Not All Arrogance (A Gary Oak Love Story) Part 8~Flight of the Moonstones
((Joyful Note: So um... yeah. Duplica shows up next chapter! But for now you'll have to just deal with some plot development. I know you've probably noticed a lack of Gary/Amy romantic scenes. Well... in this story... it's really more plot driven then pairing driven. Or at least it's supposed to be. So although the pairing is there, it's more about the overall plot. Which is actually not in this season, this season is more of the Hobbit to my Lord of the Rings. Not to say it's nearly as good as that series, but it is mostly just to set up the character relationships before I make a big overall plot over the 3 sequels, of which I've only written half of the first. Sorry.))
Gary and Amy had walked out of Cerulean and down the path through a small wooded area, heading for the tunnel that would detour them under Saffron and to Vermillion in silence. They had discovered, much to Gary's annoyance, that Saffron boarders were closed. Amy had found that kind of weird and would have said they should check it out if the cruise wasn't only a week away. They may need the time. Someone else would probably handle it if there was any problem anyway.
Amy was starting find this silence VERY awkward. She knew it derived directly from the new knowledge of Gary's emotional state for her, and she didn't like that. However, luck was on her side, her stomach growled loudly.
"Um, you want to stop for lunch?" Gary asked hearing Amy's stomach. Then his growled as well.
"Do you?" Amy said with a smirk. She swung her bag off her shoulders and they sat down to eat by the side of the small river that ran beside the path. Amy perched herself on a rock and released her Pokémon, as did Gary, and they ate in silence as the Pokémon played in the water. Well except Sting, which was sort of to be expected. Amy was chewing her sandwich thoughtfully when Sting began to glow. Gary hadn't noticed yet, but Amy had. She poked him in the side.
"Hey what was that for?!" Gary snapped and caught sight of his Kakuna changing shape.
"Looks like Sting's growing up before your eyes." Amy said smiling as the cocoon Pokémon blossomed into a Beedrill, and flew up into the sky where Avion greeted him happily.
"ALRIGHT!" Gary cheered, doing his victory dance again. Amy groaned, covering her eyes, but the other Pokémon were being just as congratulatory.
"Hey Amy, want to have a battle?" Gary said suddenly, turning to her. Amy took her hands from her face and gave him an odd look.
"What, now?"
"Yeah, I want to see what Sting can do now. He can battle Avion, a sky battle'd be good for both of them, right?" he said and Amy sighed and shrugged.
"Sure whatever."
The other Pokémon were put safely back in their Pokeballs and Avion and Sting faced off in the sky, their trainers at opposite sides of the path.
"Alright ladies first! Avion, use Peck!"
"Twin Needle!" Gary said, checking his Pokedex for Beedrill attacks
And they flew at each other, jabbing with stingers and beak, like a deadly dance. Their bodies moved together, apart, taking the openings, blocking assaults. Amy stood fascinated for a moment, and then realised this was not going to help them win. They were equally matched here it seemed. It was time to unleash something different.
"Avion! Back off a bit, use Gust!" Amy yelled, and Avion suddenly darted back, Sting's needle arm just grazing his feathers. He then started flapping hard, very hard, and a small tornado whipped up and around Sting, making him spin around in midair. He looked pretty dizzy.
"Sting! Get out of there! Beat your wings, drive it back!" Gary yelled, waving his arms. He was panicking. Sting started beating them, and the Gust began to disparate "Now use Fury Attack!" Sting dived again at Avion, but just before the attack hit its mark, there was a bang from their right and a net zoomed out and over Sting and Avion.
"What's going on?!" Gary said spinning around. Two men with black hats that cast their faces into shadow and dark clothes with a big red R on each came out of the trees. Clearly they were Rockets, and they were holding a giant net throwing gun. There was a rope connecting the gun to the net hold Sting and Avion.
"What do you think you're doing?!" Amy said angrily running over to the net. A sudden electric blast ran through it. Amy stumbled back and shielded her eyes, while Sting and Avion let out screams of pain. The rope retracted, dragging the Pokémon helplessly towards the Rockets. Amy could see now that the one holding the gun had rubber gloves.
"Yeah, don't try any funny business, Team Rocket has taken possession of your Pokémon for a very important mission, you should be proud." the one without the gun said in a rough voice. Gary and Amy glared at him.
"And what if we aren't?" Gary said pulling out Slasher's Pokeball.
"Then we'll just have to shock you out of existence. Go, Electabuzz!" The gun less Rocket yelled, releasing the yellow and black stripped Pokémon. Amy frowned. It looked powerful, but Gary released Slasher anyway.
"I'm not going to back down without a fight. Slasher, Quick Attack!"
"Thunder punch!" The Rocket yelled. Electabuzz's fist glowed and crackled with electricity, and before Gary could tell Slasher to duck, it planted itself straight in the rat Pokémon's face!
"Ouch, that's gotta hurt" Amy muttered. Raticate lay motionless on the ground and Gary sheepishly returned him. "Guess I'm up, Isis! Rollout!" Amy called, throwing her Pokeball as she did so. Isis flew out and curled in midair, soon paving her way towards the electric Pokémon.
"Thunder punch again!"
"CURVE AROUND!" Amy yelled, and Isis did so, still heading for Electabuzz, but Amy knew that it wouldn't be enough.
"Gary, get Socrates out here, we'll hit him from both sides!" Amy whispered to Gary. Gary looked a bit uncertain, but nodded anyway.
"Right, go Socrates! Rollout as well!" Socrates burst forth and charged Electabuzz.
"Hey! Two against one isn't fair!" The Rocket said looking freaked.
"Neither is taking another trainer's Pokémon! FINISH IT!" Amy yelled. Both Eevees smacked Electabuzz from both sides. The attacks on their own weren't much, but together, they leave the electric Pokémon out cold. Now the Rocket returned his Pokémon.
"Now it's your turn!" Gary said smirking "HIT THE ROCKETS!"
"NO GARY!" Amy said shaking her head wildly, but the Eevees had built up a head of steam and charged them. The Rocket's screamed and hugged each other in fear. They hit them hard, sending them sailing off, over the trees, landing somewhere deeper in the woods.
"Yeah, I did it!" Gary said punching the air. The Eevees were panting on the ground.
Amy scowled "You did it alright, they still have Sting and Avion, THEY HAD THEM WHEN YOU SENT THEM SAILING YOU JERK!" Amy yelled and ran over, scooping up Isis and heading in the direction the Rockets had sailed at a run.
"Where are you going?!" Gary yelled after her.
"To go rescue them! You get the bags and follow me!" Amy yelled over her shoulder and kept running. Gary yelled something back but she couldn't hear it. She didn't care much either. Gary stood frozen to the spot a moment, disbelieving. Luckily Socrates pawed his leg and he came to, grabbing the bags before he and his Eevee ran after Amy and hers.
*****
After a while, Amy stopped running. If she hadn't caught up to them by now she wasn't going to, at least not this way. Gary caught up with her a couple of minutes later, and stood panting for another 30 seconds.
"So, what do we do now?" Gary asked Amy upon regaining his breath.
Amy shook her head. "I don't know. But I'm worried. What did they mean by plans? I hope they don't hurt Avion. Or Sting." she sighed, and leaned against the tree, thinking. Gary lowered his head and crossed his arms, trying to think as well. Even Socrates and Isis looked thoughtful. Suddenly a great squawking came from the tree above, and a great silver bird Pokémon fell from the tree, swept to the ground, and landed neatly. It turned toward Amy and Gary, squawking in anger. She advanced on them. Gary and Amy backed up against the tree.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Amy asked, pulling out her Pokedex and flipping it open worriedly "It says here it's a Skarmory." she said glancing at the description. Isis and Socrates walked over to the Skarmory and started to... talk with it. Gary and Amy stared at them as the Skarmory squawked and the Eevees yipped. The Skarmory started off looking like she was going to kill something, but it ended up looking so sad Amy's heart nearly broke. Finally Isis and Socrates nodded and turned to their trainers.
"Well what is it?" Gary asked crossing his arms.
The Eevees started to pantomime. Isis smiled and made happy noises, while Socrates pushed himself to the ground on his back and made cooing noises. Isis nuzzled him. Then she jumped off to one side and acted out shooting a gun. She jumped and landed on top of Socrates who cried loudly. Isis dragged him away, then jumped back and waved her front paws in the air, shrieking. Finally she ran in a circle, paw above her eyes like she was seeking something. Then Socrates and Isis stood before Gary and Amy as if to beg them to understand.
"What... the heck... was that?" Gary said slowing looking down at them like they had each grown an extra head. Amy gave him an exasperated look as Isis and Socrates looked like they might cry.
"CLEARLY, This Skarmory was with her baby, when those Rocket guys from earlier captured it, and now this Skarmory is searching for it." Amy explained slowly clearly. The Eevees jumped up and down happy.
"Oh right I knew that." Gary said nodding solemnly.
"Yeah, right." Amy said shaking her head. "Well Skarmory, we lost friends to those Rockets too, any leads yet?" Skarmory shook her head.
"Well, give it another shot?" Gary told the Skarmory more then asked. Skarmory rolled her eyes and flew up, searching half-heartedly.
"Gary, if she hasn't seen anything yet, why would she-" Amy was cut off by triumphant squawking from above. Gary just smirked annoyingly. Skarmory took off through the air and Amy and Gary followed, recalling their Pokémon as they ran.
*****
At last the Skarmory landed, beckoning them closer. They hid behind a grove of trees and gazed out at a clearing. What they saw shocked and disgusted them. A huge metal container was being loaded with moonstones by rockets while about a hundred flying Pokémon were attached to it with ropes. A giant steel rod was on the top of the container. The flyers were all under those electric nets, looking pretty miserable. It took Amy a moment to pick out Avion and Sting. It was a hodgepodge of Pokémon types, from bugs like Butterfrees and Venemoths to normal bird types like Pigeys, all tied together.
"God, they aren't actually planning on making those Pokémon fly this thing somewhere are they? No way they could carry this much weight! Heck, a jet engine couldn't!" Gary commented in a whisper.
"Seems they have that too." Amy said pointing to the giant engine on the bottom of the container "I guess they mean to use them together"
"This isn't right!" Gary snapped, standing to stand by Amy dragged him back down.
"Not yet! Let's get a plan first please!" she hissed.
"Well the Skarmory doesn't seem to need a plan." Gary hissed back. Amy's head snapped around.
"What?!"
The Skarmory mom had flown from the bush towards a smaller Skarmory under a net, clearly its baby. It squawked happily as it mother descended.
"Hey, look! Another flyer to help with the load." It was a familiar voice. Cassidy stepped out, with Butch at her side. They seemed to be overseeing this operation.
"Well what're you waiting for Grunt?!" Butch snapped at a subordinate "Get the net gun!"
"Yes boss!" the grunt said grabbing his gun and shooting it towards the Skarmory mom.
"OH NO YOU DONT!" Amy yelled running forward. She jumped in the way of the net... which of course fell on her instead "Fly away from here Skarmory!" Amy yelled. The Skarmory shook its head and continued to try to free its baby.
"Hey, it's that girl!" Butch said blinking in shock.
"Where's your boyfriend?" Cassidy asked as the grunt shot again at the Skarmory.
"He's not, my, BOYFRIEND!" Amy yelled launching herself up in front of the next net as well.
"Bud, shock that girl will you?" Cassidy snapped.
"It's Butch! I don't see why..." Butch snapped back, but went to press the button. Amy winced, waiting for it.
"Don't you dare!" Gary yelled leaping from out of nowhere and tackling Butch to the ground. By this point the Skarmory had freed its child and they were flying away. Clearly Skarmory had no interest of being a help to any but its own brood.
"They're getting away Beetle!" Cassidy yelled grabbing the gun and firing wildly. Meanwhile Gary and Butch wrestled on the ground as Amy and the grunts watched in confusion.
"Hey, gedoff kid..." Butch groaned pushing Gary off and grabbing the remote again.
"NO!" Gary yelled running over, just as Cassidy accidently launched a net their way... landing on top of them both. Butch pressed the button hard. Every net lit up with electricity. Amy felt wild pain shoot through her and she screamed. She could smell her clothes, hair, and even her skin burning with it. She couldn't even hear the cries around her as the remote overloaded and exploded. The electricity stopped, and Amy passed out.
*****
When she came to, Amy found herself tied up, back to back with Gary. She wiggled around until he woke up as well.
"Wh-what's going on, where's team rocket?" Gary snapped suddenly.
"In front of me" Amy hissed back. They were sitting behind Butch and Cassidy, who were overseeing the final bits of the loading. The sun was setting.
"It won't be long now before its dark enough to take off unnoticed." Cassidy said briskly.
"Yeah," Butch glanced behind him and Amy closed her eyes, and poked Gary in the back to make him be quiet "These two haven't woken up yet. Do you think you gave them too much sleeping powder..."
'We were drugged then basically. That's why it took us so long to wake up; after we went out by the electricity they drugged us' Amy thought to herself, eyes still closed.
"Too much? What are you talking about? Anyway, we were in luck, the girl had a moonstone with her, and now we have some more Pokémon to give to the boss, along with this flying legion." Cassidy said with a smile.
"Yeah, but what's going to happen to them when we take off?" Butch said, sounding almost... concerned?
"Bill, really, why should you care? We're just leaving them here, they'll probably figure a way out or someone'll come along, and by then we'll be long gone."
"ITS BUTCH!" he yelled, causing some grunts to turn their heads "GET BACK TO WORK!" they turned away.
"Whatever." Cassidy rolled her eyes.
"Well anyway, it's just that, what if they... tell someone?" Butch said suddenly.
"Tell who? The police? Like that stupid blue-haired freak Officer Jenny? Please" she rolled her eyes again.
"Well, yes, but that could lead to someone else finding out, like Lance, you know how much the boss hates that guy. He's ruined a lot of our plans..."
"He won't find out till it's too late, he's going to some party on some cruise ship this week. Not in contact. Plus we took their tickets to the party as well, though I'm shocked they were even invited." Cassidy sneered.
"Yeah sure, but..."
"But nothing! Okay, okay, fine! In that case, let's just get rid of them before we leave no problems." Cassidy sighed.
"K-kill them? No, I don't mean that far, we could just, just, um..."
"What, take them with us? Fat chance."
"Well..."
"OKAY! I can't stand it. LET US GO RIGHT NOW!" Gary had blown it. Amy opened her eyes as well.
"Way to go Gary." Amy said rolling her eyes.
"Well well well, looks like our prisoners were awake after all" Cassidy said with a sneer.
Suddenly a tremendous yell came up from the Pokémon... but it sounded, triumphant? The grunts were yelling as well.
"What's going on?" Butch said angrily. They turned and ran over.
"What IS going on?" Gary asked trying to look around. Amy smiled, taking in the site.
"Looks like Skarmory came back, and brought friends." It was true. Hundreds of Pokémon now filled the clearing, and they were freeing the captives. Sting and Avion flew around Butch and Cassidy unnoticed in the confusion of the battles erupting. They flew straight to Gary and Amy.
"Help us out you guys!" Amy laughed, and they did, easily. The ropes were cut and Gary and Amy stood, rubbing their wrists. "Great, now let's get our stuff..." Amy looked around, and saw their bags on a fold out table, with their stuff scattered on it. Everything was there, from their Pokeballs holding their Pokémon, to their pokedexes, to their cruise tickets, even Amy's moonstone, and she was sure that it would be in the container with the others. They gathered the stuff together and put it back in their bags, shouldering them. Sting and Avion looked at the fighting. The rockets were losing, big time. Amy smiled. She knew that she and Gary hadn't been much help, but she could hardly expect them to have been. They weren't superheroes or something.
"Hey, let's get that container open, I bet the Pokémon could help get the stones out of there and away from the rockets. I don't know why they want them, but it can't be a good reason." Gary said pointing to the lid, which had been closed.
Amy nodded "We can do that." they ran over, climbing the ladder, unnoticed, and pushed up the lid. It fell to the ground, with a loud bang. Now they were noticed.
"Hey! Get out of there!" Cassidy yelled running over. Sting and Avion flew in her way however and attacked.
"STOP THEM!" Butch cried, and the grunts converged on the container. Amy and Gary had begun tossing out the moonstones. The Pokémon, after Isis and Socrates had come out of their balls and translated their trainers request, grabbed them in arm and claw fulls and were carting them away.
When the container was roughly half empty Amy made Gary come out. He could get trapped in there. The battle had slowed, and the Grunts had fled. Only Butch and Cassidy remained, seeming pissed off.
'Can't imagine why.' Amy thought sarcastically with a smirk.
"How dare you! Go, Houndour!" Cassidy threw a ball and the red and black skeletal dog appeared, growling. His flame soon burnt through Sting and Avion. Isis and Socrates held it at bay a while, but soon succumbed. It was just too powerful. Amy and Gary returned their Pokémon and hopped off the moonstone container before the jets of flame hit them as well. Butch and Cassidy climbed on top and started the jet engine. Less moonstones allowed the jets to work.
"You haven't won completely you twerps! We can still get more moonstones for our plan, and when we get to Mt. Magmar in Cinnabar-" Butch was cut off by Cassidy smacking him.
"Shut UP Dooch!"
"ITS BUTCH!"
They flew up and away, fading out. Amy and Gary stared up, transfixed.
"So... what now?" Amy said quietly.
"We get out of here I guess, maybe get some sleep, I doubt I'll need Jigglypuff's Sing tonight. Then, we get to Vermillion and get a gym badge."
"But we have to TELL someone Gary!" Amy snapped.
"Hey calm down we will! We'll go on the SS Anne cruise ship, find this Lance guy, and tell him!"
Amy blinked "THIS LANCE GUY?! You don't even know who LANCE is?!" Amy said shocked.
"Um..." Gary blinked in surprise at Amy's outburst.
"He's only THE Pokémon Champion! He's only THE greatest dragon master on the plant! He's only the strongest member of the ELITE FOUR! He's only THE hottest professional trainer on the planet!"
Gary's eyes narrowed "The, um, hottest?"
Amy rolled her eyes "Oh like I'd have a chance, we're 15, he's like, 30 or something. Anyway, you have a good plan. Let's get going." Amy said walking past Gary into the trees. Gary paused a moment, sighed, and while fingered his new moonstone that he had grabbed he followed Amy. Things might seem less confusing in the morning.
((Joyful Note: Woo. More editing done. I should probably work on updating my south park fanfic now *sigh*))