Episode 7: Evildoers of honour

Chapter 1

It was a bright afternoon. Black Jack, May and Isaac were battling with their respective pokemon, Metagross, Beautifly and Manectric, against a number of Team Dark grunts with their respective pokemon in a deserted village, containing a huge roman coliseum. Max was watching from a safe distance. So far, Black Jack, May and Isaac were gaining the upper hand, but Black Jack noticed that someone was missing. "Carry on without me, Metagross," Black Jack said.

Metagross nodded back in response and continued battling while Black Jack walked to a small rock. He found Meowth, one of his teammates, hiding behind it like a coward.

"What are you doing there, you lazy bum?" Black Jack snarled as he took off his sunglasses, showing a moody frown.

"You wouldn't hurt a poor and weak pokemon, would ya?" Meowth pleaded nervously. Black Jack responded by grabbing Meowth by the back.

"Body Slam attack!" he yelled as he tossed Meowth out like a spear.

"I don't know that attack!" Meowth cried as he flew like a missile, missing his other teammates and slamming into the grunts and their pokemon, knocking them out but became dizzy after the impact.

"Nice job, Meowth," Isaac said as he took out his pokeball. "Biggest move you've hit so far… in fact that's the only move you've hit since we've started our mission."

"Return!" the three pokemon trainers yelled, as they returned their respective pokemon back into their pokeballs.

As they were about to leave the village, a bunch of footsteps were heard. "Oh, great," Black Jack moaned. "More Team Dark reinforcements."

They turned their attentions to the footsteps. And sure enough, it was another bunch of Team Dark grunts. "This is getting boring now," Black Jack said with a bored tone in his voice. "How many more of these punks do we have to deal with to get out of here?"

"Can you blame them?" Max replied. "There is a saying that there are strengths in numbers."

As they were about to battle (apart from Meowth who was creeping away from them), a spear was coming towards them. "Don't move," Black Jack said.

"Huh?" Isaac and May replied as he suddenly stopped throwing his pokeball out, not understanding what their team-mate meant.

The spear flew passed them and landed right in front of the incoming grunts. "Oh, so that's the reason why," Isaac said, now getting Black Jack's hint.

"Who dares?" one of the grunts demanded.
"What was that?" Black Jack asked, also wanting to know.

"Team Dark," said a man's voice with a serious tone.

Black jack's team turned round to see three different creatures that they've never seen before. "What?" Isaac yelled in shock. "More freak shows?"

One of the creatures had a lower body and head of a Rapidash but it also had an upper muscular body of a man. Its mane and tail were replaced by fire. "A true warrior never takes an unfair advantage over his opponents," he said.

"Says you," shouted another grunt.

"Correct," the creature replied. "Says an honourable and powerful warrior, for I am the one you call Centurion!"

Another creature also had the lower body of a rapidash but had the body and head of an Alakazam. "Anyone who dares dishonour the ways of a warrior shall be punished, for I am the one you call Mysterious," he said as he aimed his gigantic spoon at the grunts.

The third creature also had the lower body of a rapidash but he had four arms, a muscular built body and head like a Macahmp. "Anyone who breaks the code of honour would only break themselves, for I am the one they call Brutus," he said as he aimed his long axe at the grunts.

"Forget their appearances, you guys," Black Jack said with a small frown. "This 'warrior' and 'honour' stuff is sad."

"Out of the way!" the other grunt shouted impatiently. "We have to take care of these punks."

"We'll take it from here," Centurion said. "You all had you're your chances. Now it's our turn."

"What?" Another grunt said in a shocked tone. "You can't take credit from taking those guys…"

"Back off!" the first grunt shouted. "If they want to the credit, they can have it! Didn't you guys know that these three could fight like champions?"

"Black Jack, you're a champion right?" May asked, only to realise that he wasn't paying attention to her as he was concentrating suspiciously on the three creatures. "Er, Black Jack," May said, trying to get his attention but Black Jack still ignored her.

"Right, team!" yelled the grunt. "Move out!"

The other grunts did as they were told as they ran away from the scene. Centurion walked over to his lance and pulled it out of the ground. The creatures turned to Black Jack's team. "Black Jack, May, Max and Isaac," Centurion said. "I've heard so much about you four."

"Four of us?" Isaac said in a confused tone. "Wait a minute! Where's Meowth?"

They looked round and spotted Meowth still tip-toeing away. "Allow me," Mysterious said as he tossed his gigantic spoon out, making it land right in front of Meowth, stopping him in his tracks.

"Meowth, get back here!" Isaac yelled.

"I was just looking for an escape route," Meowth murmured as he tiptoed backwards.

"So," Black Jack said as he was still looking at the three creatures. "You three freaks also working for Team Dark?"

Centurion's eyes narrowed as he attacked Black Jack with his lance. "Black Jack!" May yelled alarmingly while everyone else gasped.

But Black Jack didn't even flinch, still standing confidently as Centurion stopped his lance, millimetres away from Black Jack's face. Centurion slowly moved his weapon away as he and Black Jack gazed at each other with arrogant eyes.

"Come," Centurion said guiding Black Jack and his team-mates into the coliseum, followed by Brutus and Mysterious.

They stopped when they got to the center of the coliseum. "We have a challenge for you, Black Jack," Centurion said.

"Listening," Black Jack replied with slight interest.

"We have three members and you have five members on yours," Centurion began. "You must select three of your best pokemon trainers. One member from each team will battle a round each. If the losing member of the team is defeated, the opposing team gets a point. Then the next member from their respective team will battle. The team with the highest points wins."

"Not a bad idea," Isaac said.

"If you win, you go free," Mysterious said. "If you lose, we will decide your fate."

"Fair enough," Black Jack said as he turned to look at the little cat pokemon. "Meowth, you're first."

"Dah!" Meowth yelled in shock. "Why me?"

"We can't have you lazing about all the time," Black Jack said. "Would you rather be stomped by me or these freaks?"

"I'd rather be stomped by Jesse," Meowth replied nervously.

"You insult for a pokemon!" Isaac yelled angrily at Meowth's face. "Where's your pride?"

"I don't have any," Meowth replied, still being nervous.

A Tyranitar ran up to Meowth and roared at him, scaring him out of his wits. "All right! All right! I'll do it!" Meowth yelled in a scared tone.

"Good," Black Jack said walking over to Tyranitar. "Isaac, you wanna be next?"

"You're the boss," Isaac replied with a smile. "I'll do my best."

"Guess I'm third," Black Jack said.

"Hey," May said, feeling a little left out. "What about me?"

Black Jack turned his attention to May. "I know how strong you are, travelling around with Ash and me and all," he replied. "But we're gonna need you and your pokemon in full health in case of a Team Dark sneak attack."

"Y'know, he's got a point, May," Max said. "Sometimes you got to think with your head, not always from your instincts."

Listening to Max's theory, Isaac noticed how smart Max was during the mission. "Hey, Black Jack! A dollar says that Max becomes a league champion on his first league," he said jokingly.

"Heh, you're on," Black Jack said, catching the joke as he turned to the opposition. "Centurion, we're done now."

"We have also decided," Centurion said. "Mysterious will be first to face your team, then Brutus, and then I."

"I guess it'll be you and me in the possible third round," Black Jack replied.

"I'll be looking forward to it, Black Jack," Centurion said. "But you'll be at a losing end."
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