Pre-chapter Conversation

"Hey Izzy!" I said with laughter in my voice. I just thought up of a great joke!

"What?" My partner asked. I put on a straight face as I prepared to answer.

"Pidgeotto Rocket."

"o.O;;;; Huh?"

"Split the first name in half." I said. He got into a thinking pose.

"Pidge otto? What does that have to do with anything?" I chuckled as I got ready to answer.

"Pidge Otto Rocket. Get it?"

Izzy fell over. I turned to the camera.

"Anyway, in this chapter, Sam will challenge the leader of the beach's gym. Will he win and will Team Rocket interfere again?"

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Rocketmon Ch. 7: Showdown at Rocket Beach

The next day…

We see a ditch in a section of Ocean Shores Beach. Sand is flying everywhere from the spot. Let's take a closer look.

"Dig a hole, dig a hole, dig a hole." Twister's voice was heard chanting.

"Ugh… Tell me again why we're doing this." Reggie's voice was heard grumbling.

"We're digging this hole to trap Sam." Otto said as his head popped up, followed by his partners'. "He'll be coming soon to challenge the leader of the beach's gym. This is our chance to get that pikachu."

"Isn't this cliché?" Reggie asked.

"What do ya mean?"

"I think I've seen this same thing done a million times on some Saturday morning cartoon." Reggie replied with her arms crossed.

"Don't worry. I guarantee this plan is one hundred percent original." Otto replied.

"Are you sure?"

"Listen to the guy, Reg!" Twister spoke up. "Has he ever steered us wrong?"

"Well, there was that one time—"

"That's all ancient history!" Otto interrupted a little too fast.

"Well anyway, why the hole? Surely we can do something a little better considering our dad's the leader of Team Rocket."

"You wanna say that a little louder, Reggie!?" Otto yelled sarcastically. "I'm sure some people didn't catch that!"

"As a matter of fact, no one did." Twister said. Otto looked around. Despite the fact that the three kids were in their Team Rocket attire, no one's paid any attention to them or the hole they were digging.

"AHHHHH!!!!" A guy yelled as he fell into the hole. The trio took no notice.

"-.- You'd think people would be scared of us or something." Reggie muttered as the person climbed out.

"Anyway, about the hole." Otto said, turning to Reggie and Twister. "Raymundo's not giving us any more money for awhile. He went aggro on me about the pokémon center incident and the balloon."

"But he's rich. Couldn't he just pay to rebuild the center and repair the balloon?" Twister asked.

"He is paying to rebuild the center, but the balloon repairs are coming out of our own pockets."

"Man. You'd think he'd give us something better since we're his kids." Reggie said with spite as she went back to digging.

"At least he sprung for the shovels." Otto said with a shrug. "Once we get that pikachu, we'll be on the boss's good side again." He and Twister went back to digging as well, unknowing of the fact that Sam and Pikachu walked past them.

"Ok. I'm at the beach, but where's the gym at?" The boy asked as they walked around. They passed by a beach goer who was listening to "BIG fishes at Emerald Coast" on a boom box, a pleasant song perfect for the area.

(A/N: If you've never played Sonic Adventure 1/DX or read Dimension Hoppers 3, "BIG fishes at Emerald Coast" is the song that plays when you're in Big the Cat's version of the Emerald Coast stage.)

Sam searched for a few more minutes before he noticed a field identical to the one found at Mad Town's gym. This field was close to the water.

"Hmmm… I guess I was right about the gym leader using water pokémon. Because of the fact that water conducts electricity and because plants love water, I should have the tactical advantage." He looked around. "But where's the gym leader?"

"Pika." Pikachu shrugged. They just stood there for a few more minutes. Sam got a discouraged look on his face.

"Come on. He's not coming. Let's go—"

"PRIVATE DULLARD!!!" That bellow made Sam jump a few feet. He turned around and saw Tice.

"Hello sir." He replied.

"What are you doing here, private?" Tice asked.

"I want to battle the leader of the gym, but he's not around. Do you know—" Sam stopped as he noticed a belt at Tice's waist. Attached to it were three poké balls. He gasped. "You're the gym leader?"

(Me: Again, you're surprised?)

"Again, he could've paid someone to be the leader."

"Private Rocket would've been the leader, but he hasn't been around lately." Tice agreed.

"-.- Why Otto?" Sam asked.

"He's the best surfer in Ocean Shores. He would've made an excellent gym leader."

"He doesn't have any pokémon." Sam said, remembering that fact that he's not supposed to know about the evil trio.

"Not to mention he works for the mafia of this dimension." He added under his breath.

"Oh. So, you want to battle me for my badge, private?" Tice asked.

"Yea. What are the rules?"

"A three-on-three with no time limit. Is that acceptable, private?"

"Yes sir, but tell me. Before we begin, do you use water pokémon to battle?" Sam asked. Tice nodded.

"Indeed I do. Being the only lifeguard of this O.C., I need help protecting the beach goers from the dangers of the sea. My water pokémon and I save lives to protect the future soldiers and presidents of this fine nation." Tice turned towards the ocean and gave it a salute.

"I love this country." He said, a single tear falling down his cheek. Sam and Pikachu sweatdropped.

"Yeah… Let's battle." The boy said. 'Before I lose my lunch.' Tice moved to the opposite end of the field. He grabbed a poké ball from his belt.

"Shellder! Front and center!" He tossed the ball. In a flash, the tiny clam-like pokémon appeared. It stuck its tongue out at Pikachu.

"Pika!" The electric type stuck its tongue out as well.

"Go! Weepinbell!" Sam said, tossing his poké ball. Weepinbell appeared. "Razor Leaf!"

"Bell!" Weepinbell tossed a huge amount of leaves at Shellder.

"Shellder! Withdraw!" Tice ordered. Shellder closed its shell, which protected it from Weepinbell's attack. "Now use Ice Beam!"

"Shellder!" The pokémon yelled as it opened its shell. A blue beam shot out of its mouth and struck Weepinbell, encasing the grass type in a block of ice. Sam stared wide-eyed at his pokémon.

"W-what was that!?"

"That was Shellder's Ice Beam." Tice replied. "Knowing the weaknesses and strengths of pokémon is important, private. Shellder's part ice type, so I was able to use that attack to immobilize your pokémon."

"Oh man." Sam groaned as he called back Weepinbell. "Go! Pikachu!"

"Pika!" The mouse yelled with fury as it ran into the field. It was apparent that Pikachu was still angry about Shellder sticking its tongue out.

"Private Shellder! Another Ice Beam!" Tice ordered.

"Pikachu! Quick Attack!" Sam yelled. Shellder fired its Ice Beam as Pikachu darted across the field. Pikachu went around the icy wave of energy without getting hit and bashed right into Shellder's shell, tossing it back a couple of feet. "Now use Thunder Shock!"

"Piiiiiikaaaaa—" Pikachu started charging energy.

"Shellder! Withdraw!" Tice said in a panic. Shellder closed its shell.

"Chuuuuu!!!" Pikachu launched its electric assault. It hit Shellder head on. The pokémon glowed yellow for a bit until the attack ended.

"x.x Shellder!" The pokémon said as it opened its shell. It wouldn't move.

"Alright!" Sam cheered.

"It's not over yet, private." Tice said as he called back Shellder. He grabbed another ball. "Go! Quagsire!" He tossed it and the pokémon came out.

"Quagsire…" It said in a cute, kinda slow voice.

"What does the pokédex have to say about this one?" Sam muttered as he took out the minicomputer.

"Quagsire. The water fish pokémon. Part ground. It has a carefree nature." The pokédex hummed.

"Ok. Pikachu! Another Thunder Shock!" Pikachu used its electric attack again, but Quagsire wasn't affected. "Huh?" Sam used the pokédex to analyze the current situation.

"You twit." The machine scolded. "Quagsire is also a ground type. Didn't ya hear me when I gave the description!? Electric attacks don't faze this blue blob!"

"Oops…" Sam said sheepishly. "Come back, Pikachu." Pikachu walked out of the field as Sam grabbed Pidgeotto's ball. He tossed it and the flying type took to the sky.

"This'll be easy." Tice said. "Quagsire! Water Gun!" Quagsire sprayed water at Pidgeotto.

"Pidgeotto! Dodge and use Wing Attack!" Sam ordered. Pidgeotto dove and flew past the water attack. It slapped Quagsire upside the head with its wings before going back up. Quagsire staggered for a bit before correcting itself.

"Quagsire! Try Water Gun again!" Tice ordered. Quagsire shot the attack and it struck Pidgeotto, drenching it.

"Pidgeotto! Use Wing Attack one more time!" Pidgeotto dove and hit Quagsire hard, knocking it out.

"Not bad, Dullard." Tice said, calling back Quagsire. "Go! Corsola!" He tossed the last poké ball and the pink, coral-like pokémon came out.

"Corsola!" It said cutely as it jumped into Tice's arms. The lifeguard hugged his pokémon affectionally. He stopped when he noticed Sam and Pikachu's smirks.

"What are you looking at!? Can't a guy have a cute pokémon!?" Sam tried to hold his laughter, but Pikachu wasn't having much luck. It rolled on the sand as it laughed.

"S-sorry about that. Let's continue." Sam said.

"Right. Corsola! Spike Cannon!" Corsola jumped off Tice and started glowing brightly. It launched hundreds of spiky lights at Pidgeotto. They connected and the bird squawked in pain before landing on the sand.

"That was fast." Sam said as he called back Pidgeotto. "It's all up to you, Pikachu. Make me proud!"

"Pikachu!" The mouse proclaimed as it jumped back into the field.

"Thunder Shock!" Sam ordered. Pikachu fired lightning.

"Corsola! Reflect!" Tice ordered. An orange barrier surrounded Corsola and completely blocked Pikachu's attack.

"That's cheap! What kinda move is that!?" Sam demanded.

"It's a fair move! It's authorized by the Pacific League, so it's perfectly legal." Tice defended.

"Hmph! Pikachu! Quick Attack!" Sam said. Pikachu charged head on.

"Corsola! Spike Cannon!" Corsola glowed white again and shot its attack at Pikachu, who darted around the spikes. Pikachu head butted Corsola, but bounced back, holding its forehead.

"Pikachu, you ok?" Sam asked.

"Pika…" Pikachu groaned as it righted itself.

"Tackle it!" Tice yelled. Corsola made its way across the sand towards Pikachu.

"Quick! Dodge and use Thunder Shock!" Sam ordered. Pikachu jumped out of the way and with a roar, blasted Corsola with its attack. Corsola stumbled a bit before falling back with a dazed expression.

"Dullard! That was an excellent match!" Tice yelled in his military accent as he called back Corsola. He walked over to Sam's end of the field. "To commemorate your victory here, I present you with this." He reached into a pocket and pulled out his badge.

"This is the Surfboard Badge." Tice continued in his military matter. The badge was, of course, shaped like a surfboard. It was blue and appeared to be riding a miniature wave. Sam graciously took it.

"I got the Surfboard Badge!" He cheered as he held up the badge proudly.

"Pika, pika!" Pikachu cheered as well.

"Good luck in the Pacific League, private. Dismissed!" Tice saluted Sam, who returned the gesture. The lifeguard went back to scaring away wingulls as Sam left the beach.

"Man! This is so cool!" Sam yelled as he walked. "I'm halfway towards entering the Pacific League competition."

"Chu…" Pikachu said tiredly. Sam picked up the pooped out pokémon.

"After the pokémon center, we're gonna train a little bit." He walked the rest of the way to the school in silence.

Back at the beach…

"Finally! The hole's deep enough!" Otto yelled as he jumped out of the ditch.

"Took us long enough!" Reggie yelled as she and Twister jumped out.

"Now we gotta cover it up." Twister said. The trio put a bunch of branches that were tied together over the top of the hole. They then put some seaweed over the branches and covered it all up with some sand.

"Now that that's taken care of, we'll wait for the Squid to drop in." Otto said, adding an evil laugh for effect. Reggie and Twister sweatdropped.

"Dude, that pun was totally lame." Twister said.

"-.-'' Thanks, bro!"

"Come on! We gotta hide!" Reggie said. The trio jumped behind a conveniently-placed log. There, they waited…and waited…and waited…until the sun started setting.

"Don't worry. He'll come." Otto reassured. They continued waiting into the early evening.

"Don't worry. He'll come." And so, they waited all the way until Midnight. A coyote was heard howling.

"Don't worry. He'll—"

::WHAM!!!::

"Come on, Twister. Let's go home." Reggie said, putting away her mallet. "And don't forget to take that with you." She gestured towards the unconscious Otto. She then walked away.

"Why am I always stuck doing the dirty work?" Twister grumbled as he started dragging Otto home.

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Post-chapter Conversation

"That pun sucked!" Izzy roared at me.

"Come on! It was funny!" I defended.

"No way! It stunk!"

"Ugh!" I groaned before turning to the camera. "Anyway, two badges down, two more to go before Sam can enter the Pacific League! Will the next two gyms be as easy or will he have a tough time? Also, will Team Rocket ever catch a break? Find out next time!"