Hey people, sorry for the wait. Had trouble finding the time to type this up. School's been a pain but hey, school years almost over! Whoo-Hoo! Anyway, here's another chapter for ya'll.
When morning came I was still holding Ashlyn in my arms. After last night I knew that we were together now, and I was glad we were. She was an amazing girl to say the least, she wasn't a girl to be taken lightly. I lied there for several moments with my eyes shut before I became aware of weight, not Ashlyn, on my chest. I opened my eyes to see that Torch had sat himself atop me and was watching Ashlyn and I with what I swore was a smile.
"What are you looking at?" I asked critically.
"Nothing, so how'd you sleep?" Torch asked, still seeming to smile.
"We slept fine thank you." Ashlyn answered, having been awoken by my outburst. She smiled and gave me small kiss before heading to the bathroom to change. I was now aware that all of our Pokémon had been watching us. I grabbed a pillow and threw it Torch when he started to laugh, he dodged it barely and the pillow hit Rose. She grunted then picked it up with her vines and chucked it back at me. We continued on like that for a few minutes before I told them that it had been enough. I got up and headed to the kitchen, I grabbed some eggs and toast along with some bacon and began to prepare a gourmet breakfast for us all. I had just finished when Ashlyn stepped out, the look on her face when she saw the meal was priceless. She was shocked at the most.
"I didn't know you could cook." She mumbled as she sat down and took her plate. I smiled but didn't say what I was thinking. To be honest, I didn't know I could cook either. I just felt the need to do something nice for her and after that my body was working without my mind. She took a bite and I could tell she loved it, as did our Pokémon. Once the meal was finished I recalled Torch to his poke ball and Ashlyn recalled Vinnie to his, leaving Rose, Blade, and Spike out with us while we discussed our plan for the day. "So what's the plan, take on the local gym or do some more training?" Ashlyn asked. I thought for a second before responding.
"I think we're ready for the gym. We've trained enough, and we got a type advantage now too." I told her and she nodded in agreement. We got up and headed out of our hotel room to the gym. We walked up to the gyms doors and stared up in awe at the amazing steel plated building with the gym logo on the front. "So who goes first?" I asked.
"I will, I want to get some levels for Rose and Spike quickly." She told me, I nodded and stepped aside for her to enter because gym challenges were private. I waited for a long time, so long in fact that I let out Torch and we talked for a while.
"So, you ready Torch? This gym is steel type so you'll be my ace here. Think you're up for it?" I asked the Cyndaquil as he rolled around on the floor.
"Definitely!" Torch shouted in excitement.
"Good, Blade, since you have a big disadvantage you'll be back up for Torch. Lower the opponents defense and help with the combo move we worked on alright. Don't do anything risky, either of you, alright?" I asked, they both nodded in understanding. After that I had Torch practice his Ember and Flame Wheel attacks while Blade practiced U-Turn. Soon Ashlyn returned with Vinnie and two other Pokémon I didn't recognize.
"Well, I won; and both Spike and Rose evolved! I sent them in first then switched them with Vinnie." She exclaimed. I quickly scanned the two pokemon.
-Beautifly, a Flying/Bug type pokemon. Evolved form of Silcoon, knows the moves Tackle, Harden, Stun Spore, Sleep Powder, and Headbutt.-
-Ivysaur, a Grass/Poison type pokemon. Evolved form of Bulbasaur, knows the moves Tackle, Poison Powder, Leech Seed, Sleep Powder, Razor Leaf, and Vine Whip.-
I closed the dex then examined the two Pokémon. Beautifly looked like a slimmer version of a Butterfree in my opinion. Orange a black Butterfree looking wings with two long antennae and oval shaped feet. Ivysaur looked like Bulbasaur almost exactly except that she was now larger and the bulb and her back had begun to bloom.
"You look good guys, glade to see that you have evolved." I said to Rose and Spike.
"I look like my mother." Spike said glumly, and since he was male and could see the problem.
"You look fine," Ashlyn comforted him "the gym leader is waiting for you Chris." She told me. I nodded then walked in with Blade and Torch behind me. When I walked in there was an elevator lift going down that I needed to take to get to the first trainer. Since there was just the one the battle was sort of dragged out with a lot of hardens by the foe's Aron. But eventually it was defeated by Torch's Ember. Then it was on to the Gym leader. Brick, that was the leaders name. He was a pretty muscular guy with blonde hair and blue eyes and one killer smile. He watched me carefully as I rode the lift down to him. (the gym was layered)
"You ready kid? This'll be a singles battle, two pokemon allowed to each trainer. Come on out Aron!" Brick shouted, not waiting for me to respond. The match had begun, I called out Torch and the too small pokemon eyed each other down.
"Torch, use Quick Attack to get close then follow up with flame wheel!" I shouted.
"Aron, use Iron Defense!" Brick called but it wouldn't help much. Torch was there in an instant and soon the steel type was hit with a rolling ball of fire. Torch leaped back to me and waited. The Aron didn't fall though, I quickly scanned it and discovered that it's ability was Sturdy, meaning it couldn't be knocked out with a single hit. "Aron, to me!" Brick called, the Aron returned and brick gave him a potion. I grunted.
-I need to hit it twice without letting him be healed. Quick Attack will get us hit quickly but it'll give Aron a chance to hit Torch.- I thought to myself.
"I can get in and out quickly! Just give the word, he won't hit me." Torch said, I was stunned. I hadn't spoken aloud but Torch still heard me, was this a part of me being able to understand Pokemon?
-Do it.- I thought, deciding to test that theory. Torch took off and hit the Aron with Quick Attack, just barely missing the Aron's tackle as he leaped back to me. –Alright, follow up with Quick Attack and Flame Wheel again. Same as last time!- I thought. Torch obeyed and the Aron was knocked out. –Sweet, so you can…- my train of thought was cut off when Torch started to glow. He glowed brighter and brighter and I could see that the glowing shape of his body began to change. His body became longer and he became a larger pokemon. The light dimmed and I was awe struck by how Torch had changed. I quickly scanned him before Brick could send out his next Pokemon.
-Quilava, a Fire type Pokemon. Evolved form of Cyndaquil; knows the moves Ember, Flame Wheel, Quick Attack, Smoke Screen, Growl, and Pyro Cannon-
I grinned, amazed that he had evolved.
"Woah, what a rush!" Torch exclaimed.
"Come on out Steelix!" Brick screamed, tossing a poke ball. A massive steel snake pokemon appeared and towered over Torch. I sent Blade out for backup. He appeared and quickly realized that the enemy was high above him.
"You gotta be kidding me…"Blade mumbled to himself, not thinking I'd hear.
"Quick, use Flare Blitz!" I shouted, Flare Blitz was the name we had decided on for their combo move. Blade looked to Torch and then to me for answers, not recognizing his friend. "I'll explain later just go!" I shouted. They took off, Torch bellowed out a massive stream of Fire using his ember. The flames hit the Steelix head on and I could see that the steel plates had melted off in places, revealing the flesh beneath. –Aim for the skin!- I thought and Blade obeyed. The Steelix was hit, and since it wasn't fast enough to retaliate quickly, Blade and Torch were back at my side. I recalled Blade, knowing he couldn't do much more and I wanted to test out Pyro Cannon. –Torch, use Pyro Cannon! Give it all you got!- I thought as loudly as I could. He obeyed, a small ball of fire gathered at his mouth, drawing the flames from his back side and growing larger and larger. He rose onto his hind legs, reared his head back and threw the fire ball at the injured Steelix before Brick could heal it. The fire ball made contact and instantly exploded, sending the massive Pokemon to the ground. I had won my first gym battle. "Yeah!" I shouted as Torch tackled me to the ground and commenced to lick my face.
"We did it, we did it, we did it!" he kept repeating.
"Hey kid!" Brick called as I stood up, I looked his way and he tossed me my first badge, the Steel Badge. I nodded thanks and I returned to Ashlyn, who I hoped would be glad that I had won. Before we got to the door Torch stopped and what I saw etched into his face was fear.
"What is it?" I asked.
"It's him…" he responded.
"Who?" I pressed as I heard shouting outside.
"My old trainer." He told me with horror in his voice.
"Hand over my Scraggy! Now, if we get in a battle I won't just be taking my pokemon back!" a male shouted.
"You beat them! You're not taking him back! Ready Vinnie?!" Ashlyn shouted, I knew it was her without looking.
"Yes!" Vinnie responded. I looked down to Torch who was still scared out of his mind.
"Torch, look at me! You won't be going back to him, I swear. But we can't let him take Vinnie and his other Pokemon were your friends right?" I asked but had to repeat myself several times before he registered that I was speaking. He nodded in agreement and suddenly he seemed like he was ready to fight again. I released Blade and quickly explained the situation to him. We rushed out to help Ashlyn. Vinnie, Rose, and Spike were all taking on the other boys Mudkip, Bellsprout, Pidgeotto, Nidoran(male), and Nidoran(female). "Hey!" I shouted, drawing all of their attention. The boy, who was dressed in a bright blue shirt with black jeans and red spikey hair, looked at me critically.
"Stay out of this kid, it's none of your business!" he shouted before beginning to order his pokemon again but I cut him off, seething with rage.
"It is my business!" I shouted. "You mess with my girl you mess with me!" I shouted.
"Well then fine, when I beat you both I'll take all your pokemon! A Quilava will be better than that cowardly Cyndaquil I had!" he cried.
-Torch, what did he used to call you?- I thought
"I'll be Flare, for this battle only!" he demanded. I nodded in agreement.
"Blade,?" I said, he nodded "Flare?" I said, and Torch nodded.
"Flare?" the boy echoed "My Cyndaquil evolved?! You have my Cyndaquil!" the boy cried.
"Blade, U-Turn on the Mudkip. Flare, use Pyro Cannon on anyone you can!" I shouted, Blade stepped forward but I blocked him. "Wait for Torch to attack first, don't want you to get hurt." I whispered. He did as I asked as Torch gathered the fire ball again and launched it at the enemy pokemon. The Bellsprout and female Nidoran were knocked out and then Blade went for a U-Turn on the Mudkip, knocking it out. The boy was now to awe struck to do anything and his remaining pokemon were left to fend for themselves. The remaining Nidoran launched a poison sting but torch easily dodged it and it was hit by a Razor Leaf from Rose, it was knocked out now as well. Which left the Pidgeotto, it dive bombed at Blade. "Blade, dodge and use Slash!" I commanded and he did so, knocking out the bird pokemon. By now an Officer Jenny had arrived and within minutes me and Ashlyn told her everything we knew. As a reward for turning in the boy, the Officer let us take the boys Pokemon. I thought it was a good idea, professor Bark could find us some trainers to trade with and I kinda liked the Mudkip. By the time we had gotten back to the hotel Ashlyn had decided to take the Bellsprout and male Nidoran, leaving me with the other three. Knowing that I wouldn't be keeping the Nidoran or Pidgeotto I let Mudkip out while Ashlyn was in the bathroom showering. I also had Torch out, hoping he'd be able to help. When the little water type appeared it shied away and hid under a table. "It's ok, I won't hurt you. I'm not like the other guy you were with, just ask your friend." I said, motioning to Torch. The Mudkip seemed to recognize him instantly.
"Flare! Oh my God, where have you been!? I've missed you, is Clay here too? What happened, how did you evolve?" the Mudkip asked.
"I met good trainers, they took care of us. And were not Clay and Flare anymore. Now, I'm Torch."
"And I'm Vinnie! Oh, and these trainers can understand us too! They treat us great. When did those other pokemon join you?" Vinnie asked.
"After you ran off, our trainer caught them and hoped to re-capture you with them. He said they were temporary, can you really understand us?" Mudkip asked.
"Yes, I can. So can Ashlyn, I want you to join my team." I said to him, cutting straight to the point. He, or should I say she since the Mudkip turned out to be female, stared at me with big eyes for a moment. "You'll be taken care of, I promise. If you lose a fight you lose a fight, it's not a big deal here. Your our friends, not our slaves." I told her.
"Can I have a new name?" she asked, I smiled, taking that as a yes.
"How's Stela sound?" I asked her, her eyes seemed to light up and she jumped into my arms crying "I'm Stela, I'm Stela!" I smiled again and left her to meet the other pokemon. I knocked on the bathroom door and Ashlyn opened it a second later.
"What's going on?" she asked.
"Why don't you come meet my newest team mate? Stela." I called and she jumped into my arms again.
"Wow, she really seems to like you." Ashlyn said. We ate dinner with our now six pokemon before they all crashed on the same bed. Ashlyn was watching them and once I finished cleaning up I put my arms around her waist, turned her around and kissed her for the second time since coming to SilverSteel City, and like last night, we fell asleep together.
Team Rooster(Chris):
Blade: Scyther/Level 21
Torch: Quilava/Level 20
Stela: Mudkip/Level 13
Team Rooster(Ashlyn):
Rose: Ivysaur/Level 18
Spike: Beautifly/Level 14
Vinnie: Scraggy/Level 19