CHAPTER 26:

The Evil Within

After winning his fourth Badge, making him one step closer to the Hoenn League, Roy is heading toward Rustboro so he can find the quickest route to Petalburg and then Fortree City. Of course, I better not forget Melanie and Steven! Although I'd like to forget the latter...

Anywho, they were going through Meteor Falls to get to Rustboro, and then they'd get to Petalburg, and so on. They were already out of Meteor Falls when a man came up to them. He wore a ruby red outfit with a red cape, and black designs. His chest bore the oh-so-familiar red E symbol...

"I've caught up with you! Gah ha ha ha!" he cackled.

"Who are you? Tweedle Dumb or Tweedle Dumber?" Melanie said.

"You're Tweedle Dumb!"

"Then you're Tweedle Dumber!"

"No, you are!"

"SHUT UP!" Roy yelled. "You're giving me a headache!"

"Anyway, I am Team Eon Clan Red Peon 1, AKA TECRP1!"

"Say that again?" Roy asked.

"TECRP1! Anyway, I'm a cut above the Grunts you've fought, and I demand a battle! With..."

"I'll battle him." Steven said confidently, stepping forward.

"Okay, Steven." Roy agreed.

"Well, I guess it's time to duel! You'll certainly lose to me, Naps!" (Oooooo...)

"Yeah, right. You need to take some! And I'll help you, heh heh heh..." Steven laughed.

"Grr..." Naps clutched a strange, full black Poke Ball that had a purple, cage-like design all around it. Even the bottom!

"I'm so gonna kick your butt!" Naps growled, causing Roy's ears to perk up.

"That sounds familiar..." Roy mumbled.

"What is?" Melanie asked.

"The way he said... 'I'm so gonna kick your butt...'"

"That does sound familiar..."

"Okay, enough talk, fight now! C'mon out, Voltorb!" Naps threw his strange Poke Ball, and a Poke Ball look-alike came out. Only, it was bigger than a Poke Ball, and the colors were... Darker...

"Vol-torb!" it said in a droning, mechanical voice.

"Humph, I thought I'd get a challenge. I choose you, Lairon!" Steven threw a Poke Ball, and his Lairon appeared from a flash of white light.

"Lair-on!" it grunted, clawing the ground.

Battle statistics: This is a three-on-three battle with no substitutions or time limit.

Steven's Lairon vs. Team Eon Red Peon Naps' Voltorb

BATTLE COMMENCE!

"Voltorb, Spark attack!"

Voltorb was illuminated in yellow electricity, and it charged at Lairon. The attack hardly did anything against the Rock/ Steel Element, but for some reason, did more than expected...

"Lairon, Iron Tail!"

Lairon's tail became illuminated in a metallic silver color. Voltorb was still by it, so a swift flick of the tail became critical!

"Grr... Voltorb, Explosion!"

"Oh, this'll work..." Steven mumbled sarcastically.

Voltorb became a simple sphere of white energy, which exploded like an atomic bomb, causing it to faint and Lairon to... Well, not much. Lairon's HP was brought into the yellows a bit.

"Aw, man..." Naps mumbled, holding out Voltorb's strange Ball. A black beam of light shot out, withdrawing Voltorb.

"Okay, next up is: Lotad!" Another strange Poke Ball was tossed out, and a Water/ Grass Element appeared. It had a yellow, beak-like mouth, a blue body with six legs, and a leaf on its back, which was in a bowl-like form. The colors were dark, though...

"Lotad!" it said.

Steven's Lairon vs. TERP Naps' Lotad

BATTLE COMMENCE!

"Lairon, Aerial Ace!"

Lairon ran in a direction, and disappeared into the wind. A few minutes later, he reappeared, slashing Lotad. The Flying-Type assault was super effective, causing Lotad to faint.

"Aw... Return, Lotad!" Naps recalled Lotad.

"Okay... Alakazam, go!"

Naps threw yet another black Poke Ball, and an Alakazam appeared. Only, it, like Naps' other Pokemon, was darkened.

"Kazam!" it yelled in its deep voice.

Steven's Lairon vs. Naps' Alakazam

BATTLE COMMENCE!

"Alakazam, Fire Punch!"

Alakazam's fist began glowing red, and Alakazam struck Lairon, fist ablaze! The attack knocked out Lairon!

"Whoa..." Roy and Melanie said in amazement.

"Rrr... Lairon, return!" Steven recalled Lairon and thanked it.

"Okay, Onix! C'mon out!"

"Onix!" roared Onix when it came from its Poke Ball.

Steven's Onix vs. TERP Naps' Alakazam

BATTLE COMMENCE!

"Alakazam, Ice Punch!"

"What!"

Alakazam's fist began glowing icy blue, and it hit Onix. It's weakness to Ice was its downfall, making it faint!

"What? Grr... Return, Onix!" Steven recalled his fallen Rock/ Ground Element.

"Okay... Meet my strongest Pokemon! I choose you, Metang!"

Steven threw a Great Ball, and a Steel/ Psychic Elemental appeared. It was a blue, floating disk with arms, a trio of white claws at the ends. Black spaces revealed its orange eyes.

"Met-ung!" Metang shouted in a fast-paced voice.

Steven's Metang vs. TERP Naps' Alakazam

BATTLE COMMENCE!

"Metang, Metal Claw!"

Metang's claws shone in metallic light, and it slashed at Alakazam, causing heavy damage.

"Alakazam, Fire Punch!"

Alakazam rushed at Metang, a Fire Punch being anticipated.

"Metang... HYPER BEAM!"

Metang opened it mouth, where a gold energy ball formed. In a second, it shot at Alakazam, and because of its low Defense, fainted!

"NO!" Naps cried.

"YES!" Roy cheered.

"Man, I thought if I didn't use the same Pokemon as other reds, I'd win!" Naps fumed.

Both trainers recalled their Pokemon. Naps ran off like a mad man, dropping spare, black Poke Balls.

"Hey, look!" Roy said, pointing to them. He picked one up, and read what was on the bottom:

"Dark Ball – Team Eon Inc."

"Okay... Well, I'll take 'em!" Roy said, stuffing them in his bag.

"But, Roy! It's a Dark Ball!" Melanie cried. "It might be evil!"

"So? It can't be that bad."

0o0o0o0o0o0

Roy, Melanie, and Steven got to the Rustboro Center for a night's stay. Roy was still pondering about the "Dark Balls" he had gotten when he fell asleep...

Author: No hints about the Dark Balls!