Trent: Show time!
Reggie: Votes in the poll have been carefully tallied.
Trent: The author wishes to thank all of you who voted.
Reggie: Paul will be 8, 9, & 10.
Trent: By the way, this is also a foreshadowing chapter.
Reggie: Due to the nature of the foreshadow context, factored in with the author's sense of humor, only 2 of these battles will be losses on Paul's end.
Author's Note: Happy Boxing Day to my Canadian Readers! Man, this is getting to be a great story. You know that I don't own Pokémon; except my OCs. There will be an announcement at the bottom, so be on the lookout for it. I'll be quiet for now & give you the long awaited chapter 18!
Chapter 18: Quitting Gym Leaders?
(Cerulean City. Normal P.O.V.)
"She beat you, like fair & square, cutie!" a girl with pink hair states.
"I don't even think she tried," a girl with indigo hair adds.
"Misty could beat you, but she's not old enough," a girl with blonde hair adds.
"Look, I'm going to the Pokémon Center to heal my 2 Pokémon. I'll be back in less than an hour, Daisy," a boy says.
(Same place. Daisy's P.O.V.)
"Isn't he cute when he's angry?" Lily gushes, after running a hand through her thick, pink hair.
"Daisy, maybe you're like, losing your touch," Violet chips in.
"Don't say that! I still believe in you!" Misty.
"What's gotten into you, little sis?" I ask.
"That challenger. Didn't he tell you his name?"
"He's from Veilstone City in the Sinnoh region," Lily states.
"Paul, I think," Violet shrugs.
"What?" Misty's friend Eileen is here.
"Eileen, do you, like, have a crush on that cutie?"
Eileen face palms & says, "No, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't know him. He, my aunt & Reggie were supposed to come last Saturday after the play. Paul went missing. He probably registered in the database or he might've been placed into Viridian Tech, which is almost impossible!"
"What's so bad about Viridian Tech?" Misty asks.
"Viridian Tech is a school for gifted children, but it functions as a testing academy for kids who want to work in the police force. Aside my family's training facility & diner, Viridian Tech is the only place that Team Rocket hasn't really touched. I've been a student there for a couple of years, now. Well, more like an intern, but I still get to battle."
Eileen was one of the Viridian gym trainers & she shared passion for Water-types with Misty.
"Wait, was he the one you were trying to introduce me to?" Misty asks.
"Yeah, but Paul's a tough one like I told you. Mind if I call my folks & ask if I can stay to watch?" Eileen asks.
"You can use my gear. I have your number programmed in," I say.
Eileen dials it & her mom answers.
"Honey, where are you? You were supposed to report back from your search an hour ago."
"Paul's here. In Kanto. He just lost to Daisy. Can I stay?" she asks.
"I don't know. Do you have at least 2 on you?"
She grins at this, because she's a gym trainer.
"I grabbed Feraligatr & Typhlosion. Keep in mind I've got Growlithe, too."
I see the little necklace.
"Alright. Well, let me make a call & then you & Paul are both coming home. Thanks Daisy," she says.
"He should be back soon," I say.
"He's probably planning a strategy," Misty says.
"It'll be good to see him battle again," Eileen says.
"Have you like, battled him before?" Lily asks.
"Yeah, about a year ago & when we were younger," she says.
Misty takes the stairs to the bleachers & Eileen starts climbing the wall. As they settle down, Paul comes back in.
"Our referee called in sick. Violet, why don't you do it?" I ask, getting on my respective platform. Paul gets on his.
"This is an official rematch between Cerulean Gym Leader Daisy Waterflower & Paul Matthews of Veilstone City. Same rules as earlier. Begin!"
"Let's go, Goldeen!" I say.
"This time, I'm gonna do it right. Pidgeotto, stand by for battle!" Paul says.
"He caught a fully-evolved Pidgeotto?" Misty says. Paul turns & sees Misty.
"Squirt? What are you doing here?" He must be addressing Eileen.
"Watching you go for your Cascade Badge," she shouts.
"Pidgeotto, descend 36 degrees," he says.
"Fury Attack!" I command.
"Perfect. Pidgeotto, Razor Wind!" I'm stunned.
(After the win. En route to Viridian Tech, Paul's P.O.V.)
"A missing child search?" I'm stunned.
"Paul, take a chill pill. Did you catch that Pidgeotto?" Squirt's friend asks. The night of the play, she was the Milotic. What was her name, though?
"Earth Badge to Paul. Misty asked you a question," she says. We're currently in a police car.
"I caught it recently as a Pidgey & Pidgey evolved into Pidgeotto. Impressed?" I ask because I'm next to her.
"Shocked is the better term. I should apologize for my sisters being airheads," she says.
"Mist, don't apologize. How long has Daisy been leading the gym?" she asks.
I look at Misty, who's trying to think.
(Olivine City. Normal P.O.V.)
"A double knockout? Oh, come on!" a distressed female states.
"Is there something wrong? We still have one Pokémon each," a plum-haired trainer states.
"I don't know how I'd explain it to you, Paul," the female states.
"Jasmine!" a male is heard.
The female now known as Jasmine looks to the voice.
"Thorton?" Jasmine says in shock.
"Excuse us for a second," Thorton states.
(Thorton's P.O.V.)
"Jasmine, what's wrong?" I ask my sister.
"There was a double knockout & I'm not sure if my new team mate is ready," she says. I didn't know how to respond to that. We're talking the evolution of her starter.
I then notice the empty referee box.
"Jasmine, where's grandpa?" I know my grandfather.
"The lighthouse with Sparkle."
"Um, I hate to be in the middle of any family conflict, but that was in fact a double knockout," Paul says. I console Jasmine a little & decide to referee or restart.
"Both of our Pokémon were knocked out due to the impact of the attacks. From my vantage point, I was unable to see which Pokémon fainted first."
I looked at Jasmine.
"I couldn't tell either. Please let Thorton serve as our ref," she says.
"Sure thing," Paul says.
"This is the continuing match between leader Jasmine of Olivine City and," I stop because I don't know Paul's last name or hometown.
"Paul Matthews. Veilstone," he states. He's from Sinnoh. I wonder if he knows the hall matron.
I decide to clarify.
"This is the final battle between Jasmine & Paul. An Olivine City Mineral Badge is at stake. The match is over when either Pokémon has been knocked out, technical or otherwise. Understood?" I ask.
"Yes," Paul states. It's hard to make out, but I think I can see a smirk on his face.
"Yes," Jasmine states.
"Donphan, stand by for battle!" Paul says.
"Steelix!" Jasmine calls out her partner.
"Donphan, start it off with Rollout!" Paul commands. Donphan starts doing so. 'Jasmine, what are you doing?' I think to myself.
"Steelix, Iron Tail!" Donphan dodges & she shoots me a look.
"Now use Sandstorm!" I cover my eyes, hoping Paul does the same.
"Dragonite, stand your guard & use Whirlwind!" I say.
Once the field clears, it's evident who has won.
"Donphan is unable to battle, Steelix wins & the victory goes to Jasmine!" I point the flag.
Paul recalls Donphan & begins to dust off his bag.
"You can have," Jasmine starts.
"No. I think it's best that you sort out any family conflicts before you continue," he sternly says before leaving.
"Jas, start cleaning this up. You & I need to have a talk; I'm going to talk with the challenger."
I go outside & say, "Paul!"
He stops.
"How long has she been a gym leader? Six months?" he asks.
"Yeah, how'd you know?"
He raises a brow.
"I didn't. Thank you for serving as our referee," he bows.
"Listen, this is kinda out of the blue, but when you said Veilstone, it immediately clicked that you're from Sinnoh. You wouldn't happen to know the hall matron, would you?"
"If she has a name," he says. Snarky, but it could be.
"Argenta. Purplish hair, like yours, wears sunglasses," I begin.
"Yeah. Do you want her autograph or something?" he asks. She's one of my coworkers & her son is asking for my autograph.
"No. I just didn't know her son,"
"I'm not her son. Out of all my aunts, she's the only one in Sinnoh. My father has been passing me around though I'm legally with my mom & brother. I should get going, though. She's probably worried about me," he says, leaving.
I go back to the gym & see one of the students helping Jasmine.
"What was up with him?" she asks.
"Jas, chill," I say.
"He's like, nine years old & he nearly beat me!" Jasmine states.
"Jas, age doesn't matter. Plus, he's from Sinnoh & his aunt happens to be one of my coworkers."
"So?"
"I only have our phone number listed & she's probably going to flip if she found out!"
"If who found out what?"
My jaw drops slightly. I'm dead.
(Mid-story A/N: You thought I was gonna go full throttle with each battle, didn't you? If you did, you were wrong. If you didn't, then you are right. Any guesses on who addressed Thorton? Leave that in a review, as well as something from the bottom Author's Note. Now, this loss is the one that hits Paul hard.)
(Mossdeep City. Normal P.O.V.)
"Ralts, good job!" a girl with blue hair says.
"I'm surprised my Ralts evolved during battle. Way to go, Ralts; er, I mean, Kirlia," a boy with blue hair says.
"Sneasel, Makuhita, return!" a plum-haired trainer snaps at the two. He walks out as the referee walks in.
"Paul?" the woman asks.
(Mossdeep City. Rachel's P.O.V.)
My nephew.
"Paul, come here," I say. He places his bag down & I meet him halfway.
"Liza, Tate, freeze. Paul, don't be a sore winner," I say.
"Actually, Liza & I kinda sorta kicked his butt," Tate says.
"Real intelligent, Tate," Liza says. I embrace Paul.
"I'm gone for 10 minutes & you defeat Paul. I've raised you better," I say.
"Don't be so harsh, Aunt Rachel," Paul says, having broken from my embrace.
I look at my kids.
"When did my sister call?" I ask.
"About 20 minutes ago. Why? Did something happen to Eileen again?" Liza asks.
"We've been the gym leaders for six months," Tate says.
Paul rolls his eyes.
"In training. No, Eileen should be fine. Paul, there's actually someone who wants to see you. It's at this restaurant that Tate & Liza like. You should show him around."
"I guess. What about our team though?"
"Don't worry about it. Go now & you'll get your punishment later," I say.
Once they're out of safe aura range, I decide to call Isabel using the gym's phone.
(Viridian City, same time; Alex's P.O.V.)
The phone rings.
"Alex here. Oh, hi Rachel." My wife saunters down the stairs.
"Hey. What's up?"
"No. It's Paul. Tate & Liza pulled it off, but they aren't sliding with it. I'm glad Ace,"
"Rach, it's just us. Liana & Evan are with Ash & Gary. Empty house, pretty much."
"Eileen broke him out & I'm grateful. I wanted to thank her, but where is she?"
"She's supposed to be in Fortree," I say.
"Actually, Team Magma is believed to be based out of Mossdeep."
I look at my wife.
"Eileen & Cody were sent on a mission to infiltrate the bases of Team Aqua & Team Magma. Cody's from Kalos, but he lives in Pallet. If Eileen comes,"
"I've got it."
We disconnect.
(Meanwhile at the restaurant in Mossdeep, Paul's P.O.V.)
"You don't have to do this, you know," I say to them.
"Paul, it's the least we can do," Tate says.
"It's on me today," a guy says.
"No way! It's really you!" Liza beams.
The woman looks familiar & I think I've seen the guy before.
"Sidney, it is you!" Liza shrieks.
"Last time I checked. I'm Sidney of the Hoenn Elite 4," he states.
The woman's identity strikes me.
'It can't be. Unless the double agent meant everyone; I doubt it.'
She begins to smile; there's no way it's her!
(Meanwhile in a remote location of Mossdeep City. Normal P.O.V.)
A boy wearing a red jacket & black pants is scaling a wall; he immediately glides back down after hitting the bell.
"So, am I in?" the boy asks.
"Welcome to Team Magma, kid. Contact your family if you have one. I'm Blaise, that's Courtney & you'll meet our commander later on."
"New recruit?" a voice booms.
"Field Commander Tabitha, sir. Yeah, we were just telling him to go to his family if he has one."
Tabitha approaches the boy.
"I know aerial Hoenn. That's why I flew over my home of Fortree City," the kid confidently states.
"Come across anyone in a Team Aqua uniform & battle. Report back in no more than 3 hours."
The boy nods & leaves. When he gets the chance, he changes into street clothes.
(Meanwhile in Lilycove City, normal P.O.V.)
"60 seconds without surfacing. Tch, I'm not touching a dead body!"
"No one said you had to, Amber."
"Matt, Amber, what's going on?" a woman asks.
"Tactical Commander Shelly!" they salute.
"Don't be idiots. Surface & surrender," she says.
In a blue SCUBA suit with only a basic breathing apparatus, a trainer surfaces. The trainer undoes the hood.
"They call me Rogue, but that title belongs to my Crawdaunt," the trainer states.
"I like you & not just because you're a girl. Depart with your family & meet back tonight."
The trainer smirks & recalls her Crawdaunt.
(Dewford Town; Brawly's P.O.V.)
I was waiting for not one, but 2 kids.
"You're Brawly?"
"Yes. I'd assume you're Coda?" the kid nods.
A trainer surfaces & slides off a Wailord.
"Hey, Coda. You in?" Isabel's daughter is a part of Team Aqua?
"Follow me to the gym."
I let the kids into one of my geyser spots.
"You can go first, Coda. They make these too easy," Isabel's daughter says.
"Liana or Eileen?" I ask.
"Coda, where's Ace?"
"Right here, Lance," she says.
"Your parents are gonna give me an earful. Coda, call this number," showing him a piece of paper.
Ace unzips his bag.
"As for you, Ace, please call the Mossdeep Gym. Brawly, I told them to come to you."
Coda goes to Ace for privacy.
"So, Lance, care to tell me what these 2 are up to?" I ask.
"Crawdaunt is one of the main Pokémon used by Team Aqua. Mightyena is one of the main used by Team Magma. Since Ace & Coda have access to both, I sent them on infiltration missions."
"You should receive basic Magma coordinates. Aqua is a whole separate story."
"Did you meet the admins?" I ask.
Both nod.
"Lance, I can see what you meant when you saw potential in them."
"Leaf, can you hear me?" Ace asks.
"Crystal. If Lance is there, tell him I just battled my way through. We'll report to bases."
"Approved," Lance says.
I look at the 2 kids who change into the respective insignia of their villainous teams.
"Happy early birthday, Coda. It's not one of our Kanto starters; I sent one to Leaf before I left."
Coda throws the ball & I'm stunned.
"An Arcanine. Ace, you shouldn't have!"
"Hey, you've been dealing with Evan. I sent Leaf a Purrloin that's waiting to evolve. At least she's in her home region."
"Unova, right? Only Eileen Matthews would say that," I say.
"How could you tell me apart from my sister?"
"Because I brag about you on a constant basis. Brawly, thank you for looking after my daughter."
"No sweat, really."
"Cody, I actually brought you some clothes from your aunt. You'll meet in Mauville City so I can get you home. I'm actually staying in Mossdeep, so I'll see you both soon. Thanks again Brawly. Eileen, where's Wailord?"
"Out. Ready to go?"
Cody nods & I see the trainers off.
Revised A/N: I know that I said only two battles would be losses on Paul's part, but in the end, the battle in Mossdeep just seemed to go that way.