"It's you," hissed the boy as Tessa walked into his training gym.
"Yes, it's me. What're you going to do about it?"
"Well, since you cheated last time, I want a rematch, girl!"
"Good, one on one?"
"Yes, and there'll be no shady business this time!"
"I wouldn't have it any other way, Zack."
"Hah! Just because you saw my name in the paper doesn't mean anything, girl, I'll still win!"
"We'll see."
"Go, Swampert!"
"Go, Azure!"
The Shiny Flygon materialized in the center of the arena, and the boy gasped. His Swampert just looked more menacing.
"That's MY Flygon, girl! If I win, I get him back!"
"Hah!"
"Swampert, use Muddy Water!"
"Azure, use Faint Attack!"
The Swampert shot water directly into the ground, making a huge expanse of mud. It then slapped it across the arena, hitting Azure in the side and making him cry out. The Flygon faded into the shadows, and the Swampert was blown over by some invisible force.
"Swampert, use Hydro Pump!"
"Azure, Screech!"
The Swampert began to shoot water across at Azure, but the Flygon opened his mouth and emitted a terrible shriek that made the water Pokemon scrunch up and hold its ears. Zack was also stumbling around, trying to get past the awful noise.
"Azure, Hyper Beam!"
The Flygon flew up to the ceiling, still screeching, and sent out a huge blast that completely engulfed the Swampert. It screamed in pain, writhing about in the energy blast, but did not faint.
"Swampert, use Ice Beam!"
Tessa gasped as the Swampert unleashed a beam of ice. Azure bellowed in pain, and his wings became too heavy to fly; he plummeted to the earth and landed with a dull thud.
The boy laughed, but Azure stirred. Tessa felt new hope rise within her, and cheered the Flygon on. It was time to use her secret weapon.
"Azure, use Solarbeam!"
A green light started glowing around the Flygon as he absorbed energy from the sun filtering through the skylight. The boy screamed for the Swampert to use another Ice Beam, but Azure had already absorbed enough sun. A huge blast of green light shot from his mouth and hit the Swampert. Its pained cry abruptly stopped as it fainted dead away, and Tessa cheered in victory.
"WHY YOU LITTLE CHEAT!" roared the boy as he pulled out three more Poke'balls, "I'LL BEAT YOU IF IT'S THE LAST THING I DO!"
The Poke'balls opened, and suddenly there was a Walrein, Ninjask, and Manetric on the field. The doors swiftly bust open, and dozens of Police officers filed in the gym.
"You're under arrest for violation of the entirety of chapters 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16 in the rules and regulations of the Pokemon League guidebook! You have the right to remain silent-"
As the Police carted Zack away, Tessa walked up to Azure and stroked his side.
"Well, Azure, you did it. You finally got back at him for what he did to you."
"Yeah, but I had to hurt an innocent Pokemon to do it." said Azure sadly.
"Don't worry, it'll be fine. Zack's Pokemon license will be taken away, and he won't be able to have any more Pokemon. I only wish we could help all Pokemon with bad owners."
A Police officer walked up to the two friends.
"Hello. I want to congratulate you two on a fine job! We've been looking for this guy for years. He only had four Pokemon, but I'm sure that we can find good homes for them."
"Good, I'm glad," said Tessa.
"Well, I have some good news for you two! There was a sizable amount of money on this guys head, and since you two discovered him, you get it!"
"That's nice!" exclaimed Azure.
"Sure is, Azure!" agreed Tessa; the policemen looked at her strangely, and then a look of realization dawned on his face.
"You can speak Pokemon! But you still look familiar in a way...Oh! You're the Shiny Assassin!"
"Yes, I am."
"Well, it was really a pleasure to meet you. You can come by the station to pick up your reward later," he said as he left with the other officers.
"Well, let's go home, Azure, we did what we came for."
Two Months Later...
Cougar was walking through a dense forest. It was humid, but he was able to see all sorts of Pokemon he'd never heard of before. A swarm of Beedrill drifted lazily overhead, and he stopped to watch them collect nectar from the trees. Jaycou floated beside him, and Sparkle bounded through the brush up ahead.
Suddenly, he felt his backpack shake. He hurriedly pulled it off and set it on the ground, digging for what he was sure had moved. He felt the sharp corners and pulled out the jeweled box that Tessa had given him for defeating the Elite Four.
His assumption had been right! The box was shaking jerkily in his hands. He set it down and opened it just in time to see the first crack appear on the egg.
"Sparkle, Jaycou, Sander! The egg is hatching!" he called.
All his Pokemon hurried to the spot to see the egg. It shook again, and the crack became wider. Suddenly, a large piece flew off, and the group could see part of what was inside.
The creature squeaked, and Cougar saw a flash of grayish-green hide. The sides of the egg split, and the four travelers were confronted with a squat creature with huge jaws and starry eyes.
"Trapinch!" it squeaked.
Tessa sat grooming the beautiful green and blue scales of Azure. Flame, Blue, Orange, Lavender, and Brown were also in the barn and waiting for their turn to be combed. Tessa finished brushing Azure and moved to Blue. Suddenly, the computer in the corner clicked on.
"Call for Tessa!" it beeped.
Tessa sighed and clicked the message. To her surprise, Ivy's face popped up.
"Hey, Tessa! How ya doing?"
"Great, Ivy! So, what do you want to talk about?"
"Well, I just got another Pokemon, and that means I have seven. I want to ask if you would take Twilight so that he doesn't have to stay in a box."
Orange was suddenly by the screen, and listening to the conversation intently. Tessa giggled.
"Sure Ivy. I know he'll be welcome here."
"Good, I'll send him now."
"Okay," said Tessa; a Poke'ball materialized in the machine beside the computer and Tessa pushed the button.
Twilight appeared in the room, and was instantly bowled over by an overenthusiastic Orange. The two disentangled, and walked up to the computer.
"I see he'll be more than welcome!" giggled Ivy.
"Yeah, anything else you want me to do?"
"Nope, thanks for taking Twilight. You should get a job raising people's Pokemon, you'd be good at it."
"Nah, I have too many competing for my attention as it is!" laughed Tessa.
"Bye!"
"Goodbye."
Tessa clicked the computer off, and turned to Twilight and Orange.
"Why don't you two go have fun? You can worry about grooming tomorrow."
"Thanks!" exclaimed Orange; she and Twilight sped off into the evening light.
Tessa went back to grooming Blue, and Snap walked in.
"Hey Snap, how are you?"
"I'm doing great, Tessa! You know, I was just thinking; that egg you gave Cougar must have hatched by now."
"You're right! It would be funny to see his face when he finds out what it is. I wonder if he realizes that regular Trapinch are just brown?"
The End started: June 2003 ended: July 2003