Chapter 12
Mossdeep feel victim to a foul morning, with the sky smeared with dark cloud, heavy rain visible from the coast far out at sea. The wind remained calm, the many palm trees dotted around the island playfully swinging in the breeze, Setijin and Lucia emerging from a small, log cabin with the words 'Mossdeep Villa' emblazoned across a sign hung above the door.
"So that's basically it...are you up for the challenge?" Lucia asked. Setijin pondered, before eagerly agreeing.
"I'm hardly going to turn down an opportunity like this!" he replied emphatically.
"Great! We'll prepare in the pokémon center, stock up on supplies in the market, then go and get those gym badges!" The two wandered off into town as the cloud thickened and droplets of rain started to fall, steadily growing more frequent.
Winona and Arc sat on the ends of their beds in the villa, the walls formed out of chunky, deep brown logs, much like the floor, made with smaller thinner logs. The beds were both double, dressed with white sheets and duvets with intricately designed patterns, weaving into flowers and all other sorts of clever shapes. The single large window overlooked the ocean, it sitting slightly ajar, the gentle wafts of wind brushing the curtains causing them to shiver.
"Well, by the sounds of things over in Johto, there have been a few reports of disturbances regarding team rocket. Jasmine, the leader of Olivine Cities Gym managed to subdue her assailant, and, the interesting thing is, that he apparently left his loosing pokémon on the scene; a Quilava, which according to Jasmine seemed to 'un-evolve' in front of her," Arc explained. Winona leant forward as the information built up.
"That would be Setijin's pokémon!" she exclaimed.
"By the sounds of things, yes. She also talked about the rocket mentioning hints of a legendary pokémon at their disposal..."
"If that's true, I'm guessing that will be a problem..."
"A big one at that! We still have no idea what it could be, if the claims are true, but with this, Johto's league and authorities seem to be at full alertness. A tiny irregularity in even the most remote areas will have their Elites and champion on the scene within hours."
"Incredible," Winona gawped. Arc nodded.
"Although the chances of this information being correct is very slim; something like this probably wouldn't be blurted out like that if it was true, but they aren't taking any chances. While you and the others are on the way to Johto, I'll be back here organizing a similar system, to make sure Hoenn stays as secure as possible."
"This seems to be getting quite serious!" Winona responded. "Who would have thought something such as one thief running around stealing trainers pokémon could have turned out to be part of a world-wide conspiracy involving none other than team rocket!"
"It is getting quite large as well. At the rate all this information has been gathered, and the speed at which these people seem to be able to travel around through the regions, its getting quite worrying when it comes to predicting how long they will need before their plans are unleashed..."
"Well, as long as all the leagues are sticking together, then everything should be ok...right?"
"That would be the other concerning bit of information. Although Johto and Kanto share the same league building and rules, it seems that Kanto's representatives and league appear to be either ignoring or refusing to aid us in this plight. It's too early to speculate why, but the worst-case scenario is that Team Rocket has already managed to somehow take control from the inside. If that is the case, then it will prove very tricky to get anywhere past Johto, but it may very well be where the rockets HQ is, meaning that getting to them will be a lot more precise rather than a hit or miss campaign."
"I suppose that will be our first point of call in Johto then. Find out as much on Kanto's stance and Team Rockets history as possible before making our way into Kanto," Winona confirmed.
"Exactly," Arc continued, "but there is one more variable in their location. There is a new area, which has just received a minor league status, not too far off of the north coasts of Johto and Kanto. That may very well have something to do with the rockets as well...we would do well to explore there too."
"Anyway, lets not jump too far ahead of ourselves, "Winona said, calming the pace of the conversation, "as of now, lets just prepare ourselves here, and Lucia and I will finish up here while you and Setijin head over to Ever Grande and confirm the rest there. Then we can make a proper plan once we reach Olivine City. Ok?"
"Sure," Arc agreed. Both sat in thought temporarily before Arc stood up and left the room, indicating to Winona that he was off to the market. Winona waved goodbye and collapsed back on her bed.
Setijin and Lucia stood side by side just inside Mossdeep's pokémon gym. The scanned the small gym, gazing at the psychic trainers dotted around honing their powers, floating objects, bending cutlery and battling their pokémon. At the end of the gym, up on a slightly elevated platform stood the leaders, two small girls in navy blue kimonos, both staring straight ahead; Liza and Tate. Setijin and Lucia walked up to the platform and waited to be beckoned forth by the leaders. The paced up and stood at the top of the short staircase as Liza and Tate introduced their gym.
"I'm Liza."
"I'm Tate, and."
"this is our gym.
"We use psychic pokémon to."
"crush our enemies. Do you."
"Think you can beat us?"
Setijin and Lucia looked towards each other anxiously.
"Uh, yeah, we want to take the challenge," Setijin began. "Both of us together. We challenge you to a battle!"
"Very well," Tate replied.
"We shall battle two on two. If you win, we give you both a badge," Liza continued.
"But that won't be easy!" Tate finished.
As the conversation subsided, the platform behind them ground into life, lifting them up higher above the gym floor. The lights dimmed, the giant, wall mounted screens flickered on and displayed Lucia and Setijin on one and Tate and Liza on the other. The gym trainers gathered below ready to watch the match. The room was now pitch black, except for the few purple spotlights focusing on the center of the arena. Tate and Liza stepped forward, armed with their pokéballs.
"Ready to begin?" Liza asked. Setijin and Lucia nodded with determination. Liza and Tate floated their pokéballs onto the floor and unleashed Kadabra and a Grumpig. Setijin and Lucia glanced towards each other before simultaneously released their Eevee. All four pokémon donned battle ready stances as the screens in the background glittered the words 'fight'.
"Grumpig," Liza began.
"Kadabra," Tate continued.
"Psybeam!" both finished.
The two psychic pokémon hopped backwards, put one hand in front of their face, sliding it just above their eyes, charging then firing a large, but focused beam of mental energy at the Eevee. Both skidded to the side of their respective blasts as the challengers ordered 'Double team!' With this, the Eevee halted and strained as they split multiple copies of themselves, sending them leaping and bounding around the platform. Kadabra and Grumpig closed their eyes and concentrated, in an attempt to identify the original pokémon. Upon decision, their eyes flicked open violently, intent on assaulting the Eevee, only to be counter attacked by a powerful take down attack from both. The psychic pokémon wobbled backwards, only stopping to force themselves to glow with energy, recovering, therefore healing their wounds.
"Great, how are we supposed to beat something that heals itself with so little effort?" Setijin moaned. Lucia switched her vision directly onto the Eevee, noticing a very indiscrete yellow aura around them. She subtly pointed Setijin towards them before asking...
"What do you think that is?" As she inquired, the glow of the Eevee was replaced with a purple glow induced by Kadabra, which in turn, lifted Lucia's Eevee high into the air, swinging it back around at the peak of the attack, and slamming it back down into the arena. Grumpig did the same to Setijin's, leaving them both exhausted on the arena floor.
"That aura," Setijin began, now oblivious to the pummeling the pokémon were receiving. "It seems to flicker on each time those two are next to each other..." Lucia agreed.
"They just don't seem to give up provided one of them is by the others side. Like some form of destiny bond, only reversed. You know, instead of the enemy fainting when the target is knocked out, as long as one of the allies is up, the other stays up as well."
"Let's hope that your theory is right...Eevee, take down again!" Setijin called. His Eevee wearily picked itself up and barked, before feebly attempting to tackle Grumpig, only to be thrown back against on of the low barriers encircling the battle.
"It seems that your pokémon are out of energy trainer," Tate commented. "Look's like this battle is over." Setijin and Lucia reluctantly sighed, as Lucia's Eevee hobbled over to Setijin's, which lay leant up against the barrier. Lucia's nuzzled it gently, to attract its attention, before putting its paw upon its waist and proceeding to lick one of its wounds. With this, a heavenly aura enveloped both of them as Setijin, Lucia, Tate and Liza watched in awe.
"They're evolving," Setijin gasped, as the light rapidly grew brighter, until the entire room was engulfed in it. The white light started to die, being overshadowed by a wave of black light, before it disappeared. As the trainers regained clear vision, in the place of the Eevee stood Lucia's new Espeon and Setijin's new Umbreon.
"Wow, an Espeon," Lucia swooned. Setijin leapt forward with anticipation on his face.
"Umbreon, are you ready?" he asked. His new pokémon barked in confirmation. "Excellent. Umbreon, use faint attack!" They watched as Kadabra attempted to clasp Umbreon within his psychic grip, the purple tinge of the attack simply splitting as Umbreon slipped into shadow, bursting back into the arena through him, hacking him to the floor. Kadabra lay still as Tate returned it to its ball. Liza, now in desperation ordered her Grumpig to 'protect'. Grumpig summoned a rippling wall of transparent energy in front of it, blurring the scenery behind it, bending the light like water. Espeon leapt to order, and unleashed a violent flurry of small stars, which swiftly swept past Grumpig, who promptly dropped its guard, ready for a counter attack. Charging another Psybeam blast, it spun round in surprise as the Swift attack banked around and charged at his back, pelting him to his small thick knees. It refused to look up as it started to shudder with power, its force proceeding to shake the platform.
"What's going on?" Setijin asked in angst. Liza cackled as she explained.
"It seems you have one the fight, but you wont win if you don't survive Grumpig's last line of defense: Explosion." Setijin and Lucia gasped in unison.
"But what about us? We'll all get caught in the blast too!" Lucia exclaimed.
"Do not worry about your own safety. You'll be fine. It's your pokémon I should be concerned about."
"Fine, Umbreon, you have to finish it before it explodes," Setijin ordered. "Headbutt!"
"You too Espeon. Work together to take it down!" Lucia followed. With this, both pokémon charged at Grumpig, angling their heads down, connecting with Liza's pokémon, lifting it into the air with their assault. As it flew towards the ceiling, the blow jarred it, causing it to prematurely unleash its attack, exploding in a fiery wave of energy, its unconscious body falling back to the arena, as the roof of the gym collapsed with the attack, the now heavy rain from outside along with the dim sunshine breaking through the small flaws in the clouds echoing into the building, the twin leaders declaring the battles end.
"So there is still no word from Kanto?" Arc conversed via his pokénav device, flipped open and pressed against his ear like a telephone. A distorted voice crackled from the other end. He was stood in the center of the small pokémart, in between two racks of pokémon food products, the chillers and fridges lined up at the back.
"Not as of yet, no. It seems there have been no more disturbances reported in Johto though...perhaps this was just a one off incident."
"Don't be so sure. I have a feeling this is all part of their plan. The chances are that we are all doing exactly what they want us to do."
"Then why are we still doing it?"
"What other choice to we have. Besides, this may be the only way to get rid of them...anyhow, I'll be back at Ever Grande tomorrow, and I'll be bringing along Setijin too...That guy has a lot of potential. I think that its only right that we let him train there for a little bit."
"Not to worry, we'll have everything ready by the time you get back! See you soon then Arc."
"Bye Steven."
"Congratulations on your victory," Liza said. Tate walked up to Setijin and Lucia and opened a small case, containing two gym badges for each of them.
"This is the Mind badge. Wear it with pride, and continue to train your pokémon as you have been. Your Eevee are very special and powerful," Liza continued.
"You would do well to take advantage of that," Tate advised. Setijin and Lucia nodded, before descending the stairs from the platform, and bidding the gym farewell as they we ushered out with a round of applause from the trainers around them.
Mossdeep feel victim to a foul morning, with the sky smeared with dark cloud, heavy rain visible from the coast far out at sea. The wind remained calm, the many palm trees dotted around the island playfully swinging in the breeze, Setijin and Lucia emerging from a small, log cabin with the words 'Mossdeep Villa' emblazoned across a sign hung above the door.
"So that's basically it...are you up for the challenge?" Lucia asked. Setijin pondered, before eagerly agreeing.
"I'm hardly going to turn down an opportunity like this!" he replied emphatically.
"Great! We'll prepare in the pokémon center, stock up on supplies in the market, then go and get those gym badges!" The two wandered off into town as the cloud thickened and droplets of rain started to fall, steadily growing more frequent.
Winona and Arc sat on the ends of their beds in the villa, the walls formed out of chunky, deep brown logs, much like the floor, made with smaller thinner logs. The beds were both double, dressed with white sheets and duvets with intricately designed patterns, weaving into flowers and all other sorts of clever shapes. The single large window overlooked the ocean, it sitting slightly ajar, the gentle wafts of wind brushing the curtains causing them to shiver.
"Well, by the sounds of things over in Johto, there have been a few reports of disturbances regarding team rocket. Jasmine, the leader of Olivine Cities Gym managed to subdue her assailant, and, the interesting thing is, that he apparently left his loosing pokémon on the scene; a Quilava, which according to Jasmine seemed to 'un-evolve' in front of her," Arc explained. Winona leant forward as the information built up.
"That would be Setijin's pokémon!" she exclaimed.
"By the sounds of things, yes. She also talked about the rocket mentioning hints of a legendary pokémon at their disposal..."
"If that's true, I'm guessing that will be a problem..."
"A big one at that! We still have no idea what it could be, if the claims are true, but with this, Johto's league and authorities seem to be at full alertness. A tiny irregularity in even the most remote areas will have their Elites and champion on the scene within hours."
"Incredible," Winona gawped. Arc nodded.
"Although the chances of this information being correct is very slim; something like this probably wouldn't be blurted out like that if it was true, but they aren't taking any chances. While you and the others are on the way to Johto, I'll be back here organizing a similar system, to make sure Hoenn stays as secure as possible."
"This seems to be getting quite serious!" Winona responded. "Who would have thought something such as one thief running around stealing trainers pokémon could have turned out to be part of a world-wide conspiracy involving none other than team rocket!"
"It is getting quite large as well. At the rate all this information has been gathered, and the speed at which these people seem to be able to travel around through the regions, its getting quite worrying when it comes to predicting how long they will need before their plans are unleashed..."
"Well, as long as all the leagues are sticking together, then everything should be ok...right?"
"That would be the other concerning bit of information. Although Johto and Kanto share the same league building and rules, it seems that Kanto's representatives and league appear to be either ignoring or refusing to aid us in this plight. It's too early to speculate why, but the worst-case scenario is that Team Rocket has already managed to somehow take control from the inside. If that is the case, then it will prove very tricky to get anywhere past Johto, but it may very well be where the rockets HQ is, meaning that getting to them will be a lot more precise rather than a hit or miss campaign."
"I suppose that will be our first point of call in Johto then. Find out as much on Kanto's stance and Team Rockets history as possible before making our way into Kanto," Winona confirmed.
"Exactly," Arc continued, "but there is one more variable in their location. There is a new area, which has just received a minor league status, not too far off of the north coasts of Johto and Kanto. That may very well have something to do with the rockets as well...we would do well to explore there too."
"Anyway, lets not jump too far ahead of ourselves, "Winona said, calming the pace of the conversation, "as of now, lets just prepare ourselves here, and Lucia and I will finish up here while you and Setijin head over to Ever Grande and confirm the rest there. Then we can make a proper plan once we reach Olivine City. Ok?"
"Sure," Arc agreed. Both sat in thought temporarily before Arc stood up and left the room, indicating to Winona that he was off to the market. Winona waved goodbye and collapsed back on her bed.
Setijin and Lucia stood side by side just inside Mossdeep's pokémon gym. The scanned the small gym, gazing at the psychic trainers dotted around honing their powers, floating objects, bending cutlery and battling their pokémon. At the end of the gym, up on a slightly elevated platform stood the leaders, two small girls in navy blue kimonos, both staring straight ahead; Liza and Tate. Setijin and Lucia walked up to the platform and waited to be beckoned forth by the leaders. The paced up and stood at the top of the short staircase as Liza and Tate introduced their gym.
"I'm Liza."
"I'm Tate, and."
"this is our gym.
"We use psychic pokémon to."
"crush our enemies. Do you."
"Think you can beat us?"
Setijin and Lucia looked towards each other anxiously.
"Uh, yeah, we want to take the challenge," Setijin began. "Both of us together. We challenge you to a battle!"
"Very well," Tate replied.
"We shall battle two on two. If you win, we give you both a badge," Liza continued.
"But that won't be easy!" Tate finished.
As the conversation subsided, the platform behind them ground into life, lifting them up higher above the gym floor. The lights dimmed, the giant, wall mounted screens flickered on and displayed Lucia and Setijin on one and Tate and Liza on the other. The gym trainers gathered below ready to watch the match. The room was now pitch black, except for the few purple spotlights focusing on the center of the arena. Tate and Liza stepped forward, armed with their pokéballs.
"Ready to begin?" Liza asked. Setijin and Lucia nodded with determination. Liza and Tate floated their pokéballs onto the floor and unleashed Kadabra and a Grumpig. Setijin and Lucia glanced towards each other before simultaneously released their Eevee. All four pokémon donned battle ready stances as the screens in the background glittered the words 'fight'.
"Grumpig," Liza began.
"Kadabra," Tate continued.
"Psybeam!" both finished.
The two psychic pokémon hopped backwards, put one hand in front of their face, sliding it just above their eyes, charging then firing a large, but focused beam of mental energy at the Eevee. Both skidded to the side of their respective blasts as the challengers ordered 'Double team!' With this, the Eevee halted and strained as they split multiple copies of themselves, sending them leaping and bounding around the platform. Kadabra and Grumpig closed their eyes and concentrated, in an attempt to identify the original pokémon. Upon decision, their eyes flicked open violently, intent on assaulting the Eevee, only to be counter attacked by a powerful take down attack from both. The psychic pokémon wobbled backwards, only stopping to force themselves to glow with energy, recovering, therefore healing their wounds.
"Great, how are we supposed to beat something that heals itself with so little effort?" Setijin moaned. Lucia switched her vision directly onto the Eevee, noticing a very indiscrete yellow aura around them. She subtly pointed Setijin towards them before asking...
"What do you think that is?" As she inquired, the glow of the Eevee was replaced with a purple glow induced by Kadabra, which in turn, lifted Lucia's Eevee high into the air, swinging it back around at the peak of the attack, and slamming it back down into the arena. Grumpig did the same to Setijin's, leaving them both exhausted on the arena floor.
"That aura," Setijin began, now oblivious to the pummeling the pokémon were receiving. "It seems to flicker on each time those two are next to each other..." Lucia agreed.
"They just don't seem to give up provided one of them is by the others side. Like some form of destiny bond, only reversed. You know, instead of the enemy fainting when the target is knocked out, as long as one of the allies is up, the other stays up as well."
"Let's hope that your theory is right...Eevee, take down again!" Setijin called. His Eevee wearily picked itself up and barked, before feebly attempting to tackle Grumpig, only to be thrown back against on of the low barriers encircling the battle.
"It seems that your pokémon are out of energy trainer," Tate commented. "Look's like this battle is over." Setijin and Lucia reluctantly sighed, as Lucia's Eevee hobbled over to Setijin's, which lay leant up against the barrier. Lucia's nuzzled it gently, to attract its attention, before putting its paw upon its waist and proceeding to lick one of its wounds. With this, a heavenly aura enveloped both of them as Setijin, Lucia, Tate and Liza watched in awe.
"They're evolving," Setijin gasped, as the light rapidly grew brighter, until the entire room was engulfed in it. The white light started to die, being overshadowed by a wave of black light, before it disappeared. As the trainers regained clear vision, in the place of the Eevee stood Lucia's new Espeon and Setijin's new Umbreon.
"Wow, an Espeon," Lucia swooned. Setijin leapt forward with anticipation on his face.
"Umbreon, are you ready?" he asked. His new pokémon barked in confirmation. "Excellent. Umbreon, use faint attack!" They watched as Kadabra attempted to clasp Umbreon within his psychic grip, the purple tinge of the attack simply splitting as Umbreon slipped into shadow, bursting back into the arena through him, hacking him to the floor. Kadabra lay still as Tate returned it to its ball. Liza, now in desperation ordered her Grumpig to 'protect'. Grumpig summoned a rippling wall of transparent energy in front of it, blurring the scenery behind it, bending the light like water. Espeon leapt to order, and unleashed a violent flurry of small stars, which swiftly swept past Grumpig, who promptly dropped its guard, ready for a counter attack. Charging another Psybeam blast, it spun round in surprise as the Swift attack banked around and charged at his back, pelting him to his small thick knees. It refused to look up as it started to shudder with power, its force proceeding to shake the platform.
"What's going on?" Setijin asked in angst. Liza cackled as she explained.
"It seems you have one the fight, but you wont win if you don't survive Grumpig's last line of defense: Explosion." Setijin and Lucia gasped in unison.
"But what about us? We'll all get caught in the blast too!" Lucia exclaimed.
"Do not worry about your own safety. You'll be fine. It's your pokémon I should be concerned about."
"Fine, Umbreon, you have to finish it before it explodes," Setijin ordered. "Headbutt!"
"You too Espeon. Work together to take it down!" Lucia followed. With this, both pokémon charged at Grumpig, angling their heads down, connecting with Liza's pokémon, lifting it into the air with their assault. As it flew towards the ceiling, the blow jarred it, causing it to prematurely unleash its attack, exploding in a fiery wave of energy, its unconscious body falling back to the arena, as the roof of the gym collapsed with the attack, the now heavy rain from outside along with the dim sunshine breaking through the small flaws in the clouds echoing into the building, the twin leaders declaring the battles end.
"So there is still no word from Kanto?" Arc conversed via his pokénav device, flipped open and pressed against his ear like a telephone. A distorted voice crackled from the other end. He was stood in the center of the small pokémart, in between two racks of pokémon food products, the chillers and fridges lined up at the back.
"Not as of yet, no. It seems there have been no more disturbances reported in Johto though...perhaps this was just a one off incident."
"Don't be so sure. I have a feeling this is all part of their plan. The chances are that we are all doing exactly what they want us to do."
"Then why are we still doing it?"
"What other choice to we have. Besides, this may be the only way to get rid of them...anyhow, I'll be back at Ever Grande tomorrow, and I'll be bringing along Setijin too...That guy has a lot of potential. I think that its only right that we let him train there for a little bit."
"Not to worry, we'll have everything ready by the time you get back! See you soon then Arc."
"Bye Steven."
"Congratulations on your victory," Liza said. Tate walked up to Setijin and Lucia and opened a small case, containing two gym badges for each of them.
"This is the Mind badge. Wear it with pride, and continue to train your pokémon as you have been. Your Eevee are very special and powerful," Liza continued.
"You would do well to take advantage of that," Tate advised. Setijin and Lucia nodded, before descending the stairs from the platform, and bidding the gym farewell as they we ushered out with a round of applause from the trainers around them.