It has been a while, but here is Chapter 5. I am currently working on Chapter 7 and editing Chapter 6. I hope to get those up soon.
JB: Ruckus – Zubat; Tesla – Eevee; Zero – Charmander
Grant: Scarlet – Cyndaquil; Flash – Flareon; Scooter – Noctowl
Hazel: Pinky – Gligar; Ivy – Bulbasaur, Wing – Pidgey
Chapter Five: Viridian Challenges
Our three trainers hug Mrs. Hart goodbye and head back to the city. It had been an emotional morning and no one was very talkative. Hazel is focused on her up coming gym battle. JB is worrier about Grant, but also excited to make his first official delivery for Professor Oak. Grant seemed a little sullen and nervous for his younger sister's gym battle. It took about 30 minutes to reach the Viridian City Pokemon Gym. There was a line of trainers standing outside the door.
"This is the Viridian Gym," JB said. "The gym leader is Green and he doesn't really have a specific type he battles with, but you do get the Earth Badge. I hear he can be a hard challenge, but I have never seen him in action."
"I guess I better get in line then," Hazel walked to the back of the line.
"I'm going to go with Hazel," Grant starts walking with his sister and then turns around to JB. "Good luck with your delivery. And don't forget to tell your dad thank you from the both of us. Enjoy your lunch with him."
"Will do, Grant. Good luck Hazel!" JB made his way to the park to meet his father for lunch.
JB had never really look at the city in the way he saw it now. It was his home and he would miss it. The people walking by, the short older building surround by taller new ones. He had some great times in Viridian City and he never wanted to forget them. This made him think about Grant and his memory loss and that made him sad. He looked up in front of him and saw his father sitting on a park bench waiting for him.
"Dad!" JB waved at his father. Mr. Hart stood up and waved back. When he got to the park bench JB hugs his father.
"Hey there JB, that's a pretty tight squeeze you got there. Your father's oldish bones might not be able to take too much of that."
"Sorry, Dad. It has just been a rather interesting morning." As they sat there eating the lunch Mrs. Hart had packed for them, JB told his father about his morning. JB told his father everything. There were no secrets between them.
"I'm sorry to hear that about Grant. He is a good kid and with you and Hazel watching out for him, I think he is in good hands." Mr. Hart ate a bit of his sandwich. "Well I had a crazy morning myself. There was a break in at the school. Mrs. Tesla's office was broken into and ransacked. She says who ever did it didn't take anything. The police came, but there are not leads on who did it."
"Do you think it was Team Rocket? They did want the package she gave me to deliver to Professor Oak," questions JB.
"Maybe, son. I will mention that to the police. But you don't have to worry about that, it's a situation for the police to handle." Mr. Hart changed the subject, "Did Hazel seem nervous about her gym battle? Green is a tough trainer."
"I think she was, but she wasn't going to show it." JB and his father continue to talk. They talk and eat for about 10 minutes before they are interrupted. A gentleman in a black bomber jacket, black pants, black boots and dark sunglasses sits down next to JB. His has olive colored skin and his green hair is in a short fo hawk.
"Sir," Mr. Hart speaks up, "Would you mind sitting at another bench? My son and I are trying to have a private conversation. There are plenty of other benches around."
The green haired gentleman smiled, "Ah Mr. Hart, the only way I am leaving this bench is when I get that 'special delivery' from your son. Hand over the bag JB."
Back at the Viridian Gym, Hazel was waiting nervously. She was next in line.
"Breath easy, Hazel. You look like you are about to vomit," Grant said to his sister.
"I feel that way. My stomach feels queasy. What if I throw up in the middle of the battle?"
"You are going to do fine." Grant puts his arm around her shoulders. "You have that trainer's instinct."
"Grant can I ask you something?" Hazel said quietly.
"Well that is asking me something so I guess so."
"Would mind if I did this first gym battle on my own? I'm not ready to mess up in front of you yet."
Grant was a little shocked, "Sure, Haze, not a problem. I completely understand. But I want to be at the next one."
"Deal. If you want you can go catch up to your boyfriend and his dad," Hazel whispered and let out a quiet giggle.
"He is not my boyfriend," Grant stated angrily. "We are just friends." Hazel giggled even more.
"Next!" a voice from inside the door shouted as the door opened.
"Good luck, Hazel! Knock'em out!"
"Will do big brother. I'll find you in the park when I'm done." Hazel walk into the gym and the door shut behind her.
Back at the park, JB is sitting on the bench between his father and the man with the green hair. He is facing the green haired man.
"I'm not sure what you are talking about," JB answers. "I'm just eating lunch with my dad here in the park." He reaches down at his belt.
"Let's keep our hands where I can see them, shall we. We don't need to cause a scene." The man shook his finger in the air at JB. "I'm not here to cause trouble. I just want the sack of stones and then I'll be on my way."
"Please just leave. I don't know what it is you are talking about."
"It seems you are going to need a bit more motivation, huh JB." The man snaps his fingers. "Billy, Sundance, now." From almost no where Billy and Sundance appear. Sundance sat down next to Mr. Hart while Billy stood behind him holding his shoulders. Mr. Hart could feel something sharp poking him in the side.
"I guess we haven't been properly introduced young Mr. Hart. This here is Billy," Billy waves, "and Sundance," Sundance winks at JB. "You remember them from Route 1 the other day. I'm Kidd. We are the Team Rocket grunts assigned to this area. But I should be thinking you, we recently got a raise and it seems our new position is to follow you. Now give me the sack of stones or Sundance will place the end of her blade in the side of your father. We don't want dear old dad bleeding out now do we?"
"Fine. I get it. Just don't hurt my dad," JB said worried.
"Don't do it JB," Mr. Hart said. Billy slapped him in the back of the head and Sundance dug her knife just a little into his side. "Aggh!" Mr. Hart groans.
"Stop it!" JB shouted quietly. "I'm getting them."
"Nice and slow there JB. No quick movements," said Kidd.
JB slowly leans over and unzips his backpack. He reaches into the hidden pocket and starts to pull out the sack of stones. The bottom of the sack gets caught on something in the backpack.
"What do you want these for anyway?" JB says as he is trying to pull the sack out of the backpack.
"That's really for us to know and for you to never know," laughs Sundance. "Now hurry up!"
"Its stuck on something," JB replies.
"Here give that to me!" Kidd reaches over and yanks the sack out of the backpack. The sack rips and half the stones go flying. "Billy, Sundance, picks those up!" The two Team Rocket members jump over to the spray of stones and start to pick them up. Kidd ties the ripped end of the sack shut so no more can spill out.
"Run JB!" Mr. Hart jumps up and knocks Billy into Sundance and they fall over. And he takes off in the other direction.
JB stands up and jumps over the back of the park bench. "Sorry Dad, I can't run. Those stones are my response ability and I've been hired to deliver them to Mrs. Tesla. Speaking of Tesla, Tesla, I need your help!" JB throws a Poke ball into the air and Tesla appears in a flash of red light. "Quick attack! Get that sack away from Kidd!" Tesla charges off at Kidd and rams into his chest knocking him down. She then grabs sack out of his hand and heads back to JB.
"Whoa!" Mr. Hart exclaims. "That is one quick eevee."
"Stay behind me Dad. I've got this." JB throw another Poke ball in the air, "Come on out Ruckus!" The small blue bat appears in the air. "Ruckus, use astonish on Sundance and Billy. Don't let them get up!" Ruckus flies over to the two Rocket members on the ground and slaps them with his wings. "Keep it up, Ruck!" Tesla returns to JB with the sack of stones. "Thanks little lady," he says as he takes the sack from her.
"Not so fast there JB!" Kidd was on his feet, "Shroomish! Lets knock them around!" Kidd throws his Poke ball and a small green and peach colored Pokémon appears. It is peach on the upper half with green spots and a small opening at the top. The upper section ends with frilled segments which overlap its green underside. It has small round green feet.
JB scans the Pokemon with his PokeReader: Shroomish the mushroom Pokemon. If it senses danger, it scatters spores from the top of its head to protect itself.
"Mach 5… I mean, Shroomish, use stun spore on that eevee!" Shroomish jumps in the air and sprays a fine yellow mist from the top of her head.
"Tesla, dig under ground to avoid the stun spore." The small brown Pokemon digs a hole and disappears under the ground.
"Shroomish, while they are distracted, use headbutt on that zubat!" The mushroom Pokemon runs over to Ruckus, jumps, and slams her head into the blue bat, knocking him onto the ground. Ruckus picked himself up and flies back into the air. "Nice job, Mach 5. You two get up and help me!"
Sundance and Billy scramble to their feet and drop stones they had picked up. "Nidoran, come out!" the two said at the same time. They both threw their Poke balls. From Billy's appears the blue female nidoran. Sundance's ball let out the purple male nidoran. "Nidoran, scratch attack that brat's zubat," the duo spoke in unison once again.
The nidorans jumped up at Ruckus and dug their claws into him causing him to fall to the ground fainted.
"Return, Ruckus! Rest up buddy, you did a great job. Tesla, bite attack on one of the nidorans!" Tesla popped up from under ground where the nidorans are standing causing the female to fall back a few feet. Tesla then used bite on the male nidoran causing him to screech out in pain.
JB grabs his last Poke ball on his belt and tosses it into the air, "Let's do this Zero!" Zero appears in a flash of red light ready to battle. "Ember attack on Shroomish! Tesla another bit attack on Nidoran!"
"Chaaaarrrrr!" Zero spit a fire ball at the shroomish sending it falling back with major damage.
"Eve eevee!" Tesla clamped down once again on the purple nidoran causing it to scream in pain. The female nidoran looked at the eevee and was upset. She charged at Tesla, slamming into her side causing her to roll on the ground. The small blue nidoran then began to glow.
"My nidoran is evolving!" The glowing shocked Billy. The small blue poison Pokemon grew larger and a lighter shade of blue. The horn on her head was gone as well as her large teeth and whiskers. The spikes on her back grew larger as did the ones one her ears. Dark blue spots appeared on her hind legs. "Nidorina!" the newly evolved Pokemon shouts.
"I want my Pokemon to evolve!" Sundance shouts and crosses her arms.
JB scans the new Pokemon: Nidorina the poison pin Pokemon. When it senses danger, it raises all the barbs on its body. These barbs grow slower than Nidorino's. Nidorina is the evolved form of female nidoran.
"Nidorina, toxic spikes! Spread them across the ground to hinder and attacks," Billy ordered. Nidorina laid out 15 purple spikes between Team Rocket and JB's Pokemon.
"Zero, give them another ember attack! Tesla if we can't go threw the spikes lets go under them, dig!" Zero spit another ember attack at Shroomish while Tesla dug into the ground.
"Shroomish dodge that ember and strike back with poison powder!" Kidd shouted. The shroomish jumped out of the way and sprayed a fine mist of purple powder into the air at Zero.
"Burn it away, Zero!" Zero opens his mouth to spit another ember but it was too late the poison powder had made its way to him and he was struck with pain. Zero dropped to one knee, but then stood back up.
Sundance shouted an order, "Nidoran use poison sting on that charmander while he is weak." The purple nidoran stood on all fours and shot a barrage of purple stingers at the fire lizard Pokemon. Zero is still hurt from the poison powder and didn't move fast enough to avoid the stingers. The stingers hit with full force and caused Zero to fall to the ground fainted.
"Zero, return! You did your best buddy. Tesla its up to you now. Bite attack!" The eevee blasted up from under the ground knocking over the nidoran. He doesn't look to be doing so well. Tesla turned to bite Nidorina, but she was too quick.
"Nidorina, double kick!" shouted Billy. Nidorina kicked Tesla twice in the side causing her to fly across the ground and slam into the park bench.
"Eevee eve eevee!" growled Tesla as she stood up. She jumped in front of JB. She didn't look so well either.
"Well JB, what's it going to be?" asked Kidd with a smirk on his face. "Are we going to defeat your last Pokemon or are you just going to hand over the stones."
Before JB could answer, "Flamethrower!" A large flame travels across the battle field burning up the toxic spikes and causing everyone to jump back.
It was Grant with Flash out and ready to battle. "Did I miss much?" Grant asked sarcastically.
"I've only got Tesla left and she's badly hurt. You showed up at the right time." JB smiled.
"Get'em JB! Get'em Grant!" Mr. Hart shouted from behind them.
"Ah, yes, the coma boy. Please, do get me before I fall a sleep. Snore!" Sundance mocked Grant.
"Flare flare. Flareon!" Flash jump in front of Tesla, scratches the dirt with her front paw and flicks something at Tesla. Tesla catches it in her mouth and starts to glow. JB stands there in shock.
"I had nothing to do with this," Grant says. "This was completely Flashes idea."
Tesla's brown eyes became black. She grew larger. Her tail shrunk and became a fringe of spikes as her ears grew more into a point. Her fur turned yellow and her cream collar turned white and spiky.
JB scans Tesla with his PokeReader: Jolteon the lightning Pokemon. Every hair on its body starts to stand sharply on end if it becomes charged with electricity. Jolteon is an evolved form of Eevee using a Thunderstone.
"Eon! Jolteon!" the yellow dog like Pokemon barks.
"No worries. Its still three against two in our favor," stated Billy.
"Tesla I know you are tired, but our friends just showed up to help," JB started to flow with an unseen energy that flowed over to Tesla. Tesla stood tall and growled. "Just a little longer girl." JB whispered in Grants ear. Grant nodded his head.
"Flash, fire spin at Shroomish!" The flame Pokemon shot a blast of fire from its mouth surrounding the shroomish. Shroomish slightly floated in to the air while being burned by the flames. She fell down fainted.
"Tesla, give me a thundershock on Nidoran!" Tesla growls and fired a slim stream of electricity at the purple Pokemon. Nidoran fell over fainted.
"Tesla," JB shouted and the same time Grant did, "Flash," the boys looked at each other and nodded their heads, "Quick attack on Nidorina!" The eeveelutions charged at Nidorina slamming her from each side. Nidorina fell over fainted.
"Wish to count again grunts?" JB said sarcastically.
"We still have other Pokemon," Kidd said as he pulled another ball from his belt. Before he could release it he was tapped on the shoulder.
"Um, Kidd," Billy said. "Sundance and I don't have any other Pokemon."
"Uhh, yeah, we thought we did, but it turns out we picked up empty Poke balls on our way out of the base," Sundance added.
"What?!" Kidd was angry. "You idiots! I can't take on these two by myself."
Billy and Sundance took off running into the woods. "Sorry Kidd!" they shouted as they ran.
Kidd put the Poke ball back on his belt. "It seems you have won this day Mr. Hart, but we will be watching you. Waiting to strike when you least expect it. Count on it." Kidd walks off into the woods.
"We need to go after them," Mr. Hart exclaims.
"Let them go Dad. Whatever rock they crawl under will be too hard to find," JB answers. "The best thing to do is collect the stones of the ground and get them to Mrs. Tesla."
"That sounds good son. The quicker the better. You were lucky Grant showed up when he did or I don't know what would have happed. Thanks Grant!"
"Yeah, thanks once again for your help. If we weren't friends I would think you might be stalking me. Showing up at the right moment every time."
"I'm not stalking you. I just happen to be on my way here to wait for Hazel when I saw you two and"
JB places a hand on Grant's shoulder, "I'm just joking with you." He cocks his head to the side and winks "Don't be so serious." JB smiles and walks over to Tesla and Flash and kneels down beside them. His father follows him.
"Oh I see what you did there," Grant laughs. "From the other day with Mason and… No one is listening to me." He smiles and crosses his arms.
"I see you two are now the best of friends," JB said as the eeveelutions sitting next to each other. "Did you two talk about this before hand or just come up with it on the fly?"
"Jolt. Jolt jol. Jolteon."
"Flareon. Eon flare. Flare."
"Is that right?" JB answers. "Well maybe next time you can cue me in on you plan of attack." JB laughs and scratches Flash and Tesla under their chins. Mr. Hart looks at his son in a quizzical manner.
Mr. Hart heads over to the stones scattered on the ground. "So these are the evolution stones. We have the Fire Stone, Thunderstone, Water Stone, Leaf Stone, Dusk Stone, Dawn Stone, Moon Stone, Sun Stone, Shiny Stone, and even the Everstone. I would say this bag is worth a ton of money, but also could be used to evolve about a hundred Pokemon. There looks to be about 10 of each stone. We better get these to Mrs. Tesla now."
"I have to wait here for my sister," said Grant, "but you guys go on without me."
"I don't feel comfortable leaving you here by yourself Grant," said Mr. Hart. "Those Rocket guys could still be hanging around. Why don't you take Flash and meet Hazel at the gym and then meet JB at the Pokemon Center so you can heal your Pokemon. You may even run into Hazel on her way here."
"That sounds like a good idea, Jack. Team Rocket knew who I was so they might be looking for Hazel, too. I'll meet you at the Pokemon Center, JB." Grant hurried along back to the gym, hoping to run into Hazel.
JB and his father gathered up the stones and put them back in the sack. He put the sack back in his backpack and zipped it up. Father and son head over to the school with Tesla watching for Team Rocket.
Mrs. Tesla was in her office cleaning up the mess Team Rocket had left behind.
Mr. Hart knocked on the door that was opened. "Hey there Nicole, you mind if we come in?"
"Not a problem Jack, you and JB are always welcomed," Mrs. Tesla said as she wipes the sweat from her brow.
"Mrs. Tesla," JB starts, "I would like for you to meet my Tesla." JB scratches Tesla on the top of her head.
"Oh my, I see that little eevee has evolved." Mrs. Tesla is surprised. "Professor Oak told me about your connection with the eevee when we spoke last night. I'm glad to see you two are getting along so well."
"Yeah, we ran into Team Rocket at lunch and they tried to steal the evolution stones. Tesla used one to evolve so we could beat them." JB explained. "The sack ripped, too. We tried to get all the stones back, but I think we might me missing a moon stone."
"I don't think that will be a problem. Sounds like you did a good job protecting the package. Why don't I take those from you and head to my lab so I can lock up the stones in the safe. This way Team Rocket can't get them. I'll take it from here, JB."
JB hands her the sack with the evolution stones and Mrs. Tesla leaves the room and walks down the hall. JB and his father walk the opposite way down the hall and stop in front of a door that reads "History Office: Mr. Hart."
"This is my stop kido. You be safe out there on your travels. You showed real spunk back there battling Team Rocket. You would have made your Grandpa proud. You sure made me feel proud."
"Thanks Dad. You go teach those kids. I'll be fine." JB hugs his father and leaves the school making his way back to the Pokemon Center with Tesla following behind.
When JB arrives at the Pokemon Center, Grant and Hazel are waiting for him out front.
"Tesla, return." JB points the Poke ball at Tesla and she disappears in a flash of red light. "You did a great job today baby girl now lets get you healed up."
The trio walked in to the center and handed their Poke balls to Nurse Joy, three from JB, one from Grant, and two from Hazel.
"It will be about 10 minutes, please feel free to wait in the lobby," said Nurse Joy.
"How did your gym battle go Hazel?" asks JB.
"Well take a look at this." Hazel held up a plant shaped green badge. "It's the Earth Badge!"
"Wow," JB is amazed. "Was Green really hard?"
"I wouldn't know, he wasn't there. There was a stand in. He wasn't easy though. It took both Ivy and Pinky to defeat him. It was a two on two battle."
JB's pocket starts beeping.
"Uh, JB," Grant said, "I think you might be beeping?"
JB reaches into his pocket and pulls out his PokeReader. The screen is flashing the name "Professor Oak". JB slides his finger across the screen and Professor Oak appears on screen.
"Oh great I caught you at a Pokemon Center!" the Professor is excited. "I just got a call from Mrs. Tesla and she told me you had made your delivery. That's great. But a meeting with Team Rocket again has me concerned. You are going to have to be careful out there on your own."
"I'm not on my own any more Professor. Grant and Hazel are here with me. Say hi guys."
"Hi Professor Oak," the siblings said as JB holds the PokeReader out for Professor Oak to see them.
"Hey there kids. This is wonderful news JB. Like I said before, its more fun to travel in a group. Time flies when you are having fun. I will be sending you the information on the pickup sometime later today. Safe journey, JB, Grant, and Hazel."
"Thanks Professor," says JB and hangs up the PokeReader. "I guess we go get our Pokemon and head for Route 2 and on to Pewter City."
Hazel stands up with her hands in the air. "So I can get my second badge!" Grant and JB start to laugh.
I hope you enjoyed reading. Tesla evolved! I am super happy with that because Jolteon is my favorite Pokemon. There will be more evolutions with in the next few chapters. Next chapter I am introducing yet another travel companion, but I'm not sure how long she will be staying. Thanks for reading!