The Year of Rocket's Revenge
Session: October, Part 4 (10.24.05/12.14.06)
Trovitopolis Times Extra - Tuesday, October 9
Headline: Trovita Island Jailbreak Birds Back on the Prowl
The trail has grown cold once again in the hunt for two fugitives on the run. Jane and Calamity, last names unknown, are escapees from the Trovita Island Maximum Security Prison jailbreak back on Friday, July 13th. It was a jailbreak put together by the infamous Team Rocket, the vile organization that they work for. Shortly thereafter, they had disappeared from the face of the Earth and law enforcement, particularly those who could not prevent the jailbreak that day.
That changed earlier today when Jane and Calamity made an appearance at the Trovitopolis Docks along with about three dozen Team Rocket operatives. In a brazen attack on innocent civilians and delivery personnel, they attempted to intercept a delivery to the city's own Poké-Mart. Among the items being shipped in were stat boosters like Calcium and Iron, as well as hold items such as King's Rock and Dragon Scale, all very rare and very valuable. Though Officer Jenny and the local Trovitopolis police force were expecting some thieves to try and snatch some of the goodies away, they weren't prepared to be swarmed by Team Rocket's forces.
"We had heard unconfirmed reports of Team Rocket agents wandering in and around the city the past few days," Officer Jenny told reporters after the incident. "We were ready for anything, but their initial numbers, I admit, were greater than we had expected."
Employing the help of the Pokémon Riot Squad, Officer Jenny and Trovitopolis' finest staved off the attack and managed to keep the rare items from being taken. They also made numerous arrests on-site, all of them Rocket Grunts, who are expected to be charged, at the least, with grand larceny and attacking a police officer. No names of any of the captured henchmen have been released.
But all the news isn't good news. Jane and Calamity managed to elude capture despite a chase around the city by Officer Jenny and roadblocks preventing anyone and anything from leaving the city without the police knowing. Whether they managed to slip through the barricades or are still hiding out somewhere in the city, we don't know.
"As an officer of the law, I, Officer Jenny, will perform my sworn duty and capture these ex-convicts and bring them to justice. This city never sleeps, and neither do the fine men and women of this city's police force!"
Officer Jenny has increased the reward for the capture of the Team Rocket fugitives known as Calamity and Jane to 2,000,000P. If you have any information regarding their whereabouts, you are encouraged to contact the local authorities. These two are considered to be armed and dangerous, so citizens are strongly advised not to approach them. Please contact Officer Jenny for assistance.
It should be worthy to note that the reward for another trio of Team Rocket operatives, Jessie, James, and Persian, who escaped from the same prison a little over a month ago by themselves, still remains at a heftier 5,000,000P. Those three were last seen running out on a bill at the Shore Spot Restaurant last Saturday evening. They, on the contrary, have been more visible since their escape, and have committed numerous crimes in the process. Please contact the police if you have any clues as to their current location.
"No matter how long it takes, we will catch them all!"
Dewford Island Docks, October 20th
"Somebody please stop that ferry boat!" yelled two teenagers from afar.
Arius and Cassie were running for the docks as fast as their legs could carry them. But the ferry boat was already pulling out of port, and it didn't look as if there were any way to stop it from leaving.
"Please stop!" Cassie exclaimed.
"I told you the last ferry left at five!" shouted Arius.
The foghorn on the ferry rang loudly through the air as the two of them finally made it to the ticket booth. Unfortunately for them, the ferry was more than fifty feet away, and distancing itself further from the shore.
"I can't believe we missed it AGAIN!" Cassie cried, collapsing on the ticket counter.
"That's four days in a row now!" Arius yelled angrily at her. "I can't believe this!"
"Well... at least it's another day we can spend waiting to see if Ash will show..."
"Ash? That guy? We've been waiting for him for FOUR DAYS! He ain't coming! So stop worrying about him!"
"I can't! I made a promise to him."
"He's the one breaking the promise, not you, so it's not your fault! Look... we're camping out nearby tonight. There's no way we're gonna miss catching the first boat out of here come sunrise."
"You know I trust that he'll get here. I know he will," Cassie said with a deep sigh.
"When? Three months from now? We don't have three months, Cassie! You have to get ready for that Novice Class First Level exam next month! You know... the one you..."
"Uncharacteristically failed with flying colors the first time," finished Cassie. "Yeah yeah, I know. You don't have to rub THAT in."
"We've got to get to Slateport City so you can earn your third Hoenn badge. Then passing the exam will be a snap!"
"Yeah... sure..." Cassie said, slowly getting up and walking away.
Arius gasped. "Don't tell me you don't care about becoming a Pokémon Master anymore!"
"Of course I do! I just... I don't want to do it at the expense of a friend. Like our last job DID!"
"How dare you badmouth the PTA? Sure, not everything they did was on the up and up... but they always had the best interests of the world at heart!"
"Arius... you promised you'd quit the whole 'defend them' crap. For me!"
Arius grumbled loudly. "It's because I believe in the truth!"
"Their truth or the real truth? Arius... you've got a lot to learn about the truth."
"I haven't heard anybody say that my version of the truth is wrong. Other than you, everyone has agreed with me instead of you."
"Yeah... everyone who worked in the PTA! Besides, it only takes one dissenter to make a truthful statement false!"
"Yeah? Well, whatever!"
Arius stomped away, taking his things with him.
"Where are you heading off to now?"
"I'm going to go look for a place to sleep! Go find your own part of the beach to set up camp on!"
"Well, fine then! I don't need you at all!"
"FINE!"
"FINE!"
Cassie watched Arius trudge off before turning about and walking away from the docks in the opposite direction.
"What's her damage?" Arius asked himself as he found a large tree perfect for shelter about a quarter mile east of the docks, near the edge of the beach. "She knows I'm right, yet she's not willing to admit it."
"Havin' one of them lover's quarrels, are we?"
"Huh?" Arius started glancing around the area, trying to find the person that was talking to him.
"Up here, sonny!"
Arius glanced up into the tree... and wouldn't you know, lying in a hammock a few branches up, was an old man dressed in nothing but plain blue overalls.
"I was asking ye if you were havin' one of them lover's quarrels. You know, with that fine-looking filly of yours that just went that other way."
"Hey! Don't be examining her with your eyes, you old pervert!"
"How dare youuuuuu..."
The old man suddenly fell out of his hammock and plummeted down towards the ground. Arius randomly reached for a Pokéball from his backpack and threw it to the ground. Out of it came his latest Pokémon capture, Makuhita, who instantly extended his arms out and caught the old man before he could hit the ground. Arius blew a sigh of relief.
"Whoa ho ho!" the old man laughed. "And it looks like you're a fine mighty Pokémon trainer, too! And for the record... I may be a little dirty, certainly old but not that old, and definitely not a pervert!"
"I never said dirty," recalled Arius. "And you ARE a pervert!"
"Just because she's a girl and I'm a man doesn't mean I want to get with her! She's way too young, I say, way too young for me!"
"Oh, noooooooow I get it!"
"You do?"
"This tree is your private property, right? Okay... I'll go find another place to crash for the night..."
"Wait, boy! That's not what I meant!"
"Makuhita, return!" Arius pulled out Makuhita's Pokéball, which sucked him back inside. "And for the record, my name's not 'boy.' It's Arius."
"And I'm Old Man Bridges!"
"Old Man Bridges?" Arius asked, trying to stifle a laugh.
"Well, I wanted to be called Old Man Briney, but darn it, there's three of them here on this island alone! But enough about me!"
"Enough about you? All you told me was your name!"
"And that's all you're gonna get if you keep bein' snappy," Bridges told Arius, whacking him on the head with his bare fist.
"So, what do you want, Old Man Bridges?"
"It's simple... Arius, was it? I overheard your plight during that tiff of yours between you and your gal pal that just walked out on you."
"She didn't walk out on..."
"Hey, boy, don't interrupt a person when he's talkin'. You kids these days. So, anyway, as I was saying previously, I heard that you two were in a hurry to get to Slateport City. It just so happens that I, Old Man Bridges, happen to own a boat myself that I can take you there with."
"You mean... one that can take us to Slateport City?"
"I just said that, didn't I? Tsk tsk... no wonder she broke up with you, with your hearing problems and all..."
"I do NOT having hearing problems!" Arius shouted. "Look, the fact that you're telling me this means you're willing to give us a ride?"
"Darn' tootin... unless you're afraid of this old man hitting on your girl? Oh wait... I guess she ain't your girl anymore after she..."
"We're still together, and I'm going to prove it! I'll be back in five minutes! Have that boat of yours in the water and running!"
"Roger that," saluted Bridges as Arius ran off. "Oh, and have this whole mess patched up before ya'll get back! I despise giving rides to chatterin' chipmunks, you got me?"
Arius led Cassie back to the docks, where Old Man Bridges indeed had a boat for them to use. A motorboat that was white as a Wingull's tailfeathers. He guided it to a stop at the end of one of the piers, where the two teenagers ran over to meet him, all of their stuff in hand.
"So you really can be truthful about something, huh?" Cassie quipped.
"My witty girl here is Cassie," Arius said, introducing her.
"She was the love of your love? Or... is it IS the love again?"
"There never was a WAS," Cassie admitted. "We just agree to disagree sometimes. That's the nature of a relationship."
"Yeah, give and take," Arius added, before lowering his voice to keep Cassie from hearing him. "She takes more than she gives, FYI."
"Ahem," Cassie coughed, pointing to her head. "Psychic-in-training here!"
"If you're psychic, then how come you couldn't reach the ferry captain's mind and 'convince' him to come back? Or heck, to grab control of the ferry itself with your mind and drive it back?"
"Like I said, psychic-in-training! Do I look like Sabrina to you?"
"Hmmm," Arius smiled as he rubbed his chin, "you'd actually look pretty flattering with green hair and combat boots."
"And she talks with her mind, not with her mouth, as in yadda yadda, I yap like a Poochyena," Cassie said, finishing his thoughts for him.
"Stop doing that! The reading everything I think thing! See, Old Man Bridges, this is what I have to put up with every single day!"
"Ho ho!" Old Man Bridges laughed out loud, to both their surprises. "Seeing as you two are still together with all of that considered... there must really be something between you two. The perfect couple."
"We're not all perfect," Cassie said, blushing.
"Says the girl who's captured 59 Pokémon in three years," Arius told Bridges. "Like seriously... who has time to catch, much less train 59 Pokémon?"
"It was 60! But you insisted on me giving you that Hitmontop I captured over the summer to you as a birthday present!"
"I thought you wouldn't mind, being a 'psychic' and all!" defended Arius, emphasizing the word psychic with his fingers.
"Don't use 'air quotes' with me!" Cassie exclaimed, repeating the gesture. "Valley girl and country gal are NOT the same thing!"
"Hey hey, now!" Old Man Bridges interrupted, tapping his foot impatiently as he glared at Arius. "Now young man, I promised to give you and your girlfriend here a ride to Slateport City provided, as I repeat myself, that you wouldn't be chatterin' chipmunks!"
"Speaking of providing, I've got a question. How much are you charging us? I'm afraid we don't have much money..."
Cassie reached for her coin purse, but Old Man Bridges raised his arm up, gesturing her to stop... which she promptly did.
"No need, little lady. I'm doin' this, I say, I'm doin' this out of the kindness of my old, little heart."
"Isn't that generous!" Cassie said, all chipper.
"I told you he was a good old coot," Arius smirked.
"I do ask for one thing in return, though, youngins'."
Arius and Cassie freaked out... what could he possibly want from them?
"You want us to give you a sponge bath!" Arius thought out loud, much to Cassie's chagrin... even though she knew he was going to say that. "Okay, I volunteer Cassie to do it. No, wait, actually, maybe I should do it. Don't want her to see his little..."
"Okay," Cassie grumbled, grabbing Arius and pushing him off the pier and into the sea. "Ewww... and TOO MUCH INFORMATION!"
After falling it, Arius quickly resurfaced, spitting out some saltwater that had gotten into his mouth as he did. He then turned to see Bridges shaking his head in disgust. Arius glared at Cassie, who suddenly realized that they were in danger of losing their ride, so she quickly bowed in Bridges' direction and apologized.
"I'm very sorry," she cried. "I shouldn't have reacted like that. I was wrong to push Arius into the water."
"Will you promise not to do anything to him without just provocation on this boat ride?" Old Man Bridges asked of her. "Because if you pull a stunt like that in the water, I'll toss your pretty tail in after him and leave ya'll stranded in the darkness! Understand?"
"Yes," Cassie nodded repeatedly. "Because I'm reading your mind right now, and I know for sure you'll do it."
Arius swam over to the side of the boat, and Old Man Bridges helped him climb aboard. He then reached out to Cassie, and kindly pulled her on as well.
"And that means don't do anything that would put her in such a state, okay?" Bridges said, turning his attention to Arius.
"Yes, sir!"
"You two have to learn that love is a two-way street. You have to give and you have to take the same exact amount. Fifty-fifty."
"Does that mean that you've been in love before, Mr. Bridges?"
"Please, Cassie... call me Old Man Bridges," he smiled as he headed over to the motor. "Now... fasten your seatbelts as we leave our departure city of Dewford, and set sail for Slateport!"
Cassie and a wet Arius sat down next to each other as Old Man Bridges started steering them away from the port. Cassie opened her backpack to search for a towel. Finding one, she started to run it all over him, in an attempt to dry him off.
"Hello, old enough to dry himself off here!" Arius said, grabbing her arms to stop her.
"Look, I just wanna help..." Cassie confessed. "After all, I did knock you into the water."
Hearing Cassie admit her wrongdoing, Arius smiled and nodded for her to continue. As she did, he caught Bridges smiling at them.
"Now see? That's how love's supposed to work!"
Old Man Bridges then turned his attention towards steering as Cassie finished drying her boyfriend off. Once that was done, Cassie prompted their driver for an answer again.
"So... you've been in love before, Old Man Bridges?"
"Ha ha! Of course I have! At my age, I'm expected to go through my share of girls here and there. But not too many... that's a chronic case of not-being-able-to-settle-down-itis. But you don't need to hear about my love stories. You could probably pick the one that you'd like to hear from me just by searching my mind like it was one of them card catalogs at the library!"
"I'm sorry," Cassie apologized again, twiddling her fingers. "I don't mean to intrude..."
"I do!" Arius exclaimed. "Unlike Cassie, I can't read minds!"
"As fun as it might be," Old Man Bridges admitted, chuckling again, "I'd rather hear the story of how you two got together."
"Us?" the two asked in unison, pointing at each other.
"Of course! The way I see it, you've been together for quite awhile. And trust me, people at your age aren't in love for this long just for kicks. There's something special that you two have. Has to be at your young ages."
"I don't know..." hesitated Arius.
"Yeah," Cassie added. "There's some parts of it that we're trying to forget."
"As long as you're accurate on the parts about your relationship, I could care less about any middling details you'd like to omit. Oh, and it'll be a few hours until we get to Slateport. So unless you plan to stare aimlessly at the water the entire trip... get to jabberin'!"
"What do you think?" Arius whispered to Cassie.
"Let's humor him," Cassie whispered back. "Besides, he said we can leave out THOSE details."
"Yeah. We may not be agents of the PTA anymore, but we're still bound to protect their secrets."
"I'd rather forget some of them, thank you very much."
Breaking out of their conference, they agreed to tell Old Man Bridges the story of how they met.
"I guess I'll start," Arius suggested, glancing over to his girl and seeing no sign of resistance from her whatsoever. "It all started the day I got my first Pokémon..."
A shorter, 10-year old Arius was skipping north along Route 14, trotting along with his first Pokémon, a Zubat, trailing close behind.
"I'm from Cobalt Town, a mining community northeast of Fuchsia City," Arius told them as he narrated. "Cave-dwelling Pokémon were plentiful over there, especially Zubat, so it was easy to decide on what to pick as my first partner."
As they walked along the trail, assorted young trainers were watching him from afar, all eyeing him and his Zubat with interest.
"Unfortunately, living near Fuchsia meant that most of the trainers on their way there had the experience of going through several gyms already, and their best Pokémon were at least 15-20 levels stronger than my starter in Zubat. Naturally, that made me an easy target..."
Arius and Zubat were seen competing in battle after battle, handily losing each one and having to return to Fuchsia battered and beaten.
"My parents wanted me to give up, that it wasn't worth going out there and getting nowhere fast. But I was determined to succeed as a Pokémon trainer, no matter how long it took."
In spite of their determination, Arius and Zubat continued to lose every battle they had managed to stumble into. After awhile, even they started to think that leaving Fuchsia was no longer worth it...
"But it all suddenly changed one day..."
Arius and Zubat were wandering around Route 14 when a wild Venonat suddenly crossed their path. Desperate for any kind of help, Arius tried to capture it.
"Our only chance is to weaken it first," Arius told Zubat. "Okay, Zubat, use Supersonic!"
Zubat followed Arius' command, using the attack to disorient Venonat and making her confused. Venonat responded by running towards Zubat and then leaping up into the air in an attempt to tackle him. But Venonat's aim was way off, jumping up after she had already ran past Zubat.
"Leech Life!" called out Arius.
Zubat lunged for Venonat's head and bit down hard on it, sucking most of her hit points away in the process. Before he could take all of it, though, Venonat managed to break free.
"That should be enough," Arius said with a smile as he pulled a Pokéball out from his pocket. "Okay, Pokéball, go!"
The Pokéball hit Venonat squarely between her eyes, and then sucked her in. It closed, then began to rattle back and forth. Arius and Zubat watched the Pokéball shake, holding out hope that this battle was over and they could avoid dragging it out. After about a minute, it stopped moving and the light on it went out.
"Did... we... do it?" Arius asked cautiously as he looked at Zubat.
Zubat nodded, then flapped his wings happily.
"Yatta!" Arius cried excitedly.
"From that point on, for some reason things went a lot smoother for Zubat and I," Arius said with a sigh of relief.
"It's only because you guys gained experience from winning a battle for once," Cassie commented nonchalantly. "Capturing Venonat was an added bonus."
"You're just jealous that it took me ten weeks to win my first battle!"
"Stop gloating before you get us into an argument and then thrown off the boat."
"Yes," Old Man Bridges reminded them, with an evil glare. "Do continue."
"Anyway, things had gotten better. Sure, we still lost the occasional battle here and there, but for the most part, we were finally on the right track and making progress. Finally, we could leave the Fuchsia City area and start traveling to the Pokémon gyms all over the region!"
Arius and Zubat were smiling with glee after toppling a rider near the Cycling Road northwest of the city. Having procured a bicycle, they made their way towards the nearest gym... in the metropolis known as Celadon City.
"We made our way to Celadon City, where we challenged Erika, the gym leader there. She was tougher to beat then she looked, as she cleaned house with my Zubat and Venonat. We didn't stand a chance."
Zubat and Venonat were shown both struggling to stay in the match, as both ended up falling to Erika's Tangela rather easily.
"Regardless of the outcome of the battle, she was pretty nice in giving me some pointers before directing me towards Scissors Street. It was a district full of Pokémon breeders... and a Pokémon trainers' house or two. I decided to enroll in a class in Pokémon battling, hoping to hone my skills and become a better trainer."
Arius was seen talking to one of the instructors, then convincing Zubat and Venonat that this experience would be worth it if it would help them in the journey.
"And so the three of us trained with the other students and the rest of their Pokémon. For months upon months, we studied all the ins and outs of being a trainer, how to employ strategies in order to win battles, and the proper way to keep your Pokémon healthy and in good shape."
Arius slowly made his way through each of the lessons, making sure to not move on until he and his Pokémon had mastered them. They were intent on gaining every single advantage these classes could give them.
"And so, it went on for months and months and months..."
To be continued next week in Part 5!
