ash, Jazelle didn't hear his comment.]
Misty, tossing her own Pokeball: "Misty calls...Starmie!"
Graveler and Starmie faced each other from across the room.
Misty, sounding sharper than usual: "Starmie! Bubblebeam, now!"
Jazelle: "Graveler! Defense Curl, then Tackle!"
Starmie shot bubbles at Graveler, who had jumped in the air. It curled into a ball and the bubbles exploded but the water just bounced off. Graveler landed next to Starmie, then Tackled Starmie, breaking part of its jewel and sending it out a window to the courtyard.
Misty stood there, shocked.
Misty, shaking a little: "I...can't...believe it."
They went outside. Misty hugged Starmie, apologizing, with tears in her eyes.
Jazelle, smiling, speaking to Joe without looking at him: "So you see, Joe, the power of the Pokémon relates directly to the Trainer. If the Trainer is good, they can calculate the level of Pokémon and know what and how to do the most with each Pokémon's abilities. Here, Gym Leader, we're at a pool. Your Pokémon are good here. You can pick a different Pokémon, if you like."
Ash saw the hurt in Misty's eyes, as she seemed unready to do anything but tend to Starmie. She must have counted on beating the little witch.
Ash, scanning through what Jazelle just said to turn the conversation away from Misty: "Jazelle! You say training is all about levels and Trainers and calculations! That's not what it is about! If that was it, I'd have been in the League years ago!"
Jazelle, in a 'yeah-right' way: "Who are you?"
Ash, putting his hand on his chest: "I am Ash Ketchum. I was one of the two leading aides of Professor Oak, the World's Leading Expert on Pokémon in general. I now have two Badges, but that isn't what matters."
Jazelle, laughing behind her hand: "In other words, you're a Beginner."
Pikachu could hear a boy whisper to Jazelle. He recognized it as the boy who had been asking questions.
Question boy, hissing in her ear: "Jazelle! Be careful! He may be a Beginner Badge-wise, but he knows as much as any Expert!"
Jazelle, waving his concern off: "Don't worry, Tom! I do too. I could take this weakling any day. (To Ash) And how long have you been on your Journey?"
Ash, cautious: "About a month. How long have you been here?"
Jazelle, looking at her nails: "About a year and three months. (Looking at Pikachu and for a way to spite Ash) You've been on your Journey a full month and you haven't even trained your Pikachu to stay inside its Pokéball? Pathetic."
Ash, stung: "Take that back!"
Jazelle, ignoring his demand: "Hmm. With a month of experience, your Pikachu should be at least level 22, but I bet its not there yet. What do you think?"
Ash, gritting his teeth: "For your information, Pikachu is level..."
Ash's eyes looked at Pikachu hard and he mumbled something for about a second.
Ash: "...54."
Jazelle, startled: "But that's impossible! Don't lie! And don't pretend to be able to tell a Pokémon's power level just by looking at it! Here! We'll see! I'll battle your Pikachu and we'll see what level it really is!"
Misty smiled, feeling much better. Ash could calculate levels by looking at Pokémon, but Jazelle had to see it in battle. Everyone there had been surprised when Ash told Jazelle Pikachu's skill level. Not even Misty knew Ash could do that. Most Trainers used their Pokédexs. Seems Ash wanted to battle. He hadn't showed anyone his Pokédex.
Jazelle, throwing a Pokéball: "I choose you, Cubone!"
Ash's pride and caring for Misty told him to spite Jazelle back, but his humanity told him to treat unto others as he would like them to treat unto him. His pride and caring for Misty won, of course.
[This is not saying Ash has a huge ego. He doesn't. Its saying he has pride, which anyone has. Its also saying he really doesn't like Jazelle in any way, shape, or form, now that she had stung Misty's pride and honor so badly. :)]
Ash, laughing: "A Ground type! You really think that can win? Let's see...that Cubone is only 24th level."
Jazelle, nervous now, snapping: "Lucky guess! Go Cubone! Use Bonemerang!"
Cubone threw its bone at Pikachu.
Ash: "Pikachu, Double Team, now!"
Pikachu became twelve Pikachu. The Bonemerang went through what was Pikachu and came back through another. Cubone grabbed its Bone angrily.
Jazelle: "Okay Cubone! Use Bone Club in a sweep hitting every copy!"
Ash, spiting her even more: "Nice strategy! Too bad it won't work! Pikachu, Agility!"
The eight Pikachus zipped around, all over the place. Cubone hit three, but they weren't the one.
Ash: "Pikachu, Mega Kick!"
Jazelle: "Oh no! Cubone, dodge!"
Cubone tried to dodge, but five Pikachus were converging on it, growling. It just covered its head with its bone and curled up. The real Pikachu went extremely fast and kicked the Cubone really, really hard, making it fly into the pool. Cubone floated to the surface, belly up.
Jazelle: "NO! I've lost! Cubone, return!"
Misty looked at Ash. She had a weird sense of deja vu. That was a lot like Gary's battle in Cerulean City. Very strange.
She knew she should have felt angry that Ash had beaten Jazelle and she hadn't, but she felt happy that Ash had beaten Jazelle for her. Brock was angrily thinking his crepes were probably on fire. Jazelle's cronies were amazed their idol had lost.
Jazelle, looking at Pikachu with half surprise, quarter resentment, and quarter admiration: "None of the textbooks ever told of a Pikachu winning entirely by physical skills..."
Joe, looking at Ash with the same admiration Jazelle was showing Pikachu: "That was a once in a lifetime battle!"
Misty, smiling: "Ash is good at those."
Brock: "Yeah! You should have seen when he battled me!"
A voice: "Or us!"
Everybody, turning: "Huh?"
There was Team Rocket.
Jesse: "Allow us to introduce ourselves! May I invite you to prepare for trouble!"
James: "And while you're at it, make it double!"
Jesse: "To protect the world from devastation!"
James: "To unite all people within out nation!"
Jesse: "To denounce the evils of truth and love!"
James, holding his blue rose: "To extend our reach to the stars above!"
Jesse, doing a pose: "Jesse!"
James: "James!"
Jesse: "Team Rocket, blast off at the speed of light!"
James: "Surrender now, or prepare to fight!"
Meowth: "Meowth, that's right!"
James: "Go, Koffing! Smog attack!"
Koffing: "Koffiing!" 'On it!'
Koffing breathed out toxic smoke everywhere, making everyone cough and choke.
Ash, koffing [uh, I mean, coughing], and throwing a Pokéball: "Go! Fearow! Use Whirlwind!"
Jazelle, at the same time: "Go! Venomoth! Use Gust!"
The two attacks blew away the smoke.
Misty, throwing a Pokeball: "Staryu, go! Water Gun attack!"
The Water Gun knocked Koffing out of the picture.
Jazelle, looking disgusted: "I've heard about the two Team Rocket members! They went here and got the lowest final exam score in the history of Pokémon Tech!"
Jesse, leering at Jazelle: "I could take you any day, little miss perfect!"
Jazelle, smiling crookedly: "How about now? Your team, versus our team?"
The boys all threw Pokéballs which landed and Pokémon went charging at Team Rocket.
James, running faster than ever: "But that isn't fair!"
Jesse, running as fast as James: "Shut up and run, James!"
******
Jazelle, looking over the swimming pool to the slowly fading sun: "There is one thing you can't learn in school, and that's a good lesson."
[I love this phrase!]
Joe, coming up from behind her: "Goodbye, Jazelle. I've decided to go back home and start as a Trainer from scratch. I hope we meet in the Pokémon League."
Jazelle, holding out her hand: "Me, too, Joe."
Misty, as Joe shook Jazelle's hand solemnly: "She isn't acting at all like she did."
Brock: "You're right. Ash taught her a lesson. I think he'd make a better teacher than a Pokémon Trainer, and that's saying a lot."
Ash, blushing: "Sure, guys. Hey Brock, I want something to eat!"
Brock, quietly: "Umm, Ash, I don't think you do..."
Ash, turning to face the squinty-eyed one directly: "Why not?"
Brock: "BECAUSE WHILE YOU WERE BEATING THE CRAP OUT OF JAZELLE, MY BATTER CAUGHT FIRE AND MY TEA EVAPORATED!"
Ash, sheepishly and a little nervously: "Oops."
Misty grabbed Ash's hand and started running. Brock looked ready to attack Ash as he ran down the road after them.
Narrator: "Well, things are back to normal for Ash and friends. They are still trying to reach Vermillion City. How long will it take?"
Jesse, James, and Meowth pop in, out of breath.
James, out of breath, looking around: "Okay...think...we've lost them..."
Jesse, clutching her stomach: "Man...that was totally unfair...where are we...anyway?"
Meowth, looking around: "Dunno. Its all black. I've nevah been here before..."
James, paling and backing away: "Oh no! We're here!!"
Jesse, turning to him: "Where?"
James, as if uttering the words was a death omen: "In the author's imagination..."
Suddenly, James was clothed in a clown suit. Then, his hair turned pink on one side and green on the other, and twisted into a bun on his head. His face became covered in mascara.
James, frantically to Jesse and Meowth: "Run! RUN!!"
But it was too late. Meowth suddenly became decked in a Mew outfit with blue fur and a beard, and Jesse's uniform suddenly shifted to one of a fast-food place. Her face turned yellow, and her eyelashes became a foot long.
Flareon, rubbing his mighty chin: "Hmm. This is sooo stupid. End fic."
Next, something's wrong with Ash and only Pikachu knows about it? Is his mind on Pokémon, or love? Or could it be both? And what happens when Ash and Misty fall into a fast-flowing stream and might die at the edge of a huge waterfall? On the next...Pokémon, What Legends Are Made Of! [More like, Pokémon, the Legendary Tale of Love, as I'm thinking of changing the name to.]
Okay, I'm getting confused. First, people tell me they want less of Jesse and James getting beaten and bruised and blasting off {James: "WAY TO GO! WHOO-HOO!!"}, but then other people tell me they want to see Team Rocket destroyed. I'm gonna take a poll. I'll take the majority of opinions of the first five people who review this fic. Though I actually like Team Rocket a lot, I'm open to the opinion of the public.
Also, should I make Gary a regular side-character that appears somehow every two or three episodes? And if so, should I have him keep the cheerleading squad? I mean, I really can't think of chants they could sing, I'm not extremely poetic. To tell the truth, I think Gary's the coolest person in the show, at least now that he's a perfect Trainer and doesn't tease or put down Ash as much. In fact, he's gotten downright mysterious. He's grown, his voice has changed a little, he doesn't have the cheerleaders, etc.
My **** computer doesn't have the certain program or shortcut needed to easily make an html document, so I'm sticking with Notepad. I tried doing one a long time ago, and it didn't work very well.
Oh, by the way, sorry I haven't acknowledged this so far:
THANKYOUOHTHANKYOUOHTHANKYOUOHTHANKYOU!!!
In other words, thank you to those who reviewed!
Over the past week, the reviews I've gotten are about 99% supportive of me! I didn't realize how good it would feel to know that some people liked what I wrote. Hey, does anyone out there know when Ace Sanchez's Pokémon Master fanfic will continue? Its the first fanfiction I ever read, probably one of the very coolest, and I've been waiting for months for the last part to get here.
{:FLAREON:}
SAGA 1: THE LEGEND BEGINS
© Copyright 2000 by Flareon
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Pokémon. I wish I did, but I do not. I just write these fanfiction.
^These things^ - Means thought or psychic communication.
'Apostrophes' - Means Pokémon language deciphered into human language.
[Brackets] - Means author notes.
TheseStrangeThings - Means change of scene.
Narrator: "Last time, Ash met up with AJ, the Sandslash Trainer. Ash battled the hard-core trainer and won in a surprising upset. Now, Ash is headed to Vermilion City, through fog, it seems..."
Misty: "Episode 9: Proving our worth!"
Ash, Pikachu, Brock, and Misty were stopping for a break. They had been traveling for a full day in a thick fog. It was quite depressing, as they couldn't see where they were going and they had walk their bikes along, they didn't want to bike fast and run into stuff.
Brock, stopping: "Hey, I've got something to perk us (well, me) right up!"
Misty, perking at an idea: "What is it, Brock?"
Brock, sniffing a large can: "Ahhh, 100% deep-roasted Cerulean Coffee. You guys are too young for this, but its really quite good. (Showing them a can of something) Instead, how 'bout some prune juice?"
Ash: "Ughhh. I think I'll pass."
Misty: "How 'bout some herbal tea?"
Ash, judging the idea: "That might be good."
Brock: "Good idea! I brought my official Pokémon tea set!"
Ash, a bit incredulous: "Don't you think that will break pretty soon? You carry it around in your backpack."
Brock, ignoring Ash and scrounging through supplies: "The key to good tea and good coffee is good water. And I just happen to have a generous supply of sparkling, delicious, mouth-watering, Mt. Moon Spring Water! (In french accent) And fo ze specal snack I have fo yu some French crepes."
Misty, clapping her hands together: "Ohhh, I love French things! They're so romantic!"
She daydreamed of France.
Ash, waving a hand in front of her face: "Misty, snap out of it!"
Misty, snapping out of it: "Stop it! You're ruining my romantic daydreams!"
Brock, chuckling: "And I thought Ash was your romantic daydreams!"
Ash and Misty gave Brock a look that would melt iron. But not quite Brock. [Brock-rock? Get it? Fine, you don't have to throw things at me!]
Brock, hastily: "Um, by the way, I can't cook crepes, and I can't boil water, IF I DON'T HAVE A FIRE! One of you is going to have to go into the forest and find some firewood."
Ash, nodding: "I'll do it. C'mon, Pikachu."
Pikachu: "Pika." 'Okay.'
Ash searched in the forest for firewood. After half an hour, he got desperate.
Ash, cupping his hands to make his voice carry farther [he's cracked up!]: "Heeere firewood! Come out, come out wherever you are! (Looking at his hands disgustedly) I'm calling for firewood! Hmph. I can't see any firewood here, Pikachu, the fog won't let me."
Pikachu, pointing: "Pika pi, pikachu!" 'Someone's there!"
Up ahead was a yellow light.
Ash, brightening: "Hey! Looks like a fire! Maybe they have firewood we could buy..."
******
Up ahead, a boy on a treadmill was running while another boy asked him questions and other boys were gathered around.
Question boy: "Okay, what's the name of this one?"
He held up a picture of a Pidgey standing on the ground.
Running boy: "Is it a Zubat?"
Other boy: "Listen, just because its foggy out here, doesn't mean your brain has to be in a fog."
Running boy, gritting his teeth: "Its a Pidgey."
Question boy: "Nice guess, you just got lucky."
Other boy: "Okay, now tell us what its special attack is."
Running boy: "Pidgey's attack is Gust! At level nine, Sand-Attack, at level twelve, Qui-"
Question boy: "Everyone knows that. Now could you just tell us at what level Pidgey evolves, and what the name of Pidgey's advanced stage is?"
Running boy, gritting his teeth more: "Uuuumm..."
A voice: "Pidgey evolves at level 18. Its evolved form is Pidgeotto. When evolving, it normally grows from about 1 foot and 4 pounds to about 3 feet 7 inches and weighs 66 pounds. Then, at level 21, it learns Whirlwind. At level 31, it learns Wing Attack. Then, if its lucky, it will evolve at level 36 into Pidgeot, the fastest flying Pokémon recorded. It grows to about 4 foot 11 inches and weighs about 87 pounds. With its new wing span, it can fly to up to 3.2 kilometers into the air without trouble and wing up to speeds of Mach 2. At level 40, it will learn Agility, making it faster, and at level 49, it will learn Mirror Move, its final learned-without-special-training attack. Of course, this is if its Trainer is average, and hasn't taught it any special techniques. Other techniques that can be taught to Pidgey, Pidgeot and Pidgeotto include: Mimic, Razor Wind, Swords Dance, Toxic, Take Down, Double-Edge, Fly, and others."
Boys, as one: "Who is that???"
Ash stepped into candlelight.
Ash: "I'm Ash Ketchum. What's going on here?"
Question boy, licking his lips nervously: "Um, nothing is going on here. Sir."
Ash, puzzled: "Why do you call me 'sir'?"
Other boy, licking his lips: "Only the advanced class of this school knows that by memory. We have to call them 'sir'."
Ash: "I'm not of this school. Why are you pestering this poor guy?"
Other boy: "Well, sir, the standards in this school must be kept, and we like helping our fellow students reach those standards by questioning them from time to time.
Ash, angry: "If this school is turning out snobs like you guys, the standards there must be pretty low."
Misty, appearing from nowhere out of the fog: "That's right! You tell them, Ash!"
Ash: "Please, Misty, stay out of this. I can handle it."
Misty, sighing: "You're right Ash. There's no reason for two of us to fight. I'll let you take on all five of them by yourself, if you really want to."
The students looked at Ash and thought of what he had said earlier. They looked sort of scared.
Misty: "I'll be waiting on the sidelines, cheering you on, and ready to drag their carcasses away at the end."
Other boy: "We don't fight. (Looking scared) Fighting's for cave men."
They start walk off, quite quickly. As they are walking, another boy remarks.
Question boy: "And if we wasted our time having a fight with a Neanderthal like you, it would just make Pokémon Tech look really bad."
Other boy: "See you back at the Tech, Joe."
Joe, calling after them: "Okay!"
Misty: "Hey, maybe you cowards are just afraid to fight someone like Ash!"
Question boy, acting brave: "The only thing we're be afraid of is how easily we would beat a little punk like him."
Ash: "Who do those guys think they are?"
He grabbed some firewood he just found by the treadmill and handed it to Brock, who had somehow appeared behind them, mixing a pot. He started boiling the water.
Brock, stirring crepe [is this how you spell this word? Is there some punctuation?] mix: "So. Those are the infamous Tech students."
Ash: "Tech students?"
Misty: "Pokémon Tech. I think its short for Pokémon Technical, a school for Pokémon Trainers. Now, I know I had a flier here somewhere. (Reaching in pocket) Yeah! Here it is!"
Ash, surprised: "A Pokémon school in the middle of nowhere?"
Brock, taking the flier: "Hmm. Let's see what is says here about this place. 'Pokemon Technical Institute, a high-class
boarding school for serious Pokémon Trainer preparation. All students guaranteed to enter Pokémon League upon graduation. Pokémon Technical is the educational facility for exceptional students who want to become Pokémon Trainers in a very short time. Without having to travel on difficult badge-collecting journeys.' Oh, so that's the story."
Ash, puzzled: "But wouldn't getting into the Pokémon League without earning badges be too easy?"
Brock, looking back down to the paper: "There's more. 'Student entrance fees and tuition are in keeping with the high standards set by Pokémon Technical.' "
Misty, crossing her arms across her chest [well, breasts]: "You know what that means, don't you, Ash? Its one of the snotty, private schools, where only millionaire's kids can go to."
Ash, angrily: "Torturing kids just because they can't remember as well isn't fair! Where is this place, anyway?"
Joe, pointing right in front of Ash: "Its right over there."
Loud speaker: "Today's special class: Fog-battle techniques is now ended. Tomorrow's lesson will be: Snow competition secrets."
Ash and Misty had sweatdrops because they had been right in front of the school and had talked about it in a derogatory manner. Joe sighed.
Joe, sighing in a defeated manner: "Oh well. I guess tomorrow they'll make me into a snowman again."
Ash, shocked: "They treat you like that all the time?"
Joe, looking forlorn: "My friends are just trying to help me."
Misty, amazed: "You call them friends?!"
Brock, darkly: "With friends like that, who needs enemies?"
Joe, trying to defend his 'friends': "They help me study to learn what level Pidgey evolves, what Pidgeotto evolves to, and how fast Pidgeotto's evolved form can fly. You're right by the way. Pidgeot can fly up to speeds of Mach 2."
Misty, frustratedly pushing a strand of hair into place: "I don't get it. If you know so much about Pidgey, why didn't you answer before?"
Joe, looking down: "Sometimes I make believe I don't know all the answers, because if I do they just make the questions that much harder. But I have to stay here at Pokemon Tech. My parents groomed my whole life for this, and spent most of their money, so if I let them down it would be as if all their work was for nothing. You see that guy over there?"
Joe pointed to a man sitting beneath a tree, reading a book.
Ash, eyes narrowing: "Yeah."
Joe: "He's an upperclassman. But the classes are so hard here, some students are held back for many years. Everyone's too ashamed to go home without getting a diploma. That guy, he's in the Beginner's class with me."
Brock, curious: "Beginners?"
Joe, turning to Brock and nodding: "Beginners have the same qualifications as someone with two Badges. The Intermediate class have the qualifications of four, and the Advanced have the same as six. Once you graduate, you can enter the Pokémon League without collecting Badges. That guy's a Beginner. But because he's so much older than anyone in the class, the kids don't bother to help him like they help me."
Misty, disgusted: "And what do the teachers say about that kind of help?"
Joe, in a confidential whisper: "They don't even know about it. Or if they do, they pretend not to."
Ash, clenching a fist and gritting his teeth: "Well, I for one think this is a violation of student's rights that should be stopped immediately, if not sooner! (Proclaiming to the world) I want to meet the student in charge of this system and see that it stops!"
Joe, pulling out a photograph: "Here's a picture."
Misty, looking at the picture and blanching: "It's a...girl?"
[What's wrong with girls?? Strange, you don't expect her on the show to be sexist about her own gender...or do I just totally not know what I'm talking about?]
Ash, blushing a little: "Oh, yeah. You can be sure about that."
Brock, blushing hard: "She can violate my rights any time."
Misty, really, really not blushing [though her eyes were turning red watching the other guys blushing...Brock she could understand, but Ash?? J): "Hey! If she's making your life so miserable, why the heck are you carrying her picture around?!"
Joe, with impeccable logic: "I hate the way she treats us, but I like the way she looks."
Misty, growling: "We're going to go and teach her a lesson, aren't we, Ash?! (Turning at no response) Ash?"
She turned to Ash and saw Brock and himself still blushing and staring at the picture.
Misty, pissed off [for good reason]: "HEY! WHILE YOU TWO ARE DROOLING OVER HER PICTURE, I'M GONNA FIND THAT LITTLE WITCH AND STRAIGHTEN HER OUT! (Marching off) Ooh that student, what's so great about her?!..."
Ash, shaking his head and looking up after her: "Hey, Misty, you're right! Wait, we're.. (looking at Brock who was still looking at the picture, as if mesmerized)..okay, I'm, coming too!"
Ash caught up with Misty and they walked to the building, followed by Joe. After a few seconds, Brock remembered who he was and followed along hastily, catching up with Joe then Ash and Misty.
******
Meowth was looking at the group and then at the school.
Jesse, slowly: "That place brings back memories, James."
James, in a mournful tone: "It sure does, Jess. And all of them are awful."
Meowth, putting away his binoculars: "Tell me your tale of failure again."
Jesse, head drooped: "We studied for the big test..."
James, also down: "...So sure we would beat all the rest."
Meowth: "And here's the part I like the best."
Jesse: "We frolicked that night, for our future seemed bright."
James: "But things weren't right."
Jesse and James, clutching each other and wailing: "WE GOT THE LOWEST SCORE IN THE HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL!"
Meowth: "You should look on the bright side."
Jesse and James, looking up at him: "What's the bright side?"
Meowth, in an Indiana Jones outfit: "At least you guys were the top of the bottom."
Jesse, hugging Meowth: "Ooh, you're the top Meowth! What a kind thing to say! You're so cyuute!"
James, simultaneously and hugging Meowth: "Ooh, you're the top Meowth! Such a kind little Pokemon! Cutie!"
Meowth, thinking: ^These two need serious help! Maybe I can warn the boss before its too late....^
******
Joe was leading Ash and Co. through a room full of computer-simulation devices.
Joe: "Jazelle has always practiced here, in the simulation room. She can battle a simulation of any Gym Leader or high-ranking Pokémon League member. I've never see anyone or anything beat her before."
Misty, incredulous: "So you mean you could fight me here?!"
Joe, curious: "What Gym are you from?"
Misty, crossing her arms across her...chest [well, you get the idea! O-O***]: "Cerulean City."
Joe, eyebrows raising in recognition: "Oh, the Water Pokémon Gym! I fight Cerulean City a lot. (Off-handedly) I always win."
Misty, mouth dropping open incredulously: "What?!! You have beaten Cerulean Gym?!"
Joe, a little uncomfortable under her gaze: "Well, yeah. With their predictable Water types, it's pretty easy to win if you have an Electric or Grass type Pokémon handy. Watch. See?"
On the screen, a Voltorb zapped a Starmie and Joe won.
Misty, dubious: "But that's just a simulation! This is real life! I challenge you!"
Ash, hissing: "Misty, we don't want a fight here!"
Misty, glaring back at him: "Quiet Ash! I have my Gym's honor to uphold!"
Joe, smirking: "I accept."
They went to a battle set-up.
Misty, throwing a Pokéball: "Go Staryu!"
Joe, throwing his own Pokéball: "Go Voltorb!"
Pikachu, psychically to Ash and Misty: He's gonna get whipped.
Ash nodded to Pikachu, and Misty smiled at the little creature's confidence in her.
Misty, pointing at Voltorb: "Staryu! Use Bubblebeam then Spinning Tackle attack!"
Staryu sent out flashing bubbles which exploded upon impact, knocking Voltorb back a little and making it shiver. Staryu launched itself through the air before the bubbles even hit. The Tackle sent Voltorb flying.
Joe, gritting his teeth: "No! Voltorb return!"
A voice, sharply, from behind Joe: "Joe! You've embarrassed the whole school!"
Joe, straightening suddenly, then turning and mumbling apologetically: "I'm sorry, Jazelle."
A girl Misty's age walked out of the shadows.
Misty, eyes narrowing: "So. You're Jazelle."
Jazelle, smiling a way-too-perfect smile: "Yes. I'm the very top Beginner of the most exclusive Pokemon Prep school in the world. Pokemon Tech. Its sad others aren't blessed with my beauty, my talent, my humble attitude. People call me a star, but, I'm just Jazelle!"
The attraction Ash and Brock (might've had) flushed down the toilet.
In a tree, Team Rocket watched with disgust and disbelief.
Jesse, shaking her head slowly: "I think she's even more conceited than we are."
James and Meowth, sticking their tongues out: "That's for sure!"
Jazelle: "I want to continue to help my classmates be the very best they can be. To teach each other, respect each other, and ensure the Pokemon of tomorrow. (Suddenly glaring at Joe sharply) But you're a weakling!"
Joe, as if slapped: "Unhh..."
Jazelle, glaring at him: "You'd better get stronger fast, or before you know it, your fellow students will turn their backs on you, for good! Hmph."
She turned and started walking away from Joe.
Misty, incensed: "Hey! An actual friend wouldn't turn their back on a friend just because he was having a little trouble with his studies! You may look beautiful, but you remind me of the saying where beauty is only skin deep!"
Jazelle, turning to Misty: "Yes, well, jealousy isn't a very charming characteristic, either, now is it."
Misty, bristling: "I'd only be jealous of you if you somehow found an Omanyte lying on the ground while you were polishing your nails!"
Jazelle, laughing 'prettily': "Dear, dear. Don't tell me, you sleep outside with germs and bugs every night, and I bet you like it. That would explain a lot. Let me guess, you wince when you look in a mirror?"
Misty, shouting at her: "Only if I'm looking over your shoulder!!"
Ash, to Brock, looking worried: "I'd better do something!"
Brock, gripping Ash's shoulder with a firm hand: "Not yet, Ash! Wise Pokémon Trainers never get involved in a cat fight."
Ash, turning helplessly back to the quarrel: "But...Misty..."
Pikachu, into Ash's ear: "Pika pika pika pi." 'He's right, Ash."
Jazelle, fingering a Pokéball that appeared in her hand: "Well, how about we settle this in a Pokémon battle?"
Misty, eyes flaring: "Agreed!"
Jazelle, throwing a Pokéball: "Against your Water Pokémon, I'll choose...Graveler, go!"
Brock, startled: "Graveler?! But Graveler's weak against Water types!"
Ash, nudging him in the ribs: "Brock! Pikachu beat Onix, remember!"
[Luckily for Ash, Jazelle didn't hear his comment.]
Misty, tossing her own Pokeball: "Misty calls...Starmie!"
Graveler and Starmie faced each other from across the room.
Misty, sounding sharper than usual: "Starmie! Bubblebeam, now!"
Jazelle: "Graveler! Defense Curl, then Tackle!"
Starmie shot bubbles at Graveler, who had jumped in the air. It curled into a ball and the bubbles exploded but the water just bounced off. Graveler landed next to Starmie, then Tackled Starmie, breaking part of its jewel and sending it out a window to the courtyard.
Misty stood there, shocked.
Misty, shaking a little: "I...can't...believe it."
They went outside. Misty hugged Starmie, apologizing, with tears in her eyes.
Jazelle, smiling, speaking to Joe without looking at him: "So you see, Joe, the power of the Pokémon relates directly to the Trainer. If the Trainer is good, they can calculate the level of Pokémon and know what and how to do the most with each Pokémon's abilities. Here, Gym Leader, we're at a pool. Your Pokémon are good here. You can pick a different Pokémon, if you like."
Ash saw the hurt in Misty's eyes, as she seemed unready to do anything but tend to Starmie. She must have counted on beating the little witch.
Ash, scanning through what Jazelle just said to turn the conversation away from Misty: "Jazelle! You say training is all about levels and Trainers and calculations! That's not what it is about! If that was it, I'd have been in the League years ago!"
Jazelle, in a 'yeah-right' way: "Who are you?"
Ash, putting his hand on his chest: "I am Ash Ketchum. I was one of the two leading aides of Professor Oak, the World's Leading Expert on Pokémon in general. I now have two Badges, but that isn't what matters."
Jazelle, laughing behind her hand: "In other words, you're a Beginner."
Pikachu could hear a boy whisper to Jazelle. He recognized it as the boy who had been asking questions.
Question boy, hissing in her ear: "Jazelle! Be careful! He may be a Beginner Badge-wise, but he knows as much as any Expert!"
Jazelle, waving his concern off: "Don't worry, Tom! I do too. I could take this weakling any day. (To Ash) And how long have you been on your Journey?"
Ash, cautious: "About a month. How long have you been here?"
Jazelle, looking at her nails: "About a year and three months. (Looking at Pikachu and for a way to spite Ash) You've been on your Journey a full month and you haven't even trained your Pikachu to stay inside its Pokéball? Pathetic."
Ash, stung: "Take that back!"
Jazelle, ignoring his demand: "Hmm. With a month of experience, your Pikachu should be at least level 22, but I bet its not there yet. What do you think?"
Ash, gritting his teeth: "For your information, Pikachu is level..."
Ash's eyes looked at Pikachu hard and he mumbled something for about a second.
Ash: "...54."
Jazelle, startled: "But that's impossible! Don't lie! And don't pretend to be able to tell a Pokémon's power level just by looking at it! Here! We'll see! I'll battle your Pikachu and we'll see what level it really is!"
Misty smiled, feeling much better. Ash could calculate levels by looking at Pokémon, but Jazelle had to see it in battle. Everyone there had been surprised when Ash told Jazelle Pikachu's skill level. Not even Misty knew Ash could do that. Most Trainers used their Pokédexs. Seems Ash wanted to battle. He hadn't showed anyone his Pokédex.
Jazelle, throwing a Pokéball: "I choose you, Cubone!"
Ash's pride and caring for Misty told him to spite Jazelle back, but his humanity told him to treat unto others as he would like them to treat unto him. His pride and caring for Misty won, of course.
[This is not saying Ash has a huge ego. He doesn't. Its saying he has pride, which anyone has. Its also saying he really doesn't like Jazelle in any way, shape, or form, now that she had stung Misty's pride and honor so badly. :)]
Ash, laughing: "A Ground type! You really think that can win? Let's see...that Cubone is only 24th level."
Jazelle, nervous now, snapping: "Lucky guess! Go Cubone! Use Bonemerang!"
Cubone threw its bone at Pikachu.
Ash: "Pikachu, Double Team, now!"
Pikachu became twelve Pikachu. The Bonemerang went through what was Pikachu and came back through another. Cubone grabbed its Bone angrily.
Jazelle: "Okay Cubone! Use Bone Club in a sweep hitting every copy!"
Ash, spiting her even more: "Nice strategy! Too bad it won't work! Pikachu, Agility!"
The eight Pikachus zipped around, all over the place. Cubone hit three, but they weren't the one.
Ash: "Pikachu, Mega Kick!"
Jazelle: "Oh no! Cubone, dodge!"
Cubone tried to dodge, but five Pikachus were converging on it, growling. It just covered its head with its bone and curled up. The real Pikachu went extremely fast and kicked the Cubone really, really hard, making it fly into the pool. Cubone floated to the surface, belly up.
Jazelle: "NO! I've lost! Cubone, return!"
Misty looked at Ash. She had a weird sense of deja vu. That was a lot like Gary's battle in Cerulean City. Very strange.
She knew she should have felt angry that Ash had beaten Jazelle and she hadn't, but she felt happy that Ash had beaten Jazelle for her. Brock was angrily thinking his crepes were probably on fire. Jazelle's cronies were amazed their idol had lost.
Jazelle, looking at Pikachu with half surprise, quarter resentment, and quarter admiration: "None of the textbooks ever told of a Pikachu winning entirely by physical skills..."
Joe, looking at Ash with the same admiration Jazelle was showing Pikachu: "That was a once in a lifetime battle!"
Misty, smiling: "Ash is good at those."
Brock: "Yeah! You should have seen when he battled me!"
A voice: "Or us!"
Everybody, turning: "Huh?"
There was Team Rocket.
Jesse: "Allow us to introduce ourselves! May I invite you to prepare for trouble!"
James: "And while you're at it, make it double!"
Jesse: "To protect the world from devastation!"
James: "To unite all people within out nation!"
Jesse: "To denounce the evils of truth and love!"
James, holding his blue rose: "To extend our reach to the stars above!"
Jesse, doing a pose: "Jesse!"
James: "James!"
Jesse: "Team Rocket, blast off at the speed of light!"
James: "Surrender now, or prepare to fight!"
Meowth: "Meowth, that's right!"
James: "Go, Koffing! Smog attack!"
Koffing: "Koffiing!" 'On it!'
Koffing breathed out toxic smoke everywhere, making everyone cough and choke.
Ash, koffing [uh, I mean, coughing], and throwing a Pokéball: "Go! Fearow! Use Whirlwind!"
Jazelle, at the same time: "Go! Venomoth! Use Gust!"
The two attacks blew away the smoke.
Misty, throwing a Pokeball: "Staryu, go! Water Gun attack!"
The Water Gun knocked Koffing out of the picture.
Jazelle, looking disgusted: "I've heard about the two Team Rocket members! They went here and got the lowest final exam score in the history of Pokémon Tech!"
Jesse, leering at Jazelle: "I could take you any day, little miss perfect!"
Jazelle, smiling crookedly: "How about now? Your team, versus our team?"
The boys all threw Pokéballs which landed and Pokémon went charging at Team Rocket.
James, running faster than ever: "But that isn't fair!"
Jesse, running as fast as James: "Shut up and run, James!"
******
Jazelle, looking over the swimming pool to the slowly fading sun: "There is one thing you can't learn in school, and that's a good lesson."
[I love this phrase!]
Joe, coming up from behind her: "Goodbye, Jazelle. I've decided to go back home and start as a Trainer from scratch. I hope we meet in the Pokémon League."
Jazelle, holding out her hand: "Me, too, Joe."
Misty, as Joe shook Jazelle's hand solemnly: "She isn't acting at all like she did."
Brock: "You're right. Ash taught her a lesson. I think he'd make a better teacher than a Pokémon Trainer, and that's saying a lot."
Ash, blushing: "Sure, guys. Hey Brock, I want something to eat!"
Brock, quietly: "Umm, Ash, I don't think you do..."
Ash, turning to face the squinty-eyed one directly: "Why not?"
Brock: "BECAUSE WHILE YOU WERE BEATING THE CRAP OUT OF JAZELLE, MY BATTER CAUGHT FIRE AND MY TEA EVAPORATED!"
Ash, sheepishly and a little nervously: "Oops."
Misty grabbed Ash's hand and started running. Brock looked ready to attack Ash as he ran down the road after them.
Narrator: "Well, things are back to normal for Ash and friends. They are still trying to reach Vermillion City. How long will it take?"
Jesse, James, and Meowth pop in, out of breath.
James, out of breath, looking around: "Okay...think...we've lost them..."
Jesse, clutching her stomach: "Man...that was totally unfair...where are we...anyway?"
Meowth, looking around: "Dunno. Its all black. I've nevah been here before..."
James, paling and backing away: "Oh no! We're here!!"
Jesse, turning to him: "Where?"
James, as if uttering the words was a death omen: "In the author's imagination..."
Suddenly, James was clothed in a clown suit. Then, his hair turned pink on one side and green on the other, and twisted into a bun on his head. His face became covered in mascara.
James, frantically to Jesse and Meowth: "Run! RUN!!"
But it was too late. Meowth suddenly became decked in a Mew outfit with blue fur and a beard, and Jesse's uniform suddenly shifted to one of a fast-food place. Her face turned yellow, and her eyelashes became a foot long.
Flareon, rubbing his mighty chin: "Hmm. This is sooo stupid. End fic."
Next, something's wrong with Ash and only Pikachu knows about it? Is his mind on Pokémon, or love? Or could it be both? And what happens when Ash and Misty fall into a fast-flowing stream and might die at the edge of a huge waterfall? On the next...Pokémon, What Legends Are Made Of! [More like, Pokémon, the Legendary Tale of Love, as I'm thinking of changing the name to.]
Okay, I'm getting confused. First, people tell me they want less of Jesse and James getting beaten and bruised and blasting off {James: "WAY TO GO! WHOO-HOO!!"}, but then other people tell me they want to see Team Rocket destroyed. I'm gonna take a poll. I'll take the majority of opinions of the first five people who review this fic. Though I actually like Team Rocket a lot, I'm open to the opinion of the public.
Also, should I make Gary a regular side-character that appears somehow every two or three episodes? And if so, should I have him keep the cheerleading squad? I mean, I really can't think of chants they could sing, I'm not extremely poetic. To tell the truth, I think Gary's the coolest person in the show, at least now that he's a perfect Trainer and doesn't tease or put down Ash as much. In fact, he's gotten downright mysterious. He's grown, his voice has changed a little, he doesn't have the cheerleaders, etc.
My **** computer doesn't have the certain program or shortcut needed to easily make an html document, so I'm sticking with Notepad. I tried doing one a long time ago, and it didn't work very well.
Oh, by the way, sorry I haven't acknowledged this so far:
THANKYOUOHTHANKYOUOHTHANKYOUOHTHANKYOU!!!
In other words, thank you to those who reviewed!
Over the past week, the reviews I've gotten are about 99% supportive of me! I didn't realize how good it would feel to know that some people liked what I wrote. Hey, does anyone out there know when Ace Sanchez's Pokémon Master fanfic will continue? Its the first fanfiction I ever read, probably one of the very coolest, and I've been waiting for months for the last part to get here.
{:FLAREON:}