Sleep was plentiful the night before. No nightmares, nothing waking him up
in the middle of the night.. although the only disappointment was that
Mistral had decided not to spend the night with him again. Though, he had
brushed that disappointment aside, as he had more important things to do.
Much more important things.
The Solarium was the perfect place to train. It was only accessible to high- ranking administrators and, of course, Giovanni, and it gave him enough room to train his only disciples. Though he had invited all the grunts of the past trips he was on, only a few showed up. Though there were only a few of them, his rag-tag group was beginning to grow.
"Alright, now. I want Charles and James to battle this time. Charles, remember that you have a Hitmonchan. There's no type matching here, but your Hitmonchan knows a variety of elemental punches, so you'll want to have him use a type that'll work here," Eric nodded towards the grunt, then turned towards James. "Okay, James.. just remember what we discussed. Have your Weezing regulate his Smokescreen so that it won't interrupt the others." James gave a thumbs-up.
Eric turned towards Jessie and a female grunt, who looked like she wasn't sure she should be doing unauthorized training. "Crystal, would you give it a rest already? Giovanni isan't going to mind that we're training in here, i'll make sure of it. Jessie, your Lickitung is a great way to stall a large group of Pokemon. Have it use its Lick attack to paralyze.. Crystal, would you listen to me for a second? Thank you. Remember to have your Starmie use Water attacks, not Psychic, it won't affect Lickitung." Jessie and Crystal nodded, and, like James, begun their battle.
"You've come a long way," Mistral smiled, walking up next to Eric, watching the battle. Meowth stayed in the corner, watching the battles, and Eric motioned for him to come over.
"Yeah. You learn alot from experience, I suppose.. Meowth, why aren't you training?" Eric asked, looking down at the cat-scratch Pokemon.
Meowth rubbed the back of his head, and shrugged. "Well, I didn't tink I needed trainin', so I thought i'd sit on the sidelines.."
"No. You should be training just like everyone else. Here.. train with Slowking," Eric nodded, looking behind him. Slowking stepped forward, causing Meowth to step back from the sheer intimidation of the powerful Pokemon. "Slowking, go easy on him. No powerful physical attacks or psychic attacks, got it?"
"Indeed. You are the master," Slowking nodded, moving over to the other side of the Solarium with the Meowth. After a few moments, they began to battle, finally, trading and defending against each others attacks successfully.
"I was thinking, Eric.. perhaps it'd be for the best that you didn't dissolve Team Rocket," Mistral began, her voice low, so the battling trainers wouldn't hear her. "Think of all these trainers who have been doing this most of their lives.. they don't have any trade to go into if Team Rocket does dissolve.."
Eric glanced over at Mistral, quirking an eyebrow. "Do you have any other suggestions on how to get out of here?"
"Well.. no.. i'm just saying.." Mistral began, searching for an excuse.
"If you don't want to leave Team Rocket, then there's nothing I can do about it. However, you aren't going to change my mind about dissolving Team Rocket. I would like to get back to my Gym Circuit, especially if I want to qualify for the Pokemon League Championship," Eric muttered, keeping his voice low. "Sign-up is in four months."
Mistral brought her hands down behind her back, and sighed. "I'm just looking out for the people who've looked after me.."
"That's understandable, I guess-" Eric was cut short, as the sound of the Solarium door opening behind him alerted him to someone entering. Sure enough, there was the administrator he had met when he had first met Jessie and James. All the grunts stopped battling, their Pokemon looking confused as to why the orders had stopped.
"Look what we have here...? Illegal training? Eric, I certainly do hope that you have a good explination for this," the man began, folding his arms across his chest.
Eric nodded, turning to look at the administer. "Of course. Giovanni wanted me to keep track of his Oddish, and I decided, while I keep track of them, it would be a good idea to teach my assistants the ropes in Pokemon battling, since they were lacking in that area. It's a little harmless learning, not training."
The administrator quirked an eyebrow, and looked behind him at the other grunts. "I see more than just Jessie and James."
"Friends of mine. They've come to help them learn. It's hard to battle someone you know so well, isan't that right, James?" Eric inquired, glancing back at James, who nodded in confusion. "See? Now, scoot, before you wake up the Gloom. Then the boss won't be very happy."
The administrator stared at Eric for a few good moments, before turning, walking back out the door. "I gots my eye on you, boy."
--------
The next couple of weeks were less eventful than Eric had hoped. Though more Team Rocket members were joining his training sessions, it was obvious that his rebellion wasn't as popular as he had hoped it would be. Once members had participated in three sessions, he divulged his plans, and most of them stayed. However, he grew wary that one of them would talk, so, he continued to push ahead his plans.
Mistral was being a bigger tease than ever, spending entire days and nights with him, but mostly, he guessed, to keep him passionate about the rebellion. Of course, he had been wrong in the past.
His Pokemon were even more powerful than when he had first joined Team Rocket. His Pidgeotto had evolved into a Pidgeot, and his Gastly into a Haunter. He had even pulled out his Kangaskhan for a bit of battle experience. However, much to his surprise, the Kangaskhan was incredibly powerful, and most of the attacks it dealt laid the opponant down in one hit.
In the end, he decided, it would be his Kangaskhan, Slowking, and Pidgeot leading the rebellion. He had advised the trainers he was working with to be wary of other grunts during their individual training sessions, and his group was showing alot of progress... but none more than Jessie and James. Using Eric's battle tips, they had not only grown into an efficient fighting team, but also learned to use their Pokemon's strengths in unison. For example, Jessie's Lickitung would paralyze the opponant with a powerful lick, and Weezing would sap the fight out of the enemy with its poison attacks.
Even Mistral had made progress. Her Dugtrio was stronger than ever, and her Cyndaquil finally evolved into a Quilava. Though, her Bellsprout seemed to be having a hard time in battles, and as such, was reluctant to evolve.
And what made things even better, was that Edd and Kimmy were also hard at training, and had even rallied all of the past trainers that Eric was considering to bring in. Whitney, Falkner, and Bugsy, last Eric heard, were all at Olivine City, hard at work with their training. What really made Eric's day, however, was that Jasmine had yet to return from wherever she was, so Edd was able to track down Eugene as well.
His forces all rallied, able to spring at a moments notice, he had pushed the rebellion's date to the next night. He had alerted this to Edd through his Pokegear, and Edd said that he'd move the Gym Leaders and trainers onto the southern-most Whirl Island, the one closest to the hideout. All Eric had to do was open the hangars, and the attack would begin.
Though the day went slow, night time finally rolled around, and at the designated time, Jessie, James, and Mistral all piled into their rooms. Meowth was quick to take a nap up on Eric's bed, as Eric motioned for them to sit down at the table.
"So, did you leave the hangar open?" Eric asked Jessie and James, who gave a quick nod. "Perfect. So, all we have to do is wait for the first signs of a fight.."
A half hour passed.. then an hour.. then two hours.. Eric glanced down at his Pokegear. It read, '1:36 AM', and he was beginning to grow wary. Finally, the sound of an explosion, and the shaking of nearly the entire base, rocked him from his half-sleep. "Okay. That's the signal. I want you two," he nodded to Jessie and James, quickly standing as they did. "To go down and flank any grunts giving the others a hard time. Also, rally the grunts that know about the rebellion. Once the grunts are either all defeated or converted, send them to the mess hall."
Mistral glanced at Eric in a confused manner, but he just shrugged. Jessie and James rushed from the room, and Eric was quick to leave a few moments after them. He headed down the opposite hall, heading for the emergency stairs. He threw open the door, Mistral following on his heels. The emergency stairs nearly shook with how many feet were pounding against them to either escape or help drive back the trainers. Eric could only hope that they were holding out.
Running up the stairs, it only took three flights to get up to the floor in which Giovanni took for his own room. The door, as he pushed it, was locked. "Kangaskhan, make short work of this door with a Mega Punch!" ... As Kangaskhan appeared, so did Slowking and Pidgeot, who landed gracefully on Eric's shoulder. his Pidgeot asked, looking over at him curiously.
"Correct." BAM! Like a shotgun going off, the door was ripped off its hinges by the powerful punch from the Kangaskhan, and all three Pokemon stepped in, Eric and Mistral following. It seems Mistral had summoned out her Dugtrio and Quilava, as the Dugtrio was tearing up the carpet and tile to follow her. "Alright, Giovanni. It's time to wake up and smell the coffee. You are the root of the evil that has taken base here, and I believe it's time that we uproot you.."
Giovanni stepped from the shadows, Pokeball in hand. "Fool. You don't seem to understand just how powerful I truly am. As compared to your Pokemon, you are nothing.. Alakazam! Make short work of these fools!"
Out of the red light came an awesome sight.. standing tall, and nearly causing Eric to stagger back from the splitting headache he received, Alakazam formed from the energy, bending his spoons this way and that. It smirked at the sight of the Slowking, and as it seemed, the two were in a mental struggle, as the headache disappeared momentarily, then returned.
"Your Slowking is powerful, but inexperienced. Alakazam, destroy that Slowking with your Psybeam attack!" Giovanni commanded. Slowking quickly rolled to the side, as the Psybeam crashed across the floor, tearing up the ground. The Dugtrio and Kangaskhan also had to move out of the way, nearly nicked by the powerful energy. Giovanni laughed, shaking his head. "Slowking.. Your power is rumored to be the greatest among all of the Psychics, but I have seen true power, and it is not you, nor Alakazam. Alakazam! It's time to end this early. Shadow Ball!"
Slowking brought up his hands, creating a Light Screen. The Shadow Ball which had been conjured up by the Alakazam slammed into the Light Screen, sending up a shower of sparks. "E-eric.. I can't hold this for long! It is powerful against my energies.."
"Right. Kangaskhan!" Eric commanded. "Dizzy Punch!"
The Kangaskhan stumbled forward, and slammed its clawed fist into the Alakazam's head. The Shadow Ball disappeared into thin air, and the Alakazam stumbled back, looking confused. At that point, it began firing Psybeams in every direction. Pokemon were rolling and jumping in every direction to avoid the powerful blasts. Pieces of rock were falling all around them, and it wasn't long before the Alakazam was exhausted.
Mistral stepped forward, and pointed towards the Alakazam. "Dugtrio, Earthquake!"
The Dugtrio let out a series of mole-like squeaks, and dug into the tile.. after a moment, the entire floor began to shake, and the Alakazam disappeared into a hole created beneath it. Giovanni was in shock, but his facial expression turned into blind rage.
"Give up now, Giovanni, and we'll let you go easy," Eric muttered, his Pokemon standing beside him not as creatures to take orders, but as equals.
"You'll have to kill me.. Arcanine! Go!" Giovanni managed, throwing out a second Pokeball. The Arcanine appeared with a roar, and glared towards the Pokemon infront of it. "Arcanine.. Kill that trainer! Ignore the Pokemon! Kill him!"
"You dirty bastard.." Eric muttered, watching the Arcanine charge towards him. The Pidgeot leapt off his shoulder, and quickly began to attack with its powerful wings. Slowking stepped in the way, and fired a powerful blast of water at it, but that didn't seem to stop it, and Slowking was quick to move out of the way. Even the Kangaskhan was knocked out of the way. "Slowking! Psychic!"
The Arcanine seemed to cringe from the blast hitting it, but it continued.. and after what seemed like minutes, the Arcanine rose its enourmous front paws in order to bring Eric down, but Eric quickly rolled away. The Arcanine gnashed its deadly teeth towards the trainer, who again leapt back. It was only then he realized that he was standing on the edge of one of the holes created by the Psybeam attacks from before. "S-shit.. Slowking!"
"I'm coming! Fuwah!" Slowking cried, as it was knocked aside by a powerful blast of fire. Eric quickly tried to shift away from the hole, but the Arcanine was faster. All the wind seemed to leave him in a split second, as the Arcanine dug its powerful skull into his stomach, sending him flying out of the crack in the side of the hideout.. the only thing below him was cold, dark water.
The last thing he could remember seeing was Mistral's Dugtrio taking down the Arcanine, and Mistral nearly leaping off after him, only to be grabbed by the powerful arms of Falkner, and pulled back inside.
And then.. there was nothing but the stars, the night, and the bright moon above his head. In what seemed like an eternity, his back hit the water, and it felt like he was hit by a brick wall at a hundred miles an hour. Or, atleast, he thought he felt the pain..
-------
"NO! LET ME GO! ERIC!" Mistral screamed, tears choking her throat, and blurring her vision. Bugsy and Whitney were quick to subdue Giovanni, but Mistral could hardly notice anything else than Eric's body sinking, disappearing beneath the water.
Falkner struggled, but looked amazed at how calm Eugene was, as he passed them both, standing cautiously at the edge of the crack, looking down at the dark waters below. "He's really dead, huh?"
Mistral finally gave up, tired, falling to her knees, covering her face with her hands, though it was obvious she could hardly control her crying. It seemed that both Bugsy and Whitney were both nearly on the verge of tears themselves, but Eugene turned quickly to Giovanni, stomping towards him. His fists were balled, and, as he gripped Giovanni by the hair, decked him across the face hard. Giovanni spit out some blood, and grinned. He couldn't move, held tightly by the ropes that Whitney and Bugsy had tied him with.
"That's right.. release your rage.. he was your rival, was he not? It's a shame. I bet the look on his face as he fell to his doom was priceless. I bet Mistral saw it, didn't you, Mistral? Yes, tell us what he face looked like before he hit the water," Giovanni muttered, looking pleased with himself. His Arcanine lay in the corner, its fur matted with blood, but it was still breathing.
Mistral simply broke into heavier sobs, and Whitney was quick to try and console her. Bugsy, however, looked nearly as furious as Eugene was.
"You may kill me.. but I lived a full life. You have carried out Eric's last wishes.. you have successfully dissolved Team Rocket.. but have you forgotten Team Magma? I suppose they will disregard us and go off on their own.. but does it matter? I am.. dying," Giovanni muttered, his eyes drooping, though the smirk on his face remained. "But I have destroyed the traitor.. though I knew this day would come.."
Before Eugene could deck him again, his eyes closed, and his head drooped over to the side.. lifeless. Eugene checked the mans pulse, and shook his head. "He's dead now. He's useful to no one."
Falkner sighed, moving over towards the crack to look down towards where Eric had fallen. The sea was calm.. and it seemed that a storm was moving in.. perhaps to mourn Eric's death, or to simply refresh life on Cianwood. Slowking joined the Gym Leader, carrying what looked like flowers he had plucked from a vase. Before anyone could say anything, Slowking threw the flowers into the air outside, and watched the flowers drift slowly to the water below.
"Let us.. go to Cianwood.. we will search for his body in the morning, and give him a proper burial," Falkner muttered, closing his eyes, and bowing his head. "And again, another aspiring trainer.. falls off the road to the Pokemon League.."
--------
End Chapter 17
The Solarium was the perfect place to train. It was only accessible to high- ranking administrators and, of course, Giovanni, and it gave him enough room to train his only disciples. Though he had invited all the grunts of the past trips he was on, only a few showed up. Though there were only a few of them, his rag-tag group was beginning to grow.
"Alright, now. I want Charles and James to battle this time. Charles, remember that you have a Hitmonchan. There's no type matching here, but your Hitmonchan knows a variety of elemental punches, so you'll want to have him use a type that'll work here," Eric nodded towards the grunt, then turned towards James. "Okay, James.. just remember what we discussed. Have your Weezing regulate his Smokescreen so that it won't interrupt the others." James gave a thumbs-up.
Eric turned towards Jessie and a female grunt, who looked like she wasn't sure she should be doing unauthorized training. "Crystal, would you give it a rest already? Giovanni isan't going to mind that we're training in here, i'll make sure of it. Jessie, your Lickitung is a great way to stall a large group of Pokemon. Have it use its Lick attack to paralyze.. Crystal, would you listen to me for a second? Thank you. Remember to have your Starmie use Water attacks, not Psychic, it won't affect Lickitung." Jessie and Crystal nodded, and, like James, begun their battle.
"You've come a long way," Mistral smiled, walking up next to Eric, watching the battle. Meowth stayed in the corner, watching the battles, and Eric motioned for him to come over.
"Yeah. You learn alot from experience, I suppose.. Meowth, why aren't you training?" Eric asked, looking down at the cat-scratch Pokemon.
Meowth rubbed the back of his head, and shrugged. "Well, I didn't tink I needed trainin', so I thought i'd sit on the sidelines.."
"No. You should be training just like everyone else. Here.. train with Slowking," Eric nodded, looking behind him. Slowking stepped forward, causing Meowth to step back from the sheer intimidation of the powerful Pokemon. "Slowking, go easy on him. No powerful physical attacks or psychic attacks, got it?"
"Indeed. You are the master," Slowking nodded, moving over to the other side of the Solarium with the Meowth. After a few moments, they began to battle, finally, trading and defending against each others attacks successfully.
"I was thinking, Eric.. perhaps it'd be for the best that you didn't dissolve Team Rocket," Mistral began, her voice low, so the battling trainers wouldn't hear her. "Think of all these trainers who have been doing this most of their lives.. they don't have any trade to go into if Team Rocket does dissolve.."
Eric glanced over at Mistral, quirking an eyebrow. "Do you have any other suggestions on how to get out of here?"
"Well.. no.. i'm just saying.." Mistral began, searching for an excuse.
"If you don't want to leave Team Rocket, then there's nothing I can do about it. However, you aren't going to change my mind about dissolving Team Rocket. I would like to get back to my Gym Circuit, especially if I want to qualify for the Pokemon League Championship," Eric muttered, keeping his voice low. "Sign-up is in four months."
Mistral brought her hands down behind her back, and sighed. "I'm just looking out for the people who've looked after me.."
"That's understandable, I guess-" Eric was cut short, as the sound of the Solarium door opening behind him alerted him to someone entering. Sure enough, there was the administrator he had met when he had first met Jessie and James. All the grunts stopped battling, their Pokemon looking confused as to why the orders had stopped.
"Look what we have here...? Illegal training? Eric, I certainly do hope that you have a good explination for this," the man began, folding his arms across his chest.
Eric nodded, turning to look at the administer. "Of course. Giovanni wanted me to keep track of his Oddish, and I decided, while I keep track of them, it would be a good idea to teach my assistants the ropes in Pokemon battling, since they were lacking in that area. It's a little harmless learning, not training."
The administrator quirked an eyebrow, and looked behind him at the other grunts. "I see more than just Jessie and James."
"Friends of mine. They've come to help them learn. It's hard to battle someone you know so well, isan't that right, James?" Eric inquired, glancing back at James, who nodded in confusion. "See? Now, scoot, before you wake up the Gloom. Then the boss won't be very happy."
The administrator stared at Eric for a few good moments, before turning, walking back out the door. "I gots my eye on you, boy."
--------
The next couple of weeks were less eventful than Eric had hoped. Though more Team Rocket members were joining his training sessions, it was obvious that his rebellion wasn't as popular as he had hoped it would be. Once members had participated in three sessions, he divulged his plans, and most of them stayed. However, he grew wary that one of them would talk, so, he continued to push ahead his plans.
Mistral was being a bigger tease than ever, spending entire days and nights with him, but mostly, he guessed, to keep him passionate about the rebellion. Of course, he had been wrong in the past.
His Pokemon were even more powerful than when he had first joined Team Rocket. His Pidgeotto had evolved into a Pidgeot, and his Gastly into a Haunter. He had even pulled out his Kangaskhan for a bit of battle experience. However, much to his surprise, the Kangaskhan was incredibly powerful, and most of the attacks it dealt laid the opponant down in one hit.
In the end, he decided, it would be his Kangaskhan, Slowking, and Pidgeot leading the rebellion. He had advised the trainers he was working with to be wary of other grunts during their individual training sessions, and his group was showing alot of progress... but none more than Jessie and James. Using Eric's battle tips, they had not only grown into an efficient fighting team, but also learned to use their Pokemon's strengths in unison. For example, Jessie's Lickitung would paralyze the opponant with a powerful lick, and Weezing would sap the fight out of the enemy with its poison attacks.
Even Mistral had made progress. Her Dugtrio was stronger than ever, and her Cyndaquil finally evolved into a Quilava. Though, her Bellsprout seemed to be having a hard time in battles, and as such, was reluctant to evolve.
And what made things even better, was that Edd and Kimmy were also hard at training, and had even rallied all of the past trainers that Eric was considering to bring in. Whitney, Falkner, and Bugsy, last Eric heard, were all at Olivine City, hard at work with their training. What really made Eric's day, however, was that Jasmine had yet to return from wherever she was, so Edd was able to track down Eugene as well.
His forces all rallied, able to spring at a moments notice, he had pushed the rebellion's date to the next night. He had alerted this to Edd through his Pokegear, and Edd said that he'd move the Gym Leaders and trainers onto the southern-most Whirl Island, the one closest to the hideout. All Eric had to do was open the hangars, and the attack would begin.
Though the day went slow, night time finally rolled around, and at the designated time, Jessie, James, and Mistral all piled into their rooms. Meowth was quick to take a nap up on Eric's bed, as Eric motioned for them to sit down at the table.
"So, did you leave the hangar open?" Eric asked Jessie and James, who gave a quick nod. "Perfect. So, all we have to do is wait for the first signs of a fight.."
A half hour passed.. then an hour.. then two hours.. Eric glanced down at his Pokegear. It read, '1:36 AM', and he was beginning to grow wary. Finally, the sound of an explosion, and the shaking of nearly the entire base, rocked him from his half-sleep. "Okay. That's the signal. I want you two," he nodded to Jessie and James, quickly standing as they did. "To go down and flank any grunts giving the others a hard time. Also, rally the grunts that know about the rebellion. Once the grunts are either all defeated or converted, send them to the mess hall."
Mistral glanced at Eric in a confused manner, but he just shrugged. Jessie and James rushed from the room, and Eric was quick to leave a few moments after them. He headed down the opposite hall, heading for the emergency stairs. He threw open the door, Mistral following on his heels. The emergency stairs nearly shook with how many feet were pounding against them to either escape or help drive back the trainers. Eric could only hope that they were holding out.
Running up the stairs, it only took three flights to get up to the floor in which Giovanni took for his own room. The door, as he pushed it, was locked. "Kangaskhan, make short work of this door with a Mega Punch!" ... As Kangaskhan appeared, so did Slowking and Pidgeot, who landed gracefully on Eric's shoulder. his Pidgeot asked, looking over at him curiously.
"Correct." BAM! Like a shotgun going off, the door was ripped off its hinges by the powerful punch from the Kangaskhan, and all three Pokemon stepped in, Eric and Mistral following. It seems Mistral had summoned out her Dugtrio and Quilava, as the Dugtrio was tearing up the carpet and tile to follow her. "Alright, Giovanni. It's time to wake up and smell the coffee. You are the root of the evil that has taken base here, and I believe it's time that we uproot you.."
Giovanni stepped from the shadows, Pokeball in hand. "Fool. You don't seem to understand just how powerful I truly am. As compared to your Pokemon, you are nothing.. Alakazam! Make short work of these fools!"
Out of the red light came an awesome sight.. standing tall, and nearly causing Eric to stagger back from the splitting headache he received, Alakazam formed from the energy, bending his spoons this way and that. It smirked at the sight of the Slowking, and as it seemed, the two were in a mental struggle, as the headache disappeared momentarily, then returned.
"Your Slowking is powerful, but inexperienced. Alakazam, destroy that Slowking with your Psybeam attack!" Giovanni commanded. Slowking quickly rolled to the side, as the Psybeam crashed across the floor, tearing up the ground. The Dugtrio and Kangaskhan also had to move out of the way, nearly nicked by the powerful energy. Giovanni laughed, shaking his head. "Slowking.. Your power is rumored to be the greatest among all of the Psychics, but I have seen true power, and it is not you, nor Alakazam. Alakazam! It's time to end this early. Shadow Ball!"
Slowking brought up his hands, creating a Light Screen. The Shadow Ball which had been conjured up by the Alakazam slammed into the Light Screen, sending up a shower of sparks. "E-eric.. I can't hold this for long! It is powerful against my energies.."
"Right. Kangaskhan!" Eric commanded. "Dizzy Punch!"
The Kangaskhan stumbled forward, and slammed its clawed fist into the Alakazam's head. The Shadow Ball disappeared into thin air, and the Alakazam stumbled back, looking confused. At that point, it began firing Psybeams in every direction. Pokemon were rolling and jumping in every direction to avoid the powerful blasts. Pieces of rock were falling all around them, and it wasn't long before the Alakazam was exhausted.
Mistral stepped forward, and pointed towards the Alakazam. "Dugtrio, Earthquake!"
The Dugtrio let out a series of mole-like squeaks, and dug into the tile.. after a moment, the entire floor began to shake, and the Alakazam disappeared into a hole created beneath it. Giovanni was in shock, but his facial expression turned into blind rage.
"Give up now, Giovanni, and we'll let you go easy," Eric muttered, his Pokemon standing beside him not as creatures to take orders, but as equals.
"You'll have to kill me.. Arcanine! Go!" Giovanni managed, throwing out a second Pokeball. The Arcanine appeared with a roar, and glared towards the Pokemon infront of it. "Arcanine.. Kill that trainer! Ignore the Pokemon! Kill him!"
"You dirty bastard.." Eric muttered, watching the Arcanine charge towards him. The Pidgeot leapt off his shoulder, and quickly began to attack with its powerful wings. Slowking stepped in the way, and fired a powerful blast of water at it, but that didn't seem to stop it, and Slowking was quick to move out of the way. Even the Kangaskhan was knocked out of the way. "Slowking! Psychic!"
The Arcanine seemed to cringe from the blast hitting it, but it continued.. and after what seemed like minutes, the Arcanine rose its enourmous front paws in order to bring Eric down, but Eric quickly rolled away. The Arcanine gnashed its deadly teeth towards the trainer, who again leapt back. It was only then he realized that he was standing on the edge of one of the holes created by the Psybeam attacks from before. "S-shit.. Slowking!"
"I'm coming! Fuwah!" Slowking cried, as it was knocked aside by a powerful blast of fire. Eric quickly tried to shift away from the hole, but the Arcanine was faster. All the wind seemed to leave him in a split second, as the Arcanine dug its powerful skull into his stomach, sending him flying out of the crack in the side of the hideout.. the only thing below him was cold, dark water.
The last thing he could remember seeing was Mistral's Dugtrio taking down the Arcanine, and Mistral nearly leaping off after him, only to be grabbed by the powerful arms of Falkner, and pulled back inside.
And then.. there was nothing but the stars, the night, and the bright moon above his head. In what seemed like an eternity, his back hit the water, and it felt like he was hit by a brick wall at a hundred miles an hour. Or, atleast, he thought he felt the pain..
-------
"NO! LET ME GO! ERIC!" Mistral screamed, tears choking her throat, and blurring her vision. Bugsy and Whitney were quick to subdue Giovanni, but Mistral could hardly notice anything else than Eric's body sinking, disappearing beneath the water.
Falkner struggled, but looked amazed at how calm Eugene was, as he passed them both, standing cautiously at the edge of the crack, looking down at the dark waters below. "He's really dead, huh?"
Mistral finally gave up, tired, falling to her knees, covering her face with her hands, though it was obvious she could hardly control her crying. It seemed that both Bugsy and Whitney were both nearly on the verge of tears themselves, but Eugene turned quickly to Giovanni, stomping towards him. His fists were balled, and, as he gripped Giovanni by the hair, decked him across the face hard. Giovanni spit out some blood, and grinned. He couldn't move, held tightly by the ropes that Whitney and Bugsy had tied him with.
"That's right.. release your rage.. he was your rival, was he not? It's a shame. I bet the look on his face as he fell to his doom was priceless. I bet Mistral saw it, didn't you, Mistral? Yes, tell us what he face looked like before he hit the water," Giovanni muttered, looking pleased with himself. His Arcanine lay in the corner, its fur matted with blood, but it was still breathing.
Mistral simply broke into heavier sobs, and Whitney was quick to try and console her. Bugsy, however, looked nearly as furious as Eugene was.
"You may kill me.. but I lived a full life. You have carried out Eric's last wishes.. you have successfully dissolved Team Rocket.. but have you forgotten Team Magma? I suppose they will disregard us and go off on their own.. but does it matter? I am.. dying," Giovanni muttered, his eyes drooping, though the smirk on his face remained. "But I have destroyed the traitor.. though I knew this day would come.."
Before Eugene could deck him again, his eyes closed, and his head drooped over to the side.. lifeless. Eugene checked the mans pulse, and shook his head. "He's dead now. He's useful to no one."
Falkner sighed, moving over towards the crack to look down towards where Eric had fallen. The sea was calm.. and it seemed that a storm was moving in.. perhaps to mourn Eric's death, or to simply refresh life on Cianwood. Slowking joined the Gym Leader, carrying what looked like flowers he had plucked from a vase. Before anyone could say anything, Slowking threw the flowers into the air outside, and watched the flowers drift slowly to the water below.
"Let us.. go to Cianwood.. we will search for his body in the morning, and give him a proper burial," Falkner muttered, closing his eyes, and bowing his head. "And again, another aspiring trainer.. falls off the road to the Pokemon League.."
--------
End Chapter 17