Pokemon Fan Fiction / Pokemon Fan Fiction ❯ pocket rapsody ❯ 5 ( Chapter 5 )

CHAPTER 05

Sunlight was pouring down on the pavement, few clouds could be seen, and all around, the weather was great. Satoshi was enjoying a soft wind and a slow walk to the nearest center he could find, having just eaten his breakfast in a hotel called "The Librarian". Pikachu was lazily walking on all fours a bit behind besides him. It's a nice day, maybe I should take it easy for a little while. He had been thinking for a long time who to contact for information about the fossils, he wouldn't contact the lab, they might decide to keep the fossils themselves, and Satoshi wasn't going to share his fossils, let alone give them both away! And after considering his mother, Professor Ookito, and the Pewter City gym leader Takeshi, he decided on the last.

Satoshi stood in front of the telephone with the Pewter phone-book in his hands. "Let's see here, where is that number.….there!" he dialed the number. And after waiting for roughly half-a-minute, Takeshi's voice awnsered. "Good morning, this is the Pewter City gym, how may I help you?" "Aah, Takeshi, remember me?" "Hey~ the guy from before! Satoshi right?" "Yeah, it's me. Hey listen, do you have any idea where I can go to get a look at some fossils?" "Fossils?- a spark of interest could now be heard in Takeshi's voice -how come you need that?" "Yeah, the thing is, I've got two fossils, and I'd like some information…any idea?" "…where are you now?" "? Cerulean city center, why?" "Can you wait for about an hour or two? I'll come and take a look myself." "Really?! But won't that be a burden? Naah that's okay, it's a holiday today, didn't you know that?" "No I didn't." "Oh. Well anyway I'll get the old bastard to watch the gym for me and I'll take my brothers and sisters out on a trip to Cerulean. I'll be coming by train so wait for a bit, I'll bring along a book on the subject." "That would be awfully nice of you." "That's okay, they'll enjoy it. I take it you're staying in a hotel…?" "Yeah, a place called The Librarian, it's pretty close to the station I believe, I'll wait outside." "Okay, just wait for a while, see you." "Yeah, bye." * click * Now why didn't I think of going by train?...because I figured a trip through the mountains would have been fun, that's why.

Aah, I wonder what time it is? They should be here any moment. Satoshi was sitting on a bench in front of the station, slowly getting sleepy while patiently watching people getting in and out of the train. His eyelids were getting heavy, and he was about to close them, when Pikachu gave a squeek. "Pika!" Squinting his eyes, Satoshi could make out Takeshi's form in the distance, along with other four people. They appeared to be his younger brothers and sisters, their ages varied. Takeshi hadn't noticed him yet, so Satoshi gave him a helping hand. "Oi~, Takeshi~!" He waved his arm. "Aah, there you are! Come on, people."

They were all sitting in the station's resturant. Takeshi's siblings were all sitting at another table, eating parfet and ice-cream, or reading a book. The youngest looked about 12, the oldest about 16. Satoshi was just finishing up his chocolate-cake, and Takeshi was obviously eager to get to the subject of fossils. "Come on man, get `em out." "Jesus, hold on okay?" He opened his back-pack containing the ancient remains, and put them on the table. "Waa~! These are some nice ones! These are mine!" Takeshi layed down his, besides two different looking ones, there was also a small lump yellow-brownish stuff. I get the feeling this guy didn't come here to examine mine, but more to discuss his hobbies....I think I should have asked Professor Ookito instead. "So what can you tell me about these anyway?" "Well, I can tell you that this little yellow thing here isn't a fossil, but a piece of amber, but as for the fossils I'll have to take a look." He examined both the fossils and consulted the book he had brought along with him. After a while of careful looking, he came to some conclusions. "This is a nice coincidence. We've both got different ones^_^, the one you have here is called the Helix Fossil, but I don't think I know this one….ah. It's here after all! There isn't so much as a name of the fossil, but the pokemon this thing came from was called Lileep." "Lileep?" "Yeah, look here, there's an artists rendition." Takeshi showed him a picture of a strange anemone like plant. It had a big head that was connected to a equally big body. Instead of arms and legs, it had about four roots, and from it's head spurted several pink/red tentacle-like feelers. "….it looks kinda weird." "And the other one, if you're interested, comes from this one. Omanyte." He again showed him the artists rendition. This one looked like something like a blue hermit. It had a big shell, two large eyes, but no mouth. Instead, several feelers that looked like the end of a broom. "…" "And the ones I've got are called Kabuto and Anorith. They're both a kind of beetle! Wahaha!" While went on babbling about fossils, Satoshi was reflecting on his newly acquired knowledge. I see...I've got a weird-looking, living sea flower, and a crossbreed between a blue hermit and a snail. Peachy. "By the way, Satoshi." "Hn?" "Did you know about this?" He held up a flyer in front of his nose. -WANTED: Fossils for the benefit of science- The hell? - The Cinnabar devision of the Tartaros Bureau of Science is looking for fossils in a good state for the investigation of possible pokemon cloning. If you think you have a fossil capable of meeting our requirements, then please come around and pay us a visit! If the cloning proves succesfull, you will be given the cloned pokemon, and we be offered a handsome offer in exchange for your fossil! Any damage to fossil suffered during experiments will be your own responsibility. "Hey~ this is pretty interesting!" "See, I told you! So, think you'll be going to Cinnabar island then?" "I guess, is there a gym there?" "Yeah, pretty close to the local volcano too." "Then I guess I'll have too." "Hey, I've got an idea. How about after reaching Vermillion City, you take a boat to Cinnabar. I heard there's a cruise ship called the S.S. Anne that goes to Johto, and passes Cinnabar half-way. That way you could see something beyond Kanto." "Well that does sound pretty attractive. But I'm not sure…" "I could go with you." "! You sure about that? I mean what about your brothers and sister?" "The elder sister can cook, all of them can clean the house, and the old bastard handles the gym and brings home money." "I notice you keep calling him old bastard. Don't you get along that well yet?" "Well, me and the older brother still havn't forgiven him completely, but my sisters and little brother welcomed him with open arms." I guess humans are funny like that. "Well anyway, I'll be getting off now, we're still on vacation. Give me a call when you've made up your mind. Come on gang! See you Satoshi!" "Yeah, bye Takeshi." Hmm, I should consider that offer...it's half past 12, perfect timing. Guess I'll check out the gym now.

The Cerulean City gym was quite infamous within in the city as a dark place where the challenging trainers often lost their pokemon. There were some bizarre rumors about it, one told a how a demon that resided in there stained the building's innards with it's victims crimson blood. Another told the gym leader's pokemon tore the losers apart in a sadistic frenzy. Of course, most of the rumours were just silly. Some said how the gym leader was really an old sailor with a huge beard that looked like a rododendron bush, or that the leader wasn't even human. These rumors mainly circulated between the old women living in apartments with nothing else to do then make up stories they heard somewhere else, but regardeless, Satoshi occasionly heard some of them, and considered skipping this town's gym and to just go straight to Vermillion. No, I refuse to believe those stupid old women with nothing else to do but make stupid rumors fly around and watch television! Now let's see...the map says around the next corner... And Satoshi was greeted by a slightly deserted looking street with a big building in front of him that said: Cerulean City Gym. It didn't really look like a gym, more like something of a circus, or a small stadium. On the top of the dome was a huge statue of a Dewgong, and the dome itself was painted in light green, white and red stripes. Uwa~! It's deserted! Guess I might as well go in and have a look. The doors swung open, and inside there was nothing but a ominous silence.

Kasumi sat in her lazy cusion, floating on the surface of the pool's water. Things were getting bad, they were running out of money, there were no more challengers arriving, and nobody dared to come watch her sisters's show now that there was talk of a monster. It was all her own fault really…her sisters had to take day-jobs, so did she, and she hadn't had any sleep last night. Things were really, very, truly, and utterly, crap. Damn she was sleepy. Bobbing comfortably on the warm water, this place used to be rented out as a pool, they had aquatic shows in here with their pokemon every summer, things were better before. A hell of a lot better. Her eyelids were getting heavy, and she couldn't stay awake any longer. And then dreams, or rather memories drifted in front of her eyes.

Kasumi was standing in front of the pool, her older sister Mariko was standing on the pool's edge in a swimsuit, drying herself with a towel. "Hey, Mariko?" "Yeah?" "When can I fight a challenger?" "When you stop being crap. Hahaha!" "..."

"Uh!" She had fallen to sleep. The whole gym was empty, and there were only the sounds of tiny waves rocking her about. She lay down, exhausted. And fell asleep again.

She was sitting in a diner, eating her lunch. Amongst the moises of all the conversations, a mention of the Cerulean gym leaders caught her ears. With mild interest, she decided to listen for a bit. "-running the place are sisters." "Look pretty damn good too, if you know what I mean." "Do I? They like to show it too, always being in swim suits." "Hehehe, come to think of it, there's usually a chestless squirt hanging around there isn't there?" * grip * "Who cares? All we care about are the tits of the gym leaders!" "Yeah! And their swimsuits!" "Yeah!" They raised their voices in mirth, and nobody cared to notice the girl that walked out of the store with a hurt expression on her face.

Slowly her eyes opened, unwilling to continue the dreams of her consience, but she drifted off again.

She was on a small boat, peddling forward on top of a badly avoided lake close to the city. It was night, and a dense, eerie fog hung low over the surface. "Filthy bastards, I'll show them." She knew the dark legends surrounding this evil place. "It's just a stinking myth, no real reason to be scared. And after this, I'll beat the crap out of my sisters and become the gym leader! ...my boobs will take more time then that though..." Right then, a sudden coldness gave her goosebumps. A cold wind was blowing, and the shadows between the shreds of mist seemed to move. A low growling struck a sudden fear in her heart. She only felt that she had made a mistake coming here, but that there was no return. Fear kept her right where she was. "Woman...why have you come to disturb me?" She couldn't open her throat to speak. "Those balls at your belt, I remember those...they are instruments for catching animals and monsters...I wonder if it was stupidity or arrogance that brought you to me...kukuku." The huge shadow circeled closer, Kasumi could now faintly make out it's shape. It had fins, and apeared to be serpentine. A pair of burning eyes could be seen through the darkness, boring into her own. "Woman, I know you want my power, my strength. That is why you came here is it not? Yes, I can taste your lust for strength, and...what's this? Envy...? Oh, I see it. You feel envious of someone stronger then you, and you think I am the key to your desires, very amusing. Woman, I will make a contract with you. You may use me to fight your battles, but I shall be your master. Do not think you may escape this place, if you refuse, I shall devour you...now awnser me...will you accept my offer, or will you die?" "......"

"Hello~?" The cry echoed of the walls. Jezus this is getting creepy... "Hello~!?" "Pika~?" Here and there water flowed over the white-tiled floor like a pool. I'm starting to think this might not be the gym at all, but a bankrupt pool... The lights were off, and the sunlight wasn't much of a strong source of light, there being no windows. "Ah! Maybe there's people in there. And if there arn't…" Ahead of Satoshi, at the end of the hall there were two wide doors. On them the words GYM FIGHT ROOM was written. "Here we go guys!"

"I'm going home now!" "Go ahead, you've worked hard, Mariko." "Thanks boss, see you tommorow!" Mariko, Kasumi's oldest sister worked at a 7-11 not too far off the family gym. She and the others were forced into day-jobs because Kasumi's goddamned monster scared off every single customer in the city. Damn Kasumi, she didn't have to go that far to do a gym fight. She was sure the JPSA would come after all the shit rumours the old bitches started, and if they couldn't stop it the elite four would, and anyway the gym would close down…she, Nadeshiko, Kiyose, and especially Kasumi, were all either way royally fucked. "Let's get home then, cuz' I don't have anywhere else to go to. She got on her motorbike, not expecting anything the likes of which she would encounter when she returned.

"Oi~, you okay?" There was a girl with her hair painted in orange lying down on a something that looked like a inflatable bed. She was laying down with her eyes closed. Is that the gym leader?...she's kinda cute...and in a bathing suit...* blush * "Hnn….hn? WAH! Who are you?!" "……uhm…I'm a….challenger? This isn't the Cerulean City Gym?" Wow~ a challenger! How unexpected... It took Kasumi a few seconds to react. "That's right, and I'm this gym's leader, Kasumi- GROAAAAH!! "Jezus, the hell was that noise!?" "Kasumi! I sense an opponent of great strength, a strength that might match my own!! SEND ME OUT NOW!!!" "Hey, you're name's Kasumi right? What the hell's going on?!" "…I'm sorry. I accept your challenge, I suggest you send out your pokemon before he loses his patience ever more. Go,- she hassitated -Gyarados!" "GWOOAAAR!!!" In front of Satoshi's eyes, one of the most terrifying monsters he had ever seen in picture books or in real life rose in front of his eyes. It was awesome, it's face was that of a dragon, but any nobleness it might have possesed was replaced with a mindless rage. It was crowned by something like three horns, and it had two long wiskers. A large gaping mouth that was higher then it was wide was filled with sharp teeth. It's body was long and snake like, coloured a deep cobalt blue spotted with bone white spots, and fins adorned it's cheecks, back, and the end of it's tail. It didn't seem to fly so much a squirm in agony through the air. It was at once terrifying, revolting, and beautiful all at once. "…is the mighty strength I feel coming from that Pikachu…? Very well, miracles happen, boy! Send out that tiny mouse to fight me! I hunger!!" Satoshi was very distressed, but in one go he made a desicion. "No! No I won;t do it! I refuse to send my friends to fight a monster like you!!" He was shaking, and scared to the core of his soul. But Pikachu thought different. "Pi!" Satoshi was astounded. Pikachi had stepped towards the draconic menace. "Pi-Pikachu….what are you…." "You don't need to understand us boy, rather help that girl make this place suitable for battle! We must fight immidiatly!" "Wha…?" The gym leader was pulling a large floating "arena" to the pool. While Satoshi was running off to help Kasumi, Pikachu and Gyarados were staring off, and neither one looked away. This would be Pikachu's fight, not Satoshi's.

Everything was ready, and the opponents stood in front of each other. "Let's be-" Neither one waited for Kasumi to shout begin. Gyarados cut through the air with a shriek like a demon's. Pikachu rushed forward building up massive amounts of electricity with every move he made. After three steps every move he made created a trail of yellow and blue sparks. "Piiii!!" With a high-pitched scream Pikachu unleashed his thunder at full strength, and it punched the flying dragon square in the face. "Gaaah!" It pained him greatly, but despite this he sank his great fangs into the electrical mouse, and threw him through the air. Blood spurted through the air like a miniature fountain. Pikachu had only just managed to steer his vital parts away from the menacing demon, but now he was bleeding from his punctured skin. "Pikachu!!" He landed in the water, his tiny body shaking from pain and fright. "Kukuku, you did a number on me, you saved your life once, but now that you're in the pool, you won't be using your powers too much, I'm sure. Here I finish this." He slowly, gracefully circled through the air, the surrounding air darkening. A strange, orange light was building up around his mouth. Desperatly Pikachu swam away, but suddenly stopped. "Pikachu get out NOW!!" He looked at the looming danger, and slowly concentrated. Sparks crackled below and above Gyarados, it slowly dawned on Satoshi that Pikachu was charging the water's surface and the air. Pokemon can do that!? ...I see, I see what you're trying to do...! A small tingle went through Gyarados's body. He knew enough that he should clear away as soon as he could. He emmediatly released the built up energy which scattered all around, burning his own face, but being hit by a bolt of thunder would be much worse, he knew. "Quickly, cover your ears and eyes!" After the small despersion of energy he quickly fled away, not even a second before the thunder broke the air, sending of a blinding flash and a explosion of noise. Windows burst under the pressure of the shock-wave, and within the chaos of falling glass and noise Gyarados and Pikachu were still fighting. Once again, Gyarados was building up energy, and Pikachu had already placed himself atop of the floating arena. A faint buzzing could again be heard, and once again the air surrounding the dragon went dim as he drew energy to himself. Both were racing to be the first to strike. And then, Gyarados blasted a gigantic brightly coloured ray through the air. Pikachu wasn't done charging yet as it impacted. Or so it seemed, for Pikachu wasn't aiming for a bolt of thunder. The beam was struggling against some invisible shield in front of Pikachu. Electro-magnetism? Is that how he's repulsing that beam? The dazzling ray broke and scattered against Pikachu's shield, and fled to the water, evaporating it largely. Steam rose, but the two opponents were still standing against each other, but Gyarados seemed to be resting from his attack, while Pikachu was charging for his own. Within seconds, a large net of bright electricity spread from Pikachu towards the tired Gyarados, who realised he could no longer run. Everywhere he would go, the electricity would follow. In a final attack, he dove for Pikachu, but to no avail. With a final scream, for 15 seconds long electric current was pumped through him. He then plummeted into the water, smoking, burned, molten, and swollen. A splash of water, followed by a rain. Satoshi and Kasumi both stood speechless, and then Kasumi threw herself on Satoshi.

"Really, how can we ever thank you?" Police and media were all around the now busy gym. Rumors of the demon from Cerulean City Gym having been slayed by an unknown boy had attracted lots of spectators. "Ahaha, that's okay…" Da~mn, Kasumi's sisters sure have big boobs... "Really, without you we would've had more trouble then we could've handled, but who could think a sudden challenger might pop up and kill that monster without us even being there?" "Or without him even knowing the trouble there was?" "Ahaha…that's okay, I'm kind of surprised myself…but there might be one thing you can do for me." "Just say it." "Okay, could you take care of this guy for a bit?" * dew * He showed them his ever scared Squirtle. "How cu~te!" "I think you people can help him more then I can, he's a bit….timid. So can you take care of him for a bit?" "Sure we can! Can't we sweetheart?" Mariko proceeded cuddling the Squirtle. "Ah, but won't you lose one of your pokemon? Do you have another water type?" Another one of Kasumi's sister spoke, Satoshi believed she was called Nadeshiko. "…come to think, no of it I don't." "Here, take this one." "Nadeshiko? What are you-" "Sh!" "….? I won't ask. What's in the pokeball?" "Take it out." "….okay^_^" * dew * "Graah!" "Wah! What's that?" Roughly three foot tall, his grin equiped with a row of sharp teeth, and it's scaley hide coloured in blue, a happy-go-lucky crocodile was in front of him. "That's Totodile. He's pretty strong and has a lot of go in him. When he grows up, he'll be very strong indeed. …actually, we had him in hopes of using it to kill the Gyarados, but now that we don't need him anymore, I think it'd be best if you had it." "Gaaburraa!" "Well gee, thanks…oh yeah! Can I get the gym badge? I kind of need it…" "Sure, you earned it! Kiyose, give him the Cascade badge." "Sure, here you go." "Yes! That makes two!" Swee~t! I've got a new pokemon, I've put Squirtle in a good place, gotten a new badge, AND helped these big-boobed girls! What a day! "Come to think of it, Mariko, did you see were Kasumi went?" "Hm?…no I don't think I have." "I'm sure she's in her room, I'll go look later." "Me too." "I'll go too, sorry Satoshi, this is it. Thanks again." "Yeah!" "That's okay, I'll be seeing you. Tell Kasumi I said hi." "We will, don't worry."

He almost reached the exit, when he saw the missing girl leaning against the wall. "Hey, it's you. You're sisters are looking for you, go see them." "That's okay, I'm going to tag along with you for a bit." "….say what now?" "I've left a note saying I'll be going with you, they won't miss me." "But why? It's- Satoshi was about to say boring when he swallowed those words thinking about what happened just now, on mount moon, in Pewter and even this morning. -….well it sucks. I recommend you stay here." "Sorry, I've made my mind up." "But why?!" "I aint telling." Because I want to know how you got so damn strong, and you still didn't beat me!! "…fine, I see your already packed. Let's go around the backdoor I don't like all this crap."

They had gotten outside of the building by the back. "So where are we going?" "To the train station, we're getting a train to Vermillion City." Suddenly something unforseen happened before Kasumi could reply. Two of the pokeballs on Satoshi's belt jumped off and opened.

* dew * * dew * Totodile and Charmander were standing towards each other, ready for battle. "Wha-what's this?! Hey you two get back!" "Shaaa!" "Grooo!" They jumped towards each other head long, and got into a cat fight, clawing and biting. Totodile spew water on Charmander, and Charmander spew tiny flames in Totodile's face. "Unobedient assholes!" And he forced them back in their balls. "The hell were those two doing!?" "I've think your pokemon see each other as rivals…" And before Satoshi's eyes, new problems had presented themselves.