"So... no hard feeling, right? Let bygone be bygone even though I beat you guys up?"
After my comment, the rest of Team Rocket just glare at me, radiating a very hostile aura.
"Alright, fine fine. Ignore me, pretend that I was never here."
Frankly, I don't know what to expect when I choose to join Team Rocket, but this is definitely not one of them.
Currently, I'm standing guard at the end of Nugget Bridge. And where's that exactly? Well, it's basically a bridge that connects Cerulean City and Route 24.
As for the name... let's just say that I'm supposed to hand out a nugget to whoever beat the Nugget Bridge's challenge, a series of pokemon battles where you would try to beat 5 different trainers in order to get to the other side, to which I'd be waiting at the end. After that, I would hand out a nugget as a price for their victory and offer them to join Team Rocket. If they refuse, however, all I have to do is take their pokemon by force, assuming that they were already exhausted after the first 5 battles.
Honestly, it's not actually a bad plan. The only major flaw about this is that if the challenger has any healing items or is way too strong. But that's why I'm actually here since I was considered their Last Resort. Get it? Last Resort.
"Oi, newbie! Today first challenger is coming. Don't mess it up." One of my, quotes on quotes, "colleague" gives me a heads up.
"Oh please, as if I would accidentally get knocked out by a punch straight to the jaws." Yeah, that should tick him off alright.
Forgot to mention. Due to some misfortune, I have to work with the same people that tried to rob me a few minutes ago. I also think they all hate me but honestly, likewise, the feeling is mutual.
Welp! Here comes the first challenger.
"Congratulations! You beat our five... trainers..." Instead of a complete stranger, I was met with a face that I recognize.
"...Gade?"
Oh boy. "Uh... Hi, Jim."
Great. Now, this is awkward.
"What are you doing here?"
"Well, I'm working." Technically.
"Really? And I suppose that's your work uniform?"
"...Is it really that obvious?"
"Gade, you're wearing a black skin-tight suit with the letter "R" on your chest, that's a pretty big red flag if you ask me. Why did you join Team Rocket anyway?"
I shrugged. "Long story short. They promise me free stuff."
"...and?"
"That's it." If an expression can speak, youngster Jim's face would definitely yell out "Are you serious?!"
"Ahem, anyway! Since you beat our Nugget Bridge's challenge, I'm supposed to hand you this piece of a nugget."
"Um... thanks. I guess I'll take it." I then hand youngster Jim a piece of a golden nugget.
"By the way Jim, how did you get out? I got lost in there for hours."
"Oh, that? Well, there was this guy who was kind enough to help me navigate through the cave. He's not very talkative but I can tell that he's a really strong trainer." Youngster Jim shrugs. "What about you, Gade? How did you get out?"
"Heh, funny enough. It was actually Team Rocket that help me get out of there."
"Really? Damn, now I wish I didn't run off in the first place."
"Yeah actually, I've been meaning to ask you. Why did you do that in the first place?"
"I... don't really know. I guess it was just a spur moment kind of thing."
"Why am I not even surprised." I shake my head in disapproval. "...Say, wanna have a pokemon battle? I did owe you a rematch, didn't I?"
"What? Do you mean like right now? What brought this up anyway?"
"I mean- ...technically, I'm supposed to offer you to join Team Rocket or steal your pokemon. Either work."
"What?!" Youngster Jim was caught off guard by my casual comment.
"Hey, don't worry about it. I'm not going to steal your pokemon. Besides, I'm pretty sure your Abra only knows 2 moves anyway."
"Actually it's Kadabra."
"Same things, different evolution. So! You up for a battle?"
"Hmm..." Youngster Jim then crosses his arm while thinking about my offer, eventually, he makes his decision. "Okay, but the loser has to pay up the winner, got it?"
"In that case, you better prepare your pocket because I have no plan to lose. Go! Nidorino!"
"Nidorino!"
"Alright! Here I go. Go! Kadabra!"
"Kadabra!"
"Kadabra! Use Confusion!" Youngster Jim yells out his order.
"You know the drills, Nidorino. Tanks it and use Horn Attack!"
"Nido!" Nidorino charges forward, ignoring the pain from the Confusion attack.
"Not so fast! Kadabra! Use Teleport!" Kadabra manages to Teleport away, dodging Nidorino's attack.
"This trick again?"
"Hey if it works, it works."
"Fine. You ask for it. Nidorino! Use Horn Attack again!"
"The usual Kadabra! Teleport and Confusion!" Sorry buddy, but I don't think so.
"Now, Nidorino! Use Sand-Attack!" As pers my order, Nidorino builds up a gust of sand and shoots it toward a Kadabra, causing him to mess up his attack.
"Kadabra! What's wrong!" Youngster Jim is panicking.
"Here's a fun fact for you, my youngster. Psychic pokemon, while maybe powerful, have one big major disadvantage. If it can't see its target, then it's completely defenseless. Speaking of which, Nidorino! Use Horn Attack!"
"No! Kadabra! Get away from the attack!" Unfortunately, it was already too late for Kadabra. Nidorino charges in and finally hit Kadabra with a full force Horn Attack, instantly knocking the pokemon out.
"A little advice for you, Jim. Next time you want to win a pokemon battle, do some research. Like I said beforehand, knowledge is power."
Youngster Jim sigh in defeat "...I'll keep that in mind. Return, Kadabra." Raising his pokeball, youngster Jim recalls Kadabra back. "I guess I better get going then."
Oh, you thought you were sneaky. "Hold on hold on. Aren't you forgetting something?"
"Damn it. I was hoping that it'd slip your mind."
"Come on buddy. You know the rules. Pay up."
*Sigh* "And here I was planning to save this when I beat you one day." Youngster Jim then hands me a peculiar-looking stone, to which when I take a closer look, realize that stone is no ordinary.
"Hey... isn't this...?"
"A Moon Stone? Yeah. Found it while I was inside Mount Moon. But I guess you would probably have better use of it than I will ever do."
"Tough luck, Jim. Maybe next time."
"Yeah, good luck on your job, Gade. I'll see you around."
"You too, Jim."
Well, that was something.
"Hey, what the hell was that all about?! Why didn't you steal his pokemon?" But of course, someone just wouldn't let me have my moment of it.
"Before you all start yelling at me, I'd like you all to think of the image that it would give if I stole a pokemon that only know 2 moves."
Silence.
"Yeah, that's what I thought."
"Tch, smartass."
Much more time has passed, and now I'm tapping my foot against the floor out of boredom. Currently, I'm waiting for someone or something interesting to happen. Many trainers have come to challenge the Nugget Bridge, but after my little stunt with youngster Jim, the rest of the Nugget Bridge's crews realize that they have to up their game or else it would leave a bad image on Team Rocket.
However, it is really a matter of time until someone actually beat the Nugget Bridge's Challenge again. Eventually, that said someone has come into my sight.
"Well well well, if it isn't one of those Rocket grunts." The second challenger makes a smug comment that's directed toward me. After a closer look, I immediately recognize the identity of this challenger.
The challenger is roughly around the age of 15. He wears a black unbuttoned polo shirt and purple trousers with a white fanny pack on his hip. He also wears purple wristbands on both of his arms for some reason. But the most noticeable thing about him is his spiky brown hair. Of course, you have to be a complete idiot to not know a grandson of the great Professor Oak, Blue Oak.
"I could say the same thing with you. What brings the honor of the great almighty Blue Oak to bestowed upon us lowly Rocket grunt?"
"Don't flatter yourself, Rocket. Why don't we let our pokemon decide on that?!"
"At least we have quite a similar idea. Go! Nidorino!"
"Nidorino!"
"Go! Rattata!" wait what?
"Rattata!"
"...you kidding right? A Rattata?"
"A good trainer always has more tricks up his sleeves, criminal."
"...Fine, then I won't hold anything back. Nidorino! Use Fury Attack!"
"Rattata! Retaliate with a Quick Attack!"
Even though Rattata manages to land the attack first, the difference in strength is so great that it barely does any damage. Soon enough, Rattata has succumbed to defeat with the sheer force of Nidorino's strength.
"Heh, not bad. I might actually need to get serious after all." Blue oak stated smugly.
"Don't get your Rapidash so high, Oak. Our battle has only just begun."
"I was going to say the same thing, but it seems like you have read my mind. Go! Pidgeotto!"
"Pidgeotto!" Huh. Pidgeotto, an avian pokemon. That's a new one.
"Nidorino! Use Horn Attack!"
"Don't let up, Pidgeotto! Use Sand-Attack!"
Ah shit.
Before I or Nidorino could even react, Pidgeotto build up a gust of sand and shoot it toward Nidorino, causing his attack to derail from the target. Normally, this wouldn't be an issue since Nidorino could always shake it off and resume his battle. However, his ability "Hustle" is a problem. In case anyone has already forgotten, Hustle is an ability that increases the attack power but lowers the accuracy in exchange. Combine that with Sand-Attack and well... you get an equivalent of a blind pokemon.
"Quickly Pidgeotto! Follow up with Gust!"
At this point, there's really not a lot for me to do. With Nidorino being half-blind and Pidgeotto constantly attacking him, the result of this battle is pretty much guaranteed.
...If Blue was the only one with tricks up his sleeve that is.
"Nidorino! It's time for that! Make way into the direction of my voice."
"N- Nido!" Even though the scene is quite obscured by a cloud of flying sand, I could almost see a smug smile coming from the corner of Nidorino's mouth. Oh, he knows what I'm about to do.
Once Nidorino got close enough, I immediately place a Moon Stone on top of his head, making his body glow instantly and slowly morph into something bigger. By the time Blue realizes what I was doing, it was already too late. Nidorino has already evolved into his final evolution stage.
"Nido... KING!" Oh Yeah! That's... cool...?
Ok, I know that my reaction isn't what most people would've expected. But when your pokemon's final evolution is a tad bit shorter than you... it's kinda underwhelming.
Don't get me wrong. He's big. Definitely big for a standard Nidoking. The thing here is... I've seen bigger. So I'm not exactly disappointed. I just wish that it could've been better.
Oh well, evolution is evolution. I'll take what I can get. "Alright, Nidoking. Show em what you got!"
"Nidoking!" Nidoking charges straight right at Pidgeotto, not letting his opponent prepare for his attack. Also, is that a new move? I gotta take note of that.
Eventually, Pidgeotto succumbs to defeat, leaving Blue to feel overwhelmed by the sudden presence of Nidoking. Now that's what I'm talking about!
At first, Blue seems hesitant, but eventually, he pulls out his next pokeball and releases his third pokemon, an Abra.
"Really? An Abra? No offense but even with type advantage, I really doubt you could-"
"Abra! Use Teleport! QUICK!" Huh?
"Hey- Wait no!" And just like that. Blue Oak has made his escape by teleporting away.
*Groan* "I'm so going to get chewed up for this."
"Oi, mate. Another challenger coming!"
Or maybe not?
As if I was helped by Arceus's saving grace, the third challenger has come into my view. This one, however, is wearing a Red cap.
"Congratulations! You beat our five contest trainers! You just earned a fabulous prize!" I then hand him a gold nugget which he silently receives it. A quiet type huh.
"By the way, how would you like to join Team Rocket? We're a group of professional criminals specializing in Pokemon! Want to join?" The trainer in Red cap just stare at me in silence.
"Are you sure?"
"Come on, join us!"
"I'm telling you to join!"
"...Okay, you need convincing!"
"I'll make you an offer you can't refuse!"
Nidoking (Male)
Nature: Rash
Type: Poison/Ground
Move set
- Chip Away
- Sand-Attack
- Horn Attack
- Fury Attack