Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon. It belongs to Nintendo and Game Freak.
Hi all,
Here's the next chapter. Lucas takes on an opponent in the battle arena, and then has a battle with Dratini.
Chapter 20
Giovanni's sharp gaze locked on Lucas, and the bustling crowd seemed to fade away, swallowed by the palpable tension that hung in the air between them. The presence of others only served as a thin veil, protecting him from a hidden threat that appeared to emanate from Giovanni.
"I am Lucas," he said, introducing himself. "It's an honour to meet the leader of the Viridian City gym."
Giovanni's mouth curved. "Lucas. I'll remember your name. I have a feeling you will make a significant contribution to the world someday."
Lucas didn't need to draw the attention of a major crime boss. He didn't even know if Giovanni remembered him from the previous incident. Because of Team Rocket's size, the order to capture him could have come from someone other than Giovanni.
"You must be kidding me. I'm simply an aspiring Pokemon breeder looking for a way to make a living."
"My instincts tell me otherwise, and they are seldom wrong." Giovanni's attention was drawn to the two children standing behind Lucas. He was especially interested in Ash. "Excuse me, young man. You remind me of an old acquaintance. Could you please tell me your name?"
Lucas frowned and placed a protective hand on Ash's shoulder. Giovanni noticed the gesture but didn't comment on it.
"My name is Ash Ketchum," the boy said. "Could I get your autograph?"
Giovanni tensed his jaw slightly, catching Lucas' attention. What could Ash have said to elicit this reaction from Giovanni?
Giovanni forced a smile as he reached inside for a business card bearing his signature and handed it to the boy. "Is Delia Ketchum your mother?
Ash nodded. "That's right. How do you know my mum?"
Giovanni kneeled and looked Ash in the eyes. "I had the opportunity to serve alongside your father in the army. I was his commanding officer."
"Really?" Ash exclaimed. "Would you mind telling me some stories about him?"
"I don't have time right now, but you can stop by my gym whenever you want and I will tell you some stories."
Ash nodded, a grin spreading across his face.
"Good day, Miss Waterflower," Giovanni said to Misty. "I didn't know you were in town."
Misty scowled and didn't return his greeting. "Isn't it your responsibility to keep the inhabitants of this city safe?"
"Of course."
"Did you know that members of Team Rocket were attacking people in their homes? We would have died if it hadn't been for the help of a passing Pokemon."
Misty was a spitfire who showed no signs of intimidation from Giovanni. Her sisters were Cerulean gym leaders, so she had most likely met him several times. Lucas wondered if she would be able to maintain her courage once she discovered Giovvanni's true identity.
Giovanni's gaze shifted to Lucas, his face displaying a fierce expression. "Is this true?"
"Yes. Although I wasn't present, the police shared the details with me afterwards. One of the assailants died at the scene."
Giovanni rose to his feet. "Please excuse me; I have a prior commitment and need to get going. It was a pleasure meeting you."
Lucas watched Giovanni leave the building, his mind preoccupied by the unsettling encounter they had just had. He suspected the man knew who he was and the order to capture him, but not the specific details. Giovanni seemed surprised because the Ketchums were also in danger.
He looked down at the kids. "Let us go to the counter and sign up for the battle arena."
When the attendant at the counter realised they were new to the arena, she gave them a brief overview of what it was about.
"We match the contestants against each other based on their ranking, Pokemon level, and winning record," she explained. "You have the option of betting against your opponent on the outcome of the match. The lowest rank allows you to bet up to a thousand Pokedollars. In exchange for its services, the arena will receive 10% of the bet. In addition, winning matches earns you points, which can be used to earn valuable prizes."
"Can I place bets on other matches?" Lucas asked.
The attendant shook her head. "There used to be a way for the audience to bet on match results, but they banned it due to several match-fixing scandals."
She gestured to a storefront to the left of the counter. "You can spend your points on items from the Arena Shop. There are some incredible items available that are frequently restocked."
"Is the number of points you get always the same?" Lucas asked.
"No, the number of points you earn is determined by two factors. The first consideration is your ranking. Initially, winning a match earns you only one point. The most efficient way to accumulate points is to win multiple battles in a row and earn bonus points. The longer your winning streak, the more bonus points you will earn."
"That doesn't sound like a simple task," Lucas noted with a raised eyebrow. "I imagine that the number of consecutive wins you have influences the difficulty of the opponents you face."
The attendant ignored his comment and continued explaining. "The stadium is divided into several arenas. Higher-ranking members compete in the bigger arenas because their matches draw the most crowds. "You will fight in Arena One."
Lucas nodded.
"We need to scan your Pokemon team to determine their level. This must be repeated every time you return to the arena. Let us begin with your registration."
Lucas and Misty both signed up for the battle arena. He didn't include Meowth as part of the team because he wasn't interested in taking part in the matches. Besides, his level was much lower than the other two, so he wouldn't stand a chance of defeating the opponents they were about to face.
The attendant handed him a card that contained information about his rank.
Battle Arena
Name: Lucas Walker
Sex: Male
Age: 18
Current Points: 0
Rank: Rookie Trainer
Next: [0/20]
Wins: -
Losses: -
Consecutive Wins: -
Win Percentage: -
Membership No: 5098097
He needed to win twenty matches to advance to the next rank, but there was one catch. If he lost five straight matches, he would lose all progress to the next rank and would have to start over.
They were led through the door and into a small arena. Four stages were located in the centre of the arena, which made it possible to have four matches simultaneously. These stages were straightforward and lacked the unique terrain found in the higher ranks. The gallery appeared to be large enough to hold several hundred people, but it was only about a quarter full at the moment.
"I do not think I am going to participate in any matches yet," Misty said. "I have only two Staryu right now. I'm going to catch some more water-type Pokemon first."
"That is fine," Lucas replied. "You can be my cheerleader in the audience."
"Yes, we will pray hard for your victory," Ash joked. "You're gonna need it."
"Brat."
An attendant greeted them and took Lucas' card to match him up with an opponent. The wait time for a match-up can range from a minute to several hours, depending on the individual's abilities and the level of activity in the arena. The battle arena didn't appear to be an efficient way to gain experience points; at least not at the moment. He came at the wrong time, as the arena didn't appear to be at full capacity.
While he waited, he opened his menu. To improve his chances, he planned to improve his battle commentator skills. He had no idea what it would give him, but he needed all the assistance he could get. He spent three skill points and took out his guidebook to see what the upgraded skill provided.
Lucas frowned as he read the information. The second level of the battle commentator skill allowed him to keep track of each battle by recording it in the guidebook. This log contained important details about each battle. It wouldn't help him in the upcoming fight, so it might not have been the best use of his skill points. At the very least, it may provide some useful information after the fact, providing additional insight into how the various battle systems interacted.
Lucas received his first opponent ten minutes later and proceeded to the stage. Ash and Misty waved at him from the gallery and cheered him on.
"Hey, what was up with that old dude back there?" Meowth whispered into his ear. "You seemed to be wary of him."
"Did you notice that? Well, I have reasons to be wary of him."
"So, spill the details, Meowth."
"I believe he is Team Rocket's leader."
Meowth was so surprised that he nearly fell off his shoulder.
His opponent was a young adolescent, probably around the age of twelve or thirteen. He burst out laughing when Lucas walked on stage. "Isn't it strange that someone your age has the lowest ranking in the battle arena?"
A few chuckles were heard from the audience.
Lucas wasn't bothered by the kids' snide remarks. "I guess I am not very strong, so please go easy on me."
The kid smirked. "Heh, no worries. I will go easy on you, old man."
Lucas shook his head. The kid was a complete moron.
The referee addressed both contestants. "This will be a one-on-one battle with no substitutions, as per the rules of both trainers' ranks. Would you like to place a bet before we begin?"
"I put up a thousand pokedollars," his opponent said with a laugh.
"I agree to the bet," Lucas replied.
They handed over the poke dollars to the referee.
The referee flipped a coin to determine who would release the Pokemon first, and Lucas won. His opponent released his Pokemon onto the stage. His opponent was a level twenty-one Butterfree. Lucas scanned the Butterfree's parameters. Its best stats were special attack and special defence, with speed coming in a distant third. In terms of overall stats, Icarus had a slight advantage. Butterfree's special ability was compound eyes, which increased its accuracy by 30%.
Lucas's brows furrowed. This was the first time he had seen the accuracy stat. He knew it existed in the games, but he didn't expect it to exist here. Something to look into later.
He grabbed Icarus' pokeball and released him, who took off into the air with a powerful beat of his wings. Icarus would have to be careful because the ceiling was approximately seventy feet high, giving him less freedom to manoeuvre than he would in the wild. They could have done it on purpose to keep flying Pokemon from being out of range indefinitely.
An audible murmur rippled through the crowd as they caught sight of the imposing size of Pidgeotto. The opponent's smirk faded, and a glare was directed at Lucas instead.
Mr Mime, one of the arena's Pokemon, erected a barrier over the stage and the surrounding airspace to protect the audience. When it was ready, the release dropped his flag, signalling the start of the match.
[The match between Icarus and Butterfree has begun.]
"Whirlwind," Lucas commanded.
Icarus used the beat of his wings to direct a powerful funnel of wind at his opponent.
It was an attempt to win quickly by returning the Butterfree to its pokeball. According to the standard rules, he could only use the move once per match.
"What an amateur!" His opponent ridiculed him. "Why are you still issuing verbal commands?"
Butterfree successfully evaded the attack before launching its first attack. It emitted normal-type energy from its body.
[Butterfree has used Harden.]
[Its defence has increased by one stage.]
Lucas hadn't expected his opponent to fight without using verbal commands. Was this because of the bond?
"Close in and use Air Cutter."
Icarus drew closer and unleashed a powerful blade of wind, which sliced through the air towards its target.
Butterfree was unable to evade right after using Harden. A transparent blue barrier appeared in front of the Pokemon. The blade of wind struck the barrier, shattering it but preventing Butterfree from taking any damage from the attack.
Lucas made a decisive decision. He was at a disadvantage because he had to issue commands verbally. "Icarus, take command of the battle!"
Icarus clacked his beak. He vanished in a blur as he used Quick Attack.
Butterfree was surprised by the attack and was unable to dodge. Icarus slammed into it, which sent it tumbling through the air.
[Butterfree's condition has fallen.]
[Condition: Excellent 5/6]
Icarus continued his relentless attack by unleashing yet another Air Cutter.
Butterfree was protected by another barrier, which prevented it from taking any further damage.
Icarus vanished again, ready to punish Butterfree with another Quick Attack.
Butterfree reacted quickly this time, countering with its own move. Several white rings appeared in front of its body and fired at Icarus, creating a loud metallic sound.
Supersonic.
Icarus didn't have time to react. Icarus cried out as the rings struck him.
[Icarus has been inflicted with confusion.]
"Icarus, snap out of it," Lucas yelled.
Icarus didn't appear to hear him. He used a Quick Attack, but he had been turned around and there was no target in front of him. His momentum nearly sent him crashing into the barrier.
Lucas grimaced.
"Wow, that's so embarrassing," Meowth whispered.
At the very least, the manoeuvre had allowed Icarus to gain some distance. Butterfree released a long, sticky thread from its mouth, but Icarus had already moved.
Icarus landed on the stage and started pecking at the ground as if foraging for food. The audience burst out laughing at the sight.
"I am going to tease Icarus about this, Meowth."
Butterfree flapped its wings and flew lower to the ground. It appeared to want to get closer to ensure that an attack was successful. A wave of pink energy materialised in front of the Butterfree and sent it hurtling towards its target. Confusion.
Icarus abruptly stopped pecking at the ground and lifted his head at the same time. He clacked his beak, his eyes narrowing on his adversary. Icarus executed a Gust, but he aimed at the ground in front of him. A gust of wind erupted from the ground and into the air at precisely the right moment. It acted as a shield when it came into contact with the incoming attack. When they collided, the air exploded, blinding the Pokémon.
Icarus took advantage of the distraction and returned to the air. He fired another Air Cutter at the Butterfree, who failed to respond in time. The explosion had temporarily obscured the trainer's line of sight.
Because Icarus was above the Butterfree, the attack sent it crashing to the ground, and it landed with a hard thud.
[A critical hit!]
[It's super effective!]
[Butterfree's condition has fallen.]
[Condition: Depleted 2/6]
Butterfree struggled to get to its feet as a shadow fell over it. Icarus landed on the ground and used his claw to pin his opponent down.
They both launched their attacks at the same time.
Icarus unleashed Gust, and Butterfree expelled spores from its body. The wind whipped up from the ground, hitting both Pokemon at once and scattering the spores before they could reach Icarus.
Both opponents were injured as a result of Gust, but the Butterfree was sufficiently damaged enough to end the fight.
[Butterfree has fainted.]
[Lucas and Icarus receive twice the experience for defeating a trainer's Pokemon.
[Lucas/Icarus: +800 experience.]
[Icarus: + 1 Luck]
He would have come much sooner if he had known that battling trainers would provide him with twice the experience. Although he did not receive any pokedollars from the fight, this was irrelevant because he could bet pokedollars on the match.
The referee raised his flag. "Pidgeotto has won the fight. Lucas Walker is the winner."
Icarus let go of the Butterfree and clacked his beak with satisfaction.
The audience applauded politely.
"Great match!" Ash cheered. "Icarus, the chicken who flew to the sky and became a dragon."
Icarus flapped his wings and chirped indignantly at the boy.
The two competitors met in the centre of the stage. Lucas extended his hand for a handshake, but the boy ignored him. Without saying anything, he recalled his Butterfree into his pokeball and left the stage.
Lucas shrugged. It wasn't his problem that the kid was a sore loser. He turned to Icarus and scratched him beneath the chin. "You did an excellent job with your first trainer match. Although you were very undignified when you pecked around like a chicken."
Icarus looked away, deeply offended.
Meowth opened his mouth to continue the teasing, but Lucas covered his mouth. He didn't want to risk others overhearing Meowth talking.
He took a healing gel from his pocket and applied it to Icarus to improve his condition. Although the arena had its own healing facilities, they were identical to the Pokemon Centre in that healing Pokemon took time.
After deducting the arena fee, the referee handed him the pokedollars he won from the bet.
Lucas returned Icarus to his pokeball and left the stage. He took a seat in the gallery to reflect on his first match. He needed to process everything after coming across some confusing things.
He opened his guidebook and started looking for the new feature that his upgraded skill had unlocked. As he read through the battle log, he came across some detailed information that helped him understand the technical aspects of how battles worked.
What piqued his interest the most was the information on synergy stats. The battle commentator didn't mention it during the battle, as too much information would have only distracted him, but it was something that affected trainers at a certain level. Synergy stats were calculated by combining the trainer's skills with the Pokemon's stats.
These synergy stats only appeared after a bond reached a certain level. He flipped through the pages until he found an entry that explained the situation. Lucas would gain access to the synergy stats once his Pokemon reached the Loved favourability. One such ability was telepathy, which allowed trainers to communicate with their Pokemon mentally. In an instant, the kid's ability to silently command his Pokémon became clear.
He had discovered a synergy stat called accuracy while reading Butterfree's parameters. The stats effectiveness was calculated by combining the Pokemon's speed with the trainer's observation skills.
These synergy stats altered how some moves, special abilities, and traits worked, something he would have to keep in mind. Wild Pokemon battles would always differ from trainer battles.
It taught him that the bond between a trainer and his Pokemon was far more mysterious than he had previously believed. It also explained why trained Pokemon outperformed wild Pokemon by working with their trainer to improve their fighting abilities.
Lucas shut the book and put it away. He would compete in a few more matches before they moved on to other arenas to watch the trainers battle. He intended to use the matches to help Icarus adjust to his new form.
The next morning, Lucas was up early to prepare for his fight with Dratini. He had done as much training with Icarus as he could yesterday, and all he had to do now was defeat her so she would be officially recognised as a member of the team. Failure was out of the question. He had already decided on a name for her, which served as motivation for him to win.
The backyard was massive, with a sectioned-off area for Pokemon battles, so fighting here should be fine. Dratini stood on the opposite side of the pitch, facing Lucas, as Icarus took to the sky.
Delia stood off to the side, as she would officiate the game to ensure a fair competition. Chase stood next to her. If any of the Pokemon were in danger of being seriously injured, the Chansey would step in.
Lucas used Insight on Dratini to confirm his battle strategy. Icarus had the advantage in the upcoming fight because two of Dratini's moves were ineffective at a distance. Dratini only had three viable moves to counter Icarus. That wouldn't be the case if Dratini used Thunder Wave to paralyse Icarus and send him plummeting to the ground. Both Pokemon lacked moves with type advantages, limiting their ability to deal significant damage unless it was a critical hit.
"Ready?" Delia raised her hand before swinging it downward sharply. "Fight!"
[The match between Icarus and Dratini has commenced.]
"Icarus! Use Feather Dance to get things started," Lucas commanded.
Icarus' entire body glowed with flying-type energy as a swirling vortex of feathers appeared in front of him. He released it, directing the swirling vortex at Dratini below.
Dratini was prepared for the attack, and the distance between them allowed her to evade it.
The feathers hit the ground, but they dispersed without causing any damage.
Lucas clicked his tongue, but he expected it to happen. Although Icarus could stay aloft and evade Dratini's attacks, the increased distance between them would also work in Dratini's favour. He hoped to reduce the power of her Aqua Jet because it was considered a physical move.
Dratini retaliated with a Thunder Wave, sending an arc of lightning into the air.
Icarus banked and narrowly avoided the attack.
"Be careful," Lucas cautioned. "She is an expert with Thunder Wave. You can't get too close."
He expected Dratini to use the move more frequently, and he was right. She unleashed a series of Thunder Waves on her opponent. Dratini demonstrated her intelligence by strategically targeting the airspace where Icarus would be, rather than directly attacking him. This approach effectively put him on the defensive, leaving Icarus with no choice but to evade.
He needed to change things up because Icarus could not continue avoiding the attacks for much longer. Dratini's energy stat was above average, allowing her to perform more moves without affecting her condition.
Instead of evading, he had Icarus come to a stop in mid-air. Icarus possessed the paralysis resistance trait, giving him a 50% chance of overcoming the status condition. He gambled that Icarus would resist being paralysed, giving him an opening to attack.
Dratini unleashed another Thunder Wave on Icarus, and he didn't evade this time.
[Icarus has resisted paralysis.]
"Gust!" Lucas called urgently.
Icarus unleashed Gust, and a swirl of wind rose from the ground beneath Dratini.
Dratini was surprised when her attack didn't paralyse Icarus, and she had failed to avoid the attack in time. She was propelled into the air because her body was too light to withstand the force of the wind.
[Dratini's condition has fallen.]
[Condition: Excellent 5/6]
"Quick Attack!"
Icarus reacted instantly, as if he were ready to use the move himself. He vanished in a blur and struck Dratini, who was flailing in midair. The force of his attack sent her hurtling to the ground.
[Dratini's condition has fallen.]
[Condition: Fair 3/6]
"Use Gust again!" Lucas commanded.
Icarus launched the attack, but Dratini recovered quickly and slithered out of harm's way.
Dratini quickly countered with Aqua Jet, which launched a powerful stream of water into the air. This move proved to be faster than Thunder Wave.
Icarus tried to evade the attack by tilting his wing to execute a roll, but unfortunately, one of his wings was clipped in the process.
[Icarus' condition has fallen.]
[Condition: Excellent 5/6]
As Icarus plummeted to the ground, he recovered by spreading his wings wide. However, his respite was short-lived as Dratini struck again with a Thunder Wave. The attack hit Icarus, causing him to freeze in mid-air before he began plummeting towards the ground.
[Icarus has been paralysed.]
Dratini immediately launched an Aqua Jet at Icarus after he crashed to the ground. The attack sent him tumbling across the ground.
[Icarus' condition has fallen.]
[Condition: Healthy 3/6]
Because Icarus' defence was low and it was a direct hit, he suffered significant damage. He was living up to his reputation as a glass cannon.
"Not good!" Lucas exclaimed. "Icarus, get it together!"
Dratini slithered across the ground to reduce the distance. She dispatched another Aqua Jet to Icarus when she was within range.
[Icarus has recovered from paralysis.]
Icarus kicked out, flipping himself over in a comical fashion. The stream of water struck the ground, leaving a deep furrow where he had been lying only moments before.
"Great save," Lucas cheered.
Icarus struggled to stand. He chirped angrily at his opponent before raising his wings and launching a standing Air Cutter without waiting for Lucas' orders.
It shouldn't have worked as well as it did because Icarus' attacks were weaker on the ground, but the blade of wind released was so powerful that the backlash threw him in the air.
Lucas frowned. The attack appeared erratic.
Dratini cried out in panic and lay flat on the ground to avoid the attack. However, the blade of wind behaved strangely. It shifted from a horizontal to a vertical position, causing the blade tip to cut deeply into Dratini's body.
[A critical hit!]
[Dratini's condition has fallen.]
[Condition: Critical 1/6]
[Dratini has suffered a severe injury.]
"Damn it!" Lucas exclaimed, then dashed towards Dratini.
"This match is over," Delia said hastily. "Chase, use Healing Pulse on Dratini right away!"
Chase bounced forward and arrived at Dratini's side just as Lucas did. He was about to retrieve a potion when Chase used Healing Pulse on her. Instead, he held Dratini's head in his lap and consoled her while she was being treated.
"Tini!" Dratini cried, burying her head in his lap.
"Sorry," Lucas said, petting her. "This is not how I wanted to win the fight."
It just goes to show that, despite their tough bodies, Pokemon can sustain serious injuries and even die. It was unusual in official matches, where they had access to medical facilities and official Pokemon trained to deal with dangerous situations.
Icarus appeared in front of them, his head hanging low.
"It's not your fault," Lucas told him. "You are still inexperienced with the move, so, understandably, you lost control of it. This is my fault for making you use it before you were ready."
The others gathered around Dratini, encouraging her until her healing was complete. Only the blood on Dratini's body revealed that she had been injured at all.
Dratini climbed onto his body and wrapped herself around it. He stroked her head, and she nuzzled him fondly.
"Well, you did win the fight," Ash said. "What are you going to call her?"
"I have the perfect name for you," Lucas murmured. "I will call you Saphira."
"Tini!" Her positive reaction suggested that she liked the name.
Curious to see her new parameters, he applied Insight to her and immediately switched to the traits and evolution tabs.
Traits `
Inherent (Can be passed onto offspring)
Dragon-type Aptitude (Master) - Increases dragon affinity training by forty percent.
Water-type Aptitude (Expert) - Increases water affinity training by thirty percent.
Attack Aptitude (Intermediate) - Increases attack stat training efficiency.
Attack Boost (Expert) - Greatly increases attack stat potency.
Wonder Scale - 30% chance to resist all status conditions.
Evolution Conditions
Dragonair
Level 30
Condition: Perfect
Experience in Cache: 50000
Dragon-type Affinity: 50%
Evolution Bonuses
Max Experience in Cache = 80000: + 15 to All Stats
Dragon-type affinity = 70%: Dragon Rush learned upon evolving
Three Affinities above 50% = Energy + 1
Level 50 + Dragon Scale in possession: Endurance + 1
Defeat an opponent ten levels higher than your own: Dual Special Abilities.
Saphira was an absolute monster in terms of her parameters and her potential. She would be a force to be reckoned with by the time she evolved into a Dragonite.
"We need to get going," Delia said as she checked her watch. "Professor Oak's carriage will arrive shortly."
He nodded and got to his feet. Saphira was especially clingy after her ordeal, so he wasn't going to put her back in her pokeball. It didn't matter if she was seen by others; it had to happen at some point.
Lucas took one last look around before departing Viridian City in the carriage. He had some unfinished business at the mine, but that could wait for now. He had enough pokedollars for the time being, but he could earn more if needed.
For the time being, he intended to focus on obtaining his breeder's licence and producing his first egg. He wanted to focus on his alchemy as well and earn a skill for making potions.
"It feels like we have been gone forever," Delia sighed as they drove into Pallet Town.
"I can tell Gary about all of my adventures." Ash smiled. "I am sure he will be jealous."
"Ash!" Daisy chastised him. "You will not do that to your friend."
"He does it all the time," Ash muttered.
"What was that?"
"Nothing."
"Are there any good fishing spots nearby? Misty asked.
"There are a few," Delia answered. "Lucas wouldn't mind showing you around when he has time, right?
Lucas shrugged. "When I am not working at the lab."
He noticed Meowth looking out at the town with a greedy expression. He leaned forward and whispered into his ear. "Don't get any ideas."
Meowth turned to face him with an innocent expression on his face.
The carriage drove directly to Professor Oak's laboratory. Lucas still needed to deliver the Pichu egg. He kept it in his backpack, along with the Vulpix egg. He had purchased the fire and psychic evolution stones required to construct a nest to meet the bonus requirements. He would place the egg in the nest when he wasn't holding it himself.
They got out of the carriage and entered the lab. He smiled as he noticed Sabrina at the reception desk conversing with Professor Oak. But his smile faded when he noticed Giovanni standing nearby. What the hell was he doing here?
"The leader of Team Rocket is here," Meowth hissed in his ear.
"Delia." Giovanni walked forward and hugged her like an old friend. "It has been a while since we have spent time together."
"Hello, Antonio."
Lucas moved closer to Sabrina. "What is Giovanni doing here?"
"I wouldn't know," Sabrina admitted. She looked at his new companions, who were draped all over him. "Where did you find a Dratini?"
"It's a long story," Lucas said.
He looked at Giovanni, who noticed him and gave a small smirk before returning his focus to Delia.
The bastard was mocking him.
So, what do you think? Saphira is the name of a dragon in the Inheritance Cycle, which is one of my favourite fantasy book series. Well, except for the fourth book, which was a major disappointment.
Patrons get access to advanced chapters for all of my stories. Read my profile for information on how to join if you are interested.
Thanks for reading.