Aeris pulled out her map of Kanto and took a look at it. "Well, I don't know, really. It would be likely that we'd go to Saffron, but according to some trainers I spoke with that came to Cinnabar to challenge Blaine when I was still on the island, Vermillion is next. Though, I am interested to see what's north of Cerulean City." she said as she traced a finger along the map. "And there seems to be another route that leads to a powerplant. Might be worth taking a look, if I had any Pokemon that could fly and carry me." She might have beaten Misty, but she'd still much rather fly than swim on a Pokemon.
Aeris put the map back into her backpack. Her five Pokemon were still walking along with Mika's behind them, using some time to train a bit more against the wild Pokemon around while the two were walking.
Noticing Eileen and Alan, Aeris waved towards them as she and Mika walked into the Pokecenter. Aeris put all her Pokemon back into their Pokeballs and handed them over to the nurse. She waited for Mika to hand over his before she'd sit down with him.
"I did, should be in print soon. You're probably right about the jealousy, hopefully they'll work it out though. It isn't healthy to have so much tension on a team like yours. Then again knowing you you'll set them straight if this goes on to the point it becomes clear they won't work it out themselves. Though I feel I should wish you luck with that particular challenge, getting the two of them to be friends may be too much of a challenge even for you." Alan said with a laugh as he watched the two pokemon interact.
Mika nods at Aeris' assumption, trying to remember what order his older sister got her badges.
"Yeah, Vermillion's the next badge, usually... Though some go to Celadon if they think they can." He comments as they walk into the Pokemon Center. He sees Eileen and Alan as well, waving at them lightly as he hands in his Pokemon to get restored. They all could use a good rest after training so hard.
"To be honest, though... I think we should get to Vermillion first." He finally said as they sat down nearby the other two.
It started as a shared exercise between Pennant and Brynn. Simon had wanted to train them both, as well as get the two opposing type Pokémon used to fighting as a team. Shadow had good instincts, and would help his teammates unprompted. Simon wanted to make sure that the idea of teamwork was shared. They needed to be more than solo combatants.
The plan began simple, with Simon sending Pennant after a lone Caterpie and Brynn after a Rattata who was attempting to hide in the grass. Now after several breaks and a short nap the female Pokémon were finding opponents to battle before Simon even noticed the grass stir. They made a game of who could find an opponent, for the other Pokémon, (at Simon's insistence) the fastest.
*Bzzzzz*
*Zzzz*
"Pidg!" *Shrra*
The currents opponents were two Beedrill. Who despite being the same type of Pokémon were not very interested in working together. They were more interested in getting rid of the two Pokémon who'd interrupted their meal. Or their nap. 'Do bugs nap?' Simon wondered. He was a bit wary of the creatures himself, recalling his own brief interaction with them. Up close and personal was one way to describe it. Painful was another. But he'd learned a lesson from that fight.
"Brynn, use Poison Sting. Pen use Gust!" Simon gave the commands quickly. It was rather enjoyable training without some evil cooperation minion getting in the way. And without the pressure of a gym battle to deal with. "Same attacks, but rotate. Go!" Simon's two Pokémon began their attacks but upon execution aimed for the other's opponent. The technique caught the Bug Pokémon off guard. This process repeated itself for several more minutes. A single opponent sudden become a different opponent entirely, or sometimes Pennant and Brynn would attack together.
When the battle was over the Beedrill duo lay unconscious on the ground. Pennant had her clawed foot on top of one bug Pokémon, Penn had one clawed hand pinning down the other bug Pokémon. Simon still wasn't certain where his team had gotten their 'victory poses'. He wished briefly for a camera.
"Well done you two." Penn gave a short cry and launched into the air. Simon's arm was already extended, ready to take the Pokémon's weight as she landed on his shoulder. Brynn prodded the Beedrill one last time before following.
"Are you two hungry?" Enthusiastic replies met the question. Simon raised his arm quickly to let Pennant return to the air. He held up Brynn's Pokéball but the Sandshrew shook her head before he could ask if she wanted to be returned. "Alright. Let's go back to the Center." Where food and supplies awaited.
Time had had passed by rather quickly under the clear night sky that had moved in over Cerulean. Trainers were ending their regimen and returning to the places that they came from, the active night crowd were heading down South for fun and excitement, and one could do a little celebrity spotting, if they were outside the Riverside Lounge at nine. Misty and her boy du jour were emerging into the warmer than normal evening.
"That was really nice Jordan, thank you. Did you enjoy the food?" The Cerulean leader asked Jordan as she held onto his arm.
"Yeah that was all right. I'm used to more like seafood, then riverfood, but the trout was good enough," he answered. He tried to stretch his free arm, but it was hard keeping balance with the woman hanging off him. "Plus that wine wasn't really for me. Glad you seemed to like it though."
"I know right! It was just so good! But fuck me, let's talk more about you! I can't believe you're that into the water! Living on the beach, surfing, the total look! Why aren't you using a Water Pokemon then? You should have gotten one living there!"
"Ah, I just started up pretty recently. Vince bro is my first one, and I haven't really seen any like Water Pokemon around, you know? Otherwise totally I would catch one for sure."
"Maybe I can give you some help! I know a bit about reeling in a catch or two, and about rod selection, if you catch my drift..." Misty was already using an effective Leer attack, scoping out the man next to her and tried to go in for the KO with Attract. Too bad Jordan's power is Oblivious.
"Uh maybe, like fishing would work right? But I dunno, I think the group wants to like get out of here soon. We had like some bad karma going through Mt. Moon, I think Rochelle is still a little shaken from it, so like yeah, they want to go on."
"I see." Misty was disappointed, but only for a moment. Eh, I could use the one-nighter anyway. "Well then, I guess we'll just have to do what we can tonight to make it memorable. It's still pretty early. Got any ideas for what you want to do this evening?"
"Well if we go anywhere else, can it be like, for free? I really don't have much money now since you like beat me and ate on me. No offence, like, happy to do it, but still."
The red-headed gym leader thought for a second. I can't bring him home now. Violet and Lily are probably still awake, and they would just have a field day. There are no good places in town that are free...except...yeah that could work. There's probably nobody up there right now. Awesome. I'm so smart. "Yeah, yeah I might know a place, if you're up for a little walk."
"Yeah sure, I could walk a bit, burn off that meal, totally. Lead the way, Misty."
Yes! The Cape's going to live up to its name tonight! "Awesome, it's up on the other side of Nugget Bridge, then a little bit of a hike but it will be worth it."
"Cool. You mind if I let Vicky out while we do it? I kinda need to make things up to the broette after earlier when you totally wiped her out."
"Yeah, go for it." Misty clung tighter to his arm. "I don't mind."
Jordan reached into his pocket at hoping he had the right ball, released his Pokemon. For once he guessed correctly as the fluttering Zubat appeared in the air. Zubitbit! Zubit! Zubitbitbit!What happened? Is it night? Yes! Awesome night! Finally!
"Vicky broette! Just like stay close, you know? Don't need you going off like, in the mountain or anything, k?"
Bitbitbit zubit, zubit. Zubitbit!I'm still mad at you for earlier, but fine. I'll stay close. You're lucky! Vicky flew off ahead of the two, towards the bridge.
That Zubat will probably keep the Wild Pokemon away anyway. Less chance of an interruption. Sweet. "So, you ready to go now babe?"
Babe? I think Fary used that too. Weird vibes... "Sure, let's go." The two made their way to the bridge and onward towards the most notorious make out point in all of Kanto, Cerulean Cape.
HT 4'03"
WT 124.6 lbs
It stares at its silver spoon to focus its mind. It emits more alpha waves while doing so.
Tyler closed his Pokedex and set it down on his lap. He looked up at Geist, who was busy eating from a plate of Pokemon food. The Kadabra held one of the brown cubes between the three claws of his left hand, his right hand holding his spoon. Since his evolution, Geist had been extremely protective of that spoon. Tyler knew it was important for his psychic powers, but he had to wonder if he ever got tired of holding the thing. In addition, how it appeared out of thin air in the first place was beyond him.
"Enjoying the food, Geist?" Tyler asked.
The Kadabra waited until finishing his last bite to respond. "Kadabra," he responded with a nod.
"Hey, do you mind if I...if I can see that spoon for a second?"
Geist took a moment to reply. He glanced uncertainly at his spoon, then to his Trainer. Reluctantly, he handed the utensil over to Tyler.
"Thanks. Just curious is all..." Tyler took the mysterious spoon and examined it. It didn't feel any different than a normal spoon. No difference in weight, appearance, or anything. It was just an ordinary spoon. An ordinary spoon that happened to have materialized from absolutely nothing. Interesting. Curiosity fulfilled, he handed the spoon back to Geist, who happily took it. Tyler gave him an affectionate pat on the head for his trouble. Geist returned to his food, which was almost gone by now.
While Tyler watched his Pokemon eat, it hit him that had been a while since he contacted his folks...or anyone back home for that matter. It was rather late now, so he would have to do it in the morning. Only a matter of time before they called him when the rumors of Team Rocket activity hit the major news channels, anyway. He leaned back in his seat and yawned. Sleep was needed, and soon. Once Geist finished up his food, he would call it a night.
Having eaten and fed her Pokémon as soon as she got back to the Pokémon Center, Rochelle was now trying to take it easy for the short while she had before she went to bed. The key word there was 'trying'. As the sky darkened in preparation of the night to come, she felt herself start to become a little uneasy for sone reason. Sitting on her bed in the accommodation wing of the Pokémon Center, she paid no attention to the comings and goings of the others. Rochelle undid the knot in her bandana, stuffed it into her pack along with her Pokégear, and ran a hand through her slightly messy hair.
Unbidden, her mind began to wander. She remembered the dark and dank caves of Mt. Moon: even with Iskra's tail acting as a small lightbulb, the place had been gloomy. The small passages, the dim lighting...
The Team Rocket members. Rochelle shivered involuntarily, a cold feeling spreading through her as she recalled their faces and the events that had followed soon after she had met them. The darkness outside suddently took on a more oppressive look, like it was about to rush through the windows and kill the lights, plunging the room into darkness. With that thought, Rochelle's thoughts turned to the closet she'd been locked inside...
That memory wasn't a good one. She shuddered again, now incapable of turning her thoughts elsewhere no matter how hard she tried. It had been a tight space... she didn't want to relive that. It was too much. But Rochelle wasn't in control. She couldn't do anything to put her memories aside.
All of a sudden she was trapped in the closet, afraid for her life, her friends and her Pokémon. Tears were streaming down her face as she hammered on the door, a futile attempt to get out or to draw someone's attention. But even if she escaped, where would she go? She didn't know where she was.
Rochelle froze on the edge of her bed, eyes staring blankly at the floor.
Her naivété had gotten her into this mess. Team Rocket had her Pokémon, and now they had her as well. What were they going to do with her? Or to her? They had put her to sleep once before, so what would happen if they did it again? Would she even wake up a second time?
This was it. The end. She would never see her family again, nor her friends new or old. She wasn't going to get out of this mess, she had nowhere to go -
Rochelle let out a quiet whimper. Not in her memory. In the present. The sound abruptly threw her off of her recollection; she realised where she was. Cerulean City. A peaceful place. She had her friends and her Pokémon. She had no reason to worry over yesterday's events... but she couldn't help herself. The darkness outside had brought it all back to her. She couldn't face it. She had to be away from it, in a room that was brighter. Bright lights meant she was safe, her irrational mind told her.
Leaving her pack sticking halfway out from under her bed, Rochelle hurried out of the communal bedroom and back into the main hall of the Center. There she took a seat on one of the benches, resting her chin in her hands as she tried her best to rid her mind of her memories. Part of her said that such an act was impossible. They were too strong, too recent; a single day had passed since the Mt. Moon incident had taken place. That wasn't enough time to forget it all.
'If they do not pick up the phone this time, I swear I'll give up,' Eileen thought to herself, looking at the blank screen of the Pokemon's Center video phones as she waited for it to connect. She looked behind her to see a lightly populated Pokemon Center, thankful that she could take her time on the phone and have a conversation without being over heard by other Trainers. That was if the call would ever be picked up that is. This was her sixth time trying to call her parents, and was to be the last if neither parent picked up the phone.
She was fed up by this point and was about to hang up before the screen lit up and showed an 'A' Unown passing by the screen. 'If his Pokemon are here than that means dad has to be around,' Eileen told herself, calling out for her father to try to get his attention.
"Dad. Dad! Beuford Weismann can you please come to the phone? This is you daughter speaking," she said, seeing a dark shape in the far corner of the room move into view after she called out the name. There was some loud noises on the other side of the small lab in her parent's home before her father appeared in front of the screen; the disheveled man before her grabbing a chair and sitting down before he started to speak.
"Eileen dear! It's so good to hear from you! Sorry that I didn't pick up earlier, this machine was on silent. Thankfully 'A' must have realized that and pressed to button to accept the call. Been very busy lately, though not as busy as your mother," Beuford told his daughter, taking off his glasses to clean the grime off of them from one of his expreiments. The similarities between the father and daughter were quite remarkable; the two sharing almost every feature with the other, including the identical glasses.
"I was going to say that it was alright, but that isn't true. I've been trying to get a hold of either you or mother for days now!" Eileen explained to her father, watching as more of his Unowns floated in the background.
"So sorry for that dear; we've just been so busy lately. Your mother hasn't even left the lab for a week now. I'd be worried if I knew she hadn't been stuck in there for longer periods. Oh before I forget, did you get the old amber from Pewter Museum?" her father asked, an excited yell of triumph coming out when Eileen told him she did. "That is excellent news! Once you pass by on your trip we can revive it with my machine... which I should probably try to fix it up. I'll have it done before you get here."
"That certainly is the plan. I've also won two badges so far in the challenge, and will be heading out with a group in a day or so to the next town. They seem to be a nice group, and I can get more information for my studies by following them. This adventure is shaping up to be quite amazing," Eileen said cheerfully, feeling truly happy that she was finally able to talk with one of her parents. She had always been closer to her father; he was always much more fun and kind then her mother.
'Speaking of...' "Do you know what mother is working on?" Eileen asked. Gale Weismann was always working on something in her the Cinnabar labs, and from the fact that she had been stuck in the lab for a week it meant she must be working on something big. The fact that her father claimed he knew nothing certainly confirmed that it was something important. "I see. Suppose I'll just have to wait and see what it is like everyone else. Also, have you heard of anything from my brother?"
There was a sad look when she received a 'no' from her father, both of them growing silent for a moment before a series of beeps were heard in the background. "That's one of my tests. I'll talk to you at another time dear. Remember to just keep calling me if I don't pick up the first dozen times; sometimes I simply don't realize the phone is ring. Good luck on your journey dear, I look forward to seeing you again," her father told her, the screen turning black after she told him goodbye.
Eileen sighed as she placed the phone on the dock, quite disappointed the chat didn't go on longer. 'I didn't even get to tell him about my Pokemon.' She looked down at Hughes by her feet and Ari examining the chair next to her, a smile forming on her face before she told them that she was done. "I suppose we can just hang out for awhile before we head to bed. Tomorrow we'll start the day with another morning run, so you best be ready and rested Ari," she explained to her Exeggcute, the Pokemon looking up at her with an excited look. "That's what I want to see. You'll be used to the training in no time!"
Aeris had fallen asleep on Mika's shoulder. All the excitement after winning against Misty had taken a lot of her energy, combined with how she'd been tense from having fought her, given her fear. However, she suddenly woke up now for no reason other than Blaze pulling on her jeans. "I didn't realize I was this tired." she said and yawned.
Her Pokemon had been healed earlier and retrieved. Then she'd given them the treat she was talking about. Her specialty, the only thing she could make really, something she called Spicy Treat. It wasn't a very creative name, but it was her thing and she'd name it what she wanted. Spicy Treat didn't lie, it was spicy. Which is why she only made it extra spicy for Blaze. All her other Pokemon were careful about eating it, not all of them used to eating something spicy. Blaze happily ate hers. Tristan , surprisingly, liked spicy food as well, which worked for him. Aeris only found out about that when he asked Blaze if he could taste hers and and she noticed that he liked it. She made it extra spicy for Blaze, sure, so there wasn't much left to make it extra spicy for Tristan. She'd remember it for next time, though.
Blaze had pulled on Aeris' jeans since she wanted her to not fall asleep at a wrong time. "Charmeleon char charme." Really now, you're that tired? Although I can't blame you. Aeris giggled a little. "Heh, sorry." "Char char char charmeleon." Anyway. Do you have any idea what the next gym will be? "No, not really. After all, I didn't even know that the second gym would be. That's why I'm making sure you'll all be strong enough for the next gym." Blaze nodded and went back to Aeris' other Pokemon, who were all just happily playing with each other inside the Pokecenter. Even the timid Ekans. Aeris smiled at that and snuggled closer to Mika.
Mika couldn't help but smile as Aeris fell asleep on his shoulder... the teen boy watching her sleep with affection in his eyes. He gently stroked her hair with one hand, looking over at Blaze as she woke up for a short moment and spoke to the Pokemon. Judging by her responses, he guessed that the Charmeleon was asking about the gym, which wasn't too much of a surprise. He did manage to pick up a few things in the Pokemon's speech, such was it's name for Aeris, and a few bits and pieces...
"Have a nice nap, Aeris?" He asked her when she returned to consciousness, her hand held gently by his. He looked over to Blaze and smiled at the Pokemon. "Blaze, I'm pretty sure that the next gym is an Electric Type gym... That's if we go to Vermillion City next. If we go to Celadon, it's a Grass Type Gym."
He looked over at Bones, letting out a little sigh. He had challenged Erika once in the past, right at the end of his journey a couple of years ago... he had lost against her, but it had been a close battle. That had been just before... Mika shook. It had been almost two years already, and still the memory haunted him. His face went somber, and tears started well in his eyes... That bastard was still out there somewhere.
Mika let go of Aeris' hand... and clenched it into a fist, which he dug into his thigh, knuckles pressing against the slight muscle he had.
Mika... please relax. You're safe, don't be upset. Bones said as he pressed his muzzle against Mika's lap... The boy unclenched his hands, and pet the canine Pokemon lovingly... heaving a sigh of discomfort.
"Y-yeah... I know." He said with a small voice, his throat having started to close up a bit, it was hard to speak... He took a few slow, deep breaths and leaned against Aeris, gently holding her hand again to calm himself down.
"Yeah, that was a good nap. Especially because you were my pillow." Aeris said and giggled, then gave him a kiss on his nose. "An Electric type? I think Xal will do good there." Aeris said before Mika let go of her hand. She hugged him close to her and rubbed the side of his head, lightly stroking his hair. "What's wrong?" she asked him worried. She wanted to know why he acted like that all of a sudden.
"I'll be fine... It was just a bad memory..." He said to Aeris, not wanting to talk about it... What teenage boy would want to, if that had happened to them? "Just... I was just remembering how badly I was beaten two years ago by the Gym Leader in Celadon... and I was just thinking about how nice it'd be to beat her after we're done with the Vermillion."
He lied plainly... and it was obvious he did. He'd never been a very good liar, and he always bit his lower lip whenever he was nervous.
"It's... It's something I don't like to talk about. I... I'll tell you one day." He told Aeris, not wanting to reveal much, but not trying to lie to her. "Okay?"
He leaned into the hug, resting his head on her shoulder as she stroked his blonde hair, sighing softly as he relaxed.
"Okay." Aeris said, holding him closer. She didn't want to make him tell her. He'd tell her when he'd feel he'd be ready to. She understood well about not wanting to talk about something painful. She'd had her times when she just couldn't tell some people about her hydrophobia. Especially seeing as she lived on an island, and not an all that big one either.
She kept him close, kept him safe. She wanted to be there for him, and was glad she could be. She kissed the top of his head and kept rubbing his head, though now the back of it instead of the side of it.
Mika sighed softly, yawning quietly and falling asleep against her chest... Bones jumped up on the couch, laying himself in his trainer's lap as the boy was comforted by his girlfriend.
"Hound... Dour, Houndour Hound Hound." Blaze... tell your Trainer that I thank her for comforting Mika. It means much to me, and likely more to him. The Dark-Type Pokemon said to Blaze and Aeris, not sure if he could be understood by the human girl... Human/Pokemon communication was an odd thing, usually only Pokemon and their Trainers could speak with one another... though there were some exceptions among the human race.
Blaze nodded towards Bones and relayed the message to Aeris, who was holding Mika comfortably, rubbing the back of his head. "And you're welcome, Bones." she said to the hound Pokemon. Blaze gave Bones a hug, since her Trainer wasn't able to. Aeris giggled softly at the cute sight of the two.
She hoped Mika was able to rest comfortably and peacefully where he was. He'd better, considering where his head is. She giggled at that thought and smiled towards the sleeping Mika.
The walk was nice and peaceful. Routes 24 and 25 had gone quiet, save for a couple calls of Hoothoot standing sentry over the night, the sound of flowing water passing under the Nugget Bridge on it's way out to the Ocean, and the soft fluttering sounds of a Zubat's wings up ahead. Jordan was taking time to appreciate these kinds of moments of tranquillity, similar to the times he spent listening to the lapping waves on the beach as the dying embers of a bonfire burned their last. He was enjoying this walk. Misty kept close to him, hanging on his side as the two started heading uphill.
"Not much farther now," the gym leader told him. "We should be at the top of the Cape really soon. It's nice and quiet up there, the only person who lives up here is that crazy researcher guy, and I don't think anyone's seen him for a little bit."
"That's cool," Jordan answered as the two continued hiking. It wasn't long before Misty lead him up a steeper hill until they reached a level plateau near the crest of the Cape. The roaring ocean could be heard smacking against the large rocks lining the cliff. Misty sat down a few feet away from the edge and beckoned Jordan to come down next to her. He complied, pulling up some grass as Misty stared out into the sea beyond.
"This is my favorite spot in the whole city," she told him. "I couldn't count how many times I've been up here, just watching over the waves as they crash. Down on that shoreline there, that's where I caught my first Staryu too."
"You don't say? Like, go on." Jordan had adopted his usual tactic when talking to girls, just saying short sentences and telling them to keep going.
"They say this cape is magical. It's the most romantic spot in all of Kanto." Misty grabbed onto Jordan's hand. "That if you go up here with someone you're meant to be with, then it will be sealed in no matter what." She looked back out to the sea. "Plus this place has the most beautiful sunsets."
This confused Jordan. "Um, like wait. Doesn't the sun like come up from there? Like, and then it sets over the mountains back there? I think you mean sunrise, Misty."
"Sunrise, sunset, whatever!" Misty retorted. "It's still pretty!"
"Yeah I guess, but still, it's like-" That was as far as Jordan got before Misty was on his lips, she moved in like a tsunami, enveloping Jordan as the two went to the ground. Misty's tongue was trying to gain entry to Jordan's mouth and eventually it was allowed passage. As the two remained together as Misty wrapped her arm around to his backside, their impromptu makeout session soon got an unwanted visitor.
"Zubit! Zubitbitbit! Bitzubitzubit!"Jordan! That was fucked up! You gotta see this weird thing!
Jordan broke away from Misty's grasp as his broette came back and sounded stressed. "Aw, what is it, Vicky broette? Don't tell me there's a spot light over there?"
"Zubitbit! Zubitbitbitzubitzubit!"Not this time! Just come on, it's so weird!
"Here Misty, I better go see what she wants, you know? Must be something up."
"Ugh fine, I'll come with you," Misty solemnly said, her raging lust held in check by Jordan's bat. I was hoping that thing wouldn't repel Jordan. Man.
Vicky led the two down the slope of the cape towards a house, from which only a dim light could be seen. The Zubat flew up to the door, banging on it a couple times. "Zubit! Bitbitbit!"In there! You won't believe it!
Jordan came up to the window...but he couldn't see anything, just the outline of machines bathed in moonlight and the flickering of a computer screen on a desk. But wait, there was something moving in there, it bolted briefly, but Jordan saw...something.
"This is Bill's house," Misty explained. "What's going on in there? Can you see?"
"No, I can't see anything. I think we should go in." Jordan went for the doorknob, it was unlocked. He entered after Vicky, Misty right behind him. "Hello? Anyone in here?"
"Hello?" He got a reply back. "Is someone there? Please, you've got to help me! Something's gone wrong!"
"One sec, bro! I'm gonna find some lights in here!" Jordan fumbled around on the wall, looking for a switch.
"No! Don't do that!" The voice's warning came too late as Jordan hit the lights. The room lit up with a florescent hum, revealing the place to be some sort of laboratory. Whether or not it was good or evil was tipped pretty heavily in the latter by the creature that was moving around in front of the two. It looked like Vicky, but it had this messed up hairdo in between it's ears and it wasn't really flying around all that well. "Dang it, I told you not to turn those lights on!" And it talked.
"Zubitbitbitzubitzubit."You are the ugliest dude I've ever seen.
"Bill?!? What the fuck have you done to yourself now?" Misty asked, incredulous at the sight of the chimeric creature before them.
"Misty? Is that you?" Bill asked. "I can't see a darn thing right now, and those lights! I can feel them burning me! Can you turn them off?"
"I'll...I'll get that," Jordan offered. Anything to get that ugly ass sight out of here. That dude's just gnarly looking. He flicked off the lights as Bill came to a landing onto of one of the machines in the corner.
"Much better, thank you," he said, in a calmer voice. "Now yes, to answer your question there Misty, there's been a bit of a mishap with my machine again."
"No shit," Misty put succinctly. "How many times are you going to keep doing this to yourself, Bill? And you still haven't learned your damn lesson!"
"I thought I had it for sure this time! I was just tightening something up and this Zubat flew in through an open window and startled me. It set off the machine, and well, this happened. Look all I need you to do is wait for me to get back into the machine and run the sequencer there on the computer. Can you do that for me?"
"I dunno, dude," Jordan said. "What if I just screw you up worse? I've never been like super skilled with computers, I like, needed Miguel's help to get Word to stop doing that thing where it wrote over what I messed up."
"Look, it's pretty dang simple, I designed it myself you know. Just go to the computer and click Start when I'm locked in the machine, OK?" Bill flew down off his perch and inside the machine. "Misty can you come and close this here door for me?"
"I don't really want to go near your fucked up machine," Misty told him matter of factly. "But I guess we've got no choice." She timidly walked up to the machine and slammed the door tight on him, jiggling it to make sure it was locked before backing up to where Jordan was at the computer's controls. "OK, do it Jordan."
"Sure." Jordan clicked the indicated button, sending the machine into motion. It whirred to life, quietly at first but then getting really loud as the machine went through the main part of the process. This lasted for about 7 seconds before slowing down to that initial hum. A pair of lights over the components of the machine blinked, showing a bright green. Misty turned the lights back on, wanting to see if the machine did what it was supposed to.
The door flung open and out flew a Zubat, the hair that adorned it's head now gone. It did a couple laps around the laboratory, with Vicky in pursuit before landing on the machine Bill had been perched on a minute ago. Vicky landed right after it. "Zubitbitbit. Zubitbit?Now that's much better. How you doing hot stuff?
"Zubitzubit, zubitzubit."Back off shrimpy, I'm not interested.
"ZUBIT!......Zubit!"Fuck you! Vicky looked to be thinking of attacking, but after a quick look at the size of the other Zubat, decided against it. Asshole! She took off from the machine, landing back on Jordan's shoulder.
Finally, from the large machine stepped a man around 35 years old, he had the same messed up hair that adorned the Zubat that would haunt Misty and Jordan's nightmares, as well as some weird clothes on him, that looked like they belonged on a 19th century pimp. "All right, sorry to keep ya'll waiting. Didn't want to come out of that machine naked in front of such esteemed company there, so I grabbed the clothes on the floor."
"Thank god." Misty commented.
"Anyway, yeah, thanks a heap there...uh what's your name, chief?"
"Jordan."
"Yeah, thank you Jordan, you got me out of a tight spot there! I appreciate it!"
"Yeah sure, no problem dude."
"Now now, don't be so modest! I tell ya what." Bill came over to the deck where the computer rested and opened a drawer, fumbling around inside for a second. "There we go," He pulled out a piece of paper and turned to Jordan. "Why don't I give you this here? There's having a big party on the S.S. Anne down in Vermillion tomorrow, celebrating it's 10th anniversary I think. They gave me this pass, but it's for ten people and I don't have near enough friends to go. Plus I can't stand them fancy dos anyway. Why don't you take it and enjoy yourself, on me?"
Jordan looked down at the pass given to him. It seemed legit. "Yeah, sure bro! I'll totally take this off your hands there! Thanks man!"
"Great, I want you and your friends to enjoy yourself on that thing. Promise me now."
"Sure totally! Wait till I tell the bros about this!"
"Don't you think it can wait until tomorrow, Jordan?" Misty purred in his ear. "I figured we can head back to the gym now. My sisters will probably be asleep so we can have some fun."
Jordan knew what Misty meant this time and in the euphoria of scoring a free party, he was more then willing to keep the good time rolling. "Cool, I'm up for that." The two headed for the door. "Later dude! Thanks again!"
"No, no, thank you!" Bill said as Jordan and Misty left. He shut the door behind them.
The two started walking back towards Cerulean. "Well that was pretty sweet, eh? Help a bro out, get a free party," Jordan reiterated, still pleased with how the night turned out.
"Yeah, yeah I guess so," Misty replied, although something was troubling her in the back of her mind. How did that Zubat get in? Bill said the window, but it looked like they were all shut, and I don't think a Zubat has the strength to shut down those things...Oh well. No use thinking about that when I got other stuff to do. Let's see if this surfer boy can ride my wave. The Gym Leader and the challenger kept up the walk, moving at a brisk pace as Vicky followed from the sky, as the night grew darker over Cerulean city below.
[hr]
As the couple left his place, Bill breathed out a sigh of relief. He sat down on a chair near his desk as two figures emerged from a stairwell on the other side of the room. One was a large man, built like a mountain, and bald on top. He had a thick brown mustache and his arms were covered in tattoos. The other was a tall woman, with hair dyed purple falling down to the small of her back. She was conventionally attractive and well endowed, but her eyes, sharp and colored a deep green, suggested sinister motives. Both were wearing all black numbers, save for large red Rs across their chests. "Well done, Bill," she told the weary Pokemaniac as she produced a Pokeball. "I almost thought you were going to blow it for a second there, but you pulled it off." She returned the Zubat with whom Bill had shared a body to the ball, before reattaching it to her belt.
"Yes, I did, now is that enough? You've been doing this to me over and over for the past two weeks now, and it was two days before someone came this time. I'm sure you've lured enough trainers to this 'party' of yours."
"You'd think that, but no." The man answered. "I think you can get a couple more people to show up before that cruise takes off tomorrow night. Besides, I'm not sure you've fully repaid us for the services in helping get your machine to the point it is now."
Bill stood up now. "Your services? I had that machine to its finest point before you two came in with your bloody alterations. It is getting more and more dangerous, for the last half day I was fighting for consciousness with your Zubat and it damn near won! If those two hadn't come along, I'm not sure I would have been able to maintain the herewithall to speak and tell them what to do! And then where would you be, hmmm? Now I'm telling you to cease these plans at once!"
As Bill finished speaking the woman pulled a handgun out from a holster on the back of her belt. "Oh now Bill, I thought we were past this. You know better than to argue with us, you aren't in the position to counter anything we have. Now the choice you have is simple. Continue aiding us in our plans, or refuse and lose your consciousness for good. If you need help making that choice," she pulled back the hammer on the sleek Baretta, "allow me to refer you to my counsel here."
"All right! All right fine! You win," Bill said wearily. He slumped back down in his seat. "Can I at least pick which Pokemon you force me to merge with? I'm not going back in that dang Zubat again, I kind of enjoy being able to see."
"No way," denied the man. "You pick one that you can use to escape, then everything is blown."
"Now, now. I see your point. I won't make you work with Zubat again," the woman told him. "Since you seem to be having problems, I'll allow for a swap, something simpler to work with." She pulled another ball off her belt and released another Pokemon, the light shrinking down into a round shape with spikes poking off it. Materializing a second later was a tiny Weed Pokemon.
"Oddish! Odd...ish," the Pokemon spoke.
"You should have no problem with this one, it's pretty stupid and tame. Now both of you, into the machine!" The woman ordered with her gun backing up the command. Oddish rushed to complete its task with vigor, moving towards the open chamber of the machine.
Bill looked up to the heavens, as if urging something to come down and save him from this predicament. "The things I do in science's name." He headed back to the machine for another go.
[HEADING=1]END OF CHAPTER 4! (Finally...)[/HEADING]
[hr]
[HEADING=1]CHAPTER 5: Cruisin' For a Bruisin'[/HEADING]
[HEADING=2]DAY 6[/HEADING]
The sun rose over Cerulean Cape and out over the rest of the city. It was a perfect day, not a cloud in the sky. A great day to be hitting the ocean for some surfing, or other activities.
Jordan awoke as the sun streaked through the open bay windows at the top of the wall adjacent. He looked around, the room he was in was a mess, clothes strewn all over the place, a top even hanging from the mirror opposite. He turned over, coming face to face with a wall of red hair heading up a naked back. Damn, well that wasn't bad at all. That and....oh yeah! Party today!
He reached over the edge of the bed, pulling up his jeans. He dug around for the ticket that Bill had given him last night, and found it, confirming that he would still be going to the cruise ship. Party starts at 7PM, should be able to go there in time for that...if I knew how to get to Vermillion...
"Morning, babe," Jordan heard from behind him. Misty had awoken and was laying there with a smile on her face. "Sleep well?"
"Oh yeah, definitely," he confirmed. "So looking forward to today. Us and my bros, heading down for an all-expenses party, gonna rule."
"Yeah about that, I can't go."
"What? Why?"
"Oh the pain in the ass responsibilities of being a Gym Leader," Misty told him. "Have to stay and battle anyone who comes, and I used up my travel breaks a while ago."
"Man, lame," Jordan said. "Oh well, I'll have to party hard for both of us I guess."
"You do that. I'll hear all about it when you get back, since I'm assuming you will be back to face me again, right?"
"Yeah I guess. Well, I should probably meet up with everyone else. Tell them all the good news right?" Jordan looked around on the floor, "If I could just find my clothes..."
"Give me a sec, I'll help ya," Misty sat up on the bed, blanket still covering her. "Plus I'll come with you to the Center. I can show you a short cut to get down there quicker without having to go through all the Saffron checkpoints."
"Cool." Jordan said, pulling on his retrieved jeans. Today was going to be one to remember, Jordan could feel it.
It had been a sleepless night for Rochelle. The little amount of rest she had managed was plagued by nightmares again. It was the same one every time she managed to get back to sleep: the darkness, the caves, footfalls behind her, chasing her, herding her into a corner of the cavern's natural maze. Each time just before she woke, the last thing Rochelle saw before she woke was the red R emblazoned on the uniforms... and she always found herself sitting bolt upright in bed, covered in cold sweat and her hair in a rat's nest.
At one point, it had almost become too much. At about 1 AM, Rochelle had quietly dressed, crept out of the bedroom and headed back into the main hall of the Pokémon Center. There were a few lights on around the place, and a night-shift nurse on duty behind the counter. When the nurse gave Rochelle a questioning look, the Trainer returned a half-hearted wave but didn't speak. Instead she took a seat with her back to the nurse, buried her head in her hands and cried to herself for a little while.
She shied away from the nurse's friendly touch when she approached, having heard Rochelle sobbing to herself. Rochelle didn't want to talk about it, not when it was the middle of the night and she had only managed about forty minutes' sleep all up. She had doubted her ability to form coherent sentences, and had eventually allowed herself to be guided back to the communal bedroom where she got back into bed, with a promise from the nurse that it would help.
But it didn't. Rochelle had more nightmares, and they became more vivid, more intense, as the night progressed. She couldn't stop them coming, and it was ruining her sleep. She ended up staring out the window at the moonlight, silently praying to whoever would listen that she managed to get even two straight hours of uninterrupted sleep. Her prayers weren't answered.
That morning, Rochelle had watched the dawn break. She had expected to feel some sort of relief that the terrifying night was over... but she just felt drained of energy. Still tired from the events of the day before. On a brief trip to the bathroom for a shower that morning, she caught sight of herself in a mirror... she was a complete and total wreck. Her eyes were a little bloodshot, there were dried rivers leading from her eyes down her face, her clothes were askew since she hadn't paid attention to getting dressed, and her hair was an almost irreparable tangle of red. She attacked the latter with a comb, though, and straightened out a good portion of it.
Unsurprisingly, Rochelle was the first to get up that morning. She didn't go to get breakfast straight away, instead choosing to wait until someone else surfaced. Hopefully she hadn't woken any of her friends up in the night. If that wasn't the case, though, apologies would be in order. She sat back down on her bed while she waited, doing her best to straighten the messy sheets.
Fary woke up and looked around the empty room. Rouge was sleeping in the bed next to her with her other Pokemon. Fary looked at her Xtrancever and sighed seeing a message from Grimsley. "God dammit will you give me a break. I already have a ton to deal with as it is." Fary said sitting up reading the text.
"I miss you my Fary queen. I should be in Kanto to see you soon. I can't wait to have you in my arms again."
"Oh for fuck sake Grimsley I hope you never find me. I don't want to go through that again. Though it seems I've already lost Jordan. "I don't know why I feel like this ether. I haven't known him for that long but there's something about him. Yea he's an idiot but he's.. sweet." she said holding her legs to her chest thinking a tear running down her cheek.
"Maybe I should just take Grimsley back. I mean maybe he did love me at some point. I just don't want to be alone for the rest of my life and he did treat me well, that is untill he left." she said.
Mika was the next to wake... sleeping on the bunk above Aeris's. The teenager hopped from the mattress, landing with a soft thud on his feet and hands. He pulled on a clean t-shirt, glad to have gotten some laundry done the night before... After his short nap against Aeris, he did manage to get to the bed.
He thought he was the only one awake at the moment, not seeing Rochelle in her bed. He grabbed his soap, toothpaste and brush, shampoo, a towel, and clean clothes, heading for the bathroom. After brushing his teeth, and answering nature's call, he hopped in one of the stalls, turning on the head and shivering as it starts cold, slowly warming as he cowers in the corner of the stall from the icy water... That blast of chill killed his morning issues rather swiftly, and he got to bathing once it was warm.
"Mm... warm showers are the cure for most anything, I guess." He said to himself, lathering his nude form up and down. He gazed upon his own body, as if examining his progress of muscle development... or the lack thereof.
Turning off the hot, steam-bringing water, Mika grabbed his towel, quickly drying himself off and changing his clothes. Once he was dressed and his hair mostly dry, he went back into the bunk room, grabbing a bottle of pills from his backpack, shaking the bottle and opening it, popping the last of them and looking at it with slight disbelief... was he already out?
"Pharmacy..." He said to himself, stashing the empty bottle back in his back and putting on his belt of Pokeballs. He looked up, seeing that Rochelle was awake as well... had she seen him take his medication? "Morning Rochelle..." He said politely to her... she looked like she didn't sleep well.
"These are shoes Ari. I wear them to protect my feet, and no you cannot wear them," Eileen told her Exeggcute as she tied the laces on her shoe. The Pokemon looked downtrodden at what she said; jumping out of her shoe with a gloomy expression. "I don't see why you'd want to wear them anyway, not all of you would even fit," she said, picking up the shoe and putting it on, "How about we go a different route then normal this time? Would that make you feel any better if we headed over to the bridge instead of just around the city?"
"Exegg-cute!" the Pokemon cried out, rolling over to the door waiting for his owner.
"Just one more second," Eileen muttered, standing up and making sure her shoes felt comfortable before leaving the room and entering the hallway. As soon as the door was opened Ari darted out excitedly and started to make his way to the main area of the Pokemon Center. "Ari keep it down. Some people might be asleep," she told her Pokemon, loudly whispering it to get his attention. Eileen and Hughes were quiet as they went through the hallway to the rooms, the two of them speeding up at the end to catch up to the Exeggcute that was already almost at the entrance.
"Morning," Eileen said with a wave as she passed the front desk, quickly greeting Nurse Joy before exiting the center with her two Pokemon. "Alright you two, we'll keep it at an easy pace for the beginning while we're heading to the bridge. After that we'll pick it up a bit and be back by the time everyone gets up," she explained to her Pokemon as the three of them started their morning jog to Nugget Bridge.
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