Pokemon Chronicles
Chapter 2: On the Road to Viridian City! Meeting Old Friends (and Enemies) Along the Way.
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The week of training hell has passed with our two heroes, and now they're on the way to Viridian City. However…there's something amiss…
"Didn't you have a group of Spearow whose leader was a Fearow that had a grudge against you?" Andrew asked him.
Ash was looking around. "Come to think of it," he said, "when I passed through here, I failed to notice that because I was running from the Press. I guess that's why Pidgeot returned."
'No kidding,' Andrew thought. 'This place was rumored to be the bane of all Trainers, but it seems someone had caught the leader already.' "Has to be War Machine. He's the only guy I know whose crazy enough to try it."
"I can see why you call him War Machine. Some of his Pokemon gave me a run for my money, but wouldn't that be ripping of someone?"
"Some of our code names are based off of popular media references."
The discussion was halted when they came across the checkpoint. After showing them their Pokedexes, both Ash and Andrew passed through without any difficulty. While stopping at the Pokemon Center, however, they were greeted with a peculiar sight.
"That's the old guy who thinks the Clefairy are from space," Ash replied.
"I've heard of these crackpots," Andrew replied. "I'm just surprised you actually know one."
"Four actually. One of them was an old friend from Mt. Moon while the other two didn't understand Pokemon at all."
However, their discussion was cut short when said man was flying through the Center.
"She has ze strength of ze Machamp…" he said, dazed.
"Holy cow," Andrew said, in shock.
"Was that really necessary?" the Nurse Joy asked the woman.
"The man was too close for comfort," the red-haired woman replied, putting her mallet away. She then noticed a familiar face. "I didn't expect you here, Ash."
"Misty?" Ash replied, surprised. "Is that you?"
"Who else?" In response to that, Pikachu had jumped off Ash's shoulders and into her arms. "I can see Pikachu remembers me."
"It has been a long time."
"Long time is an understatement. It's been ages." She then noticed Andrew. "Who's he?"
"This is…"
"Name's Andrew," he replied, "and this is my partner, Jolt."
"(Nice to meet you,)" Jolt said.
"Believe it or not," Ash said, "he's going through the Indigo League, and I kind of volunteered myself to go with him."
"There's a surprise," Misty said. "You sure you haven't destroyed another bike?"
Andrew had blinked. "Does this happen often?" he asked his senior trainer.
"It was a series of accidents that led to borderline set-up," he replied, staring at Pikachu.
"(I had nothing to do with them,)" Pikachu said with innocent-looking eyes.
"(LIAR!)" Jolt yelled.
"Already, you two are becoming Abbot and Costello," Andrew said in disbelief. "We got here within a day due to some…shortcuts Ash mentioned."
Pikachu and Jolt were laughing.
"Laugh it up, you two," he replied. "They actually paid off."
"That reminds me," Misty said, "because my Dad had arrived in my place as Gym Leader, I've been going all over the world to catch Water Pokemon around four years ago. However, I was hoping I'd run into you."
Ash was smiling. "Even with others around, the spot's been open for you after all these years. Welcome back, Misty."
"Thanks." She then realized something. "Oh, and someone else wants to see you." Taking out a Pokeball, she had opened it revealing a dove-like creature with familiar triangle markings on its bottom.
"Wow," Andrew said in awe. "I've never seen an actual Togekiss before."
Ash had taken out his Pokedex at the look of it.
Togekiss. The Jubilee Pokemon. The evolved form of Togetic. Because of the strife in the world, Togekiss are rarely seen anywhere except the Mirage Kingdom. If one is seen, there is a glimmer of hope in the observer's heart that was buried in despair.
"How did Togetic evolve?" Ash asked her.
"Apparently, there were new stones that were rare," Misty said. "During my visit to the Mirage Kingdom, Togetic had saved my life, but I had accidentally dropped the Light Stone onto her and she had managed to evolve."
"Flaunting rare Pokemon isn't a good idea," Andrew said. "You never know who might be after it."
After a brief hug session, they had stayed for the night, unaware of Tartarus still following their every move.
'Not the best idea to attack them in their sleep,' he thought. 'However, that Togekiss would help in Chaos's ambitions, but how can we get it with the red-head in possession of it?'
He then realized something. 'Why am I thinking of ambushing them tomorrow morning? I'm an Assassin for the Darkrai Knights, not a normal trainer! Then again…the only way to get to Pewter City is to pass the Viridian Forest. I could catch them by surprise or create their deaths through accident.' He then smirked. 'Death by Beedrill sounds like a good idea.'
However, something had noticed him. He had turned to see…
"Is that a Jigglypuff?" he asked himself.
Before he could answer, Jigglypuff had sang her song, making him fall asleep in the process.
"Jiggly?" she asked it. Tartarus was snoring. "PUFF!" Taking the cap off the microphone, it was revealed that a marker was underneath it. Despite him wearing a hood, she had managed to scribble all over his face and left him like that to see if anyone else was in the radius.
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The next morning, Ash, Misty, Pikachu, and Jolt were witnesses to one of the strangest sights that laid before them: Halfway in and out of the bathroom was a sleeping Andrew, and they knew who the culprit was already…except for Jolt, who had a concerned face for a different reason.
"Jigglypuff," the aforementioned three said.
"(Great,)" Jolt said. "(I'll have to wake him up again.)"
"No need," Misty said, releasing a Pokemon. It was a star-shaped creature with a gem in the middle of it. "Staryu, use Water Gun." Obeying its master's command, Staryu had used Water Gun, waking up Andrew.
"THE GYARADOS ARE ATTACKING!" Andrew yelled. "CLOSE THE PLANT!" He then went fully awake. "Did I talk in my sleep again?"
"You don't remember what happened?" Ash asked him.
"I was just getting a drink of water, and the next thing I knew, I'm face-down on the floor after dreaming about running a power plant near the outskirts of Lavender Town. What happened?"
"Jigglypuff," Misty said. "Although I'm not surprised that it got you, but your face isn't littered with drawings."
"Probably because it was outside," Ash said. "As long as Jigglypuff isn't aware of what's behind walls, those who listen to it and fall asleep are spared from her marker of doom."
"Then who was the audience?" Andrew asked him.
The question was on their mind until they left the Center. On the outskirts, Tartarus was lucky he was wearing his cloak.
'I can't believe that I was surprised by a balloon Pokemon!' he thought, angrily. 'Not only did it put me to sleep, but it makes me lucky that I'm wearing a cloak right now. The other Knights would laugh when they find out what happened to my face.' He then realized something. 'They've entered the forest. I'll look for that thing later. Right now, duty calls.'
Midway through the Viridian Forest, the group of five arrived to one solid conclusion.
"Is it just me," Andrew said, "or are those footprints strikingly familiar?"
They were completely lost.
"They're our own," Misty said. "Ash, you got us lost again!"
"It's been a long time, okay?" he yelled. "I was actually trying to find the way to Samurai's Cabin!"
"We were chased by Beedrill at the time! How can you remember where it is when we were running away in fear?"
"Enough!" Andrew yelled. "I don't know whose fault it is right now, but I'll finish your argument for you. Right now, we need to find out which part of the Viridian Forest we're in, and then you can continue your long-missed lovers' spat."
Pikachu had frozen in fear. "(He shouldn't have said that,)" he said.
"(Why not?)" Jolt asked him. "(Her Togekiss calls him Daddy, he gave her his favorite hat, and she's the only one who's been with him more years than the other two you mentioned.)"
"(Apparently, they're forgetting about the number-one hazard the Viridian Forest has, and Andrew had just added fuel to the fire.)"
"WE ARE NOT A COUPLE!" Both of them yelled. However, a familiar buzzing noise proved that Pikachu was correct: The Beedrill had arrived.
"RUN LIKE HELL!" all five of them yelled.
Tartarus had noticed their arrival. 'Perfect…' Before he could speak, they had ran past him, leaving the Knight in confusion. "What are they running from?" He turned to see the source. "Oh, son of a--."
Ignoring the cries of pain, Ash, Misty, Andrew, Pikachu, and Jolt had dove into a nearby cabin.
"That was close," Andrew said.
"Close nothing," Misty said. "I had actually forgotten about the Beedrill in this forest." She was shivering in fear because of it.
"Well," Ash said, comforting her, "they're gone now. And we made it to the cabin."
"I don't think the guy's home," Andrew said. "Look at this note."
To whoever sees this note,
I have left the Viridian Forest to explore my horizons and face other people who aren't just from Pallet Town. I know most of you expect a rematch, but I don't know when I'll return. In the meantime, keep your mouth shut and use the net that safeguards you from Beedrill. And if you happen to be Ash and Misty, we'll meet on the road, and I've kept my promise on the rematch not being Metapod vs Metapod.
Farewell,
Samurai.
"How long ago was it?" Ash asked them.
"Judging by the paper, I'd say…Three years ago, give or take a few days."
"Great," Misty said. "We're stuck without any help in this forest. How can it get any worse?"
There was a knock on the door. Opening it, Andrew was surprised to see Tartarus falling face-down on the ground.
"Does that answer your question?" Andrew asked them.
"Who is that?" Misty asked him.
"That would be an enemy that's after my head."
"A Darkrai Knight?" Ash asked him. Andrew nodded. "Is he a new guy or something else?"
"Judging by the rank on his cloak, he's a high-ranked assassin, but it looks like he ran into a few obstacles trying to find us."
"You mean the Beedrill, right?" Misty asked him.
"And Jigglypuff," Ash said, looking at his face. "It must have night-vision or something."
Tartarus was groaning. "Good thing I took that anti-venom when I did." He then realized something. "Oh wait." He then got up and took out a knife, to their surprise. "You three were lucky last night when I had planned a stakeout, but now I have you in your grasp. You will pay for what you did to us, Andrew."
"Do I know you?" Andrew asked him.
Tartarus had face-faulted. "Know you? I was the last of the Underground Elites that you humiliated! You don't remember me as Mercy?"
"I can't remember EVERY lowlife that wanted to kill me." Tartarus had face-faulted at that response, once again.
"What's going on?" Misty asked Ash.
"Long story," he replied.
"I think you'll be able to recognize how I battle," Tartarus said. "You, me, outside, one-on-one. Unless you want to die by my blade."
Andrew smirked. "You're on, Tartarus."
With that, they were outside the cabin.
"Let's see if you're still good in regular battles," Tartarus said. "Let's go, Magnezone!"
From his Pokeball, a giant magnet-like UFO had graced the battlefield.
"Let's go, Blaze!" Andrew yelled, releasing HIS Pokemon. A Blaziken came out of it, and was stretching her muscles out.
She then recognized that Magnezone. "(Mercy's battling you?)" she asked him.
"He CLAIMS to be Mercy," Andrew said. "However, his face is messed up beyond recognition, so I don't know anything about him other than being one of the Darkrai Knights."
"(Then I'm sure he wants a repeat of the last time we tussled.)"
"Magnezone," Tartarus yelled, "attack! Thunder Wave!"
Magnezone had charged up, but Andrew was ready.
"Detect," he said, simply. Blaze had dodged the Thunder Wave with ease. "Now, Blaze Kick!"
"No you don't!" Tartarus yelled. "Dodge it, Magnezone!" Magnezone did so, leaving her to grunt. "Now use Screech!" A very bad screech filled the room, making everyone flinch.
"Blaze, use Bulk Up!" Blaze did so, raising both Attack and Defense. "Now, Double Kick!" The female Blaziken had used a different style of Double Kick that would make May's own Blaziken jealous.
"I'm actually quite surprised that his Blaziken is using that form of style," Ash said.
"You know something about it?" she asked him.
"May's Blaziken is more of a powerhouse. His, however, looks like its dancing. I'm assuming she's using a martial arts style that a Hitmonlee might use."
'Damn it,' Tartarus thought. 'I need to think of something that would get him down for the count!' He then realized something. 'Now I remember, this is the same tactic he used against me during his final Underground Match before he took on Sir Chaos.' "Magnezone, Endure!"
When Magnezone looked like it was down for the count, it went back up.
"Thanks to the Focus Band I attached to it," Tartarus said, "Magnezone is immune to one-hit KO's, and Endure added it to his style. Now, your speed will be your undoing, Draco."
'What is he up to?' Andrew thought. 'Wait a minute…'
"Magnezone, use Gyro Ball!"
"Gyro Ball?" Ash and Misty yelled.
"(Oh no!)" Jolt yelled. "(Blaze!)"
It was too late to warn her. What looked like a combination between a razor top and a ball had hit Blaze where it hurts.
"Looks like I win," Tartarus said, but was surprised. "What is this?"
Blaze was still up, and what was attached to her had surprised Tartarus.
"You think you're the only one who attached a Focus Band on your Pokemon?" Andrew asked him. "You may have done your homework, but you're not exactly bright on observation." It was shown that Blaze had a headband on her forehead
Tartarus growled. "Magnezone, Lock-On." Magnezone did so. "Now, Charge!" Magnezone was storing energy.
'I've only got one shot with this,' Andrew thought. "Focus your energy," he said. Blaze did so, much to her confusion. "He's going to use 'that' attack."
"(Is he insane?)" she said. "(It'll kill me!)"
"That's his idea. Now, wait for it."
"Nothing you do will save her now," Tartarus yelled. "Fire your Zap Cannon!" Magnezone had fired a ton of energy at the female Blaziken. 'It's all over,' Tartarus said.
"Protect!" Andrew yelled. Blaziken had evaded it at the last minute, much to Tartarus's shock.
'How did he…'
"Now, Blaze, use Sky Uppercut!"
"(You got it!)" she yelled. Getting close to the opponent's Pokemon, she held her fist up.
"Magnezone, attack!" he yelled.
"He can't," Andrew said. "Because of Zap Cannon's drawback on power, he can't attack after he uses it!"
With the strike on the magnet-like Pokemon, Magnezone was knocked out.
Tartarus was shocked. 'He was able to bypass my strategy.' Growling, he then took out his knife. "I'M GOING TO KILL YOU, DRACO!"
"He can't be…" Misty said.
"Watch out!" Ash yelled.
As Tartarus tried to strike, his sanity was lost and he was in tunnel vision, not noticing that he jumped into the Beedrill hive.
"Not again…"
"Let's get out of here before they decide to get us next," Andrew said.
"Good idea," Misty said, in panic mode.
"I'm just wondering," Ash said, "how did you get out of range of the strike?"
"I didn't," Andrew replied, carrying Blaze. "If anything, the Blaziken on my back saved my life in this kind of situation before."
They had then ran out of the forest and into the nearest city, which was their next destination.
Tartarus, however, crawled out of the Beedrill's nest and onto the main path.
'I'll get you next time, Draco,' he thought. 'And your little chicken, too.'
"I'm assuming you failed?" someone said. Tartarus looked up to see a fellow Darkrai Knight. "This is why we use the old Underground rules: There are no witnesses."
"And you can do better?" he replied, getting up.
"As a matter of fact, I can. They don't call me Siren for nothing."
"You bitch…"
Siren, if anyone could see her do so, glared at him. "I WAS going to take you back to Headquarters, but since you used the Anti-Venom twice, you look like you can handle yourself."
Tartarus growled. 'Damn it.' "So, what's your status on Kyu?"
"She's a slipperly bitch. I don't know what happened, but she went off the radar. Due to their 'relationship,' she may have found Draco already."
Tartarus, getting up, had used a nearby cane to lift himself up. "I'm going to report my embarrassing failure to Chaos in the Pewter Base. If you can kill them AND those pesky twerps Team Rocket's dealing with…"
"Already on it. Good luck in the Diglett's Cave." With that, the female Darkrai Knight had left Tartarus limping. 'Tartarus was a fool to follow them through the Forest. However, a certain gym leader has an obvious weakness when it comes to women like me.'
Their conversation didn't go off unnoticed. A woman with firey red hair was hiding in the tree.
'I have to warn him,' she thought, going through the trees.
To be continued…
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(A/n: Looks like Tartarus is a bit of a klutz. Will Siren seduce the Pewter City Gym Leader? Wouldn't be much of a running gag if she didn't. And the woman in the tree…is she Kyu or not? And if so, what kind of relationship does she have with Andrew? Find out next time.
Okay, I had used the "Lost with Arguments," "Jigglypuff's Song," and "Pain on Unlucky Villians" gags here. I think you can see the parallel between Halo and this story. Tartarus and Mercy are both code names, so his true identity is still unknown. However, one of his Pokemon is revealed to be Magnezone and Andrew's other one is a female Blaziken named Blaze (I know, but I get what I work with).
As for Siren, yes she IS a beautiful woman under that cloak, so the "Lovesick Brock" gag is in effect. With Kyu, it's pretty obvious (to the Naruto fans) that she has a Ninetails in her party.
Poll time:
Who should Andrew face in the Pewter City Gym?
Brock;
Flint; or
Forrest.
Oh, and Tartarus will return for revenge. As you've seen, he's pretty tense on losing his position as the Strongest of the Underground Elites. As for Siren…you'll see.
Read, Review, and don't forget about the Polls in Chapter 1. They're there for a reason.)