Jellic faces his first Badge battle... C&C is always welcome and usually
replied to (if applicable).
Jellic�s Hateful Quest
Chapter 5: A Mime is a Terrible Thing to Waste
Before long, Jellic spotted a tiny bug at the side of the road.
�What kind of Pokemon is that?�
�That�s a Caterpie,� explained Ashley. �They�re usually pretty weak
and easy to catch. But once they evolve into Butterfree, they�re pretty
powerful.�
�Perfect! I�ve been waiting for this chance!� He grabbed one of the
Pokeballs from his belt and threw it toward the Caterpie. It burst open
to reveal a rather unlikely candidate. �All right, Magikarp!�
�Magikarp?� asked Ashley in her most disbelieving voice. �What are
you doing using that?�
�Don�t listen to her, Magikarp. You�re MY Pokemon and you�ll earn
your keep. Let�s show them that you�re not worthless. Get it!� The
Magikarp flopped around on the grass in front of the Caterpie. The tiny
bug barely glanced at the Magikarp as it went on its way. �Hey, stupid
bug! You�ve got a challenger over here!� Jellic grabbed a rock and threw
it at the Caterpie, being careful to miss. The Caterpie stopped crawling
and turned to look in the direction that the rock had come from. As its
eyes met those of the Magikarp, a bubble formed at the edge of the big
fish�s mouth and popped. The Caterpie�s eyes squeezed shut.
�Now you�ve made it mad,� noted Ashley as the Caterpie�s color
darkened and it lowered its head to charge at its foe.
�Good. Magikarp can stand up to a little bug. Magikarp, Splash!� The
Caterpie slammed into the flailing fish and send it flying head over
tail to land several feet away in the grass. The Magikarp flopped on its
back for a few seconds before managing to right itself.
�How can you do this? It�s cruel!� shouted Ashley. �Then again, what
other reason do you need?�
�Maybe Magikarp needs more experience,� Jellic wondered aloud.
�Maybe it needs some attack moves!� The Caterpie grew tired of its
pursuit of the Magikarp and lifted its head, firing a long string of
silk from its mouth at the Magikarp. �That�s the String Shot. It�ll
immobilize Magikarp, and then the fight�s over.�
�Magikarp, now�s the time! Splash like you�ve never Splashed
before!� shouted Jellic, and the half-tangled Magikarp responded well.
It began to wriggle about on the ground, shaking the layers of string
off before they could coat it in a fully immobilizing blanket. The
Caterpie, frustrated, increased its string output, but to no avail.
Magikarp could evade any amount of string that the tiny insect had to
offer. The Caterpie decided to resort to its old standby -- the Tackle.
It charged once again at the helpless Magikarp.
�What are you going to do now?� asked Ashley teasingly.
�I�m going to -- Fall Over!� shouted Jellic. Ashley looked rather
confused at this, but simply watched with amazement as the Magikarp
tumbled onto its side with a mighty flap of its weak fins, landing right
on top of the dazed Caterpie. The creature�s simple dead weight pinned
the Caterpie until Jellic could capture it in a Pokeball, which held it
until its struggles ceased. The Magikarp exultantly flopped around on
the grass, leaping several inches off the ground and slamming its face
into the turf. �It looks pretty happy,� remarked Jellic.
�I think it just learned how to Tackle,� said Ashley. �It�s a quick
learner. But then again, it had a great teacher.�
Jellic pretended to consider this. �Of course! I�ll never accept any
weaklings into MY fighting party. Only the strong survive, right
Magikarp?� Magikarp flailed. �Get back in your ball, you crazy fish.�
�You seem to be getting along better with your Pokemon,� said
Ashley.
�My Pokemon aren�t the enemy here. It�s the wild Pokemon that must
be tamed before they can harm innocent humans.�
Ashley�s entire body sagged with her disappointment. �You still don�
t get it. Pokemon deserve to be free! We can keep some as pets and for
fighting, but some Pokemon have to stay in the wild to breed and grow on
their own. Some ancient Pokemon species were hunted to extinction! Do
you want that to happen to any more species?�
�No,� announced Jellic. After a brief pause, he added, �Just the
evil ones.�
Ashley sighed. �Let�s just get to Persimmon City as quickly as we
can. It�s already starting to get dark and we have a long way to go
yet.� Jellic agreed, and they proceeded on to Persimmon City without
further incident. Their first stop was the Pokemon Center, where Jellic
healed his Magikarp and his new Caterpie. Ashley then led the way to the
Persimmon Pokemon Gym, one of the eight official Gyms where the Pokemon
Badges could be obtained. �I once visited here with a friend who wanted
to challenge the Gym Leader, Heidi. Neither one of us won, but Heidi
invited us to try again when our Pokemon were more powerful.�
�Heidi? That would be a woman, right?�
�What�s wrong with being a woman?� asked a muscular female who was
training a small group of Pokemon in the center of the fighting area.
�You must be one of those chauvinists who think that women are inferior
Pokemon trainers. Perhaps you like to battle, and we can see how much
you will think of women then, eh?�
�You must be Heidi,� Jellic correctly guessed. �I�d like to accept
your offer, but I�m just here with my frie- uh, companion, Ashley.�
Heidi pointed to Jellic�s belt. �You have Pokeballs, yes? They for
show? You gots pets? Or you wanna fight �em?�
�My Pokemon could kick the asses of your Pokemon,� jeered Jellic,
and after a pause to determine whether or not any of Heidi�s Pokemon had
asses, added, �figuratively speaking.�
�All right, what you got then?�
�A Machop, a Meowth, a Caterpie, ... a Magikarp.�
Heidi snorted. �Hmph! Quite a collection. What you say? Your four
against my four, for the Mind Badge.�
�I dunno if that�s exactly fair...� stalled Jellic, glancing
imploringly at Ashley.
�She specializes in Psychic Pokemon from the nearby Forest of Mist,�
said Ashley helpfully. �Your champion, Machop, will be weak against Psyc
hic types. But Caterpie�s a bug type. It will be resistant to Psychic
attacks. It�s just really weak and won�t be able to coordinate a very
good attack.�
�Hmmm...� Jellic considered this. �Maybe if we cut down the teams a
bit, I might do it.�
�Very well,� said Heidi. �Remove the Machop from your roster and we
fight three on three.�
�That still leaves me with a useless Magikarp,� protested Jellic.
�Three on three or we do not battle,� insisted Heidi. �Already I
give you break because I carry less than six Pokemon. Some trainers will
not care if you have only one usable Pokemon to their six. Any more
evening of odds and you will not have truly earned the Mind Badge. Now,
accept my challenge or decline!�
�I accept,� said Jellic, handing the Pokeball with his Machop to
Ashley for safekeeping. �Let�s see how well my Pokemon have learned
everything I�ve taught them.�
�Don�t be afraid to use your Pokedex,� advised Ashley. �Knowing your
opponent will help you win.�
�Having some decent Pokemon would help more.� Jellic turned to the
arena and threw out his first Pokeball. �Meowth, you�re up first!�
�A good first choice. Don�t wear out your most useful Pokemon early.
Following that strategy, I shall choose Mr. Mime!� She threw out her
first Pokeball and out popped a creature that reminded Jellic a little
bit of a snowman with arms and legs sticking out of it at odd angles.
Jellic aimed his Pokedex at it.
�Mr. Mime is a Psychic Pokemon that specializes in its defensive
capabilities. It tends to act like its opponent, adding an element of
confusion to any battle.�
Jellic pocketed the device and returned his full attention to the
arena. Heidi, in accordance with the unspoken laws of Pokemon etiquette,
had not ordered her Mr. Mime to attack while Jellic used his Pokedex,
but now she was prepared to meet his attack. �Mr. Mime, Barrier!� she
shouted, and the Mr. Mime raised its hands into the air. A wall of air
formed around it, presumably to protect it from attacks.
�It�s going to need more than a Barrier to stop my Pokemon. Meowth,
Scratch!� Meowth charged at the Mr. Mime, but its claws couldn�t
penetrate its tough protective wall. �Try Bite!� Meowth�s teeth clamped
on air as the Mr. Mime pretended to be in a glass box -- which, so to
speak, it was.
�Enough fun and games. Mr. Mime, Confusion!� The Mr. Mime squinted
at the furious Meowth and emitted a strange beam from its eyes. The
Meowth froze in place as the beam hit it, then began crazily swatting at
the air above it.
�What�s it doing?� asked Jellic. �Meowth, attack it!� But the Meowth
turned in the wrong direction and charged away from the Mr. Mime,
attacking nothing.
�It�s confused,� replied Ashley. �There�s not a lot you can do
except recall it or wait until its head clears. It can hurt itself in
the meantime, though.�
�Really? Hmmm...� Jellic cupped his hands over his mouth. �Hey,
mime! Bet you can�t act like a Meowth! That would be funny!� At the last
word, the Mr. Mime perked up. If there�s one thing a mime enjoys, it�s
an appreciative audience. The Mr. Mime began to prance around the arena,
swatting and biting at the air. The crowd laughed.
�No! What are you doing? Kill that little Meowth!� shouted Heidi.
But the audience�s laughter drowned out her words in the ears of the
cavorting Mr. Mime. Suddenly, the pair of Pokemon collided in midair.
The Mr. Mime simply took the fall and continued its dance, but the
impact shook the cobwebs out of Meowth�s head. Meowth hissed and leapt
at its opponent, biting it soundly on the behind now that its protective
barrier was down. The Mr. Mime grabbed at its sore bottom and ran around
in circles, to the increasing delight of the audience and the increasing
frustration of its trainer.
�Now, Meowth, Scratch the hell out of it!� Meowth�s claws gouged at
the Mr. Mime, wounding it further. Heidi�s face twisted with rage as the
Mr. Mime played on the pain with hilarious antics, still warming to its
audience.
�Doubleslap, you freak! Do you hear me?� The Mr. Mime finally broke
free of the captivating spell of the audience and turned on the Meowth,
slapping it across the face several times.
�Meowth, duck! Hit yourself on the head!� The Meowth nearly
hesitated too long, but its intelligence allowed it to see the mastery
of Jellic�s plan. It quickly dodged one of the Mr. Mime�s slaps and
pretended to hit itself just as the Mr. Mime�s swing brought its own
hand into contact with its head. The audience roared anew as the Mr.
Mime pranced about the arena, beating itself senseless in mimicry of its
opponent.
Heidi nearly crushed the Pokeball in her rage as she recalled the
useless Mr. Mime. �Very well. No more Mr. Nice Heidi! Alakazam, go!� The
Pokemon that emerged from her Pokeball was the most demonic looking
example that Jellic had yet seen. It stood like a human, but its head
was the same shape as a cow�s skull, with cheekbones that jutted out
from its face. Its arms and legs were narrow, but its hands and feet
were huge. It had a flared mustache that drooped nearly to the floor,
and in its hands were what appeared to be a pair of bent spoons.
�Alakazam, Psychic!� shouted Heidi.
�Alakazam!� shouted the Pokemon as it rubbed the bowls of its spoons
together. Suddenly, Meowth began to screech horrifically, not because it
was using its Screech attack, but because it was in tremendous pain.
Even before Ashley could tell him how cruel it was to leave Meowth in
there, Jellic recalled it. It was obvious that Meowth had no chance.
�It�s time for my prize fighter of the match. Caterpie, it�s your
turn!� The Caterpie emerged and stared long and hard at the Alakazam.
�Caterpie, Tackle it! Ignore any pain you feel; it�s all in your mind!�
�Alakazam, Confusion!� The Alakazam rubbed its spoons together
again, but the Caterpie was barely affected. It charged right through
the Alakazam�s attack and pounded it in the stomach.
�Caterpie, String Shot! Tie it up!� The Caterpie opened its mouth to
spit its string.
�Alakazam, quick! Teleport!� The string passed through the space
where the Alakazam had been only a few seconds ago, as the psychic
Pokemon itself reappeared several feet away. Caterpie turned to shoot
again, but the Alakazam simply Teleported once more. The missed String
Shots coated several audience members with string, and even Jellic had
to duck to avoid one of the shots. Standing up, he noticed that there
was a pattern to the Alakazam�s locations. He waited for the right
moment...
�Caterpie! Shoot me!� The Caterpie, not as intelligent as the
Meowth, did what it was told. The Alakazam didn�t notice that the
Caterpie was no longer shooting at it and Teleported again -- right in
front of Jellic. The string quickly wound around its spoons and bound
its arms and legs. �Now Tackle it!� Unable to move or Teleport, the
Alakazam took the full force of another Tackle. Realizing that the fight
was lost, Heidi recalled the Alakazam. �You only have one left, and then
I win!� shouted Jellic.
�You are half right,� answered Heidi. �However, I have saved the
best for last. You will never defeat my last fighter. Mew!� From Heidi�s
final Pokeball emerged a creature that looked like a small cat on its
hind legs, but it glowed with a strange power.
�What is that?� asked Jellic.
�I�ve never seen one before,� answered Ashley. Jellic aimed his
Pokedex at it.
�Mew, an experimental Psychic Pokemon. This Pokemon was bred from a
cross between a Meowth and an Abra. The resulting Pokemon has incredible
Psychic power, as well as the intelligence to use any Technical Machine
to learn new skills. Mew is a formidable opponent that can be adapted to
any fighting style.�
�I use Mew to eliminate my opponents� Bug Pokemon before they can
wipe me out,� explained Heidi as Jellic put his Pokedex away. �Mew, Fire
Blast!� Mew emitted a huge burst of flames that washed over the Caterpie
before anyone could react.
�Jellic, Bug Pokemon are weak against Fire!� said Ashley. Jellic
reluctantly recalled Caterpie. �Now you�ve got only one Pokemon left.
Maybe she�d let you send out Machop instead. It might have a chance --�
�No. I promised that I wouldn�t use Machop, and I won�t. I have one
Pokemon left, and I�m going to use it. Magikarp, go!� Magikarp popped
out of the Pokeball and flopped around in the center of the arena. Heidi
laughed.
�Are you serious then? You�ll truly keep your word even though it
means sending out a useless Pokemon when you�re so close to victory? I
admire your honesty, but I won�t go easy on you! Mew, Mega Punch!� Mew
wound up for a huge blow that would be far more than Magikarp could
handle. Magikarp panicked and began to Splash desperately.
�Magikarp, show them what you�re made of! Tackle!� Magikarp launched
itself at Mew and knocked the cat off of its feet before it could
complete its windup. The Mew, stunned, could only sit still as the
Magikarp repeatedly attacked it. Heidi watched with increasing
desperation until she shouted out the only move she could think of at
the time.
�Mew, Metronome!� The Mew began to sway back and forth with a steady
rhythm.
�What�s it doing?� Jellic asked Ashley.
�It�s Metronome. It will randomly attack with any technique that it
could learn with a Technical Machine, whether or not it knows that
attack.� The Mew�s glow began to intensify.
�Magikarp, get out of there! Move away!� shouted Jellic. Magikarp,
lacking a target, reverted to its natural landbound helpless state,
unable to do more than Splash. The Mew�s glow was now so bright that the
spectators had to avert their eyes. �What attack is this?� asked Jellic.
Ashley�s answer was drowned out by a huge explosion in the middle of
the arena. Everyone in the building was thrown against the nearest wall,
blinded and deafened by the power of the blast. When the smoke had
cleared and everything quieted down, the two combatants lay unconscious
in the arena.
�Looks like it used Explosion,� answered Ashley. �It�s a desperation
move used when a Pokemon is about to faint. It faints anyway, but it
takes its opponent with it.�
�Then the match is a tie,� said Jellic, deflated. He and Heidi
recalled their Pokemon, and Heidi crossed the arena to shake Jellic�s
hand. Then, she reached into her pocket and pulled out a badge, which
she pinned to Jellic�s tunic. �A Mind Badge? But I didn�t win!�
�You tied me with some very weak Pokemon. That�s not an easy feat.
Were your Pokemon any stronger, I would certainly have lost. I believe
that you deserve this badge. If ever you travel to the Forest of Mist,
you will have an easier time catching some Psychic Pokemon. I think your
collection could use some Psychic Power.�
�How fortunate,� said Jellic. �We�re heading through the Forest of
Mist tomorrow.�
�No, no!� protested Heidi. �You don�t go THROUGH the Forest of Mist!
You can catch what you need right at the edge!� Jellic briefly explained
his quest to Heidi. �So you need to get to the Lab by the shortest
route? Then be very careful. The Forest will swallow you and never spit
you out. May your Mind Badge and your Pokemon skill protect you, because
you�re going to need all the good fortune you can get.�
----------------------------------------------------
NOTE: Yes, I know Bug Pokemon are not really strong against Psychic
attacks. This was my mistake, and Ashley's. However, in my writing,
there is no such thing as a mistake... only a plot element yet to be
discovered. So don't try to explain elemental advantages/disadvantages
to me... just be patient and all will become clear in time.
MOM: I'm getting rid of this TV before the mindless garbage rots your
brain!
JOHNNY: Mindless garbage not rot brain!
(SHAMPOO: Mindless Johnny not got brain to rot!)
"There's a billion places like home. But only one of them's where you
live." - Granny Weatherwax, "Witches Abroad" by Terry Pratchett
ED: My eyes are stuck! I can't open them!
EDDY: Open your eyes, Ed.
ED: (opens eyes) Thanks, Eddy.
My webpage: http://www.rose-hulman.edu/~katinamp