Chapter 19
Setijin victoriously strode down the thickly paved streets of Ever Grande, evening setting
in, and the sky-scorched orange. He wore a huge grin across his face, smiling at everyone
he passed. Medicham followed close behind, trying to remove the loose packet of candy
in Setijin's back pocket.
"Medicham, give it a rest! No more candy!" Setijin scolded. With this, Medicham
grunted and folded his arms, turning his head away.
"Cham!"
"Oh come on. I'm sorry! Just leave sweets alone! No more candy, ice cream, chocolate:
anything!" Medicham continued to look away, steadily veering to the sidewalk.
"Medicham, watch where you're walking…Medicham!" Setijin called out in desperation
as Medicham strode straight into a lamppost, stumbling backwards, rubbing his head.
"Cham, Medicham!" he sneered, hopping to his feet, and twisting around, preparing to
kick the obstacle. Setijin charged over, in an attempt to halt his pokémon. Setijin dived
prematurely, falling short of Medicham, scuffing his shirt on the floor, his finger tips,
brushing Medicham's foot as he leapt up into the air, swinging his leg around, round-
housing the lamp post, buckling the metal trunk. The light fizzled and cracked, the glass
shattering as the post took the form of an 'S' shape from Medicham's blow. Setijin
dropped his head into his arms as Medicham began to prance around, waving his hands
victoriously, people around them walking the streets looking in confusion.
"There goes the dizzying high," Setijin groaned. He picked himself up off the ground,
and attempted to grab his pokémon again, this time bringing Medicham to the floor. The
pokémon struggled as Setijin attempted to reach for his premium ball, Medicham's free
leg forcing Setijin's arm back. The crowds continued to watch the frenzy unfold. After a
minute of resistance, Setijin sat back, and slung the packet of candy from his back pocket.
"There!" he cried. "You won, here's the candy!" Medicham stared formlessly, before
lunging forward and swiping the packet away from Setijin. He sat on the floor, gleefully
munching the snack, Setijin sighing deeply, as he returned Medicham to his ball. As he
holstered the trouble maker, he continued down the street.
He approached the large building at the foot of the hill supporting the stadium, and
entered, making his way towards the elevator, and then to his room.
He threw himself onto his bed, having thrown his bag and jacket to the floor. He stared
up at the ceiling, eyes closed, beaming triumphantly upon winning the penultimate battle
of the tournament. As hey lay, the smile steadily wore off, leaning to the end of his bed,
examining the pokéballs sitting in his backpack. He shuffled through his collection of
things, and removed one ball, a standard red and white one. He held it high, gently
clasping it as he whipped out his pokénav and typed in a series of numbers.
"Hello, Arc?" he said into the device.
"Hi Setijin, great match! You already back at the hotel?" Arc asked.
"Yeah. I'm beat. Oh, and Arc? Could you show me where the nearest beach is? I need
to…take care of…"
"Say no more pal. I'll be right there," he replied.
"Thanks," Setijin finished, flipping the nav shut, and pocketing it. He zipped up his bag
and slid it under his bed, and proceeded to change his shirt, removing the black, and
slipping into the white, with the gray collar trim. He then heaved out a thick, turtle neck
sweater, sliding it over his head, messing up his ragged brown hair, turning the collar
down, letting it fit nicely around his throat. He adjusted his new clothes, and left the
room, gently pulling the door to behind him.
"…and then he managed to get away. Where do these people get those smoke bombs
anyway?" Winona discussed, Lucia listening intently.
"Well, at least we know we're after team rocket and not some other random group,"
Lucia continued.
"Did I tell you about Lance, the leader of Johto's elite four?" Winona asked. Lucia shook
her head. "According to Arc, Lance bumped into the self proclaimed leader of team
rocket, and got obliterated in battle. And Lance's dragon pokémon are world renown for
being abnormally strong!" Lucia's eyes widened.
"Wow. That's incredible and quite scary at the same time! If he couldn't win, what
chance does anyone else have?" Winona shrugged.
"I have no idea, but according to the rockets, the pokémon used there isn't the
'incredible' one they've been harping on about."
"Not good…"
"Not really, no…" Winona sighed.
Drake and Steven made their way up the steps of the Stadium seating area, Drake looking
content with the food, Steven appearing frustrated due to his seating placement.
"Oh come on Steven lad, it can't have been THAT bad!" Drake guffawed. Steven turned
his head sharply to him.
"It was uncomfortable and disturbing. What does someone have to eat to get a gut like
that? I was afraid to make any sudden movements in case he though I was prey!" he
protested. Drake slapped him on the back, knocking him forwards.
"So the guys got a bit of a gut. So what? Shows he has a healthy appetite, that's all!"
"With a gut like that, I'd be worried if he did have an appetite. The human body should
not be able to take that shape!"
"What shape would that be?"
"A potato," Steven grumbled. Drake laughed again.
"Lighten up Stevey! It's all part of the atmosphere!"
"It's the state of the atmosphere that we should be concerned about when that guy lets
one…"
"Keep it clean boy," Drake interrupted. "You always have to take things to far."
"What?! You just told me to lighten up!" Steven desperately responded, stopping as
Drake continued up the steps.
"There's light hearted and then there's just disgusting. Fine line, and you crossed it,"
Drake explained calmly. Steven waved his arms in protest.
"I hate you, you know that?"
"Yup. Tells me I'm doing my job well," Drake finished. Steven continued up there stairs
behind him.
Arc and Setijin rode the darkening skies upon Dragonite, whom calmly glided the light
breeze, slowly leaning to one side, banking towards the edge of the island.
"It's always a hard thing to do…" Arc consoled. Setijin nodded, clasping onto Dragonite
at the back, his hair violently flapping in the winds. He shielded his face with one hand,
edging forwards each time he spoke.
"There are no options," Setijin replied, shouting above the wind. Dragonite howled as it
began its decent, spiraling down towards a secluded beach area at the foot of the island,
surrounded by forest and cliff.
Dragonite flapped his wings vigorously, brining their decent to a halt, gently hopping to
the floor. Arc and Setijin hopped off his back, Setijin taking a deep breath before walking
towards the ocean. Arc stayed back, stroking his Dragonite while Setijin removed a
pokéball from his pocket and held it out in front of him, letting the contents emerge into
the water.
"Gyarados…" Setijin whispered. "Go free again. I know you're not happy cramped in
that ball." Gyarados whimpered. Curling its neck around to meet Setijin's eyes.
"Gyaaa…"
"Thank you for everything you've helped me achieve in the short time we've known each
other." Setijin held himself on tiptoes, reaching out to hand Gyarados a pokéblock, just
ripped out of its plastic packaging. Gyarados lapped it up, flicking its head back to
swallow, growling happily as the sweet tasting candy slithered down its throat. It
stretched its neck up and out straight, roaring with delight, turning itself around, and
steadily swimming out to sea. The water shimmered orange in the evening light,
clambering up Gyarados' back as it submerged itself, before hurling itself into he air
spectacularly, swimming off into the distance. "Don't forget me!" Setijin called,
Gyarados' distant call echoing from the distance in return. Arc paced up behind Setijin.
"Nice work," he smiled.
"Not a nice feeling though," Setijin replied.
"It was never going to be, but Gyarados is thankful. You know you've done the right
thing." Setijin nodded.
"This is all so overwhelming," Setijin began. "How has so much happened so quickly? I
never thought any of this would have been possible a week ago, now I've had 4
pokémon, won two gym badges and am in a pokémon cup final…"
"You've had quite an incredible introduction to pokémon training to say the least," Arc
responded.
"And all this because of Cyndaquil."
"How did you meet Cyndaquil? Whatever has happened to you two has really affected
you deeply…"
"…I'd rather not tell right now. Too much on my shoulders."
"I understand," Arc softly finished. He walked back over to Dragonite, Setijin slowly
following. Arc invited him on first, Setijin clambering up the back solemnly, Arc slinging
himself around Dragonite's neck. The gently giant wailed as it flapped itself off the
ground, and head back towards the city, flying low above the trees. Setijin looked back
out to the golden sea, Gyarados' silhouette fading on the horizon.
"Good bye," he whispered once more, choking back a tear as Dragonite reached higher
into he sky.
Setijin victoriously strode down the thickly paved streets of Ever Grande, evening setting
in, and the sky-scorched orange. He wore a huge grin across his face, smiling at everyone
he passed. Medicham followed close behind, trying to remove the loose packet of candy
in Setijin's back pocket.
"Medicham, give it a rest! No more candy!" Setijin scolded. With this, Medicham
grunted and folded his arms, turning his head away.
"Cham!"
"Oh come on. I'm sorry! Just leave sweets alone! No more candy, ice cream, chocolate:
anything!" Medicham continued to look away, steadily veering to the sidewalk.
"Medicham, watch where you're walking…Medicham!" Setijin called out in desperation
as Medicham strode straight into a lamppost, stumbling backwards, rubbing his head.
"Cham, Medicham!" he sneered, hopping to his feet, and twisting around, preparing to
kick the obstacle. Setijin charged over, in an attempt to halt his pokémon. Setijin dived
prematurely, falling short of Medicham, scuffing his shirt on the floor, his finger tips,
brushing Medicham's foot as he leapt up into the air, swinging his leg around, round-
housing the lamp post, buckling the metal trunk. The light fizzled and cracked, the glass
shattering as the post took the form of an 'S' shape from Medicham's blow. Setijin
dropped his head into his arms as Medicham began to prance around, waving his hands
victoriously, people around them walking the streets looking in confusion.
"There goes the dizzying high," Setijin groaned. He picked himself up off the ground,
and attempted to grab his pokémon again, this time bringing Medicham to the floor. The
pokémon struggled as Setijin attempted to reach for his premium ball, Medicham's free
leg forcing Setijin's arm back. The crowds continued to watch the frenzy unfold. After a
minute of resistance, Setijin sat back, and slung the packet of candy from his back pocket.
"There!" he cried. "You won, here's the candy!" Medicham stared formlessly, before
lunging forward and swiping the packet away from Setijin. He sat on the floor, gleefully
munching the snack, Setijin sighing deeply, as he returned Medicham to his ball. As he
holstered the trouble maker, he continued down the street.
He approached the large building at the foot of the hill supporting the stadium, and
entered, making his way towards the elevator, and then to his room.
He threw himself onto his bed, having thrown his bag and jacket to the floor. He stared
up at the ceiling, eyes closed, beaming triumphantly upon winning the penultimate battle
of the tournament. As hey lay, the smile steadily wore off, leaning to the end of his bed,
examining the pokéballs sitting in his backpack. He shuffled through his collection of
things, and removed one ball, a standard red and white one. He held it high, gently
clasping it as he whipped out his pokénav and typed in a series of numbers.
"Hello, Arc?" he said into the device.
"Hi Setijin, great match! You already back at the hotel?" Arc asked.
"Yeah. I'm beat. Oh, and Arc? Could you show me where the nearest beach is? I need
to…take care of…"
"Say no more pal. I'll be right there," he replied.
"Thanks," Setijin finished, flipping the nav shut, and pocketing it. He zipped up his bag
and slid it under his bed, and proceeded to change his shirt, removing the black, and
slipping into the white, with the gray collar trim. He then heaved out a thick, turtle neck
sweater, sliding it over his head, messing up his ragged brown hair, turning the collar
down, letting it fit nicely around his throat. He adjusted his new clothes, and left the
room, gently pulling the door to behind him.
"…and then he managed to get away. Where do these people get those smoke bombs
anyway?" Winona discussed, Lucia listening intently.
"Well, at least we know we're after team rocket and not some other random group,"
Lucia continued.
"Did I tell you about Lance, the leader of Johto's elite four?" Winona asked. Lucia shook
her head. "According to Arc, Lance bumped into the self proclaimed leader of team
rocket, and got obliterated in battle. And Lance's dragon pokémon are world renown for
being abnormally strong!" Lucia's eyes widened.
"Wow. That's incredible and quite scary at the same time! If he couldn't win, what
chance does anyone else have?" Winona shrugged.
"I have no idea, but according to the rockets, the pokémon used there isn't the
'incredible' one they've been harping on about."
"Not good…"
"Not really, no…" Winona sighed.
Drake and Steven made their way up the steps of the Stadium seating area, Drake looking
content with the food, Steven appearing frustrated due to his seating placement.
"Oh come on Steven lad, it can't have been THAT bad!" Drake guffawed. Steven turned
his head sharply to him.
"It was uncomfortable and disturbing. What does someone have to eat to get a gut like
that? I was afraid to make any sudden movements in case he though I was prey!" he
protested. Drake slapped him on the back, knocking him forwards.
"So the guys got a bit of a gut. So what? Shows he has a healthy appetite, that's all!"
"With a gut like that, I'd be worried if he did have an appetite. The human body should
not be able to take that shape!"
"What shape would that be?"
"A potato," Steven grumbled. Drake laughed again.
"Lighten up Stevey! It's all part of the atmosphere!"
"It's the state of the atmosphere that we should be concerned about when that guy lets
one…"
"Keep it clean boy," Drake interrupted. "You always have to take things to far."
"What?! You just told me to lighten up!" Steven desperately responded, stopping as
Drake continued up the steps.
"There's light hearted and then there's just disgusting. Fine line, and you crossed it,"
Drake explained calmly. Steven waved his arms in protest.
"I hate you, you know that?"
"Yup. Tells me I'm doing my job well," Drake finished. Steven continued up there stairs
behind him.
Arc and Setijin rode the darkening skies upon Dragonite, whom calmly glided the light
breeze, slowly leaning to one side, banking towards the edge of the island.
"It's always a hard thing to do…" Arc consoled. Setijin nodded, clasping onto Dragonite
at the back, his hair violently flapping in the winds. He shielded his face with one hand,
edging forwards each time he spoke.
"There are no options," Setijin replied, shouting above the wind. Dragonite howled as it
began its decent, spiraling down towards a secluded beach area at the foot of the island,
surrounded by forest and cliff.
Dragonite flapped his wings vigorously, brining their decent to a halt, gently hopping to
the floor. Arc and Setijin hopped off his back, Setijin taking a deep breath before walking
towards the ocean. Arc stayed back, stroking his Dragonite while Setijin removed a
pokéball from his pocket and held it out in front of him, letting the contents emerge into
the water.
"Gyarados…" Setijin whispered. "Go free again. I know you're not happy cramped in
that ball." Gyarados whimpered. Curling its neck around to meet Setijin's eyes.
"Gyaaa…"
"Thank you for everything you've helped me achieve in the short time we've known each
other." Setijin held himself on tiptoes, reaching out to hand Gyarados a pokéblock, just
ripped out of its plastic packaging. Gyarados lapped it up, flicking its head back to
swallow, growling happily as the sweet tasting candy slithered down its throat. It
stretched its neck up and out straight, roaring with delight, turning itself around, and
steadily swimming out to sea. The water shimmered orange in the evening light,
clambering up Gyarados' back as it submerged itself, before hurling itself into he air
spectacularly, swimming off into the distance. "Don't forget me!" Setijin called,
Gyarados' distant call echoing from the distance in return. Arc paced up behind Setijin.
"Nice work," he smiled.
"Not a nice feeling though," Setijin replied.
"It was never going to be, but Gyarados is thankful. You know you've done the right
thing." Setijin nodded.
"This is all so overwhelming," Setijin began. "How has so much happened so quickly? I
never thought any of this would have been possible a week ago, now I've had 4
pokémon, won two gym badges and am in a pokémon cup final…"
"You've had quite an incredible introduction to pokémon training to say the least," Arc
responded.
"And all this because of Cyndaquil."
"How did you meet Cyndaquil? Whatever has happened to you two has really affected
you deeply…"
"…I'd rather not tell right now. Too much on my shoulders."
"I understand," Arc softly finished. He walked back over to Dragonite, Setijin slowly
following. Arc invited him on first, Setijin clambering up the back solemnly, Arc slinging
himself around Dragonite's neck. The gently giant wailed as it flapped itself off the
ground, and head back towards the city, flying low above the trees. Setijin looked back
out to the golden sea, Gyarados' silhouette fading on the horizon.
"Good bye," he whispered once more, choking back a tear as Dragonite reached higher
into he sky.