The Year of Rocket's Revenge
Story Written by Freedom Fighter
Into September we go! This tournament arc should finally put some excitement into this story, and there's lot to catch up on... as you'll see from Cassie's point-of-view later this month. But first... who will be the first Pokémon Junior Master? The journey continues now...
Disclaimer: The characters and places from the Pokémon anime and other Pokémon products all belong to Nintendo and 4Kids Enter... wait, scratch that... and Pokémon USA! Original characters Cassie Banks, Arius McFly, and many others too numerous to list here, were created by me, and no other writer may use them without written consent from myself.
This fanfic is only posted at two places: my place, which contains the full-length chapters in one piece, and which has the same story, but split up into smaller pieces. It should not be posted anywhere else without my permission.
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The Year of Rocket's Revenge
Session: September, Part 1 (09.05.05/08.31.06)
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When we last left our heroes, they were stranded in what seemed to be an alternate dimension. Stuck in the poverty-stricken town of Chiva, they learned about the history between the mayor's daughter, Marina, and the gang known as the Rapid Dashery. Most startling of all seems to be the fatal virus that was spread among them, leaving most of them dead and making Marina and lone surviving member Anthony 'living' corpses.
Though there was not much Ash and the gang could do for them, they finally managed to find their way back home to their dimension thanks to Duplica scaring some sense into Professor Schtickly. For his rescue efforts, the researcher got a stern chasing, and maybe even a beating, from Misty.
Several weeks past, as the team separated once again to take care of matters in their hometowns. But a chance to reunite them pops up when news of a new tournament starting up comes to light. With Misty and the Cerulean City gym sponsoring him, Ash makes his way to the Hoenn region and the fabled city of Evergrande, home of the Hoenn Championships.
But he's not there to compete for their league title. The tournament he's in pits the world's best trainers under the age of 18. This is being done in order to fill the Pokémon League's new position of Junior Pokémon Master! But the fight to be the first to claim the title got off to a rough start, as the field had to be trimmed down in a battle royale! Ash managed to survive the preliminaries, but only thanks to an unexpected assist from his rival and old friend, Gary Oak!
But Gary isn't the only possible trainer standing in Ash's way, as Cassie appears to both of them for the first time as an ex-Pokémon Trainers' Association member. And she's just as determined to win the title as well. There's also Marco, the strange individual with the Absol who tried to knock Ash out in the preliminaries! What are his intentions?
It's time to find out the answers, as the 16 survivors of the opening round begin their one-on-one matches in Evergrande City...
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September 1st, Evergrande City
Following a wild preliminary free-for-all round, the 16 surviving trainers arise to the start of the official Pokémon Junior Master Tournament. The remaining competitors were gathering at the Pokémon Center, which was a cone-shaped building with a semi-spherical dome top and large glass, see-through windows. Sunlight poured through the waiting area as it filled with the trainers, who were awaiting the draw for the first round.
But the competitors weren't the only ones there, as many spectators and other non-competing trainers were in the room too, making it very crowded. A few gym leaders were there too, all to stand by their representatives... or just to meet their delighted fans.
Among the gym leaders in attendance was... why, none other than Brock, who had just arrived in Evergrande that very morning!
"It's really busy in here," Brock noted as he tried to make his way through the crowd. "I hope I'll be able to find them."
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Misty turned and shouted with glee when she spotted Brock walking up to her.
"Brock! You made it!"
"Yeah... I was supposed to be here last night, but my connecting flight here from Celadon got cancelled. I was stuck there for a few hours."
"So," Brock said after taking a picture with a young boy, "where's Ash? Did he make it out of the preliminaries? I heard it was tough..."
"Thankfully, yes," Misty replied. "He's around here somewhere, waiting for the draw for the first round. I think I last saw him with Gary."
"Gary's here?"
"Uh huh. Cassie too."
Brock gasped. "Really? But why?"
"She told me this morning about her quitting right after the whole thing on the Orange Islands. She's here just to further her trainers' skill, just like everybody else."
"And you trust her?"
"Well... if Ash has forgiven her like Duplica did, then I do too."
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Closer to the front counter, Pikachu, Umbreon, and Bulbasaur were in the midst of a conversation together. Meanwhile, their trainers, Ash, Gary, and Cassie, respectively, observed with interest.
"They look like they've known each other for years," commented Cassie.
"I guess it's easier for Pokémon to get along than their trainers," Gary said.
"Well, there has been a lot between us..."
"What's past is past," Ash said enthusiastically, putting a hand on Cassie's shoulder. "What's important is that you get a fresh start!"
"If only I could. None of my forgiveness has much weight until I make up with the one person that matters most..."
"You mean Duplica?"
Cassie nodded in reply. "Betraying her friendship and her trust was the biggest mistake I ever made."
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August 20th, one year ago, a restaurant in Pewter City
Cassie and her boyfriend, Arius, were sitting down to breakfast with their now-ex-boss, Patti, who had a serious look on her face.
"Have you heard the news this morning?"
"About the plane that crashed?" Arius asked.
Flash to a nearby television, where a caption read 'United Indigo Airlines 360 Crash - No Survivors.'
"You two have been assigned to investigate it."
"What?" Cassie freaked out. "Why?"
"Sources say that a Team Rocket member on his way to the Indigo Plateau was onboard. We want to find out what his mission is and see if the agent is still alive."
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July 6th, this year, Valencia Island Pokémon Center
Duplica was breaking the news to Ash, Misty, and Brock, that Cassie and Arius, who had just shown up there, were responsible for the death of her boyfriend, TJ, a passenger on the aforementioned flight.
"Cassie got TJ killed!" Duplica exclaimed in tears.
"What are you talking about?" wondered Misty.
"After they had stolen some top-secret files from Team Rocket, the Rockets retaliated by setting off a bomb on the plane TJ was on!"
"So TJ died because of you?" Ash screamed.
After Misty and Duplica had both run off in distraught, Ash directed his cold anger towards Cassie, who was trying to apologize for the incident.
"I'm sorry, Ash, but there was nothing we could do. It caught us completely by surprise, just like everyone else!"
Ash was beginning to break down himself. So he did the only thing he could think of that would keep him from running over and breaking their necks.
"GO! Just go away!"
"Another trainer," Cassie thought to herself, crying as well. "That's probably what they're all thinking. They probably think that we consider the life of one trainer insignificant. That the needs of many outweigh the needs of a few. That no one would miss one trainer."
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Three days later, Trovitopolis
"I need friends who are willing to support me and cheer me on in whatever I do," Cassie told Duplica. "Without friends who will push me to be better, I'll never become the best trainer in the world."
"Friends, huh?"
"Duplica, I know it'll take awhile for me to regain your trust again. And... I can't bring back your old boyfriend. But would you give me just one more chance? That's all I'm asking for.
"If you promise not to hurt anyone else."
"Cross my heart and hope to die," she promised, making a cross over her heart with one finger.
Duplica trotted over and wrapped her arms around Cassie to give her a hug.
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"I may be friendly towards you," Ash said to himself about Cassie, "but I'll be keeping an eye on you. You'd better not be lying about being a changed person."
"I hope I'll be able to make it up to her one day," Cassie said solemnly. "I want her to trust me again."
"I'm sure you'll get your chance," Gary said snidely. "After I knock you out of this tournament!"
"Not if I knock you out first!" Cassie retaliated, clenching her fists.
"Hey," Ash cut in, "I think they're ready to announce the first round matches!"
The trio turned their attention towards the front counter, where a Pokémon official was standing right below the big screen that would show the match-ups.
"Good morning, everyone! The time has come to reveal the results of the computerized random draw that will determine whom fights whom in the first round. Remember, all decisions are final! So... without further ado..."
The board lit up, and instantly the brackets were posted. Ash, Gary, and Cassie scanned the board to find their pictures, and if any of them were matched up against each other. Surprisingly, none of them were.
"Looks like we dodge each other for at least one match," Gary said.
"We're gonna have to all do our best!" Cassie stated.
"It's time to become... a Pokémon Junior Master!" Ash shouted with enthusiasm.
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It's early afternoon by the time Ash finally appears on a battlefield for his first round match. With Pikachu by his side, Ash looked as determined as ever to notch a victory. But so did his opponent, a tall 17-year old young man in... a Miltank suit?
"What the..." Ash nearly fell over in confusion.
"In the name of my hometown gym," he announced, "I will moo you down!"
The entire arena broke out in laughter. They couldn't believe some guy would willingly make a fool of himself in public by dressing up in a Miltank. Over in the center section on the south side of the stadium, Misty and Brock, sitting in the specially-reserved 'gym leaders' section, were wondering if Ash's opponent had any sense.
"I thought these were supposed to be the 16 best trainers under 18 in the world?" Misty told Brock. "Who let this guy in?"
"Obviously, the guy has a thing for costumes. Either that, or he lost a bet to someone."
"How did you ever guess?" asked the voice of a young woman.
Misty and Brock glanced to their left and saw a pink-haired woman walking towards them. She was wearing a white and red short sleeve shirt that resembled a baseball jersey, and a white pair of shorts that left little to the imagination. Brock became instantly blinded by her beauty.
"Where have you been all my life?" Brock blurted out, to Misty and the young women's surprise.
Brock reached out and grabbed her hands. He then got down on one knee, as if he was going to propose marriage!
"I want you, I need you, go out with me tonight!" he sang in song.
"Uh..." she stuttered.
Suddenly, Misty reached in and pinched Brock's right ear lobe. Wincing in pain, he was tossed aside by the young redhead.
"Evergrande has voted... you're being sent home!" she said.
"Wow... I wish I knew how to handle men like that."
"Aww..." Misty blushed. "You get used to it after awhile. So, I assume the guy in the Miltank outfit down there is representing your gym?"
"You'd be correct. His name's Jimmy... and I'm Whitney, the gym leader of Goldenrod City!"
"So, you're from the Johto Region?"
"Yep!"
Misty then pointed out to Jimmy. "And... that's a custom in your city?"
"Actually, no," Whitney admitted, laughing. "He bet that he'd beat me in a milk-drinking contest! The loser would have to wear an outfit of the winner's choice for a day!"
"And you made him wear that?" Misty sweatdropped.
"I think she has good taste in clothing," Brock commented as he got back up.
"You would," Misty said as she knocked Brock back down with one punch.
"Hey, it's his fault for making the bet! I just played along!"
"By the way, I'm Misty, of the Cerulean City gym!"
"Nice to meet you! I'm assuming the guy behind you is your boyfriend?"
Misty nearly freaked out at that claim, but this time, it was Brock's turn to cut in.
"It might be..." he said sauntily, "if that kind of thing turns you on."
"Keep your hormones in your pants!" Misty shouted, bashing Brock again before glancing at Whitney again. "Actually... Ash down there is my boyfriend."
"I thought so. You two make a cute couple."
"You really think so?"
Whitney then leaned over to whisper something into Misty's ear. "Say... you're not just slinging this guy around because he caters to your every whim, right?"
Misty was taken aback. "What? What would make you think that?"
"Oh," Whitney chuckled, "no reason..."
Misty and Brock instantly both got what Whitney meant by that.
"You mean he's..."
"Lucky devil..."
Down on the field, Ash and Jimmy 'the Miltank' stared each other down, just waiting for the command for the battle to start.
"You're not seriously going to wear that for our battle, are you?" Ash asked with curiosity.
"As much as I'd like to take it off..." Jimmy replied I made a promise to someone. So, it's gotta stay on. Sorry, bud!"
Ash turned to Pikachu. "Who would he promise something like that too?"
"Pikachu," shrugged the yellow mouse.
"Okay, eh..." the official stuttered before regaining his composure. "This is a two-on-two battle with no time limit. Substitutions are not allowed except to replace a fainted Pokémon. Winner moves on to the next round. As per an official's toss prior to match, the trainer to my right will make the first move. Thus... let the battle begin!"
Ash reached for a Pokéball on his belt and threw it out.
"Let's go with Squirtle!"
"Squirtle! Squirtle squirtle!"
It was Jimmy's turn to select his Pokémon. "And I choose Furret!"
"Furret!"
"Squirtle, start off with Tackle!"
"Furret, use Defense Curl!"
Squirtle charged at Ferret, but was bounced back when Ferret curled up into a ball to protect itself.
"Now, Furret, counterattack with Fury Swipes!"
With Squirtle still reeling, Furret leapt forward with his claws drawn and started slashing at the turtle Pokémon. Ferret got four good swipes in before Squirtle was able to escape.
"You've got him on the ropes!" Jimmy shouted. "Hit 'em with another Fury Swipes attack!"
"Not this time!" defended Ash. "Squirtle, Withdraw!"
Squirtle complied, withdrawing back into his shell for a defensive maneuver of his own. Furret swiped at the hard shell, but seemed to be hurting itself as much as it was Squirtle. After a few attempts, Furret jumped back, allowing Squirtle to come back out.
"Squirtle, Water Gun!"
Squirtle blasted a stream of water right at Ferret, which he promptly dodged, much to Ash and Squirtle's surprise.
Meanwhile, up in the stands...
"I'm surprised that Furret and Squirtle seem to be pretty even," Brock commented.
"Me too," added Misty.
"It may seem that way," Whitney smiled, "but Jimmy clearly has the advantage thanks to his secret weapon!"
"Secret... weapon?"
"Oops..." the Goldenrod leader gasped, covering her mouth. "I guess I wasn't supposed to tell you that."
Not that it mattered, as Jimmy looked as if he was going to use it right now.
"Okay, Furret... time for the signature move of the Goldenrod City gym!"
"Signature move?"
"Furret, use Rollout!"
Furret rolled up into a ball again, but this time as an offensive measure. He spun towards Squirtle, picking up speed as he went.
"Squirtle, stop Ferret by using Water Gun!"
Squirtle fired his water blast right at Furret, but it just bounced off of the approaching adversary. With the failed attempt to stop Ferret, Squirtle was defenseless. In one short breath, Furret barreled right into Squirtle and knocked him into the air. Ash's Pokémon flipped end over end several times before landing on the ground and on his belly, with an impact so hard it knocked him out.
"Aah! Squirtle!"
The official ran over to check on him, and seconds later, he made it clear that Squirtle was out. "Squirtle is unable to continue! Furret wins the first round!"
Up on the big screen above, the picture of Squirtle, which was right below Ash's, faded to black. The announcer blared over the loudspeaker to report what had just happened, for those who had missed it.
"Furret rolls over Squirtle, giving Round 1 to Jimmy and Goldenrod City! Ash, the representative from Cerulean, will have to call out a great second Pokémon to get back in this match!"
"What an attack!" Misty gasped.
"He learned that one from me," winked Whitney.
"Does Ash have anyone that can stop that attack?" Brock wondered out loud.
"I can think of one," Misty said, "but does Ash really want to use him now?"
Ash glanced down to his side and saw Pikachu's cheeks sparking, as if he was expecting to be called in to replace Squirtle. As much faith as Ash had in Pikachu, there wasn't any guarantee he could stop Furret if he used Rollout again. In reality, there was only one Pokémon he could turn to... but would he listen to him?
"I choose you... Charizard!"
"Grrrrrrrroooarrr!"
"A Charizard?" Jimmy asked out loud.
"Charizard, use Scratch!"
Charizard started flying forward towards Furret. But instead of rearing his arm back for a scratch attack, he decided to use Flamethrower! Not expecting the attack at all, Furret had no chance to escape. The attack instantly engulfed him, pretty much burning him to a crisp. The burnt Pokémon quickly fainted, much to Jimmy's chagrin.
"Aaaah! Furret!"
"Well, not what I called for, but it worked," Ash commented, scratching his head.
"Grrrrrroooooooaaaaaaaarrrrr!" roared Charizard, who started spewing flames in a celebratory manner.
The announcer once again confirmed the results of that round.
"Round 2 goes to Ash and Cerulean City, after his Charizard barbequed that Furret! It looks like it's going to come right down to the wire with a third and decisive round!"
"Barbequed is the understatement of the year," Misty said. "I'm really worried... what happens if Charizard gets overzealous, Brock?"
"I don't know... but Charizard's next opponent better be up to snuff... or else."
"What?" Whitney wondered out loud, breaking up the conversation. "Is there something about that Charizard we should know? He seems like a perfectly trained Pokémon to me."
Misty and Brock sweatdropped... could Whitney really be that dense to miss Charizard not performing the same attack Ash had called out?
"Okay, time for my trump card!" smiled Jimmy.
"What?" Ash nearly freaked. "You have a trump card, too?"
Jimmy nodded. "I was expecting your Charizard as a possibility, so... I'm calling out my Kangaskhan!"
A Pokéball is thrown out, and in comes Kangaskhan.
"Kangas! Khan!"
Whitney gasped in fright. "He didn't... no, Jimmy! Don't use Kangaskhan! She doesn't know how to use... uh...
Glancing to her right, she saw Misty and Brock eyeing her with interest. Whitney quickly tried to cover up her near-blurt, but it was too late.
"Know how to use what?" Misty smirked.
"Uh... nothing. Nothing at all. Forget you ever heard me say anything."
"Could it be?" Brock thought to himself. He then started crying out loud. "Ash must be the luckiest guy in the world!"
"What are you crying about?" Misty and Whitney asked simultaneously.
Back on the field, the battle between Charizard and Kangaskhan was starting.
"Kangskhan, give Charizard a taste of your Comet Punch!"
Kangskhan nodded, then started charging at Charizard.
"Charizard, use..." Ash blurted out before seeing Charizard already flying towards his opponent. "Wait! I haven't told you what to do yet!"
The two Pokémon met at midfield, with Charizard actually stopping Kangaskhan's attack by catching Comet Punch with his bare hand! Not impressed in the least, Charizard then lifted Kangaskhan off the ground, spun her around him once, and then threw her in Jimmy's direction. She landed on the ground, back first.
"Whoa... Charizard's stronger than I thought," Jimmy commented as he saw Kangaskhan quickly back up on her feet. "Okay, let's punch it up! This time, let's try your Mega Punch, Kangaskhan!"
"Kan... gas!"
The fire lizard leaned into a defensive position, with the intent of stopping this attack as well. Unfortunately, Kangaskhan did connect this time, with Charizard's stomach. He winced in pain slightly as he took a step back.
"Charizard, listen to me!" Ash shouted. "Use Slash!"
Charizard glanced at his trainer, as if to give a sign of acknowledgement, and then he flew towards Kangaskhan again, seemingly recovered from the last blow. Charizard followed Ash's orders this time, slashing at Kangaskhan. But when Kangaskhan dodged the blow, Charizard took matters into his own hands, and immediately performed a Wing Attack. The technique served as a clothesline move of sorts, resulting in Jimmy's Pokémon landing on her backside once again.
"C'mon, get up!" pleaded Jimmy.
Kangaskhan scrambled back up, but at this point she was obviously tired and suffering from some pain. She winced with one eye closed as she slowly started stepping towards Charizard once more.
"Kangaskhan looks like she's about to go out!" Ash mentally noted. "Why doesn't Jimmy call the fight? Does he still have a trick left?"
"Now!" Jimmy exclaimed with clenched fists. "It's time to show off the Goldenrod City gym's signature move!"
"Wha? No way?" Ash gasped, a bit confused.
"There's no way that..." hinted Misty, to Brock.
Brock murmured back a response. "There's no record of such an event."
Whitney was shuddering in fear... she knew very well what was going to happen next, and couldn't help but blurt it out for the unwise.
"I don't know how many times I've told Jimmy, but he should know that KANGASKHAN CAN'T USE ROLLOUT!" she screamed at the top of her lungs, drawing the attention of everyone around her.
Well, except for Jimmy...
"Kangaskhan, Rollout!"
Kangaskhan picked up her pace as she started running at a jogger's pace. She then leapt up into the air and attempted to curl into a ball. But she couldn't hold form, and when she hit the ground, she was actually parallel to it, facing the sky. For a third time in the match, the motherly Pokémon landed on her back... and this time, it was enough to make her faint.
Meanwhile, Charizard, who was charging towards her with a retaliatory strike already in mind, stopped the moment he realized Kangaskhan was out. Charizard huffed in disgust, shrugged his shoulders, and then lied down on the ground... and started to nap!
Back up in the stands, an embarrassed Whitney blushed as she slowly got up out of her seat and started to make her way to the exit.
"I'd love to stay and chat some more," she fibbed, "but I hear my Miltank calling me from the pasture."
The Goldenrod gym leader turned about and started to run for the exit, but she didn't see the concessionaire that was heading towards her in the same aisle. The two collided with each other and fell down, both being knocked out in the process, their bodies sprawled out in front of the first row of the stands.
"Aw, geese," Misty cried in disbelief.
"I can honestly say that's the first time a girl's fallen for me while running away," said Brock half-jokingly.
"It looks like a case of trying to do too much," the announcer shouted, ignoring what was going on in the stands. "Kangaskhan's attempts to use Rollout resulted in enough self-inflicted damage to knock her out. Meanwhile, Charizard seemed so bored by its apparent dominance that it felt no need to celebrate and instead dropped down for a nap. Looks like Ash will have to do enough celebrating for the both of them as they advance to the second round!"
"I guess a win's a win," Ash stated matter-of-factly as he pulled out Charizard's Pokéball and recalled him.
"And I thought dressing up as a Miltank was humiliating," Jimmy noted as he, too, asked for his Pokémon to return.
The two walked up to midfield and shared an obligatory handshake.
"Better luck next time..." said Ash.
Jimmy shrugged his shoulders. "I guess I wasn't as prepared for this tournament as I thought."
"No worries. With a little practice, you'll be battling with the best!"
Jimmy smiled, then started glancing around the arena. "Hmmm... I wonder where Whitney went. I hope she's not ashamed of me for my performance."
"I guess I better go find a doctor..." Misty sighed in the stands as she walked off, leaving Brock with the unconscious Whitney and the concessionaire.
"If this is as close as I'll ever get to a beautiful girl, then so be it!" Brock remarked silently, as he cradled her back with his arms.
"Talk about desperate," some teenage girl muttered as she passed by.
To be continued next week in Part 2!
