Chapter Fifteen
Safari Outings and Evolutions

Previously:
"Where to next?" Lloyd asked, and Johnny slammed his fist down, "Fuchsia City!"

Our heroes cut the bush leading north, that the Snorlax was lounging in front of, and they found a small house. The lady, who owned the house, sent them running from the house, giving them an HM if they never revealed her location. Tony examined the HM as they walked to the building leading to Bike Path.

"So what is it?" Asked Lloyd, peering over Tony's shoulder.

"Uh…Fly, the HM fly." Tony said, and Johnny scoffed, "That sucks, none of my pokemon can fly."

"Well mine can!" Tony said proudly, and they entered the building.

The man, who had been lazily sitting on the counter, hopped off when they entered, and scanned them, "Hey, you need a bike to get past here." The man, who had a tiny mustache ending in points, said and Johnny groaned.

"What?" Tony exclaimed, "Can't you give us a rental or something?"

"A rental? We don't have rentals here." The man said rather loudly, before leaning in close, "I can give you a rental, for the small price of whatever's in your pocket." The man whispered, tweaking his mustache.

They left the building with three very poorly crafted Rental bikes, which looked as though a single kick would literally break it into pieces. Tony looked at his bike in disgust and slowly got on the seat. The huge hill went down as far as Tony could see, and Tony noticed dozens of bikers, their bikes crafted specially, and looking far finer then Tony's piece of crap. The sudden tinkling of a bell alerted Tony, Johnny and Lloyds attention as they all looked towards the noise.

Andrew was mounted on a large pink bicycle; pedaling with the same harsh look he wore last time they saw him. Jess was on the second seat of the large bike, her purse in her lap and her feet both on one side. She laughed and waved one hand at them, only the slightest wiggling of Fingers, before Andrew let Gravity take its course, barreling down the hill, Jess giving a loud shriek.

Taking their course, Tony pushed off onto the hill, and before he knew what was happening, the bikes pedals were spinning to fast for him to pedal. Or stop. He barely managed to turn the wheel, his bike swerving past the pools of water that lay on the hill. His front tire started shaking dangerously, and he suddenly hit a bump. The bikes front wheel spun off its position, passing by a biker's head, and his front Tire's spot came crashing down. In a large flurry of sparks, he was flung from the seat, and into the air. His eyes closed, he suddenly felt furriness all around him, and he rebounded from the bloated mass onto the ground, which was flat. His bike lay in a crumpled heap, smoking slightly, and Johnny rode up next to him.

The Snorlax in front of Tony yawned, before grabbing Tony's bike wreckage and scarfing it down in one fell swoop.

"Phew…thanks Snorlax." Tony said, and Johnny shook his head, "Next time, don't go down headfirst. For god sakes man, Pace yourself."

"Eh." Tony responded, looking around, "Where's Lloyd?"

Looking behind him, they found Lloyd pedaling slowly down the hill, inching to the flat ground, before putting the kickstand down, and walking over to them. "Sorry, I didn't want to ruin the Rental." He said.

Johnny's eye twitched.

He pointed at the bike Lloyd had carefully saved, and His Snorlax nodded happily. The large beast frolicked, if something that big could frolic, over to the bike, and munched it down in a quick gulp.

"Johnny! What the hell!" Lloyd yelled, and Johnny recalled his Snorlax, shrugging. They passed into the building, and Johnny folded up his bike and set it one the counter.

The man looked at them suspiciously, then down to the one bike, then to them again, and back to the bike. He looked up at them again, "Uh…did…did all three of you ride on this one bike?" Johnny Shrugged, "So what if we did?" And they all walked into Fuchsia city.

"I wanna see the Safari Zone!" Lloyd yelled, jumping up, and Johnny shook his head, "It's the Fuchsia Gym for me, I'm getting so close to the elite four I can smell it!" Johnny cried, pumping his fist in the air, and a couple walking by scooted away. They both looked at Tony, and he shook his head as well, "I'm gonna check out the Exhibits they've got here, I gotta record some more."

"Dude, you've already got two badges, be a man and get this one." Johnny said, but Tony shook his head, and our three heroes separated for the time being.

Tony went from exhibit to exhibit, registering the pokemon he saw in his Pokedex, and examining their habits. After he recorded all the pokemon he could, he decided to go to the Pokecenter to rest.

Johnny entered the gym, the large empty room full of Trainers. He spotted Koga immediately and smiled triumphantly. He walked directly towards the Gym Leader, a smirk on his face…

…And directly into the invisible wall. He stepped back a bit, holding his nose as he swore. The other trainers in the Gym started to laugh, but Johnny ignored them. Swearing under his breath, he cautiously maneuvered around the walls, avoiding trainers in his warpath to Koga. He finally found himself facing the Ninja Master, Koga.

"Do you think your pokemon can withstand my Poisons?" Koga asked, "If you do, your wrong, NOTHING can withstand my poison!"

"Pssh, whatever." Johnny said, brushing of his shoulders, His Voltorb falling off his belt, rolling to assume its battle position "Lets go Torbulence." Johnny said.

"Uh…Torbulence?" Koga asked, and Johnny nodded, "Yeah, like Turbulence, except." Koga's hand rose, stopping Johnny mid-word, "Yeah, I get it, just fight me already."

"Now Torbulence!" Johnny cried, and the small ball nodded, before glowing a brilliant white, and grew bigger, bigger, until it was nearly 3 feet tall. The newly evolved Electrode stood in front of Johnny, with Johnny resting cockily on it.

"I kept him unevolved to store up his power just for you Koga, prepare to taste defeat," Johnny said, and he stepped back as Koga released his Koffing.

The Electrode was suddenly gone, smashing into the Koffing from above, sending it into the ground, where it quickly started sparking, bouncing on the poisonous ball like a trampling, shocking it every time. The Koffing was defeated within a matter of seconds, and Johnny smirked. The electrode rolling back to Johnny, spinning around him once before settling at his feet.

Koga stared intently, releasing his next pokemon, a Muk, which rose upwards, and splashed towards the ball like a wave of toxins, but the Electrode was gone, skidding behind the Muk in a dazzling display of speed that frightening even Johnny just a bit. The Electrode moved into the Muk, spinning intensely, splashing Poisonous goo everywhere, ripping into the Sludge, as it rose up and pounded on the ball. The electric orb suddenly flashed red, smoking pouring from it, and it exploded loudly, sending its and bits of Muk around the area, and leaving the empty Electrode on the ground, smoking.

"Impressive…" Koga said, as the newly evolved Electrode defeated two of his pokemon, "But beginners luck only lasts in the beginning!"

Koga's second Koffing was already floating in the air, and Johnny snapped his fingers. In another display of digital numbers, the Porygon was floating above Johnny. The Koffing tried launching gas at the Porygon, but it digitally teleporting, appearing next to the Koffing. The Porygon sudden glowed, its edges refining to points as various numbers floating off it, until it was slightly pointed on all edges.

The Porygon did a barrel roll in mid-air, its stiff tail slapping the Koffing down, and when it cleared that distance the Porygon floated upwards. The air around the Porygon rippled, and a yellow portal appeared, followed by a red and blue, respectfully. A thunderbolt shot out of the yellow portal, ripping through the Koffing, followed by a fireball and a beam of Ice. All three hit right after another, and the Koffing tried to float back up. After that first Tri-attack, the Porygon teleported again, reappearing behind the Koffing, smacking it upwards with a harsh head butt.

The Koffing looked angry, and starting spewing gas to and fro, hoping to poison everything, but the Porygon launched a light purple beam, hitting the Koffing directly, and it fell to the ground, the psybeam knocking it out.

Johnny recalled his pokemon as Koga released his most powerful pokemon. The Huge Weezing did exactly as its name suggested. It wheezed. It wheezed and it wheezed some more. Johnny sent out his next pokemon, the large Snorlax filling up the area they were in. It lazily scratched its belly as the Weezing floated nearby.

The Weezing charged, hitting the Snorlax in the belly, and bouncing off. Since the Weezing generously came to Snorlax, the Great beast thanked him by grabbing the smaller of the heads and whipping it into the ground. The Weezing recovered quickly, spewing gas all over the Snorlax, who got up and waddled away.

The Snorlax suddenly turned and opened its mouth. Deep within its throat an orange light rose. It pushed itself up Snorlax's esophagus, the Snorlax breathing in. The light rose to the Snorlax's Lips, and it suddenly flew forward, in orangish beam that pulverized everything, ripping into the Weezing like a knife, and puncturing a hole in the Invisible wall. The white-hot beam sent Johnny's clothes flapping violently and sweat poured down his face.

When the attack was over, the smoking charred Weezing lay on its side. It gave one last wheeze before Koga recalled it. The Snorlax fell down with a loud thump, promptly falling asleep.

"Was…was that a…Hyper Beam?" Koga asked, and Johnny nodded, still fazed from the beam, "I've only seen it once before…" Koga said softly, "And that was from the Fourth Pokemon League member. Listen, that terrible move is costly; I suggest not using it unless you have to. Where did you learn that?"

Johnny shrugged, "Um, I bought it from Celadon department store."

"By god…they're selling it now?" Koga gasped, "I've really got to get out more…anyways, here's your badge, you won."

Lloyd had just finished running from an angry Rhyhorn, before pushing past some bushes, to reveal a small pond.

"Oohh!" Lloyd said feverishly rubbing his hands together, as he walked up to the pond, looking into it, pulling out his rod and casting into the water, "Now its just a waiting game."

About two minutes later, Lloyd felt a tugging at his line, and he pulled at the rod. A large worm flew out of the water, biting onto the line as it landed in the dirt. It flailed off the line and stared at Lloyd curiously.

"Whoa!" Lloyd yelped, "I don't know what you are, but your mine!" Lloyd said, and the Worm cocked its head sideways. Lloyd tossed bait, which the worm happily accepted, munching peacefully on the treat as it settled down. Suddenly a rock pelted it on its head, and before it could recover, a second rock nailed it. It looked up angrily to see Lloyd Smirking, and It Leapt up, towards the water.

Eyes widening, Lloyd tossed a Safari ball, hitting the Worm in mid-air, and the Safari ball clicked shut, the ball landing in the water, floating to the shore, where Lloyd grabbed the ball.

He looked up in satisfaction, and noticed a small house nestled in across the pond, looking mighty suspicious. Taking a step towards it, the beeper on his belt activated, and a Safari Zone member came, picking him up.

"Looks like I gotta come back…" Lloyd grumbled.

Johnny crawled through the underbrush of the Safari Zone, searching for the pokemon that made the strange roar he had heard earlier. He bumped headfirst into a rock, and looked up. The Rock shifted, and moved back, turning around. What was obviously not a rock roared in anger, and Johnny scrambled to his feet.

The beast roared, again, attempting to crush him underfoot. Johnny rolled out of the way, and tossed some bait to the ground, the pokemon eagerly chasing after it.

Suddenly a guitar note rang out, piecing the air, and Johnny turned to see none other than Johnny Rock burst from the clearing, riding on a Rhyhorn.

"Oy! That beast is mine!" Rock called out, and Johnny scoffed, "Says who?"

Rock pointed a finger at his own chest, "I do! Now back off and let the big boys handle this kid."

"Hey!" Johnny cried, "Lets make a deal!" he yelled back.

Rock looked thoughtful for a moment, "What do you have in mind?" He asked, leaning back on his Rhyhorn, who snorted in disapproval at being still for so long.

"What say you if I capture this beast now, then, when I get the time, I'll breed a nice strong litter of Pups, and you can have the pick of the choosing!" Johnny bartered, "I need this if I'm gonna beat the elite four!"

Rock looked up at Johnny, "Huh…the Elite four…" He said to himself, before speaking back to Johnny, " I get the first two picks."

"Deal!" Johnny said, and Rock gave him stern look, "But I will track you down if you screw me."

Johnny nodded as Rock started to ride away, before he suddenly stopped, looking at Johnny, "Oh, and one more thing, I've taken on the elite four, and unless you train a lot harder, you don't stand a chance." With that, Rock was gone.

Johnny swiftly captured the beast, which had long been contented, easily being caught, before his Beeper activated, and he was escorted out of the Zone.

When our three heroes united, they decided to Train right outside of Fuchsia, staying camped out next the town, so they could train immediately upon waking up. It was Tony's Turn to watch their Pokemon, as Lloyd and Johnny went back to town to get supplies. When Tony turned around to check on Johnny's newly evolved Haunter, who had evolved while they trained because it was a much lower level then the rest of Johnny's pokemon, he found an entirely new pokemon standing where the Haunter was.

"Whoa…" Tony said, as the new pokemon, Gengar the Pokedex read, played with the rest of the pokemon, Tony shook his head, "Ok chumps, Lloyd and Johnny left me in charge of you, and I expect you all to train hard!" Tony said, looking over the large amount of pokemon.

After a few hours, Johnny and Lloyd came back, and Tony gave their pokemon back to them, "So, Whaddaya say we head to Saffron?" Tony asked, and Lloyd nodded, but Johnny shook his head.

"What? Why not?" Lloyd whined, and Johnny sat down on a rock nearby, "It's just something someone told me earlier. The Elite four is no pushover. I want to…no, I Need to be ready, I won't accept failure, even if we have to train here for a week…are you guys with me?" Johnny asked, looking at Lloyd and Tony, who stood watching him. When they didn't respond, Johnny put his head down, "I guess this is where we part ways then."

Johnny heard movement in front of him, and figured that Lloyd and Tony were packing their stuff up, but was surprised when Tony's hand was raised in front of him, palm flat.

Lloyd joined in, placing his own hand on Tony's and Johnny jumped up, "I knew you guys wouldn't wuss out on me!" Johnny cried, putting his hand on Lloyd's and Tony's and they threw them up in the air.

One Week Later…

Tony opened his tent flap and strode out into the camp, where his, and all of Johnny's Pokemon were training with each other.

Tony sat back on the camp chair he head, next to Lloyd, who was sleeping. Johnny was standing away from Tony, shouting orders to his pokemon, along with Tony and Lloyd's too. Tony smiled as he remembered the past week.

His most cherished moment is when his first pokemon on his team evolved. His Meowth had just finished mauling a wild pokemon, when the familiar bright light enveloped the cat, and it extended, become sleek, and stronger. The Persian stood with grace it certainly didn't inherit from its previous stage, and Tony let It run around, testing its new body out.

His Wartortle, now a fully-grown Blastoise, had evolved after he beat Koga as well. Tony's last evolution, his most recent one, came from his Pidgeotto, who in stunning display knocked out Lloyd's Pikachu during training. The Pidgeot and the Pikachu were still cross with each other.

Johnny's Ivysaur had undergone evolution as well. It evolved because it shirked it's training and spent the day in the sun, which pushed it to the next level. It was still punished for slacking, despite being able to eat Johnny whole now. Johnny wasn't using his Porygon for battling anymore; he switched it for the more powerful Kangaskhan he caught in the Safari Zone.

Even Lloyd has his share of Evolutions, his Charmeleon evolution after beating Koga, just like Tony. His new Charizard was easily capable of flight, but Lloyd wanted to keep it concentrated on Fire type attacks. His Green colored Cubone quickly scaled the ranks of Lloyd's Pokemon, becoming one of his best fighters. It now stood taller then before, almost a exact replica as it's deceased Mother, only Colored light green. Even Lloyd's newly captured worm, Who he found out was a Dratini from Tony's Pokedex, evolved under Johnny's harsh training, leaving a much longer Dragonair in it's place.

Finally, Johnny walked back to camp, and Tony snapped back into reality.

"Guys…" Johnny said, and he looked over at Lloyd, "Lloyd!"

"Huh? Wha? No, im listening! Uh. EMC minus a Pikachu!" He blurted out, rubbing his eyes wearily, "ugh."

"Jesus…" Johnny mumbled, "I think its time to go, I think we're ready. Koga himself said we could beat him easily now."

Tony looked up in surprise, "Really?" Johnny nodded, "Finally, I can't stand this place any longer."

They packed up their stuff, finally getting ready to continue down the road. As they walked, Tony looked up at the sky, and nodded to himself.

END
SPONTANEOUS
COMBUSTION