Episode 110: Axel, the Flurry of Dancing Flames
A couple of days have passed since they taught an Oddish a lesson of talents, Sora figured he should get some training done since they were close to Azalea Town. Sora had his Pokémon out to help train. Kairi, Angel, and Togepi watched the practice battle take place.
"You sure you wanna spar with me, Sora?" Tracey asked.
"I'm sure Tracey. I do need to on top of my game to be ready for my Gym battle," Sora said.
"I understand, Sora. And I'll be more than happy to help out," Tracey said. He took a look at Venonat. "Okay, Venonat. You ready to go?"
"Venonat," Venonat nodded.
"Okay, Venonat. I'm behind you one hundred percent!" Tracey said. He and Venonat got into position for battle. Sora took out a Pokéball and threw it.
"You're up, Azurill!" Sora called out. Azurill came on out to battle.
"You do realize my Venonat's a Poison-type Pokémon, don't you?" Tracey asked.
"Yeah, I know, but I figured Azurill should have her first real battle," Sora said. "Azurill! Use Bubble!" Azurill fired Bubble right at the Insect Pokémon.
"Venonat! Dodge and use Tackle!" Tracey called out. Venonat dodges Azurill's Bubble and moved in for a Tackle, landing a hit.
"Use Water Gun!" Sora ordered. Azurill fired Water Gun and lands a hit onto Venonat, leaving it soaked. "Use Bounce!" Azurill uses her tail and jumps up in the air and came on down fast.
"Dodge it, Azurill!" Tracey called out. Venonat dodges at the last minute before she could land a hit.
"Use Water Gun!" Sora ordered. Azurill fired Water Gun, hitting Venonat. "Nice one, Azurill!"
"Azurill, Azurill!" Azurill chirped.
"Pikachu!" Pikachu said. He then heard a sound and he swung his tail when a robotic hand tried to grab him. Sora heard the sound of metal hitting metal.
"Eevee!" Angel gasped, running to him.
"Who's there?" Sora asked. Familiar laughter is heard. ait turns out to be Team Rocket riding in their balloon.
"Prepare for trouble, you know who it is!" Jessie said.
"Make it double, it'll get worse than this!" James said.
"To protect the world from devastation!"
To unite all peoples within our nation!"
"To denounce the evils of truth and love!"
"To extend our reach to the stars above!"
"Jessie!"
"James!"
"Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light!"
"Surrender now or prepare to fight!"
"Meowth, that's right!" Meowth said.
"Mime, Mime!"
"Hey, where were you the last time?!" Meowth asked.
"Team Rocket!" Sora, Kairi, and Tracey exclaimed.
"Eevee!" Angel growled.
"Pika!" Pikachu said.
"They're real persistent, aren't they?" Tracey asked.
"Very persistent," Sora and Kairi both said.
"Look, you three morons, I'm going to say this again and again! You're never going to get Pikachu! You'll have to get that through your thick skulls!" Sora said.
"We're going to keep on trying, rather if you like it or not!" James said.
"The day you get Pikachu is the day Elmer Fudd gets Bugs Bunny!" Sora said.
"And we all know that's never going to happen!" Kairi added.
"We'll show you!" Jessie said, taking out a Pokéball and threw it. Arbok emerged from inside.
"I choose you, Weezing!" James called out. His Weezing came out alongside Weezing. Sora and Tracey looked at each other and nodded.
"Let's take them together, Sora," Tracey said.
"I couldn't agree more," Sora said. "Azurill! Go for it!"
"You too, Venonat!" Tracey called out.
Azurill and Venonat stepped in to battle against Arbok and Weezing. Jessie and James laughed at Azurill.
"Look at that, Jessie! That cute little powder puff thinks it stands a chance against us!" James said.
"Ooh, I'm shaking in my boots! Is it going to cuddle us to death with that ribbon it's wearing?" Jessie taunted.
"Don't be fooled by her cute appearance. She packs quite a punch. I mean, did you seriously forget about being beaten by an Oddish?" Sora asked.
"Team Rocket never lives in the past and lives for today!" James said.
"Venonat! Use Tackle!" Tracey ordered. Venonat charges at Weezing with a Tackle.
"Use Double Hit!" James ordered. Weezing lands a couple of hits into Venonat. "Use Sludge Bomb!" Weezing spews Sludge Bomb right at Venonat. Kairi took out a Pokéball and threw it.
"Go! Mareep!" Kairi called out. Mareep came right out to battle. "Use Signal Beam!" Mareep fired Signal Beam, hitting Weezing on the mark.
"Arbok! Use Poison Sting on that Azurill!" Jessie ordered. Arbok fired Poison Sting at the Polka Dot Pokémon.
"Use Bounce to dodge!" Sora ordered. Azurill bounces to avoid Arbok's Poison Sting. Azurill was toying with the Cobra Pokémon and it was infuriating Jessie.
"Stop fooling around and hit that little pipsqueak! Use Crunch!" Jessie ordered. Arbok came at Azurill and dodges Arbok's bite.
"Good work! Use Bounce one more time!" Sora ordered. Azurill bounces up in the air and lands right on Arbok's head, knocking him out. Jessie calls Arbok back. She took out another Pokéball and threw it.
"Lickitung! I choose you!" Jessie called out. Lickitung came right out to battle. "Use Tackle, now!" Lickitung ran towards Azurill with Tackle.
"Wash Lickitung with Water Gun!" Sora ordered. Azurill washes the Licking Pokémon in a gush of water. Jessie is struck hard by the water.
"James, help me!" Jessie exclaimed.
"Right! Weezing! Use Sludge Bomb on Azurill!" James ordered.
"Venonat! Use Sleep Powder!" Tracey ordered. Venonat sprinkles Sleep Powder on the Poison Gas Pokémon, making him fall asleep.
"Pikachu! Use Thunderbolt to finish them off!" Sora ordered.
"Use Thunder Shock, Mareep!" Kairi ordered.
Pikachu and Mareep gave Team Rocket quite a shock, resulting in an explosion. They're sent them flying in the air.
"TEAM ROCKET'S BLASTING OFF AGAIN!" Team Rocket shouted as they go flying in the sky. A star twinkles in the distance.
"Good job on that Sleep Powder, Tracey," Sora said.
"Thanks, Sora. Your Azurill is amazing. All that practice really paid off," Tracey said.
"Sure has. Been working on those for days," Sora said. He smiled at Azurill. "When you bounced on Arbok's head, I could feel how strong that was!" Azurill smiled and bounced up and down and then stopped and stood on her feet. She started to glow. "Azurill!"
"Azurill's evolving!" Tracey said. Azurill has now become a Marill.
"Marill, Marill," the newly evolved Marill said.
"That battle with Team Rocket really did the trick," Sora said.
"It's also the love you've been giving Azurill. You two are really close, it's so cute," Kairi said. Sora smiled.
"Congratulations on evolving, Marill," Sora said.
"Marill!" Marill beamed.
His newly evolved Marill definitely reminded him of the Marill he helped saved from Team Rocket and the Heartless.
In the World That Never Was, Axel sat in his throne as Xemnas and Saïx are present.
"Aren't we going to start when everyone else gets here?" Axel asked.
"No. We are sufficient. We have a task for you, Axel," Saïx said.
"What do you want me to do?" Axel asked.
"We want you to launch an attack onto Sora and Kairi at their weakest. It is time that we make it an official meeting," Xemnas said. Axel said nothing, but he nodded. "Do not fail us, Axel."
"On it," Axel said, vanishing through his corridor of darkness.
Once Axel had left, Saïx turned to the Organization's leader
"Lord Xemnas, may I ask you something?" Saïx asked.
"You may," Xemnas said.
"Are you certain it was the best to send Axel out to deal with them?" Saïx asked.
"As you are aware, Roxas is only half of Sora, and as long as Sora is still around, Roxas would not be the blade we want him to be. Sora's elimination is the best course of action, but I doubt Axel will be able to accomplish his goal," Xemnas said.
"If you have doubts of Axel's success, then why grant him such a task?" Saïx asked.
"It is to see if Axel can get past his imaginary friendship with Roxas. Both he and Roxas lacks emotions as you are aware, Saïx," Xemnas said. Saïx nodded.
"Understood, Lord Xemnas," Saïx said.
Over to Kairi's home, Xion was given some new clothes to wear. She wore an outfit similar to Kairi's, but she wore a yellow top with a black one underneath. She wore a black bike shorts underneath a black skirt with a blue belt, and white slip-on shoes with purple caps. She also wore a white choker, a yellow wristband as well as a purple arm band on her left arm and a pair of bracelets on her right arm. Xion was looking at herself in the mirror.
"These clothes feels so right for me," Xion said to herself. Just then, Yuta walked in with Seth in his arms.
"Coming in, Xion. I hope you're hun-" Yuta froze when she saw Xion wearing an outfit similar to Kairi's. "Kairi?"
"No, Xion," Xion corrected her. Yuta laughed.
"Sorry. I just thought you were her for a second. Anyway, I was hoping you were hungry. Mirei has made some lunch for us," Yuta said. Xion smiled.
"That sounds great," Xion said, smiling. She and Yuta stepped out and she saw some beef stew made for everyone.
"Come and get it," Mirei said. Yuta placed Seth in his highchair and Xion sat next to the baby. Seth cooed when Xion held her hand for him. He nuzzled the hand, making her smile.
"You're really sweet, Seth," Xion said.
"Ba," Seth said.
Yuta and Mirei smiled at the scene, knowing Seth would do the same thing with Kairi if she's around. A knock on the door is heard.
"I'll get that," Yuta said, walking to the door. He answered it and saw it was Karen standing at the door. "Hello, Karen. Good of you to drop by. Thanks again for babysitting Seth for us while we took Xion out shopping."
"I was happy to do so. I just dropped by to give you this," Karen said, holding a box. "It's some of my clothes I don't wear anymore. And a plush Pikachu toy, too." Yuta took the box and he smiled.
"That's very considerate of you, Karen. You tell your mom we said thanks," Yuta said.
"I will," Karen said.
Inside the Ketchum house, Blossom is arranging some flowers on the table and then Mimey brought her a plate of apples for her to eat.
Delia was doing some chores when the news coverage of the monster attacks was playing in the background.
"Authorities still have no clue of the mysterious monsters that have been attacking the citizens nor of the individuals wearing black hooded cloaks," the reporter said in the background. Delia then changed turned the TV off.
"I'd rather not be thinking about those awful Heartless," Delia said.
Back in Johto, Sora, Kairi, Tracey, Pikachu, Angel, and Togepi were walking through a dark forest. Something has caught his eye. It was a Spinarak, but it is blue and its mandibles are magenta, and its legs are pink. The stripes on its legs are a viridian color, same for the happy face on its abdomen.
"A Spinarak. Must be my lucky day," Sora said, taking out a Pokéball and threw it. "You're up, Natu!" His Pokéball opens up and Natu came on out to battle. Spinarak starts up by spewing silk from its mouth.
"He's using String Shot!" Kairi exclaimed.
"Use Teleport to dodge!" Sora ordered. Natu teleported out of the way and at a different spot. "Use Night Shade!" Natu fired Night Shade right at the spider-like Pokémon. Spinarak fought back with Poison Sting. "Teleport!" Natu teleports again and reappeared. "Use Peck!" Natu pecks at Spinarak repeatedly. "Now use Night Shade!" Natu fired Night Shade, hitting Spinarak again. The blue Spring Spit Pokémon fell on the ground. Sora took out a Pokéball and threw it. Spinarak flows inside. The Pokéball wobbles around and around. Stars swirls around the Pokéball to confirm the catch. Sora's Pokémon Box goes off asking him if he wants to keep Spinarak with him. He chose to send Spinarak to Professor Oak's lab. "Good work, Natu." The Tiny Bird Pokémon smiled as Sora calls her back.
Suddenly the sound of clapping is heard. They looked around and they saw a hooded figure standing there.
"Good job, Sora. Alright. Fight, fight, fight," the hooded man said.
"Who are you?" Sora asked.
"And what do you want?" Kairi asked.
"Well, since you asked," the hooded man said, revealing his face. The hooded man is nonother than Axel. "The name's Axel. Got it memorized?" He points his finger at his head.
"Uh, sure," Sora replied, a tad confused.
Unknown to them, Team Rocket have caught up to them.
"Who's that guy?" James asked.
"I don't know, but he's stealing our show!" Jessie said.
"Yeah, we had eyes on Pikachu first!" Meowth said.
"Now let's get down to business. I'm here to take you both out," Axel said. Sora and Kairi gasped when he said that.
"Take them both out? What did they ever do to you?" Tracey asked. Axel looked at the Pokémon Watcher.
"That's no concern for you. Just following Organization XIII's orders," Axel said.
"You're with Organization XIII?" Sora asked.
"That I am. I'm one of 13 exclusive Nobodies that makes up the Organization. And they want you two out of the way," Axel said.
"Organization XIII?" Jessie asked.
"Must be a club for weirdos like him," Meowth said.
"Wait a minute! He mentioned that he's one of 13 Nobodies, so he must be the one sending those other Nobodies at us!" James said.
"I don't care if he's one of 13 demons, because nobody muscles in on Team Rocket's operations and walks!" Jessie said.
"Let's get this party started," Axel said, snapping his fingers. Tracey is pushed out, but Pikachu, Angel, and Togepi are trapped with Sora and Kairi as a barrier is set up. Team Rocket tried to jump in after them, but they get hit by the barrier. He holds out his hands and flames burst on his hands. He then summons two chakrams in his hands. Each one has a circular main wheel with a black, cross-shaped handle. The edge of the main wheel sports four spikes shaped like the spikes on the Nobody sigil and a small ring that is bisected by the main wheel. Another spike identical to the other four is attached to each of these rings, making a total of eight spikes. The interior of the main wheel and the outer edge of the half of each of the four rings that are on the interior of the wheel are red, as are the inner edges of the other halves of the rings. The rest of the chakram is silver. The chakrams are known as Eternal Flames. Axel grinned. Sora summoned his Kingdom Key as Kairi summoned her Destiny's Embrace. "Twice the fun, double the fall!"
Sora and Kairi came at Axel as he swung his chakrams to block. He pushed them back and threw one of them. It wasn't called the Eternal Flames for nothing, because fire erupted from the chakram. Axel then threw the other one, so Sora and Kairi ducked their heads down. Pikachu and Angel came at Axel and land a hit.
"Pika," Pikachu said.
"Eevee," Angel said.
"Not too shabby. I was told you were stronger than you looked," Axel wheezed.
"Plenty more where that came from!" Sora said, firing his fire spell at him. Axel took the hit. "Huh?! How did you just take that?"
"Easy. Fire is my element. Each one of us has an element. Fire won't burn me up," Axel said.
"Let's cool you off!" Kairi shouted, pointing her Keyblade at the Nobody. "Blizzard!" The ice spell struck Axel on the spot.
"Brr, that's cold!" Axel said. "But not enough to put out my flames, Kairi!" He came at her, swinging his Eternal Flames at her, but Kairi manages to block with her Keyblade. "Not too bad, Kairi. You're putting more of a fight than I thought you would."
"I'm full of surprises!" Kairi said, swinging her Keyblade at him, but Axel blocks with his chakrams. Sora came at him from behind, but Axel vanishes when Sora took a swing.
"Swing and a miss! Strike one" Axel said, reappearing. He elbows Sora right on the chest. He then grabbed Sora by the shirt. "There won't be a strike two and three with me."
"Sora, Kairi!" Tracey exclaimed, banging on the barrier.
"Pikachu!" Pikachu yelled, preparing to fire Thunderbolt at the Nobody, but Axel holds up his chakram.
"Try it, Pikachu, but I gotta warn you, you'll end up shocking us both if you do," Axel said.
"Pi!" Pikachu said.
"Pikachu, it's okay. Just do it!" Sora said. Pikachu wasn't sure if he should. He didn't want to hurt Sora. Togepi then moved his arms to get in on the action.
"Toge, Toge, Toge, Toge, Toge, Toge, Toge, Toge, Toge, Toge, Toge, Toge, Toge, Toge, Toge, Toge, Toge, Toge, Toge, Toge, Toge, Toge, Toge, Toge, Toge, Toge, Toge, Toge, Toge, Toge, Togepi!" Togepi chanted as his little arms gave off a light blue glow. Togepi then unleashed a Blizzard, hitting Axel. He is blown in the flurry of snow, much to Kairi and Angel's surprise.
"Togepi, you did that?" Kairi asked with awe. Axel groaned as he got back up.
"Where the hell did that come from?" Axel asked. "That's super cold."
"Hey!" Sora called out. He looked up and saw Sora come down hard. Axel blocked again, but he was moving slower due to the cold. He swung the chakrams out of his hands. He points his Keyblade at him. "You give up, Axel?" Axel just grinned.
"You're even better than I gave you credit for, Sora. It's no wonder Organization XIII has their eyes on you. But we'll keep on watching the both of you, so watch your backs," Axel said, taking his chakrams back in his hands and dismissed them. He then vanished in the corridor of darkness. The barrier then disappeared.
"Where did he go?" Sora asked.
"The barrier's gone," Meowth said.
"They're distracted! We move now!" Jessie said.
"Right!" James said. Team Rocket were about to move, but Axel reappeared and he snapped his fingers. A burst of flames appeared from underneath and sent them flying.
"TEAM ROCKET'S BLASTING OFF AGAIN!" Team Rocket exclaimed as they go flying in the air. A star twinkles in the distance. He chuckled to himself and vanished again.
He made it back to the World That Never Was with Saïx waiting for him. He didn't seem happy to see him.
"You failed your assignment, Axel," Saïx said.
"Not my fault. I had it under my control and something happened," Axel said.
"Sora and Kairi are better fighters than we anticipated. No matter. Lord Xemnas will see this as a minor setback," Saïx said.
"What's my punishment for failing, Saïx? Turn me into a Dusk?" Axel asked.
"That will be discussed later," Saïx said. Axel took his leave.
"I knew you'd blow it, Lea," Saïx said.
Back in Johto, Sora casts his Cure spell on Kairi, healing her injuries as she did the same to her boyfriend.
"You two okay?" Tracey asked.
"Yeah. We'll be just fine," Sora said.
"Pikachu," Pikachu said.
"Organization XIII had finally made a move against us," Kairi said.
"Yeah. And I have a feeling we'd be meeting the other 12 members soon," Sora said.
"Any idea who they are?" Tracey asked.
"Organization XIII is a group of Nobodies. And they have control over the other Nobodies," Sora explained.
"So they sent those Nobodies after us," Kairi said.
"So, it's not too late to take your leave, Tracey," Sora said.
"Sorry, but I'm not going anywhere," Tracey said. The couple looked at him. "Also, yes, it is too late to take my leave, because I'm in on it just as much as you. We can be a real team when we work together."
"Tracey," Sora said.
"You can't get rid of me that easily," Tracey said. Sora smiled.
"You're right. We are in this together. And we'll have to work hard as a team to fight anything that comes at us," Sora said. Sora placed his hand in the middle as did Kairi and Tracey. "It's official."
Now that Sora and Kairi have survived their first encounter with Organization XIII, but they know they're not out of the woods just yet. They'll have to try hard to fend them off. How soon will the Organization attack again? We'll have to find out when we go on even further.