Magic Knight Pokémon
Chapter 1
Pokémon World
By Wanderer D
Three girls stood inside Tokyo tower, each wearing the uniform of a different school: blue, red and green. They leaned on the rails, looking out of the windows at the city spread before them. Relaxed and laughing they were in no way exceptional.
However, if someone would look into their eyes, that person might notice something akin to all three. Something that was completely out of place in normal high school girls... they all had the eyes of warriors.
Each of those pairs of eyes told a story of suffering, fear and death. But there was also happiness, the joy of having survived an ordeal that few people would have, meeting new friends, and the gleam of victory.
"Is Guru Clef the one who sent you, Mokona?" The girl with brown hair and green eyes asked. Her deep-green private school uniform, a pair of round glasses and composed stance, contrasted with her two companions.
To her right stood another girl. She had long blue hair that almost reached her waist and an athletic complexion that made her appear a little older than the last one.
The third girl had bright red hair, tied in a long pigtail that reached past her waist, her uniform was red and black, she was the shortest of the three, and had an air of excitement about her, making her look a couple of years younger than the other two.
"Puu Puuu!" Came an answer from the backpack the latter was carrying.
"What did the puffball say?" asked the blue haired girl.
"You know Mokona doesn't like to be called that, Umi!" answered the redhead.
"Whatever! Did you understand what Mokona said, Hikaru?"
"Yeah, Mokona said that Guru Clef would call us any second now..."
Suddenly the tower shook. Most people grabbed to whatever they had nearby, screaming in surprise. The three girls held on and waited until it stopped, then risked a look out of the window.
Below the tower the Sailor Senshi were fighting a strange winged creature, it then created a ball of energy that tugged at their souls.
"Magic!" Umi whispered softly.
"And of the darkest kind..." Hikaru muttered. "Should we help the Senshi?"
"I don't know what we should do, but we have to think fast!" Fuu said, pointing at a black sphere of magical energy that appeared in the middle of the room. The energy crackled, and people around it were frozen in fear.
As it began to contract and crackle ominously, everything stood still and they were enveloped in warm golden light. "Magic Knights... you have been summoned." The three girls could see the face of Guru Clef in their minds as they started floating.
Hikaru noticed that she was floating in a different direction. "Guru Clef! Something's pulling me away!"
"Hikaru!" Guru Clef frowned visibly as he concentrated. "Something is interfering with my spell!"
"Umi! Fuu! Clef!" Hikaru shouted as she was pulled away faster and faster, from the corner of her eye she saw the black sphere of energy explode.
o.0.o
"Yes! It's finally mine!" Ash shouted as he walked looking at the Rainbow badge, holding it up against the sunlight. "One step closer to the Pokémon League!"
"You know, you were lucky Team Rocket burned the building and you had the chance to save Gloom. Otherwise, who knows what might've happened..." Brock commented.
"There's no way she could've beaten me and Pikachu here!" He answered, as he held Pikachu up. "Isn't that right Pikachu?"
Pikachu nodded happily. "Pika!"
Misty snorted. "Oh, sure..." she and the others stopped as some bushes started moving.
Suddenly a small creature, much like a Clefable, but without tail, with bunny ears and a strange gem in its forehead jumped out of the bushes.
"Puu! Puu!"
Ash quickly pulled out his Pokédex. "What is that?" he asked.
"Unknown. This type of Pokémon is not in the database." Answered the computerized voice.
Ash, Misty and Brock looked for a moment at the Pokédex in surprise, as Pikachu slowly approached the stranger.
"Pika?"
"Puu! Puu!"
"Pika-chu?"
Ash had taken out one of his Pokéballs and was about to throw it at the small creature, when it suddenly took off with Pikachu close behind into the forest.
"Hey! Where are you going!" Ash demanded. "Wait Pikachu!"
Ash, Misty and Brock ran after the two Pokémon.
o.0.o
The road was still for a moment. Movement in a nearby tree broke the calm as three figures dropped down.
"Did you hear that James?" asked a female voice.
"Did I?" James stepped into the light followed by his partner, Jesse and Meowth.
"A Pokémon never before seen." James pulled out a rose.
"We have to catch it! The boss will be very happy!" Meowth exclaimed excitedly.
o.0.o
"I hate it when he does that!" Ash complained as he and the others tried to catch up with the two small creatures. Eventually, after falling a dozen times and getting scratched and smacked in the face by branches, they made it into a rocky clearing with a small cave nearby.
The two Pokémon were standing over a rock looking down.
Ash walked up to them. "Pikachu! Why did you..." he looked down.
"Ash?" Misty and Brock approached their friend as he stood gazing down. The strange Pokémon jumped down from the rock.
"Puu! Puu!" said the strange Pokémon as he looked up at them.
o.0.o
Hikaru opened her eyes when she felt a wet cloth being pressed on her brow. She couldn't see very well, since the sun was directly in her sight. Putting her arm up to provide some shade, she tried to sit up.
She almost blacked out again, but someone caught her.
"Easy, take a deep breath."
Hikaru, did as she was told, and tried to open her eyes. This time she was able to make out details. She was sitting in a small grassy niche surrounded by rocks. A girl with orange-red hair, almost as red as her own was holding her up as two boys looked at her in concern.
"Puu!"
"Mokona!" Hikaru hugged Mokona as it jumped at her. Misty stepped back looking at the two. Hikaru then noticed she was wearing her basic armor. She looked at Mokona, then at the people around her, noticing their clothes were more similar to what she would find in earth.
"I don't think we made it into Cephiro, Mokona..." she said.
"Cephiro?" Ash asked. "What's that? A town?"
Hikaru stood up, and looked around. "No... it is... something else."
Brock, getting a good look at her for the first time, without the worry for her health, immediately reacted.
Walking up to her, he grabbed her hand and didn't let go as he looked into her eyes. "Hi I'm Brock. We'll be glad to help you out!"
Hikaru tried unsuccessfully to shake her hand loose. "Uh... my name is Hikaru, who are your friends?"
Since Brock didn't answer and continued staring at Hikaru, Misty took matters into her hands and elbowed him in the head. "I'm Misty. I train water Pokémon, that," She said pointing, "is Ash, he wants to be the best Pokémon trainer in the world, although I doubt that'll happen."
Ash glared at her, but instead of answering turned to look at Mokona.
"Are you also a Pokémon trainer?" if so, he was interested in challenging her.
"Wait..." Hikaru said, collecting her thoughts. "Before I say anything else, tell me...what's a Pokémon?" All three trainers did a double take.
"You don't know what a Pokémon is?" Ash exclaimed.
"Pika?"
Hikaru suddenly noticed Pikachu standing next to her. "Oh, cute!" she said kneeling and picking him up in her arms.
"That's Pikachu, he's my very first Pokémon!" Ash said proudly. Hikaru looked at him blankly and he sighed. "Okay, let's start from the beginning; Pokémon is short for Pocket Monsters..." Ash said taking a deep breath.
Hikaru sat down and listened to Ash and his friends explain the basics of Pokémon, showing her their Pokéballs and their Pokémon.
When they finished Hikaru had a somewhat clear idea about Pokémon. "Well, it's all very interesting, but I'm afraid we have to go, my friends are waiting for me." she said standing up. "I thank you all for your help, but I'm not sure I should stay here when there's trouble elsewhere. Mokona?"
"Puu?"
"Could you take me to Cephiro?"
"Puu! Puu." Mokona said.
"You can't be serious!" Hikaru said going a little pale.
"What did Mokona say?" Ash asked, noticing Hikaru's reaction.
"Mokona doesn't know how to get back!" Hikaru said. She grabbed Mokona and started shaking it. "You have to find a way! Guru Clef said there was trouble! Umi and Fuu are in Cephiro! They could get killed without me!"
"Puu-puu!" Mokona complained.
Misty put her hand on Hikaru's shoulder, getting a strange sensation when she touched the shoulder armor. "Calm down! You're hurting Mokona!"
This seemed to bring Hikaru back to normal. She sank to her knees and hugged Mokona close.
"This isn't happening..." she whispered.
"Puu..." Mokona said softly.
Hikaru risked a smile. "Yes, you're right Mokona, they are very strong. They'll manage until we can get back!"
Mokona nodded firmly.
"We'll help you anyway we can, Hikaru." Ash offered, his friends, both human and Pokémon, nodded.
Hikaru stood up and nodded. "Thanks! Do you have any ideas?"
"Eh..." Ash laughed and looked away. "No. But I'm sure Prof. Oak might be able to help."
Suddenly they heard a despairing growl. Looking around for its origins they followed the sounds to a small cave partially hidden by bushes.
Ash put his finger on his lips. The others nodded, understanding. They went into the cave.
At first Ash thought he would have to call out Charmander, but a flickering glow at the end of the cave guided them, providing just enough light for them to make their way.
When they came to the end of the tunnel, they all looked at the light's origin in surprise.
"A Charmeleon!" Brock exclaimed.
"And in bad shape too," Misty added.
Hikaru looked at the Charmeleon, it looked like some sort of dinosaur. It was red colored, going towards orange. Its tail had a small flame that grew smaller by the second, and it looked sick. She could see a trail on the ground where the creature had dragged itself into the back of the cave.
"It has been raining around here the last few weeks." Brock said, kneeling next to it with Hikaru following suit. "I wouldn't be surprised if this were his lair. He probably got caught in the rain and couldn't find shelter.
"But why is it in such a bad condition?" Misty asked. "Charmeleon's flame should be strong enough unless he fell into a river or something."
"Look." Brock pointed. His fingers trailed the side of the Charmeleon's belly. "It has bite marks and scratches. Even a few cuts. It might have gotten into a fight either before or during the downpour. He made it home, but he has probably been lying in here for a couple of days now."
"Can't we help it?" Hikaru asked, her eyes showing concern for the creature.
Ash looked at her and shook his head. "We won't be able to make it with him to a Pokémon center in time. Look. He pointed at the barely lit flame on his tail. He would need a very high temperature to absorb heat."
"Unfortunately, we wouldn't be able to build a fire strong enough, since it has rained just this morning." He sighed. "Even if there was wood, it would never burn hot enough."
"How about Charmander?" Misty asked.
"Won't help." Brock said. "Charmander's attack would just injure him. He needs lasting heat, not fire."
Hikaru thought for a moment. "All he needs is extreme heat? How hot?"
"Uh... as hot as having molten lava near you I guess..." Brock said. "Why?"
"I have an idea." Hikaru said, then placed Mokona on the floor. "Mokona, you will have to protect them."
"Puu Puu! Puu!" Mokona said excitedly and jumped a little away.
"Protect us from what?" Ash asked.
"You'll see, I'll explain later, just stand next to Mokona."
Ash and the others shrugged and followed orders, walking to stand next to the rabbit like creature. Suddenly, Mokona's gem flashed and they were surrounded by a transparent-blue sphere.
o.0.o
Closer to the entrance, Team Rocket spied on Ash and Co. noticing the bubble.
"What kind of power is that, James?"
"I don't know, Jesse. But why did the girl stay outside?"
"I believe we're about to find out!" Meowth said pointing at Hikaru.
o.0.o
Ash touched the sphere. "Is this really necessary, Mokona?"
"Ash..." Misty said. When he turned to look at her she silently pointed towards Hikaru. Ash looked at her and gasped.
Hikaru had started glowing with a red aura. Her clothes and simple white armor changed. Red and white knee-high boots, a matching uniform trimmed in gold, with a long red cape had appeared. A complex, white, gold and red tiara appeared on her forehead. The aura increased until it enveloped everything.
"If it's heat you need to survive... HEAT YOU WILL GET!"
From within the sphere Brock could see the little water that had trickled into the cave evaporate as the rocks started to glow orange.
Charmeleon's tail flame grew slightly and stopped shrinking.
Jesse, James and Meowth started sweating.
"We have to get out of here." Meowth gasped.
o.0.o
Slowly even the sphere started heating. Mokona concentrated and the sphere became a little more opaque, cooling down. Finally, Charmeleon's flame grew bigger, and he started breathing at a regular tempo.
Seeing this Brock called out. "Hikaru, that's good! The Charmeleon has stabilized."
Hikaru turned to them and nodded. "Let's get out. You will have to move with Mokona to avoid getting burnt."
The three trainers just nodded, and carefully followed Mokona out of the cave. They waited outside and after a while Hikaru walked out of the cave. They had seated about 50 feet away from the cave, and could still feel the heat emanating from the within.
"He's asleep," She informed them. "But he seems okay now. I heated a few rocks so that the place will remain warm for quite a while."
Ash nodded absently, and watched in amazement as the armor turned into its simpler form.
"Hikaru... how did you do that?" Misty asked.
Hikaru sat down. "It's a long story guys, are you willing to listen?"
They all nodded.
"Very well. From where I come from there's a place called Tokyo Tower, where schools usually take us for outings. One time, it happened that two other schools were visiting..."
o.0.o
"Prepare for trouble..." James gasped.
"Make it... ungh... double..." Jesse said.
"To protect the world from..."
Team Rocket collapsed, all were covered in sweat, their clothes covered in soot, their gloves melted, and had their hair scorched.
"That girl might be a problem..." James proclaimed before falling unconscious with the rest.
o.0.o
The morning sun lighted the small valley where the group had camped for the night.
The first one up was Hikaru, she went outside their tent and took a deep breath. It had rained that night, and the cool air woke her up as she stretched her muscles.
Pikachu came outside a few moments later and greeted her. "Pika!"
"Hikaru looked down at the Pokémon and smiled, "Good morning Pikachu!" She bent down and picked him up. "Well, we'd better check my patient, don't you think?"
"Chu!" the small creature agreed. "Pi, chu?"
"Oh, no, Mokona won't wake up for a while. Trust me."
"Pika." Pikachu shrugged.
Hikaru picked up a bowl and put in some of the food Brock had prepared for their patient.
o.0.o
As they walked into the cave. Pikachu was surprised. It was still warm, and the walls emanated heat as if they had spent the whole day warming in the sun.
They finally made it to where the Charmeleon was sleeping.
His skin color strengthened, and his tail's fire had grown considerably. Hikaru put Pikachu down. But Pikachu quickly jumped on her head. "Pikaa!"
She smiled, "Sorry, Pikachu, I forgot it was so hot..."
"Chuu…" the Pokémon looked down at its slightly singed feet.
She petted the Charmeleon's head. Opening its eyes, the Charmeleon regarded her for a moment. "How are you, Charmeleon?" she slowly ran her hand along its back. "Do you feel better now?"
The Charmeleon carefully sat up and nodded to her. There was a strange glint in its eye and he seemed genuinely happy to see her.
"Here. Brock made this food for you, he said it had all the nutrients you might need, and will help you get stronger faster.
"Char-char?"
"Oh, it's okay really." Hikaru said. "I'm just glad I could help. I'll cast another spell, so you can be at 100%. Okay?"
Hikaru started glowing again, but her clothes remained unchanged.
The spell was less drastic and only enveloped the area around Charmeleon, who looked at her in gratitude as it lay down again to rest.
The temperature had risen considerably, and Hikaru noticed Pikachu was getting uncomfortable in it. So, with another soft pat to Charmeleon's head, both left.
o.0.o
Ash and the others were packing up camp when they returned.
"How's Charmeleon?" Ash asked as Brock stopped working to look at her.
"He's better. I gave him a little more heat, so he shouldn't have any trouble regaining his strength." She looked at the cave, smiling. "He's a nice guy; I hope he'll be okay."
"I'm sure he will." Brock stated. "His injuries were not that bad. All he needed was a stable heat source."
"Thanks, Brock!" Hikaru smiled as she started helping the others pack.
Mokona started playing with Pikachu while they worked. After they had packed things up, they had a quick breakfast, while they thought where to go next.
"I think we should tell Professor Oak about your problem, maybe he'll be able to help." Ash commented between bites.
"Sure, you mentioned him yesterday, but how do we contact him?"
"We'll have to go to a Pokémon center and call from there." Misty supplied.
"The closest town is a placed called 'Hop Hop Hop'"
"Hop Hop Hop? What kind of a name is that?" Hikaru asked.
The others just shrugged; to them it was a perfectly normal name.
Finally, they were prepared to go. Hikaru was about to go back into the cave to say goodbye to Charmeleon, when...
"Char!"
All turned around to find the Charmeleon standing outside the cave.
"Char! Charmeleon!"
Hikaru walked up to him. "Hey, you're okay now, right?" Charmeleon nodded and walked next to her looking up expectantly.
"I think he wants you to be his trainer, Hikaru." Ash said after a moment, as he walked towards the Charmeleon.
Charmeleon nodded.
For a moment, Hikaru didn't know what to say. "But... I'm not a trainer!"
"Don't worry Hikaru," Misty said. "We'll help you learn all you need to know."
"It's very rare that a wild Pokémon approaches you with a request like that." Brock said. "You have a good heart, and I'm sure you could be one heck of a trainer if you wanted."
Hikaru looked at Charmeleon before kneeling to look at him in the eye.
"Are you sure about this Charmeleon?" she asked. "I don't know how long I might stay in this world. I might have to go really soon."
"Char!" he answered as he walked a little closer. "Char-meleon?"
Hikaru smiled. "Of course I would like to be your trainer! I only wanted you to know what might happen." Charmeleon went forward and hugged Hikaru, who hugged him back.
"That's so cute!" Misty said smiling.
Ash pocketed out a Pokéball and gave it to Hikaru. She looked at it blankly.
"Well, since you're going to be a Pokémon trainer, you'll need Pokéballs, I'll give you one of mine, but we'll have to stop in the next poke-mart to buy some more for you."
"And what do I do with these?" Hikaru asked.
After the others explained the function of Pokéballs to Hikaru, she pressed the ball to Charmeleon's head. Immediately Charmeleon was surrounded by a red light and brought inside the Pokéball, which sealed without a problem.
"You know, back home, it was my dream to train dogs for blind people." She held up the Pokéball in front of her. "I think training Pokémon might help me understand how to be the best at training."
Brock nodded. "That's the spirit! Let's go!"
o.0.o
"It seems the girl has become a Pokémon trainer, James." Jessie purred.
"Yes, if she wasn't with those idiots, we could try and talk some sense into her and make her join Team Rocket!" He answered, looking at Hikaru's legs.
"Then the boss will be so happy with us that he'll probably promote us!" Jessie exclaimed ignoring James line of sight.
"And what if she decides not to join?" Meowth asked.
"Then we'll just steal her rare Pokémon and get away!"
"It's a great plan!" James said holding Jessie's hands.
"There's no way we can lose!" she answered.
o.0.o
Hikaru looked around the large city as they walked towards the Pokémon center.
She realized that, with the exception of a few minor details, well... ok one major detail, meaning Pokémon, this world was much like her own. Although no-one in their right mind would name a city Hop Hop Hop back there.
Brock led them to the nearest poke-mart. Inside, with some coaching from Ash and the others, Hikaru bought some Pokéballs, and healing potions.
After they finished Ash looked at the others. "Hey, we should go to the Pokémon Center and call Dr. Oak! Hikaru must register as an official Pokémon trainer."
Brock nodded. "Good idea, Ash. Otherwise she might get into trouble with the authorities."
o.0.o
"Well... it might take some hours, I'm not sure how long, and since Hikaru is really not from around here... we'll have to make some paperwork... but without any kind of 'official' papers..." Dr. Oak sighed.
"Isn't there a way, Prof. Oak?" Ash asked the elder scientist.
"I'll think of something, Ash, but your friend will have to wait at Pokémon center until I get something... it would not do to have her arrested or detained because she does not have a license. And we don't want her to have to give her Pokémon I'll call her from here, okay?"
Ash nodded, and went to talk to the others.
"Prof. Oak will check what options we have right now and will call Hikaru in the Pokécenter." Ash said. "He also said that it would be best if you stayed here, Hikaru."
"Do you think he can help, Ash?" Hikaru asked.
"I'm sure of it!" Ash nodded. "Prof Oak has never let us down!"
"Mokona, why don't you go around with Ash and the others?" Hikaru said. "Just keep out of trouble and I'll stay here."
"Puuuu!" Mokona said as she jumping excitedly.
Mokona went with Ash and Co. into the city, where shortly after they met an anguished mother that mistook Ash for her son.
o.0.o
Hikaru had only waited for a few minutes when Nurse Joy called her. She was led into a computer room, where an old man was visible in the monitors; however she couldn't see his face, as he had his back to her and was looking into another monitor.
"So, you must be Hikaru!" the man said, even pulling his hand up in greeting without turning around.
"Yes, who are you? Why aren't you looking directly at me?"
The old man tensed slightly and a huge sweat drop appeared next to his head as he slowly turned around.
"Oh… sorry. I hadn't realized that I was looking at the wrong monitor!" He laughed a little before turning serious again. "In any case, I'm Professor Oak, you might have heard of me."
"Oh, you're Ash's friend, he told me you might be able to help me become an official trainer, and maybe even return home?"
Oak nodded. "Indeed. But one thing at a time." the professor collected his thoughts before continuing. "About getting you home... you said that you were from another world altogether."
Hikaru nodded. "I know it might be difficult to believe, but you must trust me!"
Oak made soothing motions with his hands. "Hikaru, I have some personal experience with time and dimensional travel, but these were outside my control. Are you absolutely sure you come from another world rather than a different time? It would give us something to work with as unlikely as it sounds."
"I have been called to other worlds before, Professor. And as I was leaving my world to the one I was supposed to go to, something interfered."
Oak nodded. "Ash told me a bit about what happened in Charmeleon's cave."
Hikaru sighed. "Do you want a demonstration?"
Oak shook his head. "If I did not know Ash personally, I would have discarded the story as make-belief. But if you can do what he said you can, then..." he sighed. "I would like a demonstration at some point, but it is not a priority right now."
"Then you believe me?"
Oak nodded. "There have been some studies into pocket dimensions, such as the Pokéballs. And the field expands constantly with the development of better technology... I will look into it myself, in search of something that might help, but be aware that it could be years before anything truly helpful comes up."
Hikaru nodded a bit subdued. "I understand. But it is better than nothing… and maybe, just maybe there will be a breakthrough. I have no doubt my friends will be looking for me too."
"Good." The professor said, with an encouraging smile. "Don't lose hope. If there is one thing I have learned is that miracles occur every day."
Hikaru smiled back at him. "Thanks, Prof. Oak! So, what about me becoming a Pokémon trainer?"
"The only problem is that you don't have ANY papers here, so I have come with a simple solution. Give it some thought."
Oak stood up and brought an unknown lady to join him in the monitor. "Hikaru, I want you to meet Ash's mother..."
o.0.o
A few hours later Hikaru walked out of the room to find Ash, Brock and Misty with a police officer.
"Hey guys what's up?"
"We've just had a rumble with Team Rocket." Ash answered.
"Team Rocket?"
"It's a group dedicated to stealing Pokémon." Brock supplied.
"They have tried to steal Pikachu on several occasions and this time used the confusion to try and steal Mokona too." Misty said.
"Puu!" Mokona said, jumping into Hikaru's arms.
"Did you catch them?"
The police officer shook her head. "I'm afraid not. They managed to escape, but if they show their faces here again I will arrest them immediately."
Hikaru was nodding when something seemed to call her attention. "Mokona!"
Ash was about to ask what was wrong when Mokona's gem flared bright blue.
A couple of trainers that were about to leave shouted in surprise when the door was covered in bluish energy that stopped them from going out.
"What's going on?" Nurse Joy shouted as the building shook and several computers started short-circuiting.
"Someone's using very powerful magic all over the city!" Hikaru shouted to the incredulous looks of the others. "Look outside the window!"
All of the trainers and nurses and Pokémon ran to the windows to look outside. Everything was dark, as if it were nighttime, despite the fact that it should have been mid afternoon.
Outside there was chaos as Pokémon started appearing and attacking people.
"Where are those Pokémon coming from?" Nurse Joy asked.
"Look!" Misty shouted. "They're coming out of their Pokéballs to attack people!"
"But that's impossible!" one of the trainers said. "Pokémon shouldn't act like that."
"Something is making them act like that." Hikaru said. "I felt it. If Mokona hadn't created the barrier around the Pokécenter all the Pokémon would have come out in here too and started attacking us."
"What can we do?" Officer Jenny asked. "We can't stay here while the Pokémon outside harm people! Someone might die."
Soon several trainers had gathered around all talking at the same time.
Hikaru didn't say anything for a moment. "It seems to be gone. But the Pokémon outside are under its control." she sighed. "Okay, we need to find out if it is dangerous for us to release our Pokémon out there. I will go first. Alone."
"But you can't!" Ash said. "You might get hurt!"
Hikaru smiled and patted Ash on the head. "That's alright bro. I've got it covered. Mokona, don't let anyone out."
Everyone watched Hikaru as she stepped through the door and the force field then turned to the windows.
They could see her walking out of the area, and as she was about to throw out her Pokéball, something attacked her.
"It's an Arcanine!" Brock shouted.
"I have to help her!" Ash shouted, running to the door, but as soon as he tried to leave, he bounced back from the field."
"Mokona!"
"Puu!" the small creature answered shaking its head.
Pikachu jumped on Ash's head. "Pika..."
Everyone shouted as the Arcanine attacked again, slamming Hikaru, who blocked with her arms and didn't budge.
"What the hell..." one of the trainers said, confused. "Why didn't the slam do anything?"
The Arcanine circled around her.
"Why doesn't she release her Pokémon to fight?" someone asked.
"Ash!" Misty shouted, looking at him, then at Brock. "Hikaru's just started as a trainer! She probably doesn't know what to do!"
A collective "what!" echoed in the room.
"How could you let her go alone?" Officer Jenny asked. "She might get killed!"
"Everyone, look!" Nurse Joy shouted.
Outside, Arcanine had cornered Hikaru and blasted her with his flamethrower.
"Hikaru!" Misty shouted.
Everyone looked in despair as the wall behind Hikaru crumbled under the attack. Hikaru suddenly jumped through the flames with a sword in hand, bringing down the flat of the blade on the Arcanine's head.
Silence reigned unchallenged as the Arcanine stumbled from side to side, then slumped down unconscious. Hikaru seemed to be just fine.
Then she released her Charmeleon, who looked from her to the Arcanine with a big sweat drop.
Turning towards the Pokémon Center, she gave the thumbs up.
The barrier was released and the trainers, Nurse Joy, Officer Jenny, Ash and Co. walked out.
"How..." Jenny asked, looking down at the unconscious Arcanine.
"Later." Hikaru said as everyone gathered around. "It is safe for you to release the Pokémon. We have to protect the people of this city and destroy whatever is controlling the Pokémon."
Everyone nodded as they turned to look at Hop Hop Hop town. Random explosions flashed bright red against the dark skies and a few screams and roars could be heard in the distance.
End Chapter 1