The Emperor Awakens!

Chapter Two

Plusle's Escape

Professor Crabbush was hard at work on a new invention, a type of stone that would change all the known laws of Pokemon evolution. While it was true that most stones are naturally existing, Crabbush had at his disposal some extremely rare elements, including ermium and tantalum. And combining them with a tiny chip off the other stones would surely make something spectacular.

He had just got the final piece to adhere to the surface, when his grandson, Norman, entered.

"Grandpapa, I've just returned from New Bark Town. Traded by Kadabra for a Plusle. The Nurse Joy who acted as a middleman—or middlewoman, I should say—claimed that Plusle is very bright and quick, but not to use it in battles against heavyset Pokemon like Snorlax."

"That's nice," Professor Crabbush said, though he was not looking at his grandson. He was too busy admiring the Dynamic Stone, the nomenclature he had chosen for his precious invention.

Norman noticed the object that had captured the professor's attention. "What is that?"

"It is power, it is juice, it is the stone that will change all known laws of the universe!"

"Okay, if you say so. Oh, yes. Emily phoned from Cherryroot City. She was attacked by a band of wild Mankey, and was sent to the local hospital. They took her Pokeball, which had Raikou in it."

This statement caused Crabbush to cease his observations. He was in a rage, as his gaze lifted. "Norman! What was your sister thinking? Raikou is the rarest of treasures, and there is only one in the entire world! How could she walk around with it in a Pokeball as if it were a teddy bear?"

"She was planning to use it in a tournament."

"But that would be cheating! You know, as well as I do, that you can only use authorized Pokemon when battling at competitions, such as in the Pokemon League. And any Pokemon that is only one of a kind—Mew, Celebi, Deoxys, Suicune, Entei, Regice, Registeel, etc.—is certainly not authorized!"

"I don't believe Emily knows that."

"I don't care what Emily does or doesn't know. She has now lost the most important Pokemon under the Crabbush name, and I will no longer recognize her as my granddaughter," he said with a flourish. Then he stormed out before Norman could attempt to dissuade him.

Norman shrugged his shoulders, and took out the Pokeball with Plusle in it to register it in his grandfather's computer, placing it on a machine with slots for Pokeballs.

The computer was still loading the data when Norman heard a scream from outside the laboratory. He could not stop the process once it had begun, and he fidgeted for a moment. But when the scream continued, he felt it his duty to go see what was wrong.

Plusle heard the sounds of feet shuffling away, and took the opportunity to come out of the Pokeball.

He saw the Dynamic Stone, unguarded and unprotected. Curious to see what its effect would be, he decided to grab it. He found some gloves to fit his tiny hands, and walked over to the stone, and lifted it.

Gloves would keep the stone from making Plusle evolve, which was the last thing he wanted to do. He was going to be the one to awaken the Emperor, and he didn't desire to suffer from doing so.

Going out of a side-door, Plusle found himself in the garden. He heard some Starly singing in the trees. He walked very carefully, not wishing to drop the stone and break it.

Eventually he came to an obstruction. It was a bush with sharp pine needles, and there was no way to circumvent it—at least none Plusle could see. He decided to plow through it, with slow and steady steps, attempting to avoid pain as much as possible.

Finally, he got through. His body was covered with blood and slashes; he felt like he had just been in a battle with a Sandshrew.

With the Dynamic Stone in his hand, he proceeded on his way. He saw an Ekans ahead, eying a Rattata that would probably be its supper. Ekans heard Plusle behind him, and turned around. Instantly, he forgot Rattata and began to chase the Electric Pokemon.

Plusle ran as fast as he could, using his Agility ability, jumping over rocks, hopping over fences, and eschewing miscellaneous items scattered around the yard. Ekans crashed into several things trying to catch his rapid quarry.

At one point, Plusle turned around. Because he was not watching where he was going, he stepped on a rake that was lying face-up. Plusle was knocked down as the Dynamic Stone flew up into the air. A bucket landed on top on Plusle, and Ekans began to pound on this barrier between him and his prey. There was no way to lift it

Then Plusle heard a cacophonous noise that sounded like a Pokemon had used Thunder. His foe hissed indignantly, and then was heard slithering away. However, the sound of yet another Electric attack, probably Zap Cannon, was made. Plusle listened as giant hands grabbed the bucket rim, and pulled it away.

The creature before our hero was a deep shade of orange, with protuberant eyes, a zigzaggy tail, and sharp, pointed ears. It looked like every common Raichu, except that there was something creepy about it. Its feet, for instance, were shaped like ovals. And its nose was more like a shrew's; it was stretched out for two feet.

"Hello," Plusle greeted his rescuer. He gazed about, and saw that Ekans was paralyzed.

Raichu, or whatever it was, just stared. It appeared to be desirous of speech, but something was wrong.

Just then, Norman entered the garden, and saw the freaky Pokemon. "What on earth is that?" he wondered. Then he noticed Plusle.

"How did you get out here? I thought I left you in Grandpapa's lab," he said, as he advanced toward Plusle.

Raichu became protective, attacking Norman with Thunderpunch, slamming its electrified fists into Norman's chest.

"What? Pokemon aren't supposed to attack people! Something is very wrong."

Norman's assailant then used Thunder Wave, paralyzing him. Raichu went over to Plusle, picked him up, and then did something no Raichu had ever done before: it flew up into the air as gracefully as a Tailow.

Plusle fainted when he saw himself rise toward the sky.

When Plusle came to, he found himself strapped to a bed. Before him stood a purple, feminine Pokemon of a Psychic nature.

"Jynx! The last thing I remember was rising off the ground…"

"You caused quite a sensation," she intoned.

"Where am I?"

"I think it's you who owe us an explanation, not the other way around. Norman informed us Pokemon—me and Beedrill over there," Jynx said, pointing to a bug Pokemon that was buzzing eighteen feet away, "that you were being registered by our master's computer, and you just scampered off of your own volition. Do you agree with this account?"

"Yes."

"Pokemon don't just leave their Pokeballs without permission. What makes you so obstinate that gives you the right to do so?"

"None of your beeswax."

Beedrill grew indignant at this expression, and came closer to inject Plusle with its Poison Sting.

"Hold off, Beedrill. If you hurt him, he'll never give us answers," Jynx said, and the bug Pokemon was placated. "Now, what were you doing, running off with Crabbush's Dynamic Stone?"

"I was curious."

"Yes, and curiosity killed the Glameow. But, do you know what you have unleashed?"

"No."

"The Dynamic Stone you dashed off with has created a monster!"

"Well, duh! We're Pocket Monsters, aren't we?"

"No, I mean a real monstrous Pokemon…"

After Plusle had fainted, Crabbush saw a flying Raichu in the sky, and he sent Gligar out to stop it.

Even though Gligar sneaked up behind the mouse Pokemon, Raichu had extrasensory perception. It used Thunderbolt.

"Hah! That won't work on Gligar; he's Ground-type," Crabbush mused. However, he was woefully wrong.

Gligar writhed in agony as Raichu's attack surged through him. He then came tumbling down.

Crabbush was stunned. Everything he knew about Pokemon was failing him. Raichu can't fly; Electric attacks don't affect the Ground-type. "Does this freak of nature have any weakness whatsoever?" he wondered.

"Mantine, go!" Crabbush called. The sting ray awaited his orders. "Try to attack Raichu with Bubblebeam!"

The Pokemon had no choice but to obey, even though he knew it was folly for a Water-type to attack an Electric.

Again, Raichu knew beforehand what was coming. Its Thunder hit Mantine with its full force, causing that Pokemon to fall dismally to the ground.

Now Raichu was infuriated. It spotted its assailant, as Professor Crabbush appeared to be in its eyes. Down it came, with Plusly unconscious. The Raichu looked at the professor with the utmost loathing. It was going to attack….Crabbush would die.

From the sky was heard the whistle of a distant bird, coming nearer and nearer at the speed of light squared. Before Raichu could launch its attack, Crabbush saw a beautiful white bird with black markings and handsome eyes.

"Lugia," he whispered.

Lugia used Psychic, causing mind waves to enter Raichu's ear. The Electric Pokemon could not see anymore, and it presently fainted.

Crabbush thanked the beast of the sea, who left as quickly as it had come. He then went over to examine the awkward Raichu, whose only known weakness was the Psychic-type. He noted the oval feet and long nose, unseen in any Raichu ever described.

He carried the Raichu to his lab, as well as the Plusle. Before he took notice of anything, one of his Aides came in.

"I'm sorry to interrupt you when you're conducting research, Professor, but there's been a mishap."

"What sort of mishap?"

"Your grandson has been paralyzed."

"No! Where?"

"In the garden. He has been unable to speak a word and scream for help, and so he was just discovered a moment ago."

Crabbush went over to his shelf, taking from it a round fruit of a red hue. "Here; this is a Paralyzecureberry. I've never used it on humans before, but I assume that it will work. If Norman is healed, tell him to see me at once."

The Aide nodded, took the Paralyzecureberry, and left.

Crabbush then proceeded to use his tools and give Raichu a thorough examination, when he heard a beeping sound behind him. He went after the source, and discovered to his dismay that his computer was in the process of registering a Pokemon, which apparently was nowhere to be found. All Crabbush saw was an empty Pokeball in the machine.

He turned around, and then suffered from a spell of shock. The Dynamic Stone was missing! All his hours of hard work, wasted. He felt like screaming, but decided it would be far more propitious to just focus on Raichu.

Norman came in, with a heavy swagger, as if he had been consuming deleterious liquids.

"Grandson, did you incautiously leave the registration machine up and running, by any chance?"

"Yes, grandfather, but it was because I heard a scream."

"What Pokemon was in the unattended Pokeball?"

"Plusle."

Then Crabbush put two and two together.

Plusle listened with unvarying interest. "Lugia?" he said to himself, when Jynx told him about the appearance of that legendary Pokemon. "Then that Heracross was lying. But I've come too far to believe everything he said was untrue. I hate humans, and I'm going to awaken the Emperor Pokemon and destroy them by making them slaves!"

When Jynx had finished her tale, she became inquisitive again. "Were you trying to run away?"

"What gave you that idea?"

"Answer the question!"

"Yes, I was."

"Why? When you have such a great trainer as Norman Crabbush…"

"First off, I don't know my current trainer, so I can't judge for myself that he's great. Secondly, I would not care if he were Lt. Surge; I would still run away."

"That's a terrible analogy. Lt. Surge is a cruel master, who only cares about winning. Norman is a loving, stalwart individual who will treat you with the respect you deserve."

"I lost my trust in humans a long time ago," Plusle said, quietly. "They just want to trade you with someone else, then that person wants to trade you, and you keep on getting passed about like a baton. I'm not a cheerleader's plaything! I deserve some respect, but all people want to is get rid of me."

"Norman's not like that."

"He had no qualms about trading his Slakoth for me. How do I know he won't do the same again."

"Give him time; you'll grow to like him."

"I don't have time! I've got a job to do, and only I possess the knowledge to do so."

"What is this arcane knowledge that you stealthily harbor in your mind?"

"I'm not disclosing it, and no power of persuasion on your part can induce me to change my mind," Plusle said.

"Ah, but I don't use persuasion," Jynx said. She handed Plusle a glass of blue Kool-Aid, which he drank avariciously. "I use Veritaserum!"

Plusle desired to eject the liquid he had just quaffed, but it was not possible. The potion was acting on his veins.

"Now, what were you trying to do, by escaping from your Pokeball?"

The Electric Pokemon began to tell his story in a toneless voice. He told Jynx about all the spiteful trainers who had bartered him as if he were scrap metal. He related the encounter with the Heracross who believed himself to have once been Lugia. Then he told her about the legend of the Emperor Pokemon, that a Fire-type must swallow the key in order to awaken him, and that humans would become slaves of Pocket Monsters. He informed her that he desired to go to the Lapatian Sea, fetch the key, and feed it to a Fire-type.

Jynx mulled over the story for a few moments, then said, "Hah! From what you're telling me, my friend Plusle, I surmise that the Emperor Pokemon is a Dragon-type. Ice are superior to Dragons, and since I am half Ice-type, I must be superior to the Emperor. And when he comes, what is to stop me from using Blizzard and freezing him? What will you think of your Emperor then, hmmm? Supposing that he actually exists, that is."

Even though he had been under the influence of Veritaserum, Plusle had managed to hide one significant thing about the Emperor's awakening: that is, the fact about the Pokemon everywhere de-evolving. Nothing would happen to Plusle, of course, because he was not an evolved Pokemon, and he could not evolve if he wanted to. But Jynx would become a Smoochum. There is no way a Smoochum could take on an all-powerful dragon. And, supposing the Emperor was a Dragon. Perhaps his other type was Steel, which would obviate all possibilities of Ice being strong against him. So, Jynx's claim was very fallacious.

"The master will be very interested in this information," Jynx said maliciously. "What is more, you will not be given much freedom, for fear that you will attempt to run away again. We can't have that happening now, can we?" She turned to Beedrill. "You watch over him, which I go speak to the Professor."

Beedrill gave a sign of assent, and then Jynx glided out of the room.

Despair overcame Plusle. If his liberty was jeopardized, then he might never be able to awaken the Emperor Pokemon. And if he couldn't do it, who would?

Quite suddenly, he realized that there was something in his left palm. Holding it close to his eye, Plusle discovered that it was a shard from the Dynamic Stone. It must've broken off when the stone flew out of his hands.

He tossed the shard up in the air, just to play with it, and brought his tail round to send it back skyward. However, it stuck there, and the end of his tail turned green.

Jynx was communicating with Crabbush by computer. She could not speak English, but she could write it. She was just informing him about the Fire-type stipulation, when he heard a cacophonous noise behind him. Turning round, he saw that the rogue Raichu had dug a hole in the middle of his lab floor. He dashed to the hole, and peered inside. Raichu was gone!

Reseating himself before his computer, he sent Jynx a message, "Alert! Raichu has gotten loose. Return to Plusle immediately and make sure everything there is as you left it."

Jynx complied, but when she got there, all she saw was a frenetic Beedrill, and a broken window.

Beedrill was pointing out the window and making gestures. Jynx glided towards it, looking up. She could just make out the silhouettes of Raichu and Plusle. She tried to use Psywave, but her target was too far away.

Jynx was forced to stay in her Pokeball for a week as punishment.