by Smiley13
"Misty, I gotta call
Professor Oak, okay?" Ash asked his sweetheart.
"Fine."
The Pokemon center in Viridian was pretty much unlike the way
Pikachu had left it, the Center was actually fixed up and the
computers were 100% functional...those stone plaques which bared
the images of four legendary birds were never the same though.
Nurse Joy was standing at the counter and recognizing Ash's face,
she greeted him.
"Haven't seen you in a while, came here for your final
badge?"
"Yeah, can I call up Prof. Oak on your phone?"
"Why certainly! Here let me dial him up for you."
"Thanks."
"Ring, Ring, Ring! Ring, Ring, Ring! Phone Call! Phone
Call!" the video-phone cajoled in it's sing-song voice.
The noise startled Professor Oak as he was perfecting a new
device on the Pokedex, an experience checker, it would check the
Pokemon's condition and rate various traits of the Pokemon to
give an almost precise readout of any given Pokemon's level and
condition.
"Rats! Who could be calling me?" Oak asked himself
silently.
The wise (if not slightly senile) Professor answered the phone.
"Hello, Professor Oak." Ash greeted with a smile as
soon as the Prof answered.
"Oh, hello Ash! How's your Pikachu?" as Prof. Oak said
those words, he saw Pikachu jump into the camera's view.
"Pika! Pika Pikachu!" Pikachu greeted Prof Oak.
"He's doing fine as you can see." Ash
Where are you right now?"
"I'm in Viridian City!"
"Viridian? Didn't you go there about 9 months ago?"
"Professor, I'm here to get my 8th and final badge!"
"8th badge?" Oak thought for a moment before the image
set in. "Oh yes, the Earth Badge! Good luck on getting it!
Many have never defeated the final trainer!"
"Who is the final trainer?" Ash just relized that while
Earth Badge was the hardest to get, no one had ever told him who
the trainer was.
"I'm sorry Ash, that information is unknown, he always
stands in the darkest place in the gym, he hardly ever talks, so
no one knows who he truely is."
"Oh....I see." Ash was getting tense and nervous.
However, he now noticed the sleek black device in the professor's
hand, it looked like a pokedex, only black and somewhat larger.
"Uh, Professor Oak? What's that in your hand?"
"Huh? What? Oh this! This a modified Pokedex with a new
device I call the experience checker."
"What's it do?"
"It checks the condition of a pokemon, and it rates various
traits of it, and then gives a readout of the level and condition
of any given pokemon, that's just theory though, the actual tests
have been less than successful. Here look, a level 3 caterpie in
perfect condition I happen to have here." Prof. Oak hit a
button on his Pokedex while pointing it at Caterpie.
"A level 15 Caterpie that's in perfect condition." was
the report the device gave.
"As you can see, Pokemon and condition are no problem, but
the level is wrong!" Oak looked at device with annoyance.
"Well...uh...how are my pokemon doing?"
"They're doing fine! They have quite strong levels.
But..."
"But....?"
"But....you only have 50 pokemon! Gary has 149!"
"AHHHHH!" Ash felt his world crumble around him and
fainted as Oak said those three words. Misty came to his side
immediately.
"What's wrong Ash?" Oak and Misty both asked at the
same time.
"Uhhhh...." Ash mumbled.
"Wake up Ash!" Misty shook him up a bit, but it was no
use.
"Hmm...he seems to be out cold." Oak pointed out the
obvious.
"Oh wait...I know! Pikachu, wake him up with
thundershock!"
"Pi...kaaaaa-CHOOOOOOOOOO!" Pikachu released a wave of
electricity into his owner, while destroying minor things and
shocking Misty as well.
"Pikachuuuuu! You gottttaaaa learrrn how to controllll that
attackk!" Misty studdered under the heavy wave of
electricity.
"Ughhhhhh.....what happened?" Ash got up slowy with a
slight pain.
"You fainted." Prof. Oak explained the situation to
Ash.
"Well, it's getting dark, we better leave." Ash bid
farewell.
"Bye Ash, good luck!" Professor Oak bidded farewell and
the computer screen went blank.
* * *
Outside of the inn, Ash tapped on Misty's shoulder.
"Yeah? What is it Ash?" Misty turned around to face her
love.
"I have a little gift for you." Ash handed Misty a
small box.
Misty opened up the box to find a small wooden figurine. It
showed Ash and Misty together, Misty was lying down on the grass,
and Ash had his hand affectionately on Misty's shoulder. Pikachu
was in Misty's arms, it was a very detailed figure, complete with
facial expressions, color, and clothing, it was detailed right
down to the number of badges Ash has. It was a moment in stasis.
"It's lovely!" Misty embraced Ash and kissed him on the
cheek.
"It sure cost a lot though" Ash nervously embraced
Misty back.
"How much? How did you get the money?" Misty asked,
still embracing.
"Uhh....I had to take the money I was saving up to pay you
back for your bike." Ash closed his eyes, ready for the rage
that Misty has to explode in his face.
"YOU WHAT!!?!?!" Misty let Ash free of her embrace and
was incredibly upset at Ash.
"Uhh....sorry." Ash felt a sweatdrop form at the back
of his head.
"Hmmph! You could've gotten me a new one probably by now,
but noooo, Mr. I-wanna-get-my 8th badge-and-be-a-pokemon-master
goes out and buys a figurine!" Misty was getting more upset
by the minute.
"Now hold on a minute! I bought the figurine for you! You
haven't mentioned your bike in about 3 months!" Ash shot
back.
"Cut it you two! You fight like your a married couple!"
Brock was getting tired of stopping these fights between the two
lovebirds. "Come on, our room is ready."
* * *
The room of the inn was nothing special, it had two beds and a
couch, a TV, a desk, lamp, nothing special about it, just your
plain ordinary room.
"You two can sleep on the bed, I'll just crash on the
couch." Brock said.
"Alright"
"Fine"
Ash and Misty shared a quick kiss before going to their beds.
The group split up and went to sleep. Ash dreamed of how it would
be like to fight the gym leader, he didn't know anything about
him....or could it be a her? He didn't know his/her pokemon,
their attacks, name, nothing. It was all a wide void, all he knew
was that very few ever suceeded against this trainer. He slept
through the night un-easily. Disturbed by the fact that he wasn't
scared by what he knew about the trainer, but of what he didn't
know.
* * *
The day was new, the time had come...it was now or never, Ash had
to meet his match sooner or later, sooner was no more, later had
come now. The group woke up and packed their belongings. Brock
checked out of the inn, Ash was nervous, determined, and knew
that it was now or never. Misty was at her love's side, she
wanted to see him win that Earth Badge more than any other.
Pikachu went to Ash's side and looked ready as ever.
"Ready to win us a new badge?" Ash asked.
"Pi-KA!" Pikachu agreed.
The group set out.
* * *
The Viridian Gym was large, very large, it had a cold look to it,
a menacing look, it was meant to intimidate all those who saw it,
it did it's job well. A young brown-haired boy in a blue shirt
and blue pants was mumbling expletives to himself.
"Gary?" Ash inquired.
"Yeah, what's to you?" Gary said in his usual cocky
voice.
"Where's your fan club? I never got their numbers!"
Brock asked in while blushing heavily.
"They left me when I lost this stupid battle." Gary
mumbled under his breath.
"What was that?" Misty asked.
"Nothing you would care about."
"Hmmph" She responded.
"Uh....Why are you out here instead of in here?" Ash
asked.
"I lost a stupid battle in there and the guy ain't giving no
second chances, happy now!!?" The rival exploded with rage.
"So that's why the club isn't here." Brock said to
himself sadly.
"Anyways, Ash-ley..." Gary shot at Ash but was
inturrupted by Misty's fist connecting to his face.
"Shut up, you cocky little brat!" Misty snapped
fiercely at Gary.
"My, my, letting your girlfriend fight your battles for you,
Ash...tsk,tsk, your more of a loser than I thought you
were!" Gary was getting Ash riled up now.
"Let's settle this AFTER I win the Earth Badge." Ash
was getting tired of this.
"Who said you were going to win? I have 149 pokemon and lost
the battle, you only have 50 pokemon...how will you win!?"
Gary shot back.
"You'll see...I WILL win." Ash became more determined
than ever, opened the gym's door and was about to step inside the
gym when Misty stopped him cold in his tracks.
"Wish me luck" Ash said to Misty.
"Good luck Ash." Misty quickly kissed Ash on the lips.
"Thanks."
"Can I come in too?"
"No...I must do this battle...alone."
He closed the door.
"I hope he'll be alright." The red head said to
herself.
"Ah, who cares? He isn't good enough for ya anyway, why
don't ya we ditch this loser and go out on the town tonight,
eh?" Gary asked in an even more cocky tone of voice, put his
arm around Misty and she responded with a punch in the face.
* * *
Ash entered the gym, it was dark, with only a sole spotlight
lighting the center. He cautiously entered the bright area and
then heard a voice that sent shivers down his spine.
"Who are you?" The voice demanded an answer.
"I..I..I am Ash Ketchum from the town of Pallet." Ash
replied quietly and then other unseen lights turned on and lit up
the room with a brilliant light! The only dark place was where
the trainer was, he was hiding in the shadows.
"So you are Ash...heh, you don't look like much, your
pikachu...don't see why Jessie and James are having so much
trouble with a runt like that." the voice was speaking in an
insulting tone.
"We'll just see about that!" Ash shot back like a tap
on the skin hurts an Onix.
"HA!"
"Who are you anyway?"
"I am..." a person stepped out of the shadow. "the
Viridian City gym leader, I am also the leader of the scrouge of
evil and villany across the earth! I am a trainer and the leader
of.....Team Rocket! I am...Giovanni!" he stood ready for the
battle.
"So...you're the leader? This should make my victory twice
as good!" The lad smirked.
"Who said anything about you having a victory?"
"I did..." Ash retorted.
"Well now..lets see if your skill can live up to your
mouth!" Giovanni got a pokeball,
"Get em Nidoking!" Giovanni called out.
"Pikachu, I choose you!" Ash followed suite.
"Pi!" Pikachu went out and attacked the Nidoking.
"Pikachu, thundershock!" Pikachu charged up as the red
spots on the pokemon's cheeks sparked up,
and launched a large bolt of electricity at the large,
thick-skinned, pokemon.
"Nidoking, Agility!" the walking brick wall responed
and dodged the blast, which hit solid ground and left a rather
deep but small crater on the floor.
"Pikachu, Tackle him!!" The small rodent went and
charged at the Nidoking with all his might.
"Horn attack now!" The Nidoking used his horns to hit
Pikachu HARD.
"CHAU!!!!" The electric rat squealed with pain.
"Pikachu, return!" Ash called his pikachu back after
seeing the effects of just one hit. Pikachu was running back to
his trainer until the Nidoking stepped in front of Ash.
"HA! You are weak! I only allow one pokemon to be used in a
battle and you can't change!" Giovanni said happily, he knew
victory was at hand.
1 or 2 blasts, dodgings and holes later, Ash noticed the craters
Pikachu had caused with his electricity.
"Pikachu! Shock the areas around Nidoking but not Nidoking
himself!!"
"Pi?" Pikachu asked in a confused tone.
"Just do what I say!"
"Pika!" Pikachu nodded.
"And don't forget to use Agility!" Ash called out at
the last minute. But pikachu was off in a flash and shocking the
areas around Nidoking, placing the large, heavy Nidoking with a
small waterless moat around him.
"Nido?" The Nidoking was confused as he saw the pit
around him.
"Nidoking, don't you see? Jump over the holes!" The
"boss" called to his large, bulky pokemon.
The Nidoking tried to jump over, but landed like a rock in the
pit, unable to move in the limited space now given.
"YEAH!" Ash cheered.
"Pi-KA!" Pikachu joined.
"DRAT! I was beaten by a measly little Pikachu! I've
defeated the greater pokemon! Articuno, Blastoises, even
Dragonites and Charizards have been defeated by me and Nidoking!
Only to be beaten by this..this...RODENT!" Giovanni tossed
the Earth Badge at Ash without looking at him, the beaten villan
sulked as Ash pinned the badge to the inside of his jacket and
stepped outside.
* * *
Ash stepped outside and found that it wasn't just the afternoon
sun out to greet him. Misty, Brock were there waiting for him,
and then Gary stepped into view, about to say some smart-mouth
comment, Ash opened his Jacket so that he could reveal his
newly-earned badge. Gary was about to walk up to his rival but
Misty shoved him out of the way. She embraced Ash and kissed him.
She rested her head on Ash's shoulder.
"I knew you would win!" Misty congratulated her love.
"Aw...it was nothing really..." He blushed and embraced
her as well.
"Yeah, cause it WAS nothing!" Gary was doing everything
he could to rile Ash up. It was working, Ash gently let go of
Misty.
"Let's settle this NOW! Once and for all!"
To be continued...
* * *