Cruisin’ for a Bruisin’ (Part A) by Michael Keens/ Exodus Waving goodbye to his newfound friends, Chad walked away from the end of the S.S Anne with his six Pokémon, Chewtoy, Ragecage, Entwine, Boulder, Dux and his Squirtle that was yet to be named. Tetsubo and Emily... They sure were nice kids, a bit younger than him, but good friends considering the little time he had spent with them. He had met them in Mount Moon and he had agreed to protect Emily from danger. Tetsubo started as a tag-along but later grew to be a big help to Chad, he was on his case a lot, until Chad proved he had learned something, and though he was now a little too dependent on type advantages, it was better than not knowing what would beat his Pokémon. He recalled all his Pokémon and went back inside and searched for his room. “Number 01, here it is.” “GET OUT! GET OUT!” screamed a lady just coming out of the shower. “Sorry! Sorry! Didn’t see a thing!” shouted Chad running out, “Heh, heh, heh.” he added grinning. The door opened and the lady was dressed and gave him a good slap. “Owiiee... But the ticket said my room number was... Oh, that’s right, I was holding the ticket upside-down, my room is number 10!” said Chad slapping his head. Chad went to his room and put his bag inside, but decided to hold onto his Pokéballs just in case he found someone to battle today. He waltzed into the busy kitchen, seeking a snack. “’Ey! You cannot come een ‘ere while we are cookeeng! You arrrre een ze way!” shouted a chef. “Ze meal shall be rrready laterrr, we weell tell you when eet eez ready!” said another. “Nah, I’m just looking for a snack, whatcha got?” asked Chad pleasantly. “Get out of ourrr kit-chen!” shouted a third cook, trying to pull Chad’s arm but failing to move him. Chad pulled his arm forward and sent the cook into a pot, a slippery soup fell to the floor and Chad lost his grip and went sliding into the bins. He shook of the potato skins and fish bones among other junk and picked up a round green ball. “Cool, a Great Ball, guys, can I keep this?” “If you get out rrright now, yes you can keep eet!” screamed the head chef, and all five cooks worked together to throw him out. “You’re not getting a tip!” yelled Chad. “No one gives us tips anyway! They always pay ze waiters!” “Good point.” Chad left the cabin and went out to the deck. Turning the corner, he saw a couple of Pokémon battling. “This is my chance to show that CHAD THE CHOSEN IS THE NUMBER ONE TRAINER!” he suddenly yelled. A young man was scared by the sudden loudness of his voice and fell off the boat, but caught the rail and was helped up by one of the sailors. As he looked around the corner, he could see the whole deck and there were more than just two trainers standing around. “Oh yeah! Trainers! Hey everyone, who wants to challenge CHAD THE CHOSEN!” They all stopped and stared at him, some laughed, but one trainer approached him. “I will Mr Chosen. My name’s Timothy.” said a trainer with spiky black hair and blue clothes. “Yeah... Okay then. Three-on-three battle. Go!” “Squirtle!” “Bee!!!” “Ah, a Beedrill, I travelled with someone who owned one, that should give me an advantage.” boasted Chad. “Yeah?” asked Timothy. “Yeah, Beedrill’s a... Psychic/ Flying-type?...” “Way off! Beedrill! Poison Sting!” “HYDRO! WITHDRAW!” “Squirt?” “Don’t you think its a cool nickname?” grinned Chad. The Squirtle shrug its shoulders and sunk into its shell, the needles hit and bounced off. “HYDRO! WATER GUN!” “Bee!!!” screamed the Beedrill falling back, it plunged forward and took the remainder of the blast. “Beedrill! Twineedle now!” “WITHDRAW!” It did as told but the lances hit it constantly until the Beedrill thought to jab inside the hole. “Squirtle!” screamed Hydro as he fell back, he rubbed his head with an angry expression. “You can’t use the same attack again and again and expect me to not to learn.” said Timothy confidently. “I could use a type advantage, Hydro, Return, GO BOULDER!!!” “Geo!” “ROCK THROW!” Without any rocks around, Boulder threw himself at the Beedrill and crushed it underneath him. Chad was tempted to try his new move Earthquake but he took into consideration what might happen to the ship if he did. “Beedrill! Return! Go Goldeen!” “Return Boulder! GO DUX!” This proved that Chad considered types both ways. “I know we ain’t got so much of an advantage, but I need a fresh Pokémon.” said Chad. “Farfetch’d!” it agreed, spinning its leak. “Peck attack, Goldeen!” “A Water-type with a Flying-type move? SHOW HER HOW ITS DONE!” “Far!” Dux leaped up but the Goldeen was faster and slammed its horn into him. “Farrr!!!” It landed and Dux decided to finish what it had started and flung itself forward, used the leak as a pole and rose a little before aiming to dive bomb the Goldeen with its beak. It succeeded. “SAND ATTACK!” The Farfetch’d tried to kick some dust but found none on the polished wooden floor, worse still, the recently cleaned floor caused Dux to slip up. “Hah! Goldeen, use the floor to push yourself forward into a Horn Drill.” “LEER!” The Goldeen’s eyes went narrow as it got scared and slid past Dux. “HAH! DUX, USE AGILITY TO CATCH UP WITH HER!” He ran forward and partially used the slippery floor to catch up with the Goldeen, Chad liked to use outside resources to his advantage. “FINISH IT OFF WITH SLASH ATTACK!” “Goldeen! Wake up and complete the Horn Drill!” “Far...!” “Goldeen!!!” There was a clash and both Pokémon collapsed. “Goldeen, Return.” “You too Dux.” “You pretty competent, though a little odd.” commented Timothy. “DON’T YOU DARE INSULT CHAD THE CHOSEN, WE SHALL WIPE THE FLOOR WITH YOUR LAST POKÉMON!” shouted Chad. “Considering this Pokémon doesn’t use the floor, I’d say I have an advantage. Go Haunter!” “Hau ha ha ha!!!” it laughed. Chad was totally stumped, if he’d just read the book Tetsubo had given him before rushing out into battle, he might have been able to identify this Pokémon and its type. Chad was a little lost. “Um, Hydro, come back out!” “Squirtle, Squirt!” “Haunter, use your Night Shade!” “HYDRO! SKULL BASH!” He sunk into his shell as the evil energy caused an explosion of dark waves on him, then flew forward, head outstretched. “YEAH! YOU’VE GOT IT NOW!” Hydro charged right through the Pokémon and smacked itself on a nearby cabin wall. “How could you miss?” asked Chad dismayed. “That’s the nature of Ghost Pokémon, Mr Chosen.” said Timothy confidently, “One type is ineffective against it but the same goes for Haunter.” “I have no time for cryptic clues, HYDRO! TACKLE!” He once again went through and crashed into a stack of buckets and mops. Hydro growled angrily. “WATER GUN!” “Squirtle!!!” “Haunter!” This one connected and did some damage. Chad realised that the kid meant Normal-types, and that this Ghost Pokémon, though was unharmed by Normal-types, it couldn’t deal any damage to them, Chad thought about what would happen if he had used Chewtoy instead. Although Chewtoy couldn’t be harmed, he wouldn’t be able to attack back, unless he used the only other type of move available, Toxic, but that was a slow draining move and that Haunter was sure to have more up its sleeve, though it didn’t have arms. Chad was glad he had spent time with Tetsubo, now he thought a little more often before reacting. “Haunter, Hypnosis!” “Squirt...” said Hydro drowsy. “HYDRO! WAKE UP!” A bubble was forming on his nose, he was well and truly asleep. “Dream Eater!” Purple globes left Hydro and zapped into Haunter curing it of the previous damage. Hydro was defeated though it looked peaceful in its sleep. “Return, GO! BOULDER!” “Geo!” “Uh oh.” said Timothy. Chad knew he feared something. “ROCK THROW, BOULDER!” “That’s okay, Haunter, use Lick!” It extended its tongue, but Boulder threw a small shard from himself which hit the tongue and shot it into its mouth. The Haunter looked uneasy and spat out the pieces. “Use Toxic attack!” shouted Timothy. Boulder moved aside as the purple gunk hit the floor. “Poison move?” pondered Chad, “Perhaps its a Poison-type... Think Chad, think, what are they weak against?” Timothy had sighed a look of relief when Chad had used Rock Throw. “He’s okay with Rock Throw, and wouldn’t take damage from Normal moves, looks like there’s only one thing left... BOULDER, EARTHQUAKE!” He let the matter of the ship’s condition pass him by, he just wanted to win. Boulder punched the deck and fragments of wood and the odd piece of metal flew up and buried Haunter under. “Hey!” shouted a voice from below, “No Earthquakes or related moves that would damage the ship! Don’t you know that’s why the original ship sunk?!” “Sorry!” apologised Chad. “Good match.” said Timothy shaking hands. “Anyone else want to battle before I get some shuteye?” asked Chad. “I will.” said a confident voice belonging to a snide man with copper-like hair and a dark green coat. “And you are?” “David Parish. Master Trainer.” Chad disliked him already, he sounded cool, maybe even more than himself. “Three-on-three battle, okay?” “Don’t worry, sleepy-head, I’ll make this quick.” Chad growled and threw Ragecage’s ball. “Mankey!” “I choose you Graveler!” “GRAVELER!” “But... aren’t Fighting-types strong against Rock-types?” asked Chad. “Sure they are.” “In that case, RAGECAGE! SUBMISSION!” “Counter it Graveler.” Ragecage spun himself forward and outstretched his leg. He partially hit its target, but the Graveler grabbed his feet then flung him back so that he spun round several times before landing. “I don’t understand, it should be rubble...” said Chad a little nervous. “My Pokémon are at such a high level that they don’t need to care about ‘type disadvantages’.” said David confidently. “RAGECAGE! TRY A SEISMIC TOSS!” He dived under and lifted the Graveler. “Graveler, Self Destruct.” “Mankey?!” Both Pokémon were caught in the explosion and fainted. “What an idiot.” commented Chad. “Perhaps you’d like to know, I have never lost a battle.” boasted David confidently. Chad was willing to believe him, he was able to counteract Chad’s every move. “Return Ragecage, GO! CHEWTOY!” “For this battle, I’ll choose Eevee.” “Raticate!” “Eui!” “Um, you sure? Look how tiny it is.” commented Chad. “That’s exactly what I want everyone to think.” replied David, “Focus Energy.” “CHEWTOY, USE HYPER FANG BEFORE ITS DONE!” “Raticate!!!” He leaped forward, but the Eevee jumped a little to avoid it and continued to charge, Chewtoy landed face flat on the floor. “Chewtoy! Whaddaya doing? USE QUICK ATTACK!” “You too Eevee.” They shot at each other but surprisingly, it was Chewtoy that was catapulted backwards. “Finish it, Eevee, Bite.” “Eui!!!” “Cate!!!” Chad recalled it, it looked a little down. “All I have left is Entwine, GO!” “Gela!” “Return, Eevee, I choose Golduck.” “Golduck!!!” “Wow.” said Chad impressed, “Where did you get one of those?” “You need to catch a Psyduck and evolve it.” Chad shook his head and remembered how angry he was, that even type advantage and size weren’t helping him. “Another Pokémon with a disadvantage.” “To a silly trainer, yes, but real experts will learn not to look into type advantages and live by level advantage.” “ENTWINE! STUN SPORE!” “Too bad its not part Poison so I can show off Golducks one-hit knockout Psychic moves, still I’ll be done in two. Golduck! Confusion!” The particles of dust disappeared and Entwine fell to the floor. “Time to wrap this up.” said David. The vines on Chad’s Tangela flung forward and bound around Golduck. “My thoughts exactly.” smiled Chad, “ENTWINE, BIND ATTACK, THEN SLAM!” The vines tightened, then loosened to separate and lift the Golduck into the air. “Break away Golduck.” “Gol-Duck!!!” yelled the Pokémon grabbing Entwine’s vines and lifting him off the floor. He pulled him up while using psychic powers to lower himself down, then threw Entwine to the floor. “Finish it with Surf.” The Golduck closed its eyes and its gem glowed. A wave of water lifted from the ocean and splashed down on Entwine hard. He was out cold. “I can’t believe I was beaten by Pokémon with disadvantages.” moaned Chad. “Don’t worry too much, think of it as an honour that your Pokémon were beaten by me.” smiled David. Suddenly a huge net was fired on a crowd of trainers. Chad, Timothy and David weren’t caught in it but spinning ropes appeared and spun around them until they tightened. Five Rocket Grunts wearing purple uniforms made themselves known. “Ha ha ha! It worked, now we just take the Pokémon back to the Boss and he’ll give us our old jobs back!” laughed a leading male with spiky black hair. “This had better not be a repeat of what happened on the last boat heist.” commented a woman with long auburn hair. “Of course not, this time we tied up the passengers before attempting to steal from them.” replied the man before turning to the captives, “Hello everyone, we’re members of Team Rocket and you’re going to be donating all your Pokémon to us!” “You make it sound like a good thing.” commented the woman. “Okay, I’ll try again, we’re Team Rocket, and now that you’re helpless to do anything, we’re going to take all your Pokémon away from you! Ha ha ha ha ha!” “Much better, and the laugh adds to it.” commented the woman. End of Part A Part B Back to the Side Stories Back to the Pokézone