Chapter 16: Shell Shocked (Part B) by Michael Keens/ Exodus A siren suddenly went off, we saw Officer Jenny blowing a whistle. She was quite far away from Fuchsia but I guessed that this might be an identical relative, just like with the Nurse Joys. The bad guy here was that Squirtle again. He had another bundle of food and was struggling to keep hold of it. I took a look at Chad, he was ready for action, he looked the same way when we saw that Spearow, he had ambitions to catch it. “Stop that Squirtle! He’s a menace to this town!” shouted Jenny asking for help. “Don’t worry, CHAD THE CHOSEN SHALL HELP!” That was one thing I wouldn’t miss. “I CHOOSE CHEWTOY!” “CATE!” Chad’s Raticate was thirsty for battle. “CHEWTOY! HYPER FANG!” The Squirtle saw it coming and quickly withdrew into its shell, dropping all the food of course. Chewtoy bit into the shell and pushed its fang down but couldn’t quite break through. For the first time, Chewtoy gave up and rubbed its fang. “Hyper Fang didn’t work... OKAY! PUT YOUR TAIL THROUGH THE GAP AND TAIL WHIP IT!” The tail slipped inside and slapped around the inside of the shell, contacting the Squirtle’s head, it had enough and returned from hiding. Holding its tail, it flung the Raticate over him and onto the floor, then it jumped and crushed the tail under his weight. Chewtoy screamed and yanked its tail back. The Squirtle pulled its head back and shot out a large blast of water hitting Chewtoy hard in the face. It fell back defeated. “You can’t do that to my Raticate! Come on! Get up!” “Cate... cate...” “Chad, tell me you didn’t use Chewtoy in your Gym Battle.” “Okay, I won’t.” “Chad, I know you and him both want to battle but do what’s best for him, let him rest.” “Chewtoy, Return. INSTEAD I’LL USE RAGECAGE!” “Mankey!” “RAGECAGE, LET’S FINISH WHAT CHEWTOY STARTED. USE FURY SWIPES!” “Key!” It attacked the Squirtle furiously. The Squirtle pulled its head back, bubbles were forming in its mouth. “KARATE CHOP!” “Squirt!” The Squirtle blasted another jet of water forward, but the Mankey punched right through it and hit it hard on the head, it squirmed down to the floor, hurting. “What now Jenny?” “Well normally I’d have to take it away to a special place to turn him away from crime, unless you think you could help out.” “Me?” “Yes, you’re a man with morals, right? You’d never use Pokémon for evil?” “Like those Rockets? OF COURSE NOT! But I would like to train that Squirtle.” “Then go talk to it, if you reach an understanding now it’ll be easier.” “Okay then, Squirtle... Why do you steal from this town?” It did a variety of signs and its own language, but it was clear about one thing, it needed the food because it was an abandoned Pokémon with no one to depend on. “Did you have a trainer?” It nodded, then went into another charade game, acting out lightning. I thought about it, “Its old trainer must have lost to an Electric Pokémon, maybe even Surge’s, but all trainers should know their Pokémon’s limits, type advantages can make all the difference in a Pokémon Battle.” “Squirtle, I barely know about type advantages, and I don’t hold it against my Pokémon if they lose, I just train them to be the best they can be, how’s about you tag along and be part of a winning squad?” It looked up, taking in every word, then smiled. “Glad to have you on board, Squirtle.” Chad threw a Pokéball and Squirtle went inside, the ball returned to Chad. “Alright! CHAD THE CHOSEN HAS GOT A SQUIRTLE!” He was modest enough, since he hadn’t actually caught it, but he amended his usual speech for that. “Nice one Chad, you earned that all on your own.” “I’m glad everything worked out.” said Jenny before departing. With that little incident finished, Emily returned from the Gym. “I did it, I really did it, and without a Ground-type Pokémon too.” “Well Tetsubo, the ship doesn’t leave until five so why don’t you give it another shot?” advised Chad. “I managed to beat him without a Ground-type Pokémon and you’ve got little Digda to help.” added Emily. “Yeah...” I said quietly, walking forwards. Surge intimidated me a lot the last time and nearly convinced me that type advantage was all that mattered; I had to teach him a lesson. “Well well well, da kid returns, where’s yer Ground Pokémon?” “Right here.” I said holding Digda’s ball. Surge smiled with an ‘I told you so’ expression, but then I withdrew Digda’s ball and drew another. “But I’m not going to use it!” “What?!... In dat case yuh haven’t loined anything kid!” “I’m sure you’ve met my friend, and she doesn’t need a Ground-type Pokémon to win over you, I’ll do the same.” “Fat chance kid, da Pokémon I beat yuh with are weak compared to my winning Pokémon... I’ll start wit’ Magnemite!” “Scramble...” “The challenger, Tetsubo, is using an Exeggcute, the deadlier Lieutenant Surge, is using a Magnemite. This will be a two-on-two battle with no time limit.” said the other guy on the speaker. “I’m using Pokémon without a distinct advantage or disadvantage, Surge, I’ll show you I can get by without turning to type differences.” I said as confidently as I could. “Fat chance, kid! Magnemite! Boil dose eggs! Dun-dershock!!!” “Mag-na!” “Scramble! Try your Stun Spore!” “Exegg!” The dust hit Magnemite in the centre and blocked up its eye, it was flying blind, shooting electricity everywhere. It would still be a hard one to reach. “Scramble, try a Barrage!” Scramble took its time and aimed all the projectiles at Magnemite, but because of its repetitive shooting, only a quarter got through and hit without being fried. “Scramble, its shooting too much electricity, use your Reflect to protect you and attack it.” They leaped around each other, then getting into formation, surrounded themselves in the golden shield and leaped upwards. The electricity bounced off the reinforced shield and each egg sat on Magnemite’s screws, head and magnets. “Magnemite! Shake dem off now!” “Scramble! Double Edge!” The eggs leaped up and flung themselves down. The magnets, screws and body of Magnemite were dented by the attack and all the eggs fell off. “Grrrrr, Magnemite! Stop playin’ around and Dun-derbolt dem eggs!” “Mag-na... Mite!!!” The electricity charged up but the bent magnets had an adverse effect and Magnemite started to smoke. “Magnemite! That smokin’ can’t be good fer ya!” shouted Surge. Sparks were flying so Surge took one last shot. “Magnemite! Self-Destruct!” “Scramble! Reflect!” There was a massive explosion brightening up the room, when I could see again, the Magnemite was in pieces, and Scramble was hurt but not down, still it was time to return them both. “Dat Magnemite was only da start of yer problems, kid, you’re goin’ down! Raichu!” “RAIIIII!!!” “A Raichu...” “Raichu, the Mouse Pokémon. Its electric attacks can reach 10, 000 volts, it uses its tail to discharge this electricity so that it not harmed by its incredible power.” It looked big, and was obviously Surge’s best Pokémon. Scramble was too weak to tackle this Electric-type, Twinkill had the type disadvantage and Pollen and Needle were too inexperienced compared to Raichu. I remembered a little thing, Raichu looked very tough and was worrying me, but one Pokémon would rise to the challenge. “Inferno!” “CHAR!” He stared at the Raichu and smiled fiendishly, it liked this challenge, and he’d only lost last time because of his high pride and Surge’s kamikaze move. “Raichu! Use yer Dun-derbolt!” “Inferno! Avoid it and Slash!” Inferno wasn’t so bad, provided he felt it was a good enough opponent, he’d listen to me. There was a small explosion of electricity, everyone cleared their eyes including Raichu. Looking up, Inferno was spinning around with flames surrounding him, they must have lowered the electricity damage. Raichu’s eyes widened, Inferno was too quick and gave it a good slash. It fell back hurt and surprised. “Raichu! Don’t hold back! Body Slam it!” “Inferno... Use Rage!” Surge’s Raichu was coming in fast so at least Rage would put the damage to good use. Raichu wouldn’t give’, and repeated the body slamming. Inferno took the pain and stared at me. “Finish it off Raichu!” “Okay! Release your Rage, Inferno!” “Char CHAARRRR!!!” A huge flame burst out of Inferno and practically cooked Raichu. “Raichu! You’ll keep on battlin’ until I say udderwise!” shouted Surge, Raichu turned back and growled. “Leer!” I said, and Inferno stared down the Raichu, scaring it. “Finish it off with Flamethrower!” Inferno appeared to have the power to unleash huge flames and I was right, it was ready for the power of Flamethrower. “CHAR CHAAARRR!!!” A gigantic burst of fire hit Raichu and built up until an explosion occurred. “Raichu!” screamed Surge, just before Raichu flew out of the explosion and knocked him down. “... We won!” I shouted running to Inferno and picking him up, I had done it and without resorting to type advantage! Surge picked himself up and recalled Raichu. “Ugh... Kid, I was wrong about yuh, yer a really great trainer, yuh beat me and yuh didn’t use yer Ground Pokémon ta do it.” “But what about my friend?” I asked, Emily had done this too. “Kid, yer one of da few people ta beat my Raichu, dat’s one thing yuh accomplished dat yer girlfriend didn’t.” “She’s not my girlfriend.” “Anyway, I award yuh da Dun-der Badge.” he said handing it over, the size difference between our hands was astounding but I was happy to receive my second badge. “Yes! I won a Thunder Badge!” I shouted, holding up my prize, a red octagon with yellow points. “Char!” shouted Inferno happily. “Exeggcute!” cheered the little eggs. I left the Gym a much happier me, I had set out to prove my training skills to Surge and myself and I did it. Triumphant, I set off back to my friends to tell them the good news. End of Chapter 16B Back to Chapter 16A Next Chapter Back to Story List #1 - #20 Back to the Pokézone