Pokemon Virus Version Chapter 98: Tsundere
The words of the new Team Rocket they echo throughout all of Mahogany Town via a giant satellite, all thanks to the hypnotism of Drowzee.
"The beginning of a new era is upon us, and it all starts here!"
Throughout the town, any and all pokemon…they were joining the dark side.
"Drowwwzzzeee. Drowwwzzzeee." To trainers and citizens alike, the ambience of Drowzee's echo of a cry was insufferably creepy.
"Listen to what is about to be said: ALL pokemon, wild and domestic, are now under Team Rocket's control. My name is Butch, and I will be commanding the pokemon army destined to restore Team Rocket to its former glory!"
"Drowwwzzzeee…Drowwwzzzeee…"
…
"Agh! Pachirisu!" It was a terrible sight, a random girl being unceremoniously attacked by the very Pachirisu who had been there for her entire life. A lifelong friendship being thrown away… "Pachirisu!" This little girl had been tackled after chasing Pachirisu into town. She had no clue as to where Pachirisu was going.
At the sound of her lifelong friend's voice, the electric rodent stopped in its tracks. They both were standing on the snowy ground, under the sunny sky. "Pachi…" The Pachirisu had its back turned. Up to this point, the girl had yet to get a clear view of Pachirisu's face, and although the girl didn't know it, she probably would've rather NOT see Pachirisu's face, once Pachirisu turned around.
The girl was startled upon seeing Pachirisu's face, and after the initial shock, she started quivering. "Pachirisu…" Never has the girl seen such an ugly, intimidating, horrible furrow on a pokemon that was so sweet and innocent. "Pachirisu, what's wrong with you?"
"Pachaa!" The girl took a single step forward, and the Pachirisu started emanating static electricity from its cheek pouches as a warning for its trainer to stay away.
The girl stopped, but then took another step forward as soon as Pachirisu gave the slightest hint of standing down.
"PACHAA!" The Pachirisu reacted by launching a blue electric attack at the girl.
"AAAHHH!" This random girl had no knowledge on what was going on, in the city OR to Pachirisu. In her eyes, this was betrayal-a broken.
….
That girl and her Pachirisu was were just one of the examples of pokemon turning on their trainers. It was a terrible sight and experience, and there were no exceptions…
Location: Mahogany Town Pokemon Center
Rose's POV
I sighed. For a sunny dawn to this day, it sure was chilly. I figured snuggling up to someone or something was a 'must do' for me.
"Chapel…" Cuddling up with her was something I must not do, for she was still unconscious, from her fight with Beatrice.
"Piplup." Something I failed to understand to this very moment, was why Piplup opted to follow us back to the Pokemon Center last night, given the fact that she was never officially captured. The thought of Pipup having genuine concern for Chapel crossed my mind, but I had my doubts.
"Piplup?" Wanting to cuddle up with something, I offered Piplup the opportunity to sit with me, and she accepted. I was sitting on the bed adjacent to the one Chapel was resting on, and I held Piplup as she sat of my lap. Piplup looked at me, "You are worried about Chapel, are you not?"
"Pip? Pip…" Piplup shifted her gaze back on Chapel, and stared at her. She had been staring at her all this time. Through the darkness of night, and through the dawn of morning…" Lup." I could see it, Piplup kind of had trouble expressing herself before eventually answering me with a single nod, her eyes still on Chapel.
Her answer brought me to my next question, "What would you think about traveling with Chapel and I?"
"Lup…"
…
…
Piplup was once again absorbed into contemplating an answer to my question, and I could not put any blame on her. Deciding to travel with a person or pokemon is life changing, and I know from experience.
"Lup?!" Suddenly, the penguin in my lap tensed up. It was like she saw a sudden bolt of lightning in the middle of a thunderstorm.
"Piplup? What seems to be the matter?" I asked.
"Lup!" Piplup was really acting stange. Without warning, in reply to my question, she struggled out of my arms and lap and jumped on the floor.
"Piplup?!" I rose to my feet as a reaction, and only raised my voice the second Piplup faced me with this horrible furrow on her face.
atargeted window, she launched that Ice Beam with an unusually high freeze rate. Of course the window froze. "Piplup!" She then ran at the window with her beak extended and covered in white energy; an extra power Drill Peck it what I would call it.
Upon the room in the window shattering, I gasped. The sound of the cold shards of icy, shattered glass hitting the ground echoed.
I rushed behind Piplup, who was in an inexplicably bitter rage as she hopped though the window and outside of the Pokemon Center. I stood on the inside, looking as Piplup made her way. But, "Piplup, where are you headed?!" I could not afford to allow Piplup to get away, not with the amount of effort Chapel and I have already put in.
"Please Chapel, get your rest in…" Through the window opening, I floated, and on the snowy ground outside, I landed softly. My pursuit of Pipup had begun.
…..
Location: Mahogany Town-Outside
POV: There is no POV at this time
Sigh…Seth, Yumi and the others were completely outnumbered by the young woman and the army of Pokemon at her command.
Yumi and Mary-Elizabeth remained still, staring at the surrounding pokemon opposing them.
"We can't win," Prince said out loud.
Meanwhile, a few feet away, Seth had a couple of Pokeballs in his hand, but he didn't release Seviper OR Chandelure.
Mindless pokemon, these puppets opposing Seth are, and yet, Seth did not know what to do. He wordlessly stood there, knowing full well that releasing Seviper and Chandelure would only help Team Rocket.
"What will you do now?" The Team Rocket woman asked Seth, "Oh, and what will you do with THAT right there?" This woman was rather amused by Seth's indifferent demeanor that had been present for the longest time. She wondered how Seth would react to…Chikorita, the thing that the woman was pointing to."
"Chikorita!" If there was anyone's well being able to strike even the slightest hint of concern into Seth, it was Chikorita.
"Chi…" Both Seth and Snivy took a step toward the struggling Chikorita.
Snivy's POV
"Chikorita…" She was resisting whatever was in control of the other pokemon! But how?!
"….Ngh…N-no!" Whatever was controlling the other was able to do so with near nonexistent effort. But Chikorita? She was actually fighting! "I-I don't want to fight Seth!" She was trembling visibly, and tears found their way out of her eyes as she was wincing. It was as if her body was moving on its own, but her mind was trying desperately to remain stationary.
It was a struggle, and it was a terrible experience to see someone I care for so much slowly lose herself. Chikorita was always considered the 'weak link' physically, but mentally and emotionally…perhaps that's a whole different story. I might even conclude that she's the strongest out of all of us in that sense. But me…What about me? Why was I not being affected by whatever's trying to control Chikorita?
"Chikorita!" I stepped closer to the Leaf Pokemon. I was willing to do anything if it meant saving Chikorita again, because that's how much I cared. "Chikorita." Now standing in front of her, I grabbed her face, and within a second, Chikorita actually responded by calming down. "I won't let your true self disappear!"
"S-Snivy?" She opened her eyes slowly, and only slightly. "Help please…"
"I'm here for you, Chikorita…"
What could I do though? How could I help? How could I save Chikorita from something that was completely beyond my control?
"Snivy thank you…I…I…"
"Oh?!" It totally took me by surprise when for just a moment, a soft feel had been adopted by Chikorita's eyes as she rested her head against me.
My eyes were soft, and a sweat rolled down my face. I was nervous.
"I…" Chikorita was still trying to speak, but it was hard while resisting the young woman's control. "I…" Slowly, Chikorita pulled her head up, and I was unceremoniously startled.
Startled by what? It was like watching a horror film without startling sound effects to add to the shock value, making eye contact with a sudden bitter looking Chikorita with a monstrous furrow on her face. Has she…?
"I…I hate you."
My eyes grew as wide as an open book. For those words to come out of Chikorita's mouth while she was in my arms…My heart shattered. The fact that Chikorita was under someone else's control aside, I was so prepared for Chikorita to at least hinting toward liking me back when she was continuously stuttering on the word 'I'.
Yep, shattered into broken glass shards, my heart was.
"Get your ugly hands away from me!"
"Hck!" Chikorita, no…
Insulting me, she struck me with the leaf on her head. Perhaps the damage of her slap was amplified by her heartbreaking words as I slid on the ground.
"Snivy!" On the snowy ground I remained, staring blankly at the sunny sky as my trainer ran to my side in worry. "Snivy, are you okay?!" My trainer was kneeling down next to me as she asked that question.
My eyes were half closed as I thought to myself, 'Of course, I've taken bigger hits before'. But that slap…that kind of slap came with a different kind of hurt…was it my pride that was hurting? I sighed. All my life I've been accustomed to people bowing down to me in admiration. Having someone say they hate me and call me ugly was DEFINITELY a blow to my pride. Might this be how my trainer feels?
Yumi? Please help Chikorita…Why aren't you helping Chikorita?
"Chikorita…" How many times have I said Chikorita's name to myself? Too many times just wasn't enough, because Chikorita was on my mind THAT much.
With the help of my trainer, and with me still lying on my back, I managed to lift just my head up, gazing at Chikorita standing in front of everyone, including the Infernape just waiting to do battle.
I saw Chikorita turn away from me. She wasn't smiling, and there was a hint of attitude in her movement. And I saw-
"Stop." Before she was able to take a single step, she was called…by her trainer. His indifferent facial expression was gone, as his eyes were narrowed, and he had a little furrow of his own on his face.
"Y-You…" Because she was turned away from me, I wasn't given the opportunity to see the look on her face, but her slight quivering and the hint of struggle in her voice was all I needed to know about Chikorita's reaction to her trainer's voice. "Seth…M-M-MY Seth." Her trainer was closer to her than his cold and reserved exterior let on…
Calmly, the trainer reached his arm out, holding it out toward Chikorita. He kept his gaze on her as he whispered, "Come with me."
"Really? Come one now, that's not going to work, you know?" The woman chuckled, and it annoyed me how much she was overestimating the power of that mind control, especially with Chikorita resisting the way she is.
"Do me a favor and close your mouth." Now THIS was certainly a first for me, Chikorita's trainer vebally attacking a person. He actually got the woman to stop talking, and without even facing her as she too wanted to see what would become of him and Chikorita.
"I can't…turn on h-him…I-I can't…turn on him!" Not only was Chikorita quivering, but she began to let tears fall down her face. With those watery eyes, she kept wincing and staring right at her trainer. The stress she was feeling was overwhelming. So overwhelming, that she struggled mightily just to take baby steps toward her trainer. "Please, I need you…W-will…W-will you hug me?" The type of stress relief Chikorita was asking for was a comfort only her trainer could give.
The two stood not even two feet apart. The question though, can Chikorita's trainer be able to understand her desire?
"A h-hug? P-p-p-pl…"
I had a very bad feeling once the damsel in distress seemed to have calmed down. Her eyes began to relax, and she was no longer quivering. Her eyes were ALWAYS lively whenever I saw them, but NOW…they were half shut, and she eyed her trainer with the very 'zombified' facial expression that decorated the faces of all the other pokemon under the mind control, which gave me the clue…
"Chikorita…Has she?" And JUST as I was asking myself this question, I saw Chikorita's trainer actually reaching out to her with both arms, as if he was going to pick her up. "No! Chikorita, you can't give in!" Was THAT my attempt at getting through to Chikorita, even though it was too late?
"Chikorita, strike him now!" The woman commanded.
"As you wish, Master." With a smile on her face, Chikorita replied and complied. Right in front of her trainer, she prepared a ball of green energy for her to launch.
"No!" His whisper was quiet but it could be heard as he cursed under his breath. His narrowed eyes widened as he had no time to react.
"Seth, watch out!" Following a swift launch, before the Energy Ball could make contact with Seth, it was my trainer who took action, tackling herself and Seth to the ground and barely avoiding Chikorita's attack.
They stayed on the ground, my trainer eyeing her traveling companion. They were close together.
"Seth, are you okay?" Yumi asked.
Chikorita's trainer let out a couple of coughs. He never looked like one who would need much help from my lowly peasant of a trainer. He needed no assistance to rise to one knee as my trainer rose all the way to her feet.
"I don't know why I was anticipating for Chikorita to stand down…" Seth said to himself.
"Snivy!" The blonde haired woman called me, and we all listened, "Snivy, now I'd love to have you as my own right now. To be completely honest though, I have so many pokemon at my disposal now that I'm bound to find someone stronger and sportier for me to keep for myself."
"Sportier?!" That word offended me. So she was looking for nothing more than some flashy accessory in me? Ugh! Sure, maybe I myself am snobby, and the question touched my mind: I couldn't be as superficial as this woman, right? It was the first time in my life that somebody was talking down to me-well, make that the SECOND time. My heartbreak at the hands of Chikorita was still stinging.
"Why you're not under my mind control is beyond me. Oh well, if I find you worth it, I'll track you down AFTER this town is under our complete rule." It was the woman's way of ending this confrontation, her turning her back away from me conclusively.
"Fernape…"
"Nido…"
And with the woman, followed the many other pokemon tuning their backs away from us. Infernape, Nidoking, Accelgor…Within the sea on hundreds of pokemon was only one I cared about. That smirk on Chikorita's face was disturbing.
"Chikorita." It was official: from the moment she launched that Energy Ball at her trainer-Chikorita's will of the heart was all but smothered by the evil. Her trainer said, "I'm not giving up on you…"
…
REALLY? Was THAT seemingly emotionless guy being optimistic? How? Why? Maybe it WASN'T optimism he was expressing. Maybe he was just stubborn, refusing to give up even though it was too late…Maybe THIS is why Chikorita is so close with her trainer. Maybe I'm starting to understand his reasoning for never giving up. Maybe…maybe I should adopt the same attitude he has. Not just for me, but for the idea of Chikoita and I becoming closer someday.
"I can't give up…I WON'T give up…" I could feel the emotion well up inside me. It was giving me adrenaline while telling me to run after Chikorita. "EVEN IF IT SEEMS HOPELESS, I WON'T GIVE UP ON YOU!" Running after Chikorita was exactly what I did as my emotions were summed up into the battle cry I just performed.
"Snivy!" My trainer called.
I paid no attention to my trainer's existence. Actually, it was as if EVERYBODY'S existence was null and void as I continued my chase. All that mattered to me was saving Chikorita, and if my lowly peasant of a trainer was just going to stand there and call my name rather than actually do something, then FORGET HER! She's be the first whose existence I would erase!
"CHIKORITAAAHHH!" What I was readying to do next would be for Chikorita's own good. I imagined he with a red slap mark across her face, and then feeling it while no longer under the woman's control. The red mark on her face would be courtesy of me. Of course, this was only what I IMAGINED…In reality, I HAD readied my vine for Vine Whip, however…
"-Mar!" Intentionally proceeding onto my path and standing in between me and saving Chikorita, was another one of THOSE. A fire type-A Magmar, to be specific. "You're not going to stop Chikorita." He too was under the mind control. "Pity that you'll never see her again after I do this!"
I tried to close the gap between Chikorita and I, I truly did…But the vision of Chikorita and I, it was being blocked by some sort of Smokescreen, figuratively and literally. Smokescreen came from the mouth of Magmar, blinding me and the humans. For a long moment, the Smokescreen had the humans coughing. I didn't back off though. "Chikorita!" Calling her name, I began swatting away some of the smoke while continuing forward.
As I proceeded, I could no longer see the humans that were still coughing. I also couldn't see or hear Magmar.
When the Smokescreen cleared, I could see, but at the same time, I couldn't. What I could see, was Seth, Mary, Prince, and my inept trainer. What I could NOT see, was the blonde haired woman. I couldn't see the army of mind controlled pokemon that once surrounded us. Most importantly though, I couldn't see the one I wanted to express my passion for. The girl with the red eyes and the leaf on her head, she wasn't here.
"Chikorita…" Her trainer…I've known the guy to have a pessimistic personality, but it was a first for me when he dropped to his knees, staring blankly forward as I saw him outwardly expressing despair. He DID care for Chikorita.
His despair was minima compared to mine though. "She gone? No…She can't be…but if she couldn't be, she would be standing right in front of me. What's going on…?" It was the breaking point for me. I was in denial that Chikorita was gone forever, so I asked myself 'what's going on'. Will I ever see Chikorita again? "WHAT'S GOING ON?!"
"Snivy?"…It was my trainer, and it annoyed me very much, how she would be more concerned about me than the fact that Chikorita was gone. My tolerance was wearing thin. "Snivy, are you oka-AH!" All Yumi wanted to do was comfort me. THAT'S ALL. Approaching me and putting her hand on my shoulder while kneeling on the ground accomplished one thing for me: It allowed my pent up frustration to boil over as I slapped her to the ground with my Vine Whip.
"YOU! I HATE YOU! WHY DIDN'T YOU DO ANYTHING?!" On the ground, my trainer was laying on her back as I hopped onto her stomach and eyed her in my bitter rage. She held the red slap mark on her face with her hand, "Chikorita…SHE WAS IN DANGER! SHE NEEDED YOU! I NEEDED YOU! WE ALL NEEDED YOU! YOU! You! You…" A tear fell down my face.
"Yumi, Snivy's very frustrated with you," Mary said, "I'm very concerned about you."
Yumi sniffled, her face was red all over, and she had a few tears she was trying to hide using the mask of a smile on her face. "I-It's a work in progress…"
"Yumi, you said those exact same words to me before. But now, I see the relationship between you and Snivy is much worse than I thought." Mary countered.
"We'll deal with that issue later." Walking toward us was a Seth with a furrow on his face. "All that matters is that we find Chikorita and prevent Team Rocket from taking over the city." He was determined.
"He's right," Prince said in agreement.
"Yumi?" His facial expression didn't change as he held his hand out to a downed Yumi. This prompted me to get off my trainer. I got away from her a stood next to Seth with my arms crossed. It was my way of expressing that I desired a new trainer like no other.
Wordlessly, my trainer grabbed the hand of Chikorita's trainer, allowing for him to help her off the ground. She looked down to me and called my name. Based on the sorrowful expression on her face, she probably understood some of what I was saying and feeling. I didn't even want to look at her right now. Her existence disgusted me. I responded to her by turning away and holding my chin up high.
"Snivy, won't you listen to me?" She asked, and I ignored.
"Snivy, do you care about Chikorita?" The Mary girl asked me. I looked at her. She didn't bring out the anger in me Yumi could. No, what she received was sorrowful eyes. I cared more about Chikorita than anything. "If so, then you've got to put aside your grudge against Yumi. We all must work together in order to rescue Chikorita and all of Mahogany Town. Please, for Chikorita?"
…This Mary girl was kind of convincing. It made me wonder how much better off I could've been had I let her capture me that day…But never mind that. All that mattered to me was Chikorita.
For now, and for Chikorita, I was will to work with my lowly peasant of a trainer…FOR NOW.
I took a step closer to my trainer. She didn't smile at me, and I didn't smile at her. She was on the brink of sad, while I was flat out frustrated. Her face was still red, while my arms were crossed.
"Let's find Chikorita," my trainer said to me.
I gave her no cry in return.
"Where do we start?" Mary asked.
"Not sure." Chikorita's trainer answered as he put a thumb on his chin. "Perhaps we'll need to split up to cove more ground before the pokemon get to far away."
"Then Mary and I can search the northern part of Mahogany Town." Prince proposed.
"Snivy and I can go with you then." My trainer suggested.
I made no comment.
"Why?" Seth asked.
Yumi grew a hint of reticence, "Well, there's no telling where the relationship between Snivy and I can go if we're alone. Please, Mary-Elizabeth, I really need for you to be our 'middle ground'-someone who can keep us together."
A smile found its way onto the face of Mary as she answered to my trainer, "There there. I see no reason to refuse." This Mary-Elizabeth had a bit of a motherly side to her. She faced Chikorita's trainer, "You're okay with being on your own?"
He nodded, "And while you're in the northern part of town, I'll be in the southern part of Mahogany." He turned and started walking without even saying goodbye. His last words to us were, "Should we need to meet up, the Pokemon Center is our common ground."
He had the look of a very independent person. He was quiet, reserved, and ever more serious than I was. It shouldn't be any surprise that a person like him would have no problem striking out on his own…
…
"So shall we start looking?" Prince asked as Chikorita's trainer was now out of sight.
"Let us." Mary answered. It was strange when the two started walking together, hand in hand, which gave me the idea that maybe those two were a little more than just friends.
'Maybe that could be Chikorita and I someday…' I thought to myself.
"Um, Snivy?" And snapping me out of my daydream, was who else?! My trainer.
Yumi's POV
Snivy and I have always had a rocky relationship, but this was a new low. To have my pokemon actually yelling at and striking me had me thinking. 'Is it really my fault Snivy's the way he is?'
He was angry with me, and I had a pretty strong idea why: Chikorita was taken away from him, and I didn't do anything to aid him in such a helpless situation. Was he angrier at me than at the forces that were completely beyond his control?
Maybe now was the perfect time to start making up for all my shortcomings with Snivy. I'm sure SOMETHING could allow us to bond while we're teaming up for a bigger cause!
So I called Snivy, and for once, he was not ignoring me. My face was still stinging from that slap, even so, I allowed myself to smile so that Snivy might respond better, "Let's go together!"
Immediately, Snivy turned away with his chin up high as he walked a few steps ahead of me. I drooped as I was becoming slightly depressed. He was really intent on keeping this just a mutual alliance…
….
Later…
Hours went by and there was still no sign of Chikorita. Snivy was frustrated, and even I had to admit I was getting annoyed when I realized our search for the blonde haired woman and her army was starting to go nowhere. I wasn't going to give up though. This was for the sake of Chikorita and Snivy, and me and Seth as well.
One thing had me very confused though, and I needed someone, ANYONE, to answer this huge question mark hanging over my head. "Hey Mary?"
"Yes?" Mary was up ahead, holding hands with Prince while checking for any sign of the mind controlled pokemon. We were all on a path that led all the way to the northern edge of Mahogany Town.
"Snivy was the only pokemon unaffected by that woman's mind control. Why do you think that is?" I asked.
As time passed by, I actually noticed Snivy calming down. He was walking a little closer to me than before, though don't think he realized it.
Mary-Elizabeth chuckled, "I also wondered about that mystery, that is, until I was able to solve it. The reason Snivy was hypnotized by the mind control is because he's already hypnotized.
"Vy?"
"Already? But how?"
"Couldn't you tell by the way he was acting around Chikorita earlier?" Mary asked rhetorically, "Snivy's in love, and his feelings are strong. VERY strong."
It was cute, the way Snivy was blushing. The fact that he crossed his arms and closed his eyes to Mary's conclusion made it that much more obvious.
"So strong, it's kind of overwhelming." Well whddy know?! Love and the heart wins out(With the help of some plot armor)! That's so romantic! "Awww, Snivy! Haha, THAT'S why your face is red right now!"
At this moment, I didn't give a crap if Snivy was still mad at me. I mean, I do this to Seth all the time, and he ALWAYS get annoyed. That, and I wasn't expecting this to help me get over my depression so fast.
"Sni SNIVY-" Embarrassed and still angry, it appeared as though Snivy was going for a slap across my face one more time. I didn't budge though. As soon as he opened his eyes back up, he suddenly stopped.
…What he saw on my face was a smile that was not energetic. My smile was warm and welcoming, and it appeared that Snivy had never seen that from me before. He stood wordlessly.
I kneeled down to his level. "Don't worry, I'm not making fun of you. If anything, you chasing Chikorita reminds me of myself, chasing after a certain trainer of mine," I said as I rose back to my feet, "If you're gonna hate me, hate me. Just know that we can make our move together!"
Okay, for that statement, laughing out loud was a big no-no. But inside, I was busting out all over when Snivy blushed even harder. He looked unsure of himself, and for a moment, it seemed as though he was going to open up to me before he became aware of himself and turned away.
This has 'tsundere' written all over it! I'd give it about two chapters, but the writer's so slow, Hell will have frozen over before we get that far.
"Haha. Yumi loves Seth." Prince whispered the conclusion with a smile on his face.
"WHAT?!" Meanwhile, my smile disappeared, and it was my turn to blush. Kind of ironic that this is coming from the guy I used to be in love with, "Shut it, Goldilocks! Get some pigtails, why don't ya?!"
"He…" So silently, so suddenly. I had to hear it to believe it: Snivy giggling.
Maybe it was a step in the right direction. No matter how hard times may be, I can always count on putting smiles on the faces of people and pokemon…most of the time. Now wasn't the time to lose focus on our goal though.
"What the?" Exclaimed Mary-Elizabeth.
"Snivy?" Snivy cried.
"What? What is it?" I asked.
"You guys, I think I might know how we can find Chikorita." Mary answered. "Just look over there."
Mary was such a help. Without her Snivy and I might've missed what she was pointing at.
Small, white, periwinkle-blue, yellow cheeks, and a large fluffy tail. It was a pokemon!
For this, I had to take out my powder blue Pokedex, which read: Pachirisu, the Elesquirrel Pokemon. Pachirisu might be seen rubbing their cheek pouches together in order to share stored electricity.
It was so cute! Maybe after this little episode, I could capture one. I mean, I've wanted a Teddiursa for the longest time, but this Pachirisu was a whole new level of cute!
One more crucial nugget about the Pachirisu: It appeared to be under the mind control.
"If we follow the Pachirisu," Mary started.
"It could lead us to the blonde haired woman and the pokemon she's controlling." Prince finished.
"I could lead us to Chikorita!" I added.
I was excited, but it was actually Snivy who was the first to start following Pahcirisu.
"There's not much time to waste!" Saying this, it was I who started walking ahead of Mary-Elizabeth and Prince for the first time today. I have to remember to thank the couple for helping me later on.
…..
Location:?
No surprise, I had no idea where the Pachirisu led us into, nor did Mary-Elizabeth and Snivy. I could make out this much at least: This house in the northern part of town was abandoned, and upon entering, Mary immediately pointed out a window that looked to have been frozen by an ice type attack and shattered not too long ago. She noted that the seemingly abandoned house was utterly filthy, pointing out that 'the walls are a few shades lighter than the correct shade of pale yellow' or 'the dust on the floor is getting onto my heeled Mary Janes'. It was as if she'd become absorbed into criticizing this mess. That didn't stop her or the rest of us from following Pachirisu, who actually led us to an obscure staircase that was easy to miss if you weren't paying attention.
"Snivy!" Snivy cried.
I believed the mind controlle Pachirisu's work was done after Mary said, "Common knowledge of underground basement structures tells me that past these stairs, a corner will eventually be encountered."
Snivy was the first to proceed, and then Mary-Elizabeth.
With a smile on his face, the ever-so-ambiguous Prince formally offered his hand out to me, "Are you feeling uneasy? You're usually the first to enter an unusual place." I guess Prince still remembers me as that girl who would hate to be alone for whatever reason. That girl I used to be sometimes annoyed Seth, and even Chikorita early on our journey. That girl is gone now. Even so, to hold the hand of the boy I once confessed my love for? Where was this five years ago?
I accepted Prince's hand with a smile, although I had no need for it.
"It's so dusty. "And here we go again with Mary. Might she be OCD? Maybe that's the reason she's so lady-like. Hmm…It WAS very dusty in here. Well, at least for the first five minutes or so walking.
Gradually, this long single hall was starting to gain its color, and it became cleaner as well. How this was possible was answered when Prince and I passed walked past some pokemon who were doing 'housework'.
There was a Squirtle, a Mr Mime, a Mime Jr…and was THAT the Audino from the Mahogany Town Pokemon Center?! These pokemon were polishing these halls, and apparently they had JUST reached the direction we were coming from. They were probably just doing a little touch up on some spots they may have missed.
It was refreshing to see some light once we were deep enough into the hall. The only place I could recall that remained untouched was this singled out room with a giant power generator. Parts of the generator's mini-towers were frozen, just like the shattered window that was upstairs.
"Blood…" I was thinking out loud as I saw a patch of blood on the grey floor. There was a fight here recently…
Chikorita wasn't in the room, nor were any of the other mind controlled pokemon, so there was no reason to waste any more time here.
…
…
"Zee…" Rnadomly, as we continued on our way, I heard a strange echo of a cry. It sounded ominous and creepy.
I stopped, pulling away from Prince as I quivered slightly, "What was that?"
Snivy also felt uncomfortable.
"Zeee…" There it was again.
"The mystery surrounding that distant cry makes it very…" Mary-Elizabeth gulped, "…disturbing."
Ooohhh…I kind of wanted to turn back. Leaving without Chikorita and the entire town saved was not an option though.
"There there…" Prince closed the distance between himself and Mary, grabbing her hand softly in an effort to calm her nerves. "Nothing is going to happen to you."
Unlike me, Mary-Elizabeth wasn't quivering. Even so, she had Prince to assure her. Sure, Prince was ambiguous, and at times a 'player', but he still took care of Mary like no other. If this episode was more about them, I'd probably feel left out. It made me wish Seth were here so that I wouldn't have that feeling. Chapel? Rose? I sighed. Maybe I should settle for the next best thing if since they weren't here right now.
"Hey Snivy?" I closed in on the grass type from behind, and there we stood. Once more, we listened to the echo of a cry that was creepier that Chandelure's, quivering as we looked at each other.
Like trainer like pokemon. And hey, this mutual alliance has already gotten Snivy to not distance himself so much. Now was the perfect time for me to make my move.
"Mind if we stay close together?" I asked. "If you can't tell, I'm kind of creeped out right now."
"Sni?" Snivy's mouth hung open. "Vy!" And of course, being the tsundere he is, he crossed his arms and turned his head away with his chin held up high just to cover up his sensitivity with a cold exterior. Sorry, but you're no Seth! You're just a tsundere!
I was persistent. "Come on Snivy. For Chikorita, please? You'll never know if you'll need my help. Remember, you're the only pokemon who can save Chikorita and Mahogany Town."
"Vy…" Snivy groaned, but eventually gave in to me with a nod. I nodded back, and thought I saw Snivy actually sigh in relief.
"Thank you," I said to Snivy. I didn't stop at just walking together, I decided to go the extra mile and pick Snivy up off the ground, holding him in my arms. "Are you okay with this?"
"Vy." Snivy nodded.
…
Snivy and I made each other feel much better, like we were giving each other a sense of security as we continued to hear the intermittent echoes.
…
…
"Zee…Drow…zee…"
The ominous echo continued for a long time, and we didn't stop walking. It made me question to myself just how long this underground base was. Maybe Mary-Elizabeth was wrong. Maybe this hall DIDN'T end.
"Zee…Drow…zee…"
No. It was all but confirmed that I was the one who thought wrong, minutes later, when we arrived in an open room that seemed to have ended the long hall all together.
"Drow zee…Drow zee…" This room was where the echoes of the creepy cry faded. The voice was now clear, and Mary, Prince, Snivy and I all got a glimpse at who or what the voice belonged to.
"It looks so creepy." I was unsure of what this 'thing' was. It was yellow and brown, and the smile on its face looked almost as hypnotic as its voice and movement. I had to take out my Pokedex for this one.
The Pokedex read: Drowzee, the Hypnosis Pokemon; A descendant of the legendary animal 'baku', which is said to eat dreams. It is skilled at hypnotism.
"Hypnotism" I parroted.
"Then might that mean?" Prince started.
"Could it be implied that this Drowzee is hypnotizing the pokemon?" Mary asked herself. "And to have a hypnotism powerful enough to control every pokemon in Mahogany Town? How? This Drowzee must possess great power."
Eeww…Even if Drowzee IS that powerful, that stupid dance-like movement was giving me the creeps.
"DING DING DING! Correct! You have finally obtained the answer to your biggest question mark of the day!"
Hm? Prince, Mary and I weren't talking, and we were the only humans here. Could it be Drowzee? No, it was still going on with those disturbing cries.
…The voice sounded familiar. I heard it earlier today, that feminine voice…Oh! That 'feminine' voice! It gave me the idea that a certain 'somebody' was watching us.
"Show yourself!" I yelled.
"Snivy!" Snivy cried in agreement.
"It'll be my pleasure!" The voice answered to Snicy and I quite cheerfully.
Immediately, in front of the dancing Drowzee, a platform began to descend, and on the platform was two people, one of which I knew: the blonde haired woman from before. What she and her partner said next was bizarre.
"Prepare for trouble!" The blonde haired woman started.
"And you can make that trouble double!" The teal haired man added.
"To infect the world with devastation!"
"To blight all peoples in every nation!"
"To denounce the goodness in truth and love!"
"To extend our wrath to the stars above!"
"Cassidy!" The blonde haired woman announced.
"Botch-I mean Butch!" I guess the two were finally introducing themselves.
"Team Rocket, circling Earth all day and night!"
"Surrender to us now, or you will surely lose the fight!"
"Say say!" After the man named Butch said the final line, in response, the Sableye from earlier landed right in front of him and the woman named Cassidy. Where have I seen this before?
"This is the end for you, in the name of Team Rocket!"
To Be Continued…
Author's Note
Alright, so there were a couple of minor annoyances I had typing this chapter that ultimately delayed its posting. First, after getting about 1,000 words in, I realized something: I was accidentally typing Chapter 99, not Chapter 98, so I basically had to start over, but not without 'getting a head start' on Chapter 99, which btw is even longer than Chapter 98. My second annoyance was that when typing, I had lost a page of what I had already written out. I got discouraged and stopped typing for a few days until I found the missing page. But, during those few days, a little pokemon called Mimikkyu came out. If you guys a noticed by alot of arcs Virus Version is centered around, I FAVOR WRITING ABOUT GHOST, FAIRY, AND PSYCHIC TYPES. It only took a few seconds for me to say that I was going to put this on my Pokemon Moon team for sure. Not only that, but I have a new fic already outlined for Mimikkyu. The main character/characters are slated to be Rose, Mimikkyu, Banette, and ANOTHER DOLL who comes to life. I call it: Mimikkyu the Misunderstood & Rose The Maiden, and it'll take place post-Virus Version, though I WILL BE TRYING NOT TO PROVIDE SPOILERS THROUGH THE STORY. Posting will be sporadic though, just like my other stories. They're good ideas, but Virus Version is my main project until it's complete, after all, Virus Version is my first ever fic! Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter, which has already unseated the previous 'new' longest chapter as the 'new' new longest chapter!
Won't bother to post Pokemon teams this chapter since Drowzee's hypnotism makes them all useless...