Part 8 is another new part, and has another new character. She's actually someone I know… you better be nice to me, ptpeach, otherwise I may just kill off your character… Evil grin

Part 8: The Fourth Champion

Gary opened his eyes, only to find that he hurt all over, and that he was staring at concrete. Getting up, he looked around- a thin sliver of light was shining over him.

"Hello?" he called, and heard someone reply.

"Who is that?" he replied, only to have the person say the same thing.

"Duh, it's an echo," he mumbled angrily.

"I'm no echo!" The echo replied.

Gary looked up, confused, only to hear muffled laughter.

"I love messing with your mind," a feminine voice giggled.

"Who's that?" Gary asked.

"Guess," the voice said playfully.

"Um… May." Gary mumbled.

"Guess again," the voice replied annoyingly.

"I dunno…" Gary scowled, annoyed.

"Three guesses, then I'll tell you." The voice giggled.

"Misty." Gary growled.

"Nope." she said.

"It could be Ash…" Gary mumbled.

"He's not a girl, silly!" the voice laughed.

"Are you going to tell me?" Gary said angrily.

"Fine, fine…" the girl said, sullen for once. "I'm Layla."

There was a moment of silence.

"Who are you? Are you a part of those Team Sphera people?" Gary asked.

"Nope," Layla muttered, as she opened the door. "I think you can help me, though."

Gary walked out, followed by Layla, who seemed unusually happy.

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Mount Moon loomed over the four trainers, surrounded in mist.

"So… how do we get in?" Kevin asked Jordan.

Jordan shrugged, and Kevin sighed.

"Way to go," he mumbled sarcastically. "Why are we even here?"

"To rescue my friend," Crystal cried confidently.

"They took your friends too?" Jordan asked her.

Crystal nodded slowly.

"Two of my friends, actually- Layla and Tom. I miss them so mu- Dad? What's happening? Have you found something?"

Jordan stared at Crystal strangely.

"Is he your dad?" Jordan asked.

Crystal nodded.

"Have you found an entrance?" Crystal inquired.

Red nodded, pushing aside a shrub- sure enough, a dimly lit passageway beckoned for them to go through. Crystal, Kevin and Jordan rushed over, each going in, Red in front, followed by Jordan, then Kevin, then Crystal. They kept walking in silence before a huge cave beckoned in front of them, waterfalls crashing down into small fountains.

"Nice place," Red remarked, having a look around.

"Geo!" something yelled, and everyone jumped. "Dude! Geodude!"

"Ah, just a Geodude," Kevin sighed. "Thought it'd at least be a Nosepass- something worth keepin', ya know?"

"I haven't caught one," Jordan declared in annoyance, pulling out Treeky's Pokeball. "Anyone got a Pokedex? Can it read the entry out?"

Crystal complied, pulling out a Pokedex.

"Geodude. A Rock/Ground dual type Pokémon." Crystal's Pokedex read. "The longer a Geodude lives, the more its edges are chipped and worn away, making it more rounded in appearance. However, this Pokémon's heart will remain hard, craggy, and rough always."

Kevin sighed- why did Jordan want to catch this weakling?

"Treeky, go!" Jordan exclaimed, throwing the Pokeball.

Treeky appeared out of it, roaring. He glared at Geodude, but the little rock didn't look at all intimidated.

"Try Pursuit!" Jordan yelled, his voice echoing around the cave.

Treeky nodded, leaping at Geodude in a purple blaze, hitting it. However, the move didn't seem to faze the little Pokémon. Suddenly, Geodude rolled at Treeky quickly, hitting it.

"It's a Rollout!" Jordan said, surprised. "Watch yourself, Treeky- dodge it and use Giga Drain!"

Geodude once again rolled at the gecko, which leapt out of the way, spitting a seed at the startled rock. It hit easily, green spheres flying from the Geodude to the Grovyle. Treeky glowed for a second, before a loud crack was heard, and Geodude fell.

"Pokeball, go!" Jordan bellowed, throwing a Pokeball at the wounded creature.

It hit the Geodude, absorbing inside with crimson light. The Pokeball rocked from side to side… once… twice… and then, the Geodude broke out.

"Huh?" Jordan exclaimed, but the Geodude had already rolled at Treeky, damaging it, and also leaving no time to escape.

"Can't even catch a little Geodude," Kevin sneered.

"Treeky, try to dodge Rollout and use Pursuit!" Jordan shouted.

The Grovyle leapt into the air, causing Rollout to miss.

"Attack now!" Jordan yelled.

Treeky dived at the reckless Geodude in a purple explosion of light. At that same moment, a sphere of silver surrounded the Geodude.

"It's used Defence Curl to block it? But… how?" Jordan spluttered. "Treeky, jump back and use Toxic!

The gecko nodded, leaping backwards and spitting a toxin at Geodude, who pressed itself to the ground and rolled at Treeky. It hit hard, making Treeky weak.

"I can't believe it- oh, no! Defence Curl made it hit harder!" Crystal exclaimed. "Jordan, try another Pursuit!"

Jordan nodded. "Treeky, try it!"

Treeky jumped at Geodude before it could attack, slamming into it with a deadly Pursuit. The combatants were consumed by a burst of purple flame, and Treeky leapt back, tired. Meanwhile, the Geodude looked ready to faint.

"Come on," Jordan muttered, his teeth clenched.

He gripped the last Great Ball tightly, throwing it at the determined Geodude.

"Great Ball, go!" Jordan bellowed.

The Pokeball hit the surprised Pokémon, sucking it inside. It fell to the ground with a faint clatter, the shocked Pokémon struggling to get out. It rocked, and clicked… once… twice… three times. The Pokeball fell silent, and Jordan picked it up.

"Can't even capture a stupid Geodude," Kevin mumbled.

"Kevin, that Geodude is about to evolve. That's why it's so powerful."

Jordan gaped- no wonder this little Geodude had put up such a fight.

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May was leaning against the wall of her cell, trying to think of a way out.

"I wish I was a psychic like Jordan, sometimes." May laughed, as she heard a Geodude stroll past.

"Dude, Geodude." it said.

"Open the door, then!" a man's voice yelled.

"Dude." Geodude replied, shoving the door down.

May stood up, walking over to them.

"May, you're okay!" Jordan's voice said.

"What are you doing here, Jordan?" May asked, as they all snuck away from the cell.

Jordan held a finger up to his lips, telling May to be silent.

"These people are dangerous," he whispered. "I don't think they'd hesitate to kill us."

May gasped inwardly, following Red, Kevin, Crystal and Jordan around several corners before ducking into a room. May grabbed the handle, locking it with a click.

"So, who are all you people?" May asked, glancing from Red, to Kevin, to Crystal.

"I'm Red, the Kanto Pokémon Champion," Red muttered in a deep voice.

"And I'm Kevin Gold, the former Johto League Champion." Kevin introduced himself.

"The name's Crystal and I beat this moron," she laughed, pointing to Kevin.

Kevin scowled at Crystal, and started arguing again.

"You won because I let you!" Kevin yelled.

"Oh, yeah? Well… you let girls win because you feel insecure!" Crystal screamed.

Kevin was silent for a moment, trying to think of a reply. Annoyance flooded through Jordan, May and Red's minds in dangerous amounts and, as Crystal continued to insult Kevin, Jordan finally lost his temper.

"CAN YOU BOTH JUST SHUT-" Jordan began loudly, but was interrupted by the doorknob rotating slightly.

"The door won't open," a Sphera grunt complained. "I left my donut in there, along with my coffee."

All of them were immediately silent.

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"Why did you let me out?" Gary asked Layla, who was walking beside him.

"Oh, well… you see, I read somewhere that you were a really good trainer. And I need your help."

"Help with what?" Gary asked as his interest was piqued.

"My older brother… he's one of the Sphera people."

There was an awkward silence.

"So, what should I do?" Gary asked.

"Maybe try and talk to him." Layla pleaded.

Gary nodded, continuing to walk.

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"Is anyone in there?" a Team Sphera grunt yelled, pounding on the steel door.

Jordan looked at May- she appeared to be hyperventilating. Tears had brimmed in her eyes, and she was sweating a lot.

"We're gonna be okay," Jordan muttered in her ear.

She jumped slightly, but nodded all the same.

"They're getting it open…" Kevin said to himself, eyes wide in fear.

Red breathed in deeply.

"Got it!" the Sphera grunt yelled, and Jordan stepped backwards.

Unfortunately, he slipped, knocking into May and causing them both to fall under the table.

"You little freaks!" a Sphera grunt laughed, and a fight broke up above Jordan and May.

"Go, Drowzee, and use Hypnosis!"

Three loud thumping noises were heard soon afterwards- Kevin, Crystal and Red had lost.

"Great work, Drowzee… Oi! You guys! Take them to the Sphera Twins!"

Jordan and May could only listen in horror as their three friends were dragged off cruelly. Despite the fact that they were right next to each other, they both felt empty, scared, and alone.

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The forest seemed empty, as Ash and Misty walked through it, in desperate search of the barbarians that had effectively destroyed Vermillion.

"Wow… have you seen the time, Ash?" Misty asked, beckoning to her watch.

Ash looked at the watch- it was about 3am.

"We better keep going…" Ash mumbled, beginning to walk again.

"Ash… I can't walk any further. Maybe we should rest…" Misty said, stifling a yawn.

Ash nodded- the lack of sleep was beginning to affect his movements.

"Okay, Mist," he muttered, sitting down against a tree. "I just wish I'd brought along my bag."

Misty sat next to him, yawning loudly.

"The sooner we catch up with those people, the better." Ash said forcefully, as Misty leant on his shoulder.

Misty smiled.

"Typical Ash," she laughed. "Always so confident."

Ash didn't know how to react, and Misty giggled, making Ash blush slightly. They kissed, and then laughter was heard from in front of them- Gary and a girl were standing there.

"Don't mind us, we're just passing," Gary laughed, as the girl giggled uncontrollably.

"Gary, what are you doing here?" Ash asked, as he and Misty stood up.

"We're trying to find Jordan and May. Have you seen them?" Gary asked.

Ash sighed- this entire situation was becoming needlessly complicated- first of all, Vermillion is destroyed, and they say it was the wrong place- then Jordan and May go missing? It had to be more than coincidence.

"Don't tell me they're gone? Who kidnapped them?" Misty wondered aloud.

"Team Sphera," the girl whispered. "My brother's joined them… but I still think we can make him reconsider."

"Who's Team Sphera?" Misty asked Ash, who shrugged.

"I don't really know," Gary admitted grimly.

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"It's a pleasure, Red," a deep-voiced man said sarcastically. He was out of sight.

Red struggled to keep himself awake. There were metal bands around his hands and feet.

"I can't have you messing up my plans, Red," the voice continued, laughing and drawing closer.

The man was wearing an emerald green outfit, and was holding a mysterious black box in one hand. The other hand was hidden from view. However, it was the black box that sent shivers up the Champion's spine.

"What's that?" he asked shakily, now more alert.

"Just… a tazer," the man laughed, jabbing it into Red's side.

He yelled in agony as several thousand volts of electricity coursed through him. Red twitched slightly, and then fainted.

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"We're right back where we started," May sighed, sitting down. "This is hopeless… we'll never get out!"

Jordan sat down next to her, sighing heavily.

"We've got to rescue Red, Kevin and Crystal." he said firmly. "It's the only way to ensure that these psychos are put away."

"Do you think they'll be okay?" May asked, getting up.

A conflict went through Jordan's mind at that point- whether or not the Sphera grunt really had tried to kill him.

"I hope so. These guys… are capable of it, though." Jordan said, also getting up and walking.

"How do you know?" May asked curiously.

"It's because they tried to kill me." Jordan muttered quietly.

May gasped, and, to Jordan's surprise, didn't ask how.

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"When did you two get together?" Gary asked, as all four of them strolled through the inky pitch-black darkness of Route 6, broken only by dim lights radiating from Saffron City.

"Uh… why are you asking all this?" Ash inquired.

"Don't answer a question with a question, Ashy boy." Gary sneered.

Suddenly, Layla began to laugh.

"Ashy boy? Ahaha!" she choked, laughing as Ash, Misty and Gary stared at her oddly.

"Layla… be quiet." Gary said.

"Sorry," she mumbled, wiping tears of laughter from her eyes.

"Anyway, does anyone know where the Team Sphera base is?" Gary asked.

Everyone looked at Layla, and Layla pointed out past the now bright lights of Saffron.

"Mt. Moon." Layla said, and everyone sighed.

"We'll keep walking for a bit longer, and then we'll all just stay at my Gym." Misty mumbled, and Gary, Ash and Layla walked with renewed energy, anxious to rest.