March 12th marks the day I published the first chapter of Pokémon Crash Version! I thank everyone for their support! Here's to more journeys with Crash the gang!
Chapter Nineteen and half: Kong, the Primeape
Previously, Crash and friends had finally reached Lavender Town, where Crash hoped to catch a Ghost Pokémon, only to find that the town is in the middle of a plot by Team Rocket, with the villainous group kidnapping a man named Mr. Fuji and holding him hostage in the Pokémon Tower.
The trio steeled themselves and stormed the building to free the poor elderly man, but were stopped by an unidentifiable ghost. And due to his fear, Crash flees from the ghost and ends up meeting an early demise from falling down the stairs.
But a Haunter saves him by removing his spirit from his body, and Crash is able to identify the ghost as Marowak. More specifically, the mother of a Cubone that lived in the Pokémon House.
After reuniting the Lonely Pokémon with its mother's ghost, Marowak is able to move to the afterlife happily. And after getting help from the same Haunter to battle an even stronger Jessie, James and Proton, they rescue Mr. Fuji.
The Haunter joins Crash's team of its own volition as the group left Lavender Town. Now, Crash turns his sights back to the Saffron City Gym, in hopes of beating Sabrina, a ghost type now in hand.
/-/
Crash and friends walked down Route 8 for a while, eventually stopping for brunch.
As they get ready to eat, Crash begins to reminisce about all the Pokémon that he caught, remembering that he caught a Squirtle a while ago.
"I wonder how Sidon's doing back at Professor Oak's."
"Well there's a payphone nearby." Misty pointed at the booth behind him. "You can call him if you're that worried.
"Really? I'll be right back!" Crash said, running off toward the payphone. He begins dialing the Lab's number and waits a few moments. The face of the Professor appeared on a screen near the phone.
Crash greeted the man happily. "Good morning Professor!"
"Ah Crash! I was expecting you to call me, but not this soon." Professor Oak said. "Do you have any news for me?"
"I do! I have three badges, and I'm getting my fourth one soon!" Crash said, sounding proud.
"Only three badges?" Oak asked. Crash felt his heart sink. "Your other rivals already have five, with Larry telling me he just got his 6th badge."
"That's double the amount that I have!" Crash practically shouted. "Even after I saw him just a few days ago!"
"Well if you don't want to lose to him, you'd better hurry up." Oak encouraged. "And Larry has captured over 55 Pokémon last time I checked with him."
Crash's jaw dropped. "55 Pokémon?"
"What about you Crash?" The Professor asked. "You haven't sent over any Pokémon since Sidon." The Water-type hopped into view, hearing his name called.
Crash perked up seeing his Tiny Turtle Pokémon. "Sidon! How're you doing buddy?" The water type happily waved at its trainer.
"Sidon and I have become very good friends, especially with our love of Tea and writing poetry." Oak smiled. "And it's not half bad if I say so myself."
Every day it's cake and tea
With my Pokémon and me
"Like it?"
Crash sweatdropped. "No comment."
"Anyway Crash, I hope you catch a new Pokémon soon." Professor Oak took a sip of his drink. "I have to go now, the tea's getting cold."
He hung up, leaving Crash to sulk irritatedly. Crash dragged his feet across the floor back to where his friends were.
"Hey Crash! You seem kinda down." Misty said happily chewing on a donut. "Why not have a donut? Eating one always cheers me up."
Brock nodded, taking one out and handing it to Crash. "She's right, Crash. These donuts are great! Jelly-filled are my favorite. Nothing beats a jelly-filled donut."
Crash takes it and begins eating it, though the mopey expression stays.
"What's wrong, Crash?" Misty asked. "You don't like donuts?"
Crash sighed. "Everyone else from Pallet Town already has five badges. And Larry has six badges and caught 55 Pokémon."
Misty takes another bite of her donut, trying to choose her words carefully.
"Don't worry about trying to outdo that Larry guy." She said, trying to reassure him. "You're doing fine at the pace you're going."
"But I'll never hear the end of it from him."
"So?" She raised a brow. "You're doing just fine Crash."
Crash stayed quiet.
"Besides, we're not that far from Saffron City. And you will beat Sabrina." She said, finishing her treat. "And the next Gym isn't that far from Saffron City."
Crash perked up. "You're right! I will beat Sabrina! I will catch up to everyone else! AND I WILL! BEAT! LARRY!"
Misty scooted back, slightly disturbed by his enthusiasm. "That's the spirit… I guess."
"And the next Pokémon I see, I'll catch it! on the spot!" Crash declared. A sudden rustle from a nearby bush caught his attention. A Mankey hopped out of the bush and over to the group curiously.
Crash pulls out his Pokédex curiously.
"Mankey, the Pig Monkey Pokémon. A Fighting-type. An agile POKéMON that lives in trees and is extremely quick to anger. It could be docile one moment then thrashing away the next instant. Once angered, it has a difficult time distinguishing friend from foe."
"Cool! A Fighting-type Pokémon!" Crash said.
The Mankey hopped up to Brock and chattered eagerly, eyeing the fried treats in the box.
"Oh, do you want one?" Brock asked. The Pig Monkey nodded quickly. Brock hands the Fighting-type an unglazed donut, which it takes happily, hopping away to a nearby rock and contently nibbling at it.
"It really likes it!" Said Crash.
"Who doesn't like donuts?" Brock remarked.
"Now that it's distracted," Crash pulled out a Pokéball, preparing to throw it. "It's all mine!"
"Don't you think you should weaken it first?" Misty suggested?
"Please!" Crash scoffed, turning his cap around. "With my skill, I won't need to!" He throws the ball at the Mankey as it finishes the donut. The ball captures the Pokémon.
"Alright! Direct hit!" Crash cheered. "See Misty? All skill."
Misty was about to retort but her face paled. Crash noticed her change in expression.
"What's wrong Misty?" He asked. She pointed a shaky finger behind him. As he turned, he was met with the infuriated Mankey, staring him down.
"Um… it's not mad because I threw that Pokéball at it, right?" Crash whimpered. The Mankey ran straight at him, letting out a screech. The trio began running for their lives.
"I guess it is!" Crash said in a panic.
"You don't say!" Misty snarked. "I warned you about this Crash!"
"Wait! I know!" Crash's eyes widened in realization. "You got anymore of those donuts Brock?"
"Yeah, I do." He nodded. "Why?"
"I'll try to calm it down with a donut!" Crash replied. "Pass me one! Quick!"
Brock threw the donut at Crash, who quickly turned around and shouted, "Mankey, stop!"
The Mankey stopped, much to the boy's relief.
"Here! Take this as an apology." Crash knelt down and held out the donut. The Pig Monkey Pokémon slapped the donut away and clung to Crash's face, using Fury Swipes.
Crash found himself on the floor being attacked by an extremely angered Mankey, to his friends and Mark's fear. Once the Mankey finished its assault, it snatched the boy's hat as a trophy and climbed up a tree, chattering proudly.
Brock and Misty ran to Crash to help him up.
"That Mankey gave you quite the thrashing." Said Brock.
"Are you ok?" Misty asked worriedly."
"Yeah… I'm fine." Crash rubbed his head and shakily stood up, but realized that his hat was no longer on his head. "My hat! Where's my hat!?"
Misty pointed up at the tree that the Mankey was in. Crash glared at the fighting type as it celebrated its victory.
Crash shook his fist with anger. "You Mankey you! Give me back my hat!"
The Mankey only giggled and turned the cap around, pretending to throw a Pokéball.
This angered Crash more. He walked to the base of the tree and began to climb it.
"You can buy another hat, Crash." Misty suggested.
"No, I can't!" Crash corrected. "That's an official Pokémon League Expo hat. It's practically irreplaceable! I had to send in millions of envelopes!"
"That explains why you're so adamant about getting it back then." Brock mused.
"Pokémon League Expo?" Misty pondered. "Ah! I remember now. I tried winning one of those, but I didn't win. I guess that's why."
"Be careful Crash!" Misty warned. "It'll beat you up again if you're not careful."
"I'll be careful!" He said getting closer to the top, only for the Mankey to bounce off his face, causing him to fall out of the tree and hit the back of his head.
Brock and Misty jumped in shock and ran to help him up. Crash rubbed the back of his head, looking up at Mankey, who was laughing at the boy's misfortune.
"Oh… THAT'S IT!" Crash jumped to his feet. "If that's how you wanna play, then I'll play your game." He instinctively reached for his hat to turn it around, quickly realizing that it wasn't there. "MARK! THUNDERBOLT!"
Mark quickly obliged, firing a Thunderbolt at the Pig Monkey Pokémon, zapping it out of the tree, causing it to hit its head.
"Now who's laughing?" Crash laughed.
The Pig Monkey stood back up, growling menacingly at Crash, its eyes now glowing.
"Huh?" Crash raised a brow. "What's it doing?"
The Mankey's body was soon cloaked in an evolutionary light. It grew larger, bulkier, and noticeably angrier
"It's evolving?!" The trio shrieked in terror. The light faded as the Mankey was now a Primeape.
"Wh-what Pokémon is that?" Crash asked stammered, shakily pulling out his Pokédex.
"Primeape. The Pig Monkey Pokémon, an evolved form of Mankey. A Fighting-type. It becomes wildly furious if it even senses someone looking at it. It chases anyone that meets its glare and it will not abandon chasing its quarry until it catches up."
"Quarry? What's that mean?" Crash queried.
"It means someone being hunted or chased after." Brock answered.
Primeape beat its chest violently, letting out a screech, causing the trio to run for their lives.
"But my hat!" Crash said as Misty and Brock dragged him away.
"It's just a hat Crash!" Misty retorted.
Mark ran back towards where Primeape was and behind it to try to grab his trainer's hat, only for Primeape to grab the hat first.
"Mark! Hit it with another max power Thunderbolt!" Crash commanded. Mark fired another bolt of electricity at the evolved Pig Monkey Pokémon, only for it to shrug the attack off and charge at Mark, wildly swinging.
Mark, being too frightened, was unable to dodge in time, being flung back toward Crash.
"Mark!" Crash said picking up and cradling his mouse Pokémon in his arms. "Are you ok?"
The Primeape gave an angry shout and charges at the trio, prompting them to run away.
"Run for your lives!" Crash yells, sprinting off, Pikachu in hand with Misty and Brock not far behind.
They ran for a while, the Primeape still hot on their heels.
"Let's try to lose it by splitting up!" Brock suggested. The other two trainers nodded and ran in separate directions, with Primeape following Crash.
"Uh oh, it's after Crash." Misty paled.
"Makes sense in hindsight." Brock says, recalling that Crash had riled Primeape up when it was a Mankey.
"We gotta go help Crash!" Misty said, running after the furious Pig Monkey. Brock sighed tiredly and ran after her.
"Leave me alone!" Crash said, attempting to bob and weave through rocks in an attempt to lose the Fighting-type, but with little luck as it smashed through them with ease.
It was made even harder with the fact that he was holding Mark.
Crash began slowing down from exhaustion. "I don't think I can keep running forever… I gotta lose Primeape, no matter what!"
Crash ran up to a cliff, and waited for Primeape to get closer. The Fighting-type Pokémon lunged at him, only for the boy from Pallet Town to duck the attack, causing the Primeape to go flying off the cliff.
Crash looked over the ledge and saw the Primeape fall through the canopy of trees below, still wearing his hat. He sighed sadly, realizing that he couldn't get his hat back.
With the enraged Pig Monkey gone, Crash allowed himself to breathe before walking down the cliff and eventually meeting back with his friends.
"Crash! There you are." Misty slammed in Crash as she hugged him tightly. "I was worried that Primeape had done something worse to you!"
"It didn't." Crash said, not used to the hug. "Now uh… can you let go?"
Misty quickly unhands him "So… now that Primeape's gone, we can head to Saffron City."
The group reaches the gate outside of Saffron City when they hear a familiar angry screech.
"Did you guys hear that?" Crash said, frozen in fear.
"I heard a loud screech." Brock replied. "but it sounded so familiar."
"It can't be that Primeape, right?" Misty asked. They all turned, and were met with the sight of the same Primeape. They could tell because it wore the same hat.
"Ok! That's it!" Crash said, handing Mark to Misty and stepping up to battle the Fighting-type, Pokéball in hand.
"Crash, what're you doing?" Misty asked.
"Forget about the hat!" Brock suggested.
"It's not about that anymore." Crash said. "I said I'd catch Primeape back when it was a Mankey, and I plan to stand by that!"
"But it's an evolved Pokémon!" Misty exclaimed.
"Well I got the Pokémon for the job!" Crash said, pulling out a Pokéball. "Jetstream! I choose you!"
The Flying-type was sent out, prepared to battle the furious Fighting-type.
Crash ordered Jetstream to use Quick Attack and Gust to slowly chip away at Primeape, but it only lasted so long until Primeape knocked the poor bird Pokémon out of the air and beat it to a pulp.
Crash returned his flying type in favor of another. "Ekho! I choose you!"
With a combination of Bite, Double Team and Confuse Ray, the Bat Pokémon irritated the Pig Monkey Pokémon even more, but also caused it to tire quicker.
"One more Bite should do it, Ekho!" Crash said as his dual Poison-Flying Pokémon charged at the tired and dizzy Primeape. Bun instead of biting his opponent, Ekho stretched his wings out, striking the Fighting-type hard, and knocking it over.
"Wait, what?" Crash raised a brow. He pulled out his Pokédex, realizing that Ekho had used the move "Wing Attack."
"Awesome! Ekho learned a new move!" He said pumping his fists before realizing that he still had a Pokémon to catch.
"Go! Pokéball!" Crash said, the ball hitting its target. The ball began to wriggle from side to side.
Once.
Twice
Thrice.
Before he heard a ding.
Crash walked up to the Pokéball, and picked it up in complete disbelief.
"He actually caught it?" Misty asked, mouth agape.
"I think he did." Brock answered, just as surprised.
"ALRIGHT! I JUST CAUGHT A PRIMEAPE!" Crash said, beaming with joy. He picked up his hat as it got knocked off in the scuffle. "And I got my hat back."
"Congratulations Crash!" Misty said, impressed.
"I'd call that a well deserved win." Brock commented
Crash smiled. "Thanks guys! Now for the fun part! I need a powerful sounding name… maybe Thrasher?"
"Or maybe Fury?" Misty suggested.
"Kong sounds like a powerful name." Brock remarked.
"Then Kong it is!" Crash said as the Ball vanished in a bright light.
The trio made it to the Saffron City Pokémon Center, completely exhausted after what Kong had put them through that day.
/-/
Chapter Twenty: The Saffron Psychic Showdown!
The next morning, they woke up and headed back to the Saffron Gym.
"This is it." Crash gulped, standing in front of the Gym. He wanted to take another step, but he felt as if his heart would jump out of his chest.
He turned to face his friends. "Do you guys… think I can do it?"
"This is what everything that you've been doing has been leading up to for the past day and a half Crash." Brock answered with a smile.
"You got this Crash." Misty agreed. Mark gave a confident nod, reassuring his trainer.
"You guys are right." Crash slapped his cheeks to psyche himself up for his battle. He turns his gaze to Mark. "Let's do this buddy!"
Mark nodded back, just as determined as his trainer.
As the automatic doors opened, Crash and friends stepped inside, the former eager to earn his 4th Badge. They were greeted by the sight of a sleep deprived Mandy, who seemed relieved to see them. He seemed a far cry from his formerly well-kept and hygienic self.
"Oh! You three! You have no idea how good it is to see someone other than Miss Sabrina…"
"Mandy!" Misty flinched. "Wh-what happened?"
"Miss Sabrina put me through intense training." The magician answered with a yawn.
"What sort of training?" Crash asked.
"She's had me up all night practicing my telekinesis." Mandy groaned. "Miss Sabrina has always been overzealous when it came to training other psychics or her duties as Gym Leader. But not to this extent!"
"What do you mean?" Brock interrogated.
"Miss Sabrina wasn't always like this. She wasn't one to hold her tongue or pull her punches, but she's been acting crueler as of late."
"Crueler?" Misty gasped.
Mandy nodded tiredly. "Yes. And everyone is too scared to face her."
Crash fixed his cap. "All the more reason to beat her then!"
"Beat her?" Mandy gasped. "You don't mean…"
"I'm here to rematch Sabrina for a Marsh Badge!" Crash stated.
Mandy's eyes grew wide. "Rematch Miss Sabrina? Are you serious?"
Crash nodded. "I caught a Ghost-type Pokémon, so I'm more than ready to face Sabrina."
"So, you caught a Ghost Pokémon." Said a voice down the hallway.
The trio and Mandy looked to where the sound came from and were met with the sight of Sabrina, causing Mandy to retreat behind the trio in fear.
Crash gulped, trying his best to look confident to the Gym Leader. "Yeah… I did! And I'm gonna beat you! And get you to apologize to Ryu Ken!"
"Still on about that are you?" Sabrina asked boredly. "Very well, then. Follow me."
She leads them back to the battlefield, with Crash feeling a pit growing in his stomach as they enter. Sabrina levitates to her side of the field.
"We will use 3 Pokémon each. And our battle will end once the Pokémon once either of us run out of battle-able Pokémon. Understood?"
Crash audibly gulped, realizing how dry his throat was. "Yeah. And you remember our bet right?"
She raised a brow. "Of course. "If you win, I owe Ryu Ken an apology. And when I win, I get to do whatever I want to you."
Crash nodded back. "But why three Pokémon this time?"
"Because our last battle was so boring." She replied. "I thought you might stand a chance if I increased the amount of Pokémon we could use."
Crash growled. "You're looking down on me!"
"Of course." She said candidly. "You're one of the most pathetic trainers I've battled. Even more so than the Karate King. And I could tell he had experience. You on the other hand," She pointed a finger at the boy. "You are ripe with overconfidence and stubbornness, without any of the skill or experience to back it up."
"SHUT IT!" Crash snapped. "I've got plenty of skill!"
"Not to mention hotheaded." Sabrina smiled. "Glad we clarified that." She turned to Mandy. "You are to officiate our battle."
"B-But Miss Sabrina," Mandy whimpered from behind Misty. "You said I could sleep once my training was over."
"Well, I can guarantee that this match will be a quick one." She said, visibly offending her challenger.
"What does that mean?" Crash grit out.
Sabrina turned to him. "By your reaction, you know exactly what I mean."
"Oh that's it!" Crash said, now more angry than scared. "You won't make a fool outta me or my Pokémon anymore! Let's get this battle started!"
"Very well. You will pay for your insolence, Crash Betchum." Sabrina replied, not feeling threatened by the boy at all.
Mandy stood between the two trainers to referee their match.
"Ok! This battle is between Sabrina, the Gym Leader of Saffron City and Crash Betchum from Pallet Town. Each trainer is to use three Pokémon each, and the battle is over when all the Pokémon of either side are unable to continue. And only the Trainer can make substitutions. Trainers! Send out your Pokémon!"
"Jetstream! I choose you!"
"Mr. Mime, take care of this nuisance."
Crash raised a brow and pulled out his Pokédex.
"Mr. Mime, the Barrier Pokémon. A Psychic-type. It uses the mysterious power it has in its fingers to solidify air into an invisible wall. If interrupted while it is miming, it will slap around the offender with its broad hands."
The two Pokémon face off, both awaiting orders from their trainers.
"Let's hit first and hit hard! Use Quick Attack!" Crash commanded. Jetstream speedily tackles Mr. Mime before it could react.
"Your Pidgeotto's speed is incredible," Sabrina noted. "Unfortunately, speed won't be enough.
"I'll show you! Use another Quick Attack Jetstream!"
"Mr. Mime, use Barrier."
As Jetstream descended to land another Quick Attack, Mr. Mime constructed an invisible shield around itself, causing Jetstream to crash into an invisible wall, stunning the Flying-type.
"Now use DoubleSlap." Sabrina commanded.
Mr. Mime began to slap the Pidgeotto repeatedly, landing a final more powerful slap that knocked him back several feet.
"Jetstream! You ok buddy?" Asked a worried Crash. The bird Pokémon stood up and spread his wings out and let out a defiant caw. "That's the spirit! Use Quick Attack again!"
Jetstream speedily charges at Mr. Mime and slams into it, only for the Psychic-type to be unfazed.
"What?" Crash exclaimed. "Quick Attack didn't do anything!"
"Of course it didn't." Sabrina replied, as monotonous as ever. "Barrier raises a Pokémon's Defense. And judging by your Pidgeotto's performance, it doesn't even know a decent move."
"I'll show you!" Crash howled indignantly. "Jetstream, use Gust!"
"Set up a Light Screen Mr. Mime."
As Jetstream blew a strong gust of wind at the Psychic-type, the attack was stopped by a wall of light that surrounded the Barrier Pokémon, causing the wind to dissipate.
"Grr… Use Sand Attack!" Crash commanded.
Jetstream kicked up sand in a Gust and blew it towards the Barrier Pokémon.
"Tear through it with Confusion." Sabrina countered.
Mr. Mime uses its telekinesis to part the sand being flung at it and knocking Jetstream out the air.
"Jetstream!" Crash said as his flying type fell to his feet. "Can you get up?"
The bird Pokémon manages to stand up, feeling exhausted. Crash sighed in relief and pulled out a Pokéball. "You did your best Jetstream, come back."
"What?" Misty blinked. "Did he just switch out Jetstream?"
Brock nodded, just as confused.
Sabrina slightly raised a brow at this. "Switching Pokémon are we? No matter. You will still lose."
"I'll show you!" Crash turns to his partner Pokémon. "You're up buddy!" Mark hops onto the battlefield, ready to battle.
"Interesting. Sending out your Pikachu this early?" Sabrina mused. "An interesting decision. But a meaningless one nonetheless."
"Mark, start things off with a Quick Attack!"
"Set up a barrier."
Mr. Mime sets up another Barrier as Mark slams into it with Quick Attack, doing little damage.
"Knock it away with DoubleSlap."
"Dodge it!"
Mr. Mime swung its hands at the Pikachu, only for the electric mouse to dodge the Barrier Pokémon's attempts to slap him.
"Use a Double Kick on Mr. Mime's hand!" Crash said as the Barrier Pokémon continued to swing its hand at Mark.
Mark plants a dropkick to the back of the Pokémon's palm, causing it to hit itself in the face.
"Use Confusion."
"Counter it with a Thunderbolt!
Mr. Mime fires a telekinetic wave of energy at Mark, who counters with a Thunderbolt, resulting in the attacks clashing into a cloud of smoke.
"Confusion, once more."
"Mark, use Double Team!"
Mr. Mine fired another wave of psychic energy at Mark, who managed to dodge with copies of himself using his speed.
Crash then realized that the Light Screen had faded, choosing to use Thunderbolt before Mr. Mime could set it back up. The attack hits, dealing a lot of damage to the Psychic-type.
"Use Thunderbolt again!"
"Light Screen."
Mr. Mime managed to set up the wall of light once again, weakening the electric attack before it could connect.
"Darn it!" Crash grumbled. "Looks like we'll have to wait for the Light Screen to fade out again."
"I doubt that your Pikachu will have the stamina for that. Mr. Mime, use Confusion."
"Dodge it and use Thunderbolt!"
Mr. Mine fired the wave of psychic energy at Mark, who managed to dodge and Mark fired the electric attack that didn't do much damage.
This continued for a while, with both Pokémon trading attacks. This annoyed Sabrina as she attempted to predict where the mouse Pokémon would go next as he dodged her Pokémon's attacks.
Mark did his best to continue to dodge the repeated Confusions but was eventually hit.
"Just hang in there buddy!" Crash urged as Mark stumbled about in a dizzy stupor.
"Use DoubleSlap." Mr. Mime lunged at the disoriented Pikachu and continuously slapped him before landing a more powerful slap to knock him away.
"Finish this with Confusion." Sabrina commanded.
Mr. Mime fired the wave of psychic energy at Mark, attempting to finish him off.
"Mark, Look out!"
The mouse Pokémon quickly gets up and manages to dodge in time, and the Light Screen fades as well.
"Close the distance with Quick Attack and fire a Thunderbolt! Quickly!" Crash said in a panicky tone.
"Light Screen and then DoubleSlap."
Mark charged at the Barrier Pokémon with Quick Attack as it prepared to conjure up Light Screen. Mark manages to pierce through the wall of psychic energy and deal a direct hit to Mr. Mime as it falls backwards.
"Mr. Mime is unable to battle,"said Mandy, "so Pikachu is the winner."
"Whew! That was close." Crash sighed, wiping a brow.
"You're doing better than I thought. But you won't win." Sabrina said as she returned her Mr. Mime to its Pokéball to pull out another. "Hypno. Take care of this nuisance."
The Pokémon took to the field, slightly slouched.
"Hypno?" Crash pulled out his Pokédex.
"Hypno, the Hypnosis Pokémon. A Psychic-type. Avoid eye contact if you come across one. It will try to put you to sleep by using its pendulum. It does this to feast on dreams."
"Feast on dreams? What does that-" Crash recalls seeing his Haunter use Hypnosis against Proton's Golbat and then Dream Eater.
"Use Hypnosis." Sabrina commanded, realizing the opening she had.
Hypno began swinging its pendulum back and forth rhythmically.
"Mark! Don't look at the pendulum!" Crash shouted. The Pikachu shuts his eyes on his trainer's command. Only to be sent flying back from a Confusion.
"Mark! Are you ok?"
Mark gave a pained but affirmative 'Pika'.
Hypno fires another Confusion at Mark, who dodges in time with his trainer's shout.
"Mark, use Double Team and close the gap with a Quick Attack."
Mark blitzed across the battlefield before Hypno could react, confounding the Hypnosis Pokémon with speed slamming into its stomach.
"Counter with Confusion!" Sabrina commanded, getting slightly irritated.
"Dodge and use Thunderbolt!"
"Hypnosis."
Crash blinked in shock. "What?"
Mark leapt into the air to dodge the Psychic-type attack and fired a Thunderbolt that dealt a great amount of damage to Hypno. But as Mark dodged Confusion and fired a Thunderbolt, Hypno swung its pendulum, lulling Mark to sleep.
"Use Dream Eater, Hypno."
Hypno wiggled its fingers, summoning a pink mist that seemed to emanate from Mark. The pink mist gathered into Hypno's hands and Hypno greedily munched on the mist, causing Mark to toss and turn in his sleep, wincing slightly.
"Mark!" Crash called out worriedly.
"Use Confusion." Sabrina said, a malicious smirk. Hypno began to fire the wave of psychic energy at Mark, landing a direct hit on the mouse Pokémon.
"Please Mark! You gotta get up!" Crash begged. However, his Pikachu remained asleep, not budging at all.
"Increase the intensity." Sabrina commanded coldly.
Hypno increases the strength of its Confusion, causing Mark to wake up and cry out in pain. Mandy attempts to stop the battle and call it in Sabrina's favor.
Don't. I wish to prove a point to this boy. Stop me, and I'll tear your mind into pieces.
Mandy winced and looked away, not being able to bear the sight of the fight any longer.
Misty gasped in horror at the brutality. "H-how could she?! Lt. Surge wasn't this brutal!"
"You're telling me…" Brock shuddered.
"Mark!" Crash sputtered, trying to grasp an idea. "USE THE MOST POWERFUL THUNDERBOLT YOU CAN! Spread it everywhere!"
Mark mustered the energy to fire the electric attack in multiple directions, causing everyone but Sabrina to shield their eyes from the flashes of lightning. The attack breaks the Hypno's concentration and causes it to stagger from the shock.
Realizing the opportunity, Crash calls his Pikachu. "Mark! Come on back!"
The Pikachu limps back to his trainer's side hoping to reach it before Hypno could recover from the attack.
"Hypno, use Confusion!" Sabrina ordered. "Don't let that Pikachu get away!"
The wave of psychic energy was launched at Mark, who continued to run off the battlefield as fast as he could. Mark was launched off the field and into his trainer, who caught him before he could be further harmed.
Crash cradled and turned his gaze to Mark, who was heavily injured. "You ok buddy?"
Mark opened his eyes and nodded, letting out a weak "Pika" as he did. Crash set his Pikachu down and prepared his next Pokémon.
"Jetstream! Come back out!"
The Pidgeotto comes out, ready to continue battling.
Sabrina raised a brow. "That Pidgeotto again? Very well. I will not show you as much mercy as before."
"Oh yeah? Well, you're gonna pay for what you did to Mark! Jetstream! Use Quick Attack!"
Before Hypno could react, Jetstream struck fast with a Quick Attack.
"Use Confusion!"
Hypno continued to fire the waves of psychic energy at Jetstream, but it ended up missing all of them as Jetstream had regained some stamina while Mark had battled.
Crash continued to have the upper hand, the assault of Quick Attacks against Hypno being too fast for it to react to. Combined with Sand Attack blinding the Pokémon, with it ending with a clash of Hypno's Headbutt and Jetstream's Tackle.
The two Pokémon stumble back, with the Pidgeotto able to catch itself and remain airborne, while Hypno falls backward, unable to continue.
"Hypno is unable to battle,"said Mandy, "so Pidgeotto is the winner."
Crash pumped his fist happily. "Alright! Way to go Jetstream!"
Sabrina retrieved her KO'ed Hypno.
"What's wrong?" Crash taunted. "I'm not as easy to beat as you thought I was, huh?"
"Keep laughing boy. I'll enjoy watching you suffer as I emerge victorious." She psychically grabs a Pokéball and sends out her final Pokémon. One that Crash knows all too well.
She sends out her Kadabra. The sight of the Pokémon sent a shiver up Crash's spine as he remembered the last time Mark had battled Kadabra.
Crash gulped. I gotta end this quickly, or her Kadabra will.
"Jetstream, use Quick Attack!"
Jetstream speedily charges at the Psychic-type.
"Kadabra, Teleport."
Kadabra disappears from view, causing the Flying-type to pull up to avoid hitting the ground.
"Not again!" said an exasperated Crash. Jetstream began to scan the area, surprised that its opponent had disappeared.
"Use Psybeam!"
The Psychic-type reappears behind Jetstream and fires a beam of psychic energy at the bird Pokémon.
"Look out Jetstream!" Crash warned. "Fly up!" Jetstream quickly pulled up, narrowly evading the attack.
"Strike back with Gust!" Crash ordered quickly. Jetstream whips up a powerful gust of wind Kadabra, who dispersed it with ease with Psychic and countered with another Psybeam which hits the Flying-type out of the sky.
"C'mon Jetstream! Use Quick Attack!" Crash ordered desperately. "Try to get in close!"
Jetstream once again speedily charges at the Psychic-type.
"Teleport once more Kadabra."
Kadabra disappears from view again, but Crash smiles, expecting this.
"Now circle back Jetstream!"
The bird Pokémon made a U-turn. Just as Kadabra reappeared, Jetstream was already in front of the Psychic-type, landing a direct hit on it.
"Use Recover."
Kadabra glowed with a soothing light, the bruise it received vanishing completely.
"What?! It healed?!" Crash shouted in disbelief. "That's cheating!"
"Items aren't allowed in official battles, but healing is." Sabrina with a tinge of smugness in her tone. "Now Kadabra, retaliate with Psybeam."
"Dodge it and use Sand Attack!" Crash ordered.
Kadabra fired a Psybeam that Jetstream barely dodged. And as the Pidgeotto drew near, it blew sand into Kadabra's face, causing it to clutch at its eyes.
"Use Quick Attack again, Jetstream!"
Jetstream speedily tackles into the disoriented Kadabra and knocks it on its back.
"Kadabra, use Psybeam!"
"Dodge it again and use Quick Attack!"
Kadabra fired a Psybeam that Jetstream once again dodged and dove at the Psi Pokémon. Before the attack could land, Kadabra caught the Flying-type with Psychic and left the Pokémon suspended in the air, unable to move.
"What?!" Crash gasped.
The Flying-type attempted to break free, but to no avail.
"Throw it away."
Kadabra threw the Pidgeotto into a wall, leaving behind a large crater. Crash felt his blood go cold as he heard his flying type hit the wall behind him. The Flying-type slumped onto the floor as Kadabra let go of its Psychic hold on the bird Pokémon.
"J-Jetstream?" Crash stammered with fear as he gazed at his injured Flying-type.
The Pidgeotto staggered to his feet, defiantly squawking at its foe.
Sabrina raised a brow. "Still standing? Kadabra, use Psybeam."
Kadabra fired the beam of psychic energy once again, at the Pidgeotto.
"Jetstream look out!" Crash called out.
Jetstream quickly took to the air, dodging the attack just barely, but Kadabra continued to fire Psybeams at the Flying-type.
"Uhh… Jetstream, use Sand Attack!"
The Pidgeotto began to blow sand into Kadabra's face, but unlike last time, Kadabra caught the sand with its psychic powers and flung it back at Jetstream, the force of which sent the bird Pokémon into the wall a second time.
But this time, Jetstream didn't get up.
"Pidgeotto is unable to battle. Kadabra wins." Said Mandy.
Crash returned his fallen Pokémon to its Pokéball and stared at the ball.
"Sorry Jetstream…I thought you could do it." Crash took a deep breath and took out another Pokéball.
"Gasper, I choose you!"
The ball opened, revealing… nothing inside.
Crash felt his heart drop as he realized that his Haunter wasn't in the Pokéball. "Gasper?"
Misty and Brock blinked in surprise. "What?"
"Gasper!" Crash called out, panicking like his life depended on it. "Where'd you go? Gasper?! GASPER!?"
"Where is your Pokémon?" Sabrina asked, raising a brow. Crash could only stutter with panic and fear, trying to come up with an excuse. But nothing came.
"If you don't send out another Pokémon, then you'll be disqualified." Mandy said. "I'm sorry, but those are the rules."
Crash began to panic.
What should I do? Ekho and Briar are weak to Psychic-type moves, Agni isn't strong enough to fight Kadabra, and Mark doesn't have the energy to keep fighting. WHAT DO I DO?!
"Either you switch in your next Pokémon, or forfeit the battle." Sabrina said boredly.
Crash continued to try to come up with any ideas but came to only one conclusion.
I can't beat her. My Pokémon aren't strong enough. But maybe…
"If I surrender, will my Pokémon be ok?" Crash managed to ask.
Misty gasped. "Is he really going to-?"
"I think he is." Brock replied.
Sabrina raised a brow. "Do you plan on surrendering?"
Crash remained silent.
"Well if you must know, I won't harm your Pokémon." She replied candidly.
Crash let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. "Well in that case I-"
Mark struggled to his feet and stepped onto the battlefield.
Crash blinked in astonishment. "Mark? What're you-" Crash paused and asked his Pikachu. "Don't tell me. You still plan on fighting?!"
Mark gave a resolute nod.
"But Mark… you couldn't beat Kadabra last time." Crash began to tear up. "That's why I caught Gasper! Besides, you're already hurt! What if something bad happens to you?"
Crash fell to his knees and began to cry.
"Please Mark, I can deal with what she'll do to me. Just…"
Mark hugged his trainer, as if telling him everything was going to be ok.
"Mark?" Crash looked to his starter, who stared back, not with fear, but with determination. "You're… not scared?"
Mark shook his head, while Crash blinked in shock. Crash wiped his tears away and stood back up.
"You're right Mark." Crash managed a smile and turned his cap around. "I still have you! And until you faint, it's not over! Let's fight til the end buddy!"
Before Mark could enter the field, everyone heard loud sobbing echoing throughout the Gym.
"Huh? Where's that crying coming from?" Crash turned to his left and saw his Haunter crying like a fountain.
"Gasper!?" Crash jumped back.
The Haunter materialized a handkerchief to blow its non-existent nose.
"There you are!" Crash screamed with joy, hugging the Ghost Pokémon tightly. He quickly let go and yelled.
"WHERE WERE YOU?!" The boy roared in anger, causing the Haunter to flinch. "I sent you out of your Pokéball, but you didn't come out!"
Before the Haunter could answer, Crash only sighed and waved his hand. "Doesn't matter anymore," he pointed to the battlefield. "Gasper, I choose you!"
The Ghost-type Pokémon saluted and floated to the field.
"I was wondering when you'd send in your next Pokémon." Sabrina said, tapping her arm impatiently. "So this is the Ghost-type that you caught to defeat me? Let's see if it can handle my Psychic powers!"
"Gasper is more than ready!" Crash said, his will to fight reinvigorated.
The two Pokémon began battling and it soon became clear that all of Kadabra's attacks weren't making contact as Gasper was good at dodging and phasing through attacks.
On the other hand, Gasper hadn't attacked either, mostly due to it not wanting to. Instead, choosing to blow raspberries and make funny faces as it dodged all of Kadabra's attacks, much to Crash's chagrin.
As Gasper continued to dodge Kadabra's attacks, Crash noticed that Sabrina's face was bright red, her cheeks puffed up.
Uh oh, she's mad! Crash gulped. I gotta hurry up and end this!
"C'mon Gasper, stop dodging and use an attack already!" Crash complained. Gasper giggled and floated towards Kadabra, licking the Psychic-type and causing it to twitch from paralysis.
"Nice one Gasper!" Crash congratulated his Ghost-type. "Blow her Kadabra away with one more attack!"
Gasper gave a mischievous smile and approached the paralyzed Kadabra. Gasper stuck a fuse to his head and materialized a matchstick, striking it across the floor and lighting the fuse.
"What's Gasper doing?" Crash asked.
"It's using Selfdestruct." Brock answered.
Crash, Misty and even Mandy all screamed in shock.
"GASPER, NO!" Crash shouted with fear.
Gasper only laughed, as if to say 'Gasper Yes'.
"I said to blow her Kadabra away, not blow it up!" Crash panicked, but his begging went on deaf ears as the fuse burned off, causing a large explosion that covered the battlefield in smoke.
The smoke soon cleared, revealing that both Kadabra and Gasper were covered in soot and unconscious.
Mandy looked between the two unconscious Pokémon and blinked in disbelief. "Both Kadabra and Haunter are unable to battle,"
"No…" Crash fell to his knees, completely distraught. "Gasper… I…"
"Which means that with one Pokémon remaining, the victory goes to Crash Betchum from Pallet Town!"
Crash turned his gaze to the magician. "Wait what?"
"You heard me Crash." Mandy gave a tired smile. "You win. Congratulations."
"But how?" Crash asked.
"Normally this would've been a draw, but due to your Pikachu having enough energy to battle Kadabra, it technically wasn't 'unable to battle'." Mandy explained. "And because your Haunter had knocked out Miss Sabrina's last Pokémon, that makes you the winner by default."
Crash pumped his fists excitedly. "Yay! By default! My favorite way to win!" He turned to Brock and whispered. "What's winning by default?"
"It means that you only won because I ran out of Pokémon due to your Pikachu technically still being battle ready." Replied Sabrina as she approached the boy.
Crash flinched as she spoke, still somewhat scared of her. Before he could get a word out however, he felt something hit his head, knocking him to the ground, much to everyone's shock.
Crash looked up to see Gasper, holding a toy mallet. Crash narrowed his eyes as he realized what happened.
"Gasper!" he growled. Attempting to grab the Ghost-type, but as he reached for it, it simply phased through his hand and ended up behind him and whacked him with the toy mallet, the toy making a funny sound as it made contact with the boy's head.
Sabrina, unable to contact herself any longer, burst into a fit of mirthful laughter, drawing the attention of the other trainers.
"Miss Sabrina… is everything ok?" Mandy asked cautiously. Sabrina stopped laughing and attempted to compose herself, to little success.
"Ah, sorry Mandy." She said, practically out of breath. "That was just… so funny!" She began laughing again.
Gasper began to laugh alongside Sabrina, with the other four trainers just staring at them, completely dumbfounded.
/-/
Once Sabrina had finished her laughing fit, she apologized to the Fighting Dojo and handed Crash his reward; A Marsh Badge and a Technical Machine for the move Psychic.
After such a close battle between our protagonist from Pallet Town and the Master of Psychic Pokémon herself Crash is more than eager to set his sights on the next Gym located in Celadon City.
How will his next Gym battle go, and will it be as much of a nail biter as this one? Well you'll find out, as the journey continues…
I hope you all enjoyed the chapter and the changes in the story so far. If you did, make sure to check out the forum for this fanfic, where you can ask questions or make suggestions for the story going forward…
Catch ya later, Pokéfans!
Crash's Owned Pokémon
Main Party
Markus "Mark" Voltsy - Pikachu
Jetstream - Pidgeotto
Briar - Bulbasaur
Agni - Charmander
Gasper - Haunter
Ekho - Zubat
Back at the Lab
Sidon - Squirtle
Kong - Primeape