CHAPTER EIGHTY FIVE
Daniel held tightly onto Seel as they navigated the dangerous waterways of Cerulean Cave. Seel kept his gaze ahead to watch for wild Pokemon, while Daniel steadied his flashlight on the darkness ahead, seeing nothing beside the gloomy water and the raised platforms which surrounded them as they swam through forked intersections. If Daniel craned his neck he could just see over the rocky platforms, glimpsing the occasional boulder or stalagmite rising from the floor, but the darkness was too thick to make out if the shadows were wild Pokemon or not. Daniel had encountered his first few batches of wild Pokemon entry in Cerulean Cave, and he had no desire to do so again.
He was shivering cold in the water current, tugged about but Seel knew how to hold his own and keep them afloat. Daniel was glad that he had a Water Pokemon to guide him through the treacherous waterways. If he had swam himself, he would surely have drowned if he had not already fallen to the machinations of the wild Pokemon who inhabited this cave. They were stronger by far than the wild Pokemon who resided in Victory Road, in larger groups and utterly hostile to intruders.
Daniel was angry with Joshua, not only for the danger he had put himself in by coming here, but by putting his mother in worry. It was clear the creatures of this cave would take no prisoners, and he doubted that even Joshua could hold his own for long against the repetitive onslaught of these strong Pokemon.
Daniel heard cracking like a whip and turned his gaze to the platform they had just swam past. Breathing fast, he held on tightly to Seel with one arm as he used the other to point the flash light upon the rocky platform, glimpsing a Raichu who smirked with its arms folded, cheeks crackling with electricity and tail whipping against the platform like a whip. Heart thudding, Daniel remembered that water conducted electricity and they would serve no match for the denizens of the deep if they fell to an early grave in these waters. Hurriedly, he tapped Seel on the shoulder as he heard Raichu gather electrical charge.
"Seel!" he hissed. "We've got to get to high ground, now!"
The Raichu directed a bolt of thunder at the waterways just as Seel surged towards the platform adjacent to the one atop which the hostile Raichu stood. Daniel climbed aboard, reaching out for Seel's flipper to pull him aboard when electricity coarsed through him, so sudden that he felt his heart almost give out with the strength of the charge.
Daniel collapsed upon the rocky platform, unintentionally letting go of Seel who had been the conduit through which the electricity had traveled from the current and through the Water Pokemon to his Trainer. Seel was greatly injured, becoming paralysed as several Seaking burst from the surface, some of their kin unconscious or paralysed as well. They directed their anger towards Raichu, who stood fearless upon the platform above.
"Seel!" Daniel croaked, reaching for Seel's flipper but he had floated out into the current, no longer able to fight it and bobbing afloat like so many of the paralyzed wild Seaking. "No!"
Meanwhile, the wild Raichu leapt from his platform onto the one occupied by Daniel, stepping forward but hindered by the sharp horn of a Seaking who burst out of the water to tackle Raichu with a Horn Attack. Angered, the Raichu was surrounded on all fronts by wild Seaking who fought back against Raichu's electrical discharge upon the water which had so harmed their kin. Though the Seaking struck with force and accuracy, they were helpless once they landed on the platform, flailing and bouncing to return to the sea as Raichu's cheeks crackled with electricity.
Taking advantage of this distraction, Daniel reached for his belt of Pokeballs of which he had three remaining Pokemon he could call upon. Seel and the unconscious Seaking had been taken by the current, disappearing into the darkened depths where Daniel could no longer glimpse them. Daniel threw his three Pokeballs onto the rocky platform as Raichu released a Thunderbolt which devastated the attacking Seaking and left their flailing, unconscious bodies limp upon the platform.
"Weepinbell, save Seel!" Daniel cried, as red light flashed bright to illuminate the Seaking bodies and the harsh scowl of the Raichu who advanced. "Meowth and Arbok, defend me!"
Upon release of their Pokeballs, Meowth and Arbok sprang to attention in front of Daniel, who was crouched upon the rocky platform, heart beating fast and sweat pouring down his forehead, from the fear that had frozen him to the spot. Weepinbell bounced in the opposite direction, vines shooting out into the darkness to grab Seel, holding tight as the current reined Weepinbell inch-by-inch closer. Weepinbell cried out in abandon as Daniel leapt upon Weepinbell, one hand around the bell-shaped Pokemon's body and another on an errant stalagmite which jutted up from the ground.
Meanwhile, Raichu directed another bolt of Thunder towards Daniel but Meowth leapt to take the hit, badly damaged but not paralysed. Arbok used Glare on Raichu, paralysing him still as Meowth panted on the ground, while Daniel tried to pull Weepinbell back onto the platform as its vines wrapped around Seel were insistently pulled closer to the water's edge by the treacherous current.
"Meowth!" Daniel cried, unable to fathom what might happen to his Pokemon if they were trapped in this cave. He alone was responsible for them and under his leadership he was determined they would not perish. "Arbok, take that Raichu out!"
Arbok bared the scary pattern upon its chest to Raichu, who could do no more than watch with paralysed eyes as Arbok lashed out with its tail like a whip and knocked Raichu into the water channel, fair game for the remaining Seaking and Seadra who in mutual partnership conceded the matter of the intruding Trainer to converge upon the submerged Raichu.
Their wild Pokemon dilemma solved for now, Arbok leapt to fasten its long body around the stalagmite, motioning for Daniel to hold on which he did. Arbok's powerful body was equal to the strain of the current, as Daniel held with one hand onto Weepinbell and the other onto Arbok, who hissed as the elements played a lethal game of tug and war. Meowth recovered from the electricity albeit not without serious injuries, aiding in the help to pull Seel aboard.
With a sudden cracking sound, the stalagmite broke and everybody was tossed into the water, screaming and flailing as one as they were submerged into the fast-moving current, scrambling for something to hold and gripping tight onto one another. With one arm around Weepinbell, Daniel grabbed hold of Meowth's furry paw while Arbok's tail wrapped around Meowth's body not too tightly, twisting and flailing as they all were to stay afloat and not drown. Weepinbell's vines held strong as they swallowed water and gasped for air, reined in as the ground below them disappeared and they found themselves hurtling through space.
"Aaaaah!"
With a great splash, Daniel slammed into another body of water as his Pokemon did the same, all unable to hold on from the sudden shock of losing their momentum. Daniel's lungs screamed for oxygen as he tried to swim upwards, kicking out with his feet and surprised to find the body of water was shallower than he had expected. He kicked against the hard surface of the bottom, propelling himself upwards where he was no longer pulled to and fro by the current.
He gasped as he broke the water's surface, nearly suffocating as he tried to gulp down air, throat searing and so exhausted he could collapse right there. In the back of the mind he registered that the body of water into which he and his Pokemon had fallen was considerably safer now. Offshoots of water splattered them from above, where Daniel shone his torch which had been secured to his wrist by a strap up to the cavern ceiling, noticing a slim waterfall which fed the body of water and flowed off into deeper parts of the cavern through smaller cavities.
His vast relief to have escaped the current was eclipsed as he saw the flailing motions of his seaborne Pokemon trying to climb up onto the nearby rocky ridge. Daniel climbed upon the platform, which seemed to curve around the small cave which was largely just a body of water into which the fast moving current poured. There was no visible place for wild Pokemon to hide.
"Meowth! Weepinbell! Arbok! Seel!" Daniel cried, skidding upon the slimy cave floor and tripping over as he ran towards his Pokemon.
Meowth was licking his fur, disgusted at the sediment which had seeped in and traumatized by the underwater journey which had nearly cost him his life. Arbok had managed to gain a foothold upon the surface by wrapping its powerful body around a stalagmite which jutted up from the ground, chest heaving as it gasped for air. Weepinbell had reined Seel in close with its vines, detaching one of them around a nearby stalagmite to pull itself close to the water's edge.
Daniel pulled Weepinbell up along with the paralysed form of Seel, who had taken great damage from Raichu's electricity, able to breathe underwater during the scuffle but felt helpless as he was unable to fight against the fast-moving current. Now all his Pokemon came together in a group upon the narrow ridge which they had climbed upon. Daniel dispensed the last of his Super Potions, healed Seel with a Full Heal and realized with dismay that he was running low on supplies. He had no Potions left, one Full Heal remaining and his soaking Town Map, along with personal effects of the kind which included a spare change of clothes, all wet.
"Damn it," Daniel cursed, hating Joshua for having to bring him into this mess.
His Pokemon were exhausted and cautious beyond the usual extent, trapped in a cave which had no visible means of exit while he had performed poorly to direct his Pokemon to safety. He felt useless and remembered the warmth of his bed when he had been so devoid of direction and yet now, he had entered Cerulean Cave with a sense of purpose only to bring his Pokemon into further turmoil.
He shone his torch light around the cavern, noticing a slim passage that could lead them further throughout the cave. Summoning his courage which had long since petered out, Daniel turned glumly to his Pokemon. He wondered how Amy could seem so fierce in the face of danger and wished he had her resolve.
"Ready, guys?"
Daniel's Pokemon sensed their Trainer's wariness and increased their caution. Daniel tried to stay strong, as Seel took the lead and Arbok maintained the rear, while Meowth and Weepinbell flanked Daniel on either side. Daniel shone his flash light down the cavern so Seel could see, hearing the flapping of wings and tensed, ready to burst into the adjacent passage with an almighty shout.
"Pokemon, attack!" Daniel cried, torch light dancing upon the cavern they entered, surprised to find another torch light beaming back at his eyes.
His Pokemon refused to attack, even as Daniel glimpsed up to the cavern ceiling and saw a Golbat flapping there, devoid of hostility as it inspected Daniel's Arbok, who hissed lightly. Daniel turned in terror to see Joshua stomping forward, his face angry as he held Daniel by the scruff of his shirt, looking drawn and exhausted though his eyes gleamed fire.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Joshua demanded, shoving Daniel away as Meowth drew his claws and Seel moved forward with his horn to combat this antagonistic figure.
Around the edges of the small cavern were Joshua's Pokemon, all in various states of exhaustion and injury though they tried valiantly not to show it. Golbat had apparently accepted Arbok, the two Poison-type Pokemon circling one another as though daring the other; Nidoking walked close to Joshua's side, hulking powerful arms and making sure nothing untoward happened to his Trainer; Scyther's wings were dormant as he walked without the aid of hover flight, inspecting the small niches in the cave which he had determined were devoid of wild Pokemon; while Primeape punched a fist into its open palm, mirroring its Trainer's anger though it did not mean to attack. It was simply there to provide a menacing threat if the going got tough.
"I said, what are you doing here?" Joshua repeated furiously.
Daniel looked at Joshua's fierce eyes, noticing upon further examination that Joshua himself was quite battered and bruised. He had grazes and cuts, his lip was bleeding and his backpack had a large rip in it, the fabric hanging limply from side to side. Daniel took a deep breath, trying to calm himself for he had been prepped to fight another legion of wild Pokemon.
"I came here to rescue you," Daniel replied plaintively, as Joshua scoffed. "Your mother told me - "
"My mother shouldn't have told you I was here," Joshua paced around his Pokemon, all fierce and able to handle themselves in a fight. By comparison, Daniel's Pokemon were loyal but did not have the ferocity that Joshua had instilled into them. "I'm doing just fine on my own."
"Joshua," Daniel began. "We've got to get out of here. This place is crazy dangerous - "
"Maybe for you!" Joshua cast a desultory glance upon Daniel's Pokemon, who though were healed close to full health by his remaining Super Potions, were considerably more visibly battered than any of Joshua's Pokemon. "You've made things complicated. Now I have to take you along, else my mum will bite my head off about leaving you here to die."
"That's sick, Joshua," Daniel grimaced. "I would think that - "
"Save it," Joshua hissed. "You being here ruins everything I'm trying to accomplish. Doubtless you've woken half the cave up to my presence here. If we're to have any chance of escaping it'll be under my orders, you understand?"
Daniel reddened and faced Joshua defiantly, whose default expression was one of stubborn, unrelenting pride.
"What?" Joshua demanded, taunting. "Meowth got your tongue?"
From somewhere, shifting shapes cast flickers on the torches Daniel and Joshua held, while their Pokemon began to stiffen and walk close to their Trainers protectively.
"You can save your talk for later, Joshua," Daniel felt a warm glow that he would be fighting alongside Joshua. They had a fighting chance. "We should - "
"You and your Pokemon can stay on the sidelines," Joshua instructed without a care in the world. "We'll handle this."
Daniel and his Pokemon remained fierce and stubborn, but Joshua ignored him, his four Pokemon as ready to battle as Daniel's Pokemon. Insistent to lead the charge, Joshua noticed the incoming wild Pokemon of all manner of shifting shadows and shapes coming into sharp illumination upon the glow of his torch and shouted,
"Get them, Pokemon!" Joshua commanded, not even bothering to issue orders. Daniel saw with surprise that Joshua's Pokemon didn't need them.
Nidoking crashed into a wild Raichu, tackling him against the wall as the horn atop his head spun like a drill and impaled the Raichu who was pinned against the cavern wall, sending him unconscious immediately.
Golbat glowed green to use Mega Drain on a wild Sandslash, draining it of energy and healing accordingly, then diving to finish the Sandslash off with a Leech Life attack, fangs wide open as it sunk its teeth in to drain the last of Sandslash's energy.
Primeape faced a wild Wigglytuff who had lost its otherwise pink and joyous manner living in the dark conditions that were rife in Cerulean Cave, belting out a Mega Punch which buckled the Wigglytuff before tackling it in a Submission which dealt sharp recoil to Primeape nowhere near the amount of damage which Wigglytuff suffered, falling unconscious in Primeape's arms.
Scyther split into three copies, confusing the Gloom who waddled forth and dealt a hefty slash to the Grass/Poison-type, knocking it over as Daniel's Seel shot out an Ice Beam to help things along, finishing off the Gloom to Scyther's surprise who hadn't expected the assistance.
The four wild Pokemon - Raichu, Sandslash, Wigglytuff and Gloom - fell to the strength of Joshua's Pokemon as they collapsed unconscious upon the cavern floor. Triumphantly they returned to Joshua's side, as Joshua smirked and glanced towards Daniel, who merely raised his eyebrows.
"Impressive," Daniel echoed, though his words only served to boost Joshua's ego. "I still could've helped, you know. It doesn't hurt to - "
"Why ask for your help when my Pokemon can get stronger by training on their own?" Joshua scoffed, leading the way with his party of Pokemon as Nidoking walked ahead of his Trainer and Primeape to the rear.
Daniel sighed and followed Joshua across the cavern, walking over the unconscious bodies of the wild Pokemon who had barely time to attack before falling to the might of Joshua's Pokemon. There was no doubt about it - Joshua may be a hard ass without a soft spot, but his Pokemon clearly reaped the rewards of tough love.
They emerged into a large chamber, not so big as the entrance chamber with its spread out platforms and interconnected water passages, but still large enough to merit Daniel and Joshua shining their flashlights around the immense ceiling from which stalactites formed and stabbed below like hardened spears. They passed by a pair of boulders large enough to obscure their passage but easily circumvented as they rounded the corner and came across a raised stone dais in the centre of the cavern, apart from the stalagmites and rocky foundations spread apart.
"What is that?" Daniel whispered, feeling an eerie aura enter his body and chill his core so that he could hear his own breathing.
There was a Pokemon upon the stone dais, sitting calmly cross legged with its eyes closed as though it was deep in meditation. Its back was turned to Daniel and Joshua so that they could only glimpse the powerful sitting posture with its shoulders relaxed, white body from behind and long purple tail which seemed to spread out from its body and coiled to one side. It looked very relaxed and didn't move a muscle, not even as Daniel and Joshua's torch lights shone upon it from behind.
Sensing danger, Daniel pulled Joshua back towards the boulders which were twice their height and perfect to hide behind. Joshua's Pokemon followed suit, hackles raised and snarling as Joshua turned to Daniel with an angry face.
"What?" he demanded, but his voice came out in a low hiss not unlike Arbok's voice which warned of trouble.
"That looks like a powerful Pokemon," Daniel warned, but Joshua shoved out of Daniel's embrace and peeked around the corner, not afraid and his curiosity only increased. Joshua turned back to Daniel, looking upon him pitifully.
"That's a new Pokemon," Joshua was triumphant but remained grim. He was not so inexperienced as to recognise that the Pokemon meditating in the center dais would be no easy contender if he were to challenge it, otherwise Pokemon researchers would've found it by now. He had to be careful, though he didn't want Daniel to get in the way and screw up his strategy.
"You stay here," Joshua hissed, but Daniel was adamant and Joshua pushed him back. In a petty voice, he added, "You can be my reinforcements if I don't come back."
"Joshua!" Daniel hissed, but Joshua had returned three of his four Pokemon to their Pokeballs with bright flashes with red light. Scyther remained as Joshua's personal bodyguard. "What are you doing - "
Joshua turned on Daniel with a fury. "I am not giving up the chance to catch this Pokemon, especially since it looks powerful and we're the first to discover it. I came here to catch powerful Pokemon and if you get in my way I swear I'm leaving you behind. Now shut up and watch a pro at work."
Daniel wanted to help but felt the eerie presence make the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. He wanted to glimpse the unknown Pokemon sitting in the center and witness what could be a remarkable discovery akin to Natalie's Articuno or Amy's Moltres. He had always thought in the back of his mind the set would be complete if he had come across Zapdos, but where that electrical bird roosted he had not a clue in the world.
Daniel also knew that whatever strategy Joshua had planned was likely to be interrupted if Daniel burst in with his Pokemon in surprise. If Joshua was sure of himself, Daniel would rather stay in the shadows and wait instead of drawing attention to themselves crucial seconds before the encounter and risking vulnerability for the unknown Pokemon to gain an advantage.
Joshua walked out into the open, clutching three of his Pokeballs while Scyther stood nearby, scythes at the ready in case this unknown Pokemon came close. There was too much distance to cover for Joshua to consider making a mad rush with his Pokemon; so instead he threw with practised aim his Pokeballs one by one upon the dais, bursting open with bright red light at points around the dais to surround the unknown Pokemon, who still had not moved.
Joshua could not openly admit he had felt fear course through his system when he had first come upon the unknown Pokemon, but now as three of his Pokemon materialised upon the dais to confront the unknown Pokemon who began to rise with all the majesty of a king, Joshua smirked as he felt the adrenaline course through his system.
The addition of this unknown Pokemon to his party - or even if he defeated it - would be a momentous discovery for all of mankind and he would be responsible for it all. He would gladly shun Daniel out of the limelight, though he only wanted the fame to proclaim that he was the possessor of a rare Pokemon than for advancing Pokemon research. He would have a Pokemon as yet unseen by man, akin to how Lance was the only Trainer to control Dragon-type Pokemon. He cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted so loud it reverberated around the cavern,
"Nidoking, Take Down! Golbat, Confuse Ray! Primeape, Mega Punch!"
The unknown Pokemon stood and flexed its powerful muscles just as Joshua finished issuing orders. Nidoking charged forth into a solid Barrier conjured by the unknown Pokemon, who blasted Golbat with a Psychic which sent the Poison/Flying bat Pokemon dropping to the dais in unconsciousness. Primeape rushed forth with its fist raised but punched solid air as the unknown Pokemon teleported behind the furious but startled Fighting-type.
"What the hell?" Joshua was aghast at the speed and skill demonstrated so far by the unknown Pokemon. Nidoking was staggered by the Barrier as it dissipated, while Primeape whirled in fury and Golbat lay unconscious. Turning to Scyther, Joshua yelled, "Take that Pokemon out, Scyther! Agility!"
Nodding, Scyther disappeared into thin air as the unknown Pokemon directed a psychic blast which knocked Primeape clear off the dais and collided right into Joshua who was knocked over from the force. Nidoking crackled with electricity as it discharged a Thunderbolt towards the unknown Pokemon, as Scyther danced around the dais with indeterminate position and split into three copies, the better with which to take out this unknown Pokemon from all avenues.
Upon the dais, the unknown Pokemon conjured a shining Light Screen which blocked the worst of Nidoking's Thunderbolt, while all three identical Scyther copies converged on the unknown Pokemon, scythes raised.
The unknown Pokemon blasted Nidoking off the dais with a Psychic attack, where he rolled several times across the floor, almost annihilated in energy though he rose unsteadily to his feet, only a few paces away from Daniel and Joshua. Meanwhile, the three Scyther copies pounced upon the unknown Pokemon, two copies dissipating as the third struck thin air, where the unknown Pokemon had teleported behind Scyther.
"Behind you!" Joshua croaked.
The unknown Pokemon blasted the real Scyther with a Psychic, but it turned out that Scyther had utilized Substitute to create a copy which took the blast and disappeared into bright light as Scyther appeared out of nowhere behind the unknown Pokemon. Meanwhile, Nidoking had gathered all its strength and opened its mouth wide as bright light shone from within.
"Hyper Beam!" Joshua ordered.
Meanwhile, upon the dais, the unknown Pokemon showed no surprise upon blasting the Substitute into nothingness as Scyther slashed from behind with its scythes. The unknown Pokemon teleported away from Scyther just as Nidoking roared and released the Hyper Beam which eliminated fragments of rock in its path as the unknown Pokemon hastily delivered a Psychic blast which held strong against the opposing force of Nidoking's Hyper Beam, until Scyther pounced upon the unknown Pokemon, mad at its failed counterattack and cutting with its scythes.
Attacked on both fronts, the unknown Pokemon buckled from the slash and was consumed by the Hyper Beam which knocked it full force into the column behind, utterly devastated and falling to the ground on its knees, struggling to stand and maintain battle posture. It glowed blue and held Scyther in place with a Disable while Nidoking struggled with the exertions of Hyper Beam upon its system.
From his position, Daniel could hear the fracas of the battle play out with horror. He didn't care if he interrupted Joshua's strategy. Clearly the unknown Pokemon was more trouble than it was worth and at once, Daniel rallied his Pokemon and rushed forward to confront the Psychic-type menace who held a clear type advantage over three of Joshua's four Pokemon.
Joshua's brow was covered with sweat, in full realization that his strategy had crumbled and at this point, willing to win no matter what the cost against this Pokemon who in strength alone was formidable but as a Psychic-type would devastate his Pokemon party. He turned upon Daniel who stood frozen while his Pokemon stood defensively by their Trainer's side.
"Well?" Joshua snarled. "What are you waiting for? Attack!"
Daniel roused, aware that on all fronts Joshua's assault was failing. Both Primeape and Golbat were unconscious, Nidoking was unable to move due to the palpitations that Hyper Beam had demanded of his system and the unknown Pokemon had managed to blast the Disabled Scyther unconscious into the cavern wall with a Psychic, barely able to rise from the inestimable pain that riddled its body from Nidoking's annihilating Hyper Beam. Daniel gathered courage now that he was in charge, here to rescue and save Joshua from his stupidity and declared,
"Meowth, Pay Day! Weepinbell, Stun Spore! Arbok, Dig! Seel, Ice Beam!"
Enraged by the onslaught so far, the unknown Pokemon emitted an unearthly growl as it conjured a Barrier to withstand against the glittering Pay Day blast Meowth shot forth and icy beam Seel directed towards it. Weepinbell dispensed shimmering powder into the air as Arbok dug underground, just as the unknown Pokemon sent a Psychic blast which knocked Weepinbell unconscious and straight into Daniel's legs, tripping him up while Arbok had avoided it by burrowing underground.
"Useless!" Joshua spat at Daniel, expecting a better strategy than he witnessed. "Useless Pokemon - "
The paralysing powder settled upon the dais as Arbok burst from the ground, narrowly missing the unknown Pokemon who teleported out of the way just in time. Still mid-air, Arbok spat poisonous liquid in the form of Toxic at the unknown Pokemon who replied in kind with a Psychic blast which knocked Arbok off the dais and at Daniel's feet, unconscious.
If it hadn't been for the paralyzing powder which kept the unknown Pokemon held in place, it would've been able to dodge the Toxic spurt which badly poisoned it. Struggling to remain standing as though the paralysis was an invisible net slowly crippling it into a crouching position, the unknown Pokemon visibly suffered under the effects of poison and emitted a harsh cry which caused the hairs on the back of Daniel's neck to stand on end.
"M-meowth, Slash!" Daniel cried, fearful for his Weepinbell and Arbok who had fainted. "Seel, Ice Beam again!"
Meowth pounced upon the unknown Pokemon, delivering a hefty slash which dealt minor damage as Seel's Ice Beam struck on target, delivering minor but further damage as a glittering, frigid shield began to form and froze the unknown Pokemon solid. Meowth kept his distance while Seel clapped his hands happily, but everyone tensed as the frozen prison in which the unknown Pokemon was held began to crack under the strain of the powerful Pokemon.
"This is crazy!" Daniel was astonished that the unknown Pokemon continued to fight on, apparently indifferent to status conditions though it was clear the injuries were taking their toll. "This Pokemon is too powerful!"
"If you don't attack, we're all finished!" Joshua shouted.
He noticed Nidoking had returned to to his side, enraged and pumping his fists. Joshua smirked in triumph as his strongest Pokemon prepared to attack.
"Don't hold back, Daniel!" Joshua roared, his voice echoing around the cave. The frozen shield which contained the unknown Pokemon began to crack further. "Nidoking, Hyper Beam!"
Hurriedly, Daniel turned to his two remaining Pokemon. "Seel, Aurora Beam! Meowth, Pay Day!"
Nidoking was determined to survive a second round of palpitations which would course through his system upon release of the Hyper Beam. His mouth opened and shone with bright light, while Meowth directed a glimmering blast towards the frozen, unknown Pokemon while Seel added his own, rainbow-bright beam to the mix.
The frozen prison shattered just as the unknown Pokemon was consumed by the might of Nidoking's Hyper Beam, Seel's Aurora Beam and, adding insult to injury, Meowth's Pay Day. Daniel watched in shock while Joshua grinned in triumph as the unknown Pokemon collapsed upon the dais, heaving large breaths and unable to move. It hadn't fainted, nor was it capable of moving, but it remained quite conscious though its eyes burned with fury.
"I'm capturing it," Joshua reached for the collection of Ultra Balls in his pack which he kept at the ready, his hand slipping through the rip in his backpack which he had briefly forgotten about. In abject horror he remembered the circumstances which had led to him losing his equipment and turned to Daniel, his split-second of pleading replaced by the fiery, face-saving pride of demanding behavior. "Daniel! Give me something to capture it with!"
Daniel was motionless, staring upon the unknown Pokemon who struggled to move as though contained by the crushing force of gravity pressuring it to the ground. He felt a great sorrow and pity that they had attacked this unknown Pokemon, even though it possessed the might to eliminate them with but a few movements. Daniel reached inside his backpack and found the one Ultra Ball he had bought in case he found a Pokemon he liked after capturing Seel.
"Daniel!" Joshua bellowed. "Capture it!"
Daniel shuddered with the ferocity of Joshua's anger. The unknown Pokemon stared back with pitiless eyes, vengeful in its dark heart. Though Daniel knew there was no way he could let this Pokemon go without fear of reciprocity, neither could he capture it - a Pokemon this powerful was surely on the wavelength of Lance's Dragonite - and it would be impossible to train. This Pokemon in particular looked like it would never recognize a master, and capturing it would only serve as an Ultra Ball time bomb waiting to go off once released. Daniel could not in good conscience enslave this Pokemon for the good of submitting it to mankind, no matter how lucrative the discovery or powerful it would be against his opponents.
Joshua turned to Nidoking, having half a mind to order him to wrest control of Daniel's Ultra Ball by force but his Poison/Ground-type Pokemon was suffering recharge recoil from its Hyper Beam. Furious with himself, with Nidoking and especially with Daniel, Joshua yelled, "Don't you dare do anything stupid!"
Daniel approached the unknown Pokemon, more scared than he had ever been as he walked forth and placed his hand upon its three-fingered paw. His mind was warped and subject to images that were not his own, of gross experimentation subjected to the unknown Pokemon in laboratories and liquid-filled tanks. His mind fought against the horrors that he was experiencing, not conscious enough to determine they were not his own until the unknown Pokemon released him from the telepathic hold. Stunned, Daniel stared back at the one-of-a-kind Psychic-type who could easily be determined as the strongest Pokemon in Kanto.
Daniel found abject apologies spilling from his mouth, realizing why the Pokemon meditated to be constantly battle ready. It could not expect warmth or care from humans, especially the scientists who had mistreated it so and consequently burned in a fire when it escaped from the laboratory in which it was held. His and Joshua's presence in this cave only served to amplify the unknown Pokemon's caution and defiance.
"If you won't do it - "
Joshua leapt from his position as Meowth pounced with his claws drawn, scratching Joshua across the face in warning. He stumbled back in agony, tripping over an errant rock and toppling onto his back in great pain. Startled, Daniel turned to see Nidoking recovering from its exertions, mad that Meowth had attacked while Seel's horn shone bright with icicles forming in the air as he readied to direct his charged Ice Beam.
"Don't even think about it!" Daniel demanded. "This Pokemon needs our help!"
"Are you crazy?" Joshua was apoplectic, his face red with scratches. "This Pokemon is the strongest there is! I'm not letting you take it!"
"I'm not capturing it!" Daniel's words had a calming effect upon the unknown Pokemon, who registered his concern. "I know it's powerful and dangerous but it's been through a lot already - "
Enraged at Daniel's naivety, concern and above all his hesitation, Joshua roared, "Nidoking, I want that Pokemon at all costs! Do you understand me?"
Nodding, Nidoking turned with a growl to face Seel and Meowth, his only opponents against Daniel who stood limply with his Ultra Ball by his side.
"We are not doing this!" Daniel panicked, though it was clear his Seel held a type advantage against Nidoking, but his memory flashed back to his loss in the tournament at the hands of Joshua. "You can't attack me! You're insane - "
Nidoking crackled with electricity and released a Thunderbolt at Seel, just as Seel directed his Ice Beam at Nidoking. Seel was electrified to great injury and lay fainted upon the cavern floor, while Nidoking was blasted back, already under great exhaustion from the prior Psychic blast and fell into unconsciousness.
Joshua got to his feet, having lost Nidoking, but disposed of Seel. He rushed towards Daniel, ducking Meowth's leap of fury and wincing as the cat Pokemon sunk his claws and teeth deep into his shoulder. Daniel was livid at Joshua's ambitions and punched him in the nose, causing Joshua to stumble back as Meowth leapt off with an almighty cry. Joshua crashed into the cavern floor, out cold.
Daniel felt fear creep up his neck along with an unfamiliar thrill of satisfaction. He had never thrown a punch before and it felt good, especially in dire circumstances as these where his violence was warranted against the madman that was Joshua.
"I'm sorry for all this," Daniel approached the unknown Pokemon, somehow sensing that this strange creature could understand him. "I came here to rescue Joshua before he did something stupid. You can see his ego overcomes him and he can't hold himself back."
The unknown Pokemon continued to stare at him with pitiless eyes, not betraying an iota of warmth as Daniel retrieved a Full Heal from his backpack.
"This will heal you of your paralysis and poison. Hopefully you have the energy to escape," Daniel watched the unknown Pokemon as he administered the Full Heal. "I don't know what you are, but you're too powerful for mankind. I don't want to capture or defeat you. I just want to leave here alive, with Joshua even though he's an ass."
Slowly, the unknown Pokemon rose to its feet and Daniel felt terror that he would be destroyed without a second glance. Meowth's fur stood on end but the unknown Pokemon turned to Daniel and nodded.
"Can you understand me?" Daniel was excited despite his fear.
Arrogantly, the unknown Pokemon tossed its head towards Joshua's fallen figure. It bore the harsh marks and scars of the battle, but wouldn't allow the effects to drain its regal standing. Daniel rushed to collect Joshua's Pokeballs from his belt, somehow sensing what the unknown Pokemon wanted him to do and returned Nidoking, Scyther, Golbat and Primeape from where they lay unconscious with bright flashes of red light inside their Pokeballs. Daniel did the same with his three unconscious Pokemon and Meowth.
The unknown Pokemon retained its fury and might, but grudgingly accepted Daniel's action and motioned for him to hold onto his extended hand. For a wild moment Daniel thought the unknown Pokemon wanted to shake hands, but gathered his senses and remembered the Psychic-type could teleport. Daniel carried Joshua over to the unknown Pokemon, no easy feat while the unknown Pokemon watched with an unrelenting gaze.
Daniel hesitated before he addressed the unknown Pokemon standing tall before him. "Thank you - "
The unknown Pokemon nodded, taking the initiative to take Daniel's arm in a rough gesture not out of place in the circumstances. Daniel felt a surreal calm invade his senses, suddenly convinced of this Pokemon's capability to be kind. Glancing up at the damage he and Joshua had caused upon the Psychic-type Pokemon's visage, Daniel privately thought that it must have taken a lot for the Pokemon to forgive. He felt a tingle as the unknown Pokemon read his thoughts, gasping in surprise.
Despite its injuries, the unknown Pokemon managed a grimace of acknowledgment that was tantamount to a smile. Daniel felt seriously chilled looking upon this powerful Pokemon managing warmth and wished the Pokemon had not undergone the horrific trials that had resulted in its creation. Daniel squeezed the unknown Pokemon's hand, finding unwelcome companionship in the Pokemon's gaze as Daniel felt a sudden warp feeling, holding tightly onto Joshua as he was teleported out of Cerulean Cave.