Back to the action, starting with the most exciting Gym battle yet! C&C
would be great, if you could spare some! (for a poor, lonely author?
Pretty please?)
Jellic�s Hateful Quest
Chapter 13: A Heavy Hitter in the Pokemon League
Arthur could feel the power of the stranger as he entered the Gym
and knew that his greatest battle was about to begin. Only five
Pokeballs occupied the stranger�s belt, but it was obvious that five
were all he needed. Arthur gathered his most powerful Pokemon and
stepped forward to greet the stranger.
�My name is Arthur, and I am the leader of the Fire Flower Gym of
Heliotrope City,� the Gym Leader said smoothly.
�My name is Jellic, and I am an interdimensional warrior,� replied
Jellic.
�My name is Ashley, and I am � no one important, really,� said
Ashley, deflated from being surrounded by the pair of giant egos.
�Warrior, you say?� asked Arthur. �I, too, was once a warrior like
yourself. I traveled far and wide seeking and destroying evil.�
Jellic did a double take. �You�re � THAT Arthur?�
Arthur struck a heroic pose. �The one and only! Unfortunately, I
retired from heroism long ago and settled down in this dimension. Now,
of course, I couldn�t go back to my old job even if I wanted to. I have
a responsibility to this Gym that I cannot betray. What brings you to
this dimension?�
�My arch nemesis, the Dark Lord Elvor, sent me here to spite me
after I killed him. I have to destroy the evil in this dimension before
I can leave. I�m heading to Karddor Labs from here, after dealing with
the Pokemon League Enforcers. But I want to try to get a second Badge
first.�
�Elvor?� Arthur rubbed his chin. �The name sounds familiar... Odd.
Well, what say you to a battle, Jellic? To the winner go the spoils, the
Solar Badge!� They stood at opposite ends of the arena, each with five
Pokeballs at his belt. �Rapidash, go!� The Rapidash emerged from its
Pokeball, and Jellic quickly saw that it was the evolved form of the
Ponyta that he�d fought in Sage City.
�I�ve fought something similar before,� he remarked aloud. �Persian,
go!� The Persian leaped to the floor and stared at its opponent. �You
remember the horse, right? Do what we did last time!� The Persian
charged at the Rapidash and launched itself into the air, aiming for the
flaming tail.
�Rapidash, Agility!� shouted Arthur. The Rapidash sidestepped,
dodging the Persian�s Bite attack. �Now Fire Spin!� The Rapidash reared
up and began to spin on its hind legs, its tail flaring out in a wide
circle of flame. The Persian backed cautiously away.
�Persian, now! Bite!� At Jellic�s command, the Persian charged and
clamped its teeth around the flaming tail. The tail�s flame dimmed, but
the Persian was also singed by the flames. �This one�s a lot tougher
than the one I fought before.�
�Arthur�s more experienced with his Pokemon than Jason was,�
explained Ashley.
�Then I�ll have to fight harder. Persian, Screech!� The Persian�s
yowl spooked the Rapidash, causing it to rear. When the Rapidash�s
hooves landed, one of them happened to land on the Persian, which
Screeched again and ran, stopping at the other side of the arena to hiss
at the Rapidash.
�That�s it, Rapidash!� cheered Arthur. �Now Stomp it!�
�Hold your ground, Persian! Scratch it!� The Persian nimbly dodged
the falling hooves and clawed at the Rapidash�s underbelly. The fur
began to fly as the Persian�s claws became a blur, gouging at the
Rapidash with unbelievable frenzy.
�That�s the Fury Swipes!� exclaimed Ashley.
�Go for it, Persian!� cheered Jellic. �Fury Swipes!� Just then, the
Rapidash got in a lucky blow. One of its hooves struck the Persian in
the head, knocking it unconscious. Jellic swore under his breath as he
recalled the Persian. �Metapod, go!�
�Jellic, what are you doing?� asked Ashley. �Bug Pokemon are weak
against Fire!�
�Metapod, Harden!� shouted Jellic. Turning to Ashley, he added,
�Trust me.�
�Rapidash, Ember,� commanded Arthur. The Rapidash snorted and a tiny
tongue of flame appeared at its nostrils, then died out. �What�s wrong?�
He quickly paused. �Of course, the tail flame...�
�Metapod, String Shot!� ordered Jellic. The string began to wrap up
the Rapidash�s legs.
Arthur quickly regrouped. �Rapidash, Take Down!� The Rapidash
quickly stepped out of the string and charged at the Metapod with its
head down. The Metapod could only sit there as the Rapidash�s head
smacked into it, sending it flying across the arena to smack brutally
into the wall opposite, leaving an indentation. Meanwhile, the Rapidash
collapsed in the arena. �Oh, no! I think it�s concussed! I should never
have used that move against a Hardened Metapod!� He quickly recalled the
Rapidash. �I have no choice but to forfeit the match. I have to take
care of my Pokemon!�
�Throw the Pokeball over here!� yelled Jellic. He caught the
Pokeball and handed it to one of the spectators. �Take this Pokeball to
the Pokemon Center for emergency care, quickly!� he instructed the boy.
He recalled his fainted Metapod. �Now we can continue.�
Arthur smiled. �Very sporting of you, Jellic. Venusaur, attack!� The
Venusaur reminded Jellic slightly of a large frog with an open flower
growing on its back.
�Mewthree, go!� shouted Jellic, tossing out his champion. Mewthree
stared eerily at the Venusaur. �Mewthree, give it a taste of
Telekinesis!� Mewthree lifted the Venusaur into the air and slammed it
down hard. Arthur quickly recalled it before it could take any more
damage and sent out a huge fire-breathing dragon.
�Charizard, Flame Thrower!� The Charizard breathed a huge fireball
at Mewthree, incinerating it.
�Mewthree, Psychic!� The Mewthree retaliated with its Psychic power,
severely weakening the lizard. However, the burns all over Mewthree�s
body were weakening it as well. �Use Swift to buy yourself some time to
Recover!� Mewthree launched its star-shaped projectiles at the
Charizard, weakening it further. As the Charizard took to the air, the
Mewthree began to use its power to Recover its strength. However, the
burns were still taking their toll.
Jellic, command me to use the power of Mist. It will heal my burns.
Jellic shrugged. �Mewthree, use Mist!� The Mewthree enveloped itself
in an icy mist. The soothing ice quickly healed its burned skin.
However, the Charizard attacked with its Flame Thrower again, dissolving
the mist and burning the Mewthree a second time. The Mewthree staggered.
�Telekinesis now!�
�Charizard, Rage!� shouted Arthur as the Charizard slammed into the
ground. The Charizard weakly picked itself up and charged the Mewthree,
scratching at it with sharp claws. Mewthree countered with Swift, and
the Charizard fell. Arthur quickly recalled it and sent out his next
fighter. �Flareon, make me proud!�
�Ooh, he has a Flareon!� cooed Ashley as the Flareon emerged from
its Pokeball. Its long bushy tail and soft red fur made it look more
like a pet than a fighter, but Jellic wasn�t about to take chances.
�Mewthree, Telekinesis!�
�Flareon, Quick Attack!� The Flareon got to Mewthree before the
Psychic Pokemon could target it and slammed into it with incredible
force. It then turned its Flame Thrower attack on Mewthree, finishing it
off. Jellic recalled the Mewthree and threw out Gyarados. Arthur quickly
swapped out his Flareon for a Vileplume.
�Oh, no!� cried Ashley. �Both Gyarados and Machop are weak against
Vileplume!�
�But I�ve seen all five of his,� said Jellic. �Gyarados, return!
Machop, go!�
�Swapping weakness for weakness?� asked Arthur. �Vileplume, Poison
Powder!� The Poison Powder settled on the Machop�s body.
�Poison it all you want; it�s about to faint anyway. Machop, Bitter
End!� The Machop swelled to immense proportions and slammed the
Vileplume into the ground with a giant fist. Both Pokemon fainted, and
their owners were forced to recall them. Jellic returned his Gyarados to
the arena, while Arthur sent out his Venusaur again. �Gyarados, Tackle!�
commanded Jellic.
�Venusaur, Vine Whip!� Gyarados plowed through the lashing vines of
the weakened Pokemon and pounded the Venusaur with its immense body,
knocking it off its feet.
�Jellic, it should know Bite by now!� advised Ashley. Jellic nodded.
�Gyarados, Bite!� The Gyarados gnawed at the Venusaur�s underside,
and the Plant Pokemon quickly fainted from the pain. Arthur recalled it
and sent his Flareon into the fray. �One Pokemon each, but mine has the
advantage!� taunted Jellic.
�We�ll see,� returned Arthur. �Don�t get too confident. Flareon,
Sand Attack!�
�Gyarados, stay up high and avoid it!� The Flareon smacked the
ground with its tail, kicking up sand from the arena floor, but it
couldn�t get the sand high enough to score on the Gyarados. �Now,
Tackle!� The Gyarados swooped down, smashing into the Flareon. The
Flareon fought back with Ember, but the flaming rocks hardly touched the
Gyarados� scaly body. The Gyarados� next Tackle finished off the
Flareon. �Well, that was rather anticlimactic,� noted Jellic as he
recalled his victorious Gyarados.
�But overall, it was a marvelous battle,� applauded Arthur,
recalling the Flareon and crossing the arena to shake Jellic�s hand.
�You train some powerful Pokemon, Jellic. You truly deserve the Solar
Badge.� He pinned the sun-shaped badge to Jellic�s tunic with a grand
flourish. �Now I�m afraid I must head to the Pokemon Center to see about
my Rapidash.�
�Wait,� said Jellic, catching Arthur by the arm. �When you said you
recognized the name Elvor, do you remember where you might have heard
it? In this dimension, perhaps?�
Arthur considered this. �It might have been. Strange things have
been happening in Heliotrope City of late. Karddor Labs is extending its
tendrils into the Pokemon League, and either party could benefit from
it, but whomever wins, the outcome will not be kind to the common people
of Heliotrope.�
�I mean to find out exactly what�s going on at Karddor and put a
stop to it,� said Jellic. �I could use the help of a hero such as
yourself.�
�And your Plant Pokemon would be a big help against the Ground types
in the Desert of Death,� Ashley put in helpfully. Arthur�s eyebrow
furrowed.
�You�re braving the Desert?� he asked quietly. �Then I take my hat
off to you, Jellic. Or at least, I would if I still wore a hat.� He
chuckled, then sighed. �I miss the life of the hero. The ever-changing
worlds, the battle against evil, the gratitude of the townsfolk... I
haven�t saved a town in as long as I can remember. But I have my
responsibilities here, and I can�t leave them. I wish you both luck.� He
ran out of the Gym and down the street to the Pokemon Center.
�That was a long battle, and it�s getting late,� said Ashley. �Maybe
we�d better wait until tomorrow to investigate the Pokemon League.�
Jellic adamantly shook his head. �No. I want to get to the bottom of
this now. As soon as we�ve healed our Pokemon, I�m going into Pokemon
League headquarters. You can secure our cots at the Center if you want.
But I want to get moving as soon as possible. The longer we stay in this
town, the more likely it is that Vordekar will find us here.� They
stopped at the Pokemon Center and quickly worked their way through the
line to heal their Pokemon. After they were finished, Jellic left en
route to the Pokemon League headquarters, and Ashley retired to the
public sleeping area. She was shortly joined by Arthur the Gym Leader.
�Ashley, it�s good to see you. Is Jellic still here?� he asked. �I
have something important to tell him.�
�No, he went to Pokemon League headquarters already.� Arthur�s face
grew pale.
�Then I have to reach him and warn him,� he said quickly.
�Wait! Warn him of what?� she asked, running out the door just
behind him.
�The Pokemon League Enforcers have set a trap for Jellic at Pokemon
League Tower! He�s walking right into it!� Ashley gasped in shock and
ran faster, catching up with Arthur.
�What kind of trap?� she asked as they emerged onto the main street.
�I don�t know. All I know is that the Pokemon League has its own
agenda and it can mean no good for innocent folk like us.� Suddenly,
Ashley grabbed Arthur�s arm and pulled him back, stopping him in his
tracks. �What�s wrong, Ashley?� he asked.
Ashley pointed to the figure entering Pokemon League Tower. �That�s
Droll Vordekar! What�s he doing here? Could he be involved with this
trap?�
�I certainly hope not,� said Arthur. �Alone, he�s a dangerous man,
but if he were allied with the Enforcers...� He shivered. �It�s not a
pleasant prospect.�
�We have to get in there,� Ashley urged him. �Jellic will need our
help!�
This time, Arthur had to restrain Ashley. �You can�t just charge in
there and expect to accomplish anything! We need a plan of some sort if
we�re to do anything other than become hostages.� The two of them sat
down on a bench to put their heads together and work out a plan. It
might have interested Ashley to know that at that same moment, Jellic
was also sitting down in a rather luxurious penthouse office, opposite a
chair that was turned to face away from the door, obscuring its occupant
completely except for the thick brown hair atop the head of the Leader
of the Pokemon League.
�I had a hell of a time getting in to see you,� he remarked
casually.
�I trust you haven�t come here to test my security,� replied a soft
voice that Jellic could have sworn belonged to a woman. When the chair
swiveled around to face him, his intuition was revealed to be correct.
�Let�s get down to business, Mr. ��
�Jellic. And you are?�
The woman smiled. �You may call me Natalie. That�s what everyone
calls me, except for Elvor.�
Jellic felt a gallon of sweat suddenly covering his body. �Who?�
�Trevor, my secretary. He still calls me �Ma�am.� It�s touching.�
She sighed. So did Jellic.
�Well, Natalie, I�ve come to speak to you about a group that calls
themselves the Pokemon League Enforcers. This group is terrorizing the
innocent people of the surrounding towns and making outrageous demands.
I want to know whether or not you are aware of this group�s activities.�
�Terrorizing, you say?� Natalie rested her elbows on the desk and
her chin on her hands. �I don�t believe that exerting the control of the
Pokemon League could be considered �terrorizing� them. The Enforcers
simply travel across the land and ensure that the laws are upheld. After
all, what would happen to our beautiful, peaceful land if people stopped
following the laws?�
�The same thing that happens to a land whose government officials
stop following the laws,� countered Jellic. �The common, law-abiding
citizens suffer. When the Enforcers barge into a town with a huge army
of powerful Pokemon and demand provisions, I consider that terrorizing.�
�Are you referring to Maroon Town?� she asked. �That village is
central to the operation of the Pokemon League, and so we need control
over it. The law authorizes our Enforcers to use any means necessary to
accomplish that goal.�
Jellic raised his eyebrows slightly. �Starting a battle is a
necessary means?�
�It has become so over the many months since we first set this goal.
At first, we simply asked for permission to use the town�s resources and
were refused. After some time, we sent a few soldiers with Pokemon to
expel any resistance with force if necessary. They were attacked and
routed by the townspeople. The huge battles have only recently begun,
and will continue until the people of Maroon surrender to our superior
force.�
Jellic snorted. �One of your men attempted to steal one of my
Pokemon.�
Natalie was aghast. �Why is that? He must have given you a reason.�
�He said that my Mewthree is an unregistered Pokemon and that it
would become the property of the Pokemon League.�
Natalie nodded. �That much is true. I�m afraid that any newly
discovered Pokemon must be turned over to the Pokemon League so that
they can be recorded and rated, and their information made public. It�s
illegal to use an unregistered Pokemon in League competition.� She held
out her hand. �If you�ll hand the Pokemon over to me, I�ll take care of
the paperwork personally and the Mewthree will be returned to you in a
matter of days.�
�I don�t have that long to wait,� said Jellic, suddenly getting a
bad feeling about this place. �I�m leaving this city in the morning for
the Desert of Death, and I�ll need my Mewthree in order to make it
through there alive.�
�I�m afraid you don�t have a choice, Jellic,� she said, pressing a
button under her desk. The door slammed shut, and Jellic heard the lock
click. �You�re not leaving this office with that Mewthree.�
�I�m not leaving without it,� responded Jellic, standing up and
pulling the Pokeball from his belt. �If I have to call it out here, I
will.�
�Unfortunately, you won�t get that chance,� she said smoothly.
Before Jellic could react, something hard hit him in the back of the
head, and he dropped to the floor, still clutching the Pokeball in his
hand. Fortunately, the blow was rather inexperienced, and Jellic
remained mostly conscious. However, he felt it prudent to feign
unconsciousness rather than give himself away.
�Now what, ma�am?� asked a deep, rather unintelligent voice.
�Take the Pokeball,� answered Natalie. �Once we have his Mewthree,
nothing will stand in the way of our plans.� Jellic nearly blew his
cover and had to stifle his quickening breath when he heard this. The
Pokemon League was up to something evil, surely! He felt Trevor standing
over him and reaching down to grab the Pokeball. Jellic waited for the
right moment to �
The doorknob rattled. �Who could that be?� Natalie wondered aloud.
�Whoever�s out there, you can�t come in! We�re conducting official
business!�
�I don�t care about your business!� replied Droll Vordekar�s muffled
voice. �Muk, Sulfuric Acid!� Jellic could hear the sizzling sound as the
office door melted, and Droll Vordekar stepped through. �Ah,� he sighed,
�for once we seem to be working toward the same purpose.�
Natalie stood up behind her desk. �This man has been plotting
against the Pokemon League for some time, as have you, Droll. I fail to
see how we could possibly be working toward the same purpose.�
�My research is nearly complete,� answered Vordekar, �but our mutual
acquaintance, Jellic, holds a vital part of it. I merely wish to reclaim
one of his Pokemon for myself.�
�The Mewthree is Pokemon League property by law,� spat Natalie.
�Then you are welcome to it,� Vordekar quickly replied. �I�m
interested in one of the other Pokemon.�
�In that case, I can�t allow you to have any of them. I know exactly
what you�re doing up at that lab of yours, Droll. You�re breeding
Pokemon that are powerful against our Psychic types. Do you think I
would honestly do anything to help you in your quest to take over the
Pokemon League?�
�You don�t have a choice,� said Vordekar. �Shall we battle? Even the
incomplete product of my research is powerful enough to destroy any
Pokemon you could choose.�
�Very well,� replied Natalie. �Mewtwo, attack!�
�Bruiser, destroy the cat!� shouted Vordekar. Jellic cautiously
opened one eye, hoping to catch a glimpse of the action, but Trevor was
standing over him. Jellic quickly squeezed his eye shut, hoping that
Trevor wouldn�t notice that he was awake.
�Mewtwo, Barrier!�
�Bruiser, Data Stream!� Jellic heard a series of high-pitched whines
coming from Vordekar�s Pokemon.
�Mewtwo, Psychic! What are you doing? PSYCHIC!� shouted Natalie.
Jellic felt the psychic waves washing over him, and Trevor dropped to
the floor. However, Droll Vordekar simply laughed.
�Your Psychic attacks cannot harm my Pokemon!� he taunted.
�It�s not a Pokemon at all!� returned Natalie. �It�s a... what is
it, anyway?�
Jellic felt a pair of strong hands grab his legs and quickly whirled
on his assailant. He found himself staring up into Arthur�s face. �Good,
you�re awake,� whispered Arthur. �Quick, while they�re distracted, we
should make our escape!� Jellic stood carefully and darted for the door,
sneaking a quick glance over his shoulder to try to determine what type
of Pokemon Vordekar had. Unfortunately, Vordekar�s body blocked his line
of sight. It didn�t, however, block Natalie�s.
�There he goes,� she said, pointing over Vordekar�s shoulder.
�What?!� shouted Vordekar, whirling just in time to see Jellic
escaping through the open door. �We must catch him at once!�
�Go if you want,� said Natalie. �You�ll forfeit this match, of
course. I, on the other hand, planned for this very contingency. There
will be a rather... interesting surprise waiting for Jellic when he
reaches the street. I think you would approve of it, Droll.� Vordekar
swore under his breath as he recalled his Pokemon and stormed out of the
office. �Don�t worry, Droll,� she said to herself once he was gone.
�Once we�ve dealt with Jellic, we�ll have more than enough power to
crush you. You see, I know what your little game is, and I know exactly
how to put a stop to it. Your research will be useless when the Pokemon
League comes crashing through your door...� She removed a Pokeball from
her belt and cradled it lovingly. �And I do mean CRASHING.�
-----------------------------------------------------------
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
JACKIE CHAN: Oh, sorry. I broke your spy camera! (pause) SPY CAMERA?!
My webpage: http://www.rose-hulman.edu/~katinamp