Thanks for reading so far!
Chapter 8: Johto Adventures
Ash and company continue to travel up the road towards Blackthorn City.
After a peaceful night's sleep, the crew awakens and continues on towards
their final destination.
On the road...
Ash: (Yawning) Sure is a nice day!
Misty: Sure is...I hope we can get there soon!
Duplica: Brock, how far do we have to go?
Brock: Let's see... (Pulls out his pokedex and pushes a few buttons)... hmm.
According to the pokedex, we are still twenty miles away... and we have to
go through a mountain range along the way...
Ash: (Sighs) We better keep moving then...
Misty: Yeah... it'll probably take a while to get through the mountains...
Brock: Yep. Aren't you glad you're wearing pants instead of shorts, Misty?
Misty: (Punching Brock in the arm) Watch it, Brock...
Brock: (Rubbing his arm) I was just kidding...
Duplica: (Giggling) Come over here, Brock... I'll keep you safe... (Gently
grabs Brock's hand and pulls him over to her side of the road)
Pikachu, who had previous walking in the back of the group, senses something
and quickly runs up to Ash and jumps on his shoulder...
Pikachu: (Excited) Pi-Pi-Pi!
Ash: What is it, Pikachu? (Pikachu points at a yew tree just ahead on the
right side of the road)
All four trainers stop in their tracks and observe the tree. A few moments
later, it begins to shake...
Misty: What is it?
Brock: (Scratching his chin) Hmmm... there must be a pokemon in the bush...
Ash: (Getting excited) I'll check it out! Pikachu come with me!
Brock: (Grabbing Ash) Wait! Why don't you let Duplica check this out, and if
it's a pokemon, she can try and catch it...
Duplica: (Blushing) Thanks, Brock!
Ash: Yeah, ok. Go ahead, Duplica... check it out...
Duplica grabs one of her pokeballs and holds it her left hand. She quietly
moves closer to the tree, trying to look inside. She notices a pair of eyes
as she closes to within five feet of the tree. Taking a deep breath, Duplica
moves closer...
Misty: (Curious) What do you see, Duplica?
Brock: Tell us... what is it?
Duplica: (Warily) I don't know... but I see a pair of eyes in the tree!
Ash: Be careful, Duplica!
Duplica: I will... (Inches closer to the tree)
A moment later, an Oddish walks out of the tree...
Misty: Cool! An Oddish! You gonna catch it, Duplica?
Duplica: I don't know... I already have two pokemon...
Brock: Go on, catch it. Show us your great battling skill...
Duplica: (Grabbing one of her pokeballs) Okay... I'll try and get it.
(Tosses the pokeball) Ditto, go!
Ditto appears on the ground in front of Duplica and begins to eye the
Oddish, who is getting ready to do something...
Duplica: Ditto, transform!
As Ditto transforms into an Oddish, the Oddish begins to shake and spores
begin head towards Ditto...
Duplica: Ditto, quickly, dodge it! (Ditto jumps out of the way of the spore
cloud) Tackle attack!
Ditto charges and hits the Oddish, knocking it back into the tree.
Undaunted, it gets back on its feet and launches a tackle attack of its own,
knocking Ditto to the ground...
Ash: Wow! That must be one tough Oddish... (Holds out his pokedex and looks
at the screen)... hey, Duplica! That Oddish must be at least at level 16 to
have made that stun spore attack...
Brock: Be careful, Duplica...
Duplica: (Determined) Don't worry, I'll win! Ditto, stun spore attack!
Ditto launches a stun spore cloud at the other Oddish... it tries to jump
out of the way, but fails, and soon is paralyzed...
Duplica: Ditto, use your sleep powder! (Ditto attacks and puts the Oddish to
sleep) All right! (Grabs a pokeball) Pokeball, go!
The pokeball lands on the Oddish and pulls it inside... after shaking a few
times, it stops moving...
Brock: Great job, Duplica!
Duplica: (Happy) Thanks, Brock! (Picks up the pokeball and puts in on her
belt) Now I have three pokemon...
Misty: That Oddish looked pretty tough, Duplica. I hope you have no problems
when you start training it...
Ash: We'll all be here to help you if you need any help with training it...
Duplica: Thanks! (Pauses) Let's keep going! We got a long way to go, right?
Misty: (Sighs) You can say that again...
Ash, Misty, Brock, and Duplica press forward on the road towards Blackthorn
City. Meanwhile, in an underwater base near Olivine City, Domino calls
everyone to order in the main control center...
Domino: (Loudly) Listen up, everyone! Our operations leaders have arrived
early then I expected... (Pauses)... so everyone to their stations. Hop to
it!
Personnel inside of the control center scramble to their positions. In one
corner of the center, Jessie, James, and Meowth talk among themselves...
Meowth: Hmmm... I wonder who could be coming to take charge here?
James: I don't know... but we don't know very many other Team Rocket
members, so I could be anyone...
Jessie: (Sighs) I hope were sent out on an assignment soon... I don't like
working here. Maybe we could ask these operations leaders for a different
assignment...
James: Yeah...
Meowth: I could use some fresh air... we haven't been outside since we got
in that submarine...
Before Jessie or James can reply, Domino suddenly yells out...
Domino: Okay, everyone. The heads of our new project have just docked and
are on their way down...
Meowth: I guess we'll find out in a second who's gonna be running the show
here...
Jessie: Un-huh.
The main doors to the control room open and two Team Rocket agents walk
in... Jessie, James, and Meowth turn their heads to look at the operations
leaders...
Jessie: (To herself) No... it can't be...
James: (Softly) Those two?
Domino: (Loudly) Attention! Our project leaders Butch and Cassidy have
arrived!
Meowth has a sinking feeling in his stomach as he recalls the prior meetings
with Butch and Cassidy...
Butch: Yes, we are finally here. It looks like everything is proceeding as
scheduled...
Cassidy: The boss will be pleased... (Notices Jesse, James, and Meowth in
the corner)... hey Butch, come with me...
Butch: Okay...
Butch and Cassidy walk up to the corner of the command center and begin to
talk to Jesse, James, and Meowth...
Cassidy: I'm surprised that you guys are here... I thought the boss would
have you guys out doing more bombings...
James: He wanted us to stay low for a while... and maybe help out here...
Meowth: We can't exactly go walking around... they have posters of us
everywhere...
Butch: I suppose... (Pauses)... at least you guys have done something right
for once...
Jessie: (Loudly) That's right!
Cassidy: That's why the boss wants you three to work with us... I didn't
want to at first. Once he told me that you three were behind those bombings,
I had a little more respect for you guys...
James: What have you two been doing... while we were out there destroying
towns?
Butch: Cassidy and I were working in the boss's secret breeding center,
helping to raise some very powerful pokemon...
Cassidy: That's not an easy job...
Meowth: (Sarcastically) It's probably easier then risking your hide like we
did...
Butch: (Getting defensive) Everyone has their assignment from the boss...
some are easier, some are more difficult...
Cassidy: Maybe he gave you that bombing assignment to prove yourselves... he
almost dropped you from Team Rocket several times...
you three don't know
how lucky you are!
Jessie, James, and Meowth all sigh...
Butch: We have to contact the boss now... we'll see you three later! (Butch
and Cassidy leave the control room)
James: (Scratching his head) Well... that went better than I expected...
Jessie: I was expecting them get in our face and give us a hard time...
Meowth: Yeah, me too. (Pauses) Well... we better get back to work...
James: (Sighing) I guess...
Jessie, James, and Meowth return to work in the control center...
Elsewhere in the Johto region, Ash, Misty, Brock, and Duplica continue
pressing towards Blackthorn City...
Duplica has her Oddish in her arms; she is talking to it as they continue
down the road...
Brock: (Putting an arm around Duplica) Good job... you got your first
pokemon catch in the field...
Duplica: (Smiling) Thanks, Brock... (Looks at Oddish)... I hope I can train
this Oddish like I trained my Ditto's...
Misty: You'll be fine... you just have to learn Oddish's attacks and train
it...
A moment later, a cold front begins to pass through and clouds begin to fill
the sky...
Ash: Brr... it's getting cold...
Brock: Yeah, it is... we've been climbing in elevation the past hour and I
think we're in the mountain pass... (Pulls out his pokedex and looks at the
map screen)
Misty: Where are we?
Brock: It's ten miles more to Blackthorn City... and we haven't even started
to hit the main part of the pass...
Duplica: Did you guys want to find a place to stop and set up camp?
Ash: If we can find one, it's sorta barren over here... and it looks like it
could rain any second...
Misty: (Looking at the sky, with its ominous black billowy clouds) Yeah...
let's keep going...
Pikachu: (Pointing ahead) Pika-pi!
Ash: What is it, Pikachu? (Looks ahead) Oh, yeah, I see it! Looks like a
small grove of trees...
Misty: Let's go!
The group travels a short way further on the road, and comes upon a grove of
evergreen trees. Ash and Misty begin to set up two tents while Brock and
Duplica scour the area for firewood. About twenty minutes later, the tents
are set up and a campfire is roaring. Brock and Duplica begin to make a huge
pot of beef stew over the fire...
Duplica: So, Ash, tell me about your first pokemon catch in the field...
Ash: (Tries to dig up the memory in his head) Um... wow. That was over three
and a half years ago... just after I met Misty for the first time...
Misty: (Leaning on Ash) Wasn't that a Caterpie that you caught?
Ash: Oh, yeah, it was... I caught it after we ran into Team Rocket for the
first time... it evolved rather quickly...
Duplica: (Interested) Really?
Ash: Yeah... it evolved into a Metapod very soon after I caught it, and then
later became a Butterfree... (Has a sad expression on his face after
recalling those events in his head)
Duplica: (Noticing the look on Ash's face) Ash, what's wrong?
Ash: (Softly) Nothing... it's just... I had to let Butterfree go not long
after it evolved... I still miss it...
Misty: (Putting her arm around Ash) I know you do, Ash... letting Butterfree
go was one of the first mature and really responsible things I seen you do
as a trainer. I always had a little more respect for you after that day...
Brock: Yeah... Ash began to understand that raising pokemon isn't always
easy...
Duplica: Yeah... (Tasting the stew)... stew's done! Who's hungry?
Ash: (Loudly) Me! Me!
Brock and Duplica pass out bowls and serve the stew, bringing compliments
from Ash and Misty on how good it tastes. After dinner, all four of them sit
around the campfire and tell stories... time passes and soon it is night.
Ash puts out the campfire and Misty helps to clean up the outside of the
camp...
Brock: (Yawning) Good night!
A cold wind blows through the camp...
Duplica: Brock, come on! Get in the tent! It's cold!
Misty & Ash: Good night!
Duplica: Good night!
Brock heads into one tent and gets into his sleeping bag. Duplica has set up
her sleeping bag next to his...
Brock: I hope it doesn't rain...
Duplica: Yeah... (Pauses)... otherwise, we could be stuck here until it
stops. I don't want to walk in freezing rain...
Brock: Neither do I. (Softly) Duplica, you were great today... you caught
that Oddish and showed how great of a trainer you are...
Duplica: (Blushing) Brock... thank you... (Moves her head towards Brock)
Brock: (Blushing) Duplica...
The next words out of Brock's mouth are cut off as Duplica and Brock share a
warm kiss... Brock can feel his heart rapidly beating in his chest. Duplica
feels like she is going to melt... she feels so warm inside...
After the kiss is over, Brock and Duplica lovingly stare at each other...
Duplica: (Very softly) Wow...
Brock: (Softly) What a kiss...
Duplica and Brock smile at each other, and then go to sleep... thinking
about the new step their relationship has taken. Over in Ash and Misty's
tent, they are also having a conversation before bed...
Misty: Well, it looks like Pikachu is out for the night... (Points to a mini
sleeping bag in the corner of the tent)
Ash: (Stretching) Yeah... I'm feeling tired myself. We did a lot of walking
today...
Misty: Yeah, we did. My legs feel a little bit tired...
Ash: Misty, come here... (Holds out his arms)
Misty: (Blushing as she scooches over next to Ash) Yes, Ash...
Ash: (Giving Misty a warm hug) Good night, Misty...
Misty: (Pulling Ash into a very close hug) Good night, Ash... (Ash blushes
as Misty places a kiss on his cheek)
Misty goes back over to her sleeping bag and falls asleep... Ash soon falls
asleep as well...
The night passes with out incident, but just before sunrise, it begins to
rain heavily...
Misty: (Waking up and stretching) It's raining? (Shakes Ash) Wake up!
Ash: (Slowly opening his eyes) Huh? (Looks at the tent, and notices that it
is slowly moving) Misty, I think the tent is being washed away!
Over in the other tent, Brock and Duplica have also awaken and noticed the
same thing happening to their tent...
Brock: (Yelling) Hey, Ash! I think we're being washed away here!
Ash: (Loudly) Yeah, I know. I'm gonna try and stop it... (Grabs a pokeball
from his backpack) Be right back, Misty! (She nods)
Ash opens the tent and quickly re-zips it closed. The cold, driving rain
quickly soaks him as he decides what to do...
Ash: (To himself) How am I gonna stop the rain from washing away our camp?
(Thinks for a moment, then throws out the pokeball) Bayleef!
Bayleef pops out of the pokeball and begins to shudder at the sting of the
rain hitting its skin...
Ash: Bayleef, razor leaf those four trees over there! We're gonna make a
wall to make the water go away from the camp...
Bayleef: BAY! (Uses its razor leaf attack to cut down four small evergreen
trees, which fall to the ground)
Ash: Good job! Use your vine whip to pull the trunks over here, and we'll
make a "V" to divert that water!
Ash and Bayleef work together and drag the trunks into position. After the
trunks are set up, both start to gather stones and place them in front of
the logs...
Brock: (Looking out of the tent) Good idea, Ash! Let me help out now!
(Tosses a pokeball, and Graveler pops out) Graveler, dig a ditch in front of
those logs to channel away that water!
Graveler gets right to work digging out a trench... Ash and Bayleef finish
shoring up the logs a short while later...
Ash looks down and sees the rainwater coursing into the trenches...
Ash: Looks good, Brock! I think we're done!
Brock: Graveler, return! (Calls Graveler back in its pokeball) You did a
good job... (Yells out to Ash) Ash, you better get back inside, or you'll
freeze to death!
Ash: (Shivers) Yeah, I'm totally soaked. Good job, Bayleef! Let's get you
out of this rain...
Bayleef: (Happily) BAY-BAY!
Ash returns Bayleef to his pokeball and runs back into the tent...
Misty: (Concerned) Ash, you look like you're freezing!
Ash: (Teeth chattering) Umm... yeah... I'm c-c-cold...
Pikachu: (Concerned) Pika!
Misty: Ash, you should change out of those wet clothes immediately! I don't
want you to get pneumonia or something!
Duplica: (Yelling from the other tent) Brock and I were going to feed the
pokemon, why don't you send over your pokemon for some breakfast?
Ash: Okay, that sounds good. Pikachu, Misty and I were gonna eat some
breakfast. Can you take Togepi over there, along with our pokeballs?
Pikachu: PIKA-Pi!
Misty: (Yelling) Duplica, the pokemon are on their way over!
Duplica: (Yelling back) Sounds good!
Misty puts all of her pokeballs in a bag, along with Ash's. Togepi wakes up
and then both Pikachu and Togepi head over to the other tent...
Ash: (Slightly blushing) Um... Misty... could you turn around? I'm gonna
change out of these wet clothes...
Misty: Of course, Ash.
Misty turns around and waits patiently as Ash changes. As he changes, she
can't help blushing a little...
Ash: I'm done, Misty. You can look now...
Misty turns around and sees Ash sitting on top of his sleeping bag...
Misty: Why don't you warm up in the sleeping bag? I'll get us some breakfast
and then we'll talk about what we're going to do next...
Ash: Okay... (Crawls into his sleeping bag) Thanks, Mist...
Misty: (Grabbing some cereal bars out of her backpack) No problem, Ash. You
went out there in the rain to help us all out, so it's the least I can do...
(Hands Ash a cereal bar) What did you want to do today? I don't want to
continue on if it's raining like this... we're still pretty far from
Blackthorn City...
Ash: Yeah, we're still a good day's walk away. I had an idea... maybe you
can do a little training with Togepi? I remember that you we're trying to
teach it a headbutt attack. Pikachu could help out...
Misty: (Happily) Yeah, that's a great idea! It would give me something to
do, and I can spend some time training Togepi!
Ash and Misty continue to talk as they eat breakfast. Later that morning,
Brock and Duplica stop by and help Misty train Togepi. With some help from
Pikachu and Ditto, Togepi finally learns the move...
The day continues on, and the rain slows down enough for Brock to make a
small campfire and make dinner. The group talks about what to do next...
Duplica: It looks like the rain has slowed down, but it could pick up again.
(Sighs) What did you guys want to do tomorrow?
Ash: I think we should wait until it stops raining- we have a day's trip
ahead of us, and I don't wanna be walking in the rain...
Brock: I'm with Ash here... if it stops raining, we'll go. Otherwise, I
think we should wait out the storm...
Misty: I don't feel like getting soaked. It's pretty cold out there, anyway.
(Leans on Ash)
Duplica: We're not in a rush, right?
Ash: I don't want to run down to Blackthorn in the rain and then be sick...
we'll stay here...
A few moments later, the skies suddenly darken and the rain picks up once
again...
Misty: (Covering her head) I guess we're stuck here now...
Ash, Misty run back to their tent, Brock and Duplica do the same as the rain
starts come down with its ice cold fury.
The day soon becomes night, and
the respective couples spend the rest of the evening talking to each other.
Duplica and Brock in particular, get to know each other better.
Brock talks about his travels with Ash and Misty, and Duplica talks about
training her Ditto's and running the Imite House. After a long kiss
goodnight, Brock and Duplica fall asleep. Ash and Misty are still up,
playing cards...
Ash: (Throwing his cards to the ground) Darn! You win again!
Misty: (Getting the cards and shuffling them) I used to play against my
sisters all of the time... that's why I'm good. Did you want to play again?
Ash: Nah. I'm getting tired...
Misty: (Taking a glance at the sleeping Togepi, who is sleeping in a part of
her backpack nearby) Togepi must be tired from all of the training we did
today... (Stretches)... I'm gonna go to bed...
Ash: Me too... (Gently pulls Misty into a hug and holds her) (Softly) Good
night, Misty...
Misty: (Softly) Good night, Ash. (Kisses him on the cheek, causing him to
blush) I hope it stops raining tomorrow, so we can get you to Blackthorn
City to get your badge...
Ash: Yeah... (Gently lets go of Misty and wriggles into his sleeping bag)
See yah tomorrow...
Misty climbs into her sleeping bag and then falls asleep. As he relaxes and
falls asleep, Ash watches Misty
sleep. He thinks to himself "I'm sorta glad we got stuck here in this storm.
Spending time with Misty has made realize how much I love her..."
A new day soon dawns, and unfortunately for Ash and company, the rain is
still is coming down. After breakfast, the rain starts to slow down and
there is a debate about what to do next...
Ash: The rain has really slowed down... did you guys want to pack up and get
moving?
Misty: Maybe we should, otherwise, who knows how long we could be stuck
here...
Duplica: Sounds good to me! Let's go!
Brock and Duplica dismantle the tents while Ash and Misty gather their
sleeping bags and other items together. A little while later, the group is
on their way to Blackthorn City. Walking at a brisk pace, they are soon at
the top of a mountain pass. They take a short break and gaze at the scenery
around them. Looking down the road in front of them, Blackthorn City is
plainly visible...
Ash: (Excited) I can see the city! You guys ready to go?
Misty: Yeah... but hold on a second. I want take some pictures... (Starts
snapping pictures of the surrounding scenery)
Brock: Duplica, why don't you take your Oddish out for a little fresh air?
Duplica: Good idea Brock... (Grabs her pokeball with Oddish in it and
releases it)
Oddish comes out of the pokeball and immediately begins talking with
Pikachu...
Duplica: (Looking down at Oddish) Seems like I got a pretty friendly Oddish
here...
Ash: Looks like it... Pikachu here makes friends pretty easy...
Pikachu: Pika-pi!
Misty: (Putting her camera into her backpack) Okay guys, I'm done. (Looks up
at the sky and notices that the sun is coming out) Let's get moving while
the weather is good!
Ash: Sounds good! (Starts running down the road towards Blackthorn City)
Misty: Same old Ash... (Sighs) Come on guys, we gotta catch up to him...
Misty, Brock, Pikachu, and Duplica start high-tailing it down the road after
Ash. Before Duplica can go very far, Oddish starts hopping excitedly next to
her...
Duplica: What is it? Do you want me to carry you?
Oddish nods excitedly. Duplica stoops down and scoops up Oddish and begins
to run again... Oddish soon falls asleep in her arms...
After another two and half hours of travel down the road, they arrive at the
outskirts of Blackthorn City. They take a break to catch their breaths when
Officer Jenny approaches them...
Officer Jenny: Hi there! Are you guys Pokemon trainers?
Ash: You bet we are! I'm here to get my 8th Johto League badge... (Opens his
coat and shows Officer Jenny his other seven badges)
Officer Jenny: That's pretty impressive. (Looks at Misty) Wait a second... I
recognize you two. Were you two in the Whirl Cup? I could have sworn that
I've seen you on the TV...
Misty: Yeah, that was Ash and I here. My name is Misty and I'm a water
pokemon trainer. These are my friends Brock and Duplica...
Brock: Nice to meet you...
Duplica watches Brock carefully as he introduces himself to Officer Jenny.
He controls himself by constantly thinking to himself "I have Duplica now...
she is cute and l... love her. Can't go back to my old ways..."
Duplica: I'm Duplica and I'm a Ditto trainer. I ran the Imite House until...
(Pauses as memories of her former house flood through her mind)... it was
destroyed by Team Rocket...
Officer Jenny: (Somber) I'm sorry to hear that. This world has been getting
so nuts lately... we've stepped up our security here, especially around the
gym. There have been rumors that Team Rocket is massing forces somewhere in
the Johto area, but so far, we haven't found anything...
Brock: They've been quiet recently... we haven't heard of seen anything
about Team Rocket since we were in New Bark Town...
Officer Jenny: You four just came from there? Did you get caught in that
horrible rainstorm?
Ash: Yeah... we had to camp near the mountain pass in a stand of
evergreens...
Officer Jenny: Oh, I know where that is... but that spot is sloped down
hill. Did your tents slide around in the rain?
Misty: Actually, Ash and his Bayleef made a channel to divert the water
away...
Officer Jenny: Hmm... (Scratches her chin) That was pretty smart. The city
council was planning to make that spot an official campsite for trainers,
and that was one problem with the site. I guess you fixed that problem...
(Smiles)
Ash: Uh, no problem...
Officer Jenny: You said you were going to the gym, right? (Ash excitedly
nods) Follow me, I'll take you there myself...
Ash: Thanks! (Gently grabs Misty's hand)
Officer Jenny leads the group through the town and towards the gym. Both
Duplica and Misty notice several restaurants and shops that merit a look
after Ash's big gym battle. After a short walk, they arrive at the gym...
Officer Jenny: I have to get back to work, it was nice meeting you all...
Ash & Misty: Bye!
Brock & Duplica: See yah!
Misty: Well, Ash, we're finally here. Are you ready?
Ash: Of course, Misty. I'm always ready for a pokemon battle! (Makes a peace
sign)
Ash opens the massive door to the gym and walks inside. The others follow
right behind him. A few seconds later, Ash hears a voice in the next room...
Claire: Kingdra, whirlpool!
Ash: There must be another battle going on now. Let's go watch!
Ash and company walk into the next room and are surprise to see a huge pool
of water in the middle of the room. Claire is battling another trainer, who
is using a Mantine...
Erich: Mantine, Bubblebeam attack!
The Mantine whips around in the water and launches a bubble attack on
Claire's Kingdra. Kingdra dodges most of the bubbles, but a few hit...
Claire: Kingdra, use Agility! Then use Twister!
Erich: Mantine, get out of the way and use Confuse Ray!
Mantine starts to swim away and powers up a Confuse Ray attack. Before it
can shoot it at Kingdra, however, a Twister hits it and carries it up into
the air...
Erich: NO!
Claire: Kingdra, Hydro Pump!
A powerful jet of water nails Mantine, knocking it out of the air and into
the pool. After a few seconds, Mantine floats to the top of the pool,
totally knocked out from Kingdra's last attack...
Referee: Mantine is unable to battle. Kingdra wins the battle...
Claire: You did a good job... beating 2 out of 3 of my pokemon, and nearly
beating my Kingdra. (Shakes the Erich's hand) Come back anytime...
Erich: Thanks... (Recalls Mantine and walks past Ash, Misty, Brock, and
Duplica and heads out of the gym)
Ash: (Walking forward) Um... excuse me, are you the gym leader here?
Claire: That's right. (Smiles) I'm Claire... (Shakes Ash's hand)
Ash: I'm Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town and I'm here to challenge you for the
Rising Badge. (Opens his jacket and shows the other seven badges to Claire)
I got the other seven, and I just need to win here to get my last badge.
Claire: You must be very good to have gotten the other seven badges...
(Pauses) You said you were from Pallet Town? Wasn't that one of the towns
that was bombed?
Ash: (Distressed) Yeah... all of us here had our towns bombed or our homes
destroyed...
Claire: (Sighs) I heard about what happened... what is the world coming to?
(Long pause) Well, if you want, I can battle you now. It'll be a
three-pokemon battle...
Ash: I'm ready!
Claire: All right... I choose Dratini! (She throws a pokeball and a Dratini
comes out)
Ash: (To himself) Hmmm... haven't seen one of those in three years... what
kind of attacks did it have? I should choose my ace in the hole... (Out
loud) I choose you, Muk! (Throws a pokeball and Muk comes out)
The announcer does the formal introductions, puts on the pool cover, and
then the battle begins...
Claire: (Puzzled) A Muk? Hmm... haven't had to battle one of those in
years... (Pauses to think of what attacks to use) Dratini, Thunderwave
attack!
Dratini shoots a wave of electrical energy at Muk, hitting it moments
later...
Ash: NO! Muk, can you move?
Muk can only move slightly, the Thunderwave has nearly paralyzed it...
Claire: Dratini, use your twister attack!
Dratini shoots a twister of wind at Muk, which picks it up and slams it into
one of the walls of the gym...
Misty and Brock react in the background to what has just happened...
Misty: (To Brock) If Muk can't move, then he's gonna lose this round! That
Dratini is just gonna keep using Twister...
Brock: He's in trouble...
Ash: Oh... (Has a quick thought) Muk, use your Disable attack! Disable that
Twister!
Muk uses Disable and prevents Dratini from shooting more twisters at it. Muk
is still under the effects of the Thunderwave, however...
Claire: Good move! I have other attacks, though... Dratini, use your Slam
attack! (Dratini rushes towards Muk)
Ash: (Waits until Dratini is about to hit Muk) Muk, Harden!
Muk hardens itself, becoming rock hard. When Dratini hits it with its Slam
attack, it bounces off, doing no damage...
Claire: Impressive... but you need to attack to win. You can't win if you
stay in place...
Ash: (Thinks quickly) Muk, use your Sludge attack! (Muk begins to throw
sludge at Dratini, who dodges. A few volleys do hit it, however. Dratini
begins to move slower...
Claire: You're good... hmmm. Dratini, Dragon Rage attack! (Dratini moves
towards Muk)
Brock: (Yelling) Ash, you gotta stop that Dratini now! Otherwise...
Ash: (Determined) I know... Muk, Sludge Bomb!
Muk launches a Sludge bomb, hitting the incoming Dratini and knocking in
back against the far wall of the gym...
Announcer: Dratini is unable to battle. The challenger wins the round!
Claire: Dratini, return! (Calls Dratini back to its pokeball) Good job! You
did well...
Ash: (Happily) Yeah! (Looks at Muk) You were great!
Muk: MUUUUKKKKK!
Claire: Well, you won the first round. Ready for round two?
Ash: You bet I am!
Claire: Very well... I choose you, Dragonair! (Throws out a pokeball and
Dragonair comes out)
Duplica: (In the background) Wow! A real Dragonair! I never seen one of
those before...
Brock: Misty and I did... a long time ago. (To himself) Hmm... she likes
Dragonairs... maybe I could get her something with the pokemon on it after
the match...
Ash: (Returns Muk to its pokeball) Go Pikachu! (Pikachu jumps off Ash's
shoulder)
Claire: Go! Dragonair, use your Agility!
Dragonair starts flying around the room, appearing to be in many places at
once. Pikachu tries to keep track of where Dragonair is, and gets dizzy...
Ash: Pikachu, don't pass out on me! Use your Thunder attack!
Pikachu call down Thunder, which starts to dance across the gym. As the last
blast of Thunder hits Dragonair, it twists around and hits Pikachu with its
tail, knocking it back several feet...
Claire: Not bad... Dragonair, Blizzard attack!
Ice begins to form and rains down from the ceiling...
Ash: (Urgently) Pikachu, Agility! Dodge those icicles!
Pikachu gets back on its feet and starts to use its Agility attack, and not
a moment too soon...
Claire: You're not getting away that easily... Twister attack! (Dragonair
shoots a twister of air at Pikachu)
Ash: Pikachu! (Thinks to himself quickly) I need to get Pikachu up in the
air somehow; otherwise, that Dragonair will have keep having an advantage...
(Out loud) Pikachu...
Before Ash can say another word, Pikachu is carried up into the twister and
is sent sailing across the room...
Ash: NO!
Pikachu lands a few moments later, and is totally drained of power. It
slumps down on the ground...
Announcer: Pikachu is unable to battle...
Misty, Brock, and Duplica stare in disbelief at what has just happened.
Dragonair has wiped out Pikachu, only getting hit once...
Ash: (Runs over to Pikachu) Are you ok? (Pikachu weakly nods) You did great,
old buddy... (Picks up Pikachu and brings it over to Misty) Misty, take care
of Pikachu for me, okay?
Misty: Sure. Now get back in there and win!
Ash: You bet! (Gives Misty a "Thumbs-Up")
Ash returns to the gym floor and throws out another pokeball...
Ash: I choose you, Bayleef! (Bayleef emerges from the pokeball that Ash has
just thrown)
Claire: A Bayleef, huh? Dragonair, Blizzard attack!
A storm of icicles begins to fall, all around the room. Bayleef is hit and
knocked on its side...
Ash: (Concerned) Bayleef! Come on... get back in there! (Bayleef slowly gets
back on its feet) Okay, use your Razor Leaf attack!
Claire: Blizzard again!
As Dragonair creates another blizzard and shoots it at Bayleef, Bayleef
returns fire with the razor leafs, cutting the falling icicles in half...
Ash: Great! Now use Poison Powder!
Claire: Agility!
Bayleef creates a large cloud and shoots it towards Dragonair. Despite doing
agility, Dragonair still is affected by the cloud... it has expanded to fill
half the entire gym...
Claire: Oh no! (Dragonair falls to ground, poisoned) Dragonair, quickly, use
your Outrage attack!
Dragonair shoots towards Bayleef and begins to slap it around with its
tail... Bayleef tries to dodge, but the poisoned Dragonair is still too
fast...
Ash: Body Slam!
Bayleef attempts to body slam Dragonair, but is knocked back by Dragonair...
Ash: Solarbeam!
Bayleef begins to gather light to power up. Dragonair is rapidly slowing
down...the poison is really taking effect...
Claire: (Urgently) Dragonair, no!
Ash: Now!
Bayleef shoots a solar beam at Dragonair, sending it across the room. After
landing, it doesn't get up...
Announcer: Dragonair is unable to battle. The challenger wins the round!
Claire: (Recalling Dragonair) That was pretty darn good... you have a lot of
skill. But let's see what you can do in the water...
Before Ash can ask what she means, the gym floor opens up once again to
reveal a huge pool of water...
Brock: (To Duplica) She's using the pool again? That means...
Duplica: Kingdra...
Claire: Okay, no more playing around... (Throws a pokeball out into the
pool, Kingdra comes out) You seen what my Kingdra can do... are you ready?
Ash: Yeah... (Recalls Bayleef) Great job! (Grabs another pokeball and throws
it, Totodile emerges) Go, Totodile!
Totodile: (Excitedly) TOTO!
Claire: (To herself) I better not underestimate this kid... (Out loud) Let's
begin with a Whirlpool attack!
Before Ash can speak a word, Kingdra creates a huge whirlpool and Totodile
is sucked in...
Ash: Get out of there! Use your Leer attack after you get out of there!
Totodile rapidly swims and emerges from the whirlpool a few moments later.
It uses its Leer attack on Kingdra...
Ash: Scratch attack!
Totodile jumps out at Kingdra and begins to use its scratch attack...
Claire: Hydro Pump! Push that Totodile away...
Kingdra pulls back and shoots Totodile with a hydro pump attack, knocking it
across the pool...
Ash: Rage attack!
Claire: Twister!
Totodile starts to claw and thrash as its makes its way across the pool.
Kingdra launches a twister, which heads towards Totodile...
Ash: Totodile, don't give up!
As the twister hits and begins to raise Totodile up into the air, it makes
an extra effort to keep slashing forward. Beads of sweat roll down Ash's
face as he helplessly watches Totodile get carried away. A few seconds,
later, however, a big splash is heard in the pool...
Claire: (Surprised) It can't be...
Ash looks down in the pool and sees a Croconaw swimming where the twister
was created just moments ago...
Ash: Hydro pump, Croconaw!
Claire: Kingdra, evade it!
Croconaw begins to shoot jets of water at Kingdra, and keeps moving closer
as Kingdra retreats...
Claire: Twister!
Ash: Go for it, Croconaw! Bite attack!
Croconaw zooms forward like a lightning bolt and lands a bite attack before
Kingdra can launch a twister. Kingdra is knocked out...
Announcer: Kingdra is unable to battle! The challenger wins the round and
the whole match!
Claire: Kingdra, return! (Calls back Kingdra to its pokeball) You did your
best... (Pauses, then looks at Ash) You did a remarkable job there, Ash. You
certainly deserve this badge... (Reaches into her pocket and pulls out a
Rising Badge, then hands it to Ash)
Ash: (Holds up the badge and makes a peace sign) I got a Rising Badge!
Pikachu: Pi- pikachu!
Ash: And I couldn't have done it with you, Croconaw... (Croconaw swims over
to the edge of the pool) You did great!
Croconaw: Croc! Croc!
Ash: (Looks at Misty, Brock, and Duplica) Thanks for being here, guys...
Misty: (Walks up to Ash and kisses him on the cheek) (Softly) No problem...
Brock: Good job, man...
Duplica: Nice work, Ash...
Ash: (Excitedly) Thanks! I should call my mom and Professor Oak, and let
them know that I won my eighth badge! (Recalls Croconaw to his pokeball)
Claire walks over to the group...
Claire: Did you guys want to join me for lunch? (Looks at her watch) It's
almost noon...
Ash: Sure!
Claire: Great! I need to take a break, anyways. Follow me, and I'll show you
the best restaurant in town!
Misty: (Rubbing her stomach) Sounds good!
Claire heads out of the gym, with Ash, Misty, Brock, and Duplica following
right behind her. After locking up the gym, she leads the group over to the
"Blackthorn Burger and Grill", where they all enjoy lunch together. Claire
talks to them about rumors that have been going around... about Team Rocket
in the Johto area. Ash and company tell her what has happened to their towns
and their dealings with Team Rocket. Claire is surprised that these four,
especially Brock, Misty, and Ash, have had multiple dealings with Team
Rocket...
Elsewhere in the Johto region, two separate teams are up to no good. Team
Rocket is about to make a move, and a certain scientist is holding a
conference in an ultra-secret lab...
To be continued in Chapter 9: Forest Confrontation