Author Note: This is my favorite Chapter
"For the last time, Cubone. No! You're not getting any smoke back today!"
"Cu!"
"Because you're addicted to it! Seriously, this is for your own good!"
"Cubone!"
"Like I said. For one week, then you can go back and do your things or whatever."
"Cu!"
"No "but"! What do you think Marowak is going to say if she sees you like this, huh?!"
"Cubone!"
"Oh, that's it! Get back in your pokeball!" Dematerialize into red energy, Cubone get zip back inside his pokeball. *Sigh* "How the hell did this happen?"
Turning around, I notice Archer leaning against the wall, observing me. "And here I thought I had it bad with my pokemon," Archer states calmly.
"What do you want?" I ask.
"I got the thing you ask for." Archer pulls out something from his pocket and hands it to me. It was 3 sets of TM disks. "Also instead of Earth Power, I manage to find something else for you." Showing another TM in his other hand, he gives it to me. "It's called Earthquake. The strongest ground type moves you can get your hand on, so careful using it." Archer warns me.
"I'll keep that in mind," I reassure him. "Also, how do these things work?"
"You're going to bring out a pokeball of the pokemon you want to use your TMs on." Following Archer's instruction, I take out Nidoking's pokeball. "Good. Then place a TM that you want on the button of a pokeball. You will notice how there's a hole in a middle of a disk. It's for a pokeball's button."
Placing the TM Earthquake on the button of Nidoking's pokeball, I ask Archer. "So what's next?"
"We wait." Just as he ends his sentence, the disk begins to spin and start crumbling, eventually dematerializing into nothing. "One more important thing to note, TM will replace any of your pokemon known moves by pushing away their first move slot, leaving the last slot empty for the TM to slide in," Archer explains. "And since you just use Earthquake, that TM is now on your pokemon last move slot."
"Thanks a lot, Archer. I appreciate your help."
"Don't mention it. It's what I do." Archer finishes before he walks away, leaving me with the remaining 3 TMs.
Welp. Time to use up the rest of these.
Releasing Nidoking, I decide to do some testing with him. "Nido?"
"Sup, Nidoking." I greet him. "Do you notice anything different?"
Nidoking squints his eyes and studies me with clear concentration, analyzing every detail. "I meant you. Do you notice anything different about you?"
Understanding my question, Nidoking inspects himself, scanning his body and tail, before shaking his head.
"I just give you some TMs move. And by some, I mean I completely replace all of your move set." Nidoking looks shocked, his face almost shows an expression of betrayal. "Now hold on, let me explain. I got you some pretty sweet moves, including the strongest ground type move called Earthquake." Nidoking's ears perk up at the mention of the name. "Along with Flamethrower, Thunderbolt, and Sludge Bomb in that order." His eyes are now sparkling with excitement.
"Nido! Nidoking!" Grabbing my arms, Nidoking drags me to the elevator and quickly mashes on the button, which causes it to break. "...Nidoking." Nidoking looks apologetic.
"It's fine, we can just take the stairs."
Leaving Silph Co. Headquarters, Nidoking is bouncing up and down with excitement. "Nido! Nido! Nido!"
"I know buddy, just take it easy. You're excited, I get it. But we need to find some targets to practice with." I try to calm Nidoking down.
"Nidoking!" Nidoking suggests and points his finger at the second pokeball on my utility belt.
"Cubone? That's... actually a good idea." I nod. "Only one problem."
"Nidoking?"
Taking out Cubone's pokeball and releasing him, Cubone immediately crosses his arm and puff his chest, still mad at me I see. "Take a look for yourself."
Studying Cubone's behavior, Nidoking decides to approach Cubone. "Nido? Nidoking?"
"Cubone!"
"Nido. Nido Nidoking."
"Cu! Cubone!" Cubone then points his bone club at me. "Cubone! Cubone Cubone!"
"Nidoking?" Nidoking turns his head to look at me, to which I respond with a shrug. "Nidoking?"
"Cubone!" Cubone blows out an Ember while gesturing something similar to smoking. "Cubone!"
"...Nido."
"Cu!"
Facing palming himself, Nidoking turns around and walks back to me. "So? How does it go?" Nidoking responds by shaking his head
"Nido. Nido, Nidoking?!" Nidoking asks while tapping his finger at my forehead.
"Ow, geez! Ok, I'll admit. It was somewhat my fault that Cubone is addicted to weed."
"NIDOKING?!" Oh, whoops. I accidentally blurt out that part.
"Now hold on, I can explain-" Nidoking quickly grabs both of my shoulders, forcing me to look at his furious expression.
"NIDO! NIDOKING NIDOKING!" Nidoking is pointing his finger at Cubone, clearly mad at me.
"C- Calm down, if you would listen-" Nidoking flicks my forehead, making me shut up, "Ow!"
"Nidoking." Nidoking is now starting right at me. "Nido Nidoking. Nidoking, Nidoking Nidoking. Nido!" Nidoking points at my chest. "Nido Nidoking!" then points at Cubone. "Nidoking?!"
"Y- Yeah, I think I get the gist of it." I nod. "Look, I'm sorry, ok? It was a bad choice for me to give Cubone that cigarette. " I scratch the back of my head. "But I swear to Arceus, I did not give him a fucking weed."
Nidoking crosses his arm, not believing me but is still listening. "...Nidoking." Nidoking gestures for me to go on.
"Well, it all starts with Proton."
*BEEP BEEP* *BEEP BEEP* *CLICK* "Hello?"
"Proton! I am so sorry about this! But if you see 4 feet tall Nidoking charging straight right at you, just run! You hear me?!"
"..."
"Um... Proton? You still there?"
"Hey uh... this is Petrel. Proton just got carried by 4 feet tall Nidoking you describe."\
"Oh..."
"Yah."
"...Blackmail?"
"Sure things. I'll record the video for you."
"Thanks a lot, Pret."
"Don't mention it, Growlithe. Just send me his reaction when he finds out."
"Wow... just wow..." Watching the video that Petrel sends to me, I express my surprise to Nidoking. "At least you get to test all of your new moves."
"Nidoking." Nidoking seems content with his result while Cubone is still watching the video on my shoulder.
"Anyway, now that we're already at it. Wanna go and grab some bite?" I ask both of my pokemon. They respond with a raised fist.
"Nido!"
"Cu!"
"Alright, let me look through my Porygon phone first, and then we'll pick."
"Hey hey! If it isn't my favorite Team Rocket, Gade!" A familiar smugly voice calls me out, I turn my head around to notice the recognizable brown spiky hair. "And here I was wondering if you were somehow involved with the whole Silph Co. subjugation." Blue smiles as he approaches me.
"So you knew, huh? As expected from the grandson of the great Professor Oak." I praise him sarcastically. Then I notice someone else behind him. "Who's that?" I tilt my head forward.
"Oh right! Forgot to introduce her!" Blue brings out the person at the front. "This is Leaf, my childhood friend. Say Hi Leaf!"
"H- Hi. Mister... Rocket." Leaf greets me, but her whole demeanor is screaming uncomfortable, unlike our last encounter when she wasn't aware of my Rocket status.
"Come on, Leaf! You can call me Gade. We met before, remember?" Leaf flinches at the mention of our previous reunion.
"Wait, you 2 knew each other?" Blue asks us, to which Leaf and I both nod. "Since when?!"
"Back at Celadon City. She saw me sparring with Nidoking and decided to greet a little ol' me." I answer his questions. "Also this may seem random but do you happen to know some good ramen places around here?"
"Hmm..." Blue crosses his arm while thinking. "Oh! I remember this one place I went with Red as a kid. They have some of the best ramens in Kanto. Come on! I'll show you." Blue gestures for me to follow him.
"Alright, I'm coming!" Walking right behind him, I follow Blue as he takes a lead on the way to this ramen place he talks about. Then I notice how Leaf is leaving quite some space between me and her. "Leaf? You, ok?"
Leaf jumps at the mention of her name before quietly replying. "Y- Yeah, I'm fine. Don't worry about it."
Not believing her, I quicken my pace to close the gap between me and Blue. "Hey, not sure if this is just me, but Leaf seems a bit on edge. I'm not making her uncomfortable right?"
"No, she's actually like this ever since she lost against Red," Blue responds. "I tried to reassure her that Red and I are just built different, but she doesn't look convinced."
"You mention this 'Red' twice already. Who is he anyway?" I inquire.
"Red? Well, he's... a bit of a jerk actually. But he is my rival." Blue elaborates. "Alongside Leaf, we knew each other since we were a kid. He doesn't talk much, so don't be surprised if you mistake him for muted."
Wait... "Hold on, is this Red person also wearing a Red cap?"
"Yeah... don't tell me you also met him?"
"Twice actually. First time at the Nugget Bridge. Second time and Celadon City." I recall the event.
"Damn, I bet you destroyed him then."
"Um... no, he actually destroyed me. On our first battle, he use his Gyarados to smoke my Nidoking with only 2 Dragon Rage." I describe how the battle went. "On our second encounter though, we called it a tie."
"A tie? That's interesting. Nobody has ever got a tie from him before." Blue states. "Anyway, we're here, my favorite ramen place!"
Looking at the building in front of me, I can see a big neon sign that said "Safframen! Our service is the best!". The place itself isn't that big but I'll take Blue's word for granted.
"So, you're gonna walk in with that thing still on?" Blue points at my uniform.
"Why not? It would be funny." I shrug. We then make our way inside the restaurant.
"Welcome! May I take your-" The staff immediately pauses at the sight of me entering the restaurant. "...order?"
"Table for 4," I tell the staff.
"T- This way please." The staff quickly guide us to the table. Afterward, we all sit down on our respective seats with Nidoking on my right, Blue's on the other side, and Leaf on his left.
"Can't believe you actually let your Nidoking out," Blue comments as he looks at my pokemon, admiring his appearance.
"Eh, I don't like having Nidoking inside a pokeball." I explain. "Also, it's a good intimidating tactic."
"Nidoking." Nidoking nods at my reasoning.
"Anyway, what do you suggest that I should order? I'm new here." Taking out the menu, I look through many varieties of choices.
"I would suggest that you get a Miso ramen, but if you're feeling bold, you can get a Spicy Chashumen." Blue points at the picture on the menu.
"I think I'll have 3 of that. Nidoking and Cubone lean a bit more on spiciness." I look at both of my pokemon, to which they confirm with a nod.
"Great! What about you Leaf?" Blue turns his head around, facing Leaf.
"I... think I'll have 2 Miso ramen. My Eevee can't handle spice very well." Leaf answers.
"Wait, you have an Eevee?" I perk with interest.
"Y- Yeah...?" Leaf looks away.
"Cool! Can I see it?" I ask her.
"I'm... not sure if that's such a good idea." Leaf reluctantly responds.
"Come on, Leaf! It's not so bad. You two stay here while I'll go place my order for us." Blue then gets up from his seat, leaving only me and Leaf to converse with each other.
"So... Eevee?"
"Mmmm... ok. Just don't bother her so much." Taking out her pokeball, Leaf releases her Eevee.
"Eevee!" Eevee looks around, taking interest in a Cubone on my shoulder.
"Heh, I think she likes you, Cubone." I tease the pokemon on my shoulder, causing him to blush a little bit. "Why don't you go talk to her?" Lifting Cubone up, I place him in front of Eevee.
Eevee studies Cubone with curiosity as she slowly approaches him. Cubone just stands there, completely frozen at his spot.
"C- C- C- Cu! Cubone!" Finally, Cubone speaks up and lets out a tiny squeak, making Leaf genuinely laughs for the first time.
After a while, Blue returns back to our table when he spots Cubone and Eevee playfully interacting with each other. "What did I miss?"
"Not much, just Cubone having a crush on Eevee."
"Cubone!' Cubone went flustered at my comments.
"Anyway, I place my order. The food should be here any minute now."
"Cool! Can't wait to eat."
"Eevee!"
Eventually, the food arrives. Everyone then takes out their chopsticks and munch on their food. Nidoking seems to have a bit of a problem with his chopstick, which is understandable considering that he only has 3 fingers... or claws? As for Cubone, oh that sneaky little devil, he's currently having his moment with Eevee. I'm so going to blackmail him for this.
After all of us finished our food, I offer to pay for everyone which surprises the staff a bit. By the time we leave the restaurant, the sun was already setting.
"Man!" I stretch my arm. "Today is quite fun."
"Indeed it is, I haven't had this much fun ever since I was 10." Blue states calmly. "What about you, Leaf?"
"...It was nice." Leaf let out a small smile as she pets her Eevee.
On the other hand, Cubone looks sad that he has to part away with Eevee. "Y'know... if you want, you can go with her." I offer Cubone.
Cubone looks at me with surprise, still digesting the word that I just said. In the end, he shakes his head. "Cubone!"
"I think he's like you more than Eevee." Leaf comments. "Don't worry! I'm sure we'll meet again one day." Leaf reassures my Cubone with enthusiasm, reminding me of our first encounter. "Well then, I'll see you around!"
"Have a good trip you two!"
"Bye, Gade!"
Man, today sure is nice.
Nidoking (Male)
Nature: Rash
Type: Poison/Ground
Ability: Sheer Force
Item: N/A
Move set
- Earthquake
- Flamethrower
- Thunderbolt
- Sludge Bomb
Cubone (Male)
Nature: ?
Type: Ground
Ability: ?
Item: Thick Club
Move set
- Ember
- ?
- ?
- ?