Pokemon Virus Version Chapter 27: An Old Habit (Wes Strikes Back)
So, I normally don't post a chapter on the weekend, but I've posted on Tuesday and got over 100 views :). So now I have 1000 views and it hasn't even been six months yet. Not bad for an OC story... Anyways, please enjoy and be sure to leave a review.
Naoko's POV
Furious as that traitor , I simply walked away from the scene of Wes and the former champion, Lance. Only Espeon was with me, and I needed someone to talk to - someone like one of my sisters. But I have no idea where they are. Could they have been kidnapped by Neo Snagem?
"Are you okay?" A voice asked as I was approached by a familiar man. "You seem upset."
The man had blonde shoulder length hair with a purple headband on. He wore a long sleeve black shirt and a purple scarf to match his headband. He also had on white pants. Oh, and he's Morty, Gym Leader of Ecruteak City.
"Morty..." I said as I winced. "Where were you? Ecruteak City is being taken over."
"I tried to make my way to the city limits before being ambushed by Neo Snagem. I was able to defeat all but one commander. This '24' managed to flee using his Skarmory." Morty explained.
"Well, I was at the city limit," I said as I grew frustrated. "But I couldn't bare the sight of a traitor. I took him in and gave him a place to sleep, only to find out I've been aiding the enemy."
"And what became of you enemy?" Morty asked.
"We managed to from him; Me, Espeon, and Toge-" When I looked around, Togepi was nowhere to be seen. "Oh no! Where did it go?!" I yelled as I started to panic.
"If you're looking for something, why not retrace your steps?" Morty asked.
What? I winced once more at that dreaded idea. Retracing my steps would mean confronting that traitor again if I wanted to find Togepi. Togepi wasn't mine, but I would never forgive myself if I were to just stand there as a baby got killed by Neo Snagem.
"Come on," Morty said with a hand on my shoulder. "Everyone in Ecruteak knows me, and I'd never betray my city like that."
"I looked at Morty with a warm smile. "So, you'll protect Espeon and I?"
He nodded yes, returning my smile. We then started back toward the city limit to retrieve Togepi.
Wes' POV
Location: Ecruteak City Limit
"Metagross, I choose you!" I said as I sent out the Iron Leg Pokemon.
"Meta!" Metagross roared as it and Garchomp exchanged nasty looks.
Lance looked uneasy at Metagross, as if he weren't expecting me to own such a powerful pokemon.
"What's the matter, Champ?" I asked with a smile. "Do you suddenly lack the confidence to fight on?"
Lance did not reply...
"Remember our wagers: If you win, Neo Snagem will surrender the city and turn ourselves in. But if you lose, not only will you and your G-Men surrender, but you will swear your loyalty to Neo Snagem as well." I explained. "This will be a one on one battle - all or nothing."
"Right..." Lance replied.
"Toge Togepi!" Togepi replied as it race over to Metagross to greet it.
"Huh?" I said confused.
Togepi is STILL here? I have antagonized the pokemon G-Men, and Togepi is still with me? Does it...still believe that I have a pure heart.
"Now, now," I sai as I picked up Togepi and brought it off the battlefield. "I'll hold you for now."
I looked back at Lance, ready to start our battle. "Shall we begin?"
"Show me what you got!" Lance said as he put on a look of determination on his face.
"Hmph, beating a Champion is no small feat, so prepare yourself," Lance said with his chin up. "Garchomp, use Flamethrower!"
But without word, Metagross easily avoided the attack.
"Meta," Metagross cried calmly.
"What?!" Lance said.
"I laughed a bit. "You may not know it, but ALL Champions seem to develope a habit of overestimating their own ability," I continued, "Metagross has an intelligence of that of a supercomputer. So by analyzing Garchomp and it's moves, Metagross will know more about Garchomp than you know, including strengths and weaknesses."
The former Champion had a bewildered look on his face as his time as a Pokemon G-Man is slowly coming to an abrupt end.
"Use Meteor Mash, now!" I said.
"Meta!" Metagross cried as it started toward Garchomp.
"Quick, Dragon Rush!" Lance yelled.
Now Metagross gained a bewildered look on it's face as Garchomp, cloaked in a light blue aura, charged straight for Metagross. Garchomp's Dragon Rush hit Metagross as Meteor Mash was suddenly cancelled out.
"But how?" I said confused as Metagross fell to the ground.
"Wes, I guess your not as smart as you thought," Lance said. "Dragon Rush is a move that can cause even the smartest of opponents to flinch."
So this Garchomp may be worth the struggle of returning to an 'old habit'.
"Earthquake!" Lance yelled.
"Magnet Rise," I said.
Magnet Rise prevented Metagross from receiving any damage from the ground type attack. The ground shook and made it hard for me to keep my balance. But right in the middle of Earthquake, Togepi fell out of my arms and was carried on to the field by the quake.
"Aw, Togepi?" I said as I ran onto the battlefield and grabbed it. "Next time, hold on tight and be more careful."
"Flamethrower!" Lance yelled as I let my guard down.
Flamethrower was aimed at Metagross. I held Togepi in my arms as I raced back to my side of the battlefield.
"Hey! Why don't you play fair?!" I asked annoyed.
"I never knew you cared for such a thing," Lance replied. "Next time, don't let your guard down. Garchomp, Dragon Rush!"
"Dodge it!" I called out to Metagross.
Once again, Metagross used it's intelligence to avoid the attack.
"Now, make haste with Meteor Mash!" I yelled.
"Garch-" Metagross' swift action did no allow Lance to finish his command. Garchomp was hit critically as it was knocked on the ground.
"No..." Lance was growing worried as he started to lose control of this battle. "Garchomp, come on! Don't give up!"
"What's wrong? I've never seen a 'champion' act this pitiful." I said as my eyes narrowed. "Have I been correct on how Champions overestimate their ability?"
"Shut up!" Lance yelled.
"Or does it bother you how your life is slipping from your grasp as we speak?" I said bitterly. "Shamelessly wagering youself for this 'selfish' world. I may be 'selfish', but if Neo Snagem continues to grow, we will all be one someday."
What I just said...I think I've just found Neo Snagem's true purpose. We must all unify as one, while my personal purpose remains the same: To save Rui, the Lost 'someone'.
"Call me what you want! I WILL use Neo Snagem to unify us and save Rui!" I yelled. "Selfish or not, I won't let you OR Atticus stop me. I don't care how many lives it costs us!"
Lance was speechless. But will Neo Snagem really rid the world of selfish conflict? Or will even more conflict surface? Commander 21, before his elimination in Violet City, once asked me: 'What does conflict resolve?'.
"Lance, our differences shall now be put aside..." I said as I looked at Metagross. "Metagross, finish this with a full power Meteor Mash."
The Champion started to panic as Metagross started toward an exhausted Garchomp with a finishing move.
"No...this can't end like this..." Lance said faintly to himself. "Garchomp, you've got to do something!"
It seemed all was lost for Lance before Garchomp started glowing orange as light was emitted from it's chest. The glow faded as and orange ball was generated from Garchomp's mouth. Garchomp then launched the ball into the sky as the ball exploded, hitting many orbs on Metagross.
"Can it be?" I said shocked. "Why now, of all times?!"
"Draco Meteor?" Lance said shocked. "You finally learned it!"
I guess even Champion level pokemon have room to grow.
"Hmph," I said as I addressed Lance. "I congragulate you and Garchomp for learning a new move at such a 'cliche' critical moment." My eyes narrowed. "But you have only repelled Metagross temporarily. Draco Meteor wasn't very effective against the steel type, and Garchomp's special attack has significantly decreased."
Lance then smiled. "You think you know everything, do you? Like how I underestimate you, but ironically, it's the other way around."
"Huh?" I said confused.
"Recently, I've stumbled upon a tool that I initially did not want Neo Snagem to discover." Lance pulled up his sleeve to reveal a device located on his left wrist. Garchomp revealed a stone that was unfamiliar to me, and I was bewildered. "Garchomp, evolve!"
"What? There's no way that-" I was interrupted by Garchomp's reaction to the device. I had to see it to believe it; Garchomp was evolving...
"I can't let an evolution stop me from winning this battle!" I thought to myself.
Before Garchomp could finish it's evolution, I decided to resort to an 'old habit'. I reached for a pokeball, while still holding Togepi, and prepared to throw using the Snag Machine on my arm.
"Pokeball, snag it!" I yelled as I threw the pokeball.
With Garchomp's evolution interrupted, it was forced into the pokeball as if a hand reached out and grabbed it.
"No way!" Lance said.
Here it is; the winnere of this entire battle would most likely be decided by whether Garchomp would be successfully snagged or not. After wiggling on the ground, the pokeball clicked shut, indicating that I have snagged Garchomp.
"Toge Togepi!" Togepi cried as it walked over and grabbed the pokeball.
Togepi then walked over to me and delivered my newly caught Garchomp. "Garchomp, is mine..."
"Why don't you play fair?!" Lance asked.
"I'll tell you what you told me: Next time, don't let yor guard down," I said as my eyes narrowed.
"Here is our winner: Commander Wes!" announced a 24 who had watched the whole battle, still aiding a defeated 20.
"Winner?" Lance yelled, "But how?
"As long as Garchomp is inside of this pokeball, it is deemed unable to battle," I said as I picked up Togepi and approached Lance. "Which means that I am the victor."
Lance dropped to his knees and stared at the ground in disbelief. "No..."
"Now, your first objective as the newest member of Neo Snagem is to hand over that device, and explain in detail what it's functions and purposes are," I said.
Lance got up from his knees and forcefully shoved the device in my free hand, with a nasty look on his face.
"Excuse me?!" I said. "Are you giving your leader attitude?! I'd like you to hand over the device one more time, with no attitude"
"Yes," Lance said.
"-Yes, who?" I asked.
"Yes, Commander Wes, Lance said as he calmly gave me the device.
"That's more like it," I said calmly. "I thought you'd see things my way. Now, you may begin."
"What I have just given to you, it is called a Mega Ring. The Mega Ring serves as a medium between trainers and their pokemon in order to reach the pinnacle of their power. Recently discovered, only a set number of pokemon are known to react to Mega Rings when holding a Mega Stone," Lance explained.
This explanation intrigued me.
"So, with this ring, pokemon can achieve new forms and power," I said to myself as I looked at the Mega Ring, and then back at Lance. "Would this theory be linked to the legend of Lugia's alternate form, Shadow Lugia? Or perhaps the mythical Shadow Ho-oh?"
"Not that I know of..." Lance said.
Well, he did say the Mega Ring was recently discovered. With that, my questions were answered, and it was time for Neo Snagem to move forward.
"Lance, you've done well," I said with a smile. "24, bring Lance to Goldenrod headquarters. There he will work his way to a Commander rank, as well and be provided a uniform."
"Sir!" 24 said as he left 20 and approached Lance. "Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Way to go, 'Champ'."
"...Don't push me..." Lance said.
"Oooh. So what are you gonna do about it?" 24 mocked. "I outrank you now, so you do what I say, when I say. That goes for those crappy dragons of yours."
24 certainly has a mouth. I'm surprised he hasn't been eliminated already.
"Haven't you heard, dragons are useless now that fairies are around!" 24 started laughing.
"Are you just gonna stand there and take that?!" A voice said as Naoko returned to the scene accompanied by Morty.
"Naoko..." I said.
"At least stand up for yourself!" Naoko yelled.
Lance simply looked at Naoko, speechless...
"Come on, Champ!" 24 teased. "Talk to the gi-"
"24, will you shut your mouth?" I asked. "I see you've failed to dispose of Morty like a specifically asked.
"But, Commander," 24 tried to explain, though trying to make and excuse angered me.
"At least Lance doesn't make excuses on why he failed." I said, annoyed at 24 as I then turned toward Lance. "As a matter a fact, Lance, you stay with me. It'll be nice to have someone reliable to fall back on."
Lance made no reply, but that was the least of my concerns as I turned to address Naoko.
"You're back..." I said calmly. "But why?"
"You're holding it in your arms," Naoko said as she pointed to Togepi. " I trust even you would not kill a baby. I worried about Togepi, worried that it would not fare well against a traitor like you. At least, that's what I thought until I found out Togepi remained with you, which indicated that you somehow still have a pure heart."
Naoko approached Togepi and I.
"You said, you are doing all this just to save someone you care for. Only the most pure of hearts would risk their life to do that. And so, I apologize for judging you, Wes." Naoko said as she bowed her head. "But, why must you sacrifice innocent lives?"
"It's not me, it's a man named Atticus, in his search for power. I wanted to increase Neo Snagem's numbers, but I could never live with sacrificing others for my own need. At one point, I tried to convince Atticus to change his ways. Atticus was too stubborn, and his thirst for power swallowed him whole. He's also adopted a reputation for abandoning anyone of no use to him, including his family." I grabbed my head with one hand. "I don't know. Maybe, Neo Snagem isn't a problem as a whole. Atticus may be our only true antagonist, but no person other than I have ever opposed him. If we could just work together, maybe we could eliminate Atticus once and for all."
I looked at the dark cloudy sky, feeling like I just got a load off my chest. Neo Snagem itself isn't bad, just the leadership itself is. But no one knows Atticus like I do. They don't know the power he possesses. So from this moment on, I will continued to serve Neo Snagem, while I become stronger - strong enough to defeat Atticus someday.
"I see, so you are just conflicted," Morty said.
"Well, is there anyway I can help?" Naoko asked.
"No, at least, not yet." I replied. "We must put aside all of our selfishness to grow strong enough to defeat Atticus."
"I know," Naoko said, growing an idea. "How about I volunteer to help you. If you're traveling, I could come with you."
"I don't see how this will work..." I replied. "But as long as you stay away from Goldenrod City for the time being, that is where Neo Snagem's main headquarters is."
I then turned to Naoko. "And you might want to lose the kimono, you'll be doing a lot of walking if you join me." And then I turned to Lance, "Lance, would you care to join us on our journey?"
Lance had a smile on his face. He now knows that Neo Snagem would mean no harm once we eliminate a common threat.
"So you really are a hero," Lance said.
Location: Naoko's House
Lance and I were waiting for Naoko to finish changing her clothes. I had sent 24 back to headquarters with 20, while Naoko had asked Morty to remain in Ecruteak City, since Morty was a reliable pokemon trainer. Togepi was still in my arms and I was wondering what I should do with it.
"Togepi" Togepi cried.
"A pure heart..." I said to myself. "And so it begins: I strike back."
To Be Continued...
Okay, so a long Author's Note here:
So, Atticus and the rest of Neo Snagem are clearly on a different page. But for you Lance lovers out their, it seemed fair that Lance would lose to Wes. Remember, Pokemon Colosseum was an RPG, so Wes could have trained his pokemon to level 100 for all we know. So, it all begins here, Wes will slowly started to return to his former glory as a hero now that second group has formed. But unlike Seth, Yumi, and Chapel, this group has already established themselves as well known Pokemon Trainers, including Naoko. So the cliffhanger was kind of done purposely and we will occasionally have more Wes' episodes.
Anyway, I'm going to start asking questions at the end of each chapter, so for today-
Who is your favorite Champion?
-Despite Lance's role in this story, my favorite is Cynthia
So please leave a review and let me know how I did, and stay tuned for next chapter, where we resume Seth's journey.