Magic Knight Pokémon
Chapter 6
Hikaru's Team
By Wanderer D
"Frey, if you want my further cooperation you will refrain from killing my subordinates and loosing such expensive equipment!" Giovanni roared at the creature from the security of his base, far-far away from where Frey stood glaring back through the monitor.
"Whatever Giovanni." The mercenary grunted. "You are being paid in gold and the data you are recovering from the successful week in Pepper Island should be of interest to you and your scientists. Hardly small compensation for the life of a fool who could not keep quiet and tried to stop me."
Giovanni didn't answer, but they both knew Frey was right. After a moment the leader of Team Rocket sighed. "At least it wasn't one of my best operatives."
Frey shook his head. "Frankly Giovanni, I don't give a damn." He smiled showing the slightly perturbed human the long rows of fangs his creators had given him with the desired effect of seeing the man flinch. "At least we finished the second experiment successfully, as I said. We can now use the data to further the control of the machine."
Giovanni snorted. "Right. Except for a minor detail. We were going to use the machine and improve it, not start from scratch! It will take months to rebuild it! And now we don't have any more crystal!"
Frey growled, but this time Giovanni didn't flinch at all. Grunting, the mercenary conceded the point to the human with a nod. "You have been a valuable ally, Giovanni, I will acquire more crystals for you and extra payment to compensate for the loss of the equipment."
Giovanni allowed a small smile to creep into his face. "Very well, let me know when to send a squad to pick it up, and where."
The screen went blank.
o.0.o
General Grace overlooked the investigation site as several scientists slowly examined the remains of the machine. Her brain was going over the evidence, the previous history of the encounters with Frey, the recollections of Hikaru about what the creature had said and the many possible uses for the machine.
"I hate that thing." She said.
"Me too." Prof. Oak said, standing next to her. "But it is in better condition than the last we saw and we need to find a way to fight the effects of the machine."
"Professor… I can see several uses for a machine like this and none of them are good. Add to that what this Frey creature told XO Prestley…"
Prof. Oak nodded. "Well, at least Hikaru and Nurse Joy agreed to help fight Frey."
"I am very surprised that one of the Nurses would agree to something like this. I mean, we have our own Nurse Joy at HQ, I just never thought I'd see one of them outside of the Pokécenter."
"General, if there is something about the Ketchum family is that they always surprise us." The Professor said with a big grin on his face.
"I'm also surprised about her third choice…"
"I know… but at least today Hikaru and her friends will finally be ready to start their trip. They have been here for two weeks already."
o.0.o
"Well, it's time." Hikaru said, closing the book she was reading.
"Puu!"
"I agree with Mokona." Nurse Joy said, "Can we finally know who is going to travel with us?"
Hikaru looked down at the book entitled "Pokémon and Physics: Matter and Energy". She seemed to consider Joy's words. "Well… you've been asking me at least three times every day for the last week… that means that you've asked me about twenty one times or so… now our third member should be arriving in a few minutes." She seemed to consider a bit more as Mokona and Joy exchanged wary glances.
"And?" Joy asked.
"No. You'll have to wait and see!" Hikaru said with a smile, and jumped to her feet to walk straight out of their tent, stopping only to pick her new jacket. "Coming?"
Joy glared at Mokona. "And you said you were asleep when she made the call?"
Mokona jumped up and down, then onto Joy's arms. "Puuu!"
Joy sighed and walked after Hikaru. "You shouldn't sleep so much!"
"Pu…"
"Hey, I'm a medical expert I know what I'm talking about."
o.0.o
Their destination, the Pepper Island Harbor was now only available to the military. After a televised funeral for the deceased and a monument being planned to be erected in the middle of what used to be the plaza, all civilians had been asked to leave despite protests from the families that had lost loved ones in the attack.
The scientists wanted to get as much information on the site as possible before finally moving the machine. As it was, the army stationed there was looking at least at another week and a half.
Hikaru and Joy had to put up with some cat-calls and whistles until word was passed down the grapevine that they had been granted the equivalent rank of Captains. More respect had been awarded after Hikaru had entered Pokémon Battles with gusto, and both she and Joy had agreed to join sparring matches and training, making them "part of the gang".
Still, Joy being dressed in jeans was a sight to behold, regardless of the time she had spent dressed like that. She had received more invitations for dinner from soldiers than she could count.
Hikaru had chosen to stay a bit closer to the clothes they had been given for their military training, and now dressed in a much different manner.
Black army boots, black and grey-camouflage army pants, black tank-top and a dark red with black decorations jacket, with the sleeves rolled up to just bellow her elbows, and short-finger gloves (the right one all but invisible under her magic glove) gave her a much more aggressive appearance.
That didn't stop her from receiving some stares and invitations herself.
When they finally arrived at the harbor, they were entreated to some odd looks from the sailors in the recently arrived boat. Nevertheless, after seeing other sailors and soldiers saluting them, the crew quickly followed suit.
Now accustomed to this, neither girl blushed half as bad as the first time they had been saluted, and returned the salute easily. "We've come to pick up your passenger." Hikaru said.
One of the sailors nodded and went inside, after a couple of minutes, he stepped out followed by a girl.
Nurse Joy's eyes widened, and Mokona, from her perch in her arms looked slightly surprised too. "Puu!"
"Hikaru!" the girl hugged the Magic Knight. "It's good to see you! I almost didn't recognize you! What happened to your old clothes? Hi Mokona!"
Joy shook her head in amazement as a Pokémon suddenly materialized between the girl and the sailor, scaring a group of people with a cry of "Haunter!" the girl giggled and recalled the ghost Pokémon into its Pokéball.
"It's been a while, Sabrina!" Hikaru smiled and turned to face Joy. "This is Joy, formerly the Nurse of the Viridian Pokécenter. Joy, let me introduce you to my good friend, Sabrina, former Gym Leader of the Saffron Gym. She'll be going with us."
o.0.o
"I see all of your squad members are here." General Grace said. The three girls nodded and the General motioned for all of them to sit down. "I am surprised you agreed to this, Sabrina."
"I was thinking of starting my own Pokémon trip after I met with Hikaru and Ash Ketchum." The Gym leader confessed. "I was looking forward to seeing my friends again, and Hikaru's call just presented me with the perfect chance."
"I understand your father will be taking care of the Gym in your absence?" Prof. Oak looked up from his papers.
"Yes, he is not as strong as I am, but he is good enough to present a serious challenge to whoever wants to win a Marsh Badge." Sabrina said.
"Well I am glad you accepted the invitation." Hikaru said. "Between you, Joy and myself there is nothing that can stop us!"
"Puu!"
"We have to concentrate on getting Joy some more Pokémon," Sabrina said. "I think you only have your Chansey, right?"
Joy nodded, still a bit uncomfortable with Sabrina. She had heard how she was from the Saffron City Nurse Joy, and although Hikaru had assured her she was a different person, it was hard to put aside the image of someone that would turn innocent trainers into dolls for her own amusement.
"We'll cross that bridge when we reach it." General Grace said. "How much do you know about the situation? And Hikaru specifically?"
Sabrina's change was immediate. She had been a bit care-free from the moment she arrived, a sharp contrast to her infamous lack of emotions, but now, she was all business and it returned in full. She looked at Hikaru for confirmation, and at a nod from the Magic Knight explained her involvement with Hikaru on a previous battle with Frey. She hesitated for a second, but the General noticed. "Is there anything else?"
"She is the only one to have met some of my friends from Cephiro." Hikaru said. "It's a bit personal, General."
Joy and the others were surprised. So far she had taken Hikaru's word that she was from another world as something that she shouldn't really think about. It was too outlandish, an idea too alien, to believe that there were other worlds in other dimensions and that her friend had come from one of them, and been to another before coming to her own. She had seen what Hikaru could do, but it was always a bit too incredible. She looked at Sabrina in surprise, noticing the slight blush that came to her cheeks.
"Then we will stick strictly to the necessary questions." The General said with a nod. "Sabrina, you will be given a military rank for the duration of this mission. You will need to fill in the paperwork before you three can leave, and you will receive your equipment and military ID tonight."
Sabrina nodded.
o.0.o
"So what are we going to do first?" Sabrina asked. The three girls sat in their own small house, courtesy of Mokona, who had also provided night gowns for the three; a red one for Hikaru, a pale pink one for Joy and a black one for Sabrina.
"I guess try to track down Frey," Joy said "But how, I have no idea."
Mokona darted past, followed closely by Evee and Haunter. Sabrina's Kadabra stood to one side, standing next to Hikaru's Scyther and Joy's Chansey. Outside the house, Ryukari kept company to Dratini, who was silently looking at the stars from the pool Mokona had made for her.
"Well, I as much as I want to kill that bastard we need to also have a life ourselves." Hikaru said. "I for one want to keep training my Pokémon, and let's not forget the Pokémon League both civilian and military. We can compete in those."
Joy nodded. "I also want to carry on with my studies. I talked to Prof. Oak and we have arranged a long-distance course that will allow me to become a full Doctor. Traveling and stopping to take tests on some of the cities we visit on a Pokémon trip will allow me to do that."
Sabrina was silent for a moment. "I want to discover as much as I can about the world and make up for lost time brooding back in Saffron." She smiled a bit at the other two. "But if you two are going to have study hours I might as well see if I can learn something too."
Hikaru nodded. "Well, how about taking a detour while we get info and visit Lt. Surge? He has the Blitz Badge for the Military League, as well as the Thunder Badge for the Pokémon League."
Sabrina shrugged. "As a Gym Leader I don't really need the eight badges for the Pokémon League, but I don't know if it will be the same for the Military League as well. Might as well ask Lt. Surge."
"We should visit Brock's dad and get a Boulder Badge while we are at it." Hikaru said, then sighed. "There's so many places we have to go! I don't want to lose track of Frey because we spent too much time messing around."
"Well, Lt. Surge is the Leader of the Vermilion Gym." Joy said. "That's where we are going tomorrow anyway."
"And I have been to Pewter City, where you can get the Boulder Badge, and also to Celadon where you would need to defeat Erika for a Rainbow Badge." Sabrina said. "That means that I can teleport the three of us there tomorrow."
"You can teleport us there?" Hikaru asked, impressed. "How come you didn't teleport here?"
"I have to have visited the place I want to go to at least once with Kadabra. He can then help me teleport us there." Sabrina said.
Hikaru smiled. "I can't wait until tomorrow!"
A knock on the door gave them pause. Hikaru stood up and looked through the peephole before opening the door and letting General Grace walk in. The general took a look at them and at the house and shook her head in wonder.
"Hikaru you never cease to amaze me." She smiled in response to Hikaru's sheepish grin. "No wonder you didn't need a tent when I offered one. But that's not why I'm here…"
"Is this something to do with our mission?" Joy asked.
The General nodded. "I'll be leaving with you tomorrow, I need to go to the base near Celadon City. I would like you three to go with me, we have to start working on our network so we can get information on Team Rocket and Frey ASAP."
"General," Sabrina stood up. "Would it be okay if we met you there in two days time? There are some things we want to take care of. We should be arriving about the same time as you."
The General considered for a moment and nodded. "Fine, but make sure to be there by then."
As the three girls nodded, the General excused herself and stepped out of the house.
"I guess we should go to sleep and get ready." Joy said. "Tomorrow promises to be an interesting day."
Hikaru looked at the dozing Mokona, Evee and Hunter. Next to them, Lafarga, Chansey and Kadabra were struggling to keep awake. "I guess we should." She said and recalled her Pokémon, including Ryukari and Dratini. Sabrina and Joy followed suit, and soon the three girls were in bed, drifting into sleep.
o.0.o
The next morning, after breakfast and a short briefing from General Grace and Prof. Oak, the three girls were free to go.
"It's too bad Captain Drake left last week." Hikaru said. "I would have liked to set sail on the S.S. Dragonair one more time."
Joy nodded, smiling in recollection of the fearless Captain, who had made them promise to visit him in the Hoenn Region if they ever went there.
"At least this will be faster." Sabrina said. "Now, take a deep breath…"
Hikaru closed her eyes, held Mokona close, and took a deep breath as Sabrina had instructed. She felt the sea breeze against her face and heard the now familiar sounds of the harbor. Suddenly she felt a pulling sensation, and the noises were replaced by the sounds of children playing. She opened her eyes and looked around.
"Puu…" Mokona said in awe.
"Hey, this isn't Vermilion!" Joy said in surprise.
"We're in Pewter City." Sabrina said. "I thought it best to start at the furthest point. We can practice a bit, and I suggest you get a Pokémon from this area too."
Joy nodded, still a bit bewildered, while Hikaru looked around, her eyes finally settling on the Pokémon Gym. "We could ask Brock's dad where to get strong Ground Type Pokémon."
o.0.o
Flint was having a good day. He had just sent the latest Pokémon Trainer out of the gym, without a badge and promising to train harder for the next time. The kids had all watched his battle and cheered for him when he had won. And now, three very pretty girls had just walked in. Yep a good day indeed.
"Hello, and welcome to Pewter City Gym. The name's Flint. Are you here to challenge me?"
Sabrina had returned to her demure façade, and shook her head, earning a small sweat-drop from Flint. He looked at the next girl, who was shyly poking her two index fingers together and did a double take. "Nurse Joy?"
The girl nodded. "Eh… yes, Mr. Flint, but the one that wants to challenge you right now is not me…"
Flint had to tear his eyes from the nurse outside nurse uniform. The redhead looked very confident and smiled at him cutely. "Hi! I'm Hikaru Ketchum! I'm here for a boulder badge!"
Flint blinked a couple of times. "Hikaru Ketchum? Are you related to Ash Ketchum of Pallet town?"
Hikaru nodded. "He's my brother, I traveled with him, Misty and your son, Brock for a few months."
Flint nodded and motioned for her to take her place opposite him. "It's always a pleasure to meet one of my son's friends, especially such a pretty one, but don't think I'll take it easy on you just because of that!"
Hikaru smiled. "I wouldn't have it any other way!"
Flint smiled back. "It'll be a one-on-one battle. Well, here we go! Dugtrio! I choose you!"
Hikaru snapped her Pokédex open as soon as the Pokémon appeared.
"Dugtrio: A team of DIGLETT triplets. It triggers huge earthquakes by burrowing 60 miles underground." The Pokédex explained in a robotic voice.
The Magic Knight nodded, taking out a Pokéball. "Go, Dratini!"
The moment the Water Pokémon appeared, Flint sweat-dropped. "Damn. Dugtrio! Metronome!"
"Dugtrio!" the Pokémon started concentrating, but Flint knew it was too late.
"Dratini! Water Pulse!" Dratini's Water Pulse hit Dugtrio just as it was about to release his power, knocking the Pokémon unconscious. Flint sighed.
"Fine you win. And I was on a good streak too." He shook his head and smiled. "Well, at least it's good to see that you think about strategy! I'll tell you that your brother had the bright idea of using Pikachu against Brock's Onyx!"
Hikaru laughed. "Well, Ash, Brock and Misty had a long and tiring task in teaching me how to battle Pokémon. I guess they taught me well."
Flint shook his head and looked at Joy. "Well Nurse Joy, do you want to battle me for a Boulder Badge?"
Joy nodded a bit shyly and stepped up to battle as Flint recalled Dugtrio.
"Go, Joy!" Hikaru cheered from the sides. Joy sweat-dropped, when she turned and saw that Sabrina was shaking a small flag that said 'Go Joy' with a decidedly unimpressed face.
"Well, just because you are medic and your name brings joy to the world doesn't mean I'll go easy on you either!" Flint challenged.
"Ah!" Hikaru suddenly said. "That explains a lot."
"What do you mean, Hikaru?" Joy asked as Sabrina just looked at her.
"Now I know where Brock gets the sappy lines from." Hikaru said. "It's genetic."
Flint growled. "Go Sandslash!"
"Slash!" the Pokémon appeared in a swirl of red energy, ready for battle.
Joy sighed. "Go, Chansey!"
"Chansey!" The smiling Pokémon took a look around, finally seeing Hikaru and Sabrina. Smiling it waved at them.
Sabrina produced another flag that read 'Go Chansey' on her other hand and waved them about without loosing her composure.
Flint and Joy both looked a little disturbed at her attitude. But finally faced each other.
"Prepare to be defeated!" Flint shouted. "Sandslash! Fury Swipes!"
"Chansey! Use Protect!" Joy shouted.
Chansey concentrated and a transparent field appeared around it as Sandslash tried to pierce through.
"Chansey! Use Metronome!"
The Sandslash tried to get through desperately as Chansey started moving its hands side to side, and a blue aura surrounded it. Sandslash was suddenly picked up and thrown out of the arena. The Ground Pokémon struggled to stand, only to look up as Chansey jumped up to it and offered an egg.
The Sandslash happily ate it as Flint shook his head. "Well, your Chansey certainly has an interesting take on Pokémon battles, Nurse Joy."
"Please, just call me Joy." The nurse said. "I'm not working as a Nurse right now."
"So I see." Flint nodded, and walked to the back of the arena, taking out two Boulder Badges. "Well, Joy, Hikaru, here are your Boulder Badges. It was a pleasure doing battle with you." Flint gave them each a badge.
"Mr. Flint, I wanted to ask you where would be a good place to find Ground Pokémon." Joy asked doing her best at hiding her glee for receiving her first Badge ever.
Flint nodded thoughtfully. "Well, it's a couple of hours away from here, but Moon Mountain has several wild Ground Type Pokémon. You can find anything from a Geodude to an Onyx there."
The girls nodded.
"But first, why don't you join me and the kids for some drinks?" Flint said. "I'd like to know what my son and his friends have been up to lately. And perhaps we can take a look at your Pokémon, maybe I can teach Dig to one of them."
o.0.o
Moon Mountain was an interesting place Hikaru decided, as they walked around with Mokona jumping around them. They had seen a few Geodudes an Onyx and several Zubat. However, Joy was not completely convinced she wanted any of those.
"Mokona, don't bounce too far!" Hikaru called as the little creature did just the opposite. "Sigh. I'll be right back…" she started running after Mokona, calling her to come back.
When Joy and Sabrina were alone, the Gym leader smiled at her. "So I make you nervous?"
Joy almost jumped. "H-how do you know?"
Sabrina rolled her eyes and touched her forehead. "Psychic, remember? But I didn't need to read your mind to notice the looks you give me at times."
Joy laughed a bit. "I guess I do."
Sabrina merely nodded. And they started walking in the general direction Hikaru had gone.
"I just feel I'm a bit over my head." Joy confessed. "And a little jealous that you have met Hikaru's friends."
"It wasn't that fun at first." Sabrina said. "Frey sent us there hoping to get rid of us, it was only thanks to Mokona that we were able to contact Clef, get back home and become… friends."
"Hikaru was your first?" Joy asked.
Sabrina blushed a bit. "Yeah. But Ash got me Haunter and he's helped me a lot too." She took her Pokéball and looked at it thoughtfully. "I owe a lot to Ash Ketchum. It's in part thanks to him that I met Hikaru too. If he and the others hadn't met her, I wonder what could have happened?"
"There's no use thinking that." Joy said. "If Hikaru hadn't been at Hop Hop Hop, it could have turned into something like Pepper Island." She shuddered. "But she's here, and we are now a team, right?"
"Right." Sabrina nodded. It was then that they noticed a Pokémon walking close by.
"Now, that one I like…" Joy said with a smile. "Chansey! I choose you!"
o.0.o
"Mokonaaa!" Hikaru called. "Come on, what are you doing running around like that? I hope you are not trying to get me into trouble like you did in Cephiro!"
"Puu!" came the echo from a side cavern.
Hikaru sighed for the umpteenth time and followed the sounds of her furry friend into a small cavern, where the little creature stood. "Mokona what… oh…"
Mokona turned to look at her and jumped excitedly. "Puu!" she moved to the side of the rock she had found, letting Hikaru pick up the glowing white orb with her hand.
"What is it, Mokona?"
"Puu!"
Hikaru was about to ask another question when they heard a crash. Quickly pocketing the stone, Hikaru ran out and searched for the origin of the sound, when she heard Joy's voice.
"Chansey, use Pound!"
"Chansey!"
Another crash was heard and Hikaru ran towards the Pokémon battle. She arrived just in time to see something being captured in a Pokéball. The Pokéball twitched a couple of times then went still.
"Yes!" Joy shouted hugging Chansey. "Wonderful job Chansey! We have a new partner!"
"Chansey!" the egg carrying Pokémon said in glee, jumping happily from foot to foot.
"Yay. Happy-happy, joy-joy." Sabrina deadpanned while shaking a couple of dark purple pompoms from side to side.
Hikaru smiled. "So, what Pokémon did you catch?"
o.0.o
"So you are Ash's sister, eh?" Lt. Surge smiled. "He gave me quite a battle, that one, with his little Pikachu."
"I hear that a lot." Hikaru laughed. "I want to challenge you, but I have a question first."
"Shoot." Lt. Surge said, getting into position for the upcoming battle.
"If I battle you and win, do I have to choose between the Blitz Badge and the Thunder Badge?"
"Well Hikaru, I hate to tell you this but the Blitz Badge is only for the Military League. Civilians can't participate. But no, if you won the Blitz Badge that counts for both Leagues." Lt. Surge laughed.
"Well, Lieutenant," Hikaru said with a cat-like grin, "I happen to qualify for the Military League, and so does Joy and Sabrina!" she took her ID and showed it to Surge who looked at it and shook his head. "Your brother never mentioned that you were in the Military, Captain Ketchum."
"Hikaru is fine, Lt. Surge." Hikaru smiled.
"I heard you were at Pepper Island." Lt. Surge said after a moment. "You are pretty strong to have survived all that."
Hikaru shook her head. "It was a nightmare, Lt. And our survival had as much to do with Team Work as with strength. Shall we?"
"My pleasure."
"Ryukari! Go!" Hikaru sent out her Charizard.
"That's one big Charizard." Lt. Surge whistled. "But let's see how he does against my good friend, Raichu!"
"Ryukari! Use Fire Spin!"
"Not so fast!" Lt. Surge leaned forward. "Raichu! Thunder Wave!"
"Chuuu!"
"Raar!"
Both attacks shot out at the same time, but a quick rolling dodge from Raichu saved him from being burnt. Ryukari, however, doing the attack himself, was not as fast. The Charmander roared as it felt it's muscles cramp. Static sparks appeared around him as he struggled to get free.
"Ryukari! Fight it! Try to use Fire Blast!" Hikaru shouted.
As the Charizard struggled, Lt. Surge nodded to his Raichu. "Raichu! Thunder!"
"Raiiii-chuuu!" the whole area lit up as the electric attack hit the Charmander in full.
"Ryukari!" Hikaru shouted horrified.
Eyes half closed, the Charizard stumbled around. "Char…" then fell, unconscious.
o.0.o
Sitting on one of the Pokémon Center's sofas Hikaru waited for the Nurse Joy in turn to come back. Next to her, Sabrina brooded and Joy looked at her friend a little worried.
"You know what you did wrong?" Sabrina asked.
Hikaru nodded.
"Sabrina, I don't think this is the time…"
"It is, Joy." Sabrina interrupted. "It's her first big loss, so she has to analyze what she did wrong and fight Surge again tomorrow."
"Hikaru…"
"I'll be okay, Joy, Sabrina." Hikaru said. "I know what I did wrong. Instead of using my brain I ended up charging blindly. If I had fought Frey like that, then I wouldn't be standing here today." She smiled. "At least you managed to get your own Badges."
Joy nodded and Sabrina simply looked down at hers. "What is important is that you have to learn, Hikaru. You won a fight against Flint because you used your head. Ground/Rock Pokémon are weak against Water Pokémon and Water Attacks. Electric Pokémon are stronger against Water, but weaker against Rock. Given the circumstances the battle could have gone much worse had you used your Scyther, Lafarga."
"I know all of this." Hikaru sighed. "I just know my Pokémon are much stronger than his and I tend to forget their weaknesses."
"You are a swordfighter, Hikaru, and you said your family owned a Dojo where you practiced your family style of Kenjustu."
Hikaru nodded, looking at Sabrina.
"Well then, think of your Pokémon as students of Kenjutsu." The psychic said. "When you watch your brothers practice for a tournament, isn't it your job to point out deficiencies in their posture? Or in their attack? Defense?" Sabrina stood, motioning to Hikaru as they went to pick Ryukari. "Pokémon are the same. You will not have a Pokémon that can simply be strong at everything, but it doesn't mean that they are weaker. If strength doesn't cut it, try speed. If speed is an issue, use distance or the terrain to your advantage." Sabrina stopped talking, watching Hikaru as she was clearly in thought.
o.0.o
"I see you returned, I could expect no less from Ash Ketchum's sister, and a fellow officer!" Lt. Surge laughed. "Ready to battle?"
Hikaru nodded and Lt. Surge threw his Pokéball. "Go, Raichu!"
The Magic Knight threw her own Pokéball into the air. "Go, Eevee!"
"Puu!" Mokona called, jumping excitedly around Joy and Sabrina's legs. The two looked at each other shrugged and turned to look at the battle.
"I see you changed tactics this time." Surge nodded. "Let's see how well trained it is! Raichu! Thunder Wave!"
"Eevee! Use Dig!"
Lt. Surge cursed when Eevee disappeared from view, completely avoiding the paralyzing Thunder Wave. Raichu looked around worriedly, trying to predict where the Eevee would jump out from. It was a futile attempt, as the just when it noticed the ground cracking under it, Eevee blasted out, head-butting the Raichu on the chin. Raichu, rolled on the ground and got on its feet, unsteadily looking at the Eevee.
"Thunderbolt!"
"Quick Attack!"
Raichu invoked its inner power, but it was too late, Eevee once again crashed against him, knocking the breath out of his already abused body. The Raichu whimpered and fell.
"Raichu!" Lt. Surge called, running to his friend while Eevee jumped merrily onto Hikaru's arms.
"Well done Eevee!" Hikaru cried, twirling around and laughing.
Recalling his Pokémon, Lt. Surge chuckled. "Well Captain Ketchum, here is your Blitz Badge. And also take this."
Hikaru accepted the badge and a small Training Manual.
"That TM contains Thunder." Lt. Surge explained. "If you get a Pokémon that can use Electric attacks, or you evolve your Eevee into a Jolteon, you can teach it to them."
"Thank you, Lt. Surge." Hikaru smiled and saluted.
The Lieutenant followed suit and chuckled. "Now, off with you, I have other challengers waiting to meet me in battle."
o.0.o
"Well, that was much better." Hikaru said. Her Eevee had climbed onto her head and now rested on it, looking around curiously. Mokona, following suit jumped onto Sabrina's head. The Psychic didn't even blink, keeping her Poker Face at all times, even if it made the Pokémon look stranger.
"Why do you do that?" Joy asked as they walked away from the Gym.
"What?"
"Keep your face scary like that."
Sabrina shrugged. "I have a reputation. I'd rather keep it that way even if it came down a notch after the Ketchum siblings came to visit."
Hikaru laughed and Joy shook her head in amusement.
"Well, are you two ready?" Sabrina asked. "We should meet with General Grace, and then I promised I'd meet with Ash for a couple of days before we start our real mission."
Sabrina nodded. "I'll take advantage of that to make sure my dad is handling things well."
"And I'll stay at the base, I need to toughen up my new Pokemon!" Joy said.
"Let's go then!"
End Chapter 6