Author's Note: Sorry about it taking so long to update the story. There's really not a whole lot more to do… kidding. 18 Chapters is only the beginning, folks. I'm determined to get this thing finished, but there's going to be a lot more to it than this.
You might want to read the first 18 chapters, if you're new to the series. Forgive me for the first four chapters, though. must've screwed up or something, since the first few chapters are missing a lot of text. If you can work around it, the later chapters should have all their text (I haven't been able to find the time to check). If you do notice any text missing in later chapters, add them to your review, and I'll get around to fixing the problem. Thanks!
Back to the story!
––––––––––––––––
Being the greatest Pokémon trainer of all time was just a dream, realized by only the most dedicated and hardened of Pokémon trainers. The time put into achieving even a position of power in the Pokémon world can be found in examples all over the world, from small children to even the elderly. It's not surprising to find a large range of ages in Gym Leaders, and even the Elite Four had their taste of age differences.
It was these things that went through Eric's mind as he walked. Recovering from the ordeal and getting back on the road was relatively quick with some help from the local Nurse Joy. She wasn't trained to just treat Pokémon, and she was trust-worthy… but he still had to be careful of who he talked to about where he was going, outside of Eugene, Mistral, and Edd.
"So do you really think I have what it takes to become a Pokémon Master?" Eric inquired of Mistral, and the newly arrived Edd, who'd only caught up to him shortly after his recovery.
"Sure. You've got talent, and a knack for the whole training thing. Granted, yes, you've been going through some troubling times.." Mistral began, noting the observing glance she was getting from him, causing her to pause. "Okay, a lot of troubling times… but still, I think you can do it."
Edd gave a nod of agreement. "If there's anyone I'd like to see participate in the Pokémon League, it's you. Mistral and I will be participating as well. We have to give you a challenge." He grinned a bit, tilting his head back a bit as he reached his arms up to support his neck and head. "I can't say a whole lot for myself. I passed the tests a while ago and got my Pokémon legally."
"Right. That's why you've got Pokémon at such a young age." Eric commented, nodding slowly to reinforce what he had said.
Edd grinned again. "If I had a prize to give you, I would. But, yes. That's why."
"Alright. We're here.." Eric murmured, folding his arms across his chest.
"We'll follow you, even though we already have a Storm Badge… gack!" Edd cried, feeling Eric's fist dig into the top of his skull. "Jeez! Did you really have to do that!"
"Did you really have to rub in that I'm two badges behind you guys?" Eric growled softly, opening the door to the Gym.
"Only one.." Mistral corrected him, smiling apologetically. "No-one's been able to find Jasmine yet. She's been missing since even before we arrived, remember?"
Edd gave a slight shrug, entering the door of the Gym as Mistral did, Eric following closely. "I figured they would've found her by now, or atleast assigned a replacement."
At the very end of the Gym was the Gym Leader… in this case, Chuck, who stood the second he saw the door open. After a few moments, the Gym Leader slowly crossed to the middle of the room. "So, this is the Eric they've been talking about, coming around and illegally participating in the Pokémon League. I must say, kid, you've got balls coming this far and not only evading capture, but doing the capturing."
Eric quirked an eyebrow, taking his place at the other end of the arena as Chuck moved to take his own end. "Captured? What?"
"The hearts of the public. Your story is a story that'll be told in history books, if it isn't already being written. Trainers will know your name long after you're gone." Chuck answered, folding his muscular arms across his chest.
Eric shrugged, mimicking the action of the Gym Leader by folding his arms across his chest. He gave a motion towards Slowking, who'd been silent until now. "What're you talking about? I keep hearing all this, and none of it's making any sense!"
"When Sabrina finds you, it'll all make sense in time." Chuck cleared his throat. "Now, I know what you're here for. Let's go!"
"Finally! I was getting tired of all the talk. Slowking!" Eric called, the Psychic Pokémon standing there, arms clasped behind his back, staring towards his new opponent… the Primeape on the other side of the arena. "Let's make this a quick win so we can move on. Slowking! Confusion!"
"Fury Swipes, Primeape!"
The two Pokémon stared each other down for the split second after the orders were given out, before the Primeape rushed across the arena with a speed surprising for the pig monkey. Quick scratches met with the Slowking's body just as he launched the Confusion attack. Though too late, it'd effectively end the attack early.
"Hm.. Primeape, Focus Punch!" Chuck commanded. The Primeape, in its own confusion, stumbled around hopelessly, only managing to smack its own self with the attack, missing Slowking completely.
"Excellent.. Let's finish this off with a Psychic!" Eric grinned, pointing towards the Primeape. Slowking had no qualms with the order, and with a purple glowing of eyes, the pig monkey Pokémon was slammed with a wave of intensely focused Psychic energy, sending it flying back past Chuck, and into the wall. Chuck quickly turned and summoned his Primeape back into its ball, before releasing his next Pokémon.
"Interesting.." Eric murmured, noting the Gym Leader's pick. Slowly, he tugged out his Pokedex and pointed it towards the Poliwrath that had appeared.
"Poliwrath, a Tadpole Pokémon. Easily one of the best swimming Pokémon, in water, one can easily outrun human swimmers, and even an enraged Gyrados."
"That helps." Edd murmured, tilting his head a bit to the side. "This thing has no water to give it an advantage, Eric! Just get him!"
Eric offered a quick nod towards Slowking. "Right. Let's do this! Slowking, Psybeam!"
The Pokémon quickly brought up two fingers, gathering Psychic energy between them. The energy turned a prismatic rainbow of colors. "Not so fast! Poliwrath, Hypnosis!"
Despite the fact that Slowking was a pure Psychic, the spinning whirls on the belly of the Poliwrath managed to cause Slowking to stumble a bit, and fall over, asleep, its attack rendered useless. "Damn it!" Eric growled softly, folding his arms across his chest. "Alright. Time to re-think my strategy.." He stepped forward, grabbing Slowking and tugging him out of the arena. "Go, Gastly!"
The gaseous, ghostly Pokémon leapt free of its restraint, eager to battle. This obviously caused Chuck some distress… his fighting Pokémon were useless against the ghost. It had to be water this time. "Hydro Pump, Poliwrath!" He commanded his tadpole Pokémon, which gladly obeyed. It fired a thick, powerful stream of water from its belly, towards the ghost.
"Avoid it, Gastly, and then Lick the Poliwrath!" Eric commanded, quickly ducking as the stream of water turned to attempt to hit the Gastly, who was too quick to get hit by the water. Fading from existence, the Gastly quickly appeared behind the Poliwrath, its tongue appearing from its mouth and giving the tadpole Pokémon a good long lick, causing shivers to course up and down the creature's spine. It was paralyzed where it stood!"
"Excellent! Let's finish this off with Night Shade!" Eric grinned, ducking as the stream of water jerked left and right. Mistral and Edd had to eventually duck as well, moving away from the wall to avoid all that water. The Gastly, however, began to slam the paralyzed Poliwrath with dark energies, disappearing into the shadows that'd appear around the Pokemon. When the shadows lifted, Poliwrath wobbled, falling over, unable to fight anymore.
Chuck recalled his Pokémon again as he grumbled. "Very good.. But, your tactics could do with some changing. Do more than just go from Gym to Gym. Do some training while you're out there. There's always room for improvement, and many talented trainers out there are better than any mere Gym Leader. Speaking of.." He smirked, tossing a badge in Eric's direction, who quickly caught it, and pulled out a small wooden box, placing the badge right next to the other badges he'd earned thus far. "Now get out of here before I change my mind and call the police."
Not wanting to wrap up a Gym Leader battle with a trip to jail (a trip he didn't want to repeat, regardless of who showed up and the circumstances of the last capture), he turned and left, Mistral and Edd following. Gastly followed through the door as it closed, laughing a bit. "Nice job, Gastly." Eric grinned, using its ball to summon it back. He paused for a few moments, thinking aloud. "Wonder when he'll evolve… should be any time now.." Another short pause, before turning towards Mistral and Edd. "Shall we go and see if Jasmine has returned?"
"Sure. Let's go… what've we got to lose? We might even see Eugene there!" Edd grinned slightly, summoning his Pelliper free of its prison.