DISCLAIMER:- I do not own Pokemon or any of their characters portrayed herein. I only own characters that have not been seen either in games or in the anime.

MESSAGE TO READERS:- At last, I've found some time to post the next installment of this piece of fiction. It's been about a week or so since I last submitted a chapter. I expect a lot of you were wondering what had happened... ha, I must be dreaming. More and more development story-wise happening in this chapter, but there will be some more battles coming up in the next couple of chapters as well. Not to mention some definite shipping as well. So I will kindly remind those offended by PokeShipping to read a Sailor Moon story or something. Other than that, grab a lemonade, kick back and enjoy!

THE LEAGUE OF CHAMPIONS

CHAPTER 7: STOP VESPIQUEN! INJURY TO THE OPPOSITION!

Still hovering just a few yards away from us, with an ominous red gleam in its eyes, the Vespiquen took time to survey the destruction it had caused. It was like no Vespiquen I had ever seen before. It was much larger than its usual portrayal. At a regular size, they are a little less than four feet in height. Yet this one seemed to be at least six and a half foot tall, more than likely taller than me! Even its wings were larger, yet still buzzed constantly at the same rate as its smaller counterparts. The Combee grubs circled around it, awaiting an order. I could not help but wonder who was actually controlling it. Was it wild? I wasn't sure, considering there was a female figure stood a good hundred yards or so away from the massacre of Beedrill. But what astounded me was that there was still more and more coming forth to challenge the might of this gargantuan bee, only to be taken down swiftly by its underlings. Misty by now was shaking, petrified by the sight of so many bug type Pokemon in one place. Even though the majority of the Beedrill had been completely annihilated by the overgrown Vespiquen and posed little danger to us, Misty was still not convinced enough to stop whimpering. We both remained silent, however. Or at least quiet enough not to be heard over the constant buzzing that was penetrating the very innards of my ears. I tried to sneak another glance over at the female who was behind the melee. Before I got too involved in trying to decipher who she was, another figure stepped forward. It was of the same height, but glowed with a red and yellow aura. I could see it fairly clearly. It was humanoid in stature, yet somewhat monstrous. It's forehead resembled two fireballs. It leapt into the air, but only as high as the Vespiquen was now hovering from the ground. The bee flew skyward, dodging the burst of flame that had been unleashed from the creature… with the buzzing noise faded, I heard the trainer's voice…

"Fire Blast, Magmar!" I heard the young voice cry. The Fire Pokemon jumped up again and fired a star of burning bright fire directly at the giant bee. More Beedrill came in on the attack, launching what looked like Poison Sting attacks at the seemingly unstoppable tank. All of a sudden, the Combee grubs returned and began attacking everything in their path. The Magmar dropped back down to the ground, almost in defeat. Yet it looked up in awe as the Fire Blast it had previously launched had engulfed the Vespiquen. Burning alive inside the inferno, the Queen Bee dropped to the ground. A swarm of Beedrill formed a wall between the remaining Combee and their fallen comrades. I could not see past all of the Beedrill, with the exception of a dark red aura, still surrounding the Vespiquen. The Beedrill that had previously fainted had all began to stir. They were getting back up to their feet. Misty held back a shriek, with a terrified look still filling her eyes.

"We'd be insane to hang around," I nudged Misty, starting to creep back towards the way that we had arrived. As she had done before, she nodded but she also grabbed a tight hold of my arm. I assumed it was for the sole purpose of protection and comfort to her. We started to carefully manoeuvre ourselves around the fallen Beedrill once more, yet with every step we could see more and more of the deadly creatures get back up to their feet. "Quickly, in here!" I pulled Misty into the safety of a hollow bush. Just moments later, a swarm of the formerly fainted Beedrill whizzed past us, heading for where the Vespiquen had been just moments ago. It took a good thirty seconds or more until the coast was clear. I peered cautiously out into the woodland path. Sure enough, almost all the Beedrill had congregated where we had been stood. But there was no Vespiquen or Combee in sight. One Beedrill seemed to be hovering above all the rest, perhaps communicating with them. After a couple more seconds of this, the Beedrill separated back into the depths of the forest. All but the one that was hovering higher. The same sort of dark red glow that had enveloped the Vespiquen at my last sight came over the Beedrill, before literally vanishing as a red beam of light into a Poke Ball. Then I could only see the trainer, but again, I could not see her clearly. The Magmar was stood next to her, which was also called back into it's spherical storage. I could not see the trainer's face, but the shirt she was wearing. It looked very familiar…

"Is it safe to head back?" Misty asked, still shaking with fear. I replied only by waving my hand, motioning for her to remain silent for just a couple more moments until I could figure out where I had seen that shirt before. The trainer began walking towards us slowly. I could hear her voice. It too sounded familiar. I withdrew myself back into the bushes quickly though, as some more Beedrill flew right by the hollow in which we were hiding. I daren't look out to look at the trainer in case one of the Beedrill spotted me. Then Misty and I really WOULD be in trouble. Yet, the young female trainer did not seem to be bothered by the normally territorial Bug Type Pokemon. Yet, her voice became clearer. I could hear what she was saying…

"I don't know whether or not to use Magmar tomorrow," she thought to herself out loud. "My other Fire Pokemon has had a bit more experience. Beedrill would be perfect, but I've also got another option now as well. I know who I will be using though…" Just as she uttered the name of her selected Pokemon, another Beedrill buzzed past us. It was so close, that the buzz from its wings completely drowned out what she had said. Yet I could hear the continuation of her planning, but in the end I lost interest. I became more concerned with the issue of escaping this forest without serious injury. I turned back to Misty, who seemed to be completely grossed out by a Metapod tucked up on a small branch a few inches away from Misty's face. I kept her calm, before grabbing her hand and dragging her out of the bush and quietly following the trainer back towards the Trainer Village. We noticed several more Beedrill were flying around, but they were mainly tending to the nearby Kakuna, possibly to ensure that they had not been badly injured during the bloodshed caused by the Combee and Vespiquen. In the time it took for me to notice this, the other trainer had walked on far into the distance. It appeared that she too was entering the Pokemon League. By now we had arrived back at the lake area where we had just been around half an hour ago, but where the sun was only beginning to set before, day had now turned into night. Stars shimmered in the black sky, there were no clouds to obscure them from my view. Yet, I did notice that there were a lot more nocturnal Pokemon around the lake area. A Zubat was flapping back and forth in search of prey, whilst a Spinarak had begun to spin itself a web around the tree where Misty and I had been relaxing not too long ago. A couple of Wooper and Quagsire were splashing around in the lake where Misty's Pokemon had been earlier on.

"Finally, we're away from those Beedrill," Misty sighed in relief. I too was pleased that no harm had befallen us. "What are you going to do now?" she asked. "I think I might just head back and have a wash. I'm covered in all sorts of stuff after being in those bushes," she remarked as she plucked a small twig out of her hair. I took a look at the state of my clothes. My walking boots had now been covered in thick mud, my jacket had a small thorny strand hanging on to it and my back had also started to sweat. Perhaps I was a bit more nervous back there than I had originally thought. But I also noticed whilst looking at my clothes that Misty still had her hand wrapped around my arm and for some reason she was now stroking it as if it was a Glameow or something. I simply smiled upon realisation, but made no remark about it to Misty.

"I think I'd better have a shower too," I chuckled to myself. "I also need to figure out which Pokemon I'm going to use in my match tomorrow,"

"Oh yeah," Misty suddenly gasped. "I completely forgot about your match. Which arena are you battling on?"

"I think it's the Rock Field," I tried to remember. "I think that since Gabite is a Ground Type, I'll go with him. And also Lairon could become quite useful. Thank goodness it isn't a Double Battle," I then thought to myself briefly about the rivalry that my Gabite and Lairon had with each other. They were both strong Pokemon, but for some reason they just didn't get along. Perhaps they see each other as enemies.

"Your match is three against three," Misty made me snap out of my concentration. "So which will be your third Pokemon?" I wasn't entirely sure at this point.

"Depends," I simply replied. "In the heat of the battle, you have to choose the Pokemon that will provide the best chance of winning. Whether it's a type advantage or a generally stronger Pokemon. You must know what I'm talking about."

"I do," Misty nodded. "It was the same as in my match. After Paul brought out his Electabuzz, I considered using my Gyarados since it is perhaps my strongest Pokemon, but I remembered Brock giving me Marshtomp to use in battle. I thought I had Paul stumped until he brought out his Torterra. Those grass moves did a number on poor Marshtomp. But I did what I had to do to try and win the match. I did my best and I have no regrets." She now seemed to have put her loss behind her, especially after everything else she had been through with me in the remainder of the day.

"At least you've put that behind you now," I smiled. Misty responded with one of her own. I still had to think about what Pokemon Casey might have. I knew she had a Meganium, so I thought that Fire and Flying types would take that down no problem. Although Pelipper is a Flying Type, it is also part Water Type and that could be a disadvantage against a Grass Type. Houndoom was surely the best bet. But as I had thought to myself before, there was no guarantee that Meganium would even be used in the match. Then I suddenly remembered that Misty was an old friend of Casey's. Perhaps I could use that to my advantage. "I wonder what kind of Pokemon Casey has," I questioned, with a conniving look on my face. One which I hid from Misty as I spoke.

"She's quite different as a trainer," Misty responded. "Her Meganium was her starter Pokemon. I met her when it was still a Chikorita. But I know that being a big fan of the Electabuzz Baseball Team, she has a liking to yellow coloured Pokemon and stripy Pokemon. I believe she said to me once before that she owned a Rapidash too." I let out a large grin. Rapidash was a Fire Type, so Gabite being a Ground type could take that one out without any real problem. Or perhaps even Pelipper's Water attacks… but still, I could think about that later. I wanted more clues. "I know she did have an Elekid," Misty continued, "since she's a big fan of the Electabuzz. Whether or not it's evolved yet or not, I don't know." Again, Gabite could defeat that with ease. "But it's been a long time since I've seen her. She may have caught a lot of different Pokemon."

"That's alright," I grinned. "I didn't need to know a list of all her Pokemon," I lied, "but it's certainly a great help."

"It's my pleasure," Misty bowed. "After all, I want to see you take Paul down. Casey might be a friend, but Paul is a greater enemy to me. I would love to see him get taken out of this tournament."

"Don't you worry," I grinned slyly in a way that isn't my norm. "If I have it my way, your wish will come true." Misty then smiled at me in a way that too seemed a little bit out of character. She still clung on to my arm, even though by now we had left the forest and we now on the outskirts of the Trainer Village. "I suppose you'll be heading back to Cerulean City soon, right," I asked so suddenly even I was slightly taken aback by saying it. Misty looked at me and blushed slightly. Why though, I did not really know until she answered.

"I think I might just stay here a while longer," she began. "Although I'll have to leave my dorm by tomorrow night, since I've been knocked out of the tournament and all." To me, that was the biggest hint that I've ever been given. But nonetheless, I kept my cool about the situation.

"Well," I stammered unknowingly, "I've got an extra bed in my room, if you wanted to stay over until the tournament is over." She looked at me unsurely at first, but within seconds she had made up her mind.

"That would be nice," she smiled happily. I returned one to her. We both couldn't take our eyes off each other, just as we hadn't been able to pretty much since we met up after my first round victory. But yet again, the moment was shattered by a bellowing voice.

"Misty, Jonathyn, over here!" I saw Brock waving about a hundred yards away. We had now reached the Trainer Village. Brock's Croagunk was stood to the left of him. To the right was a Sudowoodo, who was also waving. Brock began to run in our direction, his Pokemon having no difficulty keeping up with him. Both of us let out a sigh. "Where have you two been?" he asked with an almost worried voice.

"Why? What's the matter, Brock?" I asked, detecting the uneasiness that Brock was emitting from his body language.

"Something awful has happened," Brock shuddered. "It's Casey. She's been brutally attacked!"

"Oh my God!" Misty screamed, "Where is she?"

"At the Pokemon Center," he replied. "There's too much traffic in Viridian City, so we can't get her to the hospital."

"What are we waiting for?" I too had a sense of apprehension about me as I spoke. "Let's get over there right away." With that, finally releasing myself from Misty's arm I lead the way as Brock and Misty gave chase. We were running as fast as our legs could carry us. Even in my heavy walking boots, I was able to keep a steady pace, yet quick enough to create quite a distance between myself and the other two. Passing several trainers along the way, we soon reached the Pokemon Center, with the perimeter of it being pretty much surrounded by equally concerned trainers, who had become aware of the situation. Just as the case had been when Misty took the brunt of the Leaf Storm caused by Paul's Torterra, we shoved past several paramedics in order to reach the bed in which Casey was laying. We rushed up to her side. The Nurse Joy on duty, along with a duo of a Chansey and a Blissey were tending to her until suitable medical support arrived.

"Ssshh," Nurse Joy shushed us rather abruptly. "She needs to rest," she then serenely softened her voice. I was completely aghast when I saw the extent of the damage that she had taken. One of her eyes had been blackened. Bruises covered her shins and knees, whilst her Electabuzz Baseball Shirt had been ripped, seemingly by large claws. Blood drenched bandaged were wrapped tightly around her waist and one of her arms. Misty had a tear in her eye, shocked at the brutality of her wounds.

"Who did this?" I snarled. Even though Casey was a rival and my next opponent, I had enough decency to share my concern to others. Especially in these circumstances. "They don't look as though a human made them. They're far too savage."

"No," Nurse Joy replied. "A Pokemon did this."

"What kind of Pokemon?" Misty asked, deeply distressed at Casey's condition.

"We don't know," Nurse Joy shook her head in dismay. "From the nature of the bruises, it appears as though something had launched either a physical attack or some form of impact-style move."

"A Fighting Type, perhaps?" Brock asked, looking down at his Croagunk.

"Potentially," Nurse Joy sighed. "But it doesn't explain the cuts. The cuts she obtained are very deep, so I suspect this Pokemon used the move Slash on her several times…"

"There aren't any Pokemon around here that could execute a Slash that powerfully, surely!" Brock pondered.

"I doubt it," she replied. "But we did notice that one of her Poke Balls was wide open, yet her other five Poke Balls remained closed, with her Pokemon all still inside."

"So perhaps someone used a Pokemon to attack her in order to steal her Pokemon?" I suggested rather feebly.

"Sounds like something Team Rocket would do," Brock muttered.

"Who?" I questioned.

"Team Rocket," he repeated. "Criminals that steal other people's Pokemon with intentions of global domination. But thus far, many of their efforts have been thwarted. But for some reason, I don't even think that THEY would go to this extreme for the sake of one Pokemon."

"It's so strange," Misty wimpered with a puzzled look. "Hey, what's that in her hair?" she pointed at a large blob of pale yellow in her hair. Nurse Joy used her fingers to pull it out. It looked quite soft, yet it seemed to shine in the light. "What is it?" Misty asked.

"I don't know." Nurse Joy responded. "It could be tree sap, but it feels more like wax or something.

"Wax?" I scratched my head, now very confused indeed. "Now I AM confused."

"We'll have to wait for the Police," Nurse Joy wiped her fingers on a towel that was passed to her by her Chansey.

"Does that mean Officer Jenny is coming?" Brock's eyes suddenly lit up, seemingly blocking out the situation. However, his Croagunk glared at him, raising his hand. It began to glow a dark purple. Brock hesitated. "On second thoughts, I'll just wait here with you Nurse Joy." His Croagunk winded back. "No, that's not what I meant!"

WHAM!

The Croagunk once again delivered a Poison Jab to his trainer. Brock dropped down to the ground, as his Croagunk dragged him away once again. It croaked somewhat sinisterly, sliding its eyes around with an intimidating demeanour. As soon as he had hauled Brock out of the building, there were a few whispers heard within the crowd. Everyone in the Pokemon Center was in shock, Nurse Joy more so than anyone.

"Did you just see that?" she squealed in utmost disbelief.

"No way," Misty shouted. "Brock's Croagunk is just a bit possessive about his trainer, that's all."

"It is a Fighting Type, though." I argued. "If it does that to its trainer, it must do it to someone else as well."

"Jonathyn, what are you saying?" Misty scornfully replied. "You see those cuts there? How do you think a Croagunk could do that? It doesn't have claws or sharp teeth. And how about the wax in Casey's hair?"

"I don't know," I retaliated. "Perhaps it was poison or something."

"Don't be ridiculous," she scowled at me once again. "If you think that Brock's Croagunk is truly responsible for this then go ahead and prove me wrong. But I'm telling you, there's no way!"

"No need to get so worked up about it, Misty." I snarled back at her.

"Worked up about it?" she angrily responded. "A close friend of mine has been brutally assaulted and you think that another one of her friends' Pokemon is to blame?"

"I'm just saying it's a possibility," I replied.

"Fine," she huffed. "Go ahead, Sherlock. You go ahead and find that guilty Croagunk. I'll prove to you that it wasn't him!"

"If you're going to get like that about it, then fine! I will!" I scornfully answered, walking away from Misty and the injured Casey. "And don't bother coming round tomorrow," I immaturely added. I stormed past everyone in the Pokemon Center, a fist clenched. I finally made it to the exit and waved my head from left to right, trying to figure out which way Brock's Croagunk may have dragged him. It was only then I noticed Harley was trying not to giggle as he purposefully brushed himself past me.

"Lover's rift?" he asked mockingly.

"Shut it, Harley," I responded with a sharp tongue. I carried on walking, paying no notice. But even Harley seemed stunned at my blunt response. But I couldn't care less. I just carried on walking.

TO BE CONTINUED

Next Time: Is Brock's Croagunk really to blame for the vicious attack on Casey? Jonathyn attempts to find out whilst Misty attempts to prove otherwise. And Casey regains consciousness, but what has happened to her missing Pokemon? It's just hours until Jonathyn is scheduled to do battle with Casey, but is she even fit enough to battle?