Before Nidoking could go down, to get to Ash, Gary put his hand on the big poison type, and smirked.
"Just hold on a second, big guy. We'll go see him, but no sense in knocking others over just to get to Ashy-boy. Come on," he said, and walked towards the stairs. Hearing his Pokèmon behind him, as he descended to the next floor.
Walking through the crowds, in the direction he saw Ash was last in, he wondered to himself how much has Ash changed? Or if he has changed at all. He was pretty sure they were getting close, and smiled when he spotted the boy with his Pikachu. Along with Brock and the orange haired girl, Misty, from last he remembered. Before he could call out to them, Ash bolted towards a crowd of trainers, who were watching a battle.
Deciding to have a look, he got his Nidoking to give him a lift, onto its shoulders, so he can see over the crowd of trainers. In the middle, there was a gentleman, standing over a boy and his Starmie. He deduced that the gentleman and his Raticate were the winners. He watched Ash challenge the gentleman to a battle, and brought out his Butterfree.
Gary watched how the battle went, and shook his head a bit. However, he began to smile when it looked like Ash's Butterfree was gaining the advantage against the gentleman's Raticate. He became interested when Butterfree used Sleep Powder, and Raticate fell asleep. He was sure Ash could end the match with one more attack, but scowled a bit when the gentleman stepped up and took his Pokèmon away. Calling the match a draw.
"There is no way that was a draw," Gary slid off of Nidoking, and back onto the floor. "He knew he was going to lose, and chose to end the match and save face."
Once he was back on the floor, and the crowd dispersed, he looked over and saw that he and Ash's eyes met.
"Gary!"
"Hey there, Ashy-boy."
Not waiting any longer, Nidoking charged at its raven haired friend. Tail wagging, he soon grabbed hold of the boy, and embraced him tight, and roared happily.
Gary, watching all this unfold, laughs at Nidoking giving Ash a bone crushing hug, before setting the boy back down. Gary walked over, after getting his giggling under control, and stood by his Pokèmon.
"It's been over 2 weeks since I last saw ya back in Cerulean City, Ashy-boy. You as well, Brock and Pikachu. I'm surprised you're traveling with them, Misty," Gary greeted them, and asked, gesturing to the orange haired girl with them.
"Yeah, it has," Ash wheezed out, trying to catch his breath, from being crushed by Nidoking's hug.
"Nice to see you as well, Gary. Hope you've been well," Brock returned the greeting.
Misty nodded to Gary. "Well, I would have been on my way, but someone still owes me a new bike."
Pikachu gave a wave to Gary, and went back to talking with Nidoking. Both Pokèmon seemed to have struck up a conversation of their own, while both making sure Ash was ok.
Gary looks over at Ash, and notices how the boy froze up at the mention of the word, bike. "You still haven't paid for her bike, yet?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
Ash spluttered incoherently at first, before saying, "It's in the works! I promise! I'll pay her back for it." And gave Misty a sour look, which was promptly returned by the girl.
Brock and Pikachu sighed at their two friends.
Gary shook his head and sighs at this as well. "So tell me, Ash, how has your journey been?"
Ash confidently replied, "I've got three badges and a good team of pokèmon, what about you?"
The Oak boy chuckled. "It's been… enlightening. 4 badges, and about 50 Pokémon caught," he said, smiling at Ash's frightened expression.
"I heard that Professor Oak's grandson was here on this ship. If so, let's see if you can give me a challenge, right sandshrew?" a voice said from behind the group.
Gary and company turned around, to see a green haired boy and his sandshrew.
"AJ!" Ash, Brock, and Misty said in unison, upon seeing the boy.
AJ waved to them, before looking back at Gary. Smirking, his Pokèmon makes a noise of 'yeah he's going to crush you, Oak boy' gestures.
"So, you him?" AJ asked.
Gary smiled back, and nodded. "Yeah, and I accept your challenge. Prepare to lose!"
Soon enough, trainers had surrounded them and a makeshift ring to see another battle starting. Ash, Brock, Misty, and Pikachu stood among them as well. Ash held a bit of a sour look on his face, as he was planning to challenge Gary himself, but perked back up when Brock suggested that watching Gary battle and see what Pokèmon he uses, could prove to be beneficial to Ash later on. With that in mind, Ash agreed with the older teen and got excited to see the battle about to take place.
Gary smirked, sending out his Alakazam, while AJ sent out his new Growlithe which barked in excitement.
"Whoa! Who's that Pokèmon?" Ash asked in amazement, as he used his dex to scan it.
Dex: Ping. Alakazam, the Psi Pokémon, and the evolved form of Kadabra. Its brain can outperform a supercomputer. Its intelligence quotient is said to be 5,000.
Ping. Growlithe, the Puppy Pokèmon. Very protective of its territory. It will bark and bite to repel intruders from its space.
"That Growlithe of yours looks really strong there. Let's see who's stronger. Alakazam, use Tri attack!"
Alakazam creates three orbs while holding out its two spoons, above is fire, left is electricity, and ice is on the right. These floated above him in a triangle, each orb is fired with great speed!
Growlithe, surprises the crowd with his burst of speed. By side stepping each orb, and coming back to attack position. Very determined to win this battle.
"That's a fast Growlithe!" Brock exclaimed.
"AJ must have put it through a lot of tough exercises for it to be that fast," Ash remarked. Watching the battle intently.
AJ smirked at Gary. "As you can see, I trained Growlithe to be really fast. Growlithe, use your Ember!"
The puppy Pokèmon fires small embers from its mouth at Alakazam. He was doing his best to deal damage to Alakazam, who pulled back to create distance, but it was closed almost immediately.
"Alakazam can dodge really well, but it looks like Growlithe is getting close," Misty said, hands clenched in a fist.
"You got Alakazam on the run. Now Bite it!" AJ shouts.
Growlithe had closed the distance, and jumped at Alakazam. Biting the psychic Pokèmon on the arm. Alakazam winced at the super effective move, but didn't flinch.
"Inner focus is really useful. Alright, stop messing around, Alakazam. Thunderwave!" Gary confidently ordered.
Alakazam held out its other arm, its spoon began to vibrate and create rings of electricity. Striking the Growlithe, who now hung off its right arm paralyzed.
"Your Growlithe is now paralyzed. Try to move now!" Gary said.
Growlithe let go and barked angrily, finding it hard to move his limbs.
Gary called out, "Tri attack!"
Alakazam released all three orbs, knocking Growlithe out!
"You did great, Alakazam," Gary proudly says, while patting his pokemon on the back before returning Alakazam.
To Ash and the other trainers watching the battle, it didn't take long, and was amazing to see an Alakazam in battle, up close.
After AJ returned his defeated Growlithe to its ball, he threw out his next Pokemon.
"Go Rattata!"
Gary was about to throw out a ball, until Nidoking stepped in front of Gary. Facing the Rattata.
"Oh? So you want to have a go, Nidoking? Alright. You're up next," Gary smiled.
Nidoking looked back to see Ash, making him incredibly excited to show off his skills.
Gary chuckles. "Yeah, yeah, I know. He can see you, Nidoking." He watches Nidoking wag his tail. "Yes, you can see Ash after the battle," Gary chuckles, quickly snapping back into action.
Nidoking smiled and focused on his opponent. This action caused Ash to blush a bit and Pikachu, Brock, and Misty to giggle at Nidoking wanting to show off to Ash.
AJ smirked. "Rattata go! Quick attack!"
The little mouse pokemon darts around quickly, striking Nidoking as fast as possible. All it did was annoy Nidoking.
"Double Kick!" Gary calls out.
Aj had a different plan. "Hyper Fang!"
Nidoking ran towards Rattata to throw two kicks. The little purple pokemon spun around and unleashed a nasty bite to the big thick tail of this giant purple pokemon, who grunted in anger.
"Don't get too mad, Nidoking, you've still got this!" Gary shouts, making Nidoking shake off his opponent, flinging them into the air. "Good! Now, Horn attack!"
Nidoking ran its horn into the falling Rattata. It fell hard onto the ground, bearing its teeth before fainting.
"You are good, Gary Oak, but I'm just warming up," AJ sends out Butterfree.
"Good job, Nidoking, return." He watches Nidoking return to his side, then throws out a Poke ball. "Now it's Spearows turn. Go!" Gary sends out Spearow who caws loudly, awaiting commands from its trainer. "Spearow, don't waste any time and hit them with a Peck!"
The tiny bird pokèmon slammed its beak into the butterfly pokèmon, dealing great damage.
"You have an extremely fast Spearow!" AJ says, thinking about his next move. "I should pay you back for Alakazam's Thunder Wave from earlier, Butterfree, use Stun Spore!"
Butterfree flew fast, and released a pollen of its Stun Spore onto Spearow. Spearow cawed at feeling its wings being stiffened, but still airborne.
"That's not a bad move to use on Spearow. That would cripple his speed," Gary said, staring down AJ before smiling. "Not that it matters, Spearow! Use another Peck to end this battle!"
Even though Spearow was slowed down it still managed to pull through to unleash its final attack. With as much strength as it could muster through the paralysis, he flew straight at the bug type, and struck it hard with its beak, knocking out Butterfree!
"Present your final Pokemon, AJ" Gary says, petting his Spearow, returning him to his pokeball
"You are finished, Gary Oak!" AJ snapped his fingers, and his partner stepped forward. "I bet my partner, Sandshrew, can beat your whole team!"
Smirking, Gary sent out his Poliwag. "Poliwag, let's win this!"
The blue tadpole Pokèmon taps its feet to psyche itself up. "Poli po po poli poliwag!" It seemed to be singing a song of battle.
Misty clasps her hands together, eyes filled with hearts, as she gushes at seeing a water type Pokemon. "Oh! A Poliwag! It looks so adorable, and it's obviously a good singer. HOW CUTE!" she squealed, causing her traveling companions to sit and chuckle nervously at her reaction.
"Water Gun!" Gary commanded.
As commanded, Poliwag blasts water from its mouth at the ground type.Sandshrew uses its ball form to speedily move around, to avoid being hit.
"You won't hit Sandshrew with such a slow pokemon, Oak boy!" AJ sounded cocky.
"We just have to wait for the right time. Poliwag, hold your fire," Gary spoke calmly, while smirking.
Ash watched his childhood rival, and swallowed a bit at how cool and confident Gary had been during this whole battle.
Poliwag listened, as Sandshrew unfurls itself and does its best to scratch away at Poliwag. The water type dodges by hopping around.
"Now!" At Gary's shout, Poliwag blasts water at Sandshrew, knocking it out and giving Gary the win! He lifted his Poliwag off the ground giving him a tight hug "You did great!"
AJ returns Sandshrew. "Guess I lost. Oak, you are better than I thought. Looks like we've got a lot of training to do. And next time, we won't lose."
"I'll be waiting," Gary smirked, and shook hands with AJ.
The crowd of trainers clapped at the good sportsmanship that was being displayed by the two, before dispersing. Leaving Ash and co to speak with Gary.
That night
"What?! You ran into Giselle from Pokemon Tech here?!" "Pika?!" Ash, Brock, Misty, and Pikachu exclaimed in shock at Gary.
Hours after Ash and Gary had their own respective battles with the gentleman and AJ, found the two Pallet Town natives, as well as Brock, Misty, and Pikachu eating at a table. The ship had left the port around the time Gary's match with AJ had started.
Gary nodded, taking a sip of his drink before speaking again. "Yep. It was yesterday when it happened. Her school was taking a field trip here. I happened to see her with her graveler out of his pokèball. And thought immediately, that it would be so helpful if she could help me with a trade evolution between my Kadabra and her graveler. I had approached her, introduced myself, and asked if she would be willing to do so, and then trade our Pokèmon back.
"She agreed that she would love to have her graveler evolve into a golem, but would only trade with me, once she had a battle with me. She told me of you guys visiting her school, and she would love to have another battle with another trainer from Pallet Town. Of course, we battled, and I won. Nidoking versus her Cubone. Once the battle was over, we went over to the trade machine, and was overseen by Nurse Joy. Once the trade was done, we traded back. And the rest is history."
"That's awesome, Gary. I bet watching a trade evolution in person was quite the experience, huh?" Brock asked, smiling at the boy.
"It was, Brock! I got so much information on how the process worked, and how it affected our Pokèmon and such," Gary said, sounding not only proud but genuinely happy.
A fact that did not go unnoticed by his raven haired rival.
The group was then approached by The Gentleman, and the woman in the red dress, Ash had battled earlier.
"So, are ya having yourself a good time?" The Gentleman asks, catching the group's attention.
"Yes sir, we're having a great time," Ash answers, after swallowing his food.
"Ya know, that Butterfree of yours is quite extraordinary!" the Gentleman compliments.
"It's incredible," the woman says.
Brock looks at her and goes red in the head, literally. "She's beautiful," he says in a trance, dropping his unfinished sandwich.
"Hello in there," Misty says, waves a hand over Brock's face.
The only response she got back was, "Beautiful."
"Sighs, here we go again," Misty gives up with a sigh, sweat dropping.
"Well, I put a lot of hard work into raising it," Ash says.
"You better have," Gary commented, sarcastically earning a side glare from Ash.
"What did ya think of my Raticate?" The Gentleman asked, getting Ash's attention back.
"It looked great, and it really put up a tough fight," Ash answered.
"In that case, I'll be direct, why don't we trade," the man said.
At this point, Ash looked puzzled, before looking over at Gary spitting out his drink to the side. Gary then looked at the man, after accepting a napkin from Misty to wipe his mouth, and listened to the man's explanation about trading between trainers, and how friendships are formed between trainers that trade Pokèmon to each other.
After listening, and a bit unsure, Ash asks Brock if he should go through with it, but Brock was too distracted by the woman next to the Gentleman to do anything but nod and absentmindedly agree to the trade, however…
"Well, I don't agree to the trade," Gary spoke, arms crossed, and frowned at both Ash and the gentleman.
"Hm? Can you give a reason why Ash shouldn't trade his Pokèmon, Gary?" Misty asked, curiously.
"I'll do you one better, I'll give you 3 reasons why Ash shouldn't trade his Butterfree away to this man," Gary said, standing up, and facing the gentleman.
To Ash, Gary suddenly looked different. Like he was looking at a completely different person. Not the same guy who would always call him a loser, or belittled him. He blinked at this, but waited to hear what Gary had to say about him not trading.
Brock, having come out of his trance of the beautiful woman, had recognized this look and stance from Gary Oak. It's the same stance he took whenever he himself was standing in between his younger siblings and possibly danger. To Brock, Gary was acting like a shield between Ash and the Gentleman. So, he waited and listened.
"While I do acknowledge that trading can forge friendships between trainers, I don't believe that's why you want to trade with Ash. First off, Ash? Was that Butterfree of yours, a Caterpie, the first Pokèmon you caught after I left you back in Viridian City?" Gary glanced at him, and received a yes from the boy. "That's reason #1. Ash has had that Pokèmon for as long as we've been on this journey as Pokèmon trainers. Which would be approximately 3 months 7 days, today.
"He's put in a lot of hard work into raising that Butterfree, and they have a lot of precious memories, I am betting." Looks at Ash again, and receives a few nods from him, before looking back at the man. "That's reason #2. And reason #3; the only reason you want to trade your Raticate for his Butterfree, is because you and I both know that you actually lost that battle with him."
The Gentleman stiffened, while Ash and the others remained silent at this.
"Your Raticate was about to lose to Ash's Butterfree in that match. After Butterfree had put Raticate to sleep, Ash just needed to call one more move, and end the match. But you decided right then and there to intervene. Taking your Raticate, and calling the match a draw. That was the lamest thing you did. Instead of accepting the defeat you were about to be given, with some dignity, you cowardly ended the match by taking your Pokèmon away," Gary stated, his eyes narrowed at the man, who was now visibly upset.
"Now see here young man," the Gentleman tried to calmly get out, but was interrupted by the boy.
"So, now that you've saved face in front of the other trainers, you wait until now to come to Ash, and ask if he would trade his "stronger than your Raticate" Butterfree, to you, while he gets your Raticate. Sorry if I am not at all convinced he should trade you one of his stronger Pokèmon." Gary ended firmly, and stared at the older man.
Ash and Pikachu looked at Gary in wonder. This was surreal. Was this really the same Gary Oak that left Pallet Town before he did?
"G-Gary…?" Ash was at a loss for words. Here was Gary defending him, again! After taking a few breaths, he looked up at the Gentleman. "Um, thank you for the offer to trade Pokèmon, sir, but I will have to say no. Butterfree and I have spent a lot of time together, and it would feel really wrong for me to trade him away. I hope you understand?"
The Gentleman's face softened at Ash's answer. "I see. Very well, then. Hope you enjoy the rest of the trip." He tipped his hat to Ash, and left with the woman. Not sparing Gary even a glance.
Gary sat back down, and sighed. "Honestly, Ash, you shouldn't have entertained the idea of trading with him. Yes, I've traded, but when I did it, we did it with intentions of helping each other out, and made sure that Nurse Joy was there to witness the transfer and to make sure we returned the Pokèmon to its rightful owner."
Ash and co nodded their understanding.
"Thanks, Gary," Ash said.
Gary nodded his head, and silently took a sip from his drink. Having to express his displeasure at the Gentleman was tiring.
Before long, an announcement rang through the cruise ship. "Attention everyone. Due to unseen events, the ballroom must go into lockdown."
"That's weird," Gary spoke to himself, quietly.
Many party goers had dropped their disguises showing themselves as Team Rocket grunts. Some wore vacuum packs,some moved over to the trainers and demanded that they give up their Pokèmon.
One had moved over to the table Gary was sitting at. "You boy, give us your Pokèmon!"
Ash, Pikachu, Brock, and Misty looked on, as two more grunts moved towards them from behind.
After finishing the last of his orange drink, Gary sat the cup on the table calmly, and slowly stood up, taking a ball from his pocket. "You guys again? Listen, I don't think you could handle my Pokémon if I gave him to you, and I'll prove it. Go, Mankey!"
Mankey jumped between Gary and a grunt. The pig monkey locked eyes and jumped onto the grunt obscuring his vision, and attacking with its Fury Swipes. The gunt yelled in pain, prompting the two other grunts that had just got to Ash and co, to come over quickly to help their comrade. Only for them to miss catching the little fighting type, and to be swept off their feet by Mankey's Low Kick to their legs.
Gary's retaliation was needed, as the other trainers started to get more confident themselves, and began to reach for their own Pokèballs.
"If Team Rocket wants to take all our Pokèmon, then I say we battle!" Ash called out to everyone. "Pikachu! Use Thunderbolt!"
"Pikachu!" Pikachu unleashed its electric attack on the three grunts that were fighting Mankey, once the fighting type had jumped away from the three. All three grunts were fried, and Mankey stood on top of them, doing a little victory dance.
Now more than encouraged, all the trainers agreed with the two boys, and counterattack Team Rocket by bringing out their Pokèmon to battle.
"Ok everyone, attack!" Gary yelled
"YEAH!" Everyone shouted in unison, and sent out their Pokèmon to attack Team Rocket.
Gary's Mankey had been knocking out Rattata left and right, while staying close to Gary.
Gary nodded at how Ash and the other trainers were doing, and at how the tide of the battle had started to shift. Seeing many of the Rockets still had the vac packs on, he sent out another of his Pokèmon to aid.
"Alakazam, go! Use your Confusion to get rid of those vac packs!"
"Alakazam!" The Psi Pokèmon acknowledged the command, and used Teleport to appear near any grunt and used its Confusion to destroy the packs they were wearing.
This caused packs to short circuit and explode. Somehow sending the stolen Pokèballs back to their original trainers.
"Okay everyone, use your strongest attacks and get Team Rocket out of here!" Gary shouted, and all the trainers unleashed their best moves knocking Team Rocket off the ship, and into the night sky.
Team Rocket had been repelled, and the trainers had won! Although, during the battle, the ship had sailed into a storm. Many were worried, as the ship had taken a beating by battle from inside, and the strong waves from the outside.
"Do not worry passengers, the St. Anne is unsinkable!" The captain was cornered by the trainers and tried to reassure them that they don't have to worry.
That came to an abrupt end, when another wave crashed into the ship, scaring the trainers. When they looked for the captain, they found him already at the lifeboats.
"Don't be alarmed! I'm just testing out the lifeboats!" he lies through his teeth.
Without a second thought, everyone started scrambling for the lifeboats, while returning their Pokèmon.
"Return Alakazam and Mankey! We aren't about to be stuck here!" he says trying his best not to be caught in the crowds.
Finally Gary had gotten onto a lifeboat, and watched with everyone else the sinking of the St Anne.
"Everyone who has escaped the boat say Aye!" The captain called out, the rescued passengers all said aye
The trouble with this was that he couldn't see Ash and co as the boat capsized. Though there were many lifeboats that were crowded, he just hopes that Ash and co made it out with the rest of them.
With that, the captain called out to the trainers that had water type Pokèmon on them, to bring them out, so that they could push the lifeboats back to Vermillion Port. The trainers did as told, and soon, they were all moving back to Vermillion City. It would be about 2 hours later when they made it back to the port. The trainers would take turns in using their water types to keep them all moving.
Back on land, Gary was moved to the Pokèmon Center, along with everyone else, as they were all being checked to be sure everyone had made it back safely. Once Gary was checked out, he called his driver's number, and told him that he would be taking a long detour before coming to Celadon City. With that taken care of, Gary then left Vermillion City. Hoping that Ash and the others made it out alright. He believed he would see them again eventually, as he made his way on his bike, towards his next destination. Heading down Route 11 that would lead him to Lavender Town.
It would be, by the morning of the next day, before anyone was made aware that 5 trainers were missing….
To be continued…
authors notes: Well the captain didn't want to go down with his ship
Thanks to https//u/1725082/the-black-shinobi for this fun collaboration between us!