Marble woke up and looked around the room sleepily. "Today's my first Gym battle, and Zero said he was going to help me train so I can battle like him."
She slid out of her bed and dug a white shirt and a pair of Jean shorts out of her bag. She looked in the small round mirror that hung on the wall over her nightstand and fluffed her Turquoise hair. She spent more time grooming herself then usual. "Ok, Meowth come out, it's time for breakfast! We have a long day."
Marble hurled the red and white ball into the air and out popped Meowth. She picked the little white cat up and walked out into the lobby looking for Zero.
Zero was lounging on one of the couches. He stood up and smiled when he saw Marble walking towards him. "Hey Marble, how did you sleep?"
Marble tried to ignore his natural charms that made butterflies race in her stomach. "Good… I guess. I thought about my Gym battle all night and I'm just a little nervous."
Zero walked closer to her. "I'll help you train so you'll win for sure."
Marble was shocked that he stood so close to her because he usually kept his distance. But she didn't complain.
The two trainers both ate breakfast with their Pokemon and set out to find a training spot.
Marble spotted a wide-open field as they walked through Pewter city. "Hey, Zero look! That looks like a great training place!" She rushed over to it. It had lush green grass and the sky was a perfect shade of blue.
Zero followed her. "Okay, lets get started." He said with a little extra excitement in his voice.
Marble released her Meowth and Zero released his Magnezone.
First Meowth practiced on a tree, but after a while it was ready to go up against Magnezone.
"I'll go easy on you." Zero winked. For three straight hours Meowth practiced on Magnezone while Magnezone only lightly attacked Meowth.
Finally Marble returned Meowth. "Zero, I think I'm ready for Brock."
Zero returned Magnezone. "I think so too"
Marble sighed. "I'll have a hard time defeating Brock since he uses rock types. I really need to give this one my all."
While they walked to Brock's gym Zero seemed to be deep in thought about something, but Marble was too nervous to ask. She gazed at the perfect blue sky with a flock of Pidgeys soaring through it. Kanto was so beautiful.
When they reached the gym marble took a deep breath before going through the two giant glass doors.
Brock instantly ran to Marble and grabbed her hands. "My dear Marble, you came back for me? I always new we had something special! I knew it, true love always finds it's way back!"
Marble jerked her hands away, her cheeks red as a tomato. She glanced over to Zero for a second and his fists were balled up tight.
"Umm…. Actually Brock, I came to challenge you, not date you, sorry."
Brock looked confused for a moment, then his expression turned into a smirk. "Oh, I get it, you're testing me to see how tough I am aren't you? You want a real man so you're trying to check out my skills… no problem! But since I am a gentleman I tend to be a little softer on the ladies. So I'll only use Geodude on you. Well, what are we waiting for? Lets get started!"
Marble looked at Zero one more time. He looked depressed like he had just given up on something. She wanted to just give him a huge hug and make him feel better, but the battle was starting.
Brock had had his Geodude already waiting on the field.
Marble stepped onto the rocky terrain. "Meowth, I choose you!" She realized she sounded a little like her friend Ash with the "I choose you" phrase. With a glowing red light Meowth emerged from its Pokeball.
Brock had sparkles in his eyes. "Wow, a Meowth! I love my future girlfriend's taste in Pokemon!"
Marble just ignored him. "Okay, Meowth use Pay Day!"
Geodude barley took any damage.
Brock looked at Marble questionably.
"Geodude use Tackle!" Geodude flung itself onto the tiny cat Pokemon and poor Meowth was out in one hit.
Marble sprinted over and picked her now fainted Pokemon up. "Meowth, I'm so sorry, maybe I should catch a different type Pokemon for this battle."
Brock walked over to her and helped her up. "…. Yeah, normal types aren't really your best bet against rock types, you should come back after you caught some more Pokemon."
"Thanks for stating the obvious." Marble muttered under her breath.
Then Brocks sympathetic look suddenly disappeared. " So, what do you say to dinner tonight?"
Marble scoffed. "I say NO, come on Zero, let's go! …Zero?"
Zero was out of sight. Marble's eyes grew big.
"Oh no! I'm not supposed to let him out of my sight! What if he tries to escape…. would he really do that?" She rushed out the Gym doors like there was no tomorrow. When she was outside of Brock's Gym she looked around, but Zero was nowhere to be found. "This is not good, Officer Jenny is going to kill me!" She looked down at the fainted Pokemon that she held in her arms. "I need to bring Meowth to the Pokemon Center first, then I'll worry about Zero.
Marble ran as swiftly as she could towards the Pokemon Center. The shiny, automatic glass doors opened right in front of her face. "Nurse Joy, I'm sorry to barge in like this, but can you please heal my Meowth as fast as possible?"
Nurse Joy blinked in confusion. "Of course dear, but what's the matter?"
Marble quickly glanced behind her. "I…. Have a bit of a problem on my hands.
I'm sorry, I really have to go." She flew out the doors in a split second.
Nurse Joy stared at the doors that Marble just disappeared out of. "But, it's dangerous to go without a Pokemon, plus it's getting dark. Please be okay."
Marble searched all around the Pokemon Center first, then she checked in some stores, and finally she made her way down a dark ally.
"I know it's dangerous to be here like this at night without any Pokemon… but I have no choice! I have to find Zero before he commits another crime!"
She continued walking down the dim lighted ally. All she could see was dumpsters and trash on the ground. Every once in awhile she thought she heard some footsteps. Marble looked up into the pitch-black sky, she felt a chill crawl up her spine as a cold gust of wind blew past her.
"And to think I actually trusted someone like him…. I really need to toughen up and stop being so stupid and Naïve."
Suddenly she heard a dark laugh and a voice.
"Foolish girl, did you really think that I, the true ruler of the Distortion World would stand for being held captive by a useless trainer who can't even earn a single Gym Badge."
Marble's heart shattered into a million pieces at the sound of those words, because she knew, without a doubt, they were Zero's.
But she couldn't stand there like a poor sob, she had a job she needed to do, the same job that she had ever since she came to Kanto.
Make sure Zero stays out of trouble.
And she would have to do anything to fulfill that mission.
Marble stepped out into the middle of the cold, dark ally.
She spoke in a low voice.
"Zero, I know you're out there, so stop being a coward and show yourself!" She shivered a little.
Zero stepped out from behind a dumpster with an evil smile.
She flared up with rage. "Zero…. I hopped it wouldn't come to this…but you leave me no choice."
All those years of training that she had with Officer Jenny were about to be put to use. She charged towards him attempting to throw a harsh punch straight into his face and knock him out cold. But he quickly dogged it, moving to the side. He moved behind her and knocked her down on the ground by planting a swift punch on her back really hard.
Marble felt the back of her head hit the freezing concrete. Zero pinned her down to the ground with one of his hands while the other was held up in the air balled into a fist, ready to throw the final punch that would knock her out.
Marble stared deep into his unusual yellowish-orange glowing eyes.
He stared straight back into hers, and it seemed as if he was hesitating to finish her off. Suddenly Zero sighed in defeat and lowered his fist.
…..He just couldn't do it.
He released her from under his forceful hold.
Marble had no time to loose. She quickly sprung up and squeezed a small spot on the back of his neck.
Zero felt a small sharp pain in his neck and blacked out.
She caught him before he hit the ground, and closely examined his face.
"He's definitely out." She said plainly.
"I'm sorry it had to come to this…"
Marble carried him all the way back to the Pokemon Center. She was surprised she found her way back in the dark.
When she entered through the doors Nurse Joy was stood at the counter as usual.
She was shocked when she saw Marble carrying a knocked out Zero.
"My heavens! What happened?"
Marble had a serious look on her face.
"No time to explain, he just needs a bed."
Nurse Joy rushed over to her
"Of course dear, right this way." They walked down the bright corridor and found an empty room. Marble walked in and placed Zero on the soft bed.
Nurse Joy had a worried expression on her face. "Are you sure he's alright?"
Marble smiled and nodded.
"Don't worry, he's fine… He's Zero."