Chapter 44:  Mushroom for Improvement (Part B) by Michael Keens/ Exodus  

Chad, Bert, Felicity and I started our trek up the mountain road, hoping to 
reach Elite Rocket, who had managed to crash their own vehicle there.  
I treated it like a hike, and urged the others not to run and wear themselves 
out, I had faith that we’d get up in time, Elite Rocket were hardly rocket 
scientists, so to speak, and had admitted that the Screwloose Brothers built 
the many contraptions they’d piloted and controlled.  
“So Tet, when are you gonna do something about Felicity?” whispered Chad, with 
her hanging onto his arm despite the situation.  
“Soon, just stay ahead for a few minutes.” I whispered back.  
“Back to what I was saying before.” I said to Bert, and he waved his hands 
frantically.  
“No, don’t say anything, Its not what it looked like...”  
“Really, so you don’t secretly like Felicity and would like her to notice you?” 
I smiled snidely.  
“Okay, maybe it is.  Felicity’s a much different person when Chad’s not around, 
she’s really nice and quite frankly, I’d be willing to settle down with her 
after the Pokémon League...  But I don’t want you telling Chad this.” admitted 
Bert.  
“Why not? Its not like he’s gonna be jealous, I think he’d be happy to get 
Felicity off his back.” I smiled.  
“But he’ll announce in such a fashion that it won’t be romantic or considerate, 
nor will it work.  Think about it, how would you feel if someone you idolised 
told you that you should instead idolise a lesser person, Felicity would be 
uncomfortable and unsatisfied with me.” explained Bert.  
“Lesser person?” I inquired, “What’s so bad about you, a few minutes ago you 
were just believing that Chad was a failure of a trainer.”  
“Well, I’m not as buff as Chad, he might be a klutz but he worked hard to get 
all those muscles of his.” he sighed.  
“Is that really what you think? That Felicity only goes for Chad cos of his 
looks?” I questioned.  
“Kind of, seeing as she went for him before he became a successful trainer.  
How can I compete with him?”  
“I seriously doubt that, the way I see it, Felicity’s crazy about Chad cos he 
apparently saved her life, even if it didn’t really happen that way, Chad must 
have expressed himself in helping her out, have you ever told Felicity that you 
like her?”  
“Please...  She wouldn’t listen to me when she’s all over Chad.” sighed Bert, 
looking very much down.  
“Then maybe the trick is to just show some interest in her despite her crush on 
Chad.” I offered.  
“You think all that she’s done is just because of a crush?” questioned Bert.  
“I’m sure of it, seeing as Chad doesn’t return her feelings, you can’t really 
consider Felicity’s feelings to be anything more if they’re not returned in 
kind, she’ll get tired of it.” I said with certainty.  
“You seem rather experienced on the subject...  There ever been anything 
between you and those girls?”  
“There seems to be something between a lot of girls and me, if only I could 
understand it all.”  
“Pardon?”  
I sighed, “Abby and I are just friends, at least, that’s what I want, there’s a 
girl called Danielle who’s similar to Felicity, but probably worse that I’m 
trying to let down, and as for Emily, she and I were once together, I’d 
idolised her for years, but I didn’t really feel as if I’d stand a chance in 
being her guy, and then one day, I just told her how I felt, and although we 
remained friends for a time, soon enough, she returned those feelings.  It 
might not have happened if I never said anything.”  
“Uh huh...  So how come you two aren’t together now?” questioned Bert.  
“Long and painful story, so I won’t be going into it, its not important anyway, 
seeing as Emily’s still interested in me and I’m totally confused about 
relationships, but its not about me.  If I can just lure Chad away, will you at 
least try to tell her how you feel?” I pleaded.  
“I don’t know...”  
“Bert, you’re not gonna have me to help out after today, this could be your 
only chance.” I explained with concern.  
“I’ll try...”  
I walked over to Chad and pulled him away, while Bert casually walked alongside 
Felicity in his place.  
“So what’s your plan, Tet?” asked Chad.  
“Don’t say a word, but that’s all up to Bert.” I whispered.  
“You mean...”  
“Yes, but it won’t work if you go shouting your mouth off about it, so why 
don’t we just talk about how we’ve done on our journeys and let things run 
their course?” I requested firmly.  
“Sure thing.  I got my final Gym Badge from a place called Vandyke City against 
a trainer called Doog.”  
“Doog? That’s an odd name, you sure that’s what this person called himself?”  
“Uh huh, that’s what he said, and in the course, Hydro evolved into a 
Blastoise.”  
“Cool...” I congratulated, “Its still obeying you isn’t it?”  
“Why wouldn’t it? I’m a strong trainer, and since I’ve got loads of badges, 
all my Pokémon should obey me.” boasted Chad.  
“How so?” I asked with a suspicious look.  
“Badges equal respect, everyone knows that.” spurted out Chad.  
“Really, so how’s Heifer acting?” I grinned darkly.  
“Won’t listen to a thing I say.” sighed Chad.  
“Thought so.” I smiled, a lot of people believed that by collecting badges, 
their Pokémon would respect and obey them, but it was just a silly rumour, 
respect had to be properly earned, and most disobedience problems with Pokémon 
had to be worked through with their trainers.  
“If it were that easy, I’d have scooted along to one of the eastern Gyms so 
that Inferno wouldn’t be so mean.” I stated.  
“Still being a pain, huh?”  
“And a natural hazard, it evolved again a while back.” I sighed.  
“Well if it makes you feel any better, my Golduck’s still a psycho, I can’t 
bring it out if I’m anywhere near a dangerous environment...” offered Chad.  
“It does.” I smiled.  
“So which other Pokémon of yours evolved?...”  

Meanwhile, Bert nervously spoke up to Felicity, “Don’t be worried Felicity, I’m 
sure we’ll get your Paras back.”  
“I’m not too worried now, I’m sure Chad will save it.”  
“Uh huh, I’m willing to help it too you know.”  
“That’s very kind of you, but-”  
“I know, Chad will save it...” sighed Bert, “You know, you act a little funny 
around him, you do realise that?”  
“... I guess so, but I’ve never known anyone like Chad, no one’s ever gone out 
of their way to save me before, or even shown any real affection for me, I 
suppose that’s why I don’t want to let Chad go, I know he’ll soon accept me, 
and after the League, he might settle down with me.”  
Bert cursed in his thoughts, I’d been right, if he’d just told her how he felt 
long ago, she might have been his, right now he felt under pressure and unable 
to talk to her about such things.  
Chad didn’t even want Felicity to be his, but yet she appeared to be lying to 
herself and waiting for the day Chad came round.  
On the other hand, he now knew why, Felicity wasn’t a model or anything, but 
Bert was quite taken to her, other guys in their home never really took notice 
of her and that’s probably why Felicity leapt at the first guy who showed any 
interest in her and never let go.  
“Felicity, I... need to tell you something.”  
“Something about Chad?”  
“No.” he said firmly, “... Its about me.”  
“Oh...”  
“Well, you as well, I know Chad acts like a hero and all, but that’s all it 
really is, an act.  What I’m about to say comes from my heart, its the truth 
and I hope you’ll understand...  Felicity...  I really-”  
She gasped and ran the remainder of the upward hill to the area ahead.  
Bert cursed, “Should have used less words...”  
The mountain with a crashed ship was in sight, along with the three Rockets 
trying to repair it, and finally, Cassie kept a firm hold around Felicity’s 
Paras.  
“Its them!” she called, “I knew you clowns wouldn’t repair the jet in time!”  
“Don’t just stand there! Use a Pokémon!” shouted Claus.  
“Vaporeon!!!”  
“Jolteon!!!”  
“Flareon!!!”  
“Guys, wanna team up?” I asked, but they were already underway at selecting a 
Pokéball and standing in line with an opponent, leaving me with Claus’s 
Vaporeon.  
“GO HEADACHE!”  
“Get ‘em!”  
“Let’s go Pollen!”  
“Gol-Duck!!!”  
“RHYDON!!!...”  
“Vileplume.”  
“Whoa...” I exclaimed, drawing out my Pokédex to scan the first Pokémon I’d 
seen in Bert’s possession.  

“Rhydon, the Drill Pokémon.  After evolving, it stands on its hind legs.  Its 
armoured hide can withstand molten lava of 3, 600 degrees and its drill can 
bore deep holes through boulders.”  

“So that’s what we can expect Abby’s Rhyhorn to become.” I smiled, before 
turning to my opponent who had already attacked.  
Pollen was drenched by a powerful Hydro Pump, but the Water attack didn’t do 
too much to it, making me wonder why Claus had bothered ordering it.  
Liquid’s coat glowed purple with poisonous fluid as it pounced.  
“Dodge it Pollen!”  
“Vile.” it said, swerving to the side but no emotions to show for it, the 
Vaporeon growled and leapt backwards into a spin.  
“Watch it!”  
Pollen turned towards the Vaporeon as it came out of its spin and bit down on 
Pollen’s petals, but did nothing to prevent it, in fact, it just stared at the 
whole thing as it happened.  
“What the...  Oh.” I groaned, “I’ve got to be more precise in what I say, 
Pollen hasn’t got much a mind left to define if I’m being literal or not.”  
“That should wrap things up.” smiled Claus confidently.  
“Excuse me?” I questioned, before remembering, “Oh yeah, he probably thinks 
Pollen’s a pushover cos of the last battle, boy is he going to be surprised.  
Pollen! Petal Dance attack!”  
“Vile...  Plume.” it said, spinning around and taking the Vaporeon with it, a 
small amount of leaves from far and wide in the rare locations of trees and 
were drawn into the tornado, but since the Vaporeon was within it, it was dealt 
more damage than often.  
“Pollen! Aim a Solar Beam at the Vaporeon!”  
“Vile...”  
“Vapor!!!” screamed the Vaporeon, helpless to escape and looking wide-eyed due 
to the situation.  
“Why is it still going? Is that girl’s Paras that much better than my 
Vaporeon?!” exclaimed Claus.  
“Not really, it wasn’t a real fight.” I called back, “You’ve wasted your time 
in capturing Felicity’s Pokémon.”  
I turned back to the tornado, which glowed white and exploded, hurling the 
Vaporeon at an astounding speed into its trainer, while Pollen landed safely, 
and due to its lack of individuality and free will, didn’t exactly give into 
confusion, not that it mattered, our opponent was beyond defeated.  
Meanwhile, Cletus’s Jolteon activated its Thunder attack, but electricity 
rained everywhere, including towards Felicity.  
“Protect her!” shouted Bert, and his Rhydon slid in front of her and took the 
attack.  
“Bert...” said Felicity a little in shock.  
“Don’t worry, Ground-types can take Electric attacks and shrug them off.” he 
said confidently.  
With that, the Rhydon growled and roared as it charged towards the Jolteon, 
picked it up and hurled it into the side of a mountain.  
“Lightnin’! Pin Missile!”  
Small needle projectiles were fired, and hit the Rhydon around the eyes, 
causing it discomfort.  
“Focus Energy!” hollered Cletus, and the Jolteon glowed with power, while the 
Rhydon was temporarily blinded while it cleared its eyes.  
“Now attack it!”  
The Jolteon performed an insulting Tail Whip technique, and then leapt at the 
Rhydon, only to tackle its body armour and bounce back, it leapt again and bit 
onto its horn and remained there.  
Chad’s Golduck was blasted by a Fire Blast attack, it looked like Elite 
Rocket’s Eevee evolution Pokémon had learnt the most powerful attacks of their 
type (some naturally, some taught), we’d had trouble with them in the past, but 
it was rewarding and meaningful that we could beat them now.  
Heatwave had just powered up with Focus Energy and charged at Chad’s Golduck, 
but was blasted back by a Hydro Pump attack.  
It growled ferociously at it, and then coughed up a terrible Smog technique, 
blackening the area.  
“Headache! Go all out!”  
A loud “GOL-DUUUUCK!!!” could be heard, and the Flareon came hurtling out the 
cloud after a psychic onslaught, and smacked into its owner, causing Cassie to 
drop the Paras, which scuttled back to its trainer.  
“Lightnin’! Dunder Wave!” yelled Cletus, pointing to it, and the Jolteon still 
on Bert’s Rhydon charged an electric sphere that shot at and paralysed the tiny 
Bug-type.  
Bert’s Rhydon opened its eyes to a crazed Jolteon, and easily picked it up and 
threw it down, and then stomped the ground to hit it with a small Earthquake 
attack.  
The Jolteon growled ferociously, but was powerless to stop the attack, and 
bounced back to its trainer.  
Unfortunately, it also caused the rocks around the Elite’s jet to crumble, and 
their vehicle was freed.  
“Get inside! That Paras was a waste of time, but Turquoise’s Pokémon aren’t!” 
shouted Claus, and all three bad guys scrambled inside the Aerodactyl jet, 
which rose up, turned towards us and floated in a stationary position while the 
weapons were activated.  
“Activate the replicated Hyper Beam cannons!” ordered Claus.  
“Hyper Beam?!” I exclaimed.  
Two shots were fired, both coloured a sort of transparent yet sparkling gold 
colour, which fell and exploded, close to us but not dangerously close.  
Still, they put us in danger, several chunks of rocks were shaken out of their 
places and tumbled down, towards Felicity and her Paras.  
“Felicity!” shouted Bert, using every ounce of his usually dormant courage, and 
releasing all his strength to charge into the area, grab the Paras and 
Felicity, and then roll out of the way as several rocks tumbled down the 
mountain path and rolled down it.  
“Bert...  You... saved me...  But why?” stammered Felicity.  
“I couldn’t just let you be hit, and besides, I really like you and would be 
devastated if you were hurt.” he admitted.  
“You saved me because you... like me?...  Oh Bert...” sighed Felicity.  
She hugged him tightly with a warm embrace, much as she’d done with Chad, but 
this truly meant something, and Bert wasn’t disliking this at all.  
I turned back to the jet, where the Elites could be heard shouting.  
“Fire ana’der two rounds!” screamed Cletus.  
“We can’t, the blasts are called ‘Replicated’ because they’re the same as the 
attack, and the same conditions apply:  We have to wait a while to recover from 
the feedback, your plan and this jet were a big waste of our time!” explained 
Cassie.  
“It wus Claus’s plan, an’ he only chose dis jet cos it ‘looked cool’, dis is 
all his fault!” accused Cletus.  
“This whole day was a big waste of time!” complained Claus, “In fact, I 
shouldn’t have bothered getting out of bed today!...”  
“Twinkill...” I called.  
“Headache...” added Chad.  
“Psychic attack!” we called out, and the entire robot shook violently, then it 
was flung up high, and finally it exploded, sending the three pathetic villains 
far away...  

Back in town I was joined by Emily and Abby, waiting for us and looking bored, 
and they were briefly briefed on what had just happened.  
“So I guess I’ll see you two in the Pokémon League.” I said pleasantly as we 
prepared to leave.  
“And me too.” added Felicity, “I’ll be there cheering on my hero.”  
“Aw man, Tet’, it didn’t work.” moaned Chad.  
Bert chuckled as Felicity then gazed into his eyes, “No hard feelings, eh 
Chad?”  
“What do you mean ‘No hard feelings’? I’m the resident hero around these 
parts!” complained Chad, “Don’t try and steal my thunder!”  
“No one would want to replace you, one Chad Masters in the world is enough.” 
chuckled Bert.  
“Chad, I hope you’re not disappointed that I won’t be following you around, but 
Bert’s my new hero, and my special guy...  His heroic act was much better than 
yours...” apologised Felicity.  
“Well, it was kinda nice having a true fan cheer me on and-”  
“Chad, don’t blow it.” I interrupted.  
“No, no, I’m not disappointed at all, I’ll be fine.” grinned Chad.  
“Then we’ll be off then, I look forward to seeing you in the Pokémon League 
Chad, and you too Tetsubo.” smiled Bert.  
“We’ll see you there...” I replied.  
With that, Bert and Felicity left in the opposite path to us, the girls, Chad 
and I walked on ahead to a second fork in the roads.  
“Chad...” I said, noticing a somewhat glum look on his face, “If I didn’t know 
better, I’d say you miss having Felicity following you around.”  
“Tet’!” he exclaimed, “Of course not! I’m not ready to settle down with anyone, 
and I’ve got plenty of other female fans to cheer me on.”  
“Keep dreaming...” I said rudely, before realising I’d said it out loud, “... 
But try to make those dreams come true!...” I grinned.  
“I will Tet’, sorry I can’t go with you guys, but I’ve got to train my Pokémon 
for the League, or do you think you’ll need my help against all those Rockets 
out there?” spoke out Chad.  
“No, no.” said Emily with a nervous grin.  
“We’ll be fine.” said Abby firmly.  
“Then I’ll take my leave.  But don’t worry...  CHAD THE CHOSEN will see you 
again in the Pokémon League where we will surely do battle to see who is the 
best trainer!...” he said in his loud heroic voice.  
“Whatever you say Chad...” I replied tiredly.  
We all waved with strange unsure grins on our faces as Chad left us, and we 
remained with our small group again.  
“Can you believe that Felicity?” questioned Abby, “You’d have to have very 
little self-respect to be all over a reluctant guy like her, right?”  
“So Tetsubo...” said Emily, very much close to me, “We’ll be in Ocean Town 
fairly soon, do you wanna take me out shopping there? There’s some great 
clothing stores and beautiful restaurants, and...”  
“I rest my case.” sighed Abby, and we continued on our way.  

End of Chapter 44B  

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