Steel (Poke)Ball Run

by merryfortune

What begins as a selfish goal unrelated to the Championships turns into an epic quest to win all eight Badges and take the crown as President Valentine seems to have some sinister connection to Team Pax Unova: a group of thugs in search of the legendary heroes of Truth and Ideal. Along the way, Johnny will learn many things if he is to become the very best.

21. 21 - VS TRAINER OYECOMOVA

p class="MsoNormal"strongspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"Steel (Poke)Ball Run/span/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal"strongspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"Chapter 21 – VS OYECOMOVA/span/strong/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" /p
p class="MsoNormal"strongspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;":/span/strong/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Under the encapsulating dawn light of the rising sun, Gyro finished up his story. He could still hear the flap of sails in his ears and he had no regrets so far. Gyro was going to put his life on the line for this child. Alongside Johnny and Mountain Tim, they rode into the sunrise./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" At this point in the second stage of the race, it was still unbeknownst to them all that the further Gyro Zeppeli advances in this race, a race equivalent to war, the more relentless and aggressive those who oppose the Kalosian King would become. After all, this was foreign soil for a man hailing from Camphrier Town; it was Unovan soil./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" With slight squabbling once their energy petered out, the trio approached a little town in the midst of the thick forest; a town not on any map except those provided by the race officials. It didn't take long for them to tether their mounts to poles provided by the hotel and to unpack. Johnny unfolded his wheelchair and got comfortable in it, readjusting to sitting still rather than on the back of his Zebstrika. Once, he was ready, the three of them went into the hotel to prepare lodgings for themselves./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" It went very smoothly since expenses for lodging and meals in places like these were provided by Steel Ball Run funds. It certainly put that fee to use, already. Everything was clean; never been touched before they had turned up and they had turned up first, second, and third by the way./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" They dumped their things in their room. They were all too hopped up on adrenaline to care that they had't slept all night. So, they whittled away their early morning time in other ways. Gyro used to the privacy of their room to fix up his foot as he was walking with a limp as well as to make sure the injuries he had sustained to his ear were fine; thankfully, they were. However, being bit of an oddball, it was that Furret of his that got a fair bit of attention./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" His Furret, too big to fit in his lap, was happy to sleep with its head on his lap and its tail on the ground. It looked a bit uncomfortable stretched out like that given that Gyro was sitting on an armchair but it seemed content. Gyro did his best not to wake his Furret as he reached into his messenger back and drew out a letter; the one he had opened earlier near the office opposite the hotel. Upon arrival, the clerks had handed it to him. He'd torn it open immediately; discarding the scarlet seal placed upon it and he skimmed over it, slightly uninterested but his eyes were slightly out of focus so maybe his disinterest was simple exhaustion./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Johnny didn't ask about it but Gyro explained its contents anyway; to both him and Mountain Tim. It was an unusual letter but Johnny didn't think too much of it. Too much Kalosian jargon in it for him to understand; or so he assumed. Besides, he was still thinking about Cobalion. There was something on the tip of his tongue about it./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Johnny grunted. Gyro put his letter away and raised an eyebrow./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'What're you thinking about? Looks like you're struggling to wrap your head around something.'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'There's an old children's folk song type thing about the Swords of Justice and it's on the tip of my tongue and it's pissing me off that I can't remember it.' Johnny said./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Mountain Tim made a thoughtful noise; he was half watching the clouds pass or maybe having an open eye sleep. Who knew with him./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Hey, do you know the one I'm talking about?' Johnny asked Mountain Tim./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'I was a kid once, of course, I remember.' Mountain Tim replied./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Alright then, how does it go?' Johnny asked; a touch sharp./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Oh, um… uh… Something… something… Swords of Justice?' Mountain Tim tried out a tune but he sounded horribly off-key./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Gyro snickered./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Don't suppose you know it?' Johnny asked./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'I know plenty o' children's songs, just not any from around here.' Gyro replied, testy./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'That's what I thought. I mean, you thought Cobalion was a regular old Pokemon, after all.' Johnny teased./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'It was an honest mistake!' Gyro snapped./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Hey, I think I remember it now anyway.' Johnny piped up; just in time too since he was riling up Gyro and had been all morning./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Johnny blushed, a little bit embarrassed for suddenly remembering not just part of this song but all of it. He carried an uncertain tune to a strange little song:/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Four sacred swordsmen, all for one, one for all, four sacred swordsmen, just and fair: first is Cobalion, heart of steel and the true blue leader, second is Terrakion, head of rock and home of victory, third is Virizion, soul of majesty and all of nature's friend, and last is Keldeo, and last is Keldeo, the ordinary and the resolute; runs across the water, Four sacred swordsman, all for one, one for all, four sacred swordsmen: each punish the evil with their Sacred Swords, just and fair: they are the Swords of Justice.'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Mountain Tim laughed and half-heartedly joined in whereas Gyro, in jest, covered his Furret's ears. His Furret, of course, blissfully unaware of Johnny's shoddy singing./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'You two sound like a pair of wounded Murkrows.' Gyro said./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Oh, like you're any better.' Johnny replied with a roll of his eyes./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'I am leagues ahead of you as a singer, Joestar.' Gyro bragged./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Go on then.' Johnny taunted./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Gyro flashed a grin and Johnny's stomach plummeted. It seemed like he was going to take this little challenge seriously. Mountain Tim whistled, amused. He rested against the windowsill; as though certain that he knew this would be a disaster./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Gyro cleared his throat, as pompously as he could to annoy Johnny and then began./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Four sacred swordsmen, all for one, one for all, four sacred swordsmen, just and fair.. Um, oh right! Third is Virizion, soul of majesty and all of nature's friend, and… um, uh….Four sacred swordsmen, all for one, one for all, four sacred swordsmen: each punish the evil with their Sacred Swords, just and fair: they are the Swords of Justice.' Gyro sang./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Oh? And we're the ones who sound like a pair of wounded Murkrows, are we?' Johnny teased. 'You forgot, like, half the song.'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Hey, I did very well for someone who's only heard it once and out of your mouth.' Gyro boasted./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'I think he sounded alright.' Mountain Tim said./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Ha, see! Oh, and Squealer liked it too; so I guess you're the only one who isn't appreciative of my talents, Johnny.' Gyro said./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Squealer is asleep and does not get an opinion!' Johnny asserted./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Mountain Tim was half amused by their back and forth squabbling. They seemed to get along well. He yawned and stretched out./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Anyone else hungry?' he asked./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'I guess, haven't eaten since yesterday.' Johnny replied./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Maybe that's why the two of you are so irritable then, why don't we mosey on along and find out where they keep the food around here. You two go ahead, I wanna clean up something real quick.' Mountain Tim suggested./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Sounds good.' Gyro said and his stomach appeared to agree as it growled in hunger./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Gyro returned his Furret to its PokeBall. He holstered it and waited for Johnny to start moving before he got up as well. Mountain Tim fluffed around for a little bit. He did things like use the toilet and brush his teeth. He didn't know why but he was just feeling a tad gross; needed to freshen up. He was soon to catch up with Johnny and Gyro though. They had already made it across the street by the time Mountain Tim had gotten down the stairs./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Whilst all that happened, a soft wind whistled through the almost ghostly town. It toyed with the Unovan flags hoisted on the brand new buildings' facades and streaked past a covered wagon. It was hard to believe anyone was here but two squat clerks were sharing a yarn in front of their office and opposite them were three stationed mounts: a Zebstrika, a Mudsdale, and a Tauros./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" The clerks perked up when they noticed someone uncertainly step into town. He was covered head to toe in white make-up and donned netting that would keep flies out. He rode upon a Scoliopede that seemed quite exhausted./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Congratulations on your early arrival, good sir!' one clerk said; he held up a map and pointed out a location on it. 'This is a town that was specifically built for the Steel Ball Run race.'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" His co-worker chortled. 'We were expecting the second stage riders to start appearing tomorrow but there are some real driven folk in this race, apparently.'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'According to our information, you distanced yourself a day's worth from the group of Sandman and Diego "Dio" Brando who has taken on a separate route. Now, we'll need to check your race number and mount's nose print.'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" He looked around whilst the clerks fussed./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'I'm not… first?'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'You are currently in fourth place, Mr. Oyecomova.'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Mr. Mountain Tim arrived first. But Gyro Zeppeli argued that he arrived a neck's length ahead of Mr. Johnny Joestar… who then protested such an assertion and then claimed that he was the one to arrive first.'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'However, being an unofficial checkpoint, these rankings have no bearings on the actual race.'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Something caught Oyecomova's eye and picked up a torn up part of a wax seal. He inspected it and found that it had a fleur-de-lis embedded it in./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Does a phone line run through here, by any chance?' he asked./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'There's only the telegram, oh, and the postal service.'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Also, we have lodgings and a barber and a blacksmith, anything you could… need?'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" The clerks prattled between themselves, so engaged in talking about the good points of the tiny town, they had a delayed reaction in noticing that Oyecomova had walked away disinterested. He didn't even tether his Scolipede; he left it at the steps of the office where it obediently stayed put. If anything, it slumped down for a rest./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Oyecomova wandered through the hotel. He ignored the protests of the receptionist and went straight up to the rooms. He looked for the room which seemed inhabited and he found one in which the door was slightly ajar. He silently crept through it and found hastily put away bags; one of which was adorned with a hideous blue blanket covered in pink stars. How tacky looking. However, it was not that particular bag which caught his interest. It was the plainer looking messenger bag that attracted his curiosity./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" He knelt down and rustled through it. He was in search of an envelope that would be missing a crimson seal. However, before he could search thoroughly he was interrupted by someone approaching./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Somebody, I know? Nope, guess not. But why would you come into a stranger's room and go through his stuff?'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" A husky sort of drawl spewed out these musings to Oyecomova. But, more important than the tone his voice, was the seriousness of his eyes and the way his finger curled around the trigger of the gun he wielded. Oyecomova sensed that this man would not aim to kill but he wasn't above dirty shots like aiming at his kneecaps./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Mountain Tim had been in the parlour when he noticed the tame Scolipede across the road and thought it odd. He didn't know why but it seemed to go hand in hand with a strange feeling that something was amiss with their lodgings. As per usual, his hunch had been right on the money has he had encountered this strange person crouched among Gyro's things./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Oyecomova turned his head and spoke calmly: 'I'm looking for Gyro Zeppeli. Where is he?'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Mountain Tim didn't reply. So, despite the gun, Oyecomova decided that he was not worth his time and continued his search. He soon found the letter he was after; half crushed between larger items among Gyro's things. He opened it up and began to read it./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Hey, you, don't mess with that!' Mountain Tim yelled./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" He grabbed Oyecomova's shoulder. Mountain Tim yanked back and Oyecomova complied. He half-stumbled away from the bag but he didn't let go the letter. He began to read it./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Just like I thought. He had received a letter from the King's Servant.' Oyecomova said./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" He frowned though as he read the contents. He didn't understand it. Not for the language, it was written in but rather for some of the terms./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Zombie Salamence... What's that?' Oyecomova asked but from what he could discern from the rest of the letter, such a thing promised a miraculous cure for injury and fatigue./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Oyecomova looked up from the letter and looked towards Mountain Tim. However, he politely kept his eyes low even though Mountain Tim was furious, ready to start a battle./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Oh yes, just a warning… I'm going to meet your demand for battle in a moment but first, I am going to suggest putting a little distance between us,' Oyecomova brushed over a PokeBall holstered to his belt and wryly smirked, 'as I employ tactics which are often dangerous.'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Oyecomova met Mountain Tim's eyes bravely; suddenly. Then, it was a race for who could call upon a partner in battle first. And the first to be able to do so was Oyecomova. He silently threw out a PokeBall and Mountain Tim didn't even get the chance to see what sort of opponent he was up against before an explosion./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" A bright, yellow light followed by a bang; louder than a gunshot. Oyecomova walked away from it as a great cloud of smoke plumed behind him. The smell of burnt flesh seared his nostrils as Mountain Tim watched his own flesh sizzle before him. His hand burned considerably as he took all the damage./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'I won't allow anyone to race for the King.' Oyecomova declared. 'I will have you dead, Officer Gyro Zeppeli.'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Outside, the Explosion was much grander. The building turned to smithereens as smoke and fire bloomed inside of it like a budding flower. Debris scattered everywhere and there was a sharp bang./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" From it alone was more than enough to terrify Gyro and Johnny. Gyro leapt into a protected nook between buildings. Johnny lunged from his wheelchair and dived next to Gyro. They both fell on their arms and watched in horror as the hotel went from being a building to a ramshackle bonfire site./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" The clerks raced out from the office building. They screamed and shouted; able to verbalise their panic, unlike Gyro and Johnny who sputtered incoherently./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" As the smoke cleared, Gyro and Johnny saw glimpses of Mountain Tim. He was bloody and sprawled out but something had protected him through the worst of the Explosion. A creature made of blue and red rocks had shielded him; a Gigalith. It howled in pain and grief./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Johnny pulled himself closer to his wheelchair whilst Gyro began to walk towards Mountain Tim./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Mountain Tim's Gigalith roared and swung out defensively towards Gyro. Gyro side-stepped it, alarmed but understanding in this situation./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Mountain Tim sputtered. His body was moving; breathing./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'S...Stop… Gyro, don't come c-closer…' Mountain Tim sputtered./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'I can't believe it… he's still alive after all that!' Johnny said; he had been hundred percent expectant of Mountain Tim being a corpse after that./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Mountain Tim took a deep breath and let loose a loud shout; one that penetrated even the ringing in the ear./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Don't come! Get away from me! He's hiding somewhere close! He's a fearsome Trainer!'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Gyro and Johnny stiffened. Mountain Tim's breathing was rough and heavy; left haggard on the ears. Gyro and Johnny prepared themselves for a dirty fight. The dust around the slowly began to settle and part./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Oyecomova crept through the dust, almost silently, and he reached for one of the PokeBalls that Gyro had holstered. But, thankfully, Johnny had picked up on the slightest disruptions to an otherwise silent scene. The twitch of dust and a faint footstep was enough to alert him. But it was not Johnny who spoke up first. But rather, Mountain Tim who through doubling vision saw Oyecomova's figure loom near Gyro's waist./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'He's trying to disarm you! Don't let him touch you!' he yelled./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Gyro swung out of Oyecomova's way and protectively put his hands over his more vulnerable PokeBalls./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'The hell is up with that cowboy's luck? He shouldn't be alive… mighty lucky that that Gigalith has Sturdy…' Oyecomova muttered and he pulled back from his sneak attack on Gyro./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" With the dust settled and with Oyecomova, Gyro got a good look at Oyecomova and he'd know such eccentricity anywhere. The white makeup and even that tone of voice./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'You!' Gyro seethed./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Yes… Long time, no see… Gyro Zeppeli.' Oyecomova's voice sauntered through the remnants of the chaos he had caused./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Oyecomova smirked as he locked eyes with Gyro. He gritted his teeth./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Well by the race's rules, we must battle.' Oyecomova taunted./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'He uses dirty tricks: trading KO's at huge risk! He's the one who set off that Explosion in the hotel; be careful!' Mountain Tim called out. /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Oyecomova rolled his eyes. 'Dude… you're kind of telling him the obvious.'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Johnny cautiously leaned in closer. 'Hey, Gyro, he said… "long time, no see"... Do you know him?'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Yeah. His name is Oyecomova. He's a terrorist who blew up the King's carriage with a bomb two years ago! The King wasn't in it at the time, but five people, including two children, were killed. He was arrested and awaiting execution but he managed to escape. While he was in prison, he oddly enough had a bit of explosive powder with him. He put in the jail guard's ear and murdered him. He broke out soon after.' Gyro explained./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Oyecomova shrugged and continued as per a casual conversation. He half smiled./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'How's your old man going?' he inquired, almost politely. 'I heard he retired from being an executioner, Gyro Zeppeli…. Taking responsibility for my breakout - and theft of my Pokemon. That's understandable, he would feel that way after a subordinate's death. Well, enough dilly-dallying, we've got things to do after all. Battles to be had.' Oyecomova produced a PokeBall out of seeming thin air. 'I am now going to begin my turn; I suggest you find a way to protect yourself - and real quick!'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" His hand tipped over and the PokeBall opened. Despite the silver flash, it was impossible to tell what Pokemon had come out of its PokeBall for it lurked within the dust that swirled thickly at Oyecomova's feet. There was a moment of silence and then the appearance: the seemingly innocent appearance of a Pokemon, right in front of Gyro and right beneath his nose./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" The creature, shiny and tiny, looked up with gleaming eyes./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'What… is that?' Johnny said; certainly wasn't any Pokemon that he'd ever see before./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" It was small and seemed more like a mineral or ore than a creature. It was blue and grey in colour with a white, almost fluffy ruff around its neck - the only suggestion of it being a somewhat organic creature. There was a deceptive aura about it but truth be told, its appearance kind of made Johnny want one for himself as it was very much to his team's aesthetics. That was before realisation sunk in; as prompted by Mountain Tim./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'You two, get away from that Carbink or protect yourselves! That thing is a bomb!' Mountain Tim yelled./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" But aside from processing the sentence, there had been no time to act on it as Carbink exploded. Its body glowed white as it closed its eyes. The light it exuded sharpened; turned brighter before finally, exploding like a star gone supernova. For such a small creature, it produced quite the effect. Fire leapt out at Johnny and Gyro. Hot and searing; it scratched against their guts. Its blast swept the two young men aside like they were nothing more than leaves in the wind. They crashed into the closest building./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" They fell on their sides with a hefty thud. Their heads fell back and forth and vision blurred. In the wake of the explosion, yet more dust had flown into the air with great puffs. Somewhere in it all, there was a flash of silver - the return of the Carbink to its PokeBall, more likely than not - but then… there was a second flash of silver. Oyecomova had a transparent strategy but it was effective as all hell. This wasn't a Pokemon battle. It was a fight where Pokemon were the weapons./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Are you okay… Gyro?' Johnny croaked./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Just pissed off.' Gyro muttered./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Watch out, Oyecomova already got his next assault ready… dunno if he'll try the same thing for the third time in a row.' Mountain Tim piped up./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Quite correct you are, Mountain Tim. I've thoroughly won this battle but, just to make sure, I do have something new planned; I will tell you that much.' Oyecomova admitted./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Fuck…' Gyro muttered as he tried to get up./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Johnny dragged himself closer to his wheelchair; tipped aside in the explosion but thankfully undamaged. Gyro meanwhile was collecting himself in his own way. Despite the tingling pain, his hand was flopping for a PokeBall as his eyes scanned his surroundings for Oyecomova's next Pokemon./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Use Toxic.' Oyecomova said calmly./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Swaaalot!'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" A fearsome cry was heard from the thick of the dust. It began to settle but was ultimately parted unnaturally. Globs of purple goo cut through the air and dust swirled aimlessly out of its way; in tipsy curls. Gyro was the target of such an attack and he became soaked to the bone. At first, it didn't hurt. It seemed harmless enough but his skin began to burn and become irritable./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Oyecomova turned his back on his three enemies. He whistled and called over his Scolipede from where it had been idly grazing; well out of the blast zone of all these horrific attacks./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'We can't let him get away!' Mountain Tim said. Despite his ragged state, he attempted to draw in closer; pulling himself closer to Oyecomova./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Oyecomova sighed. 'Whether I get away or not, it's all over. You should be on Death's door and Gyro can't walk more than three steps - at most! - before succumbing to the powerful poisons that have been inflicted on him.'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" His hand patted the top of Swalot's head. He smiled. He then returned his Swalot to its PokeBall and got onto Scolipede's back./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'What are we gonna do?' Johnny asked. /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'This!' Gyro screamed. He hurled a PokeBall forward. 'Go, go, Decibel!'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" From a streak of silver, a Pokemon that moved so fast it left blurs behind dashed out. A Linoone dashed at Oyecomova./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Use Slash, 'Bel!' Gyro yelled./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" His Linoone suddenly shot up at Oyecomova. It was like an arrow launched from a bow: beautiful but deadly precision. Its claws raked across Oyecomova's front and left gashes in his clothes and scratches in his skin. It was like a warning. Gyro's Linoone then used Oyecomova's chest as a launch pad and it leapt at the ground. Then, like a bolt of lightning, it was off and racing again but this time back towards Gyro./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" It returned to his side and reared up on its hind-legs, as though expecting praise. Gyro held onto its shoulders. He felt a bit queasy but he also felt insanely good after watching his dear and precious Decibel the Linoone attack Oyecomova like that./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Spooked by the attack, Oyecomova dashed off on the back of his Scolipede. For now, they would let him get the head start. Gyro glared at Oyecomova's back./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'We won't let him get away…' Gyro decided. 'Hey, Johnny, I've seen you keep berries 'round, you got any left.'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'I left my supplies in the hotel… and well, the hotel's everywhere right now.'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Okay, new plan, you said you like girly Pokemon. You got like a Blissey or an Audino?'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'No.'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Fuck me! Okay, any Pokemon at all that knows like… Aromatherapy or something?'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Angel knows Moonlight and I've got a Jumpluff that knows Synthesis; together, that's only ten heals.'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'That's not great, could be better but I'll make do... Okay, Mountain Tim?'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Gyro hazarded a glance at Mountain Tim. The man was almost passed out./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'I have a Miltank which knows Milk Drink but…' Mountain Tim replied as he began to fidget with the shrunken PokeBalls that he kept holstered on his belt./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Yeah, that won't work for me but at least we know you'll be fine. Okay, new plan, I didn't want it to come to this but Johnny and I, we'll head out to the Zombie Salamence since it can heal fatigue and wounds, and let's pray that means poison as well. Angel'll keep me going so I don't die before I even get to Valkyrie. Meanwhile, Tim, you let your Miltank heal you. Sounds like a plan?'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Sounds like a doable plan.' Johnny agreed. 'We'll definitely get back at Oyecomova when we catch up; he doesn't have that big a lead on us.'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Johnny let his Clefairy out of its PokeBall whilst he and Gyro left Mountain Tim behind. His Miltank was horrified to see the state its Trainer was in and was quick to get to work. So, it didn't take long for Gyro's little plan to be set into motion./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Jumpluff flew in tow with both Gyro and Johnny. Flitting about like the carefree tumbleweed that it was in a previous life. Still, it understood that if Gyro called out "Synthesis" to it then it meant that it had to obey him, and now. Clefairy, meanwhile, rode with Gyro in his lap like the little, spoilt brat that was; not that Gyro minded, of course, being as affectionate as he was with his - and other's - Pokemon. At this point, it definitely seemed like it preferred Gyro over Johnny; which was quite shameful./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Gyro was doing well despite the poison condition. His skin was turning red and agitated like a Tamato Berry but he wasn't complaining or dying for that matter. Still, Johnny was concerned as he rode just that tiny bit behind Gyro and his Mudsdale./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" As they raced in closer to Oyecomova, Gyro turned around and yelled at Johnny:/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Johnny, he's my enemy; I'll finish him off before he gets to them icy mountains over there, alright? This is my country's problem; not yours!'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'No, Gyro.' Johnny replied, resolute. 'I'm coming with you.'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" He omitted that he wanted to help. That he wanted to battle./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Listen… That terrorist is running from us now but I'm telling you, he's still just as dangerous. I'm sure Oyecomova is thinking of a way to kill me right now.'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Though he was thinking of Gyro, Johnny remained thinking of himself and it was that aspect of himself that was brought to the conversation./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'I want to see it. This Zombie Salamence; that gift from the King… thing. That thing is supposed to heal all wounds; if it can fix poison… do you think it could… what about my legs?'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Look… don't expect anything weird. And, I'm saying this now but you're not suited for battle; not one like this anyway. You're going to be in the way.'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'I don't like to listen to other people's orders and I haven't received anybody's help either. Since the beginning of the race, I've been involved with you. It's too late to go our separate ways now.'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Gyro couldn't help but remember that wry remark of his from the other day. It was going to be a one-two finish. Him in first place with five badges and Johnny in second with three. He couldn't help but wonder what made him say such an optimistic thing to Johnny but he didn't exactly regret it either even though that word was probably their bond./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" In this part of the forest, the number of waterholes was marked on the map and there was one before them. It was bigger than either of them had expected; bigger than a dam or similar. It was more akin to a lake in size, perhaps, however, it was quite shallow; barely lapping at their mounts' ankles. It was surrounded by sparse trees though and rocky outcrops that were tall and sturdy-looking./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" As they gained on Oyecomova, he glanced over his shoulder. He couldn't tell yet if this environment would become advantageous or disadvantageous for him; let alone Gyro. He needed to know more about Gyro and his team. Moreover, how far could he control his Pokemon from; not to mention their PokeBalls. How far could they be thrown?/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Oyecomova thought about it logically, he decided due to the town being an enclosed space, there was no need to throw far. Twenty metres as a maximum seemed reasonable; a little more and orders would be lost across communication. His choice of Linoone likely meant that it was one of his fastest Pokemon and he wasn't exactly one for intimidation tactics either so it likely wasn't to lull Oyecomova into a false sense of security./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Still, any closer and it would likely put Oyecomova in a position wherein Gyro could kill him. However, any further and he would lose the easiest distance in which he could kill them without risking himself or his partner Pokemon. With the difficult landscape, it was going to be tricky./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" But fortunately, there were other ways to master murder. Oyecomova produced a canteen from his belongings. He uncapped it and began to pour outs its contents. A stream of brown liquid flowed out./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Gyro, shit, that's petrol or something: he's gonna light up this river!' Johnny yelled. 'We've got to get out of the water!'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" His Zebstrika squealed as he commanded it to rear up. Johnny returned his Jumpluff to its Pokeball as it was vulnerable being in the air as a grass type. For now, his Clefairy would remain fine with Gyro should he make good decisions. Gyro and his Mudsdale continued to charge forward./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Johnny, don't let your Zebstrika hesitate! We keep going forward, don't worry, I've got a plan. We'll finish him off in fifteen… no, twenty metres of here! I promise!/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'The moment the accelerant explodes, we can use that to accelerate ourselves, and we'll run right through. The mounts will move forward about four metres. It would've been worse trying to get out and through the rocks.'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Johnny gritted his teeth but he trusted Gyro so he continued to charge forth by Gyro's side. He tried to pay no heed to how the oil floated on top of the water but it was spreading, quickened by the natural waves of the water. Then it dropped; just a small flame that no doubt a matchstick./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" The instant in which the accelerant erupted, there was a great transfer of heat and energy through the air. It burnt Johnny's exposed skin but he could feel the adrenaline pulse inside of him as his self-preservation instinct went ignored. However, his Zebstrika and Gyro's Mudsdale used that push of hot-and-cold air to further their own leaps. It was terrifying to charge through the flame but they did it nonetheless./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" They made it out of that situation fine. Petrified but no obvious burns; or at least nothing that couldn't be fixed up by that Zombie Salamence. The fire soon burned out behind them but smoke clung to the muggy air./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Oyecomova glanced behind him. 'Gyro Zeppeli,' he mused, 'he got cocky and accelerated, just as expected… But I'm not running from you; I'm forcing you into this waterhole!'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Oyecomova's voice suddenly pierced the air and soon came the grand reveal of his bigger plan./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'There's a waterfall, Gyro!' Johnny yelled as he realised the rush of water was peculiar./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Two outcrops that bore long, lush grass marked where the land suddenly cut off. In the middle of the channel, Oyecomova's Scolipede reared up and ceased its charging, likely so it could escape. Johnny had almost forgotten about it on the map but he recalled from yesterday when he was checking out surrounding areas./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Charge right up, we're not slowing down!' Gyro commanded. 'We have to climb up at the same speed as the water!'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" The grass on the outcrops began to shake oddly. From the tall grass, emerged a horde of Amoonguss and a few Foongus were dotted in between their mob. They all looked equally as annoyed as each other. They were most likely aggravated by the pollution of their wetlands and were likely out for revenge./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Despite the threat they posed, Oyecomova sailed on straight past them. So now, dealing with them would be passed onto Johnny and Gyro. Johnny unclipped a PokeBall from his waist. He was determined./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Skies the Limit!' he called out./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" From a sublime, silver light, an Unfezant unfurled its wings and took to the air./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Johnny glanced at Gyro, 'I'll have Skies use Air Slash; if you have a plan and don't want me interfering, now's the time to let me know.'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'No, that's good, I'll let you handle that then, Johnny - just so long as you keep pace, of course.' Gyro said, overconfident and even a touch cheeky as he continued to charge forward./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Skies, use Air Slash on the wild Amoonguss!' Johnny yelled./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Go, go, Decibel and Problem Child!' Gyro yelled as he brought out his two Pokemon. 'Both of ya, use Surf!'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Their three Pokemon seemed to synchronise beneath their Trainer's commands. Linoone and Bibarel raced by each other's sides whilst Johnny's Unfezant flew above them. With a beautiful twirl, razor-sharp slices of air rolled off of Unfezant's wings. The slashes crisscrossed against the two outcrops. The Amoonguss were terrified by the attack and soon ducked back into hiding, not wanting to risk a battle they couldn't win even with numbers on their side./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Linoone and Bibarel, meanwhile, took command of the water. The very currents that surged past them became bent to their will. The water rose up with a great foaming curl at its crest. The wave grew gigantic and with a heavy splash, it dragged Oyecomova and his mount beneath the water./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Oyecomova struggled to breathe underwater. His Scolipede pawed at the water and soon became quite waterlogged. Inside his head, his veins bulged and vessels even burst as every bit of air in his lungs became replaced by water. Soon, enough he was drowning. Choking./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" Gyro and Johnny burst past where Oyecomova once stood. Their Pokemon rejoined them by their sides and were soon snatched up by a return. Gyro and Johnny soon made it dry land once more. The satisfying thud of hooves on the ground was quite the symphony after that. They glanced over their shoulders. It looked as though Oyecomova had washed up. His hands were twitching; he was face down in the mud and as blue as the water that lapped at his waist. He might be fine if the medics find him in time but even then, only the death penalty awaited a terrorist like him regardless./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a; background-color: #ededed;" 'Keep on running, Johnny, in this race… first and second place are still ours for the taking!' Gyro announced./p