Tales From Abroad
By Father HulkWelcome back, my friends, to the show that never ends,
We're so glad you could attend,
Come inside, come inside.
Emerson, Lake, and Palmer
The sky was orange. Not a bright, happy orange, such as when the sun begins to set and cast it's loving goodbye upon the rocks and treetops; it was a dirty orange, colored so by the smog in the air and the gassy clouds blocking out the sun, which was struggling to break free one last time as it set upon the world.
Against this harsh background stood a town named after its founder's daughter, Ellen; but retained none of the innocence and warmth of the girl for whom it was named, nor any of the initial qualities of grandeur or pinnace it held when it was born in 1867. This town, a small community nestled in the heart of New Jersey, was called Dunellen.
Dunellen's main street stretched clear across the town, starting off modestly at Warrenville Road, pushing past Washington Avenue and on to Plainfield. Places of business lined that road; pizzerias, travel stores, bakeries, and the like; but it is one establishment in which the reader must now be directed: a video arcade, named "8 on the Break" after the game of Billiards it was born on.
Nicknamed The Break, this arcade, on this particular day, had throngs of people gathered about its entranceway, chattering amongst themselves about the goings-on within, and even more people were crammed inside. Today was the annual Pokemon Round-Robin Tournament, a one-day-only event where Trainers from far and near brought their Fire Red/Leaf Green, Ruby/Sapphire, or Colosseum games with them, plugged them into The Break's main computer, and slugged it out with their best Pokemon for the goal of bragging rights and $1000.
As we step into the arcade now, we can see, on the large digital screen, the final standoff of the semi-finals: a Blaziken—a bipedal, wrist-bandaged fighting bird, colored orange and red—squaring off against a Kecleon, a green Pokemon reminiscent of an iguana, bearing a red zig-zag pattern around its middle.
Standing at the first console is a boy, maybe 16 or 17 years of age, wearing an Ecko shirt, with the small rhinoceros on the collar glistening as sweat dripped down the young man's neck; at the other, another boy, African in descent, bearing a blue bandanna on his head and wearing biker gloves. The Blaziken belonged to the former, the Kecleon to the latter.
"It's your go," goaded the Kecleon's trainer, smiling to himself as he watched the digital monsters eyeing each other over across the screen.
"Give me a minute!" snapped Blaziken's master, and he fumbled with his thoughts, trying to remember the order of his Fire- and Fighting-type's moves. Getting his bearings, he gripped the Gamecube controller and pressed the appropriate button.
"Blaziken used Fire Blast!" proclaimed the text crawl at the bottom of the screen. The orange Pokemon reared back and spewed a wall of flames at the Kecleon. Kecleon took great damage, sinking into the depths of the yellow zone.
"Kecleon's Color Change made it the Fire Type!" read the text.
"So much for Fire Blast number two," jeered the bandanna-clad boy.
Blaziken's health was in the middle-yellow's; his Sitrus Berry had already been used. An attack with a base power over 80 could easily wipe him out, and his trainer knew this.
"Kecleon used Rock Tomb!" was the announcement, and several large boulders dropped from the heavens, pummeling Blaziken. Because Blaziken was part Fire, the Rock-based attack would ordinarily perform double damage upon him; but because his other race was Fighting—upon which Rock does little damage—the two elements canceled each other out, and the attack performed standard damage, which in this case was enough to send Blaziken's health bar quite low, to the point where the warning alarm began to sound.
"I've still got a chance…" the boy murmured, his palms sweating, his pulse fast. It was time for one last trick. He pushed the button…
"Blaziken used Return!" cried the text. All the love the Pokemon had for its trainer was pushed forth into a brutal attack… but it was not enough.
"Kecleon used Strength!" was the final declaration, and Kecleon summoned a full-power attack, knocking Blaziken on its back, back into its Poke Ball.
"YES!" shouted Kecleon's trainer, with a grin. "That's what I'm talkin' about." He held his hand out to his defeated opponent, "No hard feelings, aight?"
The boy, breathing heavily, nodded while looking away, and shook the other boy's hand. "Good game."
"Good game."
"Is it over?" rang a female voice from behind the spectators. It was Angela, one of the staff of The Break and the moderator of the tournament. "Who won?" she asked, picking up her clipboard.
"He did," said the boy in the Ecko shirt, pointing.
"Jake? Okay, great." Angela crossed off the other boy's name, and then looked up and around at the eager crowd. "It is now time for the final match!" Cheering erupted, and Angela continued. "It's time for the winner of the other semifinal to compete with Jake. Let's see… Max? Where's Max Hulk?"
"Over here," said a boy, roughly 20, wearing a jersey belonging to no team in particular, bearing the number 18. He wore a New Jersey Devils cap backwards on his head, and a wallet chain hung from his jeans pocket.
"Okay, Max, you're facing off against Jake."
"Awesome," he said, and he slipped his Leaf Green pak out of his pocket and approached the main console.
"It is the rules of the tournament that the final two combatants can decide their own terms for the duel," Angela added.
Max looked over at Jake casually. "How do you want to do this?"
Jake smiled broadly, and the smile almost became a laugh as he gave his rival the once-over. "I don't know, man, it's all you."
"How about, three Pokemon each; all Pokemon are allowed; and it's Open Level?"
"I don't know, man," Jake said, shaking his head and smiling again, "All my Pokemon are at level 100."
"Oh, really?" Max said, taking a mock-surprised tone and raising his eyebrows. "What a coincidence: so are mine. Three each?"
"Sounds good," Jake agreed.
"Right." Max said, popping his game in. "Let's do this!"
Pokemon Trainer Max wants to fight!
Max sent out Raichu!
Jake sent out Regirock!
Raichu was the final stage of the "chu" family, evolved from the flagship Pokemon, Pikachu. His body was large, mostly yellow with a white stomach; his tail was very long, and bore a lightning bolt-shaped protrusion at its tip.
Regirock, on the other hand, was very tall, and was made entirely out of rocks of various sizes, which were stacked and arranged to form a body and limbs. The only thing that seemed alive about the creature were the seven circles at its top, glowing an eerie hue of red.
"It's play time," Max whispered to himself.
Raichu used Thunder Wave! Regirock is paralyzed and may be unable to move!
A sizzling bolt of electricity shot down from above and wrapped itself around Regirock, crippling it into paralysis.
Regirock used Superpower!
The earth began to heave and quake, and a great ball of energy was formed on Regirock's hand and hurled into the electric mouse. Raichu's HP dropped considerably, but Max had planned on high physical attacks, and had loaded his weak defense Pokemon up with Iron.
Regirock's Attack and Defense fell!
Raichu used Iron Tail!
Raichu began to look almost metallic, and he swung his tail at Regirock.
Critical Hit!
Regirock's HP was now in the Yellow.
"Not enough, little man," sneered Jake.
Regirock used Earthquake!
The ground ruptured under Raichu, and the Ground-based attack, crippling to Electric types, was too much for him. He fell, and was withdrawn to his Poke Ball.
Jake let out an arrogant laugh, saying, "You'd better have stronger Pokemon than that!"
"You'll find I'm full of surprises," Max snorted, and sent out his next Pokemon.
Go, Gyarados!
Gyarados's form was reminiscent of a Chinese dragon; it was long, covered in scales, and its head was surrounded by a fin that resembled a lion's mane, and it had two thick hairs come from its nose, coming down on either side like a moustache.
Gyarados's Intimidate cut Regirock's Attack!
"Because I care," Max said cheerfully.
Gyarados used Hydro Pump!
Full-power blasts of water erupted from Gyarados's mouth, doing horrifying damage to the Rock type, knocking it out.
"Touché," Jake muttered. "But he's no match for…"
Jake sent out Raikou!
Raikou was one of the Legendary Dogs, awoken deep in the heart of Johto and released to run wild. He was very large, colored yellow with black zig-zags, and had flowing hair that fanned out behind him.
"Hmm… Not good," Max thought to himself. "He's probably got the strongest Electric move in the book."
Max has withdrawn Gyarados!
Max sent out Victreebel!Victreebel was really nothing more than a large, bell-shaped plant, with a round opening at the top, two eyes in the front, and a large leaf that it positioned over its head.
"You gotta be kidding," Jake laughed.
Raikou used Thunder!
Large bolts of lightning shot down from the sky and struck Victreebel; but because Victreebel was a Grass type, the Electric attack barely harmed it, and its HP stayed in the green.
Victreebel used Sunny Day!
Sunny day was a fire-based move that caused the sun to intensify, bolstering fire-type moves for five turns. Grass types were also granted the ability to use it because it enhanced their absorption and sunlight-based healing attacks, and also enabled them to use Solarbeam in one turn, rather than charging on the first turn and firing on the second.
This move was also bad news for Jake, since another effect of the bright sun was to cause Thunder's accuracy to be reduced to 50.
Raikou used Strength!
Victreebel took a moderate amount of damage.
Victreebel used Sleep Powder!
A thick, purple powder was spat forth from the Grass type's opening and covered Raikou, putting it into a deep slumber. Because using items was forbidden and Raikou was not equipped with a Chesto berry, Jake would simply have to wait it out until his Raikou woke up.
"Who's laughing now?" Max said with a smirk.
Raikou is fast asleep!
Victreebel used Solarbeam!
A highly concentrated ray of solar energy was shot forth upon Raikou, dropping his HP into the low yellows.
"And there are three more of those where that came from," Max said.
"You AIN'T gonna
win this," Jake snarled.
Raikou is fast asleep!
Victreebel used Solarbeam!
Raikou has fainted!Raikou collapsed and fell over, withdrawing to his Ultra Ball.
"It's 2 to 1 now," Max jeered. "Who's your last hope?"
"This," Jake snapped.
Jake sent out Lugia!
Lugia was one of the legendary birds of prey. It was silver, and had a long, slender neck, and two large wings that ended with feather tips that looked almost like hands.
"Man, oh man," Max said. "Look at you, busting out all the Legendaries. And look at me! I'm kicking your ass, and I'm just using normal, everyday Pokemon."
"Shut up and battle," Jake snapped.
"As you wish."
Lugia used Aeroblast!
A white hot beam of pure flying energy slammed into Victreebel, causing it massive damage, and knocking it out.
"Not bad," Max said.
Max sent out Gyarados!
Still bursting with vitality, Gyarados was ready to put the finishing moves on Jake.
Lugia used Aeroblast!
Gyarados was fazed, but not so much as to be crippled by it.
Gyarados used Ice Beam!
A thick beam of pure ice was spat forth, freezing itself around the flying-type's wings, causing it double damage. Its HP was halved.
"This is it," Max said, "Make it, or break it."
"Lucky for you, I prepared for this," Jake snarled.
Lugia used Thunderbolt!
Lightning snaked down from the sky and smacked into Gyarados. Because Gyarados was part water, part flying—both types weak to electricity—Gyarados should have, by all means, been knocked out. Except…
Gyarados held on with Focus Band!
The Focus Band was an item meant to be held by a Pokemon: it prevents fainting once, leaving the bearer hanging on at 1 HP.
"Aw shit…" Jake moaned.
Gyarados used Ice Beam!
Lugia has fainted!
Max has defeated Pokemon Trainer Jake!
"And, that, my friend," Max said, resting his controller gently on the table, "Is how you play Pokemon."
"HAIL THE WINNER!" Someone called from the crowd, and cheering erupted as Max was clapped on the back many times.
Angela stepped forward, holding a check. "Max, I would like to officially declare you the winner of the 2005 Pokemon Round-Robin Tournament!"
"Thanks," Max said, accepting the prize money. He then turned to Jake, who was standing there, fists balled at his sides.
"Hey man," Max said, holding his hand out for a low-5, "Good game?"
Jake had been standing at his station the whole time, fists clenched in silent fury. He stared down at Max's hand, looked up, muttered "Good game," through clenched teeth, and turned away.
Max ejected his pak from the console, but as he turned to walk away, he felt a foot slide under his leg and trip him.
"That's what I think of your good game!" Jake snarled, and he stormed out the door. Max hit the ground with a thud, and his LeafGreen pak dropped from his hand and it slid across the floor, coming to rest next to the Police Training Simulator. He walked over and bent to pick it up, but another hand got there first. Max raised his gaze upwards from the arm that held his game to see a man, probably no more than 25 years old, with brown hair arranged neatly with a left-side part, wearing a blue shirt and khakis.
"I think you dropped this," the man said, smiling and handing the Leaf Green game to Max.
"Thank you," Max said. "And you are?"
"My name is Bill. Max, is it?"
Max nodded. "Yes."
"Why don't we sit down?"
"Sure."
Max and the stranger Bill took a seat at the snack bar. "Two orders of mozzarella sticks," Max said to the cook.
"So Max," Bill said, "That was some mighty fine battling up there. I think you have real talent."
"Thank you," Max said, growing a bit uncomfortable. He didn't like it when he was praised.
"I mean it," Bill said with earnesty. "I've traveled great distances before, and I've rarely seen battling as passionate as that."
Max tried to change the subject. "Where do you come from, exactly?"
"I don't really have a permanent home," Bill said, smiling. "I travel wherever it suits me."
"Well, at least, what city were you born in?"
"I was born at sea, on a boat," Bill said, and Max began to suspect that Bill was manipulating the conversation.
The mozzarella sticks were set in front of them, and both men spun on their stools to face the counter, almost in synchronization. After they had each had one, maybe two sticks, Bill turned again to face Max.
"Anyway," he said, "I'm going to get right to the point: I own an island, about a few hundred miles away from here."
"Do you, now?" Max asked with an air of half-sarcasm, half-interest.
"Yes," Bill said with a nod. "My friend Celio and I have spent almost four years getting it up and running. And I think, Max, that the environment there would be perfect for you."
"You want me to go to your island?" Max asked.
Bill nodded.
Max shook his head. "I can't. I have my job to keep up, I have summer school work to do… it just, it wouldn't work out."
Bill shrugged. "Well, why don't you just come down for the weekend? Just to check things out? And if you don't like it, you'll be home by Monday morning."
Max weighed his options. He would have to take the weekend off from work, which would cost him since he got time-and-a-half when he worked weekends. His school work could be put on hold without him caring too much.
"You know what," he said, "I'll do it."
"That's good to hear," Bill said, smiling. "I can assure you that you won't regret it."
Max nodded. He was going over in his head what he was going to tell his parents and his boss.
Bill passed him a slip of paper. "Meet me at the docks at Sandy Hook tomorrow, at 9 a.m. There will be a boat there that will take us to the island."
Max nodded. "Sounds like a plan."
Bill looked at his watch. "Well, I've got to go get things ready. I'll see you tomorrow, Max."
"Yep," Max said, watching Bill as he walked out the door of the arcade into the summer night. Then he turned back to the counter and finished his cheese sticks, lost in thought.