POKEMON AQUA

Episode 7: Team Blip and the Static Badge

Aqua was now ready to battle the Gym Leader, so he headed for the Thundos City Gym once again. But before he got there, Mahogany came to him.

"Aqua, you really shouldn't just battle the Gym Leader before training." He said. "He hasn't been that long since your last Gym battle, and this one is going to be a lot tougher."

"So, you mean I should train my Pokemon a lot more before going to battle the Gym?"

"That's exactly what I mean, and I want you to battle me for training!"

"Okay, then," Aqua said. "But, let's go get Olive to judge."

They headed back to Electra's house, but when they got there she was gone!

Aqua went into her room and found a note on the bed.

Dear Aqua and Mahogany,

Don't worry about me, I've gone to breed Oddish with Leper.

Love,

Olive.

P.S. Don't go to the Day Care.

P.S.S. Don't call my Dex, because I left it at the house.

"Hmm, what's this about?" Mahogany asked, coming into the room. He took it out of Aqua's hands and read it over.

"Sounds suspicious, doesn't it?" he asked.

"Yeah, but let's not worry about it," Aqua said.

"So you'd really put your Gym Battle before your friends!?" Mahogany asked.

"No, that's not"—Aqua started.

"Doesn't matter," Mahogany said. "I'm going whether you like it or not!" And he stormed out.

Aqua followed him. On the way out, Aqua noticed that Electra wasn't there. I wonder where she could have gone, Aqua thought as he followed Mahogany out the door.

They got to the Day Care and someone was waiting there for them, but it wasn't Olive.

"Miss me?" Col asked. But this time, someone was also with him. It was a man almost the exact opposite of Col. He had a black suit, also had glasses, but these were shades, and brown hair.

"Let's just cut to the chase," said the man.

"I was supposed to say that!" Col snapped. "Just because it's your turn doesn't mean you can steal my line, Cassel!"

"Jeez, bro."

"Jeez, yourself!"

The fighting went on for a while, then they finally stopped, seeming to notice the boys for the first time.

"Okay, if you don't hand over the blades, the girl will get hurt!" Col said.

Olive came into view along with Col's Excadrill. Its claws seemed to be sharper.

"Why do you keep talking about these blades!?" Mahogany shouted. "Listen, you have the wrong people!"

"The Flame Blade you idiot!" Cassel said.

"Why do they keep playing dumb?" Col asked himself.

They heard a banging on the door.

"Who is it!?" Cassel said hastily.

"Someone here to get their daughter back!"

"Ash Ketchum, if this is you then get out! This is none of your business!" Cassel said.

They then heard a scratching sound on the door and Ash, with a Heracross by his side, burst in. Aqua could see fear in Cassel's eyes.

"Let. Her. Go." Ash said.

"Why should we?" Cassel asked, grabbing Olive and squeezing her arm.

"I said, let her go!" Heracross used Mega Horn and crashed into the wall. "Next time, that wall might be you!"

"Let's go. Give him what he wants." Col said. Cassel threw Olive to the ground and the two ran out.

Aqua and the others released the Day Care owners and the Pokemon and took off Olive's muzzle.

"Don't worry, I'll pay for the damage," Ash said to the Day Care owners. He then turned around to face Aqua and Mahogany. The two braced themselves. Ash kneeled down in front of them. "Take care of my daughter."

They let out a sigh of relief.

After that, Aqua once again headed to the Gym. The questions on the machine appeared like before.

NAME

"Aqua Daisuke Saitou." Upon hearing the name, the machine skipped to where Aqua left off.

NUMBER OF POKEMON

"Three."

YOU MAY PASS

Aqua went through the gate and was amazed. The ceiling opened up to reveal clouds and to the side, where an audience might sit, was a small chemistry lab. Aqua decided he might check out the lab. He knew he shouldn't, but he couldn't help himself.

He took a few steps closer to the lab when a man walked out.

He was wearing a yellow football jersey (Aqua didn't recognize the team) with a lab coat over it. Along with that, he had glasses and white gloves.

"Hey, kid, I'm the Gym Leader here. What's your name?"

"Aqua," he answered. "I'm from Delos Town!"

"Ah, a Delos kid. I've seen a few of them running around."

"I've come here to challenge you to a battle!"

"Of course, my name is Eo."

Mahogany then came in through the gate.

"Hey, how did you get past my machine?" Eo asked.

"Uhh, you do know that it takes ten minutes for the questions to load back up after each survey, right?" Mahogany answered.

"Oh, a flaw in my invention," Eo said, dissapointadly.

"I came here to judge the battle," Mahogany said. Then he gave Aqua a look that clearly meant I told you to train!

Sorry, Aqua told him with his own message face.

"I'm not going to be judged by a kid," Eo said angrily.

"I'm not just a kid!" Mahogany said. "I'm the son of the Arlos City Gym Leader!"

"Oh, well in that case, go ahead," Eo said.

Everyone got into their positions.

Aqua sent out his Pokemon, Sheldeeze.

"That was the wrong Pokemon to choose," Eo said.

"Why is that?" Aqua asked.

"Because this Gym is an Electric Type Gym!" Eo then sent out his Pokemon. Aqua didn't recognize it. It seemed to be of the Electric Rodent family, Pikachu, Pichu, Plusle and Minun, Pachirisu, and Dedenne. It had a tail that resembled one of Eletrivire's tails.

"POSSSWIRE, THE PLAY DEAD POKEMON. AN ELECTRIC/LIGHT TYPE. POSSWIRE PLAYS DEAD TO ELECTICUTE PREDATORS AND PREY THAT COME NEAR."

Mahogany gave out the judge's speech.

"This battle will be a battle between Eo, the Gym Leader, and Aqua the challenger. This will be a two-on-two match where only the challenger can make substitutions. The battle will end when all of either sides Pokemon are unable to battle. Battle, begin!"

"Sheldeeze, use Icy Wind!"

"SHELLLLL!" said Sheldeeze as it blasted out its attack.

"Posswire, Light Screen!" said Eo.

A barrier formed in front of Posswire. The Icy Wind Attack was absorbed by the Light Screen.

"As long as Light Screen is up, Posswire only receives half the damage from non-physical attacks."

"Then I'll just have to use physical!" Aqua said. "Sheldeeze, use Take Down!"

"Posswire, use Nuzzle"

Sheldeeze hit Posswire with the Take Down Attack, but Posswire got right back up and used Nuzzle on Sheldeeze. Sheldeeze stopped moving!

"What happened to Sheldeeze?" Aqua asked.

"It's paralyzed!" Mahogany said. "You should call it back!"

"Would you be quiet and stop being a lousy judge I'm trying to win here!" Eo said.

"Sheldeeze, return!" Aqua pondered what Pokemon to use next. He looked over at Mahogany who was discreetly making a U with his fingers. U meaning Umbrio. "Go, Umbrio!"

"UMMMBRI" Umbrio said.

"Umbrio, use Fairy Wind!" Aqua said.

Umbrio jumped into the air and unleashed a Fairy Wind Attack on Posswire. Posswire fainted on the spot.

"Posswire is unable to battle," Mahogany stated. "The winner is Umbrio."

Both trainers recalled their Pokemon. Aqua sent Sheldeeze back out.

"Go! Raivire!" Eo said.

The second evolution of Pickid appeared before him.

Sheldeeze's paralysis seemed to have worn off.

"Sheldeeze! Use Icy Wind!" Aqua said. Sheldeeze used Icy Wind, but something unexpected happened. This unexpected turn of events just might have won Aqua the battle. Raivire was frozen!

"Raivire is unable to battle!" Mahogany stated. "The winner is Aqua!"

"Alright!" Aqua yipped.

Eo came over to Aqua with something in his hands.

"I owe you this," Eo said. Eo then put something in Aqua's hand. "The Static Badge."

"Thank you very much," Aqua said quite hastily.

"I only hope you can live up to its name!" Eo joked. "Now about that flaw…" Eo walked off into his lab.

To Be Continued…