Episode 3 - Bite the dust

"So this is the Vermillion City Gym?"

I looked up at the towering gym, blocking the sunlight behind it. I wasn't expecting a lot of changes here, first of all, the wiki mentions that it used to be a military-like a theme and now it's like a disco bar, second, the wiki also mentions that Surge should be the gym leader but by the looks of it, I guess there is a new gym leader.

I groaned with disappointment, knowing I already know what Surge's speciality is and how to defeat him ended up to the garbage because of a new gym leader. Well, time to go to the Pokemon centre so I could think of a new strategy and strengthen my Pokemons.

We got to the Pokemon centre, we were greeted with a calming and relaxing atmosphere, it feels like heaven if I were to guess. I gave my pokemon to the lady from the counter to heal them, and I sat down near to the computer and began typing. If I think ahead enough, I could find a way to defeat the new gym leader. By browsing from the wiki, I found out it's still an electric-type based gym, but with a different style. It also mentions that the new gym leader has 'more attitude' than Surge, the gym also lead disco party during weekends for charity and sometimes a town centre, where people of the Vermillion city meet up and talk important subjects, mainly on one thing, and I tell you, it's been a huge debate for a very long time. Is Kanto a motherland or fatherland? That topic was so old that people from the old generations keep talking about, and yes, this is the only political problems here in Kanto which is the reason why this country has three different regions, West believes Kanto is a fatherland while East believes Kanto is a motherland. The issue ranked up to the politics that it made parties, the MLP or Motherland Parties and FLP or Fatherland Parties; and no, these are not just fathers or mothers, all genders have sides from those parties.

Enough of the political talk, I forgot to introduce you all the Vermillion city. This city was the foundation of trading here in Kanto, where all shipping boats from different countries to trade with Kanto. This place is also well known for its lively and friendly people, except for the time when you throw garbage on the street, they will hate you for life. Yes, this place has rules of being clean at all cost, dirty clothes equals prison or fine, throw any garbage equals an outcast or you're no longer welcome here. I know those are strict rules but obeying them is better, I also searched that the wiki mentions that this city is the second cleanest city just right behind Galar's capital, which I forgot. Also, people here are science and space enthusiasts, people here always goes to space and sometimes visit their relatives in mars, they also made the technology that helped us mine asteroids, and they made the first teleportation machine, by the help of some scientist called Bill. Fun fact! almost all concerts here are mostly or all the time, virtual pop stars with their Vocaloid. Also, their favourite pokemon type is well Electric-type, make sense why their gym is an electric-type gym. I forgot that Pewter's gym is rock because they like mining rocks from asteroids, yes we stop mining mountains, Cerulean loves the waters which is why they have a water type gym and make sense why they demanded a sea near Cerulean City.

"Mister Yoake!" said the lady by the counter. I stopped thinking and went to the Counter.

" Danke, Miss. " I thanked her, well almost everyone thanks these workers.

"No problem." She handed my Pokeballs, I took all three of it and place it under my belt, Kirlia was doing fine as well.

While I was about to leave the Pokemon centre, I saw a kid running to the centre carrying something, it was a pokemon, a raticate. He opens the door bursting with tears from eyes and whines with his childish voice.

"What's the matter?" The Lady from the counter asks, the kid gave his pokemon to her and began rubbing his eyes and sniffed from his cries.

" Th-The New Gym Leader, he nearly killed my pokemon. " The lady in the counter and were I shocked, I know nothing about the guy and by looking at this kid's Pokemon, it's very fatal and damaging a Pokemon's physical strength.

"Alright, I'll take care of this. You there!" She grabs the injured pokemon from the child's arms to hers, she then looks at me with a serious face.

"You are going to fight the gym leader, right?" She asked me seriously, I nodded. I have to prepare myself against the gym leader, if it didn't go well, probably my team will get crushed.

"You must have a paralyze heal. I know nothing about the new guy but all I know he's tougher than Surge." She went back to the counter carrying the Pokemon, the kid was worried about his while I was worried about mine, I look at Kirlia, her innocent smile tried to wear my worries down but I'm still scared for her. I don't have an advantage against electric-type, all of them are just neutral except for Spearow, he's in big trouble if I send him into the battlefield. I was getting nervous now, afraid of not knowing how can I defeat him or her, and then I remember something.

(Flashback)

I look out of the curtains to see the audience, I was scared. The Piano was there in stage, being lit from the spotlight above, anxiety slowly kicks in and I was shivering and cowering with fear. I wanted to leave but can't, I want to burst in tears but I can't, I just want to go home.

"Are you alright?" asked by a familiar voice, I turn around and saw her, holding my lucky scarf.

"You forgot this." She rose her hand with my scarf, I ran toward her with a big hug, crying on her hands-on how afraid I am.

"There There now. Tell me what's going on?" She softly spoke while patting my back while I cried.

" I'm scared. " I cried, I began sniffing while my tears fall through my eyes. She looks at me and slowly grabs my head, her hands softly remove my tears and giving me a warm smile.

"Don't be, Leaf-chan is always here for you. " She softly spoke, she's right, she's always there for me. I hugged her tighter as I slowly stopped my worries. She hugged my back with her soft arms, it was a heaven moment, the feeling of the world stopped and I wanted to embrace this hug.

"Do you're best and always wear this." She said after we hugged, She placed the scarf over my neck and I slowly got my confidence.

"You promise the right to be here for me?" I asked her, reaching out my pinky finger to her asking a pink promise.

"I promise." she reached out her pinky finger fulfilling her promise.

(End of Flashback)

I gulped as I look at the handle of the door in the Pokemon centre, I know I'm afraid but I have to do it. Young me is always being taught to always believe in yourself because someone believes in you, but right now that someone is not here. I regret having that promise, it always hurts me. Looking back to the old days makes me hate myself and her as well.

I slowly mustered up the courage and open the door with Kirlia behind me, I have to do this. Not just for me but also for my Pokemon team, Misty believed in me, Kriya as well. I have to master myself and conquer my fears before I become the Pokemon World Champion, I wanted this dream and a Promise to that girl when she gave me this scarf, I would do this for everyone I cared about.

We went back to the gym, this time my Pokemon and Mental strength are prepared. With the paralyze heal and potions in my bag, I can do this with no problems. The new gym leader shall know my strength and wills to the battlefield, with friends side by side helping me. Here I come, I open the door of the gym, I was greeted by darkness, nothing more. There was a bit of red light from the walls, the battlefield was filled with dance tiles and surrounded by an elevated platform filled with tables and chairs, a Large TV was above the battlefield, each in different angels. I was expecting more from this place but it ended up with a disappointment.

We began searching around to see if the Gym leader was here, a few walks and we heard a loud groan from the far distance, we tried to listen and find the voice and we ended up near the DJ mixer. We saw a guy, short blonde hair, with a yellow jacket with a white shirt under it, black pants with white shoes and some classic black beats in his head, playing his switch while laying down on the floor, is this the janitor or someone else?

"Are you the gym leader?" I asked the guy, he nodded while playing on his switch. It wasn't a full switch, just a lite one, where the controller is in the console.

" Well, you're the guy who's gonna battle me? " he asked, he has a very deep voice. I nodded slowly as he put down his Switch and stood up. He was taller than me as he stood up, I went to my place in my battlefield and began preparing.

"You're the winner of that Piano Championship 4 years ago, right?" He asked I nodded. I remember that this City was my first win in the Music Divisions, where I manage to compose a lot of music, mainly for the piano and a bit some concert. Yes, I use to be a famous artist, now I let my sister do the work.

"I'm surprised to see the Winner of all the champions, Let's see if you're good at this as well. " He clapped his arms as the lights of the Building shine, the disco tiles from the battlefield began to shine with red, blue, green and white colour. The spotlight began to shine on the tiles in front of us, probably a place for our Pokemon to be there. The Speakers from the corners of the room began to ring some music, the Unova beat began to begin.

"You're from Unova, aren't you?" I asked him, I realise that the theme of the gym is a Unovan party Floor, the beat as well, everything about Unova was here. This gym leader is not native here, same goes for his pokemon, I will try my best at this gym leader.

"Yup, I forgot to introduce myself, my name is Elec from Unova. I warn you my Pokemon are tougher than those from Kanto." He warned as the Tiles were colour red, I nodded and clenched my fist to prepare my mental self.

"By the looks of it, you are going to battle all of the Leagues. Well as you progress, I warn you, Things will go tougher. Unless you have a fighting spirit and someone beside you until the end. And I ask you, do you have any of those?" He asked in a deep voice, it was like Misty's but a more serious question.

"I know I wanted to become the Pokemon World Champion but I don't have that enough spirit, there would be a time I doubt myself and lose my strength. I couldn't answer the question, I was too afraid to back then and until now, I wanted to let everything go from the past but it keeps haunting me, I wanted to be free from my Youth despite I'm still 12. I want to be the person I want to be!! I WILL FIGHT FOR IT AT ALL COST!!!" I shouted as the Scarf on my neck began waving, Kirlia was looking at me, she is also beliving me or I was just looking at a different person. All of my childhood days will be over, it's time to finally grow up. I have Kirlia beside me, Spearow and Stalin as well.

" Very Wise, your scarf alone can yell you've been through a lot, and let's see what did you learn from them!! " I slowly prepared my Pokeball, I saw his belt while he talks, just three pokemon.

"POKEMON GOO!!!" We both shouted as I threw in Stalin while he threw an Emolga, it was a huge disadvantage.

" EMOLGA USE AERIAL ACE!!

"STALIN USE VINE WHIP!!

Emolga then charge with speed as his wings flaps toward Stalin, he was about to use has leafy hand but Emolga hit him first, he got tumble and pushed back, he can't grab anything because of the Dance floor. Stalin then got the opportunity to use the Vine whip and captured Emolga, threw down to the ground damaging him.

" EMOLGA ANOTHER AERIAL ACE FINISH IT!!! "

"STALIN DRAG EMOLGA DOWN WITH VINE WHIP!!!"

Emolga then charges faster than before as he went to Stalin, this time it was top quick and Stalin got hurt luckily Stalin manages to grab him and been swung to the floor, in the end, its a draw. Both Pokemon have fainted, I immediately withdrew Stalin as Elec withdrew his Emolga.

"You are tougher than I thought, well let's see about this!!! AMPHY GOO!"

" Kirlia it's your time, Go! "A large pokemon towered Kirlia in the battlefield, an Amphoros, the fully evolved form of Mareep.

"AMPHY USE THUNDER PUNCH!!!"

" KIRLIA USE CALM MIND! "

Amphoras began clenching his fast as spark slowly emerges from his hand, he then rushed toward Kirlia, She saw this and began closing her eyes. What was she thinking, Amphoros was about to hit her but her small size and flexible body, she danced it away by dodging all of those hits? From left to right, no matter how Amphoros tried, she danced to dodge it.

"AMPHY STOP HER WITH ICE PUNCH!!!"

" KIRLIA USE PSYCHIC NOW!! "

Amphoros was frustrated and began punching very quickly, yet again Kirlia dodged her away by dancing over and over. She was calm while I was nervous and sweating, Elec saw through me as I sweat. After another punch, Kirlia backed off and began making light from her small hands, keeping together energy and releases it with a Purple shockwave, Amphoros was thrown back to Elec with a single damage, the Pokemon faints while Kirlia stands on our side.

"Not bad, not bad." He spoke while crossing his hand.

" I only have one and you have two more,  let's see that strength of yours. This is your Third Gym! And this is my last Pokemon! " He shouted as he grabs his Pokeball and faces it in front of me.

"VICTORY IS NOW IN YOUR EYES AND LET THE DECISIVE BATTLE BEGIN!!! EELECTROSS GO!" He threw another Pokemon into the battlefield, the music changed from dubstep to an orchestral remix. The Dance floor turned Yellow, and the spotlight look at Kirlia, this is the final pokemon.

"KIRLIA USE PSYCHIC!!!"

" EELEKTROSS USE ELECTROBALL QUICKLY!!! "

A Ball of spark began to appear from Eelektross' hand, it was bright and it shines. He then threw it very quickly while Kirlia tried to dodge it but her psychic forcefield, it manages to capture it in the forcefield. We were stunned on how it blocks it, but for Elec, he was chill and it felt like he already knows it.

"Hmph. Interesting but Eelektross touched that Electroball. EELECTROSS BITE THE DUST!!!" He shouted as a large Explosion appeared, Kirlia was thrown to the side, badly hurt. This was the same thing what happened to the kid earlier, his raticate couldn't handle that damage but Kirlia manage to stand but in pain, I withdrew her quickly, not by Pokeball but she got back beside me. I got no choice but to release Spearow here, he has to be quick enough to damage him or he's pure damage.

"SPEAROW GO!!!'

" EELEKTROSS ANOTHER throw Electroball! "

Eekeltross threw another ball to Spearow, but manage to dodge it quickly. I realise that his electro ball can do serious damage, hit or not. I have to make Spearow give him a lot of damage.

"SPEAROW USE FEINT ATTACK!!"

" EELEKTROSS USE WILD CHARGE!!! "

Spearow began flying upward in this small gym, Eelektross tried to follow him but Spearow quickly free dive and hit Eelektross down to the ground. He manages to hit him but Spearow got electrocuted from Eelektross' wild charge, he was slowing down, this is a problem. I saw him, spark on his wings, this is a huge problem.

"EELEKTROSS USE ANOTHER WILD CHARGE!!!!"

"Spearow use FEINT ATTACK!!!"

Eelektross' body began to spark, he then charged toward Spearow. He was trying to dodge him but Eelektross managed to hit him quickly, Spearow was thrown to the other side, he was fully damage, any attacks from Eelektross can faint him.

"You got hit bt Eelektross! EELEKTROSS USE BITE THE DUST!!!"

I was shocked as Spearow was thrown to the air by an explosion. As he falls down on the dance floor, he still stands up, despite how many bruises he got. I was worried for him, I look at Kirlia who was covered in fear, trying to hide and cover her eyes with her arms, poor Pokemon.

"Spearow..." I softly spoke as the pokemon slowly rose from its Feet while Eelektross was looking at it menacingly. All hope was lost but I notice a beep from my pants, it wasn't my phone, it was the Pokedex. I quickly pick it up and notice something was wrong.

" Spearow is Evolving!!! " Should buy the AI voice from the Pokedex. Spearow began to shine brightly, he slowly grows and his beak becomes longer. A few morphs later, he was done, he was fully evolved.

"Congratulations, Spearow evolved into Fearow. Fearow would like to learn Tri Attack" Said the AI voice from the Dex. I rose my eyebrows, Tri Attack can be learned from an egg move, how did he learn from it. What did he do before I captured him, is he just a newly born when I captured him. I'll check it later, but now I will finish it.

"FEAROW USE TRI-ATTACK!!

" EELECTROSS USE WILD CHARGE!!! "

Fearow then threw a triangular-shaped object toward Eelectross before he charged. The pokemon fainted as Fearow stood in the dance floor, the floor's light started to change colour, Elec withdraws his pokemon while I withdrew mine. I didn't use any paralyze heal, such a huge waste might be useful later. Elec came near to me with a smile, Kirlia stopped covering her eyes and saw the battle was already done.

"Your Scarf can tell many stories about you young man, tell me, Who are you again?" He asked while he placed his arm in my shoulder.

"My Name is Yoake Katsuragi, and I will be the Pokemon World Champion." I proudly spoke as I clenched my fist in front of my eyes, If I want to continue my journey, I have to let go Leaf and younger me, but how?

"Here, This is the Bolt Badge, you're the third badge and since you did well, Here have this TM." He gave me the bolt badge and I put it in my pocket, he also gave me a TM, the strongest electric type move, Thunderbolt.

" Say, My Sister is also a Gym leader in Unova, here you can have her number if you need some help about electric types. " He gave me his sister number, Elesa, the Famous model of the Unova Region.

"Why did you gave me her number?" I asked him.

" For you and me, She has a crush on you. " He whispered in my ears, I softly blush and shock. I never thought someone would have a crush on me, the possibility of it is very low and plus it's a Model.

"She also told me to give her number." He laughed while I blushed, I nodded as well, I turn to see Kirlia who was smiling at me.

We got back to the Pokemon centre, it was already night at the time. I gave my pokemon to the counter plus Kirlia, I went to the coach and think. I look at my scarf who was swaying from the cold breezing air in the centre, This is the only person I will think of, I look at the scarf, the first person who made me who I am, the person who pushed me to society, it's not Leaf or anyone here from Kanto. I forgot her name is but One day I will find her, this is from Unova and I can tell she is there, happily living. I hope we'll meet up again, I thought while Softly touching the black scarf.  While I was looking at the scarf, I heard some winning from a kid, I look around and saw a kid who just entered from the doors.

"What's the matter?" The lady from the counter asks, I quickly went to the kid. This happened earlier, Elec already closed his gym, what is it now?

" Someone stole my Pokemon. " He pointed to the outside of the door, I had no choice but to get it since I'm allowed to go out.

"I'll get it," I spoke, the lady from the counter nodded and proceeded to give back my Pokemon.

The kid told me that his Pokemon got stolen from the north, it used to be a route now it's a Forest. Since people now use Trains to go to different cities, routes are no closed but for trainers want to get some Pokemon, they are allowed as long as they follow the rules.

While walking, I notice the wind is getting cold, Kirlia grabs my hand, she was afraid. We kept walking and walking until we stumble around a figure, it was him, that Team Rocket Grunt from earlier in the bridge, this time, he doesn't have any sunglasses.

"YOU!!' I angrily shouted at him.

" Stealing another kids' Pokemon?  give me a Break? I THOUGHT TEAM ROCKET IS BETTER THAN THAT!!! " I shouted, I was hoping a stronger Team Rocket but all I see are just stealing kids' pokemon, such a huge disappointment.

"You Should watch your mouth, kid." He angrily looks at me, the winds began to colden as the moon above us lit the battle, it was getting intense.

"I'll shut my mouth if you stop! KIRLIA LET'S GO!" I shouted as Kirlia jumped into the battlefield.

" NIDORINO CRUSH IT WITH  HORN DRILL!! "

A Pokemon jumped into Kirlia from the trees, she was pinned and damage. She was stopped from being Pin and got thrown to the trees, she was damaged and hurt, bruises from her head was shown.

"KIRLIA!!!" I shouted as the grunt look at me with mockery, Maybe I doubt Team Rocket, this is my fault.

"Kirlia! !" Shouted by the Pokemon as a Light from her body began to shine, she slowly becomes taller, her horns from her head was gone and her battle dress elongated and her body was now tall as I am. After a few morphed, the evolution is over, She's now a fully grown Pokemon, a Gardevoir. I felt my blood rushed, I slowly felt a sensation that I never felt, like a connection between us.

"GARDEVOIR USE PSYCHIC!!" I shouted as the Pokemon shouted her name and a shockwave pushed the grunt and The Nidorino was thrown, the nearby trees were bent and the power was strong.

" Gardevoir... " I softly spoke to her, she looks back at me with a smile. Her wounds were gone, she was fully healed and now, she's stronger than ever.

"Garde! Garde-" She was about to run to me but she got paralyzed and fell on the floor, I was about to run toward her but I felt a sharp object stab behind me.

I turn around and saw a Team Rocket grunt holding a knife, I scream in pain he pushed me down on the floor. I notice a pool of blood slowly appeared in front of my eyes, I slowly getting lose conscience, I tried to grab Gardevoir but it was too late. Is this the end of me? did I really fie from Team Rocket? But I'm not yet done, I want that league. I saw the world around me filled with Team Rocket, I slowly close my eyes and fainted and heard one last voice.

"VILEPLUME USE PETAL  DANCE!!!"

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