I do not own Pokemon. Pokespeach may sometimes be translated.
(SPROUT TOWER, TOO EARLY FOR THIS CRAP)
Nick opened the door slowly, just in case anything tried to jump out at him. Just as the door was wide enough, Amy and Jerry came barreling past him, knocking him over onto the floor of the tower.
Nick raised his head, rested it on his right hand and looked at his Pokemon, who had stopped when they heard him fall and were now looking back at him nervously. He began lightly tapping the floor with his left hand and said simply,"You know, I'd be worried about manners...if I wasn't becoming sure that you didn't have any."
Getting to his feet, Nick took note on what was on this floor. The room was taller than ten feet, with wooden Bellsprout statues on either side of the doorway and a giant wooden pillar in the middle. The room, while still spacious, was made smaller by inner walls made of logs which, while still creating a gap between the roof and the top of said walls, blocked whatever was beyond the walls from Nick's eyes.
Nick walked over to a man in a purple shirt, purple pants and purple slip-on shoes standing next to the ladder and asked,"Excuse me, but where can I battle the monks?"
The purple clad man looked at him. He was short (only a little taller than Nick, who measured about five feet) and lightly wrinkled. He then turned an appraising eye on Amy and Jerry. "Your Pokemon are nervous. The green one is a little less nervous," he noted.
Nick looked down at Amy and said,"Yeah, she is. It's nothing to worry about though, she's been in a real battle before."
The man raised an eyebrow and said,"Right." Then he turned to the pillar in the middle of the room and asked,"So, do you know the stories surrounding that pillar?"
Nick turned towards the pillar as it swayed slightly as if pushed by an invisible breeze. "No, but you're going to explain, right?"
The purple man chuckled. "Well some say that the pillar in the middle was a hundred foot Bellsprout that was turned into solid wood by Ho-Oh to stop it rampaging through Johto. Some say the shaking of the pillar is caused by the training done at the top."
Nick waited for him to continue and, when he didn't, asked simply,"And?"
Purple looked at him and smiled. "I say that you don't just battle the monks. Once you reach the top, you battle the Elder and he gives you a new move. Of course you still have to battle a few monks to get to the Elder."
Nick sighed. "Of course. Though that has nothing to do with the pillar..." He paused, waiting for the man to elaborate, but he didn't ."Anything else I should know about?"
The man rubbed his chin thoughtfully for a second before replying. "No, that should cover it. Oh yes, there's a Rattata infestation, so you may run into them while you're here."
Nick stared at the man for a few seconds. "Infestation?"
The man opened his mouth to reply, then paused for a second as he thought about his answer. "Yes for a while now. We're working on it though."
"And that is my cue to leave. How do I get upstairs?"
The man gestured to the ladder next to him. "Start climbing. Although..." He turned to look at Amy and Jerry, who at that moment were staring at the swaying wood pillar. "I'd recomend you store your Pokemon in their Pokeballs, since you won't be able to make it up there with them out."
Nick looked the monk in the eye and said,"Challenge accepted."
The man spluttered and tried to correct his statement, but Nick was already lifting Amy onto his head, letting her back legs rest on top of his backpack.
"Alright, I suppose it's your choice."
The man watched, bemused, as Amy attempted to settle herself onto Nick's head as he started climbing the ladder. She squirmed around a little and eventually found a somewhat comfortable position on with her forelegs alongside Nick's head and most of her body resting more on him than the bag.
"Amy," Nick said exasperatedly, "warn me next time you decide to look for a better resting position."
Amy nodded in confirmation and Nick continued going up the ladder.
The Purple Intern looked up at him and snapped his fingers. "Oh yes, before I forget you should be careful. The Elder will want to ask you a question." He watched as Nick turned his head to nod before continuing on, and in a moment he and Amy were on the second floor, Jerry hurriedly flying after him.
The man sighed and resumed his stationary vigil. I wonder what's that kid's goal anyway? he thought.
(FIRST FLOOR, SPROUT TOWER)
Nick stood facing the first monk (whose name he'd already forgotten) and prepared for whatever Pokemon the monk sent out.
"Go, Bellsprout!" The thin, weed-like Pokemon stood tall, glaring at them from its side of the battlefield.
Nick smirked. Bellsprout were annoying, but nothing Jerry hadn't already proven he could handle, even if he didn't have a Flying-type move yet. That said...
"Go Jerry."
Jerry, who had up until this moment been in a conversation with Amy on the benefits different Pokeballs, flew over and landed in front of Nick.
He, upon realizing who his opponent was, turned to look at Nick and, with one eye raised, asked, "Really?"
Nick understood well enough to know what his Pokemon was thinking. "Yeah, I know Jerry. Get over it, you could use the exercise."
Jerry sighed and turned back to the Bellsprout, who at this point looked a little irritated at their casual disregard of him.
The monk looked at them and said,"Now Bellsprout, use Vine Whip."
The Bellsprouts vines shot out towards Jerry, whose muscles tensed in readiness.
"Jerry, fly over the vines towards Bellsprout!"
Jerry took off, the vines inches below him, and shot towards the Bellsprout, who seemed surprized at the tactic.
Nick waited until Jerry was almost right in front of the Bellsprout before he ordered,"Now, Hypnosis!"
Jerry quickly fired off the Hypnosis and the Bellsprout dropped, fast asleep. The monk shouted in surprize as his Bellsprout fell, then stood staring in shock at his Bellsprout as it lightly snored.
"Jerry, get up high and Tackle it!"
Jerry flew towards the roof and, when he was practically touching it, drop down and Tackled the Bellsprout, aiming for the head as he did so. It hit the wall with a thud and, when its face turned towards them, it shook its head and tried to get up. Another quick Tackle took it out.
Nick looked at the monk smugly and said,"Well that should about wrap things up here. Au' revoir."
The monk looked up at Nick and said,"Not so fast! For you see, on each floor you must face a monk of Sprout Tower!"
Nick raised one eyebrow. "Yeah and I beat you. On to the second floor."
The monk smiled. "Ah, but what you don't know is that I have two more Pokemon!"
Nick looked at him for a minute, his face blank, before he smiled. "Amy?"
Amy looked up at him and, smiling at Nick, asked,"Yeah?"
Nick looked down at Amy. "Chances are we'll need to get some training in for Jerry before we face this elder guy. Mind if I don't use you for a while?"
Amy thought for a moment, then shook her head. So far she'd found out she could do what appeared to be squats, so that was handy. Other than that, all she could do right now was watch the fight.
"Jerry, get ready for whatever he sends out."
Jerry nodded and his muscles tensed.
"They'll probably be more Bellsprout."
Mew dammit, thought Jerry, a scowl marring his face.
"Go Bellsprout!"
"Mew dammit," said Nick, scowling.
The monk drew his arm back and, throwing it forward, shouted,"Bellsprout, swipe at him with Vine Whip!"
Bellsprout threw his Vine Whip a distance from Jerry's side, then swung it towards him as fast as he could.
"Jerry, jump on my command." When the vines were close enough Nick shouted,"Jump!"
With a quick jump Jerry was in the air. He felt the wind as the vines passed beneath him, missing their target by inches. The Bellsprout's body twisted as his vines swung away from Jerry, too fast stop.
"Jerry, while it's distracted, go for a Tackle."
Jerry flew towards the Bellsprout and Tackled it's head, knocking it down briefly before it hooked it's feet into the ground and swung itself upright again, knocking Jerry away. He flapped his wings and stopped a little away from Bellsprout.
"Bellsprout, Vine Whip, straight ahead!"
The Bellsprout's vines shot forward from it's body, intent on hitting their opponent.
"Jerry, circle around."
Jerry shot into the air, barely avoiding the Bellsprout's attack, and flew behind the Bellsprout.
"Tackle." Jerry flew at the Bellsprout as its eyes widened and hit it as hard as he could. It hit the ground and didn't try to get up.
Nick turned towards the monk and, clapping his hands together, asked,"What else you got?"
The monks face turned pink and he grabbed his last Pokeball, throwing it forward with a sharp twitch of his wrist, and said,"Go Bellsprout! At this point that Hoothoot must be getting tired."
Nick looked at Jerry and realized that the monk had a point. Jerry was still relatively new at Trainer battles and, as much as he wanted him to get stronger, a minute or two to catch his breath couldn't hurt.
Nick turned to Amy and asked,"Hey, you wanna take over for the last one?"
Amy hopped to her feet and nodded, skipping to the battlefield to further irritate the monk (it worked) and, when she stood in front of Nick, she began swinging her leaf around to warm it up.
The new Bellsprout eyed them from across the floor, wary of this new opponent. It tensed it's muscles, ready for anything this Pokemon tried to pull off.
"Bellsprout, do a-"
"If you say Vine Whip, I swear to Mew-"
"Bellsprout, use Vine Whip."
Nick swore, Jerry shouted angrily and Amy glared.
"Amy, dodge to the left."
Amy threw her body sideways, rolling away as the attack flew past her. Nick yelped and jumped to his right, the Vine Whip missing him by inches.
"Bellsprout, recall your vines, quickly!"
Bellsprout pulled it's vines back and Amy came up from her roll, smirking at the Bellsprout. When it glared she blew a raspberry at it.
"Amy, Razor Leaf!"
Amy's smirk grew wider and she threw the leaves forward. The Bellsprout screamed as the sharp leaves hit him, but he endured the hit and, after the leaves stopped pelting him, stood there panting.
"Amy, get close."
"Bellsprout Vine Whip!"
Amy started running towards the Bellsprout as it threw it's vines forward. Without any urging she rolled to her left and, as the vines missed her again, came up and continued running. The monk spluttered at this and Nick smiled.
She's getting better, Nick thought, and felt that, now familiar, feeling build up. He watched Amy race toward the panicking Bellsprout with an odd warmth infusing his chest, his mouth growing into a smirk that irritated the monk.
"Bellsprout retract your vines!"
Bellsprout hurriedly pulled back his vines, but was too late to stop Amy from getting close. She stopped right in front of him and he froze in shock.
"Amy, Poison Powder!"
The purple spores landed on the Bellsprout and as Nick watched they did...nothing.
What the-
"Now Bellsprout, Vine Whip!"
The Bellsprout shot it's vines out to its side, then swung them at Amy, knocking her away. She skidded on the floor and, growling under her breath, got to her feet. She turned to face the Bellsprout again, now more than a little peeved.
"Amy, you okay?"
She looked back at him and nodded, then faced Bellsprout and glared. Her mind was racingm trying to figure out why her Poison Powder would have no effect. Eventually she landed on one likely reason: the Bellsprout was part Poison-type.
"So, Bellsprouts are unaffected by moves that cause instant poisoning?" Nick asked aloud.
The monk smiled triumphantly from across the room. "That's right. Does that put a wrinkle in your plans?"
Nick shrugged. "Not really. Amy, Tackle!"
Amy shot forward, the speed of the attack catching the monk off guard. The Bellsprout hurriedly tried to move out of the way, but was too slow to avoid getting hit by the attack and knocked to the floor. As it lay on it's back, it's eyes swirled in defeat.
Nick smiled and walked over to where Amy was standing, lifting her up and placing her on his head. While she was a little heavy, it wasn't anything that he couldn't handle, though climbing was a little difficult.
Amy was smiling smugly at the monk, who took a deep breath and tried to calm himself as he realized that his anger had given Nick the advantage.
"Well, that was interesting. Care to explain?" he asked conversationally.
Nick smiled sympathetically as he explained. "Well, Amy's my, um, strongest Pokemon. Half the reason I let Jerry battle so many of your Bellsprout was because he needed the training. The other half was because Amy would finish it too fast, no offense to your Pokemon."
"Is she really that strong?" The monk seemed genuinely curious.
"Well, yeah. I think so at least. Why?"
"No reason," the monk said as they left down a ladder. Once Nick went on to the second floor he said, "That was one odd Chikorita though."
(SECOND FLOOR, SPROUT TOWER)
"Before we begin, I have to ask you. Do we really need to battle?" In answer the monk raised his Pokeball. "Huh, thought so."
Nick, Jerry and Amy had made it to Sprout Tower's second floor, only to be met by another monk. On the plus side, he only had one Bellsprout. On the less-than-positive side, that one Bellsprout was probably stronger than the small fries they'd faced before.
"Jerry, you're taking this one." Jerry nodded and flew over to face the Bellsprout.
The monk frowned. "I suppose I should warn you that a type advantage will hardly work in your favor here."
Nick had a puzzled frown as he tried to interpret the monk's words. "And?"
The monk sighed. "Bellsprout, use Growth."
The Bellsprout feet suddenly began growing into the ground, embedding it into the wooden floor. It glowed yellow for a second, then its feet returned to their normal length and it stood there, staring at them.
"Am I to assume that did something?"
"Well child," said the monk smoothly. "It may alarm you to hear this, but that move just now increased the strength of my Bellsprout's special attacks!"
Nick wasn't alarmed. "Jerry, Hypnosis!"
Jerry fired off his Hypnosis attack and the Bellsprout looked at them smugly. At the last second it's vines shot towards the roof and wrapped around the wooden beams. It pulled itself up and away from Jerry's attack and began laughing.
Nick raised an eyebrow. "I probably should have seen that coming."
"Indeed. Are you trembling in your boots yet?"
Nick took a second to look at where the Bellsprout had pulled itself up. "Not really. This may take awhile."
The monk smiled. "Bellsprout, Vine Whip that Hoothoot!"
The vines flew toward Jerry, who shouted in surprise and flapped out of the way.
"Don't stop Bellsprout! Keep up the pressure!"
The Bellsprout's vines kept on trying to hit Jerry, who flapped and swerved as he tried to avoid them.
"Jerry, try a Hypnosis."
Jerry quickly fired off another Hypnosis towards the Bellsprout's perch and it dropped down, dodging again and snickering as Jerry's attack went wide. Jerry was clearly becoming irritated. Nick, however, was more interested than irritated. This was quickly becoming an interesting match.
"Jerry, Tackle!"
Jerry flew towards the Bellsprout, who snickered again and retreated to the roof.
"Jerry, fly up behind him!"
As fast as he could Jerry flew up. The Bellsprout turned its head, its eyes widening as it noticed the Hoothoot smirking at it.
"Jerry, Hypnosis!" This time the Hypnosis didn't miss and the Bellsprout dropped to the floor, fast asleep.
"Bellsprout wake up!" the monk shouted desperately.
"Jerry fly above it, then drop down with a Tackle!"
Jerry flew up till he skimmed the roof, then dropped down onto the Bellsprout. The attack woke it up, though it was hurt enough to slow it down.
"Jerry, Tackle him! Don't let up."
Jerry flew in for another Tackle. The Bellsprout, hurt and fighting off any lingering lethargy, was unable to properly defend and, after a few more ( a lot more) Tackles, was knocked out.
The monk stood there, stunned at the sight of his Bellsprout, who had been knocked out by the attack. Eventually he sighed and pointed to the ladder. "Up there you will find the Elder. He is the most enlightened of us all."
Nick thanked him and made to go up the ladder, lifting Amy onto his head.
"Wait a minute," said the monk.
Nick turned his head, nearly dislodging Amy, and asked,"Yeah, what is it?"
"How exactly could you tell that I would have my Bellsprout use the same maneuver?"
Nick pondered for a second then said simply, "I didn't."
The monk thought about that for a second. "Thanks. Goodbye then."
Nick nodded (Amy had a firm hold on his head) and began climbing the ladder. Jerry, bored with the conversation, had already flown up and was waiting for them.
As soon as Nick had gotten onto the third floor the monk sighed and said,"How shameful. Beaten by such a reckless maneuver." Then he thought about it and said,"Well timed though."
(THIRD FLOOR, SPROUT TOWER)
Nick and Amy stared. They'd emerged into the room as soon as they'd gone up the ladder. Almost immediately after they'd been stunned.
They'd emerged into a darkened hallway, lit only with candles hanging from Bellsprout statues exactly like the ones downstairs as they lined the hallway. While the hallway wasn't very long, light filtered in on either side the wooden pillar from before. Speaking of the pillar, it was still in the exact middle of the vast room and it was still going through the roof.
"So, anyone want to bet they built it into the roof?" asked Nick.
Jerry and Amy didn't hesitate before shaking their heads. They had been thinking along the same lines as Nick and had come to the same conclusion regarding the pillar.
Nick strode briskly towards the light alongside the pillar, Amy on his head and Jerry flying ahead. He was excited at the thought of seeing the Elder, the one person who would question his reasons for a journey.
He ducked around the pillar and winced at the sudden brightness. He blinked as his eyes adjusted, staring at the room he now found himself in.
It was a simple room with two windows on the opposite wall and Bellsprout statues in each corner. Jerry quickly flew over to rest on one of the Bellsprout statues, silently observing Nick's antics.
Nick looked around again, looking for the Elder, before he noticed a brown lump leaning against one of the statues. He walked over and noticed how oddly wrinkled the lump was, almost like fabric. He lightly kicked it and it snorted, shaking itself before turning it's head (was it a head?) towards him.
"I wasn't sleeping I was-" The lump stopped it's explanation and stilled, before a hand reached up and flipped part of itself open, revealing a bald wrinkled old man wearing a bead necklace with a Pokeball dangling from it. "You aren't one of the monks. Are you a challenger here?"
Nick blinked. "No I'm the new Officer Jenny. I'm here to investigate a disturbance of the peace."
"So I do snore..." the man muttered before giving Nick a jovial smile and getting up. "I'm the Elder here at Sprout Tower. Pleased to meet you." He offered Nick his hand.
"Nicholas," Nick replied, shaking the offered hand.
"So, what brings you here young Nicholas?" the Elder asked, grinning. "Do you seek a Pokemon battle, or perhaps you seek motivation?"
Nick chuckled. "I've got my own motivation, but I was expecting a battle and honestly, if I don't get one, I might be disappointed."
"Alright. Wait here a moment." The Elder walked to one side of the room, then gestured to Nick. "There should be a little yellow square somewhere over there. That's where you should stand for this battle." He looked to his left and noticed the Hoothoot staring at him curiously. "I assume this is yours?"
"Yeah, he's mine. Jerry, get over here. The first one's yours" Jerry flew from the Bellsprout statue and landed in front of Nick.
Amy stayed on top of nick's head, wondering when this Elder would make Nick doubt himself. So far all he'd done was snore and smell like old robes.
"Before we begin, I'd like to ask a question," said Nick.
"Alright, though usually I'm the one asking questions," stated the Elder.
Nick took a second to look around. "No offence, but what's with you people and Bellsprouts?"
The monk blinked and looked around. "To be honest, the records which tell us why this tower was built have been lost since before your great-grandparents were born. Many who come here now and become monks are focused more on finding enlightenment than battling. Their Pokemon are more for self-defense than actual competitive battling."
"And fighting off an infestation."
"That too I suppose. Now," he brandished his Pokeballs again, "your Pokemon should get ready."
Nick nodded and looked at his Hoothoot. "Jerry, you get that?" Jerry answered by cracking his neck and puffing up his feathers.
The Elder smiled, though this one was more cunning. "Allow me to get the ball rolling. Bellsprout, come on out!" The Bellsprout burst from it's Pokeball and yawned sleepily before focusing it's attention on Nick and his Pokemon.
Nick sighed in exasperation. "You know what? Screw it. I don't care anymore."
"Now Bellsprout, Growth!"
Once again Nick witnessed the odd spectical of a Pokemon's feet growing and gathering power from a wooden floor. This time though he wasn't waiting around.
As soon as the Bellsprout's feet were firmly planted Nick shouted, "Jerry Tackle!"
Jerry flew towards the Bellsprout and hit it as hard as he could. It bent backwards and, with a little springing sound, wobbled back into a standing position, a dazed from the hit and more than a little angry.
The Elder hummed thoughtfully. "A bit underhanded, wouldn't you say?"
"Yeah, well I take an advantage when I see it. Besides, from what I've heard Growth makes you stronger. Couldn't just stand around watching that happen, right? Now, Jerry use Hypnosis."
Jerry's eyes glowed as he fired pink rings of psychic energy at the Bellsprout who, too firmly anchored in the ground, stood there and took the attack. It barely managed to finish it's Growth before the attack hit and it flopped onto its front, fast asleep.
"You do realize that the minute it wakes up, you'll be in big trouble?"
"Yes, and I have a solution for that. It's called the Jerry Tackle."
Jerry once again Tackled the Bellsprout and, before it could wake up, kept on Tackling it. When it finally woke up, it was too hurt to defend itself and was quickly defeated.
The Elder hummed thoughtfully. "An odd tactic, I'll admit, but a good one," he said conversationally as he recalled his Bellsprout. "Now then, for my next Pokemon, I choose Hoothoot!"
The Hoothoot appeared in front of them. It looked almost exactly like Jerry.
"Now then," called the Elder, "will you continue battling with your Hoothoot?"
"Nah," answered Nick. "I'm thinking of mixing it up a little. Amy, you're up!"
Nick gently grasped Amy's sides and lowered her from his head onto the ground as Jerry flew next to him to observe the fight.
The Elder hummed thoughtfully. "A Grass-type against my Flying-type? An interesting combination. But," he said, his expression turning serious, "what do you hope to attain travelling with your Pokemon?"
Nick puzzled over the word for a few minutes. "I'm gonna answer that...later."
The Elder sighed. "Of course you will. Now, use Hypnosis Hoothoot!"
The Hoothoot it's Hypnosis at Amy, who rolled to the left to avoid them. Nick yelped and jumped aside as the attack harmlessly dispersed against the wall.
"Do none of you know how to aim?!" he shouted at the two battling Pokemon.
The Hoothoot had the good grace to look abashed while Amy mulled it over for a second before shrugging.
Nick rubbed his temple. "Why do I bother?"
"Your Pokemon reacts instinctively," said the Elder in an attempt to get attention back to the match. "She dodges well."
"Well, yeah. I mean, what are the odds that someone has to be told to dodge?"
The Elder opened his mouth to reply-
"You know what, never mind. Amy, Tackle and pin him!"
Shocked at the sudden command, the Hoothoot barely got off the ground before Amy knocked it down and kept it pinned.
"Throw her off!" the Elder shouted.
"Poison Powder!"
Amy waved her leaf and blew a thick, purple powder into the Hoothoot's face. Unfortunately (for Amy) this was the moment the Hoothoot decided to throw her off.
The Hoothoot tried to throw her off as hard as he could, but his position meant the best he could do was send her rolling. When she got up she shook her head and stuck her tongue out at the Hoothoot, who glared back at her angrily.
"You poisoned my Hoothoot," the Elder noted.
"Perceptive of you. Sorry, but I needed an edge."
The Elder smirked. "Well, now you have one. Hoothoot, Peck!"
Amy tried to dodge, but Hoothoot flew overhead and swooped down, it's attacking finding it's mark. Amy shouted as she was hit, then wacked the Hoothoot in it's face with her leaf. It yelped and fluttered onto a Bellsprout statue, rubbing it's face and muttering.
"She slapped him," the Elder noted incredulously.
"She tends to do that. Razor Leaf!"
Amy fired her attack at the Hoothoot, who attempted to fly up and was hit by a faceful of sharp leaves. He shrieked and flew away, staying above Amy as she continued firing Razor Leafs.
"See! Why can't more Pokemon keep attacking? It's not like you need an invitation..." Nick trailed off as he noticed something. Amy was wincing slightly each time she fired her attack, and the wince grew more pronounced when she had to turn to hit Hoothoot. At best she'd scraped herself rolling. At worst the Hoothoot's attack had done more damage than Nick thought.
The only good thing about it was the Hoothoot's poisoning. It was getting harder for it to keep flying like that, especially with Amy's Razor Leaf forcing it to go faster than it should while poisoned.
"Hoothoot, quickly, use Hypnosis!"
The Hoohoot fired the attack. This time though, when Amy tried to dodge, she stumbled and the attack hit.
"Now use Peck!"
The Hoothoot flew down and Pecked Amy. On one hand, she was hurt badly. On the other hand, 'flew' was putting it nicely. It more fell down, then struggled back up after it hit, the poison beginning to take its toll. And, though it knocked her away a bit, the Tackle woke Amy up.
The Hoothoot walked slowly to Amy as she struggled to her feet. She managed to get up and face it, though she was shaking. The poisoning on the Hoothoot would only need a few more minutes to work, but with the state Amy was in that hardly mattered.
"Hoothoot, Peck!"
Hoothoot raised its head, ready to finish the fight and the annoying Grass-type.
Nick thought fast and could come up with only one viable solution. I can't believe we're actually using this move, he thought. "Amy, Growl!"
Amy reacted quickly, Growling right at Hoothoot as it was about to deliver it's attack. It squawked in surprise and stumbled, falling down in front of her. She smiled smugly at it, a gleam in her eye as she tensed her muscles.
The Elder caught on a second too late. "Hoothoot move!"
"Tackle!"
Hoothoot did it's best, but the extent of the poisoning stopped it from flying away. Amy threw her weight at it and knocked it to the ground where it stayed, eyes swirling. Amy smiled, then promptly fell down where she stood.
Nick walked over, Jerry watching from his spot, and gently lifted Amy's head. "Amy, Amy, how many fingers am I holding up?" he asked, holding up three fingers.
Amy looked at the fingers blearily, then asked, "Chi?"
Nick sighed and lifted Amy, cradling her in his arms. "Never mind." He looked at the Elder and asked, "Any other Pokemon you want to send out?"
The Elder stared at him consideringly before saying, "There's no need for that."
"No?" Nick asked with one eyebrow raised.
"No," the Elder confirmed, smiling. "While I do battle you Nick, it's meant to observe your battling style and test your convictions, not for the sake of battling. Speaking of which, what were your convictions?"
Nick smiled. "One day I want to settle down, work with Pokemon, maybe start a family and become an old man who says 'Why, in my day...' all the time. The usual. But first, I want to see what this world has to offer, and explore it with my friends."
The Elder nodded. "Have you found any? Friends I mean."
Nick nodded, looking at Amy and Jerry out of the corner of his eye.
"Good. Now..." The Elder removed a disc from his robes and handed it to Nick. "This is the TM, or Technical Machine, Flash. It teaches your Pokemon how to use a bright flash of light to blind your enemies. Be warned though, a TM can only be used once. It breaks afterwards."
Nick took the offered TM and put it in his bag. "Thanks. So, how do I get out of here?"
"Well you could go back the way you came..."
"Not a chance. No offence to your tower, but the whole 'infestation' bit..."
"Then there's this way." He led Nick down the hallway, past the ladder going down and towards the back wall. Throwing open some latches, he opened a hatch in the back wall just big enough for a man of his size to walk through. Nick looked out, but saw nothing except empty air and the sky. Oh, and the thirty foot drop.
"They say suicide is never the answer."
"Oh, you won't be jumping. More ... sliding." The Elder pulled a length of rope from behind one of the Bellsprout statues and presented it to Nick with a smirk on his face. "This is the faster method, of course."
Nick took a second to process that. "You know, hanging would take longer."
The Elder sighed. "No, you're going to slide down the rope to the ground."
"And you'll tie it to..."
"A hook on the left of the entrance."
Nick paused to consider it. "Okay. Just give me a second to wrap things up."
Nick hurried and tried to wrap Amy in his jacket. She squirmed and looked at him questioningly and he sighed.
"Jerry, get over here." Jerry flew over and listened as Nick explained. "I'm going to tie Amy into a sling and I need you to carry her to the Pokemon Center. There's an exit back near the ladder you can use. There's a rope back there that I'm gonna use to slide down the building. I'll meet you at the Pokemon Center."
Jerry nodded. Once Nick finished bundling Amy into the jacket, Jerry took hold of the makeshift sling and flew towards the Pokemon Center, leaving him behind.
The Elder whistled a cheery tune as he tied the rope, Nick standing near the ladder. When he was finished, he gestured that Nick should come closer.
Nick took hold of the rope and looked down. "I should lower myself down slowly, right?"
The Elder nodded. "Or you could skin your hands."
Nick smirked and saluted the Elder before jumping over the side, lowering himself down in quick jumps like something out of an action movie.
The Elder, who had been watching Nick go down, let out a sigh. "Hope that was worth it."
(POKEMON CENTER)
Nick sat in a chair in the Pokemon Center, his hands lightly bandaged. "So worth it."
Jerry rolled his eyes and Amy nodded, smiling enthusiastically.
Amy's torso was bandaged as she lay on the bed, though Nurse Joy had assured him that she would be fine in a day or so. Amy, of course, was bored and, in an attempt to relieve boredom, was trying to get Nick to hand his Pokegear over so that she could start flipping through radio shows.
"At least promise me you'll listen to Professor Oak's Radio Talk Show. It doesn't hurt to know a little more."
Amy nodded politely, already discarding the radio show idea.
Nick sighed and handed Amy his Pokegear. She would have fist pumped in victory, but her back hurt too much. And she couldn't make a fist without fingers.
"And with that, I am going for a walk," Nick said as he got up to leave. "Jerry, come on. Amy'll be fine."
Jerry flew over and began walking behind Nick, waving goodbye as Nick shut the door.
Amy giggled and turned on the radio, tuning it into one of her favourite stations.
Am I original? (yeah)
Am I the only one? (yeah)
Am I sexual? (yeah)
Am I everything you need?
You better rock your body now
"Ah," she said, grinning. "Backstreet Boys. It's going to be a good day."
(ROUGHLY TEN MINUTES AFTER LEAVING THE ROOM)
"This day is going to suck," said Nick. The Mareep stood to the side observing the match.
Jerry stood in front of Nick, facing his opponent, a Growlithe.
It's Trainer was a teen a black hoodie and simple jeans. His face was mostly obscured by the hoodie he wore, but Nick could tell he was pissed by his tense shoulders and the fact that he'd announced he was mad three minutes ago.
"Hey," asked Nick, "isn't it kinda impractical to block your vision like that while surrounded by wild Pokemon?"
"Don't tell me what to do. I happen to like this hoodie," snapped the Trainer. "You got in the way of my first capture, and now I'm going to make you pay."
Nick sighed. "First of all, I was battling Mareep before you showed up. Second, you showed up announcing you would catch Mareep once it fell. Pretty unsportsmanlike. For that, Jerry's going to kick your Growlithe's tail, you cowardly pile of Tauros crap."
"That does it! Growlithe, stand by for battle!" The Growlithe lowered itself into a crouch, staring straight at Nick and Jerry, it's Trainer's veins almost bulging.
"Fine, I need to work on my banter anyway. Remember Jerry: keep those Tackles going, keep those wings beating and have fun."
"I'm sick of this guy! Bite Growlithe!"
"Jerry, Tackle!"
Both Pokemon rushed at each other, tension heavy in the air.
The Mareep looked on, wide eyed at the speed of the two Pokemon.
As their Pokemon rushed each other Nick shouted, "I wish you luck, Black Hood! You'll need it!"
The mystery Trainer smirked and said, "Took the words right out of my mouth."
(END CHAPTER 5)
I need to say this now. Nick is a main character. Not the main character, but a main character. As such he'll get into trouble. Now he's in trouble. Join us next time to see what kind of trouble. And yes, the Elder only tests you to see how you treat your Pokemon. Or as a warm up before Falkner, the theory goes both ways.
Next chapter, Nick gets a new Pokemon, learns a not-so-subtle secret and has a training montage. Not necessarily in that order.
Also, if my OC starts acting like a Mary Sue (Gary Stu) tell me what's causing it and, if I can't justify it, I'll change it.
