And so the month of preparations has begun. It was long and hard for all of us. Everyone contributed to our daring action.
Sabrina began to train new people and pokemon. We couldn`t let Team Rocket know about our plans so we didn`t add other cities to us – our small army was only the people of Saffron City. At least, even those who didn`t have a pokemon before, went into the forest and caught some Rattatas and Pidgeys or someone actually stronger to train them.
Master Koga worked on our intel – gathered all the information about our enemy, about our goal. His students infiltrated the city and found people that wish to join us from the inside. Too bad getting into the Silph Co. itself was too hard even for ninjas, so I will have to improvise, as always.
Bill was our technical support. Well, actually he was sitting in his workshop all the time finishing his invention that will help us in assaulting the main building. But it`s still very good to have him on our side.
As for me – firstly I met Misty and together we have visited all cities where the official gyms are located. I talked to Brock, added lieutenant Surge and Erika to our crazy party. Master Koga promised to contact leader Blane from Cinnabar Island, but for some reason he couldn`t do it. Maybe, Blane had a business of his own. Finding the Elusive Man from Viridian City was quite hard too, so I have collected just six gym leaders for my quest. I hope that is more than enough.
And the second part of time I have spent on preparations. I observed the city, its routes to the office of Silph Co. in the center. I became the mind of operation – I create plan, I create squads and I create even more plans. For the case of first squad`s fail I need to have at least two additional plans. In the end I had so many plan B and C and e.t.c that the whole language ended. I had to give them codenames then. The whole operation became a giant tree with branches responsible for each key moment. I guess I have never planned something this big before… Pretty good experience for myself. If I will survive this.
Of course, I didn`t forget about my team. Each free night I was spending in the forest, training. We have invented a lot of new maneuvers, sharpened old ones. But in the end my distraction affected the gang a lot.
Dumpling tried his best to learn flying, but even a month was not enough for him. One day he spent jumping off the tree and falling down until I forced him to return back. This guy really is stubborn, but I need to teach him to measure his strength.
Reaper showed his naughty nature in full calling me for training almost all the time when I don`t train. Well, this guy joined me to become the strongest, and I can understand his extreme determination. But this was a bit inappropriately in our situation.
Moment becomes worse and worse… I have no idea how to help him right now. He still battles fiercely and effectively, but not as good as earlier. I can only hope this will not become a problem in a critical moment.
Harry was another troublemaker too. I caught him trying to run away from our camp and assault Saffron City alone. I had to explain him how important our teamwork is now and asked to wait just a bit more. He seemed to understand, but I could clearly see all his trust in me slowly fading away…
At least, Loser had some fun during this. He tried to scare psychics in the night, and firstly he successfully did this… until all psychic-type pokemon he scared caught him and… well.. used Psychic on him. Being a half-poison type was not the advantage for my Gengar and he got beaten quite a lot. He learned the lesson and never did that again, though.
And the last but not least… Magikarp. He… learned Tackle! Finally, some really attacking move! Maybe it`s actually the weakest move, we can now work with it. I even invented two maneuvers that involve using Tackle and Splash, but my Magikarp didn`t understand them at all. Oh boy, this is going to be really hard…
Overall, the situation is not actually the best. I`m sure second time Giovanni will be stronger and more aware of my tricks. That means I must be even stronger and have even more tricks! Even those that don`t involve pokemon battles.
All this time I was asking the leaders not to talk about me too much. For all other people Sabrina remains the head of operation and I want them to think so. I hope not to stay in this story at all when it ends.
Sabrina herself began to change a bit. In the last weeks of our preparations we saw each other every day and her contempt and hatred slowly turned into… hatred and contempt. That`s some progress, especially when I didn`t try to make affection on her at all. But still each time we meet she stares at me and tries to infiltrate my thoughts. I tell her a couple of vulgar things in my mind and she retreats. Maybe this is how she tries to understand whether she should trust me or not. This is the way I don`t like at all.
But when the end was very close, suddenly… she appeared again.
I met Leaf while training with Magikarp on the lake of Route 6 with Misty. Today we have decided to train a bit further from our settlement than usually.
"Let`s make a break," Misty suddenly said me and sent her Staryu to rest in the lake.
"Well, maybe. Magikarp, go swim a bit too," I gently pushed my pokemon from the ground into the water and joined Misty on the bench.
Nice cool weather refreshed our minds. It would be a great evening for a date… But we are comrades now. There is no place for feelings on a war – they will hurt more if something bad happens.
And so we were sitting in a complete silence for some minutes – just staring at the stars, breathing the fresh air and chewing my chocolate bars.
"I still can`t believe you are going to organize something like this," Misty said switching her eyesight to me.
"You didn`t even suspect that this small war is already going in Saffron City, right?" I asked her in reply.
"No, I didn't…" she sadly looked at the grass before her, "looks like you`re right. Team Rocket actually controls everything… TV, newspapers, signs… Not just in Saffron City. The whole Kanto doesn`t aware of what`s really going on. And Sabrina is just too proud to call for help."
"Hey, don`t be that sad! Smile!" I gently raised her face to look at me, "or maybe no, don`t smile. Frown! Show me your determination and the will to fight!"
"Like this?" Misty asked and made really, really angry face. But she overdid this a bit and from my point of view that looked too funny.
"Yes.. like this…" I replied through the laugh, "they all will have to run in fear from you after this!"
"Come on, I`m serious!" she gently hit my left shoulder, "you`re very good at confusing people with words, jests, faces... This sometimes comes handy… Teach me!"
"Ha! This will be a very long course, life-long course! And this will cost you a lot."
"But I know your prices…" she said with sexual tone and playfully looked at me. Misty`s hand was slowly crawling on my leg.
"The inflation, my dear. This won`t be enough," I spoiled her mood and took her hand off me, "and we have no time. We need to train."
She took offensive and stood up from the bench.
"Fine! I will go train by myself! Without you!" Misty angrily said, "let`s go, Starmie. Don`t talk to this Magikarp."
And so they have gone. I don`t think Misty took this seriously – she just wants to show herself. This girl will come to me this night anyway and ask to play chess like nothing happened. Because nothing happened.
"Eh… Let`s go back to training, my boy," I addressed Magikarp in the lake and approached him, "we have much to do."
And we returned back to training. It was peaceful, calm and completely ineffective until…
"So… any progress?" she asked suddenly appearing right behind me. My defensive overreaction made me turn around and grab her forehead, but in a second I stopped in some funny pose. After that Leaf looked even more scared that me.
After realizing who`s standing before me I released her forehead and retreated.
"Don`t sneak up on me, girl," I quietly warned her.
"I got it… I will not," she carefully replied.
The awkward silence fell on the lake. I was looking at her, she was looking at me. I guess she wished to do a greeting hug, but hesitated because I will definitely not like it.
"So… Are we going to stand there and enjoy the sight of each other?" I asked her playfully.
"Ehm… Well…" she tried to talk, "how are you?"
"Okay, let`s try this way…" I indulgently replied and sat on the fallen tree branch nearby, "as you can see… My Magikarp learned Tackle. But learning the Flying Fish maneuver seems too hard for him…"
"The Flying Fish? Sounds funny," Leaf quietly giggled.
"Let`s see how funny this will be when this guy splashes over the building and tackles you right in the face like a meteor!" I smiled and confidently poked her in the nose. Leaf retreated back and looked at Magikarp.
"Fine, I get it! You succeeded in training your pokemon for this month…" she accepted my insistence.
"Where have you been all this time? I even began to miss you a bit. New articles?"
"Oh no, not articles…" she suddenly grinned and grabbed a pokeball from her pocket, "This!"
Leaf threw the capsule on ground and released her large blue beast outside - a Venusaur… Her Zaura.
"Well, great…" I complimented her still confused of what she wants from me, "did you changed her hair?"
"No! All this time we were training, and training hard!" she suddenly began to shout with determination, "the sudden vacation of ALL gym leaders was too suspicious for me to walk past. That`s how I found out what`s happening there… And I want to fight too!"
"Not gonna happen, Leaf," I negatively shook my head, "this is too dangerous for you…"
"I don`t care! Everything was dangerous with you!" she began to dangerously approach me, "we have the same battle experience. We began in the same day! Why do you think you are better than me?"
"Because you don`t have the experience of war!" I shouted at her in return, "and this is exactly what is going to happen."
"What are you talking about?"
"We have a real army there. Brock`s rock-type pokemon have surrounded the city. Misty`s water-type pokemon have already swarmed the sewers. Surge`s electric-type pokemon are ready to strike. Erika`s grass-type pokemon are hiding in the forest, waiting for my command. And Koga`s special poison-type squad is already among the enemies. We have them surrounded outside, inside, from the depth - everywhere. That is not. Just. Battle. That`s… my dear… is a war!"
Leaf was staring at me with eyes full of misunderstanding. Why does this girl needs to be so stubborn? Did she accidentally met Misty?
"I have trained. I have trained A LOT. I CAN protect myself and I CAN assist you in battle!" she tried to convince me. And as she have released her Zaura previously, I guess I know what she wants to do. Prove herself valuable. But more than that – I know WHY she tries this so hard.
"Is this all about vengeance too?" I coldly asked her, "or you just want to know the truth?"
"What do you mean?" she confusedly replied.
"I have spent the time wisely. I studied newspapers, Leaf. All newspapers that mention Team Rocket in one way or another."
And now Leaf looked hopeless. She realized that I uncovered this small secret of hers.
"I have connected three things that only those can see… who had read articles from ALL the Kanto," I explained her, "the death of Pokemon Center assistant's wife… Who worked on uncovering Team Rocket… In your magazine… Where later the article about the interrupted investigation appeared written by YOU."
She completely stared into the floor being uncovered by me. I hope I wasn`t too hard on her.
"I just don`t want you to become… me. This is not a life you really want. Even the vengeance for a killed colleague doesn`t worth that much," I quietly said.
"Does your car worth that much?" she judgingly looked at me sullenly.
"Yes. For me it does worth that," I hopelessly exhaled and closed my eyes.
As much as I kinda enjoy Leaf`s presence, right now I want her gone when I open my eyes. And I gave her a lot of time to walk away. A minute, two, three… Alas, when I opened my eyes she still was patiently crouching before me. She does not want to give up the idea of taking on Team Rocket for what happened.
"But, looks like I don`t have much choice…" I sighed loudly. She will follow me anyway and get herself into trouble. For some reason I felt myself on Sabrina`s place, "I don`t want you to spoil my plans. It will be better if you will be in my eyesight all the time."
"Yes! Yes!" she gladly shouted and rushed to me to hug, but I stopped her.
"But only if you will show me your REAL strength," I gently pushed her back from me and retreated.
"I knew you will say that. Bring me your best pokemon!" she smiled and nodded in direction if her Zaura.
"You… you realize my best pokemon is Dumpling, right?" I carefully reminded.
"Of course! Come on, we worked hard for something!"
"Well, if you insist…"
I left Magikarp in the pond to watch over our battle and grabbed the top pokeball from my shoulder belt.
"Here he is!" I proudly announced when my partner appeared on the battlefield, "my Dumpling… Against your three pokemon!"
"Three?" Leaf raised her eyebrow with surprise, "you don`t need to…"
"I said – three. Believe me, to defeat my Dumpling you WILL need them. Shall we begin?"
Leaf took a short thought and then nodded in agreement.
"Zaura, let`s begin with Leech Seed!" was her first command.
I immediately realized that his battle will be useful for me too. She has a variety of pokemon with variety of new moves. I would like to learn them all, and this Leech seed will be the first.
"Well, and we will start… and maybe end… with Flamethrower!" I quietly said.
My Charizard called a war cry and exhaled a large burning stream into Zaura. Venusaur didn`t even tried to dodge our attack and took it worthily. Yeah, this pokemon is really bulky and fat – one Flamethrower can`t take her down.
But after our move it was her move, finally. Zaura shot some small seeds from her flower on the back and struck my Dumpling when he was proudly looking at me. These things immediately turned into small but hard ivy when contacted to his body. It wasn`t that painful… But for some reason after this one small burn on Zaura`s skin healed by itself. Damn, it this thing actually leeches our power?
"That`s not nice…" I said to Leaf, "Dumpling, take this off you!"
Charizard wasn`t fond of being constricted by these nasty life-sucking plants and tried to tear them with his claws, but it didn`t look effective.
"Thank you…" Leaf cunningly commented our attempts, "Zaura, use Poison Powder!"
Meanwhile, this girl didn`t waste her time. We were busy dealing with her previous move, she made a new one effectively poisoning my Dumpling. This hit successfully, judging by the change of his skin into more ill-looking one. And also the small vines from Leech Seed constricted my pokemon again, obviously making effect on us and healing Zaura once more.
I returned my eyesight at Leaf. This girl was full of determination just like me. Maybe this is how I look from the side in battles… I really missed this feeling during the month-long break. Well, we had a couple of battles with our allies – training exercises, to be precise. This doesn`t count. I wanted to have a real battle. The real heat in my soul…
"Looks like you`re not giving us time, girl…" I complimented Leaf, "then let`s hurry and finish this. Dumpling, Flamethrower!"
"Heh… Zaura, use Growl!"
We paid no attention to all these leech vines on us, to the effect of poison… We need to strike fast, strike strong and finish this battle before poison finished us. We know this strategy. And my Dumpling washed Venusaur with a nice shower of fire… Making Leaf`s starter to the near edge. One more move – and this is it.
On the last strength Zaura loudly growled at us, causing my Dumpling to shiver from artificial fear. He had to retreat and lose all the focus he gained for the next attack meaning his physical moves will become weaker. And that is not very good because Dumpling has more physical moves than special ones… At least, we can finish Leaf`s first pokemon with our Flamethrower.
"Let`s end this! Flamethrower!" with all rage I shouted.
Leaf didn`t even give a command. She knew that my Dumpling is faster than her pokemon and this round is final for Zaura. Poor seed pokemon made her job and now is going to rest… burned and defeated…
"You did well, Zaura…" Leaf quietly said while returning her pokemon back, "together we can do it. Let`s go, Dude!"
And her next pokemon was Pidgeot – the massive and glorious bird, final evolution of Pidgey. I can`t even connect that small creature to this monstrosity. Still, pretty impressive monstrosity.
"So, your Dude got to the finals…" I approvingly nodded to Leaf, "let`s see what he can do. Dumpling, let`s start with Smokescreen!"
For a second Leaf was lost in thoughts, but after that her facial expression changed as if she has plotted something evil.
"Dude, give him a nice Wing attack!"
Of course, we began with taking the control over battlefield in our hands. Dumpling scrupulously breathed everywhere with his light smoke fume and waited for the move of his opponent. But even the almost zero visibility didn`t interfered with Pidgeot`s attempt to attack us from inside the smoke and hit my Charizard right in the face.
"Hehe…" Leaf cunningly giggled, "it`s no use! My Dude has the 'Keen eye' ability!"
Wow… I realized what`s the trick. Looks like sometimes abilities are even more important than I thought…
More than that – the effect of Leech seed was still on my partner. This time the dangerous vine sucked the life from Charizard to cause the slight glow around Pidgeot. But it was useless as our opponent is completely healed.
Still, Leaf made a deadly mistake. After that I crossed hands on chest and closed my eyes to shake my head with a disappointment.
"I`m disappointed, Leaf…" I quietly said. She didn`t expect such reaction from me, "never explain your strategy to your enemy. Minus one point."
"Ugh, you…" she frowned, "Dude, use Sand Attack!"
"No, why do you have to be so mean?" I playfully asked her, "Dumpling, Mirror Scout mode until Metal Claw!"
Leaf definitely wasn`t ready for this. My Dumpling turned back to her pokemon and faced me so the sand thrown by Dude was completely ineffective on us. Both me and my Charizard were absolutely careless about her attacks, even the effect of Leech seed that happened again. I even took my sunglasses off to rub them a bit.
"Why… Grrr…" girl was confused, angered and even lost in her own words, "Wing Attack, Dude!"
I didn`t counterattack her, just fixed my sunglasses and waited for some more. And when the opponent was really close to us…
My Dumpling immediately turned around and slashed the incoming enemy with a powerful Metal Claw. Pidgeot didn`t expect this and was thrown back on ground by this strong move. The inertia made him crush into the tree and immediately faint.
"How?! You didn`t see us! You were standing with your back to us!" Leaf was loudly asking my pokemon.
"Don`t tell her, Dumpling. Great job," I praised my partner. He answered with a glad roar and completely faced our opponent while she was returning her fallen Pidgeot back, "and you…" I suspiciously looked at Leaf, "you tried to attack us in the back? Effective. But dirty. Minus two points."
"That was a set-up, yeah? Fine, we`re not you, we can play nice," Leaf said and grabbed her third pokeball, "I know who can handle you in this situation."
And with the throw of her next pokeball she released her small blue dragon pokemon – Rimma the Horsea. Which is strangely a water-type and absolutely not dragon.
"Finally, my dear! Some type advantage!" this time praised Leaf a bit, "Too bad we are bigger. And stronger. And one hit from us can possibly just finish your Rimma."
"So we need to make sure you can`t hit us, easy!" she smiled positively, "Rimma, use Smokescreen!"
"Whatever. We will give you the chance. Dumpling, use Metal Claw!"
My pokemon prepared his strong had for attack and slashed this small creature with his hard-as-steel claws. The poor Horsea was hit pretty hard but she somehow survived this, jumped in the air and spit the cloud of dark smoke in my Charizard`s face. For him that was not really pleasant experience – taking his own move used against him. The dragon pokemon stared at us waiting for an answer. Still active Leech seed hit my Dumpling again and this time actually helped to heal one small scratch on the opponent. One of many…
"You have some tough Horsea, I have to admit that. But our one attack was enough to get her to the edge…" I shook my head in the direction of barely breathing pokemon, "and this is your last pokemon in our battle. Just one hit…"
"You try do it," she answered with determination and smiled again, "Rimma, use Water gun!"
So, she finally began to attack. Good, that means we will be able to focus on attack too.
"Metal Claw, Dumpling!"
My Charizard charged to the foe Horsea and slashed her fiercely… almost slashed her. He uncontrollably blinked right before the attack because of the smoke cloud surrounding him and plunged his claws right into the ground. Rimma used this moment to jump away and shoot a strong stream of water right into his face. Super effective, but not very strong move.
The Smokescreen actually worked for her. Nice thinking, I gotta give her a point for that. But only if she will survive for one more round. If we hit her – she will definitely not. And I know how to hit her.
"Okay, Dumpling… Let`s try out the Blazing Sword maneuver!"
Leaf was confused again. Maybe it`s too much of new maneuvers for her for one battle… but I have to teach this naughty girl a lesson.
"Rimma, watch closely and try do dodge it!"
I evilly grinned watching her useless efforts to survive. My Dumpling trained to perform this trick for a long time, and just now we actually succeeded in it.
Charizard stomped the ground before him and bended to the front. He immediately launched a powerful fire stream somewhere near the opponent and quickly turned aside, directing the flame everywhere in the half-circle before him. Even with our vision blocked by the smoke we hit multiple point at once and Horsea was definitely somewhere there. The small dragon pokemon squeaked from pain and finally fell on ground defeated.
"Rimma!" Leaf anxiously rushed into the smoke to take her fainted pokemon.
"Good job, Dumpling," I nodded aside of me to give my pokemon command to stand nearby. I wanted him to be near me right now.
Leaf closed his eyes and returned her Horsea with a sad sigh. After some seconds of complete silence she finally raised her eyesight on me.
"So… what now?" she hopefully asked, "You will send me away?"
"Well… In this battle you have earned minus three points," I crossed my hands seriously. Dumpling mimicked my action and roared with all my seriousness.
"And how much do I have now?"
I waited for some seconds to pass before answering her.
"Nine hundred and ninety-nine thousand ninety seven…"
Even though she didn`t understand me at all, her eyes shined brightly with hope and joy. She stood up and approached me carefully.
"And how much do I need?"
I disappointedly shook my head.
"Just one more…"
I stepped away from Leaf and left her confused again. By Dumpling`s face I could say he didn`t understand me too.
"You know what?" suddenly Leaf shouted at me a bit hysterically, "I don`t care! I will find the way into Saffron City, with or without you! I will find who killed Sophia."
"Of course, you will," I said, "you will get into the city, inspect the case and make a good distraction for my plan… possibly dying in the process. Because I`m a cruel and heartless man and I will use this opportunity in my favor."
She frowned while looking at me.
"Give me your mirror," I said her.
"What for?" the girl asked mistrustfully.
"For a reason," I shortly replied and approached her form the side.
She obeyed me and took out her small mirror from the bag. I placed it like so we could see our faces aside of each other, standing cheek-to-cheek.
"See this guy on the left?" I asked her quietly, "the one with the scar… Scary guy. No one likes him and he likes no one. He had a hard life and this is how he ended… He became Vengeance."
Leaf was saying nothing – just listening to me and staring into my eyes through the mirror.
"And now see this girl on the right? Pretty young girl… She has so much to do in her life, so much time to enjoy it… She is smart. She is positive. She wants to make world better. She… does not want to become Vengeance."
I returned Leaf her mirror and retreated back.
"So… you still want to avenge your friend?"
Leaf had to think. But she made it quickly and looked at me once more:
"I just want to help you…"
And such answer made me smile.
"This is it. This is what I wanted to hear. Plus one point."
She was fast to realize what I want to say. Leaf glowed with sudden happiness and rushed to me to hug.
"Nope, girl… Still not hugging you," I coldly replied, "you`re a soldier now."
"But I`m a good one, yeah?" she asked with some childish hope for praise in her voice, "I battled well?"
"You still have a lot to learn. Too bad we don`t have time for this. Tomorrow is the day of judgement," I seriously said, "Maybe, tomorrow we all will die… But we`ll see. Let`s go."
I returned Dumpling back into his pokeball and headed away from the lake.
With Leaf following me we arrived back to our camp nearly to the midnight. Some serious guys on duty gave us mistrustful looks but said nothing. At least, not out loud.
I escorted Leaf right to the command center where the meeting was happening. Well, it could not begin without me, but by the displeased looks of gym leaders waiting for me I could say I`m pretty late. And the appearance of new face didn`t encourage anyone. But, at least, Erika recognized her and gladly waved.
"Vengeance! You asked us to gather here to discuss some serious matter and you`re late yourself!" Sabrina shouted at me, "and who is that?"
"This is Leaf, a good trainer that will help us in our hard business," I explained.
"Yeah, I know her," Erika supported me, "we can trust her."
Sabrina stared at poor girl with her brutal look. But this didn`t scare Leaf as she stared at Sabrina too. I have no idea what they were trying to do, but in some seconds the psychic gym leader retreated, convinced in Leaf`s reliability.
"Fine. But she has to wait outside," she said indulgently, "this meeting is just for commanders."
"She IS a commander, Sabrina," I answered her surprising both gym leader and Leaf herself, "she will have her own squad. And she will be instructed separately… As each of you were."
"What`s going on, soldier?" suddenly lieutenant Surge got up from his chair and looked at me seriously, "the change of plan?"
"The extension, lieutenant," I grinned while replying to him, "but let`s waste no more time. I asked you to gather there… Because I want to look at you for the last time."
"What?!" was the united question of all gym leaders.
"Hey, I don`t tell this is exact! Maybe some of you actually survive this and we will meet again. But for now… I`m going to give you some more inspiration for the tomorrow morning."
Everyone went silent waiting for me to tell one very important thing.
"There is a traitor among us…"