Not All Arrogance (A Gary Oak Love Story) Part 3~Meeting the Bad Guys
((Joyful Note: I think this is where I started showing the potential of this story. Hopefully you agree, as I'm leaving off here for today. Enjoy it. I know it doesn't match the anime but it's not like it's necessary for it to, so don't worry about that, and neither will I. Oh, and review if you like this story! I started writing it over a year ago, so I notice my style as changed as I'm editing it... oh no I'm rambling! Just read, read!))
When Amy woke up the next morning, Isis was on her chest to greet her. Smiling, Amy hugged the fox Pokémon and turned to Avion, who was just waking up. He stretched his little wing that wasn't bound, and hopped onto Amy's finger when she offered it to him.
The brown haired girl quickly climbed down from her bed with Avion on her hand and Isis riding on her head. She glanced towards Gary's bed and saw it empty. She felt a little surprised to discover him up so early, after all it had to be only 7am. Amy shrugged it off however, and set her Pokémon on his bed before opening her bag to pull out a fresh set of clothes. She had a set for every day of the week, figuring she would wash them whenever she got the chance. Her set from yesterday had already been washed after she had changed into her pink pyjamas. She really liked the colour pink and was not afraid to admit it, unlike most girls her age who were in denial because it seemed too 'girly'.
Today though, she would be wearing a pair of blue bell bottom jeans and a white shirt with a musical note on it. She took her clothes and headed off for the shower. As the water poured over her, she started to sing. It wasn't really any particular song, just basically singing the notes, and humming.
"Hey Amy, that's you right?" she heard Gary's voice through the door.
"No, it's the Easter Azumarill!" Amy replied loudly, rolling her eyes.
She heard indistinct muttering before he went on "Well I brought up some breakfast from the restaurant thing down the hall, so we can eat and get over to the gym early." Gary said sounding a bit annoyed.
Amy raised her eyebrows at the wall and turned off the shower. "What'd you bring?" she asked as she towelled off her hair.
"Just toast and jam with orange juice, we want to be finished quick right?"
"Okay, I don't mind toast and jam, but why the hell do we need to be out of here so fast?" Amy had now pulled on her clothes and was brushing out her hair.
"I don't know, I just want to start training right away!"
Amy finished up, gathered her pjs in her arms and opened the door to see Gary in his blue sweatshirt and dark jeans, leaning against the wall, looking edgy.
"Well SOMEBODY woke up on the wrong side of the bed." Amy commented as she swept past him to the room they had slept in. She packed away her last belongings and then helped herself to the food Gary had brought for her. She actually thought it was kind of nice for him to bring up her food so she could sleep in later, if you could call 7am sleeping in, but she couldn't bring herself to actually thank him, she supposed it was a block that had formed in her mind from years of tormenting each other.
She shared the toast with Isis and Avion as well, and they seemed quite delighted with it. Gary was lying on his bed from the night before, his arms behind his head staring up in boredom. His Pokémon we already packed away in their Pokeballs, and Amy assumed they had already been fed. Amy finished up and shouldered her bag, returning Avion and Isis as she did so.
"Done?" Gary asked glancing at her.
"Yes."
"Finally!" Gary muttered loudly rolling his eyes. He sat up and proceeded to knock his head on the top bunk. Amy burst into a fit of laughter.
"Ouch, will you cut it out!" Gary snapped rubbing his head where it had hit.
"Careful, or you'll wind up messing up your hair" Amy said sarcastically as she swept from the room. Gary grumbled and followed.
*****
About an hour later they had signed out from the Pokémon center, made a quick call to Prof. Oak to say that had arrived in Viridian alright and were finally in front of Viridian gym. One problem, it was closed.
"What do you mean the leader's out of town?! What kind of gym is this? I'll be reporting this! I'll-" Gary was yelling at the guard in front of the door. He was a big man with a dark suit and sunglasses. Amy groaned and grabbing Gary's raised fist.
"Gary, cool it, if it's closed its closed okay? Sir, do you happen to know when the leader is coming back?" Amy asked politely.
"Sorry Miss, but I don't. Could be back later today, next week, next month..." the man replied in a deep, raspy voice.
"I AM NOT WAITING A MONTH!" Gary yelled and Amy elbowed him in the side, causing him to recoil slightly and glare at Amy as she smiled and nodded.
"That's alright, we'll just come by later and if he's not back, we'll just move on and come back at some other date, alright?" she said sweetly and waved bye, before pushing a still complaining Gary away.
"What do you mean we'll come back later today? I'm not waiting around for some guy to get off his lazy butt and do his job..."
"Gary! Honestly, only one more night here won't kill you! We'll wander around the city a bit, check back at the gym and if he's still not there we'll just leave tomorrow. So chill out!" Amy was getting exasperated with Gary's arrogant behaviour. She wanted to scream the world didn't revolve around him, but refrained in order to prevent making a scene in the middle of a crowded street. She pushed him to the car and climbed into the passenger's side. Gary grudgingly got into the driver's side.
"You know if we wait Ash might catch up with us." he spat suddenly as he started the engine.
"You make that sound like a bad thing." Amy said narrowing her eyes.
"Well, think about it, he probably hates you for just leaving him like that, so it'd probably be pretty awkward," Gary said rather quickly, as if trying to defuse her before she blew up at him.
Amy glared a moment longer, then sighed and faced the front. "I guess it could be... awkward, but I doubt he'd hate me for it, he knows it's not REALLY my fault." Amy paused a moment, thoughtful "He might hate you though." she said giving him a sideways glance.
To Amy's surprise, he laughed. "Well I guess he would, but hasn't he always?"
Amy smirked. "I suppose so, heck, I did. Actually, you still bother me, but hating you isn't as much fun since you said you didn't hate me." Gary went silent, appearing to be thinking about something. Amy cocked her head slightly. "What's up?"
"Nothing." he replied distantly. Amy bit her tongue hard to prevent a scream. She hated that answer. It was NEVER nothing.
"Gary, I have traveled with you for about a day now. You have barely spent ANY of that time not talking. Now you're silent. What's wrong?" Amy said sternly.
"It's none of your business!" Gary snapped, and caused the car to swerve a little.
Amy let out a long slow breath counting to ten as she did. "Alright, fine. Now, I'm hungry, it's about lunchtime, what's say we stop at that diner over there for lunch okay?" Amy said slowly and clearly pointing to a diner beside the road with a Munchlax on the sign and a number of cars in the parking lot.
Seeming glad that the subject changed Gary nodded. "Sure, seems sort of crowded though." Gary said as he searched for a parking space.
"That's how you know that food's good." Amy said with a giggle. She stopped abruptly and looked away however. She had suddenly felt she was having fun, with, with GARY. She shook her head to clear it and crossed her arms in front of her. She supposed she really SHOULD be having fun on her journey, but she felt bad doing so while Ash was off by himself. In any case, they went inside and after an excruciating long time they managed to get a table and some food.
Amy had picked well, the food was delicious. They ate pretty well in silence, Gary seemed on the verge of saying something or other but didn't. Amy found this made eating a lot more awkward, but she ignored it. Gary finished first and watched Amy as she continued to work on her French fries.
"Take a picture, it'll last longer." Amy said almost automatically as she swallowed and fished out another fry.
"Yeah but you're cuter in person." Gary smirked. Amy's eyes went wide and she started coughing violently. Gary lost his smirk and jumped up and ran around the table and pulled Amy out into the aisle, managing to knock her ketchup covered French fries unto her lap in the process. He proceeded to perform the Heimlich manoeuvre until the fry dislodged itself and she was able to swallow it normally. Gary groaned with relief and slumped back into his seat. Amy blinked and held her chest taking a few deep breathes. She then checked the damage on her clothes and found ketchup stains down her shirt. She let out a squeal and ran to the bathroom to try to wash it out. When she came back there were still orange stains down her shirt and people were crowding around Gary and then Amy as she approached him.
"You boy, are a hero!" said one little old lady thumping Gary on the back. Gary seemed to be glowing in the attention. Amy sucked in her cheeks and began again to count to ten.
"You're really lucky to have a boyfriend like him around!" said a man smiling at Amy. Amy's eyes went wide.
"Yes, never let go of this one here, especially if you're planning on eating so fast." said the lady who had spoken earlier. Amy's gaze shifted to Gary with burning intensity. He was still basking in his 'heroism'.
A kid with short blond hair smiled cheekily at Amy. "Aren't you gonna kiss him thank you?" he asked smiling.
Amy snapped. "HE IS NOT MY BOYFRIEND! HE IS A JERK! HE'S THE REASON I WAS CHOKING IN THE FIRST PLACE!" Amy screamed and the room went silent, everyone was staring at her. Amy turned on her heel and stormed out, grumbling about what an arrogant jerk Gary was. She ran out to the car, got in the passenger's side, and slammed the door. She sat glaring straight ahead, arms folded in front of the ketchup stains. Gary came out soon after her and stood outside the driver's side of the car.
"Look I'm sorry okay?" he sounded ticked off. Amy glared up at him.
"I am NOT your girlfriend you idiot! You should have pointed that out! AND I'd appreciate it if you NEVER say anything stupid and perverted like that AGAIN. GOT IT?" Amy said angrily.
Gary sighed. "Okay, you win, is that what you want to hear? I'll never give you a compliment again." Gary said and Amy shook her head in exasperation.
"Whatever. Let's just go okay? I think I may require a new shirt." Amy said re-inspecting her stains. THOSE weren't coming out any time soon.
*****
After acquiring a new shirt from a little boutique up the street (a bright red tank top with swirls all over it) the two of them spent the rest of the day basically driving around seeing the sites, not that there was a whole lot of those. At around 4pm they stopped by the gym. They found it still closed, so they headed for the Pokémon center. By the time they reached it the sun was starting to set. They had set up their room again and had supper.
The two of them were sitting in the lobby, Isis and Socrates chasing each other across the floor while Avion sat on Amy's shoulder as she sat reading over her town guide book. Gary was calling Prof. Oak again, to let him know the gym was closed. He was going on a rant. Just as he hung up the doors of the Pokémon center flew open and in stormed a police motorcycle with a blue haired female officer riding it, and a familiar black haired boy in the passenger seat.
"Ash?" Amy said blinking and Isis and Socrates stopped running around to watch Amy run over to him and give him a hug. "Ash! I'm so glad you're okay! What's with the police escort? You're not in trouble already are you?" she noticed the yellow Pokémon in his arms, it looked badly hurt. "What happened?!" Amy said alarmed.
"What, you torched your Pokémon already Ash? Some trainer you are." Gary sneered striding up beside Amy.
"Shut up Gary!" Ash snapped. "Pikachu and I got attacked by a flock of Spearow, I, erm, kinda threw a rock at one... Pikachu managed to fight them off, which was awesome, but it totally wiped him out." Ash said gazing down at his hurt Pokémon.
"Oh my gosh, that's terrible!" Amy said horrified as Nurse Joy took the electric mouse from Ash and put it onto a stretcher pushed by two Chansey.
"Well I'm shocked Ash, I was sure you wouldn't have caught a single Pokémon by the time you reached Viridian City." Gary said with a smirk. Ash gave him a blank look and then started to blush. Gary smirk grew into a sneering grin "You DID catch those Spearow didn't you? Or were you just too worn out to throw a little Pokeball at them?"
"NO! I was just worried about Pikachu so I wanted to get him to a doctor right away!" Ash growled.
"Of course you did Ash, Gary's just being a jerk. Come on; let's go to the waiting room okay? And you should probably call your mom so she knows you got here okay." Amy said putting her arm around his shoulders and leading him to the waiting room. She didn't notice Gary clenching his fists behind them.
*****
Almost 3 hour later, Gary had gone to bed and taken Socrates with him. Avion was in his ball, and Isis was resting on Amy's lap, eyes closed and breathing softly as Amy stroked her.
"Pikachu will be okay Ash, don't worry." Amy said trying to sound comforting.
"Yeah but, I was being so stupid, and it's my fault he's hurt at all!" Ash said staring at the floor. Amy knew he was trying not to cry.
"I'm not saying it's not your fault, because in all honesty it is, but you can't just continue to beat yourself up for it, what's done is done, so learn from it, and move on." Amy said looking intently at her friend.
"Well, if you say so" Ash said in a low voice.
"I know so, in fact I-" Amy started but was interrupted by a red-headed girl carrying a charred bicycle striding towards them. She dumped the bike in front of them and pointed at Ash, who seemed terrified.
"YOU!" she yelled, Amy had to admit she looked scary.
"Uh, uh, can't we talk about this?" Ash said holding his hands up in front of him with a shaky grin on his face.
"Ash, what did you do?" Amy said with a sigh.
"I'll tell you what he did! He STOLE my bike and DESTROYED it! So now he owes me another one!" the girl said in anger, eyes never leaving Ash's face.
"I don't have that kind of money!" Ash said and looked at Amy as if to ask for help.
"Sorry Ash, I can't help you with this." Amy said shaking her heads. Secretly she thought it was sort of entertaining.
"Well you'd better GET the money and GET me another bike!" the girl said clenching her fists.
Amy sighed and got up, moving Isis carefully to the chair she had been sitting on. "Hi, my name's Amy, I'm Ash's friend from Pallet Town, who are you?"
"Misty, hi!" her anger seemed to instantly evaporate as she smiled and shook hands with Amy.
"Okay, well, Ash NEVER has any money, trust me on this, so do think there's any other way for him to repay you...?" Amy said trying to look sympathetic with Misty.
"W-ell..." she glanced over at Ash who shrank back at her gaze. She shrugged "I don't know, but I'm pretty sure I'll think of something." she strode past Amy towards Ash "So kid, Ash right? What happened to your Pikachu?" there was an edge in her voice.
"It's still in intensive care, it was hurt really bad. It's been 3 hours..." Ash looked at the sign above the emergency room door. It was still red, meaning Pikachu was still being worked on.
"Oh... is it going to be alright?" Misty asked quietly. She sounded truly worried about Pikachu.
"I don't know, I hope so but-" Ash stopped talking as the red light went off. The doors opened and Nurse Joy wheeled out Pikachu on a stretcher. A light bulb was strapped to its head with wires coming off it.
"Pikachu!" Ash exclaimed as he ran over beside his Pokémon. Misty and Amy quickly followed.
"Your Pikachu will make a full recovery, but it needs to rest now." Nurse Joy said smiling as Ash stroked the head of the electric mouse.
"So, guess we have a happy ending." Amy said with relief.
Suddenly there was a blast and a hole was torn out of the ceiling. Smoke poured down from it and 2 dark figures emerged from it, a teenage boy with blue hair and a girl with long bright red hair. Between them was a Pokémon Amy recognised as a Meowth.
"It's not the ending just yet young lady." the boy said smirking. Amy narrowed her eyes at both the intruders.
"Who are you guys?" Ash said in anger.
"We are Team Rocket!" said the Meowth. Amy gasped, a talking Pokémon!
"I am Jessie" said the girl with a flourish.
"And I am James!" said the boy striking a pose.
"And stealing rare and strong Pokémon is our game!" all three of them said together.
"You're in the wrong place! This is a treatment center for weak and injured Pokémon!" Nurse Joy said sounding on the verge of panic.
"True, but there are probably some jewels among all the junk." Jessie said eyeing Isis who had run to Amy's side. Noticing this Amy picked up her Pokémon.
"We will NOT let you take these Pokémon!" Amy yelled.
"Fine, if you won't hand them over, we'll just fight you for them! Go Koffing!" James called, releasing the poison Pokémon.
"Ekans!" Jessie said as she released the snake Pokémon from its ball.
Isis looked at the Pokémon warily. "Erm, I would like to vote that we run." Amy said with a small giggle, returning Isis.
"SECONDED!" The others yelled and they ran off down the hall, the poison duo hot on their trial. Suddenly a tired looking figure came down the hall towards them.
"Hey, what's going on? I heard screaming and, WOAH!" Gary yelled as Amy went careening into him, followed by Ash, Misty and Nurse Joy. Pikachu's stretcher hit the wall and rebounded towards Ekans and Koffing.
"PIKACHU!" Ash yelled, jumping up and grabbing the stretcher just in time.
"What the heck going on?!" Gary asked eyes wide as Amy got off him and helped him up. She didn't like him, but she wasn't leaving him to the bad guys.
"I'll explain in a second, in here!" Amy yelled and they ran into the room, barring the door behind them. They found the walls filled with Pokeballs, presumably holding Pokémon for treatment. Joy ran to a computer and started emergency evacuation procedure Alpha, and began mass-sending Pokémon to the Pokémon center in Pewter City as Amy quickly filled Gary in on the past few minutes.
"Alright, now what?" Amy asked once the last of the Pokémon were sent and Gary had been filled in on what was happening. Team rocket was banging at the door.
"We fight of course!" Gary said pulling the ball that held Slasher the Raticate off his belt.
"Okay, when they come in here, Gary and I will hold them off while the rest of you get out of here and get help okay?" Amy told the others.
"Hey, why are you the ones staying?" Ash asked haughtily.
"Well Pikachu can't fight very well now can it? And well, I don't know if Misty has Pokémon so..."
"I have Pokémon, look, why don't I stay here and you both go," Misty said looking from Amy to Gary.
"No way am I running from a battle!" Gary said stubbornly.
The door burst in and Jessie and James stepped through it. "Tah-dah! Now hand over the Pokémon!" James said smirking.
"Never!" Ash said and picked up Pikachu, who opened its eyes and stared up at its trainer. "I'll never let you get Pikachu!"
"Silly boy! We only want rare and strong Pokémon, your pathetic rat there is neither" Jessie said with a sneer.
"That Eevee of yours qualifies though." James said smiling at Amy who glared back.
"Leave Amy... 's Pokémon alone!" Gary said running in front of Amy "GO SLASHER!" Gary yelled and threw his Pokeball, his Raticate appeared, ready to fight.
"Come on let's go!" Nurse Joy said and they ran out of the room, leaving Gary and Amy facing the now angry Team Rocket as Raticate tussled with Ekans and Koffing, putting up quite the fight, but it was still a two on one battle. Amy reached for Isis' Pokeball but Gary grabbed her wrist and shook his head.
"I've got this, you get out of here." he said and Amy stared at him.
"No way! I'm not leaving you... r Raticate out there to get totally pummelled!" Amy said pulling away.
"FINE!" Gary yelled shocking Amy to silence. "SLASHER CLEAR THE WAY!" Gary yelled at the rat Pokémon. Slasher darted out of the fray and launched itself at Jessie, and began gnawing at her hair.
"AIIIIIIII!!!!" Jessie screamed and started to run about, with James attempting to get the rat Pokémon off her head. Amy would have laughed if Gary hadn't at that moment grabbed her shoulders and pushed her through the door and out towards the lobby where the others were standing, arguing by the looks of it. Amy groaned, this wasn't the time!
Amy and Gary were running towards the others when Slasher suddenly flew through the air past them, a chunk of red hair still in its mouth.
"WHY YOU LITTLE!!!!" Amy whipped around as Gary returned his stunned Pokémon to its Pokeball. Jessie was standing there, looking like Godzilla on a bad hair day. Amy frowned slightly. This wasn't good.
Just then, Pikachu leapt between Amy and team Rocket, and let off a monster shock.
"NO PIKACHU NOT AGAIN! DONT YOU REMEMBER LAST TIIIIME!!!!!" Ash yelled but that didn't stop Pikachu.
There was an explosion, everything went black.
*****
Amy opened her eyes slowly. She felt sore all over. She was surrounded by Ash, Gary and Misty.
"Where- where's Team Rocket? And Nurse Joy? Actually, how about we go for what happened first?" Amy asked with a frown. Ash looked relieved.
"She's okay." Ash said breathing a sigh.
"Team Rocket seems to have blasted off." Gary said with a smirk.
"Thanks to Pikachu!" Ash said with a laugh.
"Yeah..." Gary said with a sideways glace at Ash. They seemed to be still in the rubble of the building that once was the Pokémon center. After some more explaining it seemed that Pikachu hit a gas line, and the rest was history. Nurse Joy was talking with the police. No charges would be pressed against them, as they were just trying to defend themselves.
*****
Miracle of miracles, Gary`s car was spared from the blast, so as the sun was rising Amy hugged Ash goodbye, as she and Gary climbed into his car. Misty had decided to follow Ash until he paid her back. Amy thought it was good he now had a permanent travel partner.
As they drove off with the rising sun to their right, Amy actually smiled; maybe things would be alright with Gary after all.