Author's Notes:
Chapter 10
Soon after sunrise, we started north for Viridian Forest. Gary decided to stay in Pallet Town to look after Oak. After checking up on Lance, the doctors said he had just gotten out of a drug-induced coma. He would need more time, though. I hoped the he would be able to join us when he became well enough. As we passed through Viridian City, I saw that all the lights in the Gym were on. The news must've gotten out that he was back. It would only be a matter of time before Jordan came looking for him. When we reached the edge of the forest, I saw that it had grown significantly since I'd last seen it. It looked like a huge Rainforest.
"This is going to be…interesting." said Alex. "The forest is much more dangerous because of the high leveled pokemon that now live here. We'd better be careful." Just as we entered the forest we started to hear huge footsteps. When we stopped to listen they became closer and louder.
"What is that?" Katrin asked. "It sounds like Groudon!" A loud laugh was heard, coming in the direction of the footsteps. Then we saw where it came from.
"I will enjoy grinding your bones into powder!" it exclaimed, laughing out loud.
Fe, Fi, Fo Fum." I said. "What beanstalk did you fall from?"
"You dare to mock me?!" the beast exclaimed. "I am Gath, one of the 4 Pokemon of Mass Destruction. I have the powers of the elements in each of my arms. Unless you puny humans apologize, I will rip you apart!"
"Not a chance!" Fin exclaimed. "You don't scare us!"
"You really do not know what you are getting yourselves into." Gath shot back. "Even if you by some accident beat me, my comrades will destroy you!"
"I'm getting tired of your jesting." I said, stepping forward. "I've dealt with too many brainless giants such as yourself. Either step aside or prepare to get whacked!"
"No, this one is mine." Fin said as he stepped in front of me. "I want to try out a new ability I learned in the last night."
"Now isn't the time to try anything fancy." I warned. "Stand aside and let me take him."
"Let me fight this one and you can fight the next one." Fin offered, adding "This guy is hardly a challenge to either of us."
"You do have a point there." I remarked, nodding in agreement. "Fine but make it quick. We really need to be going."
"You need not wait too long." Gath said to me. "After I slay this child, you will be next!"
"You're not going to slay me!" Fin, who was certainly much smaller than Gath exclaimed. "Not so long as I have my Energy Blade!" He then focused a large quantity of electricity into his right hand. Right before our eyes, we saw an electric sword sprout from it. Talk about a light show!
"He's using the electricity in his body to form a weapon!" Monica excllaimed. "That is really something! I wonder how he learned that?" Aurabolt jumped in front of us and formed an Energy Blade in one of his hands.
"That explains it." I noted. "I wonder what else you learned in the afterlife?" It just smiled.
"That is a very impressive trick." Gath remarked.
"You think so?" Fin asked as he ran at the giant. "I'm about to show you some of its nicer features!" He then jumped into the air and brought the sword down to bear but Gath blocked it with a Light Screen just before impact. The barrier shattered on impact from Fin's sword. Fin then jumped back to a defensive position.
"That certainly is powerful!" Gath exclaimd. "You are still no match for me, however. I will stop you none the less!" He then starting swinging his huge trunk-like arms at Fin. Fin managed to dodge each of the punches. Gath then used a Cross Chop, just missing Fin. He ended up cutting a large tree down instead. "Stand still, already!" He exclaimed in frustration.
"Not a chance." Fin replied. He jumped over Gath's head, slashing him down the spine on the way down. "What happened to all this power you were talking about before? You can barely even keep up with me!"
"You will pay for that, boy!" Gath roared, gathering energy to each of his arms. "Delta Palm Beam!" He then launched 4 energy attacks at the same time. That took everyone—Fin especially-by surprise. He did not even make an attempt to dodge it. He even surprised me when he charged into the attack headfirst with his Energy Blade. At that moment, I realized what he was trying to do.
"Fin, wait!" I exclaimed but it came too late. Using his sword, Fin was attempting to cut through each attack. He went through the Electric and Ice Beams without much trouble, but didn't have enough time to react to the Fire and Solar Beams. The force of the attacks connecting knocked him into a large rock, breaking it to pieces. He kept going and flew through four trees before stopping at the 5th. Before he could get back on the offensive, Gath was already pummeling him with his arms. He then grabbed Fin and slammed him into the ground with Seismic Toss. At that point, Fin did not make any attempts to get up. I saw him moving so I figured he was still alive.
"That's one down." Gath said as he laughed. "Only a few more to go!"
"Wait just a minute!" Fin exclaimed as he tried to get up. "I'm not done with you yet!" His energy sword flared up brightly in his hand.
"You're too weak to be of any challenge to me." Gath said as he approached Fin. "You can't even stand up!" He then kicked him into another tree. "You call yourself a fighter? Ha!" He started beating Fin down again with his arms. He then threw him across the field we were now standing in, causing him to land in front of the rest of us. His Energy Sword disappeared at this point. "Where's that speed of yours?" taunted Gath. "You're not moving very fast."
"You know, he's got a point." I said to Fin, who somehow managed to get to his feet. "Let me take over. You're too hurt now to keep going. If you stay in any longer he'll kill you!"
"I appreciate the advice but I've got it under control." Fin said as he began charging energy again. "He has yet to see my most powerful attack."
"Fin, Bolting won't work!" I exclaimed. "You don't have enough energy to focus it! If you try to use it now, you could get fried instead of him!" Bolting was a One Hit KO move that killed the target with a lightning bolt from the sky. It required a lot of energy so the attack could be focused on a target. If the user didn't have enough energy he could be killed by his own attack. Having just taken a serious beating, I had reason to be concerned for his safety!
"That's not what I had in mind." Fin said, forming two balls of electric energy in both hands. "I'm going to show him Nuclear Fusion up close and personal!" Fin then started jumping into the air. Gath followed after him.
"Fin, wait!" I exclaimed. "That's too dangerous!" But Fin was already out of earshot. Fin was going to trigger a Nuclear Explosion!
"Prepare to meet your end!" Fin roared. He then flew at Gath with both arms outstretched. "NEUTRON BLAST!" He said, clasping both hands together. The resulting effect was a massive explosion in the sky. Everyone turned away to avoid getting blinded by the explosion. I looked at the sky to see if anyone or anything had survived the blast. I looked and saw something fall from the sky. We quickly ran to see what it was. Of course, I was hoping I wasn't about to discover my son's dead body. When we reached where the object had fallen it was indeed Fin. He was fine, though. He grinned when he saw us coming.
"The Giant has been slain!" He declared, holding up something. "He even gave me this Weapon Machine!"
"I wonder what it's for?" asked Katrin.
"I don't know, but something tells me there are 3 more." Fin replied. "Like HMs, they can be used over and over again." It suddenly became activated and a ray of light fell on Fin. A few moments the light faded. Fin had just learned Four Point Beam! I then noticed something yellow shivering next to a fallen tree. When I got closer, I found that it was a Jirachi with the number 3 on its back. I'd found one!
"Hey, we've found one!" Ann exclaimed. I took out the 3 Ball Monica gave me and caught it without any resistance. It was too scared to put up a fight.
"We'd better find Delia and hope she has some bandages." Monica remarked after she examined Fin's injuries.
"Hey, can't you heal me?" He asked her.
"I could, but I'm sure she saw the fight and may find it strange that you somehow walked away from a nuclear blast unharmed." She pointed out.
"Let's just keep moving." Said Alex. "It shouldn't be too far from here." When Alex stepped forward, he nearly fell over something in the ground. We looked and saw the remains of someone who was here. After taking a closer look at it Katrin said it was Lance.
"He probably wanted to get here ASAP." said Matt. "And that ended up costing him his life."
"When we find all the Jirachi we'll revive him." I said. "He deserves that much." We then continued north further into the forest. After walking for about 3 hours, we found a small house next to a lake. When we got closer, we saw a middle-aged woman tending to some flowers outside. Seeing us, she jumped up in surprise.
"Who are you and how did you find me?" She asked.
"Relax, we're not from TR or the Jets." I said. "In fact, your son has a price on my head and we need you to tell us where to find your daughter."
"Ted Toss, is that you?" she asked in surprise. Before I could answer she noticed Fin's injuries. "You're hurt! Please, come inside. I have something to treat those wounds." After going into the house we locked the door. As she was treating Fin's injuries, Alex and Matt started talking to her about what had been going on in Kanto and Johto. She listened quietly and patiently.
"So unless you can help us find Zora, we're going to have some trouble dealing with your son." Ann Finished.
"What a terrible world we live in." said Delia, shaking her head sadly. "It's gotten so bad families are torn apart. Before I tell you what you want to know, please listen to my story."
End Chapter 10.
Did the feel light a fight from a Shonen Manga or Anime to you? I only just now realized that while editing this chapter. I swear that wasn't intended when I first wrote this 18 years ago.