Chapter 19
The battle arena was massive. It took up almost the entire room. Every inch of floor that was not covered by battling space was littered with captive trainers. The arena itself didn't seem to favor any particular type of Pokemon. There were no pools of water, no patches of grass, or even piles of stone. It was a simple tile flooring. Simple in design, but nearly as long as a soccer field.
Orange caution tape had been set up, framing the arena. The caution tape was not really necessary. None of the trainers here could even stand up from their seats, let alone walk into the battle field.
Derrick yanked Misty impatiently by her rope. He hurried her to a front row of seats on one side of the arena. She was forced to move at a drastic pace. So drastic in fact that Misty was unable to search this new assembly of trainers for any sign of her sisters, or for Gary. Every face was a pale blur and appeared to meld into the next. The only trait she could distinguish was the unspeakable misery coating each expression. The anguish itself seemed to linger in their air; growing more dense with each resounding desperate cry. Misty's breath caught in her throat, she was being pushed through rows of bodies. She felt like she was suffocating. It was like being trapped inside an unsolvable maze. A maze where the walls were strung with distorted human figures.
All the trainers were bound painfully by their throats and anchored to the rows of chairs. Pain was constricting even the slightest motions. This entire arena was a gigantic torture chamber.
Misty did notice one thing however: there were even more trainers present now then there had been yesterday during The Seers meeting. All of the trainers were clothed in stainless white robes, identical too her own. This made it all the more difficult to identify anyone from a distance.
Derrick stopped at an empty chair and ordered Misty to sit in it. She did as she was told.
After tying her securely to the chair, Derrick walked away. Misty was relieved that she would not have to be in his presence. Derrick had been certain to wrap the rope tightly around her throat just as he had before . . . no sudden movements, she reminded herself. Misty's relief drifted higher when she saw that the chair next to her was occupied by a familiar face. Blaine of Cinnabar Island was on her right.
Blaine cocked his balding head in her direction. His right eye was badly bruised and swollen. "I remember you," Blaine began in his raspy voice. "Misty, the clever girl who answered all of my great riddles."
Misty nodded, forcing a weak smile. "Yes. Hello, Blaine. I was with Ash Ketchum when he got his Volcano badge . . . it seems like just yesterday."
"Oh, yes, yes," Blaine sighed, "he-he has one heck of a Charizard."
"Yeah. . ."An uneasy silence ensued. Understandably Misty and Blaine could not concentrate on reminiscing.
On Blaine's other side sat Koga, but he was asleep -- his head lurching uncomfortably backward. Misty winced as she watched the ropes chaffing Koga's throat. He'd better not let his head fall any farther. . .
Blaine followed her gaze and exhaled, "yeah, I'll yell at him if dozes any deeper."
More trainers were being seated in the rows behind her. Misty wondered who was seated there. But it wasn't worth risking her life to check. At least she could peer forward easily enough. On the opposite side of the grand arena she could just barely detect Richie, Clair, Bugsy, and Brock. The four trainers were all strapped to wooden chairs. All of them seemed engrossed within a deep conversation and did not see her.
Suddenly the empty seat on Misty's left was being filled.
"Liza!" Misty gasped, instantly recognizing the lovely Charizard trainer. "How could they get you? With all those Charizards to protect you!"
Liza's usually silky green hair was soaking wet and tangled in about a dozen snarls. Her left hand was bound in a cast. Liza glanced up at Misty with dejected eyes.
"Misty? What's going on here?" Liza's voice was trembling. "They said . . . all of these . . . strange things to me. I don't understand any of it!"
Blaine answered for Misty. "Liza," he grimaced as he spoke. "These people are going to make us battle. Battle today, maybe everyday for a long time."
Confused tears slipped freely from Liza's eyes. "T-they have my poor Charlette. They said they would kill her, so I came with them here. . ."
"I know," Misty soothed. "They have all our Pokemon. They call themselves Revivalists. They keep talking about finding a specific trainer, one that the beast is seeking. They are blackmailing everyone, even Team Rocket."
"I see now," Blaine cut in. "I saw some Rockets this morning. They were working on cleaning up the halls. They were doing so very unhappily I might add."
"They said they only want the winner. So should we just lose the battles on purpose?" Liza asked quietly.
Blaine's expression flashed with terror at her words. "Absolutely not," he conveyed, struggling to keep his voice low. "Do you two know who John Dixson is?"
"Yeah," Misty answered. "He totally won the last Johto games! He's amazing."
Blaine's head dipped ever-so-slightly. "He tried to throw his match with Koga's daughter. The Seer could actually TELL he wasn't battling honestly. The Seer knows the truth. They seized Dixson from the arena and beat him to a bloody pulp in front of everyone here. Then they. . ." Blaine's lower lip trembled, he swallowed hard. "They told him he has one more shot to battle at his best or else . . . they were going to kill his Pokemon. They aren't fooling around. Don't lose on purpose. Try and win. Battle with every ounce of skill you have."
"No!" Liza and Misty burst together.
"Shhh! Keep it together," Blaine charged. "You girls are fortunate to have missed it. It was the most appalling act of violence I have ever seen. It just happened before you came in."
Liza compelled herself to take several steady breaths. As she breathed, her eyes focused on something above the arena.
"Hey, what's that?" Liza clamored.
Misty and Blaine glanced upward.
"It's the score board," Blaine answered. "I've been here all morning. I was one of the first to arrive. Lucky me," he added flatly. "Several matches have already taken place. See?"
Misty saw the names of certain trainers. The ones who had already lost had a red 'X' over their names. Misty scanned the names . . . Richie has already battled and defeated Chuck . . . oh my . . . and two Elite Four's have battled! Bruno has been defeated by Karen! I can't believe it. And . . . Misty gasped. Daisy was beaten already by Lance!
"My sister was here! Where is she . . .?" Misty demanded fanatically "Daisy is my older sister."
Blaine pressed his lips together forming a fine line, "She battled well. But Daisy was no match for Lance . . . perhaps none of us are a match for him." Blaine's eyes joined Misty in searching the grand room filled with numerous familiar faces. "I don't know where she is, Misty. But I'm sure she's okay. Look, over there," Blaine gestured with his chin. "Bruno is seated with all the others, and he lost . . . man, was THAT a battle. Bruno got this Doduo first and Karen got a Magneton. Talk about bad luck. Then Bruno's next Pokemon was a Parasect who nailed Magneton; but Karen totally triumphed with an amazing display by a Scyther."
"Two on two battles?" Liza piped up.
"Yeah," Blaine huffed, "and with random Pokemon. We are gonna have to dig deep into our brains to remember moves and types. It's a mystery as far as what comes out of each Pokeball. But so far they have all been at really high levels. They seem loyal to that Seer too."
Misty peered at the score board again. "Who's next?"
"I don't know," answered Blaine. "They don't let you know until it is time for you to get up there. They like to keep us guessing I supposed. This whole thing is like a riddle. One even to complex for me. . ."a thoughtful smirk pricked his lips, he couldn't resist. "Riddling is not a bad quality for a cult, I suppose."
Misty and Liza eyed Blaine with slight annoyance. "Bad joke," Misty sighed. She was about to ask Blaine another question when the horrendous Seer suddenly stepped into the center of the battle arena.
The Seer raised his hands, signaling for everyone to be silent.
Not him again.
"All my precious trainers," he began. "The next fierce battle is about to begin. Now that you are ALL present I command you to watch and observe, for one of these two may be your next challenge."
With that said The Seer bowed and walked away. The next two trainers were shoved into the arena. From Misty's front row seat the two trainers were less than twenty feet away.
"Oh my God!" Misty hissed, biting painfully on her lower lip to keep from screaming. "Gary . . . and Lilly!"
Blaine and Liza were silent, intently watching the events before them.
There was no doubt about it . . . Gary Oak and Misty's own sister were about to do battle. Misty was not sure who to look at first. She was shocked to see either of them battling the other . . .
. . . especially Gary. He was on death's door only hours ago. Only now, Gary's broken ankle was wrapped in a cast. He was limping, but managing with little difficultly. He looks . . . well . . . amazingly well. How is that possible!
Gary held his head high, his posture was confident. Gary raked his fingers tediously through his velvety main of chestnut- hair. His eyes were narrowed in determination, yet displayed a glimmer of mysterious calmness. Misty felt unexplainably at ease as she looked at him. His lips were charmingly thin, and held a scant dab of amusement upon them. Like everyone else, Gary was dressed in a flowing white robe. He turned, almost instinctively in Misty's direction and . . . smiled at her. Gary gave her an incredible smile, one that even Duplica could not mimic. It was surreally trusting and secure. He looked radiant and healthy. His complexion was marble-smooth and immaculate; not a droplet of sweat or a trace of blood anywhere. It was nothing short of miraculous. Dressed purely in white as he was, face beaming with collected confidence . . . Misty couldn't help but think that. . . Gary looks like an angel. . . His disposition impressed upon her imagination that he was neither from heaven or earth; and it seemed to her that he could not be readily from either. His features emerged too stricken to belong to a face sent from the exultation of heaven . . . and yet too compassionate and comely to be from the intense and often selfish earth. He looks like a lost angel trying to find his way back home . . .
Misty shook her head violently; surprised and irate with herself for becoming so engrossed by Gary. She was so astonished by his recovery that she had not even accessed her own sisters condition. Misty ripped her eyes from Gary.
Lilly. . .
Lilly's soft pink curls were tied into a messy ponytail. She had a large bandage on her left cheek and a splint on her left thumb. Otherwise Lilly appeared to be in fair health.
Gary was still staring at Misty. Lilly at once followed her opponents gaze.
"M-Misty?" Lilly's voice was rough; she apparently had also caught a nasty cold.
Misty nodded at her sister, tears glimmering in her eyes. You are okay. I am okay. That is all that matters.
Lilly was not brave enough to utter another word. She trembled and turned her attention back on Gary.
One of the shrouded men approached Lilly; he was holing an enormous back sack.
"Take two," he ordered loudly.
Lilly blindly reached her hands into the sack and lifted out two unknown pokeballs. The shrouded man then stalked towards Gary and instructed him to do the same.
They have no idea what Pokemon they have. . . Misty shuddered. This is horrible. Blind battling is wrong. And, if Lilly wins she could be in even graver danger. Oh, God. . . A harsh realization stung Misty. She peered back at Gary, letting her eyes burn his mental guard down. Beat my sister, Gary. Beat her fast.
As if understanding Misty's desperate thoughts, Gary nodded.
The Seer could not been seen now, but his voice reigned over the entire room: "BEGIN!"
Immediately Gary hurled his first Pokeball into the air. "Pokeball, go!"
An extremely well muscled Jolteon exploded forth. Electricity was jutting forth from Its amber eyes. This Jolteon was ready to fight.
Lilly looked at her two Pokeballs frantically. She could not decide which one to choose. After a moment she shrugged and chucked a ball forward. An enraged looking Sudowoodo materialized.
"Uh," Lilly murmured out loud. "Wait! Wait, what IS it?"
Of course no one could answer her. Lilly began twitching nervously. "It-it's a tree, so it must be a grass type! I think you're called Sudotreeo, or, no Sudowoodo, but-but, okay," Lilly nodded assuredly to herself.
"She's wrong," Blaine whispered to Misty. "Sudowoodo is a rock type."
Misty clenched her jaw, she wanted Lilly to lose . . . but Lilly had an advantage. Sudowoodo is not a ground type. Just rock. It's up to you, Gary.
Gary pointed threateningly at the Sudowoodo. "Jolteon, Quick Attack!"
Lilly's eyes narrowed. She did not want to lose. "Okay, Sudowoodo, Vine Whip it!" Sudowoodo glanced back at Lilly; Its expression was terribly confused. In this moment, Jolteon viciously slammed against It. Sudowoodo fell over, landing hard Its back.
Lilly shirked. "Oh no! What's wrong with you?"
"Jolteon, jump on top of it and Bite it!" Jolteon's lightning reflexes responded at once.
Sudowoodo could only thrash Its limbs helplessly as Jolteon mercilessly bit Its face and body.
"Wait," Lilly cried. "Kick it! Surly you can kick can't you?" Finally recognizing a move it could perform, the Sudowoodo twisted It's body an viciously preformed a Low Kick to Jolteon's face. Jolteon was sent hurtling backwards through the air.
"Thunder Bolt!" Gary roared. As Jolteon flew backward It craned It's face towards Sudowoodo, dispatching a dazzling current of lighting. Sudowoodo leapt upward, attempting to dodge the special attack. Only It was not quick enough to evade Jolteon. The potent lightning struck Sudowoodo in mid air; electricity jolting deep into Its very core.
"NO! Get up, Sudowoodo!" Lilly was pleading, but it was no use. Sudowoodo was unconscious. Lilly was forced to recall Sudowoodo and send out her last Pokemon.
Jolteon was still raring to battle. The Low Kick had not been a serious hit.
Misty held her breath as Lilly's next Pokemon appeared.
"It's over!" Gary boomed with confidence as a Venomoth emerged.
Lilly smirked. "Don't be so sure." She turned to the Venomoth. "Super Sonic!"
"Jump up and grab it, Jolteon!"
Venomoth's bug eyes flashed with neon, preparing to blast Jolteon with Its devastating confusion attack. Jolteon sprung upward, snagging Venomoth's large rainbow wings with in Its jaws; jerking It downward to the floor.
Venomoth was caught completely off guard. It was unable to strike Jolteon.
"Poison Powder! Quick!" Lilly screamed.
Venomoth's wings quivered feverishly. Pollen erupted into the air, engulfing Jolteon within deadly venom.
Jolteon swayed in place dizzily. "Jolteon, don't let go of Its wings! Lock your jaw!"
Jolteon was filching from the stings of poison, but held Its ground.
"Venomoth, Super Sonic -- again! If you confuse Jolteon It will let you go!"
"No chance," Gary blared. "This is no tournament; I'm not dragging this on for show. I'm ending it. THUNDER NOW!"
Jolteon still clutched Venomoth securely in Its teeth. With Venomoth rendered powerless to escape, Jolteon used Its remaining strength and unleashed Its most powerful special attack. Blazing electricity exploded from the arena. Every captive spectator was forced to shut their eyes in order to save themselves from blindness.
Venomoth's was certainly unconscious.
Gary recalled the injured Jolteon. "It's over," he stated.
"No way!" Lilly collapsed to her knees. "I lost . . . already. . ."
Two shrouded men approached both Gary and Lilly. These men proceeded to bind them again with ropes. Just before Gary was dragged from the stage he called to Lilly once more. "By the way, that Sudowoodo is a rock type," an edge of smugness had crept into his tone.
Well, now I KNOW that Gary is feeling better. Sorry, Lilly. My poor sister just can't manage without a water type.
Lilly's face crumpled miserably. She staggered slightly as she was lead from the arena.
Another group of shrouded men now entered the arena and proceeded to clean it before the next match.
"Wow," Blaine remarked. "That kid is really good."
"Yeah," added Liza. "Venomoth never had a chance."
Misty felt relived her sister's battling was over. Maybe her sister really would be freed when this was all over? Misty hoped so. But now Gary has won. . . and. . .
"Blaine?" Misty whispered. "Gary is the young man who just won. He was practically dead this morning. We share a cell . . . and I don't understand how he was healed so quickly."
Blaine's expression was grave. "I was almost dead this morning too," his words were little more than a breath. "They injected me with some kind of steroids, kid. I shudder to think what kind they are, but, I swear they could revive a soul from death. My heart is still racing and I was shot with 'em hours ago."
Misty eyes snapped open in horror. "Oh my-"
"Hey," Liza spoke suddenly. "They are starting the next match! Look!"
Misty's eyes focused on the arena.
"It's Clair of Blackthorn." Blaine voiced the dragon's trainers name with awe. The beautiful blue-haired gym leader walked proudly into the ring. She looked tired, but every movement was graceful and prepared for handling whatever was in store.
Clair glared across the arena at her opponent. It was a young man with unruly ebony hair. . .
. . . it isn't. . .isn't. . .isn't. . .isn't. . Isn't. . .
Misty squinted hard at this familiar young man. A white bandage was wrapped around his forehead. The way in which the bandage was set was limiting his vision.
. . .isn't. . . . . . .isn't. . . .
"ASH?" Brock screamed in horror across the arena. Without thinking, Brock bolted upward in his chair. The spontaneous act caused the ropes to dig into his throat. He gagged wildly, blood gushing forth from his neck. A handful of shrouded men were at Brock's side in an instant. They were crouched over him, Misty was shrieking frightfully through her tears.
ASH IS HERE! GOD, NO! AND BROCK'S THROAT WAS CUT! THIS CAN'T HAPPEN NOW! DON'T DIE, BROCK!
Ash dashed across the arena and leapt over the caution tape. Like a crazed Primeape he actually dove into the huddled group of Revivalists surrounding Brock.
The moments dragged by painfully. Misty wept; Liza and Blaine frozen in terror at her sides.
The men took Brock's bleeding body out of the room on a stretcher. Another man was dragging a protesting Ash back into the battle arena.
"Let me go! I need to be with him!" Ash was wailing, arms flailing crazily.
The shrouded man ignored Ash's jerking movements with little difficulty. Once Ash was standing back in the arena he was forced to select two pokeballs from the sack.
Misty thought her heart would explode. Brock, you've just got to be fine. . . Oh, Ash, I can't believe this . . . not you. . .
Blaine glanced at Misty, his expression undeniable. "I'm sure Brock will pull through. They won't let him die until they've seen him battle. I'm sure of it. And Ash can't beat Clair when it comes to a level like this. There's no way. Don't worry, Misty. Your friends are going to be okay."
Misty watched as Clair picked two Pokeballs from the sack. "I hope you're right."