POKEMON KNIGHTS
Characters
Zach Atsaws: A 15 Year-Old Orphaned Boy with Attitude!
Cale: A Pokemon Ranger who will go a long way to do the right thing.
Leaf: A 10 year old Girl with Street Smarts, and expert sneak skills.
Mightyena: Leaf's Sidekick. A Talking Mightyena who is smarter than he looks.
Chapter 5
The Rebel Race
A restless night in the base of the Sealed Silvers. Zach Atsaws slept soundly, but with his head full of concern, as today is his time to compete in the Big Water Race on the Sealed Silvers' Dragonair. He rolls around on his bed in the Dark Room he was loaned for the night, hoping that he'll win and free Sapphire from the Dark Emeralds. As he tries to continue sleeping, hoping it's not morning, someone knocks on his door.
Silver: Hey Kid, you up?
Zach looks up at the digital clock. 7:20 A.M.
Zach: Uh, yeah.
Silver: Alright. Tannen's prepared breakfast. All of the Silvers will be there, and we invite your presence.
Zach: Kay. I'll be there in a sec.
He looks down.
Zach:...For Sapphire...
After getting dressed, Zach goes into the Silver's Dinning room. Every Member of the Sealed Sivers greets him with friendly "Good Luck" smiles. Tannen walked over to him.
Tannen: Mr. Astaws! Our Most Valuable Rider! Sleep well?
Zach: Uh, yeah. I did.
Tannen: Great! Now come and join us. Brody makes an excellent omlet.
They all eat together, and Tannen starts discusssing more about the race.
Tannen: Well Zach, I'm sorry to say but I will not be personally there to cheer you on. With Emeralds and Spiner being there...well, I'm sure you understand.
Zach: I do. Don't worry. It's okay.
Xandra: But we will be watching you on TV.
Tannen: Ah yes! Even though this race is mostly an Underground event, it's broadcasted and watched all over the Island.
Zach: So that means Cale and Leaf and Mightyena can watch. Awsome!
After breakfast, Zach is escorted out of the Underground to the Beach where the Race is being held. Zach is shown to a Tent where only Riders and Officials are allowed. Once in, a man in Sunglasses approaches him.
Man: Ah, so you are a Sealed Silver Rider, eh?
Zach: Uh, yeah. That would be me.
Man: Great. Tannen said you would be young. Ma name's Troy. I've been told to assist you.
Zach: Okay.
Troy hands him an Ultraball. It is THE ultraball.
Troy: For Starters, here's the Dragonair you'll be using. Tannen said you already have some experience with it. That's good. Now come on, and let's meet some of your fellow racers.
Troy takes Zach further into the Tent. They eventually come across a big area with tables filled with People. One of the Tables is filled with a bunch of mean looking dudes. Must be the Dark Emeralds.
Troy: Here are the rest of the Sealed Silvers.
Zach sees a table of better looking people. The two walk over.
Troy: Hey listen up people, here's your new Racer Buddy, Zach. He may be a Teen, but he has a Dragonair and he has Tannen's trust. So the same should go for you.
Some of the other silvers were pretty skeptic, but a Confident looking woman comes to Zach.
Woman: Hey kid, it doesn't matter that you're a kid, it matters on how much spunk ya got. You got spunk, right?
Zach: Uh...Sure.
Woman: Great. I'm Lindsey. I'm also riding in this race on my Dewgong.
Zach: Are all these guys riders?
Lindsey: Yeah, but they're mostly our backup crew. We are the main riders.
Silver: And you better watch out for Victor, kid. He's a Toughie.
Zach: Victor?
Lindsey nods.
Lindsey: Yeah. Last years Champion. He's a Dark Emerald.
She points at the Emerald Table, to a Muscular, Sternfaced Emerald.
Zach: That's him?
Silver: You bet. He won last year with his Gyrados.
Silver 2: His Gyrados, man. That's a tough thing to beat.
Lindsey: There's a rumor going around that once, his Gyrados got so made during this other race, it went buzzerk, and attacked. Almost killed the Rider.
Zach jolted.
Silver: Uh Oh, speak of the Devil...
The Muscular, Tall, Scary Looking Dark Emerald was walking over to Zach.
Victor: So, you're the new Silver Rider? Heh, Tannen runnin' out of Ideas? Ha! Hey, break a leg kid. You might as well when my Gyrados is on top of your Dragonair! Hahahahaha!
He walks away.
Lindsey: Oh ignore him. He's a Jerk.
Zach: Oh...don't worry...
Zach shoots a confident look.
Zach: I'LL BEAT HIM AND WIN FOR SURE!
Silver: Now THAT'S the spirit!
A voice on the PA system speaks.
PA: Attention all Riders. Please gather your Pokemon and head to the Docks. The Race will begin shortly.
Lindsey: Well, we better get to it. Good luck Atsaws.
Zach: Thanks. You too.
They shake hands.
The Day is bright and Sunny. The Beach is beautiful. It seems the Entire Island had prepared for this event. The Stands were full of people from both the Surface and the Underground. TV Cameras filled the Scene. Zach didn't see any Team Rocket members around. He was barefoot on the Pier he was assigned to, Ultraball in his hand. He looks over to Lindsey a few Piers down. She gave the "Don't you worry" smile. He looks over at Victor, not as far down. He gave the "You're going down" evil smile. In the surrounding piers, other riders from the Sealed Silvers, Dark Emeralds, and other Gangs were Stationed. But what really gets Zach to thinking, is this: far away from him, sitting in a cage gaurded by a Dark Emerald Grunt, wearing nothing but rags, is a 15 year-old girl with long Dark Hair...Sapphire.
Meanwhile at the Pokemon Center, Cale, Leaf, and Mightyena watch Carefully. Eyes glued to the screen. The Commentator was introducing the Riders, their Gangs, and their Pokemon. Eventually, the Camera's showed Zach on his pier.
Commentator *TV*: And here, another Representing the Sealed Silvers is a rookie, Zach Atsaws, age 15, riding on "Dragonair", and said to be the MVP...
Mightyena: Alright, Zach!
Leaf: Whooo! Kick some butt, Zach!
Cale just sat there, smiling and nodding. Thinking; He can do it.
At the Beach, the Race was just beggining.
Announcer: Racers, please send out your Pokemon.
Every Racer sends out their Water Pokemon. Lindsey sends out Dewgong, and Victor sends out Gyrados. Zach hurls the Ultraball.
Zach: Alright, Come Out Dragonair!
Dragonair comes out.
"Draaaa!"
Everyone mounts their Pokemon.
Zach: Alright Dragonair, we can do this. Right?
"Droooo".
Announcer: On your marks...get set...GO!
Commentator: And they're off!
All Water Pokemon goes Zooming off into the Ocean. The rules were to go around a complicated Lap around the Lake and back. Whoever gets back first wins. Zach hangs on tight to Dragonair as it speeds off. There is so much water splashing in his face that he shut his eyes. But then, when he opened them, Dragonair was slowing down...and there was no one else in sight...
Zach: Uh oh...are we behind? Or maybe we're lost...oh...not good...
But as Zach looks, he sees, up ahead...The Goal!
Zach: Wait a minute...Are we..already almost there? Then that means...WE'RE AHEAD! Wow, Keep Going! We're gonna win this!
"Draaa!"
But then, as they got closer, a Gyrados popped up roaring and Dragonair stopped.
Zach: Whoa! What the-!
Familiar Voice: Not on your Life, Kid!
A familiar figure appears on the Gyrados...Victor.
Victor: Nice Try. Almost as fast as Gyrados, here. But it's not as tough, mine just plows through everyone else.
Zach: Victor, wha-?
Victor: I ain't losen to a Kid. Gyrados, use Dragon Rage!
Gyrados makes a gigantic whirlpool, and shoots it at Zach and Dragonair. They both fall into the water. After a few seconds, only Zach's hat re-surfaces.
Victor: Well, That takes care of that. Continue.
The Gyrados is about to move on, when suddenly a Hyper-Beam shoots out of the water and hits Gyrados!
Victor: Wha-?!
Zach's Voice: We ain't goin down THAT easily!
Zach was on Gyrados' back! He ran up past Victor and jumped off Gyrados onto Dragonair.
Victor: But...That's...how did you-
Dragonair swam around Gyrados, and Zach picked up his hat.
Zach: Thaaank, you.
He shook it off, and put it back on.
Zach: A little wet, but that's okay.
He eyed Victor.
Zach: You asked for this one! Hyperbeam!
Dragonair: Draaaaaa!
Dragonair unleashed a hyperbeam on Gyrados, and caused a succesful hit. Gyrados was sent back into the water, unconcious. Victor came up and pondered over the fainted Gyrados.
Victor: Aww No! Get up ya stupid eel! What kind of Pokemon ARE you?!
Zach: A very strong one, I will admit.
Victor angrily peered at Zach.
Zach: Put just not as strong a Dragonair. Lesson one: Cheaters never win. Gotta go!
Dragonair and Zach sped off back towards the bay and the finish line.
Victor: *Shaking his Fist* Hipocrite!
Meanwhile everyone at the Bay, and Cale Leaf and Mightyena at the Pokemon Center, watches the ocean in anticipation for the racers.
Announcer: Well it looks like a battle between Zach's Dragonair and Victor's Gyrados has ensued, but there are no rules against battling unless it gets out of hand and that was a pretty quick fight, so no disqualifications will take place.
Mightyena: Ha! Close call, Zach.
Announcer: It looks like...Zach has one the battle! But will he win the Race?
Leaf: Come on, Zach...Come on!
Announcer: I see him coming in at full speed! And the other Racers are nowhere near behind him...
Dragonair sped towards the finish line.
Zach: Waaahooo!
Zach Thinking: Hold on Sapphire...
Announcer: He's almost there...Almost There!
And...
Dragonair finally crosses the Finish line. The Audience goes insane with cheers and applause.
Announcer: He did it! Zach Atsaws and Dragonair of the Sealed Silvers has won!
Mightyena: Yeah Zach! Yeah!
Leaf starts jumping in joy.
Leaf: Yay! Zach!
Cale smirks, but he's more proud than he looks.
Cale: Way to go Zach. I knew you could do it. Never doubted you for a second.
Back at the bay, all the other racers, even Victor, arrived. Zach got off Dragonair, and recalled it into the Ultra Ball.
Zach: Thanks alot, Dragonair.
Troy walks over to Zach.
Troy: Good Job Zach. Never thought anyone could take out Victor's Gyrados like that. But the point is, you've won the Race! The Silvers are victorious.
Lindsey came up to Zach.
Lindsey: Well, you sure ain't no rookie. You've brought glory back to the Sealed Silvers. Congrats!
Zach was then brought to the main Podium on the Stage. The Announcer put a Medal on him. Then he went up to the Microphone.
Announcer: Once again, here's the winner of the 37th Mandarin Island Underground Gang Water Race: Zach Atsaws of the Sealed Silvers!
The Audience applauds and cheeres more.
Announcer: And now for the awarding of the main prize from the director: Spiner! The Leader of the Dark Emeralds himself!
Spiner stepped out into the open. He had short hair, a Nerdy look complete with glasses, and he had a VERY unhappy look on his face. He pushed the announcer right out of the way of the microphone, and blurted into it.
Spiner: Alright people. Listen up! Before I hand over this so-called "Champion" his prize, there's something you must all should know: This rider CHEATED!
The people suddenly started talking amongst themselves.
Zach: You're a damn liar, Spiner!
Spiner: Say what you want, boy. It doesn't change anything. You used a legendary Pokemon. Obviously an unfair advantage! Especially since legendaries aren't even allowed. Therefore, I'm withdrawing the girl.
The announcer jumped back in Spinner's way of the microphone.
Announcer: But Spiner, you can't do that! Dragonair doesn't count as a banned Pokemon, or even a legendary to begin with! And you can't withdraw a prize, it goes against our most charrished traditions!
Spiner pushed him away again.
Spiner: Fool! Your traditions are NOTHING to me! I am Spiner! Leader of the most vicious gang of all: The Dark Emeralds! And soon-to-be ruler of the entire underground...and someday even the whole island! And what I say...goes!
But before anyone could even think about taking action, another voice broke in; Female, age 15.
Voice: I might have something to say about that, Spiner!
All eyes turned to the Source: Sapphire was standing in her cage, awake and lively. She held a Pokeball in her hand and threw it out of the cage.
Sapphire: Go, Bulbasaur!
A Bulbasaur came out.
"Bulbasaur!"
Sapphire: Use Vine Whip!
Guard: Hey Wha-
Bulbasaur wrapped the guard of the cage with Vine Whip, took the key, and threw the guard into the sea. Then, he used the Key to open the cage. The door swung right open and Sapphire jumped right out.
Spiner: What?! Impossible! You were unconcious from a restraining colar! How did you-
Sapphire pulled off a broken collar, and threw it on the ground.
Sapphire: You certainly don't what I'm capable of, Spiner.
Spiner looked as if he was going to throw a tantrum. And Finally, he just exploded.
Spiner: Gah!...you noobs...ALL OF YOU! INFERIOR BEINGS! THE EMERALDS ARE SUPERIOR TO EVERY ONE ON THIS ISLAND, AND SOON IT WILL ALL BE OURS!
Zach: He's...he's gone mad. He's even crazier than I thought!
Zach looked around. Every Dark Emerald present, riders included, and even the completley wet Victor, all held a Pokeball. Spiner was definatley going to lose it. But Sapphire and Bulbasaur stood firm, like they were ready for anything. Zach on the other hand...sensed danger.
Zach: This doesn't look good...and where's Cale when you need him...
Zach has won the Water Race. But it looks like what was intended to be a rescue attempt has turned into an all-out battle. Sapphire seems to have come to and is ready to take on her capturers. But where does that put Zach?
To Be Continued...