Lisa the Legend: Chapter 82 - Last Night on Earth now up! (24th June 2013)

[Gavin Luper]

I'm posting some time this week no matter what, guys. I've got four chapters ready to go now, so ...

yeah.

Once the c/o is done, I'll be posting a chapter every four days or so. Also, I've planned out the rest of this book. There are 41 chapters, and an epilogue.

[PancaKe]

Hey Gav! I just finished reading and your side of the crossover is really cool! Also I never got to see the trailer in Oz's topic so now i'm in total suspence! I didn't realise that they were battling against each other. I feel so sorry for them. I don't want Jess to die, I mean, teenyboppers are people too. But I want Lisa to win because she has good fashion sense. Not slutty ^_^

~Mist

[Gavin Luper]

Tara: HEY! LONG TIME NO SEE!

lol except for the last three hours of chatting on and off lol. But you haven't been around in this topic for ages!

Yeah. Thanks for reading of course! It's always great to have another good reader return. Lol, you didn't know they were battling against each other? woops. ah well, you do now.

Well as you know I g2g now so this is a really rushed reply! Lol i agree, Lisa has good fashion sense! i think.

Cheers!!!!!!

- Gavin.

[mistysakura]

Hi everyone, I'm officially back from my holiday! Plenty of fic-reading for me. Anyway, can't wait for the next chapter!

[Gavin Luper]

Mistysakura: Hi! You've returned just in time, the final installment of the crossover is due up any day now. Oz has been very busy writing it, and i've already finished.

Cheers!

[Gavin Luper]

Oz is approaching the conclusion of the Crossover now, everyone, so it's nearly time. I know I've been saying that for weeks now, but this entire wait is very nearly over, if Oz can finish off in the next couple of days.

In the meantime, if anybody wants to read any of my other work, The Crystal League has been revived as a background project, and I just posted a new, non-pokemon story, "Only Human".

Cheers!

[Gavin Luper]

The crossover is officially going to be posted at least by Tuesday the 28th. I just posted to relieve everyone from the month-lnog wait. Sorry guys. It's been a very long time.

But, on the good side, I just completed chapter 33, which means there are five ready-wrtten chapters to be posted (including the c/o). I'll post them all within a couple of weeks to make up for this wait.

Cheers!

[AquaBabe727]

Hey, take your time, Gavin~ I'm sure it'll be great when you get it finished. But it's good you have more chapters finished! Can't wait! ^_^

[Chris 2.1]

Well Gavin, while Oz plugs away at his side, i suppose you can always spend more time on your other fics. That's one good thing that came out of it

[ZeldaFan20]

I'm curious to find out what happens too. It should be interesting.

[Gavin Luper]

Aquababe: Hello! Thanks ... I feel so stressed out because the crossover has been kinda blocking up my ability to post, and when I can't post, I can't see how people react to the chapters so I feel that my writing for chapters 29 - 33 could be a little stale, but bear with it. I know you will of course. Tomorrow's the big day of posting!!

Shiny Marill: Yeah, that's true, I've been able to half-revive TCL and begin Only Human because of this. That is good, but I was hoping to get a lot of chapters posted before I go back to school!

Zeldafan20: Well I hope it is interesting enough for everyone to read, because it's liek 9000 words.

Well, seeyas tomorrow!

[Gavin Luper]

Hi everyone!

I had an excerpt from the c/o, but Oz has finished the c/o so we're posting right now!

EDITED!

[Andrew]

Never fear Gavin! I'm here! And all done too! On time! This is the first time in yonks I've been able to get on, my rellies have finally left and I'm no longer the tour guide/bag slave/shop assistant. YAY!

All we need to do is get online simultaneously!

[Gavin Luper]

After over five weeks, here it is!!!!!!

The final segment - the conclusion - to the Electric Buggy to Victory and Lisa the Legend CROSSOVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FINALLY!

Link to corresponding chapter: Electric Buggy to Victory .

-------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 29 – Showdown in Port Valeo.


The blasts of ivory light quickly subsided, and the fighters in the battle were revealed. Bouncing out of Jessica’s pokeball in a ball of pink fluff was a Wigglytuff, it’s watery eyes looking very innocent. Lisa’s Dratini, it’s soft blue form slithering onto the ‘field’, turned back to Lisa. Even he could sense that this battle wasn’t ordinary.

Lisa and Jess looked across the large room, which had a very high roof, their eyes locking. Lenina’s gun looked real enough; they were in great danger. This battle had to last until they could get some help, but how? Jess’ eyes flashed brilliantly at Lisa.

“You go first!” she mouthed. “Make it a weak attack!”

“Sure,” Lisa mouthed back, then spoke. “Use Bubble attack!” she called. And she willed her faithful pokemon mentally; ‘Go easy on it … this battle has to last!’

Jessica grinned back at Lisa, exchanging the same emotion; they had to go easy on it. “Use your charm, Wigglytuff!”

With the orders given, it was up to the pokemon to deliver them. Lenina frowned at the weak attacks, but remained silent, patting her gun like she was patting a dog. Slowbro stayed at her side, it’s brain tensed, ready for anything.

Dratini breathed in sharply, while Wigglytuff gave a sweet smile and it’s eyes blinked even more innocently than ever, using Charm attack in the weakest possible way. Dratini exhaled, and three small bubbles drifted slowly to Wigglytuff. One popped in mid-air on the way, and the other two bubbles popped simultaneously on the tips of Wigglytuff’s ears, not damaging it at all.

The girls grinned, but Lenina’s eyes sparkled dangerously. Suddenly, upstairs, there was a faint clunking sound, and a squeak. Before Lenina could say anything, Jessica put in a request.

“Lenina, please can I go to the toilet?” she asked again, so sweetly, but urgently, and this time more believably. “Please?”

Lisa grinned. It hadn’t worked the first time. What made Jess think it would work now?

Lenina grabbed her wild greying hair with a frown, but then smirked. “Of course you can. But I’ll just escort you.” On cue, she tossed her gun up in the air, and caught it again. “I’ll be taking this with me, of course. She turned to Lisa. “ And just to make sure you don’t get any ideas …” Lenina plucked three pokeballs off her belt beneath her lab coat and threw them out onto the tiled floor. Lisa winced, as she stood face-to-face with a Steelix, who filled much of the laboratory, a very ferocious-looking Persian and a Flareon which was bigger than normal and had massive fangs.

“I’ll leave Slowbro here, too,” Lenina smiled evilly, as she gripped Jessica’s arm tightly, and dragged her up the spiralling stairs. Jessica winced, but turned her head, mouthing two words to Lisa before she was dragged away.

“Fight!”

*

Gavin stared out at the sea – it had been almost half an hour since he and Andrew – and all the other trainers from around the village - had sent out all their pokemon to help look for Lisa, Jess and Phil. Glenys had contacted some of the trainers, and so far they had not found any trace of Lisa, Jess, Phil or the pokemon on the mainland. One trainer had suggested looking at the warehouse or the library, another had hinted at the abandoned island a short way across the water from the resort village.

“Have you heard anything?” Andrew appeared from somewhere higher up on the luxury boat and charged towards Gavin, looking hesitant to talk to him after Gavin had yelled at him earlier.

“No, have you?” asked Gavin hopefully.

Andrew shook his head. “Nah … I’ve been to see a couple of the trainers. I was just talking to a guy with a lot of Pidgeys and he said we should try looking on the island near the peninsula.” Andrew pointed out to the sea. Just a kilometre or two off shore was a small, rocky island, which was hazy compared to the resort village, which was on a peninsula. From this side of the boat, Gavin could see the expensive hotel from the night before and the library very clearly. But the island was shrouded … by something.

“Maybe we should tell the pokemon to search on the island, then?” suggested Gavin, after staring at it for some time.

“Good idea,” Andrew nodded vehemently. “We’ll have to wait until they return, though.” A grin crossed his face. “ I can’t believe Jess has gone and gotten herself into trouble again. I’ll be the one who gets blamed, I bet.”

Gavin smirked. “Again? How often does she get into these messes?”

Andrew laughed half-heartedly. “Hardly ever. Maybe I over exaggerated,” he said, leaning on the rail on the edge of the deck. “But it’s just so hard to have her travelling with me. She’s like a full time job sometimes.”

“She travels with you?” Gavin asked curiously. “So you’re on a journey then?”

“Yeah!” said Andrew quickly. “I thought I already told you?” Gavin shook his head, so Andrew took out a handful of badges and showed him them. “I have five badges … I was actually just driving through here to go to the next gym, after we caught up with Glenys and Ripper, that is. But then … Jess and Phil had to go and disappear, didn’t they.”

“I guess I’m lucky to be an only child then,” Gavin said slowly, regretting the words as soon as they left his lips.

Surprisingly, Andrew shook his head. “Jess is alright. I mean, we normally get along OK. It would be SO boring to be an only child.” He turned to Gavin. “Is it?”

Gavin paused, a lump building up in his throat. Memories flooded back. “I … suppose so …”

---------------

2001, September

“ Hurry up, Gavin, or you will be late!” his mother’s cry came bellowing down the hallway.

Gavin tossed and turned in his bed, still asleep. He wanted to wake up … he was screaming mentally, but nothing came out. The images that were flashing through his head were distressing, terrifying. He had seen them before, in a dream, but never so clearly. And they were different this time. The beams of green light were lighter … more vicious. More deadly.

Finally, it ended, and Gavin jolted to consciousness with a cry. The dreams always were realistic, so life-like, but never so painful, he had almost felt the pain, he had definitely heard the bloodcurdling screams of torture and anguish. He had felt the hot breath, the searing hot beams of dark light.

Slowly, the thirteen-year-old boy awoke, and wiped his sweaty forehead. He was absolutely soaked in his sweat. At least the dream was over … Gavin calmed himself down and slowly got out of his bed, leaving it unmade and rushing into the hallway and into the kitchen.

“You alright, Gavin?” asked his mother, bustling around the kitchen, a few bowls on the bench which looked like the ingredients for some sort of cake.

“I’m OK,” he replied dully, preparing a bowl of Coco’s Crunch. “Where’s Talia?”

“In bed still, I suppose,” said his mother, whipping the contents of one of the bowls furiously. “She’s still not feeling well today, poor thing.”

“Shame she missed out on the theatre last night,” Gavin said, wondering if his twelve year old sister was alright. “She would have loved to see the dances. They were really skilful.”

“I thought you didn’t like the outing last night?” Gavin’s mum raised an eyebrow.

“Er … I didn’t … I only went to see the pokemon. The Eevee evolutions are really great … they are really strong in their own ways …” he said quickly, before munching on his breakfast cereal. “School is really boring this time of year,” he moaned. “The tests and stuff are already done, we go on holidays in a couple of days so what’s the point?”

“The point is that it’s a legal requirement,” his Mum grinned. “I’m not going to work today, but Talia is probably staying home from school. I’m going to go collect some herbs today, for a medicine for poor Talia.”

Gavin rolled his eyes.

"Or you could go the pharmacy and, you know, buy something real."

His mother scoffed.

"Please, naturopathy was passed on to me from my mother, and her mother before her. It's always worked for us before, you just need to know which plants to use, and when." She put down her spoons. “In fact, I could go right now - the nectar from Alem Flowers is the most potent before the flowers open in the morning. You just keep getting ready for school and I’ll nip down to the thicket behind the tower and get some Alem.” With that split-second decision made, she covered up her cooking ingredients and threw a bag over her shoulder. “Seeya in a minute, Gavin,” she said, kissing him on the head.

“Bye Mum.”

*

“Talia! Mum’s just gone to get a medicine for you!” Gavin called, slamming his hand onto the door of his sister’s bedroom and throwing it open, as it was already ajar. It revealed a very messy room, clothes were thrown over the floor, hiding the carpet. But it was more messy than usual – the drawers were open and the bedcovers were messed up haphazardly.

Talia was gone.

Gavin’s heart thudded. This wasn’t normal! She wasn’t just in the toilet either, the window had been thrown open, the curtains rippling in the light breeze, and many of Talia's treasured items were missing – her necklace, her pink teddy from when she was born, her highly treasured crystal dove – given to her by her father when she was two years old. Everything of importance was gone.

He didn’t even yell out for her. This wasn’t a stupid twelve-year-old trick. This wasn’t a kidnapping. She had run away. Gavin’s throat swelled up. How could this happen? His only sister! She had been so happy until yesterday, what possibly could have happened to her?

Trying to calm himself, Gavin ran pointlessly through all the rooms in the house, trying to sort things out in his mind, but his brain was chattering and his heart was aching.

‘Just wait until Mum comes home … she can do something about it,’ he convinced himself.

Just at that moment, a terrible feeling overcame him. It was not a mental thought, nor a physical feeling. It was a soulful experience; a soundless scream, which wrenched its way through his heart, hurting him more than he had been ever hurt before. His mind throbbed with terror. He didn’t know what it was. His dream from last night came tearing back at him, images screaming at him to paralyse him with fear.

‘Wait until Mum comes home …’ he repeated in his mind.

Gavin sat perfectly still for a further six hours, silent tears pouring down his cheeks. He didn’t move, for food, for water, for anything.

His mother never returned.

---------------

*

Wigglytuff and Dratini were talking to each other rapidly and secretly. Maybe they were plotting something? Lisa stared at them for a moment, then at the shiny grey Steelix, the Flareon and Persian, and Slowbro. They all looked vicious, like they could do a LOT of damage if they wanted to. But they simply stood or sat, staring back at her.

“Hello,” said Lisa, not knowing why.

They all blinked back.

“So do you all work for Lenina or are you like her pets?” she said.

Slowbro stared at her curiously. //Lenina is my master, and my boss// he replied mentally. Lisa felt the words travel to her mind; a sensation which caused some people fear, but in the last two months she had become almost accostomed to the method of communication. //We are all here to do her bidding//

“Why?” asked Lisa, brushing strands of ebony hair from her face so as to get a clearer look at the Slowbro, which maybe wasn’t as psychotic as it had first looked. It was surprisingly rational. “She is part of Team Rocket, right?”

//Yes//

“Do you know much about Team Rocket’s operations?” Lisa asked the invasive question gingerly. Slowbro could know a lot, which could help her find why Team Rocket was after her.

//Yes. If you like, I will tell you// At this reply, Lisa could barely believe her ears. She had struck gold! While Lenina might have trained her Slowbro to be strong with its psychic powers, she had evidently neglected the fact that Psychic pokemon could communicate easily with humans in their own way. Lenina had never disciplined the Slowbro, or taught it to keep secrets; consequently, it didn’t know that it wasn’t meant to divulge secrets. It was a price she was now going to pay.

//My master belongs to Team Rocket. She is in the medium ranks of the organisation, but still has a strong link to Joseph Sterling// Slowbro began.

“Who is he?” asked Lisa, sure she had heard the name before.

//Joseph Sterling is the man who resurrected Team Rocket just over three years ago. Joseph Sterling is the man who controls the comings and goings of Team Rocket. Joseph Sterling is the man who wants Lisa Walters dead// Slowbro’s face showed no emotion of fear, shock or alarm, or of triumph or happiness. Just blank.

Lisa’s heart, for a change, did not leap at this statement. “Why does he want me dead?” she asked, squaring her jaw, determined to find the answer.

//I do not know. Three people have been sent to kill you over the past few months. One did not succeed, although he came close. One died trying. And one, Lenina, will succeed in your death//

It was one of the most bizarre situations Lisa had ever been in. She was talking to someone – an enemy – who was trying to kill her for an unknown reason. Slowbro would kill her if he was ordered. But he was incapable of feeling hatred. And then it clicked.

These pokemon that Lenina had … Lisa looked at them all. All of them were looking at her with blank eyes. Lisa felt a suspicion that these pokemon had been created by laboratories somewhere. Not clones, just created. But they had no experience of normal life. They had no emotion.

Before she could explain this, or even say anything to Slowbro, there was a deafening crash from upstairs, and what sounded like gunshots, and screeching pokemon. There were sudden footsteps pelted along a metal walkway somewhere. It sounded to Lisa both close, yet far away.

Moments later, Jessica came screaming down the ramp which led in a spiral to the observatory floor, panting but trying to yell out to Lisa between gasps. She looked urgent. “Lisa, quickly, we have to get out of here!!” she screeched.

Lisa quickly threw out her other two pokeballs – Fiskmire and Elekid, and Jessica threw out a Murkrow, which was pure white. It looked very odd, but Lisa had no time to consider things. By the looks of it, Jessica had somehow deprived Lenina of her gun, and managed to get away from her momentarily. But they had to act fast!

“Murkrow – use –” Jessica was just yelling out orders as she came to the floor when Lenina appeared at the top of the spiral ramp. The shiny back gun she held was pointed directly at Jessica’s heart.

“Now, now girls, I warned you not to try anything stupid …” she said. “Foolish kids … she descended the ramp, still keeping the gun trained on Jess. “Now, get back to where you’re supposed to be.” She barked at Jess, who shivered and ran back to face Lisa, recalling the Albino Murkrow. Wigglytuff and Dratini quickly took their places, and the other pokemon stood back.

“FIGHT!” bellowed Lenina, and the girls were forced to do so.

“Water gun, Dratini!”

“Use POUND, Wigglytuff!”

It was a very short round indeed, Dratini shot one weak blast of water at Wigglytuff, and the inflatable pokemon punched Dratini on the tail.

Lisa grinned, the battle was so fake. But Lenina didn’t look pleased.

“Hurry it up, girls,” Lenina smirked, handling her metal weapon. “My gun is getting restless.”

The time had come, Lisa thought. They had stalled for a while, but it was too late now. Suddenly, while Lisa stared blankly in Jessica’s direction, she noticed that the door of the room Phil was in was directly behind Wigglytuff. If they could blast it open somehow, Phil would be able to help them …

“Dratini, Ice Beam! Full strength!” cried Lisa, and Jessica gaped while Lenina grinned. Dratini turned it’s head and looked with confused ebony eyes at its master. Lisa winked at it, and the dragon got the rough idea. Then she sent the best mental message she could.

‘AIM for the door!’

Dratini fired its attack up at once, a beam of azure hue shot out from his mouth, and zipped quickly past Wigglytuff, missing it by a fraction of a centimetre. As Lisa had hoped, the beam slammed into the door and it was dented badly – it had half folded in.

Luckily, Lenina hadn’t noticed it, she was too intent on watching Jessica’s face; Lisa’s friend hadn’t yet caught onto Lisa’s plan, unfortunately, so she thought Lisa was savagely battling.

“Shadow Ball, Wigglytuff!” she roared.

Lisa tried to signal somehow to Jess what her plan was, but the other girl took no notice. Wigglytuff took no notice, and formed a massive ball of black and lavender energy and light. It fired the ball at Dratini. Lisa’s agile mind flicked to a quick decision; a way she could turn this setback into a positive event.

“Mirror Shield!” Lisa called to Dratini. And again, she added mentally, (believing correctly that Dratini WAS getting her messages) ‘Aim for the door!!’

Dratini had only once used the highly advanced and highly defensive move, and that wasn’t even in a battle. Lisa had taught him the technique on the road to Moo Moo Farm, and he had practised by Lisa throwing rocks at him. Mirror Shield was an advanced version of Mirror Coat; it completely deflected an attack, physical or elemental, but took a lot of concentration.

The tiny blue dragon screwed up his face as the Shadow Ball left Wigglytuff’s hands and shot at him. He squinted, concentrating on an image in his brain. He invisaged the ball bouncing of an almost-transparent dome around him. And, within seconds, a flat rectangular shield appeared resplendently before him. Mirror Coat. Now he just needed to concentrate on upgrading it. Summoning every last drop of determination in succeeding against the evil fuel of the battle, Dratini willed the Mirror Coat to expand into a dome, and it did, just as the Shadow Ball pelted into it. The attack had worked!

The black sphere shot rapidly in the other direction, right on target; it slammed into the metal door, like the Ice Beam Had, except this ball had much more power behind it; the door caved it amazingly, slamming with a metallic clang to the metal floor of the room. After the sound had finished reverberating, Lenina glared at Lisa and Jess, and realised that Lisa’s plan had worked. Jess also seemed to notice that Lisa had been raging at the door, and not at her, and looked apologetic.

Phil appeared at the door of the office, but he looked panicky.

“Phil, are you alright?” called Jess, not noticing Lenina’s grip becoming tighter on the gun.

The man, Lisa noticed, looked faint, and his words were coming out in shallow gasps. “Smoke … fire!” he coughed urgently. Lisa took a couple of steps to look into the office, and saw thick black smoke billowing from somewhere inside, and figured the Shadow Ball had ignited with something; Phil had inhaled some smoke by the looks of him.

Lenina’s eyes flicked towards the room, which had now filled with smoke, but her hand remained steady on the gun.

“No,” she breathed, showing a brief lapse in her evilness. “Not that … no … it’s on fire …”

Before anyone could make a move from the standstill, there was a small explosion in the office, and smoke poured out and began filling the observatory. Everything was obscured from view, and Lisa grabbed her pokeballs urgently, aiming them everywhere until three zaps meant she had recalled her pokemon. By the sound of it, Jess had done the same.

“Drop to the ground!” Lisa said, trying not to breath, her eyes streaming. There were a couple of thuds and she presumed Jess and Phil had dropped to the ground behind her.

“The floor’s filthy!” muttered Jess, only a hint of a whine to her voice.

Lisa rolled her eyes, but this came at a price, as they began stinging even more by the smoke. She screwed them to a squint and threw her arm behind her. “Grab onto my hand, we can follow easier that way.”

“Alright,” Phil’s reply was a cough, but Lisa felt his hand grasp hers, and by a squeeze on her hand, Phil signified that Jess had his hand.

There was suddenly a shot from the gun; Lenina was shooting wildly at them now. Lisa crawled on one-handedly and blindly, hoping against hope not to come to a dead end or crash into Lenina herself, or one of her pokemon. A moment later, her hand came up against a wall. Lenina was yelling out muffled cries now (Lisa couldn’t understand them through the smoke and loud crackling of fire), and then three shots came from her gun at once, followed by a long stream of them.

There was a muffled scream from Jess further back, and Lisa thought she must have been hit by one of the bullets, when she herself felt something dig into her shoulder sharply, and her body gave a lurch.

*

“This is ridiculous,” said Gavin bluntly.

“The only thing more boring is the Lord of the Rings,” agreed Andrew.

They were still cruising around the island where Lisa, Jess and Phil might well have been held captive. Gavin thought it was unfitting to be bored when three people were in danger, but what else could he do? Worrying endlessly wouldn’t save them.

Without warning, there was a light thud around the corner of the deck. Gavin and Andrew exchanged glances, and were just about to look around when Natu came fluttering along, holding something in his small talons.

“Hey …” Andrew muttered.

“I think Natu found something … back on the mainland,” cried Gavin. Andrew came over to examine with Gavin what it was that Natu had found. Gavin took the rolled up document and patted Natu on the head, but the tiny green bird seemed to want to tell them something.

“Hang on Natu,” Gavin muttered impatiently.

“It still doesn’t explain it,” Andrew exclaimed. “ Who took them both?”

Gavin shrugged. “ At least we know why.”

“Wassat?” cried Andrew, coming up beside him and peering over his shoulder to look at the document.

“It’s an experiment …” Gavin read hurriedly through the page. “Something about … lab reports … experimenting on people; someone’s planning to inject pokemon’s genes into humans to test the effects!”

Andrew’s eyes goggled. “Sort of like Spiderman, then?”

Gavin nodded, gaping. “I wonder who’s planning to do this … oh, there’s a name, how convenient … Professor Lenina Johnson – OH MY GOD!”

“What?” said Andrew.

“Professor Lenina Johnson – head of the Pokemon-Human experimentation team, of the ranks of Team Rocket! Whoever wrote this was planning to do these experiments on someone … and they’re from Team Rocket …” Gavin cried urgently, his mind knotting, with good reason.

Andrew snorted, and began to laugh, but he turned it into a kind of sneeze/cough/hiccup. “Well, how evil then …” he muttered, looking amused.

Gavin stared at him for a second, while Natu dug into his shoulders urgently.

“TU! TU NATU!” it chirped, ripping his shirt.

“Rack off Natu!” cried Gavin, but the persistent green bird grabbed a heap of Gavin’s dark hair in its talons and yanked until Gavin was at it’s mercy. Natu dragged him around the corner, until he saw.

Lying sprawled on the ground were three people. Lisa, Phil, and Jessica.

“Guys!” called Andrew, running up to them. Lisa and Phil stirred, but Jess’ eyes remained shut.

“You alright, Lisa?” asked Gavin, kneeling down as Natu fluttered into the air proudly. Lisa blinked, then glanced hesitantly at her shoulder.

A smile wavered weakly on her face. “I thought I got shot,” said Lisa, gesturing to a tiny rip in the shoulder of her – actually, Gavin’s – shirt. “Oh, sorry for wearing your shirt by the way, it was cold outside the tent and I couldn’t find my own clothes quickly enough … oh and sorry for not leaving a note or anything but I was just checking I didn’t think we’d get kidnapped,” she gabbled nervously.

“Don’t worry about – hey, hang on!” Gavin cried. “You got kidnapped and SHOT?”

“Yeah … kidnapping’s just the usual routine,” Lisa gave a shaky giggle, as Aipom ran up suddenly from somewhere about the boat, and pelted into Lisa, hugging her tightly for the first time. “And I THOUGHT I got shot, but it turns out that Natu just grazed my shoulder … he teleported us three back here.” Natu fluttered to her lap and Lisa gave him a stroke under his mouth. “Thanks Natu … you’re a lot stronger, and kinder, than I give you credit for.”

While Lisa and Gavin had been talking, Andrew and Phil were panicking. Jess had not woken, and there was something red on her shoulder … it looked like blood.

“Was she … shot?” Gavin breathed, noticing the situation with fear and shock.

Lisa blinked away tears as she saw Jessica’s still body. “I heard her cry out just before we teleported back here … when Lenina was shooting. I think she might have been shot!”

“In the shoulder …” Phil murmured, looking subdued.

“Lenina …” said Gavin, under his breath.

Andrew was staring silently at his younger sister, when suddenly, she shook all over, and her eyes opened. It was a moment before she sat up and glanced around at the worried faces circling her.

“What’s your problem?” she said bluntly.

Andrew exhaled heavily and looked like he was about to hug her with relief, then kind of gave her an awkward smile. “You’re alright … you’re alive.”

“Well duh!” she said, clicking her tongue. “What, did you think I got shot?”

“Yuh huh!” cried Phil, Gavin, Andrew and Lisa.

“Oh … no …” Jess said, with a look of disgust. “I thought I did, but it turns out the bullet just grazed my arm … it ripped through my top though!” she moaned.

“What about the blood?” choked Andrew.

Jessica turned her head and looked at her shoulder with great difficulty, and rolled her eyes in disgust. “I bet it’s stained my top now … stupid Lenina … it’s not blood,” she reassured them all calmly. “When I was upstairs Lenina led me through the kitchen to go to the toilet, and then this Natu shot through the window and pecked at her face and she dropped her gun, so I grabbed the nearest thing … a bottle of pasta sauce … and squirted it in her face to get away.”

It made sense to Lisa now. Gavin sniffed the air. “Was it Dolmio … the sauce, I mean?”

Jessica stared at him curiously. “Yeah, why?”

“Horrible stuff,” said Gavin.

*

The search party was called to a halt by Glenys and Ripper when they found that Phil and Jess (and Lisa) had been found safely, and all the pokemon returned after awhile, reuniting with their trainers. The trainers on other boats gave cheers when they heard the victims had been saved. Then, to celebrate, Ripper took the boat back to the mainland for a feast at the resort, as everyone was starving. Lisa had a craving for a Pepperoni Pizza, while Gavin was thinking along the lines of anything edible in sight.

“We’ll walk back to the resort,” proposed Glenys, smiling, after they had moored the boat in the port in town. Gavin had had enough of boating to last him a long time. “Just after we stop in at the Police Station.”

Gavin and Andrew were pleased to walk into the Police Station with the case solved, although the criminal was still not apprehended. The constable and his partner immediately left in a speedboat to the observatory island, and the policewoman behind the desk called the Fire Station to tell them about the fire at the observatory. And then, the whole group began walking to the resort along the footpath.

“Lisa, did you say you were kidnapped by a woman called Lenina?” asked Gavin suspiciously.

“Yeah,” she replied. “Why?”

Gavin held up the plans that Natu had delivered in his talons, and Lisa stared at them. But before she could say anything, they passed the library. Andrew, Jess, Phil, Glenys and Ripper kept walking, talking amongst themselves, but Lisa and Gavin stopped and stared up at the building. The Suicune book … Lisa had forgotten about that. Gavin checked his watch … only 3pm, the library was open for another hour.

“Let’s go then,” Gavin grinned, pushing the door open, while Lisa called something to Jess and Andrew, before following him through the glass doors.

The library was huge, and obviously newly made, but it had been architectured with an old theme about it … the roof was domed and sloping, with carvings and engravings on it. A circular desk was at the front of the library, where two librerians sat typing at very thin computers.

“Excuse me …” Lisa murmured.

The blonde librarian, older than the other, looked at her through spectacles as large as her own head. “Yes, dear?” she said softly.

“I was wondering if you have any books of Legendary Pokemon in this library, I’ve been told that you do.”

Without a word, the woman tapped away at a few keys on her computer and printed a very long list. She handed it to Lisa. “There you are, dear.”

Gavin looked at it over Lisa’s shoulder. Within a few minutes, Lisa sighed. The list wasn’t right, she decided, reading down it: Suicune’s Magical Day, Mew and Mewtwo go to Town, The Adventures of Albert Articuno, Volumes 1 – 4 …

“I have the wrong kind of list,” said Lisa to the woman.

“We want factual books, please,” chimed in Gavin.

The receptionist’s mouth grew thin. “I’m sorry, all our books have been restricted to research purposes only, not for some children –”

“We want to research it!” Lisa protested. “It’s because …” she paused; it wasn’t exactly a great angle to say that she needed the book because Suicune had been following her occasionally for two months … nobody except Gavin, and maybe Professor Westwood … would believe her.

“It’s because we need it for school.” She said, and Gavin guffawed.

“Isn’t it almost Christmas, little girl? School finished about a week ago,” the blonde woman said. “Besides, you both look a bit old to be going to school.” She finished nastily.

Lisa had been caught both ways … school had finished for the summer, until early February, and people over the age of 13 didn’t go to school … unless they went to University, in which case they were given a card to prove their identity.

“Um … well, we’re really interested in Suicune, so can we just please take a particular book?”

“No.”

Gavin and Lisa exchanged annoyed glances. “We’d just like to borrow Suicune: the Legend.”

“No.”

Aipom, who had been running around Lisa’s legs, sprinted off into the section which was under the stairs, jail bars were locking it up, but Aipom was very small, and he slipped through the gaps easy. Due to the Maple Syrup overdose he had had a few days ago back in Ecruteak, his mind was very sharp and he knew what Lisa wanted … Suicune books …

“Well, I think that’s just rude not to let us at least see the books!” cried Lisa indignantly. “Can’t we just look at it while we stay in the library?”

“No.”

Aipom came scurrying out from the Restricted Section, a thick book held in his tail. He raced through the aisles until he was at Lisa’s feet, holding the book up to her. She looked down, and with pleasant surprise saw that it was the book she had been looking for. Gavin noticed too.

“Well, thanks anyway,” he said quickly, turning around, picking Aipom up and holiding him and the book to his chest so they would be obscured. “Bye.” He called over his shoulder.

Lisa blinked, then trailed out.

“I’ve never done anything illegal before!” she squealed at Gavin as they walked briskly to catch up with Andrew and Jess, who were waiting at a corner up ahead.

“Firstly, don’t go screaming around that we just stole a book. Secondly … well, sometimes … it’s necessary,” he grinned. “Although, Aipom’s the real criminal mastermind.”

Lisa hugged Aipom. “Thanks, Aipom … I’ll get you some Maple Syrup when we get – OH!” She cried as something wrapped around her tightly, clutching her chest.

[Gavin Luper]

Some sort of thick string shot out from a small, dark laneway beside the library and the next shop, wrapping tightly around Lisa’s chest. Aipom, and the book still held in his tail, were wrapped up too. Gavin cried out, and saw Andrew come running to see what was happening, when Lisa felt her body lurch, and the thick string pulled her down the laneway, like a kind of elastic that swept her off her feet. It seemed like a minute or so later when she slammed into the ground in a heap Aipom and the book went flying off somewhere.

“So, Lisa Walters, thought you could escape, huh?”

Lisa didn’t need to look up. She knew who it was. That malicious voice, slicing through the air and grating on her ears venomously … Lenina. Slowly Lisa peeked up, to see Lenina, her hair blackened, and much of it missing – burnt off by the fire at the observatory.

“Thought you could kill me, eh?” growled Lenina.

“Thought you could kill ME, eh?” shot back Lisa.

Lenina’s eyes sparked with anger. “I’m not only accompanied by my normal pokemon now … I have someone new to show you.”

Lisa sat up slowly, and gasped with fear. A thing began to emerge from the shadows which lined the wall of the warehouse nearby. Lisa realised she was in a kind of square clearing, and the library was behind her. The ground was gravelled with weeds coming through at odd places. A barbed-wire fence ran around the other two sides of the clearing, and a long way behind her, Lisa could hear Gavin calling, and what sounded like a squeal from Jessica.

The thing which appeared beside Lenina was hideous. It was not a pokemon … not a normal species anyway. It was malformed, very long (about three metres) and about a metre high. Its head resembled a massive Caterpie, with the pinkish red antennae on top, but the face was like a Dunsparce. Lisa thought she could see wings folded up somewhere on the bright orange and green body, and the end looked similar to a fish tail. A thick, sticky string came from the antennae – and it was the same one which wrapped around Lisa.

“That thing is disgusting,” stated Lisa, shivering with apprehension. Somewhere behind her, Lisa could hear Gavin’s shouts getting very close behind her, and also Andrew, Jess and Phil. The loud popping noises signified the pokeballs opening. They were preparing to fight Lenina.

“This is the result of four years of experimentation,” said Lenina proudly. “It took four years of genetic research, four years of intense splicing, four years of evading the STUPID police … to produce this.

“Along with many other genetic researchers, I discovered some of the pokemon with the simplest DNA, and through intensive programs we created test-tube pokemon … we grew them from Stem Cells. And then, we spliced them together. To produce CYDMH #19.”

“CYD… what?”

“The Caterpie-Yanma-Dunsparce-Magikarp-Hybrid Number Nineteen. It took eighteen failed attempts and failed enlargements before we managed to create a surviving specie,” said Lenina slowly, drawing a gun out of her pocket. Then she placed it back in the folds of her singed lab coat. “I won’t need it now,” she muttered.

“That’s just weird!” Lisa cried, struggling against the String Shot, which was enhanced due to the creature’s size.

“The hybrid needed intelligence … at this stage it cannot use any of its attacks without being ordered around … except for one,” Lenina’s eyes winked mysteriously. “That’s why we needed to splice in a human … to enable it to become indestructible. I had to kill you anyway, so I thought I should kill two birds with one stone.”

At that moment Gavin arrived beside Lisa, after running all the way to see her and organising the battle stations. He held Natu’s Moon Ball in his hand very tightly.

“Ah, good morning, Gavin Luper,” called Lenina lightly, speaking as though Gavin was an acquaintance.

Lisa turned in the web awkwardly to see Gavin glaring loathingly at her.

“Give Lisa back now, Lenina! Or we’ll fight you.”

Lisa couldn’t turn completely behind, but she heard Girafarig call out in anxiety, and Staryu squirt out a soft jet of water with a “Hi-yaaah”. Beside her, a Dragonair slithered up and a Mr Mime strode up determinedly. A Seel teamed up with a Clefable and a rowdy-looking Mankey as a Wigglytuff – Jess’s – stumbled up beside Lisa, grabbed the pokeballs off her belt, and released them. Jess’s Chikorita and a Sunflora waddled out onto the gravel. Fiskmire, Dratini and Elekid also appeared, ready to fight.

Aipom was lying the the long weeds near the barbed-wire fence, the book was somewhere a few feet away. The last stringy fragments still stuck to him … but he needed to get back to Lisa. He had to help her. But gradually, the darkness closed in on him, he was unconscious.

Lenina was looking at all the pokemon and the five trainers. “Very well then, we will see how a bunch of weak trainers matches up against renowned Professor Lenina Johnson. Cydm, attack them!”

It was the beginning of mayhem. All the pokemon began to attack, bursts of light and electricity soared through the air. Chikorita was wrapped up in the string within seconds. The ‘Cydm’ also went into action. It broke off the string which was spun around Lisa, and instantly shot out a fresh one, which slammed into Staryu, who was wrapped up in it instantly. But Lenina hadn’t counted for its sharp skin, and the string shattered into pieces beside Staryu.

“STARYU, THUNDERBEAM!” roared Gavin.

Staryu was more than happy to oblige. He spun for a moment, during which time Cydm had shot string at Elekid and wrapped him up with ease. However, Staryu’s body crackled with electricity and a blinding yellow beam shot out at Cydm, hitting its antennae. Everyone watched, and goggled in shock.

Nothing happened at all! “Did I mention this is a super-strong hybrid?” gloated Lenina.

“Everyone attack! Staryu, Psychic it. Lanturn, Water Gun – Girafarig, Shadow Ball – Natu, Psybeam – Ditto … just hang on a sec.”

Andrew yelled out instructions to his pokemon too, and soon a thunderbolt shot through the air, followed by a wave of purple by Mr Mime, and a beam of ice from Dragonair. Phil and Jess began ordering attacks, and after a few moments, a flamethrower from Andrew’s Cyndaquil collided with the Haze which Lisa had been trying to get Fiskmire to produce, resulting in a huge explosion. Smoke billowed through the gravelled clearing, and Lisa could see nothing at all. But she could sense – she could almost see, through the smoke, flames leaping up onto the wall of the library. Screams came from the librarians, there was crackling of flames, and Gavin and Andrew were hastily dousing the fire.

Dust and smoke whooshed at Lisa’s face, when a thin jet of water shot past her face, and Fiskmire ran up to her – it had been fighting the fire. There was sudden screaming of pokemon everywhere – Lenina was yelling out instructions to Cydm, and it was obeying, there were flames everywhere and bursts of elemental attacks, but Lisa realised nothing was being accomplished by the trainers; Lenina was winning because her Cydm was unaffected by their attacks. They needed a new angle …

Fiskmire watergunned the string around Lisa, and the sharp blast of water sliced through the bonds, freeing Lisa. The thick smoke was everywhere, and Lisa dropped to the ground again, coughing.

“Cydm, use Tackle!” cried Lenina from somewhere.

Lisa cringed as there was a huge thud, and a pokemon screamed in intense pain. The Cydm roared with rage, and began slamming the ground everywhere, resulting in the earth vibrating slightly.

“Dodge it, Eevee, Double Team!” squealed Jess from somewhere in the clearing, as the smoke began to subside. Lisa could see Fiskmire before her now, and the ground she was on.

“Charizard, Ember it!” ordered Phil.

There were a few more pokemon’s screams, and a sudden spark of light rushed through the area, dissipating the smoke. Lisa blinked, coughed, and looked around. The Cydm was attacking Gavin’s Lanturn, slamming it into the ground. A Wartortle was wrapped up and also being slammed relentlessly. Lisa could see her pokemon – all three of them – leap with war-cries at Cydm. Maybe they were hoping to overpower it.

“We just have to use our numbers to beat it!” cried Lisa.

“Right!” Gavin answered.

“OK then,” Jess agreed.

All the remaining pokemon that weren’t flattened and knocked out or wrapped up in string charged at the Cydm, while Lenina grinned. “NOW! NOW!” she bellowed, as the pokemon all came at Cydm. It blinked its massive eyes at her and disappeared into thin air – reappearing at her side obediently. As Lisa knew only milliseconds before, the pokemon all crashed into the ground, grazing and bruising themselves. And then, something in her mind clicked.

As the Cydm raged at Dratini, still using Tackle, Lisa realised that Lenina had given them a very big chunk of information – the key of how to beat the Cydm. She had said that it could not use attacks unless ordered around by her. So, if they could first rid of Lenina, Cydm would be easier to defeat.

“Fiskmire!” Lisa yelled to her last fighting pokemon – Dratini was being battered, Elekid was wrapped up and Aipom was nowhere to be seen – “Use Ice Beam … on her!”

Lisa pointed her finger at Lenina, and Fiskmire let out a rapid ball of ice. Lenina leapt aside instinctively, but it barely missed, instead freezing a large lump of ice to the warehouse wall.

“Ignore the Cydm! Aim for Lenina!” barked Lisa.

“How do we ignore it, it’s trying to kill us!” yelled back Andrew, but his pokemon began aiming for Lenina. At the same moment, Jessica’s Eevee was crushed drastically into the gravel, injuring it badly. Jessica looked like she was going to explode, but she remained silent, and walked rigidly towards Lenina, ignoring the attacks firing past her head. She walked directly up to the startled Lenina, and without hesitation;

“YOU …..!” screamed Jessica, kicking Lenina sharply in the shins. Lenina doubled over in pain and moaned, but Jessica was not going to end. Her Eevee had just been hurt badly. The kicking went on for a minute before everybody’s numbed body’s began working again, including Lenina, who slapped out at Jess wildly.

Dust was being kicked up by all the pokemon, who were recovering and scrambling back to their feet to fight, some attacking the Cydm and others going for Lenina, so that there was so much going on, nobody noticed Gavin rubbing his temple, concentrating every particle of energy in his body … and then, feeling that rush of psychic power surging to his brain, flowing through, until …

Lisa felt the beam of azure whoosh past her and rage dead on-course for Lenina. She was so busy countering Jessica’s kicks that she didn’t see it coming, and so the beam of blue hit dead centre.

Lenina’s body went into spasms, and Gavin was glad; not just because he was overpowering the evil woman, but because he had attacked her with the Psychic Power; he had been trying to paralyse her, and from the spasming it semed to have worked. But The Cydm appeared before Lenina, and absorbed the beam at once. Gavin felt the energy flowing out of him, and the beam stopped.

“What was that?” exploded Andrew.

Gavin pointed at Girafarig, who looked surprised. “It was Girafarig. See, do it again Girafarig.” Gavin couldn’t bear to have somebody else know he was psychic. Girafarig looked nervous, but obliged. A beam of azure light shot out of his mouth, and Andrew watched as it hit Cydm, which actually flinched for a moment, before the beam died down. Girafarig looked disappointed, and Andrew nodded curiously. “Right then …”

He and Gavin began ordering the other pokemon’s attacks, not noticing the glow on Girafarig’s tail.

Lisa was watching the attacks on the stupid Cydm from a distance. It would teleport to block any incoming attacks from the pokemon, protecting Lenina always. Lisa couldn’t think of any other way to attack her … suddenly, her eyes fell on Aipom, who was emerging from the long grass. If he could use Swift … Cydm could not block it, as Swift never missed. Aha!

Somewhere, she could hear sirens … police cars, fire engines? They were a fair way away, though, so Lisa put her plan into action and screamed at Aipom across the gravelled clearing. “Aipom, use Super Swift attack – your strongest Swift attack ever! – on Lenina!”

Aipom still booked dazed, and it had picked up the book, but none-the-less, obeyed. He focused on Swift attacking not the Cydm, but Lenina. If he didn’t specifically focus on the Swift hitting her, it would miss.

Golden stars shot out in a long volley from Aipom to Lenina. They were so incredibly bright that they took the attention away from all the other pokemon, and everyone turned and stared at the stars, as they flew whistling through the air, but obediently, the Cydm reared up, looking like it would block the stars, but they flew up over its body and slammed in a relentless trail into Lenina.

She screamed as the stars flew into her body, draining her life just like they drained the power of pokemon. After a minute or two, Lenina’s body dropped to the ground. Nobody was sure if she was dead or just unconscious – it would seem the latter, as Aipom wasn’t a particularly strong pokemon.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief … but there was still the Cydm to deal with. It roared with anger and reared up at the group. Instantly, everyone was snapped out of their ‘trance’ from looking at Lenina. Volleys of fire, water and electricity launched at Cydm, along with purple waves and a very large lavender beam from Girafarig. Somehow, Cydm spat out a ball of acid, which landed directly on Girafarig’s back, sizzling at it’s smooth fur.

“Girafarig!” Gavin cried, rushing over to it. But now he had noticed the soft glowing on its tail, and stared at it suspiciously. “Girafarig, what’s with your tail?”

“Giraa!” bellow Girafarig, glaring at Cydm with fury in its eyes, its back still burning. Just as Jess had called her Wartortle to watergun the acid off, Girafarig squealed out – not in pain, but in fury, and charged at the Cydm. As it ran, the glow spread over its body, and it was a white shadow of light which hammered into the Cydm, knocking it over flat on its bright orange back.

“It’s evolving!” stated Phil excitedly.

“Girafathingys don’t evolve, do they?” asked Andrew in surprise.

“Apparently they do,” Gavin breathed, and they looked on it awe. Girafarig’s shape grew only slightly, but it’s ears grew and shaped considerably and its head-tail shrank a little into itself. The glow receded quickly and before the injured Cydm stood a proud looking pokemon, similar to a Girafarig, with the same colour and patterned fur, and just as cute, but at the same time more mature looking and wiser.

Andrew whipped out a silver device – unmistakeably a pokedex.

“I thought only yuppies had those,” said Lisa bitterly, as words spilled out of the contraption.

“Girafury – the wise Psychic pokemon. It is a matured version of its baby form, Girafarig, and has an advance Psybeam attack, as well as having very special telekinesis and telepathy. Girafury has the speed to rival that of its distant cousin, the Rapidash, and its tail, which before possessed a psychotic and aggressive mind of its own, has become calm and intelligent like the other head, and merged with it, making Girafury twice as smart, however, adding a small amount of physical ability and aggression. The other head disappears, leaving a normal tail.”

Gavin stared at his new Girafury, who looked at him with kind dark eyes. “Gira.” Its ears very pulsated dimly.

“Congrats, Girafury,” began Gavin, but the Cydm wasn’t finished. It reared up as Girafury, who stepped away uneasily. The attacks launched again with minimal talking from the ‘good guys’, but with no orders, Cydm used its one attack that it used without orders – Reflect.

The transparent barrier appeared and shatted straightaway by the attacks, but Lisa had guessed one more thing. Lenina’s created ‘Synthetic’ Slowbro had no idea of secrets or which side to stay on; no loyalty. What would make this thing any different? It could be dangerous if it got into the wrong hands …

Andrew suddenly spoke up, but it sounded like he’d thought it through. “Jessica … recall Cydm to its pokeball!” he called urgently.

Jessica, who was still beside Lenina’s body, called to the thing with a look of deep disgust. “Cydm! Come on, time to go back to your … uh …” Jess turned around to Lenina’s body, where a Ultra Ball lay. Perfect.

“Ultra Ball,” she finished. It complied and in a flash of white returned itself. Everyone looked stunned, and Lisa and Jess grinned at them all.

“Come back to the resort …” said Lisa, a weak, exhausted smile on her face as she bent to the ground and picked up the battered book about Suicune. The last day had been a rush of danger, fear and excitement. Lisa needed a rest.

*

Lisa stroked Aipom’s soft purple fur – for once, it was being calm and peaceful. She looked at the smiling faces around her – Gavin, Andrew, Jess, Phil, Glenys and Ripper. Yesterday had been a very dangerous and exhausting day – after Cydm was recalled the police arrived and apprehended Lenina, everyone had to make statements. Then afetr all the pokemon were healed finally, everyone had been treated to a feast at the hotel resort before a very long sleep.

Lisa didn’t like accepting a free flight back to Ecruteak, because although Glenys and Ripper had a lot of money, she felt it wasn’t fair. Still, they had insisted to pay for all expenses. And what other choice did they have?

As the bus rattled on, Lisa smiled to herself. Everything had turned out alright in the end, really, Lenina was locked up for a long time, but -

“So what happened to the Genetically Engineered Pokemon?” Lisa asked suddenly, pushing her bandana back on properly, it was sliding off a bit.

“Well I heard they were all found at the burning observatory?” replied Andrew quickly, fiddling with a pokeball on his belt.

“Yeah, I heard that too, but I heard the Steelix had died from the fire,” said Gavin, sounding pleased that the evil creature had been killed. Lisa frowned at him – it wasn’t its fault. But still … it would have killed her otherwise.

“Well that’s all fine and well, but what happened to the mega worm of disgustingness?” demanded Jessica furiously.

“Yeah!?” chorused Andrew, Gavin and Lisa. She wondered how she could have overlooked that!

“Its been given to scientists” said Phil suddenly, and all eyes turned to him, but he said no more, just smiled peacefully.

“Oh, I think it should be put down personally,” said Andrew.

“Definitely,” agreed Gavin quickly, but Lisa was quick to contradict.

“It was still a living creature, it had no choice what it was ordered to do!” she cried.

And they argued cheerfuly all the way to the airport terminal.

*

“We will keep in contact, right?” asked Lisa earnestly, staring up at the small TV screen mounted up near the ceiling. The flight was due to leave in about twenty minutes.

Lisa held the Legendary Suicune book under her arm – no longer did she feel even a sliver of guilt. After Lenina was taken to Jail in a city nearby, the blonde librarian ran out to see Lisa and thanked her for putting out the fire, even though it had actually been Gavin and Andrew’s pokemon. At any rate, she thanked the entire group of trainers and offered them any reward. Everyone had taken a money reward – but Lisa remained content. She requested to keep the Suicune book, and they allowed her to. So she did.

Andrew nodded fervently. “Sure … we have your pokegear number, and you have our mobile numbers. We’ll ring you sometime to catch up again.”

“For sure,” chimed in Phil, signing Gavin’s plaster cast.

Jessica shook Lisa’s hand. “Thanks for … well … saving us.”

Lisa shook her hand back. “Thanks for … doing my hair,” she giggled. “And for battling with me. With each other, as well as against Lenina. Glad she’s in jail now. But yeah, thanks for battling with me.”

“Who would have won, do you think?” Jessica asked, brushing a stray strand of chestnut hair from her eyes. Lisa shrugged, and the question remained unanswered.

Gavin was still trying to pay Glenys and Ripper for the flight, but the elderly couple flatly refused.

“It’s the least we can do for you, after your poor buggy being broken down, and you being stranded here, and kidnapped, and nearly killed. You deserve it, Gavin,” insisted Glenys.

“Besides, we’re rich,” said Ripper happily. “We won the lotto, we have all the money we need.”

Gavin shrugged, as Phil finished scribbling a message on his plaster cast. A call over the Gate lounge sounded out.

“ALL passengers on flight EKA07 to Ecruteak City please finish boarding … this is your final boarding call …”

Lisa hoisted her overstuffed backpack onto her back. Gavin picked up his, and Andrew came over to shake his hand. “Seeya Gavin. And sorry I didn’t believe in the legendaries before.”

“You still don’t, do you?” said Gavin slowly.

“Well …” Andrew didn’t say anything more, but his eye twinkled. He shook hands (left hands, because of Gavin’s broken arm) firmly with Gavin.

“Seeya,” replied Gavin finally.

Then, Gavin and Lisa stepped up to the desk at the entrance to the jetway, profusely thanking Glenys and Ripper and promising to see Phil, Jess and Andrew again. They handing their boarding passes to the hostess, who nodded them on and wished them a pleasant flight.

Lisa and Gavin walked quietly down the runway, hand-in-hand.

“I really just can’t wait to get back home,” said Lisa firmly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Next up on Lisa the Legend

While Lisa and Gavin have had their own exciting experiences lately, so have some of their friends.

“If I’m one of the first trainers to fight the Elite Four …” Hiro whispered to himself. “It’ll be tomorrow when I win the league!”

Hiro is getting close to his goal …

“Venomoth, Sleep Powder!” yelled Hiro, as Gengar charged it’s arms up with lilac energy.

Of course, Nurse Joy is having her share of problems, too.

“Get in there, go on!” urged Joy, her hair flailing around like a limp Ekans’ body, as she tried to shove a Sandshrew into it’s bed. Beside her, Issechu flapped its icy, scaled wings to stay aloft. “HURRY UP!” she yelled, frustrated.

Evidently, things aren’t exactly rosy behind the scenes.

Joseph’s eyes were filled with annoyance and confusion. His executive rocket – dead. The girl, escaped! And now she knew too much – she would surely recall the situation in Goldenrod now? If not she would now have some evidence that rockets were following her. But did she know why?

And there’s one other enemy left to contend with.

//I can do anything// replied Entei, his words burning with fury and arrogance.

Chapter 30 – Juxtaposition.

[Chris 2.1]

Wow! amazing chapter Gav. the biggest chapter in the whole-wide-world!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Girafury was cool! i liked him , but i wish Ditto morphed into CYDM! He would have won! Oh, ps: Did Ozzy or you imagine that?

[Karania]

Awesome! That was one really good chapter. Hope the next is as well.

[Gavin Luper]

SM: Thanks, although it's not the biggest - CCC and Tima have both written longer before, but this is by far the longest I have ever written. So you like it then? The length wasn't wasted?

I like Girafury too, it's about time he got a bit more attention than he has for the last ... 20 chapters or so. I considered having Ditto morph, but decided against it for some reason, I can't remember why. Oh, the CYDM idea was Oz's, but I made the freaky name and designed exactly what it looked like. But Oz had the whole idea behind the entire crossover!

Karania: Worth waiting for? I like it when you guys really really like my chapters. Makes me feel like I can actually write!

Chapter 30 will be up this weekend!

Cheers!

[mistysakura]

Yay, it's up!

Those battles were really good. I loved them.

[Gavin Luper]

MistySakura: yes, it's finally posted! I can't express how happy (and relieved!) I am. I'm really glad you liked the battles after all because as you know, since pokemon doesn't interest me, that my battle-writing isn't too great. Great that you like them! Thanks!

Cheers!

[Hyperness is a Good Thing]

*has finally finished reading*

Blek..I have no time to read Oz Andrew's side of it....i'll do it tomorrow.......

Nice chapter(s).....finally...worth the long wait I have to say.^^

The battling was nice, and interesting..and I'm too tired to think of anything else to say.

[ZeldaFan20]

Nice one. You definitely caught MY attention. Keep it up.

[Master Kirby]

That was a great chapter! It kept me at the edge of my chair when Lenina was waving the gun around.

I liked the battles, and the CDYM also. It sounded like a combination of some pretty weak PKMN, but I guess genetic engineering enhances their slight strengths.

I can't wait to find out how Lisa manages to keep team Rocket from attacking her again.

[AquaBabe727]

Hey Gavin! That was a LOT of material! ^_^ I enjoyed it! I...wow...I don't really know what to say about it! I loved it, but I can't really point anything out...there was two much! But yeah, it was really good! ^_^ Maybe if I think of something more enlightening i'll post it. Bye!

[100FangCroconaw]

*whistles*Niicce.Your part was definitely longer than Ozzy's. And I liked Girafury. That was a nice trick that Jessica used though.

[Master Kirby]

I did disagree with one thing in your story.

“The only thing more boring is the Lord of the Rings,” agreed Andrew.

That is hard to imagine, the Lord of The Rings being boring.

[Mew Trainer Rose]

It's great reading a story from so many different ponits of view. some things that don't make any sense from one side are explained fully by the other. ^_^ Great job to all involved *applause*

[Gavin Luper]

Lots of readers and repliers!

Hyperness: I felt the same ... I finally finished proofreading this and I was like ... ugh I don't have the strength to reread Oz's part, I'll do it another day. It's good that it was worth the wait. Excellent that the battles were good.

Zeldafan: Hi! I caught your attention eh? Great! Thanks for the reply!

Kirby: Hello again! Well, I think that in this story things need to be a bit more realistic ... I mean, evil peoples don't always run around with a Weezing and Arbok, so I'm thinking genetically modified ones + weapons ie Guns, are a good substitute.

Ah yes, Team Rocket is a big problem now. The next five chapters or so should show a bit clearer link to what's going on. If you want to start working some things out, try going back and rereading old chapters. You might see it in a different way.

Aquababe: As long as you enjoyed it that's all I'm concerned about lol! You sound speechless kind of. Well, it doesn't matter if you can't comment any further, I don't mind!!

100FangCroconaw: Thanks. I liked Girafury too, the extra head on Girafarig was always a bit weird and made it just seem that bit too ... freaky. So it's gone now (YES!).

Kirby2: Lol, it's alright I think the Lord of the Rings is quite good. I only put that it because Oz doesn't like it, and since Andrew is his character, it makes it more fitting, see?

MTR: Thanks for reading!! I agree, it's also interesting that my side of the story is in third person but Oz's is in first. Thankyou.

Chapter 30 coming soon!

[Karania]

Keep it up. Can't wait to see the next chapter!

[Gavin Luper]

Karania: Thanks! Its a very versatile chapter and should be an interesting insight!

Cheers!

[Karania]

Get it up when you can. Its a very sad day at my end. You've probably heard about the Columbia shuttle disaster. Let me tell ya it was scary seeing debris raining down over my home state of Texas. Not all what I expected. Hopefully the next chapter will help to lighten my mood a bit.

[Andrew]

Yay! Great work Gavin! This was great to read every page as you worked on it! It ended up being like 19 pages right? It was great how you wrote this part, its a lot more action and a lot more fun! But Gavin's history sure was sad, but I think I paid you out about that! Plus the genetically engineered Pokemon's lack of personalities were great.

It was odd the Slowbro had a chat though! And the battle with Cydm, great fun! I enjoyed it! And the airport was also nice! And I loved Girafaury! Its great! And cuter too! oh well Gavin, great work! I know we won't do this again!

[Gavin Luper]

Karania: Yes I heard about that, I'm very sorry to hear. It must have been horrible to see that and have no idea what was happening, must have really freaked you out. I'll see if I can put the next chapter up today for you!

OzAndrew: Yay! Yeah something like that I dunno it was really really long anyway, I can't believe I wrote it. Good thing we decided to split the whole c/o into two chapters hey?

Yeah you already paid me out for Gavin's history that's why I just changer it a little bit! Thanks for everything! And yes, Girafury is cooler!

[Gavin Luper]

I'm going to do a quick edit and proofread to see if I can get Chapter 30 up now ... just to let you guys know!

Here we go! Cheers!

--------------------------------------

Chapter 30 – Juxtaposition.


Far into the resplendant Cianwood Sea, which glittered with the early sunrays, lay the four Whirl Islands, Red Rock, Yellow Rock, Blue Rock and Silver Rock, interspersed with countless whirlpools of various sizes. Three of the islands where peaceful, but on the other, trouble was brewing rapidly. The air here wasn’t tingling with Christmas festivities as the rest of the world, but a tingle of silent evil.

To the western shore, there lay a cave with its echoing secrets sheathed by a barrier of shiny rocks. Previously only home to a very few water-land creatures, it had now been inhabited by black-clothed humans for just over one month. The Psyducks, Magikarps and Krabbys has all been defeated by the villains and captured with ease. But the tunnels still swarmed with members of Team Rocket, the ruthless organisation who seemed to be somehow behind every criminal organsiation in the world.

The caves were currently the main operation of the group – the Elite Rocket had also been recently in charge of a Radio signal which affected many pokemon, as well as a false gym also in Johto. But the search for Lugia – and other things -were his current obsession.

In a small cave which had only a month before been dank and dark sat a black-clothed man, named Joseph. The cave had been fashioned into his office for weeks now, and many other caverns had been carved into dormitories for the long stay. Early one morning, while sifting through profiles of people – his allies and adversaries - Joseph smirked to himself, his black hair almost obscuring his black eyes. Nobody had discovered their hideout, nobody knew except one. And that one was well and truly out of the way by now.

A doubt flickered in Joseph’s mind. He hadn’t heard any confirmation of his plan’s success for days and days … possibly, could anything have gone wrong? He shivered uncomfortably. What if they had escaped? What if Lucas had messed things up? Joseph’s normally arrogant, confident mind was suddenly bursting with ceaseless questions, which taunted him.

His doubts and worryings were suddenly confirmed when two Rockets burst into the office. The female ducked as she ran through the low door, but the man pelted into the doorframe and slammed his head into it. The woman clicked her tongue, and tossed her bright red hair as the man dropped to the ground unconscious. She picked up the portable radio from his grasp, and turned slowly to Joseph, who was looking infuriated with two grunts rushing into his private office.

“ Bree? What is this?” he demanded, as she stood tall, thrusting out the radio.

“ Sir, we have some horrible news for you … Cass – uh, Cassidy - recorded it accidentally last night … we thought you ought to hear it for yourself …” Bree stuttered, shaking before her executive boss.

Joseph’s eyes became black specks of confusion and trepidation. He sat down slowly in the chair behind his desk, and twirled his thin moustache as Bree pressed the ‘play’ button on the radio. As she increased the volume, she stood well back from her superior, expecting an outrage as soon as the Radio News article had finished.

‘ Now for a story that has shocked the citizens of Ecruteak, and indeed, the country. Reported by Naomi Baxter.’

Bree looked apprehensively at the black haired man. His face had barely changed, but she knew he would be thinking all kinds of things as soon as the word Ecruteak was mentioned on the radio. He knew the police force were aware of his activities – it was by pure luck that they hadn’t uncovered his exact location, and by excellent verbal evasive skills that no proof had been discovered of his criminal force.

The report continued;

‘ Thanks Jane. The metropolis of Ecruteak City was previously well-known for its tranquility beside the Ecru Lake, it’s famous dance theatres, and its Two Towers, both of which are mythically said to withhold ancient secrets. However, a twist of fate last week brought Ecruteak’s name to the media in disgrace.

‘ Last Saturday evening, a young girl who works at a nearby Pokemon Centre was strolling to the train station when she was kidnapped by a sinister man whom she quickly linked with Team Rocket. The man allegedly attacked the girl after tormenting her and raised a gun to kill her.’

‘ The rest of the report may seem unreal, but witnesses and the victim both say that Suicune the legendary Aurora Pokemon burst in and saved the girl. Witnesses saw him materialise before them on the street, and the girl quickly explained the situation to police moments after the scene before fleeing without giving her name.’

Joseph’s hands were whitened, his face pale beneath the natural tanned skin. Bree stood well back as his mouth contorted into a mask of fury and puzzlement, but the report had yet to conclude.

‘ The rocket was severely injured and died within minutes of contact with police. Officer James from the station only a few hundred metres away says the rocket was mumbling “he’ll kill me” over and over, until his words gave way, and death took over his –’

The radio exploded with a flash of sparks and electricity, and small columns of smoke blossomed from the machine. Joseph’s hand stood clenching the empty pokeball, and his Houndoom stood panting from the powerful, enraged flamethrower. Through the smoky room, Bree spied her boss’ clenched fists, and decided to depart swiftly. She stepped briskly over her male colleague’s body as she tried to escape Joseph Sterling’s wrath, but a sudden shout from down the cavernous corridor took her attention, and she tripped unskilfully over the man’s unconscious form, falling down onto the ground and mimicking him.

Joseph’s eyes were filled with annoyance and confusion. His executive rocket – dead. The girl, escaped! And now she knew too much – she would surely recall the situation in Goldenrod now? If not she would now have some evidence that rockets were following her. But did she know why? Maybe his last hope would still be valid … it was doubtful.

Another shout and a rush of footsteps averted Joseph’s mind. Suddenly, the noise became ever closer, and two man appeared in a rush with equally confused and horrified faces. As they became simultaneously blurting out information at Joseph, there was a rush of speedy blue light, and both their bodies became rigid. Their eyes glazed over, unseeing, and they dropped obediently to the ground.

Blinking in shock and slight fear, Joseph allowed his eyes to travel to the doorway again as soft padding footsteps echoed through the urbanised cavern, and Houndoom trembled slightly. Joseph’s jaw dropped in horror as a large, orange beast entered slowly but determinedly through his doorway, ducking it’s oversized head, which had a long, spiky mane of ragged hair. He gaped, as Houndoom knelt before Entei.

//Joseph Sterling// Entei’s words were transmitted to Joseph’s mind in a flash, a near hint of sarcasm in them. //This is indeed interesting//

“ What are you doing here?” Joseph gasped. “ I was looking for a Lugia here, not an Entei –”

Entei’s body glowed with a faint azure tinge, and Joseph’s words were drowned out instantly. He opened his mouth and tried to speak, but no words came. Entei’s mouth curved into a malicious grin. //I am here to deliver you a deal. One which I expect you will accept. Either that, or die//

Panicking, Joseph reached for his intercom, and pressed three buttons rapidly, before Entei could react. He tried to yell out at Entei, but he couldn’t, so instead he thought at him. //Now all my troops are aware of what’s happening. They’ll arrive any minute//

Entei clicked his tongue, and went on. //We are both out to find and destroy the same person. I’m sure you know who I am referring to. Her name is Lisa – Lisa Walters.//

Joseph nodded slowly //You’re out to get her too?//

//Yes, for a different reason. For you, it may be a matter of your life as a free man – if the girl realises, and tells the authorities, your secret will be exposed. If some certain people come in contact with the girl – mine also will be revealed// Scarcely pausing, Entei continued as Joseph nodded slowly. //Together, we can track her down, destroy her before secrets are exposed. I can help you, and I assure you can help me//

Entei held out a bulky paw to Joseph, who immediately shook it. At once, his words flowed audibly from his mouth – he was able to speak! “ Deal! I’ll help you, you’ll help me. Also, if we can assist each other in any other possible way …” Joseph’s mind was on the Lugia he was seeking – maybe the newfound friend Entei could assist him in discovering the indigo bird.

Entei chuckled. //Why not?// he thought, secretly plotting revenge on Suicune and Raikou – and then, if he could manage it, work out exactly what had happened between Joseph Sterling and Lunanine many weeks ago, for he knew something had taken place.

There was a sudden rush at the door, and a dozen rockets sprinted in – those who were in the closest caves. All of them held guns at Entei, and he clicked his tongue as a lilac glow erupted from his body. The wave of purple expanded across the room to the rockets, and all of them dropped to the ground like their four other colleagues. Then, as Joseph watched, slightly impressed, each troop glowed purple, and with a blast each Rocket disappeared completely from the room.

//We won’t need them all// Entei said simply.

“ You killed them?”

//No, I returned them to the dormitory cave//

“ You can do that?”

//I can do anything//

“ You could … kill? Me?”

Entei paused. //If I wanted to// he replied at last. //But obviously, I wouldn’t. Now, come, take me to the man you hold captive here – the one known as Westwood …//

*

“ Is there still a hope of locating her, Joseph?” whispered a steady voice to the man who had resurrected Team Rocket.

“ There is, friend, there is. I have a new team member who joined us recently – today in fact. He salvaged the scene where Lucas was killed, and found something VERY valuable. Some more leads.”

He held out a large wooden key, opened it up and read it to himself.

“ Hi Anna, how have you been? I’m sorry you lost against Lisa the other day, at least I beat her for you. Nah, she’s really nice though. As you know, I spose. Are we still going to keep in touch? Lisa and I are going to meet in Ecruteak at Christmas. Why don’t you come too?

“ From your best bud,

“ Marina.”

*

“ Get in there, go on!” urged Joy, her hair flailing around like a limp Ekans’ body, as she tried to shove a Sandshrew into it’s bed, back at the Ecruteak Pokemon Centre. Beside her, Issechu flapped it’s icy, scaled wings to stay aloft.

“ Bee! Bi dup!” squealed the Sandshrew, quivering beneath it’s rough yellow skin.

Joy grunted angrily and frustratedly, and with sweaty hands pushed the stubborn shrew into it’s bed. It’s battle-scarred behind had almost healed from the savage attack by a Scyther, nearly two weeks ago, and now it was becoming fussy.

Sandshrew lay in it’s bed, as Nurse-Joy-in-training tucked sheets around it’s body. Finally, angered and now distrusting, the ground pokemon slashed wildly at the sheets, shredding them instantly. Then, with enraged claws, it leapt from the elevated bed and raced with pattering feet across the ward. Issechu squeaked excietedly as Nurse Joy began to take chase. Joy reached out in desparation, as Sandshrew reached the passage with it’s various doorways, and found only Issechu to grasp.

Sandshrew stared wildly at all the closed doors. It would be able to slash one open with it’s well-trained claws, but which way would mean an exit? If he entered a dead-end room, Joy would catch him again. He was dimly aware of a green luminous sign hanging from the room, which said something in human language.

Before the pokemon could make a move, Joy entered the passage, Issechu held in her arms like a weapon, Joy holding it’s tail stiffly, reading to pull it and force Issechu to produce shots of ice.

Putting on a calm, pleasant voice, Joy spoke. “ Please get back into the ward or … or … Issechu will shoot you!”

Sandshrew looked in desparation from the psychotic nurse before him to the various would-be exits nearby. Would he be better of taking a risk, and just trying any door? How was he meant to know which one to choose?

Still calmly speaking, but inside fed up with dealing with stubborn sick pokemon, Joy addressed the shrew as though reading it’s mind. “ Get … back … in … the … ward.” She paused. “ I don’t REALLY want to shoot you.”

Moments later, Sandshrew raced luckily down the passage into the foyer, Joy speeding behind him, the cold tiles turning to chunks of issechu ice as she ran, shots emitting every few seconds from the ice pokemon’s mouth. Sandshrew discovered the front door, and charged it, shattering glass and sprinting into the street.

Joy opened the broken door furiously, then began running along the footpath, Issechu Gun in arms, screaming.

“ Come back – or you will be shot!”

*

Hiro Ferguson’s journey was nearing an end. He grinned, as his now strong arms pulled him over a rocky ledge to the next level of Victory Road. The Indigo Plateau was very close. Hiro pulled himself up atop the ledge and grinned. He could see an opening not too far ahead – light was coming into the caves via a small curved tunnel. Turning behind him, he signalled silently to his Typlosion who was trailing slightly wearily behind him, and the towering fire type obediently jumped at Hiro, being sucked into the ball which his trainer held out for him.

As Hiro neared the exit of the cave, a cry rang out, and there was a thump before him. He gazed up at the tall, long-haired boy standing there, whose mean black eyes bore into Hiro. Hiro stared straight back into his rival’s eyes, but the red-haired new arrival didn’t flinch. Hiro’s only weapon against his enemy had been taken from him.

“ Tyler …” he spoke at last. “ Didn’t expect to see you here.” Hiro scratched his head vehemently, then forced his voice to become more confident. “ You here for the league?”

“ Duh, midget,” said the shadowy Tyler, striding up and standing a good few inches above Hiro. “ I didn’t expect to see you here either. Got all the badges?” Tyler paused. “ Do you even know which ones you got?”

“ Yeah – Zephyr, Hive, Brushfire, Plain, Mineral, Glacier, Raindance and Rising,” called back Hiro, anxious to prove his enemy wrong, after their last meeting in Mahogany Town, where Hiro’s battling had been really messed up as he fought Tyler, due to a long fight with many Rocket agents. Tyler had easily defeated him there, but had then been easily defeated by a caped figure whose identity was a mystery to both Hiro and Tyler.

“ Raindance?” Tyler’s eyebrows rose questioningly. “ I don’t recall that one.”

Hiro smirked smugly. “ Well, maybe you didn’t do so well, then, if you didn’t get a badge. It’s from a little lakeside gym at the Lake of Rage. Pushover leader, would’ve been hard for you though.”

“ You say you only have eight badges, eh?” Tyler’s hands were gradually drifting down towards his belt which contained six greatballs. “ I got ten.” Tyler reached into his pocket, and produced a small box. He opened it, and revealed to his longtime rival ten badges all clipped into place on the base of the velvety box.

Hiro frowned. “ Tyler, I don’t want to fight,” he said in a steady voice. “ Not this time. I have to heal my pokemon, and do some last-minute training for the league. The ceremony is tomorrow you know.”

The crimson-haired boy frowned too, but sighed. “ If you’re too weak, then fine. I’ll beat you in the league. It’s nothing like the last league I was in anyway – the Indigo League means you have to fight a whole heap of other trainers and the winner of six rounds was the champ. This is better. You go straight to the Elite Four.”

“ Really?” Hiro’s eyes were wide with interest, but there was a swoop of wings, and Tyler disappeared on the back of a flying pokemon, flying out through the tunnel to daylight. Hiro stumbled after him, emerging for the first time in a day into the sunshine. He smiled as he shielded his eyes until they adjusted.

“ If I’m near the first few trainers to fight the Elite Four …” he whispered to himself. “ It’ll be tomorrow when I win the league!”

*

Hiro’s heart pelted against his chest. Karen’s Gengar raced out before his Venomoth, and blocked it with short stubby arms glowing with pulsating energy. He shouted out to Venomoth, but Gengar’s body was humming, as it’s fist collided with Venomoth, who toppled to the ground, confused.

“ Good job, Gengar. Now Psychic,” the fair-haired Karen spoke calmly to her ghost in her usually battle posture – sitting on a large, plump cushion, relaxed, as opposed to the fretting Hiro, who began grabbing at his spiky black hair as the black Gengar powered up it’s arms for the finishing attack.

He had to chance it.

Dimly, Hiro could hear the crowd screaming in delight as the challenger made his way though the Elite Four. First, Will had caved in to Hiro’s Typlosion, Dewgong and Skarmory after a very long battle, with Typhlosion’s Thunderpunch finally coming in useful. Then his Typhlosion and Ampharos had made short work of Koga’s team, as Koga was actually the weakest of the Elite Four. Bruno had been a great challenge, and after a near victory, his rock and fighting pokemon gave way to Venomoth’s psychic and Dewgong’s Ice Beam. Hiro was left with just Two pokemon – Dewgong and Venomoth, but luckily Bruno was the point of healing in the match.

Then came Karen, who had proved the toughest of all, as the strongest of the Elite Four.

It had seemed to Hiro quite a step up from Bruno and the others. Karen’s Umbreon had knocked his Heracross out in a stunning display of type disadvantage-turned advantage. Typhlosion had knocked Vileplume out after a fiery and very close match, and Ampharos had sizzled Murkrow. Gengar was the second-last challenge, and he had proved to be difficult by knocking out Ampharos, and then Skarmory shortly after.

“ Venomoth, Sleep Powder!” yelled Hiro, as Gengar charged it’s arms up with lilac energy.

The poisonous moth weakly flapped it’s wings, wishing the brutal fight would end at last, but was loyal and obedient to it’s master. It knew a lesser pokemon would back down, but he would fight to the end. He flapped his wings a little more, and a fine blue dust hovered across the field of dirt, catching Gengar off guard.

Hiro thought he was one of the most lucky people in the world, as Gengar’s eyes disappeared into his body – asleep.

“ Now, Venomoth, Psychic!”

The moth was filled with renewed hope, and quickly charged up a beam of lighting-fast lilac energy, which exploded from his mouth and rocketed across the field to Gengar, who was caught up immediately in the attack, and Karen, who was now standing, shaking her fist before remembering she was before a crowd.

As the dust settled, Gengar remained still, and Hiro’s ears seemingly unblocked as they did after every round. He grinned at Venomoth. “ Excellent, Veno. You really held on, you showed them. Great job.” Venomoth smiled faintly before flopping to the ground and being sucked back into it’s home. The crowd was roaring, as both Karen and Hiro brought out their last pokemon.

“ Typhlosion!”

“ Houndoom!”

*

Meanwhile, high above in the security rooms of the plateau, Luke Fillman and Max Hulmn sat in their uncomfortable seats, watching the recent battle with Lance on a separate field. Max grinned as he pointed to the red-haired boy whose Golem had taken out one of Lance’s Dragonairs.

“ That guy has the most badges of all the competitors, right?” he queried, stabbing his finger at the boy who was grinning smugly as the Dragonair squealed with pain after being rolled out by the opposing Golem.

“ Mm hmm,” nodded Luke vaguely, as an urgent voice spoke into his headset microphone. His face creased as he finished his conversation, and turned to Max, who had already noticed something amiss about the conversation.

“ What is it?” he cried the moment Luke stopped talking. Max ran through his blonde hair urgently. “ What’s goin on?!”

“ Bad news …” muttered Luke. “ That was the downstairs office – you know our badge-collector at the reception gate?”

“ Damek? That di –”

“ Yeah him. Turns out he was … wait for it … a Rocket,” Luke paused for effect as Max’s face dropped in shock, before continuing. “ He allowed a whole bunch of trainers in without the required number of badges … a heap had the wrong kinds, or only a few. Apparently the kid who lost to Will straight away only had two badges!”

“ What now?”

“ They’re faxing a few of the names of the trainers who are participating illegally – they’ll be disqualified at once. Here we go …”

The fax machine buzzed as a long roll of paper came through with many names printed on it. Luke took it at once before reading it to his colleague. “ Let’s see – you go break the news to these ones – Annette Biquelle, Colin Delson, Kylie Douglas, Jeanette Fisher and … Hiro Ferguson … they’re all to be disqualified…”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Next up on Lisa the Legend

At last, Lisa and Gavin are home. But an immediate obstacle is in their way.

“I can’t believe it …” stuttered Lisa, staring at the huge black creature before her.

“Well, hurry up and battle it, I can’t do everything for ya,” cried Gavin, standing tall beside Girafury, ready to consolidate both their Psychic powers in an instant if necessary.

Unfortunately, Lisa’s been caught out at last.

“Uh oh.” Lisa couldn’t suppress a sheepish grin, as her father glared at her.

And a friend from the not-too-distant past emerges … in some danger.

Just as Marina’s raft passed the branches, there was a shout and two people leapt out of the tree, landing abruptly onto the raft, backed up by a Crobat and a Venomoth.

Chapter 31 – Friends.

[Andrew]

Erk! I never read this chapter! There's no Lisa and Gavin dealing with no knives and forks with plane food! They give you a stick or something lol. That would've been funny to try see them chop up chicken with a stick.... lol. Oh well!

Ooh a Rocket Hideout! Sneaky! And those poor Magikarp, Krabbys and Psyducks. I had to laugh when that man knocked himself out! Its like that ad.

Boss: Where's the info for the meeting!?
Man 1: All in here *Points at head*
Boss: Thank god.
Man 1: *Smashes head into filing cabnet*
Man 2: Don't worry, I know it too.
*Walks into meeting*
Man 2: *Goes to sit down but slips and smashes head into desk and falls unconcious*
Boss: ^^;

And Bree's such a nice name too ^^; It was good to see Cassidy mentioned, even if she is a recorder for the time being. And Joseph's such a nasty loser, breaking office property! And poor Bree, she's got a concussion now!

And Entei coming to make a deal! OMG, what an evil Pokemon! I hate it! I found it funny he put them back in bed though. Did he tuck them in

So Anna or Marina's a Rocket now! OMG OMG OMG! Anna's dead?! Or was she teleported!? This is such a horrible plot twist! I dunno what's happening!

The Junior Joy, JJ, well gee, where's her mum!? Its sure pretty wierd! Lol, but we see Icy again! And that Sandshrew! Lol, I was rooting for it! It was a nice change of pace! And are we going to see more of those Volt-Enteers?

Seeing Tyler again, ooh! That guy's such a tool! I don't like him! Or his Golem!

The battle against Karen, cool ^^ And she's such a lazy git on her Pillow! But then again, if I were 1337 I'd be on a pillow too!

And the security dudes in the room, that's nice, I had to laugh about the roadkill Dragonair! And why would a Rocket let anyone in? Are they planning something! Evil rockets! Bad! But I had to laugh at Hiro's misfortune again.

Great work Gavin! Great!

[Gavin Luper]

Oz: Hey! You read and replied! Bet you didn't see that chapter coming ... I mean, you did, but you didn't know it was NO Lisa and Gavin, did you?

Lol yeah that guy was dumb. Very clumsy, eh? Yeah, Cassidy was mentioned, she was recording songs onto a tape, but hey. Bree is cool, I wonder if we'll ever see her again? Lol, I don't think it matters is Joseph breaks stuff, I mean ... er ... nevermind.

I don't have time to really reply fully, but to do everything in a nutshell, yes Entei has decided to come along and complicate things, the rockets were all tucked in, you interpreted something wrongly (go back and read!), Joy is mental, Sandshrew is running for its life, Tyler is a tool, thanks I liked the battle with Karen too, yes poor poor Hiro (haha dead Dragonair), yeah teh security guys are cool and what the hell are teh rockets planning? We'll see!

Cheers!

[Chris 2.1]

nice chapter! focusing on Hiro all this time, pretty cool. And was the raindance badge the fake one the rockets talked about? NOOOOOOOOOOO!

[ZeldaFan20]

Entei making a bargain with TR?? This should be interesting .

[Karania]

Thanks that really helped to lighten my mood. Sheesh.... I just found out that in Nachadoches, Texas is where 95% of all the debris fell. Several other places too, but I'll let ya do the research!

It seems like Team Rocket is up to something again. Exactly what does Entei have against Lisa anyway? All she did was express her displeasure of finding out that he had killed Anna for no apparent reason. It should get interesting to see how the disqualified trainers react when they find out. Lisa will make it to the plateau and compete, won't she at one point? I think so, because she's still a trainer in training. Excuse the pun. By the way what has Suicune and Raikou been up to? They've been offely quiet lately. Probably will confront Entei. Keep it up, can't wait to read more!

[Gavin Luper]

Shiny Marill: Hey! Yeah, we haven't seen Hiro for ages and we did get a glimpse of Kris for awhile so why not? And yes, I think you're on the right track with that!

Zeldafan: Definitely will be interesting. Imagine the strength of a Legendary Pokemon, then imagine it when used for evil instead of good.

Karania: WHOA! 95% fell over there? Poor people who live there, it must have been terrible! As for the chapter, well Entei is a psycho as you know. But what is his reasoning? I'll leave you to think that over. As for your other two ideas, i think you have kind of the right track but a bit ... well ... inaccurate.

Cheers!