(Originally posted on 8/2/4)

Pre-chapter Conversation

"Hey Izzy." I said with a grin.

"What?" Izzy asked.

"We're halfway through the fic and I haven't even mentioned your name once yet."

"Pfft! I'm not even worried." Izzy scoffed. "Besides, we're not halfway through until we're done with this chapter. You'll crack."

"Whatever you say." I turned to the camera. "Anyway, here we are in week four of the fic following a rather disastrous week three."

"What? A fic of yours getting deleted and being blocked from posting?" Izzy teased. I growled in response.

"I don't wanna talk about it. Anyway, this chapter is the first of a triple update."

"Why a triple update?"

"Because I refuse to allow the idiotic and unfair rules of this site to stop me from posting on schedule." I replied, crossing my arms. I then turned back to the camera. "Today, you'll get the two chapters that should've been posted last week plus the chapter that's supposed to be posted today. For this chapter, Sam will take on the gym leader of the park. Will he survive the scary experience?"

-----------------------------------

Rocketmon Ch. 9: The Prince of the Park

Two days have passed since that little "experience" in the tournament. Most of the women in Ocean Shores are out donating their old clothes to the Salvation Army and Sam's mother is no exception. Otto, Reggie, and Twister are nowhere to be found. That just leaves Sam and Pikachu to their own devices. Today, the duo is heading to the park to battle the third gym leader.

"The first two gym leaders were obvious because they were the only people who work in those places." Sam said as he walked. "But these last two are so unpredictable. I have no idea who could possibly be the leader of the park's gym or Bruised Man's Curve's gym."

"Pika." Pikachu agreed.

The duo soon reached the park's entrance. Despite the cheery and bright look of the town around the park, the park itself was eerie and dark. The many trees in the area had no leaves, making the place even spookier. Clinging to Pikachu for safety, Sam nervously walked through the gate.

"Man. They sure let this place go." He said as he walked.

Many weeds were sticking out of the ground. Many thorns covered them. The trees looked a whole lot more scary than they did in Sam's normal dimension. They looked so scary with all their teeth and claws. They looked like they may come alive at any moment. In fact…

::WHAM!::

"Ow!" Sam yelled as he was pushed back…by a tree!?

"Sudowoodo!" The "tree" yelled as it ran away. Sam picked himself up.

"What was that thing?" He asked as he pulled out his pokédex. He pointed it at the fleeting pokémon.

"Sudowoodo. The imitation pokémon." It started. "Despite the fact it looks like a tree, this coward's a rock type!"

"Woah. There must be a whole bunch of those Sudo-whatevers around here." Sam got up and dusted himself off. It was then that he and Pikachu noticed some floating blue fireballs behind them. "Wh-what are those?"

"Pi-Pika…" Pikachu said as it shook from fear. The tiny fireballs became a wall of flames that threatened to burn our heroes. It started moving towards them!

"AHHHHHH!!!!" Sam yelled as he grabbed Pikachu and ran for it.

The fire pursued them for a few minutes before it disappeared and was replaced by a trio of cackling ghastly. Sam and Pikachu took no notice as they continued running deeper and deeper into the dark forest. They got about halfway into the forest when they stopped.

"Whew! I think we made it." Sam panted.

"Pika…" Pikachu sighed. Sam put it on his shoulder and walked forward. They got about a few feet ahead when suddenly…

"Pikachu, is it me or is the ground sinking on us?"

"Pika?" Sam and Pikachu looked down. The ground disappeared underneath them!

"AHHHHHHH!!!!" Sam screamed as he fell. Pikachu would've followed suit if a gloved hand hadn't grabbed it. Sam landed on the hole's bottom with a thud.

"Ow…" He looked around. "Pikachu! Where are you?"

"Pika piiii!!!" Pikachu's voice was heard yelling. And in case you were wondering, it said, "I'm over heeeeere!!!" Sam groaned and looked up when he heard three voices laughing evilly.

"Alright dudes! We got it!" Otto yelled triumphantly as he held Pikachu above his head.

"See? I told you guys it would've been easier if we didn't do the motto!" Twister said.

"I can't help but think we're forgetting something though…" Reggie said to herself.

"What could we be forgetting?" Otto asked.

"Pikachu! Thunder!" Sam's voice was heard from the hole.

"Piiiiiiiiikaaaaaaachuuuuuuu!!!!!!" Pikachu roared as it charged electricity.

::ZAAAAAAAAAAP!!!!!::

"Oh…that." Otto said as he, Reggie, and Twister collapsed. Their bodies were smoking. Sam sent out Pidgeotto and had it lift him out of the hole.

"Now guys, what have we learned?" He teased as Pikachu ran up to him and jumped on his shoulder. He also called back the worn-out Pidgeotto. Team Rocket groaned in pain as he walked past them. The forest started to become foggy.

-----------------------------------

"We've been walking for hours and no gym." Sam said worriedly as he passed a tree.

"Chu…" Pikachu added as it looked around.

"And this fog is getting thicker." He walked for a few more minutes before he noticed a figure standing ahead of him. Sam couldn't tell what the person looked like due to the fog bank.

"Excuse me, I'm lost and I can't find the gym. Do you know where it is?" He asked as he drew nearer. He put a hand on the figure's shoulder and the person turned around, revealing the face of a, a—

"Zombie! AHHHH!!!" Sam let out an ear-piercing scream.

"PIKA!!!" Pikachu added with equal fright as the person cackled.

"Welcome to your doom, Sam Dullard." The zombie said in a demonic tone.

"H-How do you know my name?" Sam asked in a frightened tone.

"This is the Ocean Shores Park gym." The figure said, ignoring Sam's question. The fog cleared, revealing a field, which the two were standing in the middle of. Sam noticed that the "zombie" was dressed in a black hooded cloak. The zombie pulled back his face to reveal—

"I am Eddie, prince of the netherworld!" He said in the same demonic tone. "And also the leader of the gym." He said that part in his normal voice.

"E-Eddie? You're the gym leader?" Sam asked as he regained his composure. "Then that fog was—"

"Made by our machine." Eddie finished, pointing to a fog-making machine that was situated on the side of the field.

"'Our?'"

"Yeah. My mom's the gym's referee." Eddie pointed to his mother, who was standing outside the field and holding two flags; one red and the other green.

"You have a ref?" Sam asked in disbelief.

"You must've been to the beach and Mad Town first then." Eddie said in an understanding tone. "Unlike in those two gyms, the owner of the park hired me to be the leader and Mom took the job of being the ref."

"There's a first." Sam muttered. "Anyway, I want to battle you for your badge. What are the rules?"

"Man! Can't anyone come visit me for something other than to battle!?" Eddie yelled. Sam sweatdropped. "Anyway, the rule for this gym is a four-on-four battle with no time limit. Do ya accept?"

"Yeah." Sam replied.

"Then let's begin the duel." Eddie said in his demonic voice. The two moved to the ends of the field.

"This match will be conducted as a gym battle!" Eddie's mother started. "Sam, the challenger VS. my little sweetie!"

"Mooooooom!!!" Eddie complained in his normal voice.

"Oh sorry." Eddie's mother cleared her throat. "I mean VS. Eddie, the gym leader! The Roller Blades Badge is at stake!"

"'Roller Blades Badge?'" Sam asked.

"The park's owner wouldn't let me use my Demon Badge idea." Eddie replied with a groan. "Besides, this goes with the extreme sports theme the other gyms are doing."

"Ahem." Eddie's mother said. "This match is a four-on-four with no time limit. Let the match begin!" A bell rung.

"Go! Weepinbell!" Sam yelled, tossing the first poké ball into the field. The grass type appeared.

"Beedrill! Smite this pokémon with your bugginess!" Eddie said in a demonic tone as he tossed his poké ball. In a flash, the huge bee appeared.

"Weepinbell! Stun Spore!" Sam ordered. Weepinbell shot its attack into the air.

"Beedrill! Twin Needle!" Eddie ordered. Beedrill charged right through the yellow fog and struck Weepinbell hard, knocking it out.

"And Beedrill wins!" Eddie's mother yelled, raising the green flag. Beedrill buzzed in victory as Sam called back Weepinbell.

'Beedrill's a bug type, so that means it's weak against fire!' Sam thought as he put away the poké ball. He grabbed another ball from his pocket.

"Go! Growlithe!" He tossed it and the fire pooch made the scene.

"So you got a fire type." Eddie scoffed. "Go get it, Beedrill!" Beedrill charged towards Growlithe with all three of its stingers pointed at the dog.

"Growlithe! Flamethrower attack!" Sam ordered. Growlithe reared back and fired its attack at Beedrill, charbroiling it. The bee fell after experiencing that attack.

"Oh sweetie, Beedrill lost!" Eddie's mom yelled, holding up the red flag. Eddie sweatdropped as he called back Beedrill.

"Please don't do that, Mom! You're embarrassing me!" He said in his normal voice as he got out another poké ball. He then said in his demonic voice, "Go! Haunter!" He tossed the ball and the disembodied ghost type appeared.

"Haunter! Shadow Ball!" Haunter held up its hands and started to charge up its attack.

"Growlithe! Dodge it!" Sam ordered. Haunter fired its attack. Growlithe jumped over the dark energy ball. Haunter fired some more, but Growlithe dodged them all. "There's gotta be something I can use." Sam took out his pokédex and analyzed the current situation.

"If ya little puppy knows Bite, it can beat Casper over there." The pokédex said.

"Why would Bite work?" Sam asked.

"Genius, it's a dark type attack and dark types beat ghost types!" After hearing the response, Sam pressed another button and Growlithe's known attacks were displayed.

'Ok. Growlithe DOES know Bite! Yes!' He cheered in his mind.

"Growlithe! Bite that ghost!" Growlithe dodged one more Shadow Ball and ran up to Haunter. The pooch jumped and bit Haunter hard. The ghost screamed in pain before it fell with a dazed expression. Eddie growled as he called back his ghost.

"Go! Gengar!" The gym leader said in his less-than-normal voice as he tossed another poké ball into the field. The grinning ghost appeared. "Night Shade!"

Before Sam can issue an order, Gengar shot Growlithe with a bolt of dark lightning. Growlithe howled in pain as its body crackled with the dark energy. The energy dissipated and Growlithe seemed to be alright. It was panting heavily though.

"Bite!" Sam ordered. Growlithe jumped at Gengar and bit it. It caused some damage, but Gengar wasn't down yet. Growlithe jumped back and panted again.

"Hmph. Looks like your little puppy is tired." Eddie said teasingly. "Gengar! Shadow Ball!" Gengar charged energy and fired an energy ball similar to what Haunter used. Growlithe was too tired to dodge. It got blasted and collapsed.

"Growlithe is out of the match!" Eddie's mom said, holding up the green flag. Sam called back Growlithe and took out the poké ball containing his third pokémon.

"Go! Venonat!" He tossed it and the little bug came out.

"Aw weak! You got a venonat!?" Eddie asked in his normal voice. "I've always wanted one! Where'd you get it?!"

"I got it around the dirt bike course." Sam replied.

"Mom, can you take me there after the match?" Eddie asked.

"Sure honey. Just finish the match." His mom answered.

"With pleasure." Eddie said in his demonic voice. "Gengar! Shadow Ball!" Gengar charged up another dark ball.

"Venonat! Dodge and use Psybeam!" Sam ordered. Gengar fired its attack as Venonat ran forward. The tiny bug jumped over the energy ball as its eyes glowed a rainbow of colors. Venonat fired its attack at Gengar, who was too slow to dodge. It got zapped and collapsed with a dazed expression. Eddie was speechless.

"B-But how!?"

"Allow me to explain." Sam started. "Psybeam is a psychic type attack. Because Gengar is a ghost and poison type, double damage was inflicted when the beam struck." Eddie slapped his head.

"And I didn't notice that?" He muttered as he called back Gengar. "Go! Ariados!" The gym leader tossed the poké ball containing his last pokémon; the huge spider, Ariados. Sam shuddered at the sight of the pokémon.

"What's the matter Sam? Scared?" Eddie asked with a smirk.

"I-I-I hate spiders." Sam replied in a scared tone. He quickly shook it off though. "Venonat! Another Psybeam!" Venonat's eyes glowed again.

"Ariados! Spider Web!" Eddie yelled. Ariados opened its mouth and shot a sticky, silky thread at Venonat. The webbing completely blocked Venonat's vision, effectively disabling its attack and blinding it.

"Aw man." Sam groaned, holding up Venonat's poké ball. "Venonat! Return!" The poké ball didn't do anything though. "What the—" Eddie cackled.

"When a pokémon uses Spider Web, its opponent can't be called back until it's defeated." He explained in his demonic matter. "Ariados! Tackle!" Ariados charged towards Venonat at a speed that was too fast for a spider. It crashed into Venonat and knocked it out of the field.

"Venonat is out of the match!" Eddie's mother said, holding up the green flag again. "This match is now tied with both trainers having only one pokémon remaining." Sam called back Venonat and took out his last pokémon.

'Bug types are weak against flying types, so Pidgeotto should have the advantage.' He thought.

"Go! Pidgeotto!" Sam tossed the poké ball and his faithful bird appeared.

"Ariados! Poison Sting!" Eddie ordered. Ariados fired some pins at Pidgeotto.

"Pidgeotto! Dodge and use Whirlwind!" Sam said. Pidgeotto went under Ariados's attack and flapped its wings fast. Ariados was blown back to the other side of the ring.

"Now use Wing Attack!" Pidgeotto dove towards Ariados. Before Eddie can issue a counterattack, Ariados was struck by Pidgeotto's wings. The attack knocked Ariados out of bounds. Awestruck, the gym leader called back the spider.

"Sam wins the match!" Eddie's mom yelled, holding up the red flag. Eddie walked up to Sam and put on his mask.

"Sam Dullard, you've completely devastated my forces of darkness!" He hissed in a demonic voice. He pulled back the mask. "Congrats! Here's your badge." He reached into his pocket and pulled out the badge. It was shaped like a pair of green roller blades. They were lined up side by side. Eddie handed the Roller Blades Badge to Sam.

"Yes! The Roller Blades Badge is mine!" Sam yelled as he held up the badge.

"Pika pi ka!" Pikachu cheered.

"Come on, Mom! We gotta get to the dirt bike course!" Eddie yelled as he ran, leaving the others alone. Eddie's mom turned to Sam, who just called back Pidgeotto.

"It's easy to get lost in these woods. Would you like me to take you to the park's entrance?"

"Yes. Thank you, Mrs. Valentine." Sam replied.

Mrs. Valentine took Sam to the park's entrance after going through the scenic route, which, in contrast to what he and Pikachu went through, was full of healthy green trees and friendly pokémon. Sam waved good bye to the impatient Eddie & his mother and left to go to the pokémon center. But what happened to our trio of screwballs?

-----------------------------------

"This is—" Otto started.

"Totally—" Reggie growled.

"LAME! AHHH!!!" Twister yelled. They were surrounded by a horde of ghost pokémon.

"It was your bright idea to come in here, Otto! Why couldn't you just leave the Squid alone today!?" Reggie yelled.

"Oh come off it! How was I supposed to know we were gonna get lost and stuck with these things?!" Otto replied.

"Less fighting, more screaming!" Twister yelled. The pokémon closed in as the camera backed away from the scene.

"Looks like Team Rocket's getting spooked again!" They all screamed.

-----------------------------------

Post-chapter Conversation

"Question." Izzy said.

"What?" I asked.

"If Eddie's the so-called 'prince of the netherworld,' why did he have bug and ghost types? Shouldn't he have had dark and ghost types instead?"

"First of all, it's called strategy, although one strong psychic type would've destroyed his team." I replied. "Second, I completely forgot about the latest addition of ghost types and all the dark type pokémon when I wrote this chapter."

"-.- I shoulda known." Izzy groaned. I shrugged.

"Hey, bugs are scary too, ya know! Anyway, what will happen now that Sam only has one more gym to go through? Find out in part two of our triple update!"