Chapter 2: Riding Waves (Part B) by Michael Keens/ Exodus “Twinkill...” I said softly, releasing it from his Pokéball, “I’ll let you stay out of your Pokéball all day, if you could help me across the ocean. Do you think you could support me and swim us to Pallet Town?” “Taryu!” it said confidently. We ran to the pier and dived into the water. Holding onto my Pokémon, I kicked my legs in the water every so often so as not to rely on Twinkill totally to support all my weight. I was fascinated by the view, since I wasn’t on a boat, I got to see a lot more, the experience of riding on a Pokémon through the Fuchsia/ Pallet oceans was a first to me. After about ten minutes, we caught up with the boat that we had missed. “You holding up okay Twinkill?” It gave me an okay “Star!” “Guess I don’t need to spend my money on the boat then.” I stopped my pleasant speech and stayed silent as I saw a black speed boat parked next to the ferry,which wasn’t moving. “Something’s wrong,” I whispered. Looking around, there weren’t any police boats so I figured I’d check it out then think of my options. As I stepped aboard, Twinkill followed. I couldn’t see anyone or why the boat was deserted, I had an idea. “Dusty.” “Veno!” “Dusty, could you use your radar eyes to look for danger?” I was surprised to see it obey me right away, it was a little battered from its capture so I’d let it rest after this. “Venonat! Venonat!” he screamed leaping into the air, “Veno!” He leapt away, forcing me to run after it. As we reached the other end of the ferry, I could see the passengers cowering in the corner, and a man looming over them. A rush of responsibility went through me as I realised that if I didn’t do anything, no one else would. “Hey! What do you think you’re doing?!” “Whut in tarnation?!” said the man with a cowboy style American accent and croak-like voice. “You heard me! What are you up to?!” I realised now that I was covering up all the fear, I was terrified of the situation. Looking up at him, I saw a big pink ‘R’ on his light blue shirt. He was a messy blond and hadn’t shaved in a while as he had a rough moustache and beard. His clothes were creased and had some tears, he also wore blue jeans, brown boots, a cowboy hat and a strip from the shoulder going down to his waist with three Pokéballs in the place of gun ammo. “R... Rocket... “ I muttered. “Huh? How do y’all know ‘bout da Rockets?! Are y’all da one dat’s interfered in our plans, y’all match da description and yuh’re tryin’ ta stop me from stealin’ Pokémon from deez pa-de’tic tourists, y’all must be him! Ah’ll git y’all!” “I’m not anyone special but I’m still not going to let you succeed.” I replied. “Ah am Cletus, one of da Elite Rockets, and y’all must not have a good memory. Da Boss is ravin’ mad and dose rejects Jessie/ James speak of a twerp dat always interferes wit' dem. Now Ah’ll defeat y’all, steal da Pokémon, and git a great promotion!” With that he threw three Pokéballs to the floor and they simultaneously opened. There, appeared an Arbok, a Scyther and a Jolteon. “Arbok, the Cobra Pokémon. This scary Pokémon has large fangs dripping with venom and the pattern on its body is used to scare away opponents.” “Scyther, the Mantis Pokémon. This Bug/ Flying Pokémon can move so fast, it creates the illusion that there is more than one.” “Jolteon, the Lightning Pokémon. Using its spiky hairs, it can pierce enemies and zap them with its powerful Electric attacks.” All powerful Pokémon, and I was the one who had to face them! “Hey, you can’t use three Pokémon, its against the Official League rules!” “Ah don’t care ‘bout no League, Ah make up mah own rules! Lightnin’! Git dat punk!” “Jolt!” screamed the fierce Pokémon with pure hatred in its voice. Pokémon really did take on the personalities of their trainers. “I can't use my Staryu, and Dusty’s too weak.” I thought. All I had left was... “Scramble!” “Exeggcute!” “Scramble, do your best. We have to beat this Rocket. I know the task looks a little daunting, but we have to do our best.” Scramble gave a confident “Exeggcute!” at its opponent. “Lightnin’, let’s whip dat Pokémon into an omelette!” shouted Cletus, “Let’s start wit’ a good ol’ Dunderbolt!” “Scramble! Leech Seed!” Both attacks spun around each other and hit their target, the Jolteon was entwined with the sapping vines and my Exeggcute was blasted back by the Thunderbolt. “Scramble!” They were out cold, and the Jolteon was losing strength. “Darn it!” screamed Cletus, recalling it before it lost more. I quickly recalled Scramble and let Twinkill in on the battle. “Sorry Twinkill, You must think I’m a real bother today!” “Star!” Twinkill screamed at Cletus expressing the emotions I’d like to have released on him at the time. “You’re my last chance...” I added. “Dat’s all yuh’ve got?! Hyuk hyuk! Snakebite! Cutter! Attack it to-ge’der!” “You can’t do that!” “Ah live by mah own rules!” screamed Cletus. “Ahhhh!!!” I shouted as Twinkill was cut bad by Cutter’s right blade, then bitten by the Arbok’s Bite attack. This was too much to bear, there were two Pokémon ganging up on my Pokémon, my friend, and they were out to kill it! “Stop it!” I screamed charging towards Cletus who backhanded me, I fell right to the floor. “Never meddle in Team Rocket’s affairs!” I realised how powerless I was to help my Pokémon. “Venovenovenovenoveno!” screamed Dusty leaping in and shaking violently to distribute the Poison Powder among the two attackers. I forgot he was out, he figured with the rules broken, it was open season on bending the rules to help me. The Scyther spun around blowing the dust back at Dusty, a Swords Dance. Dusty fell down weak and was swatted by Cutter who then went back to my Staryu. “Dusty! Return!” I drew Twinkill’s Pokéball but all the shots bounced off Cutter and Snakebite, I couldn’t get to Twinkill. I looked at all the people cowering in the corner. There was a way, but it would break the rules for sure, but... if I let Twinkill die, I would fail as a trainer, and as a friend. This wasn’t an Official League Battle, this was a slaughter. “Don’t just stand there! I didn’t think I had the strength to stand up to him! You can stand up to him too! I need a Ground and a Flying Pokémon, please!” They ignored me, but two children picked themselves up and drew their Pokéballs. “Twinkill!!!” I screamed. Snakebite was biting into Twinkill and now Cutter was about to perform a Quick Attack to finish the job. “Cu-Bone!” “Speeeaaarrrowww!!!” The two Pokémon leaped over Cletus, the Spearow charged down and pecked the Scyther, the Cubone brought its bone down on the Arbok. Cletus swallowed, now he had to command two Pokémon at the same time. “Snakebite, Slash! Cutter, Acid, d’Ah mean-” “Spearow! Fly!” “Cubone! Bonemerang!” The Cubone’s bone flew past whacking the Arbok, the Spearow had completed the flight section of ‘Fly’ and dived down bouncing off the defeated Scyther, the Arbok screamed and charged, but the club flew back to hit it a second time and flew nicely into the Cubone’s hand. “Impossible! Ah... Ah can’t lose!” screamed Cletus. “Twinkill! Let’s Water Gun this creep!” I shouted. With the last of its strength, Twinkill shot a blast into Cletus shooting him off the ferry and into his boat. His Pokémon were scared and followed him, jumping into the boat and landing on top of him. A muffled “Ow! Git offa’ me!” could be heard as the boat’s engine started. “You’re gonna cost me mah promotion! Ah won’t forget dis! Even if y’all aren’t da same kid, Ah’m gonna git y’all!” screamed Cletus, his sentence fading as he escaped. I immediately ran to my Staryu’s aid. Checking my pack, I got some bandages from a first aid kit, Twinkill needed it more than I ever would. Covering its wounds, I held it close to me as the people picked themselves off the floor. I could see the owners of our rescuers, the Cubone belonged to a little blonde girl and the Spearow, a young boy with short brown hair. They were very proud of their Pokémon. The Captain walked over to me, he was pretty old and had a bushy moustache and beard. “Young man I have to reward you in some way, you convinced those kids to stand up and fight and you put yourself and your Pokémon in danger to save ours, I don’t know what I’d do without my Charmander...” “Well, if you could let me stay for the rest of the ride, my Staryu’s too weak to carry me and I need to get to a Pokémon Centre, I have a credit card so-” I was interrupted by the Captain while I pleaded. “No no no, please, no charge, its the least I can do, now you just sit down and look after that brave Pokémon.” While he went to regain control of the ship, I carried Twinkill over to the kids. “Hey there, thanks a lot. Twinkill might not have made it if you hadn’t been so brave, you should be very proud.” “You hear that Cubone?” “I meant you, as well as your Pokémon.” I added, getting out my Pokédex. “Thanks Mister.” “Cubone, the Lonely Pokémon. It wears a skull on its head so no one has ever seen this Pokémon’s real face.” “Spearow, the Tiny Bird Pokémon. This Pokémon can’t fly for too long because of its short wings, it hunts for Bug Pokémon.” I sat in the corner with my Pokémon, it had been a long day and as soon as we reached land, I’d have to get my Pokémon to the nearest Pokémon Centre. End of Part 2B Back to Chapter 2A Next Chapter Back to Story List #1 - #20 Back to the Pokézone