Chapter 7:
The Orphanage
As the two Mouse Pokemon continued to stare each other down in the indoor rain, they we're ready to go. Voltage smiled and remarked this was going to be a true electric battle now. Liz nodded because she felt that way also, and kept in mind that Raichu was already weakened from two Magical Leaf hits and she hoped that fact will help her. Though she knew it wasn't going to be easy but she at least hoped for a photo finish.
"Raichu, Thunder, fire!" Voltage called.
The big mouse like before glowed in bright yellow firing the powerful electric attack straight into the clouds. The electric bolt then came back down and aimed directly for Crystal.
"Crystal, Thundershock!" Liz called to her.
She nodded and glowed in bright yellow as well fired the electricity at Raichu. Both attacks hit their marks but don't do much damage to each other. This was to be expected as both we're the same type of being electric so moves of that same type won't do much damage. As both shake the last attacks off, both Liz and Voltage call for Volt Tackle. Both we're cloaked in yellow electricity and they charged head on at each other. As they clashed mid-air, they both slide back on the wet floor sparking from the recoil damage.
The rain suddenly stopped and the clouds departed as its five turns we're up. As Liz watched this, she figured that the key to winning was and stopping thunder was stopping Rain Dance...but how? Raichu was able to use Rain Dance through a Magical Leaf assault...what move could possibly stop him...? Then it hit her...the Static ability! If she can get Static to activate, she can possibly win.
However, she wasn't sure if she can get that lucky twice in one battle. She already got lucky once with Cute Charm, but Static had the same odds of activating at 30%. So with that in mind, overpowering Raichu seemed like the best answer to stopping the combo. Voltage however didn't want to use Rain Dance again just yet. In fact, he wanted to have a little fun with battling a pokemon he loved himself.
"Raichu, give them another Volt Tackle!" Voltage called to him.
O he's going to play that game is he? She thought then called, "Volt Tackle as well Crystal!"
Crystal nodded at Liz and went straight for the attack. Like all times before, once more the two we're cloaked in yellow electricity and they charged head on at each other. They hit head on and slid back on the now slightly wet ground and sparked from the recoil damage. Both we're becoming clearly exhausted from the battle, Raichu more so because he took a lot more hits. Even N could feel the excitement and tension in the air and both Liz and Voltage knew this battle was nearly over and will have a victor soon.
Voltage was now ready to unleash another Rain Dance because the battle was clearly nearly over. As Liz called Crystal to use Thundershock, Voltage called for Rain Dance at the same time. Crystal glowed in yellow electricity and fired away at Raichu who took it as he glowed blue and the indoor rain clouds and rain returned. Liz knew now with the return of the rain that Thunder was likely to return also...though Thundershock wasn't strong enough to counter it. What was she to do?
As the last attack did a little damage to Raichu, Voltage called for Thunder just as Liz predicted he would. Raichu once more glowed in bright yellow firing the powerful electric attack straight into the clouds. The electric bolt then came back down aiming directly for Crystal. Liz tried calling Thundershock but as Crystal glowed yellow and fired at the Thunder, it got overpowered and nailed her a little harder than normal knocking Crystal down.
"Ugh...Crystal..." Liz said concerned, "Crystal...can you stand...?"
"
<Ugh...y-yeah...>" She said as she struggled up and stood up panting.
Voltage smiled and looked at them and looked, "You two fought hard...but I'm afraid it has all come down to this...Raichu...Thunder to finish her off!"
The Big Orange Mouse complied and started to glow in yellow electricity. N was watching and could feel the battle wasn't over just yet...and he was right. Crystal started to spark in electrical energy and it started to concentrate in her heart shaped tail in the form of a ball. Liz wasn't sure what was going on out there but then it occurred to her...she realized Crystal learned a brand new move! As the Thunder went in it routine through the clouds, Crystal fire her attack at the thunder and it actually was powerful to stop it this time. This surprised everyone and Voltage exclaimed that Crystal learned Electro Ball and he supposed they had fight in them after all.
Liz was happy for Crystal and now felt for sure that can take Raichu down. She was ready to set fire to this rain and win her second badge. Voltage wasn't going to have it though and called for Raichu to Volt Tackle Crystal. Raichu nodded and glowed and charged forward cloaking in yellow once more.
"Crystal, Dodge and use Electro Ball!" Liz called.
Crystal nodded and jumped out of Raichu's way while charging the ball in her tail. She then fired the yellow ball at Raichu and it nailed him on the back knocking him out. Voltage was quite surprised as Liz was declared the winner and the match went to her. Liz was happy and Crystal ran and jumped into her arms and they hugged each other.
"Crystal...that was incredible...you learned Electro Ball in the perfect time..." she said with a smile.
Crystal smiled and said, "<
Yeah I suppose I did, hehe>"
Voltage could do nothing now but accept he got beaten so he recalled his Raichu to his Pokeball and thanked him after the red beam pulled him in. He then walks over to them actually cracking a smile for them.
"Well that was quite a surprise...but an amazing battle none the less...I sincerely thank you for an incredible battle." He said to them.
Liz turned to him and said, "Well thanks Voltage...it was a lot of fun and I'm proud of Crystal for learning Electro Ball...that was something else..."
"O I couldn't agree more...so here...as proof of your victory...the Topaz Badge is all yours." he said as he hand a circular badge that looked a genuine yellow Topaz Gemstone.
Liz smiled as she took it and held it up to show it to N. It was clear yellow all the way through with a ring of gold holding it on the side and was shining beautifully in the gym's lights.
N smiled as he saw how happy she was and thought,
Never doubted you for a moment...
As Liz thanked him and put it away in her badge case, Voltage pulled out a yellow disk to give to her.
"Here..." Voltage started, "this is the TM for Volt Switch as well...you earned that also." he said as he handed the disk to her.
Liz smiles and takes it as well looking at it for a few seconds before putting it away. She then thanks him again and the two shack hands before she turns to leave. N gets up from his seat and follows her out catching up with her.
N looked at her and said, "That was very impressive Liz...I had no doubt you would win that one. You and Crystal are...something special together."
Liz nodded and said, "Yes I think so to...I couldn't of done that without her...."
N smiled hearing those words and it was occurring to him more that maybe the two of them weren't so different after all. In fact, they we're similar in the fact that both he and Liz deeply cared for Pokemon but he was still a bit nervous to act on his emotions. His human emotions that is...it felt like a hard task. He may've known what a crush now but he wasn't sure how to act on it. Though maybe he was overthinking it right now because Liz seemed to like him as was.
As he pondered these thoughts, they walked to the Topaz Pokemon center. It had yellow carpet on the inside and white walls as they walked through the glass doors. It also has yellow chairs that are like small couches. Obviously it occurred to Liz that every center seems to be color coordinated. As she walks over to heal her Pokemon and hands them to the nurse, she thinks she sees something familiar out of the corner of her eye. The takes them and heals them on the flat machine. After her Pokemon get healed and returned to her, she turns that direction.
To her surprise...she sees Dread and Seline in the corner talking. Seline had her Eevee, which had silver-like fur instead of brown being shiny, on her shoulder and Dread appeared to be thinking about something. As she saw this, she simply couldn't believe it. She was going to contact her friends and have them come to the center but...she didn't have to. At least, now she didn't because they we're right there. After shacking off her shock, she looked at N and told him that her friends we're here. He was a bit surprised as she pointed them out to him.
In the back of his mind, he had a feeling they'd fear him upon seeing him. Despite this, he made the decision to face her friends with her. As they walk over, Liz decides to call to them.
"Hey, Seline! Dread!" She called to them.
They both turn to look recognizing her voice quite shocked themselves. Upon seeing it's indeed Liz, they run over to greet her. However, seeing N with her, they stop in their tracks even more shocked.
"I-Is that who...is that...who...? I think...it is....?" Seline asked.
"Now guys...I know what you’re thinking..." Liz started holding her hands up in front of her.
Dread looked at her while stepping forward and said, "Ugh...the Team Plasma Leader...here...with you?!"
"Dread, please...please let me explain..." Liz started again.
Dread being as headstrong as he was wasn't happy about seeing him Just as Liz expected he wouldn't be. Clearly he wasn't going to listen to anything she had to say because he was always the type to act first and ask questions later. However, she was glad she had Seline to help her out with Dread. As he simply wanted to come at N, Seline held him back by getting in front of him and told Liz she wanted to hear what she had to say. Liz thanked her and started to tell them all of the how she met N at the Crystal Lake after her first gym battle.
From that point, she pretty much recapped every event that has happened since she met him. The Gem Meadows, the Rainbow Tree and Fruit, N's connection to the region, about his Reshiram and how he and Reshiram agreed to help her learn to fly. Seline was both shocked and fascinated upon hearing it all and Dread was just quietly listening with little emotion. As he has stated before to Liz and Seline many times, he had no sympathy for leaders of evil organizations like Team Rocket that resides in the Kanto Region or Team Galactic that resides in the Sinnoh Region. Far as he was concerned, the leaders of teams of that nature got whatever they deserved when they fell out of power and he didn't see N as any different.
Liz saw what was different in N though and once tried to explain to Dread that he got manipulated by his supposed father. He didn't care to listen though at that time just like he didn't care now. In fact now that N was standing before him, Dread only had one thing in mind...he wanted to battle him. After Liz finished recapping everything, Dread took a step forward and declared his wish to battle.
"It was a nice story Liz but enough talk...", he started as he turned to look at N and said, "N, I wish to battle you right now!" he declared.
Liz looked at him rather surprised and said, "Ugh, Dread, what are you thinking...?!"
Seline was also quite surprised by the sudden outburst and said, "Dread, your pokemon aren't strong enough...N has Reshiram and his Zoroark there...you wouldn't able to..."
Dread glares at her and cuts her off saying, "No...they are strong enough because I don't know what he's planning out here but it can't be good!"
"Ugh....did you not just listen to a work I said?! He's just out here for a visit...he's not here to..." Liz said but then N through his arm up in front of her.
"Liz it's fine...some people perceive me as bad still, I get it...you and Seline seem like rare people exceptions..." He said to her. He then put his arm down and turned to Dread's way and said, "So you want to battle? Perhaps your friend Seline is right...your friends, if you even treat them as such, are probably not strong enough to face me yet...however...because you seem insistent, I'll accept. Meet me outside..."
With that, he began to turn and walk out with Liz and Seline followed him outside through glass doors. Dread stood there for a second in disbelief at N's words.
I'll show him that I'm strong enough...and I'll beat him to!, Dread thought as he ran out after him.
N looked over at him and asked if he was ready. Dread said yes and N explained that Zoroark and Reshiram we're the only two Pokemon he had with him. This shocked Dread and he declared this would make it easier than he hoped. N told him that if he was so sure, then he was free to use all the Pokemon he had with him. In Dread's mind, this seemed good because he had four Pokemon in his arsenal and figured this would be an easy victory. For Liz though, she knew exactly what N was doing...he was trying to prove a point about how in-over-his-head he is.
N was still going to be somewhat fair though because he didn't want to use Reshiram unless it was completely necessary. With that in mind, he called Zoroark to the field and who needed no use for illusion because Dread already saw him standing next to N.
"Not using Reshiram yet? fine...I'll take Zoroark down quick..." he said as he readied a Pokeball.
"A little over confident are we?" N asked him.
Dread glared at him and tossed the ball and a Fearow came out in a flash of light. Fearow is a bird pokemon that evolves from Spearow, and stands about three feet and eleven inches tall. With it being shiny, he has a green/gold colored feathers, a big wing span, a long skinny neck, a long light orange beak, light orange claws, orange Mohawk, a green/gold tail with four feathers and small beady black eyes. It was a bird with quite a hot temper which was rather fitting for Dread. It was just the kind of Pokemon she expected him to have.
"So a Fearow first...ok, you make the first move and I will follow." N said to him rather calmly.
"Fine then...Fearow, start with Aerial Ace!" he called.
Fearow flew into the sky and glowed in white as he charged directly at Zoroark. N thought it was cleaver using a move that won't miss though that meant he can hit at close range.
"Wait till it gets close and then use Night Slash!" N called.
Zoroark stood his ground and took the attack while grabbing Fearow's wing. Fearow tried to escape but Zoroark wasn't letting go and is other hand then glowed in a dark energy. He then slashed at Fearow with tremendous force letting the wing go at that point and knocking him into the ground hard. As Fearow struggled to stand, N called for Zoroark to use Focus Blast. Zoroark charged a blue energy in his hands and fired it at Fearow.
"Ugh...come on, Mirror Move Fearow!" Dread called.
Fearow's eyes flashed for a second and he copied the Focus Blast in the same fashion, except it was between his wings. Both attacks broke even as they collided and exploded in mid-air. N was a little surprised but he had an idea seeing as all the long range attacks would be copied with the same result. So the idea was to overpower by brute force so N had Zoroark attack with Night Slash. Dread being head strong and without thinking called for Mirror Move again.
Both Zoroark's hand and Fearow's wing glowed in a dark energy and they clashed wing to hand. However as N suspected, Zoroark was too strong for Fearow and he pushed back on the bird hitting him hard knocking him to the ground sending dust into the air. As the dust settled, Fearow was lying on his back knocked out from the brute force. Dread was in disbelief seeing his Fearow knocked out in only three attacks. However, he wasn't ready to back down so he recalled Fearow to the ball and readied his next one.
"You haven’t beat me yet...Grovyle, come on out!" He called as he tossed the Pokeball.
In a flash of light as the ball opened, a shiny Grovyle emerged. Grovyle is a Gecko-like Pokemon that stands nearly three feet tall. He has a long, slender body that was a light green in color. His chest was an extremely light pink with a light green strip in the middle and the long leaf on his head, the three leaves on both arms and the two on the tail we're all red. He also had yellow and black eyes which he used to stare down Zoroark. Clearly another head strong Pokemon that N was starting to see the pattern for.
"Grovyle, Leaf Blade!" Dread called.
Grovyle nodded and jumped high into the crossing his arms and as he did, the red leaves on his arms seemed to merge into one long green glowing sword on each side. He came straight at Zoroark at close range.
N smiled and said, "Have you learned nothing from the last attack? Zoroark, Flamethrower!"
"What?! Flamethrower?!" Dread said in shock.
When Grovyle comes close, Zoroark shot a stream of fire out of his mouth at very close range. Because Grovyle was a grass type and weak to fire and because it was at close range, it does more than stop the attack, it knocks him out in a single hit. Dread is frustrated now and recalls Grovyle back to his ball.
I can't believe this! He's hardly taken a scratch and he beat two of my Pokemon already! Well...I'll still take him down! He thought as he readied ball number three.
"Well is that all you got Dread?" N asked him.
"Ugh...not even close!" He said in anger and tossed the ball in the air.
As the ball opened, to everyone's surprise except for Seline's, a Shiny Dratini appeared in a flash of Light. Dratini is a small Dragon-like Pokemon that was pink in color with a white under-belly and almost looks like a cute snake-like dragon. It also has solid black eyes, a white rounded mouth, two white "fins" on its head and a small white dot on its forehead. Based on that appearance, one would think it's a female...but this Dratini happed to be a male. Liz was kind of shocked that he got a Dratini at all and Seline explained that she and Dread caught theirs at the same time in the Crystal Lake.
Liz looked at her and said, "O that's right...I heard about them living in the lake but I totally forgot when I was talking to N there...but wait...you caught one also?!"
Seline nodded and said, "Yes but mine is Female...his is...well...male..."
"Male...? Seriously?" she asked.
Dratini suddenly looks her way and kind of glares at her, "<
Yes male! Ugh...I can't wait till I'm a Dragonite so I can rid of this Pink color and others can quite questioning me!>" He said angrily.
Liz wasn't sure what he said but based on the way he looked at her, she took a step back nervously. N was a little shell-shocked himself by the outburst. He then composed himself and tried to chat with Dratini.
"So you can't wait to evolve because of your color Dratini?" N asked.
Dread looked at him a little shocked, "W-What...? So it's...so it's true then that you can understand Pokemon?!"
N nodded and said, "Yes and it seems your Dratini is male and hates being pink in color...that's what he outburst to Liz just now because she was surprised it was a male. He also said he couldn't wait to be a Dragonite"
Dratini looked at N both surprised and a little happy someone finally understood him and said,"<
Finally somebody gets it!>"
N nodded at Dratini and Dread just stood there dumbfounded for a second. He felt he was being more and more humiliated by the second and yet he wanted to keep going. Was he really going to lose to N this badly? He then snapped back in focus and told himself no way he was going to lose.
"Enough talk...Dratini, Dragon Rush!" Dread called to him.
"Whoa...Dragon Rush...?" Liz asked.
Dratini turns his attention back to the battle and charges forward in a blue energy at Zoroark.
N sighed and said, "You have still learned nothing...Zoroark, Focus Blast!"
As Dratini gets close, Zoroark charged the Blue Energy and fired it at Dratini at close range. This was powerful enough to stop Dragon Rush and caused Dratini to fly into the air and hit the ground pretty hard. As Dratini struggled to stand, Dread called for a Twister. Dratini cried out as it glows white and summoned a powerful swirling tornado that came at Zoroark. N called for Zoroark to use Night Slash once more.
Zoroark knew what to do as his hand glowed in dark energy. He ran at the tornado, used, the night slash to break it up then came for Dratini. Dread was shocked that Zoroark was that strong and watched as Dratini took a heavy hit and knocked out. By now he was shacking as Dread recalled him to his ball. He never expected to have so much trouble with just one Pokemon and now he was down to only one himself.
N looked at him and asked, "You want to stop now and save yourself further humiliation?"
"U-Ugh...N-No way!" Dread responded as he reached for his last Pokeball.
"Look Dread..." N started, "All this battle has proved so far is that you don't think before you act. It has also proved you simply don't learn. You kept coming at me at close range expecting a different result..." He said as he shook his head and closed his eyes. He then said to him, "But every time you did, you put your Pokemon in a position to take more damage and unable to escape harm."
Dread glared at him and said, "How dare you judge me that way!"
Liz looked at him and said, "Dread, it's not a judgment, it's the truth! Even I can see what N meant!"
Dread glared at her and said, "Why are you defending him?! N was the leader of an evil organization!"
"He was manipulated by his step-father Dread, why can't you see that?!" Liz asked him concerned.
Dread glared at her and couldn't believe she of all people was defending him. He still had one more Pokemon to use so in his mind, the battle was far from over.
He looked at N and said, "I don't know what she sees in you but this is not over!"
N looked at him and said, "You’re not only headstrong but your stubborn to...", He closed his eyes and shook his head again then said, "But fine...let's get it over with, I have other important things to deal with today."
Dread glared and tossed the ball and as it opened, a shiny Charmeleon came out. Liz was surprised and supposed the Charmander he picked evolved and Seline said he evolved in the last gym battle. Charmeleon is a Lizard-like fire type Pokemon that is distinguished by the flame on the tip of its tail. Being shiny, he has a yellow/gold color with a white under belly, black eyes and a yellow tip on his head. It also had white claws, stood three feet and seven inches tall. He also had a tough look to him and stared Zoroark down much like Grovyle did.
"Ok Charmeleon, Flame Charge let's go!" Dread called.
Ugh...Dread...ugh...I can't believe this...this is so like him needing one more chance to prove he's right! Seline thought as she watched this.
Charmeleon started running and clocked himself in a red flame as he ran at Zoroark.
"You really are stubborn...though I realize in this case that Flame charge increases speed when it hits...but it's still the same basic idea unfortunately..." N said as he sighed, "But fine, Zoroark, you know what to do!"
Zoroark nodded and charged focus blast then fired the blue energy when he came close range. Flame Charge was stopped and it sent Charmeleon hard into the ground and he took a lot of damage. As he struggled to stand, Dread called for a Flamethrower and N had Zoroark use Night Slash one last time. Zoroark hand glowed in dark energy once more as the golden Lizard got the fiery stream off. He charged through the flames knowing he would win and he nailed with the dark energy knocking Charmeleon into the wall of the Pokemon Center and knocking him out.
Dread couldn't believe it...all four of his Pokemon we're wiped out by a single one and he barely got a few scratches on N's. He recalled his Charmeleon to his ball and started to walk into the center clearly upset.
N looked at Liz and said, "I felt bad about that but I felt I had to teach him a lesson..."
Liz sighed and said, "Believe me...Seline and I have had that problem for as long as we've known him...he was always stubborn in his opinions and perceptions of people and other things. Though...deep down he cares a lot..."
Seline nodded in agreement and Liz started to tell N of when she was younger and first met him. Two bullies we're bothering her and making fun of her because of her wings and the fact she couldn't use them. When Dread saw them, he told them to leave her alone and even though they we're bigger than he was, he wasn't afraid of them. They we're laughing at him started to hit him until his brother, Angelo, came out of their house and chased off the bullies with his Pikachu, which was a shiny male. The Pikachu chased them off with a Thunderbolt and that's when it all started for her.
Her friendship with Dread, her love for Pikachu and even her friendship with Seline. N was surprised and guessed he was like Liz in the sense that he only let certain others see his true emotions. Liz nodded at N told him it was a true statement. As he nodded back, he figured he should give Dread a second chance and maybe he'll come to trust him with time.
As they continued to talk, Dread came back out of the center still rather upset and he looked over still seeing everyone was still there. As he started to walk away, Liz stopped him telling him to wait.
"Dread wait...wait please...I know your upset but...we need your help with something..." She said to him.
"Honestly Liz...what you need me for when you got HIM?!" He said as he pointed back at N.
"Ugh...you don't get it...this is something personal for him and he needs all the help he can get..." she said.
Seline walked over and wanted to know what she was talking about. Liz explained to them about the Chandelure and how it attacked the orphanage that N used to live in one year after he basically "left" it. After she retold the account she heard, it got Dread surprisingly interested to at least check it out. He wanted to catch a Litwick anyway for the next gym battle so he figured it wouldn't be too counterproductive. With that in mind, he agrees to help as long as he can catch a Litwick.
Nobody disputes this even though they are basically spirits of the kids that we're transformed into Pokemon. Later on in the evening, the four of them head to the orphanage and when they get to the tall yellow building, they walk up to the door. They're about to reach for the door but, as if they we're being expected, the yellow doors open on their own. This shocks everyone as a voice suddenly pierces the room.
What's this...visitors? Hehehe...We never have visitors...what a rare sight...hehe...
As everyone looks to see where it’s coming from, they all glow blue, expect for Zoroark indicating it's a psychic attack, and get dragged inside and Zoroark runs in after them. Even Reshiram is dragged inside as the voice speaks up again.
Stay a while...I insist...Hehehe... the voice said the doors that opened on their own, suddenly closed with a thud.
"Ugh...we're trapped..." Liz started then said, "Who are you?! And where are you hiding?!"
The voice laughs again as the room is suddenly filled with shiny Litwick illuminating the otherwise very dark room. In the dim light shined from the Litwick's flames, an entrance to a stairway was seem, pealing wall paper and a desk with other hallway entrances. Dread seemed to be the only one that was happy to see them because he was waiting for the chance to catch one. As they looked around, Liz sees there were about 40 of them that appeared. She then remembered that she was told there were 40 kids and staff total lost in "The Mystery Fire".
There was no doubt in her mind now that Chandelure was most likely the voice they heard. She wasn't the only one that suspected this however...N did also because he bravely called him out on it.
"Chandelure...I know that's you! Come out and face us!" N called to him.
And who are you to call me out?! The voice asked.
Liz stepped answered him saying, "O just someone you missed out on getting because he got lost in the woods of Unova and never returned here so...you missed him by a year."
"Um...yeah...pretty much." N said as he could tell she was taunting him a little.
O really...? Is that so...?! the voice asked again.
"It is quite so I'm afraid." N said in response.
The voice wasn't too happy with them taunting him like that so he commanded the Litwick to attack them. The Litwick complied with his command and started to come at them firing little blue balls at them. This attack was called Will-O-Wisp and it can inflict a rather painful burn to anyone it hits. Well, almost anyone that is...as it aimed for everyone, Dread sent out his Charmeleon and N called on Reshiram. The two of them went at the blue balls and took all the Will-O-Wisps attacks and because they we're fire types to begin with, the effects of the attack we're null and void.
The Litwick then started to just come at them to get close and Liz realized they had no choice but to fight. Seline also recognized this as she had her silver-furred Eevee jump onto the floor and off her shoulder. As the Litwick came close, Liz called for Crystal to use Electro Ball and Seline called for Eevee to use Shadow Ball. Crystal charged an electric yellow ball shaped attack in her tail and fired it off and at the same time, Eevee charged a ball of dark-shadowy energy to. The two fired it at them together and knocked a few Litwick back to the wall.
However the others Litwick kept coming and started to fire strange flowing dark energy at them that was a ghost attack called Night Shade. The others that we're knocked back to the wall got up and joined them as they still had plenty of energy. With all 40 still standing, they combined it into one full force attack. Liz felt bad about attacking them but didn't have much of a choice. She had Crystal counter with Thundershock but as she glowed yellow and fired the small bolt stream, it was overpowered and the night shade kept coming.
Liz was worried but then Seline's Eevee ran out and took it full force. Oddly enough however, it had no effect on her and she just simply landed on the ground with no damage at all. At first nobody could figure out why as normally an attack like that would wipe-out or at least greatly damage any Pokemon. It then suddenly occurred to Liz though that because Eevee was a normal type pokemon, ghost moves had no effect on her at all. That's why she didn't take one ounce of damage because Ghost has no effect on Normal types and vice versa.
I'm so glad I haven't evolved her yet... Seline thought as she was quite proud of her brave little sliver-furred fox.
The Voice was getting frustrated and commanded the Litwick to attack with anything but ghost moves. As they complied with his commands and started to group for another attack, Liz knew they probably couldn't draw out Chandelure without taking them down. Though how would they pull that off since their attacks weren’t doing much and they needed to save their straight for him? Then it hit her...maybe they could subdue them another way...she looked Dread's way because she had an idea.
"Dread, listen, I think I know how we can stop these Litwick but I'll need you help!" She said to him.
This surprised him but he knew he was in no position to argue right now.
He looked at her and asked, "Fine...what is it?"
"Listen, does your Dratini have the move Thunder wave?" she asked him.
"Um, yes, I believe so..." He said with a little uncertainty.
N looked at her and thought,
Cleaver Girl...paralyzing them will put them out of commission and maybe draw Chandelure out...she really knows how to think on her feet.
Seline looked at her and said, "I think mine does also."
Liz nodded at her and said, "Then let’s do this!"
Dread and Seline both nodded and sent out both of their shiny Dratini. As both came out of their red and white balls in flashes of light, they we're commanded to use Thunder Wave right away. The two complied and fired weak waves of electricity at them from their "fins" on their head and as each Litwick was hit, they started sparking. The voice commanded them to attack but to no avail as all 40 we're sparking and fully paralyzed. Everyone, except N, was surprised her idea worked to simply subdue them.
The voice was now more frustrated than ever and he finally decided it was time to make an appearance himself.
Grr...you’re all going to pay for that! I guess I'll have to deal with you myself! The voice said as he finally appeared as indeed being Chandelure.
N looked at him and said, "I thought so...I thought that was you behind all this!"
Chandelure simply laughed and said, "
You may have subdued my servants but I won't be as easy...hehe..."
Liz looked at him and said, "I got to know...why did you attack this orphanage that night...?"
Chandelure simply laughed again and said, "
Because it was fresh with souls...hehe...I needed a way to take revenge on the human race...what better way to then to turn their souls into my servants...? Hehe..."
"So let me this straight..." Liz started, "You wanted revenge on the human race...because you we're abandoned but your trainer...? Not all humans are like that..."
N then chimed in and said, "She's right...I personally grew up with Pokemon like you that we're abandoned and alone. So I used to think that humans we're bad and they and pokemon should be separated...but there are some that are good."
Chandelure simply laughed once more and said, "
Yes this is true...Hehe...in fact all of you are at my mercy right now...and you have no hope for escape...unless...you can defeat me that is..."
Liz looked at him and said, "Then beat you is we'll have to do...if we do, not only do we go free, but so do the Litwick from your control!"
Chandelure considered this for a second and thought,
If I beat them then I'll gain new servants...hehe...there's no way I can lose..., He then looked at the and said, "Fine...but if I beat all of you, then you'll all become my servants just like them...hehe...So...do we have a deal?"
Liz looked at the others and they all seemed to understand they had no choice so she looked back at him and said, "Fine, it's a deal..."
Chandelure seemed to have a smirk on his face as they agreed and he started by attacking with Heat Wave. The attack seriously heated up the cold room and it aimed fire streams from his four candles. Liz had Crystal aim at one flame with Thundershock, Seline called on Eevee to use Shadow ball, Dread had Dratini use Dragon Rage and N had Zoroark counter with Flamethrower. The electric shock, dark energy ball, blue steam and the fire stream met the other four fire streams and all the attacks clashed and exploded in the mid-air causing smoke. Chandelure took advantage of this and fired a Dark Pulse through the smoke.
Just as the name describes, Dark Pulse is a pulse of dark energy and it takes everyone by surprise as it hits Eevee and Crystal. It knocks them back a bit as the slide across the carpet but they are ok for the most part. Dratini dodges it and Zoroark takes it but because it's a dark type move, it does very little damage. Seline still has her Dratini out so she tries having it fire thunder-wave to subdue him. As her "fins" start sparking, Chandelure turns his attention at her and his red eyes glow and he sends a red ray at her. This red ray is an attack called Confuse Ray and Seline recognizes it almost right away.
She tries telling Dratini to dodge but it was too late as she gets hit by the ray. Her eyes glow red as she becomes confused and she fires Thunder Wave off in another random direction causing the weak jolt to hit a wall. Seline makes the attempt to return her to her ball but to no avail as Shadow Tag completely prevents it. Chandelure laughed and called her attempt feeble as N's Zoroark was already on the move from behind. While he was distracted with Seline, N told Zoroark to try a sneak attack, which was now in full motion.
Zoroark's hand glowed in dark energy as he jumped off the desk from behind and hit him with a heavy blow using Night Slash. This took Chandelure by complete surprise and as Zoroark landed with his back turned. He then fired another red-beamed Confuse Ray at Zoroark this time but Zoroark managed to barely dodge by jumping out of the way just in time and N called for another Night Slash. Again the dark aura filled hand hits doing heavy damage because ghost types are very weak to dark type moves.
Despite this though, Chandelure managed to stay afloat and fired another red Confuse Ray at Zoroark that hit this time. Now his eyes glowed red, he became confused and now, like Seline, N was stuck was a confused Pokemon as well. As this occurred, he couldn't believe his plan was ruined and Liz knew they had to finish him off soon because she knew he took heavy damage from the attacks. As she pondered on how to approach this, she knew a frontal assault would result in confusion and even a sneak attack might not end well ether.
In the meanwhile, Dread's Dratini looked at Seline's and was getting pretty made he confused her like that.
He turned to Chandelure and said, "<
You DARE attack my sister like that?! I'll make you pay for this!>"
Chandelure looked at him and said, "
Hehe...and what you plan to do about it "Girly"!
"<
What did you just say?!>" Dread's Dratini demanded.
O boy...he's in trouble now... Liz thought.
"O no you just didn't call my Dratini a girl...!" Dread started, "He doesn't like that...and neither do I! Dratini, I don't care what it takes, Thunder Wave him!" he called.
Dratini nodded and started to charge his "fins" and Chandelure tried firing another red beam Confuse Ray. Dratini dodged the ray coming from his eyes and was determined to land a hit firing the wave. Chandelure made the attempt to dodge but the wave hit him causing the instant paralysis.
N looked at him and thought,
Guess his recklessness can be a good thing...sometimes... Then he looked to the others said, "Time to wrap this up...Reshiram, Fusion flare!" He called.
As Reshiram charged a giant ball of fire, the other 3 nodded in agreement and started to call their own attacks.
"Crystal, Electro Ball!"
"Eevee, Shadow Ball!"
"Dratini, Twister and Charmeleon, Flamethrower!"
As Liz, Seline and Dread called for these attacks, the yellow electric ball, dark energy ball, the twister and the fire stream are all charged and join the Majestic White Dragon's Giant Flame. The 5 attacks merge to create a massive attack that aims straight for Chandelure in hopes it will bring him down. Chandelure makes the attempt to dodge but can't move because he's sparking quite a bit from the paralysis. As such, he couldn't move and the massive combo attack hits doing quite a bit of damage. It knocks him to the ground and completely knocks every last ounce of energy he had out of him.
Everyone seems to breathe a sigh of relief but then they notice something rather strange...a twilight-like aura appears to surround and leave Chandelure's body. He wasn't the only one however as this appears to happen to the Litwick as well and the twilight-like aura seemed to simply vanish as it rises out of the body and into the air. The Litwick suddenly seem confused at first but as the look on at the four trainers, they appear to be grateful they are finally free. They weren't the only ones though as the confusion wore off Zoroark and Seline's Dratini as well upon the defeat returning their "red eyes" to normal.
As this was happening, Chandelure suddenly rises up a little confused himself and Liz and the others, except N, take a step back a little scared.
He then suddenly remembers it all and speaks up saying,"
Wait, wait, please..." Chandelure starts, "
I should...honestly thank you all from...saving me from the terrible power I was under..."
Liz looked at him and said, "Terrible...power...? what do you..." before she can finish her sentence, it suddenly dawns on her, her eyes open a little wider and she then said, "Wait...that strange twilight-like aura...right...?"
Dread and Seline looked at her a bit confused but he seemed to send a "yes" her way nodding.
"
Yes...that aura was from a strange creature named Missingno..."
"M-Missingno...?" Liz asked.
"
Yes...see, after I was abandoned by my trainer...I collected souls to burn for fuel mostly...only lost souls...but then one night...I was called by a strange voice and told to come to the heart of the Twilight Region..." he said.
"So then...what happened...?" she asked rather intrigued now.
"
Well..." he started, "
I made the travel to the heart of the region and came upon a lake, as I looked into it...the voice spoke to me that he could see what allied me and wanted to help. He gave me that aura when I locked my gaze with the orb within the lake and convinced me that the human race was my enemy and that I should turn their souls into my servants...in that moment he became like my master. As he sent me back here, I took his word for it and attacked this place...I then turned the 40 souls I absorbed that night into my Litwick servants using the aura..." He said to them.
Everyone was quite shocked to hear this that he was really being controlled and taken advantage of by a strange force. N was especially taken and didn't want to just leave him there. In fact, he was seriously considering taking him in on his team for the time being. He reached for a ball that was empty and as much as he hated using it, he knew it was to make it the deal official.
"Listen Chandelure..." N said as he offered the Pokeball in his hand much to everyone's surprise, "I don't know who or what this Missingno is but I promise I won't abandon you like your other trainer..."
He sees the Pokeball in N's hand and is quite surprised by his offer. Though as he thought about it, he was the only one brave enough to sneak attack him and lead the charge when the others really couldn't. Though he was impressed with Dread to, he felt a stronger kinship with N and agreed. The others looked on as he went to N, then into the Pokeball as it opened and sucked him in in red light, and then watched it "ding" after turning three times. Dread watched and got a little jealous because he still never got a Litwick.
Though to his surprise, a female Litwick that seemed to admire his bravery and went to float around him.
"<I think you are incredible...you and your pokemon...>" she said to him.
N looked over a bit surprised and said, "Well Dread, looks like you found you Litwick...this one seems to like you."
"<Can I join your team...please...? and my real name is Isabel.>" She said to him with a mix of shyness and happiness in her voice.
Dread looked to N who translated what she said for him and he was quite astonished. Isabel wouldn't be his first choice for a nickname but he had to respect it as it was her human name. Dread said yes to her and pulled out a ball for her. She was happy and let herself in being consumed in a red light into the ball and it "dinged" for him as well. He was finally satisfied as he recalled his Pokemon and as he did, the sun started to rise outside with light starting to come through the windows.
Little did they realize it but they have been inside all night and the doors seemed to open by themselves. This was courtesy of the remaining Litwick that we're so grateful to them. As they exited out, Dread almost imminently let out his Fearow and jumps on his back. Seline wanted to know where he was off to in a hurry and he said he was gonna head to Emerald City now that he has what he needs. He had Fearow take off before anyone objects and N asks if he's really always like that. Liz and Seline both tell him pretty much as Seline recalls her Dratini remembering she's still out.
As the three watch Dread and Fearow disappear over the building, Seline asked Liz where she and N we're heading next. Liz replied that she wasn't sure but figured they should hit Emerald City as well since it had the next gym. Seline nodded and told her she wished to accompany them and N said he felt Reshiram had room for one more. The Majestic White Dragon nodded as the three trainers and their pokemon got on her. She then took off to the glimmering green city while flying first over the orphanage then over the Gem Meadows.
As the flew over, Liz pointed out the Rainbow Tree to her and she was quite in awe of it seeing it's glistening white beauty from the air. Liz told her seeing it from the top is nothing compared to seeing it up close and promised to come back and show her. N smiled as then continued to head for the city and once they got there, they saw it in all its glistening green glory. They flew past many buildings and even past the Gym as they landed at the Emerald Pokemon center. As they we're about to walk in, they we're stopped hearing the sound of a someone or something crying.
"What is...what is that...?" Liz asked as she looked to see where the crying was coming from.
Crystal picks up on it as well and jumps off her shoulder as she goes to have a look. As they turn the corner of the center, they find an normal colored Eevee crying with her back turned hiding in a bush. Liz walks over to ask her what's wrong and as Eevee turns to look at her...a shock goes through her as she sees the white caller and a red heart shaped nametag on her. She recognized the name on the nametag almost instantly.
It can't be… Liz thought the said, "M-Meredith?! Is that really you?!"
The little Eevee turned to her quite surprised that someone she never met knew exactly who she was.