Chapter Fifty One – Hurricane Adelina pt II
"My presence infuriates you?" Alexa asked fiercely as she slid off of her Aerodactyl's back, keeping her sinister gaze on Adelina as she approached Keith. "You assault my boyfriend and abduct my brother – what did you expect was going to happen, I take tap-dancing lessons from a Spinda!?" Adelina gritted her teeth furiously as Alexa crouched near Keith, her demeanour finally softening as she swung her backpack off her back and searched through its plentiful contents.
"I would have expected you to have learned your lesson after last time, you little slut..."
"Keith, are you all right?!" Alexa asked as she pulled out a small pouch of Lum berries from her backpack, completely oblivious to Adelina's reply.
"I-I'm fine...it-it just—aagh...!" Keith felt his entire body twitching stiffly again. As Ava clung to him in despair, Alexa held a Lum berry in front of Keith.
"Here; it'll help your paralysis without the need for a rinsing – don't worry, it's safe for human consumption." Keith nodded as he took the green berry from Alexa's palm and tossed it into his mouth. Alexa handed another Lum berry to Iara before handing her the pouch. "Iara, use this to help the others."
"Poreon," Iara nodded hesitantly as she quickly ate the berry lying on Alexa's hand; with her paralysis cured, she took the pouch in her mouth and hurried over to Reese.
"Aerooooo!" Alexa looked up at her Aerodactyl.
"What's the matter, Pteros?"
"Aero," Pteros used his tail to point at one of his feet, the golden tail ring capturing some of the sunlight and accidentally blinding Keith for a brief moment. Confused, Alexa helped Keith onto his feet before she investigated Pteros's foot; Pteros lifted his foot off of the ground and revealed Adelina's Luxury Ball partly sunken into the grass.
"Ah, yes, that's mine," Adelina said smugly as Alexa picked up the Poké Ball and brushed some of the soil and grass strands from its surface. She opened it as she examined it for any damage. "I was in the process of adding a new Pokémon to my collection when you-" All of a sudden, Alexa closed and compressed the Luxury Ball before putting it in her pocket. Adelina was livid. "Excuse me! That is MY Poké Ball, you little-"
"You destroyed Xavier's Poké Ball! Consider your debt for that repaid," Alexa said nastily as Iara and Reese hurried over to the heavily wounded Sawsbuck. Keith watched them anxiously, especially after noting the pain he was in. "Now, let my brother go! He hasn't done anything to you!"
"I don't think I will, darling," Adelina said with a devilish smile on her cheek. Keith looked at Alexa worriedly.
"I-I'm so sorry, Alexa...! I-I tried to help him, but—" Keith fell silent as Alexa held her arm out in front of him.
"Keenan is my priority right now; I'll hear the full story when we're out of her crosshairs." Keith felt concerned, but nodded understandingly. Adelina laughed.
"You mean to tell me that the cause for our encounter on Route 7 is your priority?!" Alexa glared savagely at Adelina.
"Meaning?!"
"Oh, come on, darling, you know precisely what I'm talking about. I told you; Silvia saw you conversing with your little brother regarding what I've been up to...are you seriously going to save the one responsible for your whole world crashing on top of you?" she asked tauntingly. Keith panicked a little, but Alexa closed her eyes, took a deep breath as she clenched both of her fists.
"I don't plan to...for one thing..." Alexa opened her eyes and stared demoniacally at Adelina. "She's not in distress." Pteros sniggered at the comeback, but Keith smiled nervously; he could tell she was withholding a lot more anger than she was showing – and feared what might happen if she were to snap. Keenan smirked briefly before the annoyed Jellicent tightened her grip on him.
"H-How DARE you?!"
"No! How dare YOU hurt my brother AND my boyfriend?! I told you; I've been trying to stay AWAY from your nonsense, yet here you are making things far more personal than they need to be! I am sick to DEATH of this sort of thing happening to me and I am NOT going to take it anymore – this is going to stop right here, right now!"
"They WON'T stop until I have my way!" Adelina said angrily. Francesca and Huey glared daggers at Pteros, but the Aerodactyl shrugged at the pair; it was clear that he couldn't care less for the Gothitelle and Delcatty staring fiercely at him.
"Holding my brother hostage will help you get your way!?" Alexa asked interrogatively.
"It might... After all, I need to punish him for being a little snoop," Adelina said arrogantly as she glanced at Keenan.
"A-Alex, help...!"
"Hang on, Keenan, help's at hand!" Alexa called as she took her five remaining Poké Balls from her belt and held them in both hands. Adelina chortled.
"Are you seriously proposing we battle again?!"
"Last time, you forced my hand; that's not the case this time! Everyone, I need your help! ALL of you!" Alexa cried as she tossed all five of her Poké Balls into the air; all five Pokémon emerged from their Poké Balls with differing displays – Kayla leapt out from a yellow lightning bolt, Layla burst through yellow flower petals, a Mawile with a green band on her ear-like extensions jumped out of an explosion of blue confetti, Jollie sprung from a large pink heart and Ryder emerged from a ring of rainbow stars. All five Pokémon landed in front of Alexa, glaring ferociously at Adelina, having realised the situation at hand. Adelina scowled at the little army in front of her, her glare fixated on Layla in particular.
"You don't deserve such a rare Pokémon, Alexa..."
"Layla, Ryder, Jollie, you three head over to Robbie and make sure he's okay!" Alexa instructed firmly, refusing to let Adelina torment her further.
"You got it!" Ryder nodded as he, Layla and Jollie hurried over to the wounded Sawsbuck. Alexa took one extra Poké Ball from her pocket, encased in a Seal capsule with a blue flame seal on the upper half of the Poké Ball, as she looked over at Pteros.
"Pteros, I need you in your Poké Ball for now; I can't risk you suffering any injuries in case we need to escape quickly."
"Aero," Pteros nodded happily.
"As if I'd let you escape me AGAIN, Alexa!" Adelina shouted as Pteros was recalled into his Poké Ball. "If you intend to finish what we started—"
"What YOU started," Alexa corrected forcefully. "And I'm not leaving without my brother!"
"Alexa, are you seriously going to battle her again?! After Xavier-"
"I do, Keith," Alexa said quickly. Her answer alarmed him.
"But-"
"Alex!" Alexa looked back at Ryder, who stood near Robbie's wounded leg and faced her with extreme worry. "His leg's pretty bad!"
"How bad?"
"Broken!" Ryder called back. "What do we do?!" Alexa looked back at Adelina and gave her a little scowl before looking back at her Lucario.
"Protect him for as long as you can! I have a feeling things are going to get messy again!" she replied authoritatively. Ryder, though reluctantly, nodded. Adelina roared with amused laughter.
"Are you serious right now?! I admit you've learned to stock up on supplies since we last battled, but are you truly allowing yourself and your Pokémon to suffer all over again?! You can't stand up to me, Alexa!"
"I can't! Not on my own, at least," Alexa retorted as she looked back at Keith. Keith stared at her almost in terror.
"Wait, what...?!" Alexa's hardened look gradually became a look of near desperation, which alarmed Keith further. "Wait...y-you're not saying what I think you're saying...?!"
"I need your help," Alexa said bluntly.
"That's what I thought you were saying! Alexa, how am I supposed to help you?!" Keith asked in a panic. "I mean, I-I'm not a Trainer and the only Pokémon I have that COULD battle isn't trained to do so!" Adelina watched Keith with amusement, but Reese, Iara and Ava looked up at him with worry. Adelina laughed even harder.
"First you were ill-equipped for battle, now you're seeking the co-operation of a boy who doesn't even have a Trainer Card?! Oh my days, Alexa, you're killing me here! ...ow, my belly...!" Alexa chose to ignore Adelina's roaring laughter and faced Keith directly, looking into his chocolate brown eyes sincerely.
"I know it's a gargantuan ask, but...I need your help."
"But-"
"Keenan's indisposed...and I can't handle Adelina on my own... Please, Keith...you're the only one I can ask right now..." Keith looked at Alexa with grave concern; though subtle, he could see her desperation in her eyes.
"I don't know if I can do this...I mean...the whole point of us being here was to train Ava...she's not ready for this and neither am I! Are you sure I'm even the right person to ask?!"
"I trust you," Alexa replied, without even a hint of hesitation in her voice. Keith was surprised to hear such a declaration uttered so quickly and so confidently. Nevertheless, it put a smile on Keith's face as he nodded.
"And I trust you; if you think I can do this, I'll prove you right." He looked down at Ava, leaving Alexa smiling with sheer glee. "Ava, think you can do this?" Ava quivered in place as she looked over at Adelina; she was breathing rapidly to the point of hyperventilating from laughing so hard – Huey and Francesca were at her side, trying to calm her down whilst panicking over her inability to breath properly. Then, Ava looked over at Keenan; she could see the mild pain he was in whilst under the grip of Adelina's Jellicent – the sight both made her pity the boy and resentful towards the Jellicent. Ava looked back at Robbie; he was surrounded by Alexa's protective Pokémon, but struggled to endure his excruciating pain – she felt herself becoming a little more angrier than she was before as she looked up at Keith, giving him a nod in response to his question.
"Pichu."
"Sounds like a yes to me, Kitten," Keith smirked. Alexa nodded at him.
"Thank you, Keith...!" She looked back at Adelina just as she regained her composure. "Last chance, Adelina! Let my brother go and things don't have to get so ugly!" Adelina tried not to laugh again.
"You're seeking the help from an inexperienced little bastard...what makes you think I'll take you seriously NOW!?" Alexa shrugged.
"Have it your way. Kayla, you're up first-"
"No!" Keith exclaimed in protest. "Not your Luxray!" Alexa turned to Keith in bafflement. "Her Electric attacks won't help; they'll be drawn to Ava like the Gothitelle's was!" Alexa was flabbergasted.
"Ava attracts Electric attacks?" she asked. Keith's nod only provided her with a huge grin. "She has the Lightningrod ability! Great!"
"Eh?" Keith was left flummoxed, but Alexa faced her Luxray.
"You heard the man, Kayla! Ready to shake things up a bit?"
"Lux-ray!" Kayla nodded keenly.
"Millie, you stay back for now; I may need you later on."
"Maw-ile," Millie nodded respectfully.
"So, you truly think you can defeat me, Alexa?" Adelina asked cockily. "I'd love to see you try; it'll be a perfect opportunity for your baby brother to learn not to cross Adelina Cross and escape unpunished!" As he attempted to endure the pain of Dolores's tight grip on his arms and legs, Keenan saw Alexa smirking at Adelina.
"Defeat you? I didn't say that was on my agenda."
"Very good; because I don't intend to let you – I have no intention on losing to some emotional bimbo and her bitch."
"Kayla, start things off with a Fire Fang attack!" Alexa instructed instantly. Kayla roared as she dashed towards Huey, her fangs burning in bright orange flames.
"Oh, no you don't... Francesca, Dark Pulse the Luxray! Huey, get that Pichu and bring her to me!" Adelina commanded.
"Crap, what do I do?!" Keith panicked.
"Ava, Thundershock!" Alexa called quickly.
"P-Pi-CHU!" In haste, Ava released an unsteady burst of electricity from her body, which detered the Delcatty as he ran over to her with the intent of snatching her with his teeth. Huey hissed viciously and slashed at Ava with his claws veiled in a weak shadow that was hardly noticeable. Ava squealed in fear as she ran and hid behind Keith's leg. At the same time, Kayla leapt away from Francesca's stream of dark purple rings and sunk her flaming teeth into the Gothitelle's shoulder; Francesca suddenly began to flash in a red glow as Kayla almost spat her target out of her mouth and ran back towards Alexa with a look of disgust on her face – Gothitelle don't taste very good, apparently! Alexa looked back at Keith.
"All Pokémon inherit at least one move from their parents after birth; now that we know that Ava knows Thundershock, she can at the very least protect herself, as we've just seen..." Keith nodded.
"Okay, but Thundershock alone isn't going to help..."
"It won't, so we're going to train Ava while I have Kayla stall for time," Alexa smiled, keeping her voice quiet enough to prevent Adelina hearing her.
"Stall for time?"
"Trust me," Alexa winked.
"Of course I do, but...how are we going to teach a Lightningrod Pichu Electric attacks?"
"We can teach her other attacks that aren't Electric type for the moment," Alexa said as she looked towards Keenan, who was still fighting his battle to breathe. "We can't afford to put time into working around Ava's ability right now..."
"Francesca, what the heck are you doing?! Use Shadow Ball on that bitch of a Luxray! Huey, you had better get me that Pichu, even if you have to attack Keith and/or Alexa to do it!" Adelina screamed lividly.
"Gothitelle!" Furious, Francesca formed a shadowy sphere of deep purple and black energy in between her hands and pushed it towards Kayla while Huey raced towards Keith, his eyes fixated on the little Pichu behind his leg.
"Kayla, use Quick Attack! Ava, watch and copy her!"
"Luxray!" Kayla ran head first into Francesca's Shadow Ball attack and broke through the technique, but not without her face and mane suffering from very mild burns, and tackled into Francesca with blinding speed. Ava looked at the fast-approaching Delcatty and blindly ran towards him, eyes shut tightly as she jumped and slammed her head into his neck; while Ava failed to knock him to the ground as Kayla had done to Francesca, she certainly succeeded in making it difficult for Huey to breathe, as he was hacking, gagging and coughing after such a hard knock to his throat.
"That's the way!" Keith yelled encouragingly. "Now use Thundershock!" Alexa smiled at Keith; he seemed to be getting the hang of battling.
"Pichu!" Ava, taking advantage of Huey's fatigue, released a slightly more concentrated burst of electricity that shocked him.
"You fucking annoying little turds!" Adelina screeched. "I think it's time I made things even more difficult," she said nastily as she took out another Poké Ball from her bag. "Hyacinth, sweetheart, Sludge Bomb attack on whichever target you see first!" she shouted as she opened her Poké Ball. The Vileplume burst forth from the shower of pink flower petals and unleashed a barrage of sludge balls at Ava.
"Kayla, you know what to do!" Alexa called.
"Luxray!" Kayla nodded as she ran towards Ava and grabbed her with electrified teeth as she saved the Pichu from the poisonous onslaught. Keith spotted the electricity dancing around Kayla's teeth, which began to course around Ava's entire being.
"Thunder Fang?"
"Yep! Ava's a little stronger now."
"Stronger?" Adelina asked in puzzlement. "I thought she had the ability that heals the Pokémon when it's hit with electricity."
"You're confusing Lightningrod with Volt Absorb," Alexa explained calmly. Adelina blinked, but soon chuckled.
"In either case, it's still a rare ability for a Pichu and I am going to get her...one way or another..." She looked over at Keenan. "Even if I must use the little one for ransom..." Alexa suddenly felt highly infuriated and felt a twitch in her eye.
"Kayla, Fire Fang that Vileplume!"
"Luxray!" Kayla ran towards Hyacinth with her teeth ablaze and ready to bite down on whatever stands in her way.
"Huey, get that Pichu!"
"Again with this...? Ava, Thundershock again!" Keith instructed.
"Pichu!" Ava nodded as she ran towards Huey and shocked him once again to stop him in his tracks; the lightning bolt that struck him was thicker than the previous one and left him with static electricity coursing all over his body, numbing his muscles and causing him to collapse onto the ground.
"Ugh! Oh, how DARE you?!" Adelina huffed snootily. "As soon as you're MY Pokémon, I'm going to punish you for what you've done to my darling Delcatty!"
"P-Pichu..." Ava was intimidated.
"Don't listen to her, Ava!" Keith encouraged. "You're doing great!" Ava smiled and blushed as she heard Keith's sentiment.
"Hyacinth, Toxic that little rat right now!"
"Vileplume!" Hyacinth complied with a cunning smirk as she released a cloud of deep purple spores that sped towards Ava.
"Maybe this will help me capture you!"
"Millie, go!" Alexa cried quickly. "Grab Ava with Thunder Fang!"
"Mawile!" Millie hurried to Ava's rescue as she used the giant set of jaws growing from the top of her head, its teeth crackling with electricity, to scoop the little Pichu and hoist her into the air; Ava breathed rapidly out of fear of being trapped in the Mawile's jaws, but she saw that the poisonous cloud swamped her hero instead of her. As soon as the cloud waned, Millie smirked at the bemused Vileplume; the poison spores hadn't affected her at all!
"W-What?!"
"Electric types can't be paralysed...and Steel types can't be poisoned," Alexa grinned wittily.
"You fucking little bitch!" Adelina shouted angrily as she stomped her foot in frustration. "Now it's personal!" Alexa lost her temper.
"It's ALREADY personal – you're holding my brother hostage, you sociopath!"
"THAT is why you should choose your words carefully, young lady!" Adelina said demandingly as she took out another Poké Ball from her bag; it had a white confetti seal on the capsule covering the Poké Ball. "Silvia, you're back on, sweetheart! Use Bug Bite on that bitch Alexa RIGHT NOW!" she shrieked violently as she opened the Poké Ball, releasing her Beautifly with an explosion of white confetti.
"Alexa-"
"I know. Millie, toss Ava towards the Beauifly!"
"Ava, Thundershock it!"
"Ma-wi-LE!" Millie swung her jaws around and tossed Ava towards the Beautifly zooming towards Alexa; as soon as she touched the Butterfly Pokémon, Ava released an even larger burst of electricity from her body, sending Silvia crashing into the grass beneath her. Ava ran away from the grounded Beautifly as static electricity coursed all over her body as well.
"What the actual HELL?! Are you seriously trying to make me angry?! Because you know what will happen if you make me angry, Alexa!" Adelina warned viciously. With a snap of her fingers, Keenan breathlessly cried out in agony as Dolores tightened her grip on him. Suddenly, Keith and Alexa began to panic, which hadn't escaped Ryder's notice; he and the other Pokémon were watching the battle, as they had nothing to protect Robbie from. For now.
"Alex, let ME battle in Ava's place!" Ryder called. "You're not getting anywhere with this and you're-"
"I KNOW, Ryder!" Alexa responded angrily. Ryder recoiled, but understood her frustration. "Dammit... Think, Alexa, think...!" she said spitefully to herself as she looked around at her surroundings.
"Advantage, Adelina," Adelina said mockingly as she took her final Poké Ball from her bag; Alexa recognised the black smoke seal on the capsule and felt sick to her stomach.
"...Ryder...! You have something to protect Robbie from now...!"
"Huh? What are you talking about?" Keith asked, confused and concerned for Alexa's sudden state of terror.
"Carter, honey! YOUR TURN!" Adelina cackled as she opened the Poké Ball. A huge smokescreen veiled the entirety of Adelina's side of the field for a few seconds before waning, revealing the iconic figure that was Carter, the Malamar responsible for Xavier's hospitalisation and the destruction of the Zoroark's Poké Ball. The very sight of the Overturning Pokémon sent shivers down Ryder's spine, made Jollie weak at the knees and Alexa's stomach turn.
"B-B-Buneary...!"
"S-Stay here, Jollie," Ryder said quietly.
"Nothing to say, Alexa?! I'm not surprised; Carter DID leave a very lasting impression on you AND your Pokémon, after all!" Adelina said boastfully. "And you certainly left one on him as well." Carter focused his attention on Alexa and grinned menacingly at her, prompting Kayla and Millie to step in front of her protectively. "I'll make this easy for you two."
"How?" Keith wondered as Ava ran towards Kayla and stood next to her as she looked at the Malamar in confusion.
"Keith, if you surrender that Pichu to me...I'll let the boy go and nobody needs to get hurt...again." Alexa felt more offended than she could ever recall; she felt a twitch in her eye again. Keith was almost as angry as Alexa, but took a slightly calmer approach.
"You can't use Keenan as a means to bargain with me; he's not my brother – I HAVE no brothers or sisters!"
"I didn't necessarily need to know that little titbit, but my demand still stands; the Pichu for Alexa's brother. Or must I take both Thorndyke siblings hostage to make you surrender to my whim?" In that instant, Keith grabbed Alexa and clung onto her and glared savagely at Adelina; Alexa was heavily confused and alarmed, yet she felt herself blushing a little.
"You lay a FINGER on my girl and I swear to Arceus I'll take your ARM off!" Keith threatened fiercely.
"Cute. However, you shouldn't make any threat you're not prepared to enforce, darling," Adelina sniggered. "On the other hand...I'm more than equipped to act on MY threats... Carter, sweetheart, show them what I mean. Keenan, honey, are you watching?"
"Huh?" Keenan watched in confusion as Carter's eyes shone in a brief flash of white light. Suddenly, Kayla and Millie's stances relaxed as their eyes turned pale and soulless, their expressions turning completely blank. Alexa recognised what was happening to her Luxray and Mawile and it horrified her.
"RAAAAAY!" Kayla suddenly spun around and lunged at Alexa. Keith kept his grip on her and dragged her away from Kayla's path.
"MAWILE!" Millie attempted to sink her large jaws into Keith's leg, but Jollie hastily slammed the tip of her right ear, brimming with red and orange flames, onto the Mawile's head, knocking the Mawile out in one attack and protecting Keith's leg. Jollie suddenly looked up at Alexa apologetically.
"B-Buneary!"
"It-it's okay," Alexa said shakily as she recalled her fainted Mawile into her Poké Ball. "Y-You did what you had to," she continued as she returned her hypnotised Luxray to her Poké Ball as well.
"What the hell was that?!"
"That, Keith, was Carter's unique skill; he can take control of absolutely any living being he and/or I want him to control," Adelina explained proudly.
"Xavier said that happened to me!" Ryder exclaimed anxiously. "I can't remember anything about it, though!"
"But the best part is...Carter can also control AS MANY living beings as he so desires!" Adelina boasted. "And, trust me, I could have him take control of EVERY Pokémon you have if it means I get my way! So...what say you?"
"I thought your intent was to punish Keenan for looking at some stupid photo and asking his sister about it," Keith said with a raised eyebrow.
"I can do that either by hurting him myself or by tormenting you and your whore; it makes no difference to me, but the latter may also give me a very special Pichu..."
"What do we do, Kitten?" Keith asked in a gentle whisper. Alexa began to panic; with the culprit behind Xavier's extreme injury standing before her once again, what COULD they do? He had the power to turn every single battling Pokémon against them at the drop of a hat...if that were to happen, then all hope would be lost. She looked at Keenan, who, in turn, was looking at her with tremendous anguish; seeing the pain he was in undoubtedly upset her, but it also motivated her to keep fighting – she stood up as tall as she could stand and stared Adelina down confidently.
"Ryder...raise your shield. Layla, Jollie, I need you front and centre." Though immensely surprised, Layla and Jollie obeyed their instruction and ran in front of Alexa and Keith as they prepared for battle alongside Ava. Ryder held both paws into the air as a translucent teal green force field materialised and formed a protective dome over him, Robbie, Reese and Iara.
"Alexa?"
"I'll keep on fighting," Alexa said firmly as she held a hand over Keith's and used the other to release her Luxray from her Poké Ball again; Kayla blinked in confusion before she resumed her previous protective stance in front of Alexa. "And I won't stop until I get my brother back." Keith tightened his hold on her as he matched her determination, regardless of how subtle it was.
"I've got your back one hundred percent of the way, Kitten." Seeing Alexa's fighting spirit put a smile on Keenan's face.
"Alex..."
"Urgh, give me a break..." Adelina sighed. "Have it your way, Alexa...just remember you brought this on yourself." Alexa and Keith glared at their adversary.
"Believe me," Alexa began. "By the time this is over, it won't be me you'll be grinding your teeth over."
To be continued...