Chapter 9: Ecruteak City
"I can't believe Andy dumped us for Officer Jenny." Aaron told Static as they watched their friend run off towards the blue-haired police officer.
"Pikachu." (That's Andy for you.)
"Oh well, let's go to the gym."
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CLOSED: OUT TO LUNCH
"I'm starting to see a pattern here." Aaron said.
"Pika chu chu ka pi." (It took you four gyms to figure out a pattern.)
"How many gyms did it take you to find a pattern?" Aaron challenged Static
"Chu" (Two)
"Think all of the gyms will be like this?"
"Pikachu" (Possibly)
"Oh well. Let's check out that old tower over there."
"Pikachu" (Ok).
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BURNED TOWER: IT WAS DESTROYED BY A MYSTERIOUS FIRE. PLEASE STAY AWAY, AS IT IS UNSAFE.
"Interesting." Aaron said after reading the sign. "Well, c'mon Static."
"PI PIKACHU!" (WE'RE GOING IN!)
"Of course. Can't you hear it calling to us?"
"Pi. Pikachu pika" (Yeah. It's saying "Stay Away")
"Alright Static. I'm going in. You can stay here and wait for Andy."
"Pikachu" (See ya)
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Inside the tower,
"That wasn't the way it was supposed to work." Aaron said to himself as he walked through the tower. "Static was supposed to want to come with me."
After destroying a pile of rocks that were in the way, Aaron continued into the tower.
"First Andy ditches me for a girl. Then my own Pokemon chickens out on an adventurrrrreeeeee!"
While Aaron was complaining, he wasn't watching were he was going and fell through a hole in the floor. After a few seconds of falling, he hit the basement with a thud.
"Ouch."
When Aaron got reoriented, he looked around and saw a rise in the basement with three statues of rare pokemon. Aaron went up to the statues and stared at them for a few minutes. All of a sudden, the gray statues developed color and came to life. Aaron fell back in surprise. Before Aaron could say anything (or scream), the three once-statues ran off.
"What in the name of Ho-oh?" Aaron asked still staring at the empty space that once contained the statues.
"Is anybody down here?" a voice said from the nearest exist.
"Y-YEAH!" Aaron called still recovering from his shock.
Just then, a young man with blond hair wearing a light blue sweater came up to Aaron.
"Are you alright?" the man asked Aaron
"I think so." Aaron said after getting up from his fall from shock. "I-I must have been seeing things."
"Well. You did have quite a fall. I'm Morty. The Ecruteak Gym Leader."
"I'm Aaron Ketchem from Newbark. I came here to challenge you for a badge, but you were away so I decided to just look around town." Aaron introduced himself to the gym leader.
"It's nice to meet you Aaron. I'll gladly accept your challenge."
"Great! I just need to find my friends who decided to ditch me."
"Why?"
"One was off with Officer Jenny and the other one was too scared to come with me."
"Understandable. The sign was placed out there for a reason. Those holes in the floor make this place unsafe."
"Oh."
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After finding Static hiding from the Gastlys and Andy with Officer Jenny, Aaron battled Morty one-on-one: Haunter vs. Quilava. Quilava won.
"That was some battle Aaron. You'll go far."
"Thanks Morty. I'll admit that battle was pretty intense."
"Yeah. I wasn't sure if Aaron was going to make it or not." Andy added.
"Gee. Thanks Andy." Aaron said sarcastically. "Your faith in me is really encouraging."
"Anything to help out a friend." Andy told Aaron while he put his arm around his friend's shoulder.
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"Where to next?" Aaron asked.
"Well, it would be easiest if we go west towards Olivine and Cinawood and then head East cutting back through Ecruteak and then hit Mahogany and Blackthorn.
"Well then, let's go." Aaron said turning west only to come face-to-face with his rival.
"I saw you at the Bug-Catching Contest. Second Place isn't THAT bad. However, first is always better."
"When I want your opinion, I'll ask for it." Aaron snapped at Greg
"If you'll excuse us, we were just on our way." Andy told Greg.
"And if I don't?"
Andy noticed that Aaron's fists were clenching together knowing exactly where the conversation was heading.
"Then I'll tell everyone that you cheated on the final exam in Pokemon Training 101." Aaron stated.
"You wouldn't."
"Watch me."
Greg glared at Aaron before putting his nose up in the air and walking away.
"He cheated?" Andy asked.
"Yeah. I had just finished my exam and as I was turning to leave, I saw him look over on Tom's paper."
"Why didn't you say anything to the teacher?"
"I did. But his parents denied that he would do anything like that. The teacher told me that he tried, but with the money that Greg's parents were feeding the school, nothing could be done. He was the Principal's favorite due to his parent's wealth. The teacher, who also hated him, then told me that if needed, I could always tell Mr. Goodshow if I ever see him."
"I'm just learning more and more about you as we travel. Next thing you know, you'll be saying that you have a long-lost twin brother."
"I wish."
TBC