Phillip walked across a bridge that led down to the piers from Vermilion City where his new goal laid. While Bill's description of a party was a turn-off to Phillip, his Pokémon needed all the experience they needed. That's why ST. Anne is Phillip's next destination.
ST. Anne came in the size of a frigate and looks of a cruise ship. Phillip could tell it was built to handle large amounts of people for long periods of time, along with absorbing large amounts of damage, suggesting Pokémon battles were allowed within. An ideal place for trainers who like battling, but would like some luxury.
Phillip walked up the ramp that led to the entrance. He flashed the ticket he had received from Bill to the guard, and said guard allowed him entry.
Inside was a steadily increasing crowd of people who stood a room with an orange floor and blue ceiling. The room had two floors, which allowed anyone who felt too crowded on the first to go to the second via twin staircases at the back of the room. Several tables littered the first floor. The second floor was too high to see, but Phillip believed it had just as many tables set up. There were four windows along the back wall: two on one side and two on another.
As Phillip walked around the first floor, he noticed that some tables were selling merchandise or actually Pokémon, coming in a preset ball. Trainers were talking back and forth, showing their captured Pokémon or just talking about Pokémon in general. Some trainers were trying to impress others who had the same captures by showing how healthy it was, well trained it was, or how large theirs were.
Other trainers, however, seemed to go to the middle of the room for battling.
At the moment of Phillip's entry, two men were fighting. One man was much more casual than his opponent, who was wearing a tuxedo with a top hat and staff. The former had out a Starmie while the latter had a Raticate.
Raticate started it all off with a Jump Kick. Starmie tried countering with a Spinning Tackle, a move which Phillip took as Rapid Spin instead. The Jump Kick hit home, but didn't seem to do any damage, due to Starmie's Psychic type. Raticate came in with a Super Fang and was able to crack the gem that contained Starmie's life energy. Starmie fainted right away and the tuxedo man was called the winner.
Said man told the other that is was just a practice match and that he was lucky. Raticate's trainer told the other to keep building his Pokemon's strength before asking the ground if any other wanted to battle.
Phillip took the other trainer's spot. " I hope I can fit the bill."
The man looked at Phillip for a second before smiling. " Very well! Show me your Pokémon!"
"Wartortle!" Wartortle came out of the PokeBall when Phillip threw it into the air. Wartortle landed in a battle stance and Raticate shifted it's feet to get its own stance together.
Raticate started it off like the last battle. It's jumped high into the air for a Jump Kick. Wartortle, however, used its Water Gun to propel itself to evade. It's then rocketed back to its spot for a Tackle. Raticate weaved out-of-the-way and attempted a Hyper Fang attack, only to hit Wartortle's shell and stop short. Wartortle used Bubble to force Raticate off and then swiped it's claws across the Raticate's face. Raticate turned on the impact and growled. It turned back, only for a Tackle to knock it back.
An instant later, the trainer called for the end of the match. He said he considered the match a draw and walked off. Phillip shrugged before going off down his own path.
Ash stepped into his way. "That was so cool!"
" You sure know how to battle like a pro." Misty followed. Phillip grinned sheepishly and rubbed the back of his head.
When Phillip's embarrassment faded, he told them he wanted to do some more battles, so the group split up and went to their chosen paths.
Phillip found many trainers that wanted to battle him, though all on the exterior of the ship. These trainers used a massive display of Pokémon.
Sailors used combined team of a muscular, gray skinned, red-eyed humanoid with three brown ridges across the top of its head and a visible ribcage called Machop and some Water Pokémon. The first seen was a jellyfish with a light blue body, two tentacles, and red orbs on the sides of the top of its body and in the middle, just before its stoic eyes. It was called a Tentacool. The second was a Pokémon inside a bivalve shell. It's body was hidden by darkness, but it's eyes were still visible along with its tongue, making it look like it was forever stuck giving all a raspberry. This is one was Shellder.
The Water type Pokémon was easily destroyed by Pikachu while the Machops were beaten by Wartortle.
There were some rooms down some halls far off from the main attraction. Trainers would sometimes exit to go to the main hall, but stopped Phillip for a battle. It was in the first of the battles that Phillip finally saw a Growlithe. The only real difference between the tablet version and the real one was the fact the real one was orange and cream instead of rock gray, and this one was far more animated. It was still beaten by Wartortle.
The later battles contained a pink version of Nidoran with slightly larger size, in horns and actual height and width along side the female version, which was light blue. Phillip used both Charmeleon and Wartortle to avoid getting poisoned by the barbs.
The rest was slightly standard in cases. The next trainer carried a Pidgey and a female Nidoran. Pikachu took them down quickly. The last trainer on the first floor held only a male Nidoran. Wartortle won that battle.
The second floor had more Pokémon to add to the Dex. The first trainer was a Sailor with a Tentacool and two red and white fish with fan-like fins and a horn. The PokeDex called it a Goldeen.
Pikachu ripped through them with Thundershock. The next was a Pikachu trainer. Would have been a pain had Phillip's own Pikachu learned Dig a little while ago.
The third trainer had a Growlithe along with a cream horse with orange fire for a mane and tail. It was brought up to be known as a Ponyta. Wartortle wiped them off the map. The last one, as far as doors went, was a girl who had two rats: Rattata and Pikachu. Both went down without too much of a fight.
Phillip sighed after stepping out of the room. Maybe leveling my Pokémon high above the norm was too much. These battles aren't very entertaining anymore.
" You said you wanted that you didn't have to worry about getting hurt." Gabriel reminded him.
I know I did, and I'm happy I did it. But now the battles are boring now.
" What's with the long face?" a new voice said from behind Phillip.
Phillip sighed again. Hold a second, Gabriel. I have a jerk to get rid of. Phillip turned around to find Gary smirking smugly. " What do you want this time?"
Gary lifted a Pokeball to his face. " Isn't it obvious?" Phillip groaned before pulling out his own Pokeball and hurled to the floor while Gary did the same. Wartortle came out with a flash and found a Pidgeotto in its way. With that, the battle began.
Wartortle used it's Water Gun attacks to keep pace with Pidgeotto's natural speed. Between the bursts of water, the two traded blows of Scratches and Tackles. Pidgeotto almost got an upper hand with a Quick Attack switch, but Wartortle stopped it with a Bite to the wing before slamming down Pidgeotto down on to the ground. Pidgeotto was out for the count upon impact.
Gary growled before throwing out the next Pokémon, his Raticate. Phillip switched Wartortle for Charmeleon and the battle began anew.
Raticate was quick on its feet and weaved through the hall without too much trouble. However, it was easily matched by Charmeleon's more ferocious and relentless attack pattern. Raticate would dodge one attack, only to roll out of another, and land into a third within the same 3 seconds. However, Raticate did come extremely close to decapitating Charmeleon with a Hyper Fang when Charmeleon overreached its attack. It was only thanks to Phillip reaction and Charmeleon's speed that kept it alive. Charmeleon then decided to keep at a farther region to keep alive and still deal damage with Ember. It won in the end.
Gary's next Pokemon was his own Wartortle where as Phillip switched out. Gary snarled as Phillip's Pikachu came out. " Stay with one Pokémon, like regular Pokémon trainers do!"
" If that's what regular trainers do, then I'm staying irregular for the rest of my life." Gary twitched before sending his Wartortle out.
Gary's Wartortle was swifter and more powerful than Phillip's, thanks to far more experience. Pikachu was forced to maneuver through incredible attacks that, if glanced across Pikachu's skin, would send it to the wall. Luckily, Pikachu was still faster in speed and landed more attacks than Wartortle, causing a successful win.
Finally, Gary brought out his last Pokémon. This Pokémon was a taller, walking Abra, but with its eyes open, showing narrow eyes. It had a pink star on its forehead, between the sharp eyes. It's snout was more angled and carried a long mustache that led off its face and just in front of it's brown, plated chest. It now had an abdomen that had three pink stripes where the legs were seen to be attached. It's arms were longer and, in its hands were two spoons. The tail was thicker and longer as well.
Gary smirked. " This ends here!"
Phillip shrugged. " We'll see." He sent out Charmeleon.
The fight, in the beginning, was against Phillip. Charmeleon could have been twice as fast and hit twice as hard, and Kadabra, the new Pokémon, would have still won. Charmeleon launched out large amounts of attacks within the first few seconds, but Kadabra would weave through them and land a powerful blast of mental energy. Even Charmeleon's Smokescreen explosive was stopped due to Kadabra's speed. 5 seconds later, and Charmeleon was on its last line and Kadabra was preparing a final Psychic attack.
As Kadabra launched the attack at the down Pokémon, Phillip stepped into the battlefield and raised his arm to take the blast. Instantly, Phillip's sleeves were obliterated, but his arm was fine. Both Pokémon looked shocked, along with Gary. However, Gary quickly smirked before a full blown laugh erupted.
" I win! A Pokémon trainer is never allowed to get between two battling Pokémon!" Gary kept laughing, allowing Phillip to look back at Charmeleon, who was covered in bruises, and registered a Hyper potion he found for healing. Gary was still laughing as Phillip turned back to Kadabra. Gary only stopped laughing when Phillip jumped over his Charmeleon to land behind it. Charmeleon released a barrage of Embers once more, this time hitting thanks to Kadabra being stunned by surprise. Kadabra dropped like a stone and didn't get back.
" Next time, keep your eyes on the battle. Something might happen to surprise you." Phillip said, before walking past Gary, who twitched violently.
Scene Change
Once back in the main room, something big went down.
All the doors slammed shut. Curtains covered over every art display and window. Then, the room was suddenly filled with Team Rocket members with machines on their backs. They pushed all the guests into a small area and waited. Soon, all the lights went out and a familiar motto was heard.
To protect the world from devastation
James and Jessie were standing on top of a table a little away. However, the two's moods were the opposite. Unlike Jessie, who had a somewhat cheerful look upon her face and straight-backed, James was slouching and seemed depressed.
" To unite all people within our nation." The moopy voice of Jame's proved this thought.
Phillip drowned out the repetitive formula and begun sneaking around the group of trainers to get in front of them. He doubt anyone in Team Rocket was trained to handle a sudden attack from hostages.
The lights came on and Jessie started an announcement, but had to cut herself short as Phillip's fist hit a grunt's gut with the force of a train. Said grunt coughed blood as he was sent to the farthest wall.
Team Rocket, as expected, was stunned. This allowed two of Phillip's kicks to land, knocking two more grunts out. After this, they tried fighting back, but Phillip was too fast. He landed punch after punch, kick after kick. At one point, the members aligned themselves just right that Phillip couldn't resist doing something that he saw one.
Pulling out his sword, Phillip slashed wildly into the group. He missed actually hurting them, aiming only from the machines they had. He ended the attack with a horizontal slash. Immediately after the slash, all the machines exploded, forcing the grunts into unconsciousness.
Behind him, the Pokémon trainers were finally fighting back. It began with a group of Pikachu gathering up to form a pyramid and all sending out a powerful pillar of lightning, burning any Team Rocket members to a crisp. Phillip, attracted to his element, rushed over to the pillar and jumped into it, just above the Pikachu. He landed with a complete body of electric armor and his own Pikachu rushing over to help the others.
With his power activated, Phillip punched the closest Rocket member and sent him through the wall behind him. The rest of the team turned to him, only to be burned by a giant vortex of flames that erupted from a group of Charmander nearby. Phillip released his Charmeleon and it went over to help the Charmander. With his Pokémon with the group, Phillip returned the battle.
After a while of punches, Phillip ducked under a windmill of Geodudes, which was good as a Rocket member almost actually hit him. Said member was now cradling his leg as one of the Geodudes had hit him there. Soon after, several Vine Whips came by to knock Rocket members out of the new holes of the ship. Some Butterfree had group up to force more of Team Rocket to sleep, helping the Bulbasaur just carry them off the ship and into the water.
Phillip then spotted a flock of Pidgeotto hovering around to form a large tornado. Phillip's Pidgeotto emerged and joined them in the festivities. With one more Pikachu group Thunderbolt, Team Rocket was ancient history.
But that meant the same for the ST. Anne.
The waves were now ramming the boat, and thanks to the amount damage done by the Pokémon group attacks, the boat wasn't able to handle the coming waves. Everything shook fiercely, causing some to stumble to and fro especially Phillip, who landed straight on his bottom. When captain said that the ship was unsinkable, the ST. Anne nearly capsized. Soon after, the captain was found on a life boat. Everyone else followed his example.
Phillip directed everyone to the lifeboats, making sure there was enough room for everyone could get in. Several boats took sail quickly and had enough people in each. Some were harder, as Phillip wouldn't let them leave until every spot was filled. He even looked for smaller people to fill in any gaps found.
There was suddenly only one life boat left and there had been one gap left. He could have easily stepped on and set sail, but there was one thing bothering him.
Where are those three?
Phillip had memorized everybody he met by face, so he knew when there were people missing. So far, everyone had gotten off except Ash, Misty, and Brock. He looked back at the ship entrance, then back to the gap that everyone gestured to, seeming to hope he would get on.
" God, help me."
With that, he sprinted back into the ship.
Scene Change
Phillip saw Ash running down the halls with Misty and Brock following. " Hey! Wait!" When they didn't slow down, Phillip gave chase.
However, it was too late. Soon, Ash had stopped and the ship capsized. Ash, Misty and Brock were thrown into a room while Phillip hit a wall. Phillip felt his arm and head crack, and he knew nothing more.
That's a wrap!
Please leave constructive criticism as it be greatly appreciated.
Let the rants begin!
