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

[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.

[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!

[Gavin Luper]

Pichu Luver: OMG you have been reading after all? Lol I wondered if you were still out there or not, although you did always say you would hardly ever reply. Thank you so very much for reading this whole time. And thanks for the reply!

100FangCroconaw: Yeah, pretty scary hey? Definitely not a good thing for Lisa!

Karania: The next chapter will be up any minute if I can manage it. I'd like to give you a clue to your theories, but I can't! Of course!

Seeya in a minute!

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Chapter 31 – Friends.


Lisa Walters was sprawled out across the lush front lawn of her house in Ecruteak City. Her close friend Gavin Luper lay beside her, rubbing his forehead repeatedly. Lisa’s entire body was feeling crushed, but she knew she was much better off than Gavin, who felt like curling up and hibernating for eternity.

“Aipom?” questioned Lisa, and she struggled up to a sitting position and searched around the well-kept garden and grass. Aipom hung from it’s furry purple tail in a nearby tree. Lisa rolled her eyes as she stood up to retrieve her first and most loyal Pokemon.

After being kidnapped only a day ago, and meeting a girl named Jess who was about her age, Lisa had had a really dangerous but nonetheless exciting experience; she had battled for her life. Gavin had met Andrew (Jess’ brother), and after a massively important Pokemon battle against a deformed pokemon, the new acquaintances exchanged phone numbers for later on. Lisa was thoroughly pleased after driving in her solarpowered buggy to another province – not only had she received the Legendary Pokemon Book she had been looking for so long, but her Elekid had become a good deal stronger, as well as Aipom learning the glowing Super Swift or ‘Speed Star’ technique.

“Gavin?” Lisa moved on to see if her best friend was alright. He wasn’t used to using his psychic powers to teleport Lisa and himself anywhere, let alone long distances. Andrew’s friends Glenys and Ripper had arranged for Lisa and Gavin to fly back to Ecruteak, but no taxis were in sight when they arrived, and as Ecruteak was quite a big city, Gavin had teleported them home. His use of teleportation or telekinesis always left the teenage boy incredibly weak, occasionally injured, and he had tried not to use his abilities. But Gavin hadn’t been completely alone in the method – his first ever pokemon Natu had also contributed in moving Lisa, Gavin, Aipom and itself to Ecruteak again.

The black-haired boy stirred and looked up. The plaster cast on his arm with the scribbled messages from Lisa, Jessica, Phil and Andrew had shifted and come off his arm during the teleportation, although it really needed to stay on for a good many weeks yet. Lisa moved over to Gavin’s right arm and examined it as the boy mumbled to himself and tried to open his eyes. His arm from just above his elbow to his hand, which had previously been covered, was pale and thin, very weak-looking. Lisa knew the arm shouldn’t have healed yet, but with amazement as she examined it, she was quite sure it had!

As Lisa began to puzzle over the arm, there was a shout from the large Teak door, and two children came tearing out.

“Lisa, did you get your book? How’s Aipom? Did you get a pokemon for me? What’s with Gavin, why’s he down there on the grass?”
“Hi Leese, have fun? Mum and Dad are waiting for you, I think you’re gonna be busted for coming home so late!”

Lisa’s younger siblings – cheeky, 12-year old brother, Pokemon-obsessed Wesley and even cheekier 10-year-old sister, the sarcastic little Jean – came racing onto the lawn and both slammed into Lisa. Lisa rubbed her head impatiently, as Wes began conversing with Aipom and Jean looked at Gavin, and little Natu asleep beside him.

“Is he dead?” she asked, a droop to her bored face.

Lisa glared reprovingly at her. “Don’t be stupid, Jean, he’s fine. He’s just really tired from all the driving we had to do. He hasn’t slept for AGES.”

Lisa knew that Gavin liked to keep his psychic powers quiet – only a few people knew; Lisa, Aipom, Gavin’s Uncle Eusine, Jack Criddle the sailor and Frank the captain and Tom, Lisa’s older brother. Once Gavin had accidentally used a Psychic attack before hundreds of people, but luckily they were eventually convinced that Gavin’s Girafarig and Natu had caused the attack.

“Where’s the buggy?” Jean asked inquisitively, never to forget a detail.

“Kris took it back,” replied Lisa, lying. She didn’t want to even give Jean a chance at discovering Gavin’s psychic powers, otherwise the entire Primary School and eventually City would soon know.

“OK.”

As Jean ran off to see Wes and Aipom, Lisa turned back to Gavin to see that his brown eyes were wide open and he was smiling faintly. “Thanks for covering for me,” he said softly, still looking dazed after using his abilities. “Whoa … I am NOT doing that again.” Gavin stared at Natu, and quickly recalled him into his Moon Ball, and then suddenly noticed that his cast had come off. He slipped his arm out, and examined it with disbelief. “What the …”

“I know … cool hey,” said Lisa.

“Thanks for covering me,” Gavin repeated blankly, still staring with wonder at his healed arm.

“No prob,” Lisa said, grinning. “Come on, Mum and Dad will be wanting to see us back safely.” Gavin nodded, and the two close friends both stood up and made for the door. Then, as a very serious afterthought, Lisa turned back. “Aipom, come with me.” Her monkeyish pokemon was prone to running onto the road, and Lisa shuddered when she thought of such a thing.

Wes and Jean both groaned at this. “Lisa, Aipom’s fun to play with!” moaned Jean at once, and Wes’ face echoed her words. Lisa’s smile wavered.

“Sorry guys, but this guy hasn’t learned road safety yet. C’mon, Aipom.”

Aipom nodded, obedient for the first time Lisa could remember, except against the fight for their lives. Maybe he had turned over a new leaf? Aipom sprinted across the lawn to reach Lisa. Strangely, halfway across the grass, he appeared to slam into thin air, and keeled over, crosseyed. Gavin and Lisa exchanged amused glances, until suddenly something abruptly clicked in both their minds. Maybe it was just because they had been just reading a book all about legendaries (but particularly Suicune) but their minds both jumped to the same conclusion.

Lunanine

“Wes, Jean, don’t move!” urged Lisa in a panicky voice, and her two younger siblings stared at her in surprise. They both looked confused, and began talking and ignoring their sister, but Gavin backed Lisa up.

“Just stay over there, we think something’s wrong – Lisa will come over and get you …”

Within moments, Gavin had sent out his Girafury, the evolved form of Girafarig, onto the lawn, as Natu was very weak, and prepared to use Radar Eye. Lisa, meanwhile, had walked in a wide semicircle around the garden, and had now reached Wes and Jean on the other side, and urged them to walk back to the portico while Gavin dealt with Lunanine, the Dark Dog pokemon who could make himself invisible at will, except when exposed to special psychic energy.

Once Wes and Jean were safely back on the portico with Lisa, Gavin and Girafury glared at the air, where both Lisa and Gavin were sure Lunanine lingered. At Gavin’s sudden command, Girafury’s golden yellow fur ruffled, and an abrupt beam of scarlet transparency, similar to a widened pokeball beam, shot out into thin air, nearby Aipom, who was slowly waking up.

Wes and Jean gasped loudly as an enormous dog-like creature appeared from nowhere. It had a massive head, which looked too big for it’s body, and four short legs, which were as wide as tree trunks. Its eyes glinted redly, and it’s teeth seemed large enough to kill Aipom in one bite.

As the two younger ones sprinted into the house screaming, Lisa and Gavin themselves were little more than shocked. Lunanine seemed bigger this time, though in the broad daylight it was a very different situation to the gloom of the video vault in the Radio Tower.

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

“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.

Seeing Lunanine was a really big deal … even glancing Suicune once in your life was amazing, but seeing it as many times as Lisa and Gavin had was stunning. Lunanine was even rarer than Suicune and the other legendary dogs … seen barely five times in recorded history. But here it was, standing tall before Lisa and Gavin, for the second time. Why had it revealed itself to them on two occasions now, when it had only been seen about four times in history? Why? What secrets did he hold? And why was Suicune following them? Lisa felt that she needed to study her book a great deal.

Lunanine stood for barely a few seconds as Lisa and Gavin puzzled over his appearance, it’s mouth and eyes conveying no secrets or emotion, before it’s body slowly began to dissipate.

Dratini and Fiskmire had barely appeared on the lawn, and began launching Ice Beams, than Lunanine disappeared into thin air, leaving Lisa, Gavin and all the pokemon feeling as though it had been the biggest anticlimax ever.

“It finally appears, out of nowhere, and I just STOOD there!” cried Lisa, angry at herself. “ It would’ve been so easy to fight it!” She finished arrogantly. Her voice was filled with unshed tears of frustration .

“D’you think it’s still there?” Gavin asked slowly, staring at what could either be thin air or a huge legendary pokemon.

“Nah, it’d be long gone now,” Lisa said slowly, her eyes downcast, and a weight settling back on her shoulders. She suddenly felt as though the confused weight had been there for a while now. Her world didn’t seem as innocent as it did a couple of months ago. When she first saw Suicune, Entei and Raikou, she had thought it a great start to a journey; a one-off experience. But after Lunanine in the Radio Tower, and meeting Gavin, not to mention the Rocket who attacked her earlier, Lisa couldn’t help but think something very sinister was going on – somewhere – behind the scenes of her life.

Most pokemon were returned and both friends felt bored and gloomy, let down after the excitement of Lunanine’s abrupt appearance. Had it been there coincidentally? Lisa highly doubted it – her whole encounter with the legendaries since October seemed almost like fate – they had an abnormal tendency to come near her – Suicune, Entei, Raikou, Lunanine. And Gavin had thought he saw Lugia once, but of course it turned out to be his Ditto.

It all seemed very puzzling. Lisa scooped up Aipom from the ground and returned him to his pokeball, as Gavin turned the doorknob and began to enter the house. However, as he twisted the golden handle, it turned itself and swung wide open.

Lisa’s parents stood there together in the entry – her brown-haired mother, who wore a worried expression, and her Dad, who looked unusually serious, his black eyebrows frowning with concern.

“Lisa …” Dad began, frowning. “Wesley and Jean just told us something we think requires some discussion.”

Lisa was expecting her parents to embrace her for her return from up north, and take her into the kitchen or on the veranda for lemonade or a snack. Their seriousness was odd to her at first. But then, as usual, her curiousity was aroused. What did Wes and Jean know that was so important? And that involved her?

“What is it?” she asked slowly.

Mum spoke up. “They just made mention of a pokemon outside – a scary one. And then they explained a lot about pokemon … including a certain adventure of yours to Goldenrod,” she paused, allowing Lisa’s mind to tick over.

Goldenrod! Of course. Her parents had not been allowing Lisa outside of Ecruteak at all. It was Tom who gave Lisa permission, not them, and Tom required her to be home a few days prior to their return. Her parents were supposed to be kept in the dark about the kids breaking the sternly-enforced rule.

“Uh oh.” Lisa couldn’t suppress a sheepish grin.

Mum and Dad’s eyes both glinted for a moment. “Let’s discuss this situation – all of it – over some lemonade, shall we?”

Lisa smiled again. Even her angry parents were glad to finally have their daughter home.

*

“Tentacraw, come on, we have a way to go yet,” called Marina, her ghostly pokemon Tentacraw hovering in the water ahead, dragging along Marina’s canoe.

She couldn’t wait to see Lisa again. Ever since the party after the Whirlpool Cup Final, they had not even spoken, or seen each other, but Marina was hoping to catch up with Lisa as they had arranged – over Christmas. When Marina went sobbing to Ecruteak a few days ago to visit the tree where Anna died – it had been all over the news – she had meant to find Lisa also, but Lisa had been in the province up north.

Now, by lucky chance, Marina had found that the river she was drifting down just for the pleasure of it (she spent most of her time floating in the coves, inlets, rivers or lakes with her pokemon) would eventually lead to Ecru Lake, right in Ecruteak.

“Lisa should be home this time,” Marina hoped. She was still a bit silent after Anna’s incident with Entei. She was glad she had strong pokemon to assist her if anything like that was to happen to her.

There was an abrupt rustle in the trees which overhung the River Azura up ahead, and Marina’s heart leapt in fear. She quickly convinced herself that it wasn’t what her mind was thinking; Entei, come to attack her, like poor Anna. It was just a pokemon, she thought. An Ekans, at the very worst. Just as a precaution, Marina threw out three more pokeballs, revealing Golduck, Starmie and her most recent find, a Mudkip.

They all leapt into the flowing water. Tentacraw continued to pull the raft along, so the rustling branches drew ever nearer, until …

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. Typically of the rocket gang, one was male and the other a young woman.

Marina reacted so very quickly that both the team rocket members were subdued instantly; she yelled out “Mudkip, Water Wheel”; “Golduck, Psybeam” and; “Starmie, Swift!”

Marina’s pokemon were very powerful, as she had a knack for training water pokemon. It was the skill which had won her the Whirlpool Cup. Psybeam and swift hammered the Crobat until it fainted, while Mudkip’s water wheel weakened Venomoth. Tentacraw, Marina’s most experienced Pokemon and her best ‘friend’, was strong enough to take care of himself. His ghostly tentacles lashed at the men and the moth, then they wrapped them up tightly, and with a grunt Tentacraw extending his tentacles and launched the villains far away.

Panting heavily, Marina sat down, shocked with what had just happened – so rapidly, too. At least she had got out of THAT mess, before it had really begun.

Behind her, a periscope followed, mostly submerged.

*

Lisa’s dark hair waved behind her freely in the wind as she stood on the balcony from her bedroom. The wooden planks were cool to her hot feet, and the evening breeze whistled through the wind-chimes Lisa hadn’t seen since the warm October. Below her, she could see the pool glittering in the dusklight, the green grass and the garden. Elekid, Dratini and Aipom were apparently playing hide and seek with Gavin’s pokemon. Fiskmire had gone with Miki for a training session at the dance theatre.

The heavy book beneath Lisa’s hands was muddling her. The first two chapters were about all the legendary pokemon apart from Suicune. Raikou, Entei, Ho-oh, Lugia were included, along with some others – Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres, Mew and Mewtwo, which Lisa had scarcely heard of. There was some sort of legend or myth about Ecruteak and the pokemon there. The Tin Tower and the Brass Tower had both stood proud for centuries, until, around 1400 AD, the Brass Tower had just burned down out of the blue. The pokemon at the top just flew away forever … never returning.

Some reports in the book spoke of Entei and a Giant Gengar having a fight, others spoke of Ho-oh, who lived in the tin Tower, some referred to Lugia and others blamed the inferno on a lightning strike. But, given the fact that the stories were 600 years old, how reliable could they be?

Still, they mentioned the legendaries. Lisa wondered where she and Gavin fitted into everything. Perhaps there was some sort of link between them and Suicune … but how? Did the reason for Suicune and Lunanine following them go back six centuries?

The glass door slid open and Gavin appeared on the balcony. Lisa shut her book as he shut the door behind him. “It’s nice out here,” said Gavin.

“Mm hmm,” replied Lisa, feeling the wind blow her hair back still more, whistling its tune through her ears. The sun had merged into the sky, which was now streaks of pink, yellow and rare tinges of blue to the west. The city of Ecruteak was spread out before them. Lisa could easily see the Tin Tower, where she had never been, and the Burned Tower, where the rest of her life had begun in the not-too distant past. The new Pokemon Gym was also visible – a large stone building, very ugly.

“You been reading that book?” Gavin crossed the balcony and leaned over the wooden railings beside Lisa.

“Yeah … stuff about Suicune, and so on.”

“Cool,” said Gavin, standing beside her and leaning on the railings. “Well I’ve not had my plaster cast on for a good eight or nine hours now,” he said, showing her his weak-looking arm. “I don’t need it any more.”

“That’s great,” said Lisa, barely enthusiastically.

“I’m bored.” Gavin said abruptly.

“Hmm?” Lisa allowed the cool breezes to carry her into a pleasant state of semi-dreaming.

“I’m bored,” he repeated.

“Well fine, I can take a hint!” Lisa jerked herself from her dreaming to reply in a mock-dramatic way. She threw her hand onto her forehead melodramatically, and began giggling.

He laughed. “Very funny … no, I just mean … look …” Gavin found he was unable to talk for a moment. He had spent more than a year with a shattered life, not knowing who his real friends were, being misled so very much, until he found his uncle Eusine, and then Lisa, that he found he couldn’t even remember what it was like to have a real friend. “Well, you know I’m psychic,” he said abruptly, feeling the word sizzle on his tongue like a horrible swearword and trying to get his thoughts into line.

“Yes, I know only too well,” she said, remembering the time when Gavin had revealed everything about his psychic powers and the reason for them to her on the boat to Red Rock Island. “Why?”

“Well … I just want to have a bit more … fun,” he said slowly. A very odd expression was crossing his face. Like he was constipated. But not quite.

“Fun?” Lisa repeated, wondering where this conversation was going.

“I just mean I want to travel again, you know, roaming the countryside, it was so much fun walking around between Olivine and Moo Moo farm, before we got that damn buggy,” said Gavin, sounding as though the words were making themselves up as he went along.

Lisa couldn’t remember Gavin doing anything but complaining and whining on the trip between those two places, but she nodded along anyhow. “I can’t Gavin … I mean Mum and Dad just argued with me, although we sorted it all out in the end … but I can still tell that they don’t like the idea of me just running off around the country.”

“What, I thought they didn’t like you travelling at all? Isn’t it like FORBIDDEN for you?”

Lisa blushed. “Well, I told them about how I fared independently since I left Ecruteak, and how I … took care of myself.”

Her grin was almost as cheeky as Jean’s. “You glossed over a few facts?” smirked Gavin. “Slipped your mind about being kidnapped twice, nearly shot and killed, Anna’s death and Suicune’s appearances?”

“And the Radio Tower,” chuckled Lisa. “Although Tom’s bound to ‘accidentally’ tell them one day.” She paused, getting down to ‘business’. “I like travelling too, Gavin, I’ve always wanted to … but people who journey have a goal, you know. They don’t just walk around just for the hell of it.”

“I know that,” Gavin sighed. “But you have a goal. You want to find out about Suicune. And I want to develop my Psychic powers.”

Lisa sighed even more deeply. “Suicune is in Ecruteak. I don’t need to travel to find out about him. Besides, why do you want to develop your psychic powers?”

Gavin looked as though he had just been shot in the head. “I told you all about it on the boat.”

“What boat?” she muttered

“Frank’s boat, you remember?!” spluttered Gavin.

“Frank’s boat?” burst out Lisa. “That was in November! Like … almost two months ago! I don’t have a memory that good.”

Gavin spoke slowly and darkly. “I have to develop the psychic abilities of myself and my pokemon because the Great Psychic Legend will come and challenge me for a fight to the death. If a Luper family descendent ever wins against this legend, the curse placed on our family will be lifted forever. If he or she loses, that person dies and the curse goes on.

“If I could be the one to free out family from this curse after so many years … it would mean I could live a life longer than twenty years. It would mean all my cousins and relatives, and my own kids … could life normal lives. I wish I could be that person,” said Gavin, a lump building in his throat.

Lisa stayed silent for a minute. It was information she had been told, and forgotten. In one ear, then out the other; the Whirlpool Cup matches in November had driven her mind to think of herself rather than Gavin’s confession a few days before. She had almost ignored him. A huge feeling of selfishness came over her. “I’m sorry,” she said at last, unable to find any more words.

“That’s alright, it’s not your fault.”

“No, I mean, for ignoring you all this time. I virtually forgot how hard it was for you. I have a family, Mum, Dad, siblings, and I take them for granted all the time. You don’t have any of them.”

Gavin’s mind flickered. ‘I might …’ he thought.

“Yours have all been killed, and you have to live life alone, without anyone to be your family, or friends,” continued Lisa, and Gavin winced as though an icy blade had been shoved through his stomach. He tried to block out his past … especially the past year. It was too painful; upon reflection, he couldn’t see why … he didn’t even know what Lisa was going to be like, then he met her …

“I’m really sorry, Gavin,” Lisa finished, working herself up into a big dramatic tizzy, and Gavin almost laughed at how upset she was. She was almost sobbing as she threw her arms around him for a moment, then drew back. A stupid smile wavered on Gavin’s face for a second.

“How sorry?” he asked. “Because there is one thing you could do that you forgot about … when we were in the Radio Tower, before Lunanine, how you said you’d give a practice battle outside?”

“Oh my God, you remembered that?” cried Lisa.

“Yeah … so how bout we battle now then?”

Lisa paused. “It’s night … I hate battling at night … but I’ll battle tomorrow, for sure,” she paused, seeing his glum face. “But do you like basketball?”

Before Gavin could reply, she darted into her room, threw down her legendary book, opened a cupboard and drew out a basketball, spinning it skilfully on her finger.

“I’m the best player you’ll ever see,” she grinned, briefly remembering her friends from the basketball team last year … most of whom she had not spoken to for some time. Almost everyone she had been to school with, until they all graduated along with her last year, had drifted into the city, never to be seen again. Lisa’s friends from both school and basketball – Charmaine and Tuscany - still contacted her regularly. Not since October though … she would have to get back to them one day.

“You’re on then!” grinned Gavin. “I’ll be down there in a minute.”

Lisa nodded, bouncing up and down, and sprinted off to the corridor and down the stairs. Gavin stood up on the balcony, sighing. Basketball would be fun, for a change, but … the dammed up feelings and confessions were eating him alive. He could hardly bear it.

The wind chimes tinkled softly as he walked back inside, and felt a sudden soft crunch under his feet on the wooden floorboards. Staring down at his feet, Gavin bent down and saw something like a chain … a necklace, he decided, picking it up. It was wedged in between two of the boards, and looked like the shine of it had faded. Gavin picked it up, put it in his pocket, and instantly forgot about it.

Gavin was feeling bitter inside at that moment. It was like being friends with Lisa had hacked into his soul and unlocked pain he had tried to put behind him. He knew why, but he just couldn’t come face to face with it.

“You’re a stupid, stupid man, Gavin!” he muttered angrily, slamming the door of Lisa’s room shut and running downstairs for basketball.

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

Next up on Lisa the Legend

Gavin might have got his ‘wish’ – Lisa and him might just have to travel again.

Lisa sighed. “So, Hiro, you need me to get a badge for you?”

Nurse Joy’s Sandshrew chase might have been a little insane, but now it’s gone too far …

Nurse Joy had lost sight of Sandshrew a moment before, but could feel its presence nearby, as well as something massive – the Tin Tower, rising up over the entire city. She knew it was very close by.

… and she has landed herself in a heap of trouble.

A high-pitched shriek reverberated into her ears, followed by the pelting of heavy quick-paced footsteps. Joy grabbed Issechu with tensed hands and sprinted towards a bush near a pine tree, ducking behind it for a moment, then peering out in fright.

What is this strange situation she has barged into?

A man screamed into the clearing, panting and sweating. He dropped to the ground in a heap of exhaustion, and even in the dim moonlight Joy could make out beads of sweat and blood on his forehead.

Chapter 32 – Tin Tower Terror.

[100FangCroconaw]

Nice chappy. I never thought that Lisa would play basketball.And that match between Marina and the Rockets was really fast.

[Chris 2.1]

another interesting chapter. If the two travelled, where would they go? It would be interesting. I bet Lisa has to win the badge that Hiro didn't get instead of the rain dance badge.

Oh, and i hope Natu evolves! Actually...maybe its better in his cutesy-cool...who knows? lol. Oh, i hope Dratini evolves, Dragonair rules!

[ZeldaFan20]

Cool chapter! It's too bad she didn't get a chance to fight that Pokemon. A Pokemon that can vanish? It sounds like this one may know Faint Attack, huh? Well, keep up the good work !

[Karania]

Hmm.... I wonder how Hiro feels about being disqualified from the competition. Good chapter. I'm looking forward to the next one.

[Andrew]

Hey Gavin! Whoo! You churned out another chappie ^^

Nice to see some continuity back to EBTV ^^; I should've done the same thing, but I thought after like 18 pages of it, people would remember. But you never never know!

I had to laugh at the teleportation bit, who knew what depths Lisa would stoop to to not pay a cab fare! After all, all she had to do was walk back inside and dial on the courtesy phone! I simply had to laugh at that.

Good to see Jean and Wes again, I hope to see their "epic battle" one day, or at least a game of uno, or Jenga! But Lisa should've given them Elekid to defend themselves in case that evil doggie came after em!

It was nice to see Marina again, and boy, does she have some powerful Pokemon. But I'm starting to wonder, is Entei trying to twart out all the female trainers that are like prophizied to defeat him or something. And that's why he joined Team Rocket. But Tentacraw's really cool ^^

But Gavin's curse is so horrible, I feel so sorry for him I do hope the curse is lifted. But will we see Charmaine and Tuscany at all? But that chain... hmm.. interesting... But once again Gavin's beating himself up. Poor guy *Pouts*

Good work Gavin!

[Karania]

I really don't have all that much time. I'm trying to get things together to get out of town on Tuesday. SO I've got to pack, and all that good stuff. I'll try to check it out when I can. I really don't think anyone likes my stories. Maybe I'm getting the cart before the horse.

[Gavin Luper]

Zeldafan: Thanks. Tomorrow is the day, and that's all I'm saying. Oh, you mean the bittersweet reunion? I've glanced at it a couple of times, but I've never had enough time to sit down and read it. I'll try to, but don't feel bad if I don't continue reading, because Ash, Misty, Brock fics aren't really my thing!

Karania: Don't beat yourself up about your writing! I'll check it out tomorrow arvo and give you my honest opinion!

Cheers!

[ZeldaFan20]

Yup, that's the one. Hey, don't worry about it. I've been so busy I haven't had time to read it myself .

Tomorrow, huh? I can't wait!

[Karania]

Thanks. Some people read the prologue and then kinda got a little turned off by ch.1. I don't care what they think about it not being totally original I'm happy with it and if they don't like it that's just too bad for them.

[Gavin Luper]

Zeldafan: Yep! Today's the day!

Karania: Brilliant! That's the attitude I like to see ... although still do keep your mind open to suggestions and change!

Chapter 32 up in a second!

[AquaBabe727]

Hey Gavin! Hows life and all that? I like how this story is going! These last few chapters have had a whole ton of character development, which i really tend to enjoy. Poor guy! I forgot about his problems too! I got too caught up in the side stories! But yea, nice chapters. Can't wait for the next one! ^_^

[Gavin Luper]

Aquababe: Hi! Can I call you Aqua or something, or would you prefer Aquababe?

Character development? Really? Oh thank God! Maybe I can really start building on their characters then, I feel like I've done a rubbish job of it so far!

Gavin will live ... well, I hope so.

The next chapter will be up in a sec. I am just re-re-re-editing now and the chapter really clears up a little bit of mystery!

Cheers!

[AquaBabe727]

Shmeh, I don't care! Most people online call me Aqua, or you could just call me Genna, since that's my real name. Up to you. Yeah, I think your characters have been pretty darn well defined all along! YOU HOPE SO?!?!? Gargh! Now I have doubts! ergh. Yeah, I just posted a new chapter too, so in case you wanted to know....^_^ lalalaa....*looks innocently skyward*

Yeah, I'll check back in a few minutes for the next chapter.

[Gavin Luper]

Genna: Cool, that's a lot easier!

Lol don't worry about having doubts, everything will become clear eventually and this chapter will help clear something up!

Cheers!

Nice and new!

Chapter 32!

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

Chapter 32 – Tin Tower Terror.


Lisa’s phone rang at about eight o’clock that night. She excused herself from the kitchen table, at which sat Gavin, Wes, Jean and her parents. Tom and Miki were visiting more rarely than before, as the wedding was gradually nearing. At that particular time they were at the arcade in the city centre, perusing invitation notepads and making final decisions on the décor for the reception.

In the lounge, Lisa pulled up her pokegear phone, pressed the side button and replied. “ Hello?”

“Is that Lisa?” A long-forgotten voice spoke through the receiver and it was a few seconds before Lisa’s mind clicked into action and she recalled the boy.

“Hiro?”

“Hi Lisa! I know I haven’t contacted you in ages, and I know we’ve never really been close friends, but I need you to do something for me!” He said quickly.

Lisa lowered herself down onto the cobalt lounge, telling herself not to step blindly into any agreement she may regret. “It depends what it is, Hiro. I’m not really sure if I can fulfil it, but go ahead.”

It was something major from the tone of his voice. “Listen, I made it to the Johto League,” his reply came all in a rush. “I earned eight badges and my Pokemon are all very advanced. But –”

“That’s great!” Lisa said.

“But something’s gone seriously wrong. One of my badges … turns out it was a hoax. A fake badge, fake gym, fake gym leader, fake victory, fake everything! I’m ready to battle my last opponent, but now I’m not allowed to go any further into the league until I get another badge.”

“That’s horrible!!” Lisa decided not to talk about the entire league situation, as it would take far too long for Hiro to explain about it if she appeared interested. “ You should go get a badge, then.”

“That’s the problem. The contract all trainers sign once they make it to the league states that –” Lisa heard a crackling of paper at the other end “‘once you set foot at Mount Silver you may not leave unless you (a) Win the league, (b) Lose the league, or (c) Decide to forfeit’. I can’t get a badge, Lisa, – if I do, I’ll forfeit the entire tournament.”

Things seemed to be getting more complicated. Lisa sighed. “So, Hiro, you need me to get a badge for you?”

“If you don’t mind … that would be great. Lisa, this would help me to achieve my dream. I’ll completely understand if you refuse, as this is our first chat in ages. But if you say yes, then I’ll be eternally grateful.”

“Forever?”

“For a while, anyway.”

Lisa was not so sure anymore. Hiro had explained his problem and it was up to her whether she would assist an old friend in need or not. Morally, she knew she should. Otherwise, she was uncertain. Suddenly, she remembered her Fog Badge up in her room, on her dresser. Her voice shaking with trepidation, she spoke through the receiver. “What badges do you need, exactly?”

Hiro’s reply was full of hope. “Well, I didn’t earn the Storm badge or the Bolt Badge – oh, or the Fog Badge!”

Lisa’s heart leapt into her throat. Did she really need the Fog Badge for herself? She LIVED in the city, anytime she wanted to now she could rechallenge Morty. As for Hiro, his entire dreams, his lifelong goals, depended on her response. And her means of transport … Lisa reminded herself to ring the Car Insurance Company.

“Hiro, I’m coming to Mount Silver. I have a badge for you.”

*

Nurse Joy was still chasing Sandshrew down the winding forest paths of the lakeside woods north of Ecruteak, Issechu-gun still in her arms. Nurse Joy had lost sight of Sandshrew a moment before, but could feel its presence nearby, as well as something massive – the Tin Tower, rising up over the entire county. She knew it was very close by.

The furious girl who had lost her sanity briefly at the hands of her ‘sick’ pokemon was now feeling perfectly sane and a little less than terrified. She had heard of stories in the past of people being killed behind the Tin Tower at these early morning hours, when the sun had yet to rise. Serial Killings, murders, odd disappearances always seemed to occur behind the tower which she could now see spiralling up towards the starry black sky. The very air around her suddenly seemed heavy with death and mystery, the curly ferns and plants on the ground suddenly seeming like deadly snakes of evil rising up at her, the innocent calls of Hoothoots suddenly sounding like the shriek of horror.

Naturally, Joy panicked. Issechu was rigid in her arms, and she dropped him with a thud. Her heart pounded, and she suddenly felt sure something was nearby her, closing in. Issechu’s icy wings flapped wildly as it hovered around her flushed face. Joy stared wide-eyed around her, the tall dark trees – Pines, oaks, elms – all rising up and blotting out the streetlights of nearby lakeside estates and screening out the bright, cheering lights of the lake’s marina just a few kilometres away. And she feared that something terrible was going to happen.

Her fears were not unfounded.

A high-pitched shriek reverberated into her ears, followed by the pelting of heavy quick-paced footsteps. Joy grabbed Issechu with tensed hands and sprinted towards a bush near a pine tree, ducking behind it for a moment, then peering out in fright. From the lower angle, she could see the wide back wall of the Tin Tower shrouded partially by trees nearly as tall as it. And abruptly, the source of the frightening commotion was apparent.

A man screamed into the clearing, panting and sweating. He dropped to the ground in a heap of exhaustion, and even in the dim moonlight Joy could make out beads of sweat and blood on his forehead. Although she had been trained as a Pokemon Nurse only, her healing instincts quickly took over, and she dumped the cold Issechu in the bush, racing out unprotected into the clearing where the man lay.

He was breathing unevenly, and looked like death. His face was ghost-white, his eyes wide with terror, and he looked like he hadn’t had nourishment in weeks. Joy placed her cool hand on his cheek, and immediately withdrew it, blood covering her palm. She shied back, but remembered to be a good nurse, and returned to the man, helping him up. He spoke at once, as another high-pitched shriek pierced the cold night air. “Ugh … tell them what it is!” he urged, as Joy’s eyes bulged with astonishment. The man licked his coarse lips and spoke again. “The legend, it’s here, now. It came!!!! It’s my turn!” Joy had no idea what he was speaking of, and began dragging him to the safety of her bush. Her skin was prickling and her vague sixth sense told her again that something horrible was about to happen. With much difficulty she helped the man to his feet, where he tried to run away from her. He was so weak that he collapsed on the ground.

Issechu had risen with its tiny wings out of the bush now and had hovered over to the man’s body. The man was still alive, but his forehead was bleeding still and Joy now noticed a large gash in his arm. She tried to tend to it, but he pushed her back with sheathed strength born purely of terror.

“Leave me!” he screamed. “ It came!! Tell … it ca – tell them …”

Tears of horror and rage were pouring down his cheeks now, but for some reason this made him look stronger. Joy stood at a distance of about two metres and spoke down to the man, confused as she was. “ Who are you? What has ‘come’?” Her voice was calmer than she felt, and she took confidence in that.

He was now crouched down on his knees, and as he answered Joy heard distinctly the high-pitched shriek again, and a sudden shattering noise which resembled a tonne of glass breaking all at once.

“Eusine,” he said softly. “My name is Eusine Luper.” Then his panic seemed to rush back all at once. “It’s coming! – leave me!”

Joy wanted to help the man, but whatever was ‘coming’ didn’t seem exactly like a pleasant thing to meet up with. She edged back, but Issechu remained hovering with the man. “Come here, Issechu,” Joy urged fretfully, now having totally forgotten the Sandshrew she came to find. “We’ll just hide over in the bush, come on.” The bug remained steadfast, and just as Joy strode over, trembling, to retrieve it and hide in the bush, there was an ear-piercing racket and a violet arrow of light shot out of nowhere, streaking through the point Joy had been standing at only a second before. Amazed and shaken, she dropped to the ground, fainting as though a pokemon herself. The man barely took notice of this, and Issechu’s gaze remained fixed to the point of the purple beam’s origin.

A huge black beast bounded out of nowhere and landed with earthshaking power on the sand, making Eusine shake uncontrollably. He bowed his bleeding head, while Issechu made a buzzing noise. The beast, without vocalising in any form, suddenly formed a wide green orb within its jaws. The sphere grew rapidly, and within seconds was the size of a fairly small Snorlax, which filled the jaws of the beast.

The beam was fired as Issechu flapped it’s wings heavily and sent out a vapour of icy gas, which enveloped itself, Joy and Eusine. The sapphire coloured mist was so thick it obscured them for a second, and the luminous jet of green light fired from the Black Beast split through the air fruitlessly.

Issechu, Joy and Eusine reappeared over the other side of the wide clearing, but the beast had pre-empted this, and already turned and fired of a much thinner beam of violet, the same of which he had aimed earlier at Joy. This had an arrow-shaped head, and was dead-on target. But this time, Issechu still had something up it’s clumsy sleeve, and breathed out a glowing jet of cerulean hue, which shaped itself into a circle around Eusine (who was still sobbing away), the unconscious Joy, and it’s own orange self. The icy barrier did its job, and the purple beam hit it, shattered it painlessly, but did not linger to affect the victims any more.

It was now, as Issechu was feeling faint itself, that Joy began to stir. Her face was pushed into the muddy ground, and she moved it upwards to see Eusine still there; alive, but only just. The beast did not see her, but instead decided to rid itself of Issechu, and fired off an intense beam of blackness, intertwined with the darkest possible shade of violet, which collided with Issechu momentarily. It had put up an excellent fight for a small pokemon, and now dropped to the ground beside Joy as the beam collided with it, fainted.

Joy knew well enough to stay silent and still. Eusine was slowly standing up, looking as if he would have rather died on the spot without falling at the hands of the Black Beast. His eyes narrowed, and a bright yellow bead of light appeared on his forehead, before a pencil-thin beam of light shot out at the beast and hit it in the eye. The beast was barely affected, and indeed smiled.

“Your time is up,” it spoke in human language, before forming three orbs the size of cricket balls in its mouth. The beast shot them all out at once, and the golden-white orbs wheeled over to the injured Eusine, hissing like the ocean retreating from the beach, only more angrily. Joy looked up at the moment of impact to see the man’s body silhouetted against the intense glare from the spheres. And caught full view of the horror. The orbs connected with his body, one through his arm, one through his head, and one through his heart. They tore through his body like it was made of air, and he screamed one last, anguished roar before the orbs sliced him to death.

Joy shrieked in shock, fear and terror, as Eusine’s body dropped to the ground.

Dead.

His face was a deathly grey, his eyes open but unseeing. Warm blood was spurting out onto Joy’s clothes, but she didn’t – she couldn’t – notice.

The beast barely looked affected – there was no trace of triumph and power in its eyes, yet no hint of remorse or shock existed – or, if they did, they lingered for an indistinguishable second. Then the Beast turned to Joy, its eyes glinting with crimson anger. A witness must die. A beam, one of the small, purple variety, arrowed out from his mouth to the ground where Joy lay. She screamed, as death plunged towards her, and ducked down. Moments later she felt something spear her shoulder, and screamed again. Then a light, floating sensation overcame her, and the blackness closed in.

Lunanine’s eyes flashed fiercely. Joy was gone.

*

The next morning, the Walters’ household was alive with last-minute rushing. Lisa and Gavin were both racing throughout the house packing final items in their backpacks, before departing to Mt Silver. Hiro’s call had inspired Gavin too to go to the league and meet him, as well as accompany Lisa.

The ebony-haired girl placed the glittering Fog Badge into her pocket, and set her mouth in a determined line. She had fought for it. She had won it. And now she was giving it away. Strangely enough, it no longer mattered.

“Gavin, come ON!” she yelled down the staircase. She ducked back into her room to retrieve her backpack, which was bulging – her Mum had insisted on packing for Lisa this time. After hoisting the bag upon her back, the fourteen year old stepped out onto the balcony. There stood, mucking around pointlessly, Aipom, Fiskmire, Dratini and Elekid. Lisa realised her pokemon party had diminished since she earned her Fog Badge – Magneton disappeared and Issechu returned to Joy at the centre …

Joy at the centre!!

Lisa had completely forgotten to mention to Joy that she was going away for a couple of weeks. Her job there might be crucial, owing to Joy’s poor Nursing Skills. Joy had the instinct, but not the ability. Lisa began to feel very stupid.

She rushed down the stairs in a flurry, accidentally clotheslining Wes on the way down the stairs. She barely noticed, and reached the kitchen as Gavin was speaking to her parents.

Lisa’s mother held a large bouquet of multicoloured flowers in her hands, while she filled a vase with water and jammed the flowers in, before racing out to yell at the kids. Gavin was talking to Lisa’s Dad, who was refusing a hundred-dollar note that Gavin was waving before him.

“I insist … you’ve been so hospitable towards me!” Gavin muttered, his tone of voice out of character. “Just take the money, really, it’ll show my appreciation.

“You’re very welcome, Gavin, but money doesn’t –”

“GAVIN! WE HAVE TO GO!” screamed Lisa, careering into the table.

“Well, well, somebody’s hyper,” grinned Dad.

“I haven’t told Joy that I’m leaving yet! She might need me,” Lisa wailed to Dad.

Before the dark-haired father could reply, Lisa’s mother walked back into the kitchen, and picked up her flowers. The scent and the image, not to mention Mum’s natural instinct, calmed everyone down at once. Lisa’s Mum looked up. “Oh, Lisa, I forgot to tell you ... Charmaine rang while you were up north.”

Lisa was stunned as she recalled another friend who she hadn’t spoken to yet. “Oh, I’ll have to ring her back. Right after I call Joy.”

Mum held up a calming hand and spoke in a soothing manner. “You go off to Mount Silver. Don’t worry. I’ll give Charmaine your phone number; she’ll ring you later. And I’ll stop in at the centre to tell Joy personally, don’t worry. Just be back in a few days, alright? It’s only a week until Christmas.”

Lisa’s mind immediately relaxed, then tensed again. Christmas! Of course … it was Thursday the 19th today … only about a week to go. It appeared nobody in the house had noticed, what with Lisa’s trips, and her parents arriving home, and Tom and Miki’s wedding preparations, nobody had even given a thought to Christmas. Or had they?

There was a shriek from the lounge room. “MUM! Wes keeps messing up my tinsel!”

“She’s putting it on wrong, it looks all spasticated like that!” Wes’ voice hollered back.

Lisa and Gavin turned the corner and peered into the lounge. In front of the huge front window, Jean and Wes had set up the Christmas tree, tinsel draped over at odd angles. Lisa suddenly noticed Gavin’s ditto was also helping.

“Aren’t you taking Ditto, Gavin?” Lisa asked.

“I let Wes have him while we’re away,” replied her friend. “Ditto likes him anyway.”

This was most likely the cause of the increased arguments between Wes and Jean recently. Jean pouted and looked sternly at Lisa. “If you don’t catch a Pokemon for me while you’re away, you’re dead.”

Coming from the tiny Jean, this would have seemed hilarious to any stranger. But Lisa knew Jean was a tough little kid, and while Lisa was a lot stronger, Jean sure could do enough damage. And besides, she really did want a pokemon.

“Sure,” replied Lisa.

“OK, bye then!” cried Jean, happily for a change. Wes echoed her, and Gavin spoke to Lisa.

“Ready to go now, then?”

“Mm hmm,” she said.

Then there was the custom hugs and kisses amongst the family, and left-handed handshakes and hugs between Gavin and Lisa’s parents.

“Take good care of her,” said Lisa’s Dad, firmly and unsmiling, to Gavin.

“I will.”

Lisa snorted. “As if, Dad. I take care of him most of the time. He couldn’t fend for himself if his life depended on it. I have to feed him half the time,” she grinned, gesturing to Gavin’s arm, which was now out of it’s cast but still very weak. Something had happened to it when Gavin teleported, and it had healed back to usual.

Gavin ignored her. They said final farewells for the trip (and Mum burst into tears of pride in her daughter), and then walked outside to where a very small, very cheap but otherwise identical buggy was parked. When the company heard of the broken buggy of Kris’, they arrived early in the morning and surveyed what Lisa had left – an unmistakeable mechanical part – and provided a three-day free buggy hire. This solar-powered buggy was supposedly much stronger that the last, and would take them to Mt Silver in a couple of days. Lisa couldn’t wait to see Hiro again – and to see him battle. She could have sent him the badge via post, but this was the excuse she needed to begin journeying again.

Gavin leapt into the driver’s seat, then leapt back into the passenger’s seat as Lisa slapped him playfully. Aipom appeared from nowhere as he often did, and leapt onto Gavin’s head, wrapping around it tightly and messing up Gavin’s jet black hair.

“Aipom, the living turban,” smirked Gavin, pushing the monkey off his head. Aipom then took up a hanging position on the black bar at the rear end of the buggy. Gavin placed his and Lisa’s backpacks at his feet. Lisa then honked the horn loudly, and started the motor, waving to her parents, and her siblings, as she cruised away from her home and down the street, to Silver City.

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

Next up on Lisa the Legend

Lisa just loves being on the open road, nice and free, taking a break from her mother … or not ...

“Mum I’m fourteen; nearly fifteen! I can drive without crashing!” Lisa protested, while the buggy swerved violently off the side of the road.

But overall, the trip to Mt Silver is going along well.

The sun suddenly slipped away and Lisa realised they had driven into the shadow of the Ice Path almost directly before them.

Of course, something would just have to happen to knock them off track.

The rumbling was becoming ever-louder, and Lisa began to feel apprehension build up like a toxin in her stomach. The stalactites and stalagmites began to tremble, and one near Elekid shattered.

Chapter 33 – Icy Inferno.

[Hyperness is a Good Thing]

Ohh........poor Joy, and Eusine.....

What does Lunanine want I wonder....it seems quite....evil but not evil....hard to describe.

[Chris 2.1]

wow, nice chappie. I thought Wes and Jean were cool ^^. Like my cousins, the attention-seeking little...ANYWAY, i hope Lisa gets Jean something. NO DITTO! noooooooooooooo

Anyway, next chappie sounds good fun. Especially the crashing part...

[Karania]

I finally managed to get internet access. But there's a long line of people waiting behind me for the computer I'm using right now. Looking forward to the next chapter. Hope to see ya'll soon. One more thing Washington D.C. rules!

[Gavin Luper]

That's great guys! Sorry I have to be brief, but I really want to get the chapter up! I still have to edit and fix some stuff up, so it could be up to an hour away!

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

Chapter 33 – Icy Inferno.


Lisa and Gavin (and, of course, Aipom, who was sleeping peacefully on Gavin’s lap) were making their way steadily towards Silver City. The buggy they were driving was much more steady and much faster than the last one had been, however, their time was running out. They only had it for free until Saturday evening, and it was Saturday now … almost noon, Lisa inferred, as she could hear Gavin’s stomach rumbling distinctly.

“I know you said not yet, but-

"CAN WE PLEASE STOP FOR A REST SOON?” moaned Gavin, his short black hair looking almost the same as when the long trip had started, unlike Lisa’s long black hair, which had not been cut for two months, or even done up many times – except when Jessica helped her out. It was flailing about behind her in the wind, tangled and knotted as hell, but Gavin couldn’t have cared less about Lisa’s beauty problems. “My legs are cramped,” he muttered.

The route from Ecruteak to Silver City took almost a full day, and passed through the towns of Mahogany and Blackthorn. It wasn’t a great distance, however the way to Mahogany had been very bumpy, with few clear-cut roads, and also they had had to find alternate ways of reaching Mahogany, as there were a series of lakes on the way. Now, Mahogany was far behind, and the two best friends were approaching the Ice Cave.

“I can say it again, but it won't change, Gavin,” Lisa said firmly. “Not until Blackthorn. If we keep stopping and starting, Hiro won’t get his badge before this evening and he’ll have to forfeit."

Hiro was Lisa’s friend, who had dedicated his life to the training and raising of Pokemon. Unlike Lisa and Gavin, who had a couple of pokemon for companionship, Hiro had well over fifty by now. Lisa had never been obsessed with pokemon, or even liked them very much, apart from her own ones, whom she knew very well by now. Aipom, her purple monkeyish pokemon, lay snoozing in Gavin’s lap. Her other three – Dratini, Fiskmire and Elekid – were in pokeballs on Lisa’s belt.

Unlike Lisa’s other pokemon, Dratini had never seemed as open or quite as playful as the others. Lisa could never work out why. But no matter what she did, the dragon would smile happily but that was about all. He seemed much more content during a battle.

Up ahead, the Ice Path was becoming visible. It was a massive cave filled with snow and ice, and beyond it was the city of Blackthorn. Which was itself not very far from Silver City. But the real challenge was how to get through the Ice Path.

“I just thought –” Gavin began, as trees whipped past the road. But he was interrupted as if on cue, as Lisa’s mobile phone rang on its chain around her neck.

Lisa pressed in the red button on the side of the phone and replied “Hello?” keeping a firm view of the road ahead.

“Hi Lisa, how are you?” It was Mum, most likely checking up on her, but her voice quavered.

“Hi Mum … we’re good. I’m almost at the ice path now,” she replied. “Just checking up, are you?”

“Yes and no; I have something to tell you. Charmaine rang the other day, she wants to catch up with you … but your friend Marina just rang.”

Lisa recalled her friend Marina from the Whirlpool Cup. The girl who had defeated her. She had called while Lisa was in Houen, and had missed her again now that she was at the Ice path.

“Oh, I missed her again. Can you give them both my pokegear number?”

“Yes, I did … they both said they’ll call you later,” Mum said quickly. “You’re alright, aren’t you? Not feeling car sick? Haven’t been pulled up by the police …?”

“Mum I’m fourteen; nearly fifteen! I can drive without crashing!” Lisa protested, while the buggy swerved violently off the side of the road. The gravel flicked up and created a huge cloud of dust. Gavin took the wheel as Lisa shielded her face

Gavin held the wheel with his right hand tightly and steered it back onto the road (with much difficulty) and over a hill. When they crested the hill, the sun suddenly slipped away and Lisa realised they had driven into the shadow of the Ice Path almost directly before them. Lisa’s foot screeched onto the brake and the buggy halted twenty metres away from the cave mouth.

“What’s happened? Have you crashed!?” cried Mum anxiously through the phone.

Lisa grinned, her mother was always so anxious for her safety – part of the reason she had never been allowed to travel before. “I braked, Mum, it happens. We’re at the Ice Path now. The reception won’t be too good now …” on cue the phone began to fill with static.

“I’ll call when I’m at Silver City,” called Lisa rapidly.

“Bye love!” replied Mum, before static overthrew the voice.

Lisa clicked the phone off, and realised that Gavin and Aipom had both got out of the buggy and were standing blankly at the cave’s mouth. “What are you two doing?!” demanded Lisa quickly. They had arranged to get out once they reached Blackthorn, which was still a long way away.

Gavin pointed to a sign which hung beside the gaping hole which was the entrance to the Ice Path. “No cars allowed. No buses allowed. No trucks, bikes, trikes, buggies, planes -”

“PLANES!?” burst out Lisa, before erupting into giggles. “Whoever wrote that needs their head examined!”

“Or boats,” finished Gavin, guffawing. “As if anyone would try to take a boat down there!”

“Or a plane,” Lisa agreed.

Gavin sobered. “Lisa, we have to take a detour. Or, go through on foot. But that would mean leaving the buggy in the middle of nowhere, and it’s not ours.” He decided.

“A detour would take ages. Hiro might be disqualified by then!” said Lisa. “ Well, hang on … what are the chances that there will be policemen – or policewomen – in the Ice Path, telling us off if we do something illegal?” she grinned.

“I should never have let you see me stealing that book … I’ve made a bad influence on you,” smirked Gavin.

Lisa revved the motor. “ Jump in!”

*

Hiro couldn’t wait any longer. If Lisa didn’t arrive soon, he would be forfeited. The League matches with the elite four were closing tomorrow. And he knew some people had fared better than he. Jeanette Fisher, a fellow trainer who had been on the verge of disqualification, had got a much-needed Storm Badge and reached Karen at least. Tyler had fought Lance yesterday, but Hiro still didn’t know the outcome.

“Hurry UP, Lisa!” he muttered urgently.

*

The buggy purred quietly and illegally along the rocky earth at the entrance of the Ice Path. It was very dark in here, and before they had travelled more than a few hundred metres, the buggy slowed. It was then that Lisa remembered the buggy was solar-powered. In the gloom of the cave (which didn’t seem a great deal colder than outside), the makeshift car slowed dramatically after about a minute of uninterrupted driving. Within thirty seconds it had stopped, and they were alone in an eerily still cave.

“I forgot about that,” said Gavin flatly. “Stupid car.”

“I’ll send Elekid out then, to charge it,” Lisa said, stepping out of the buggy and throwing out the ball containing Elekid before he replied. Elekid burst out in an explosion of light which illuminated the cave. Aipom stirred, but kept his eyes closed.

Gavin shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “I dunno, that might attract attention …”

“Who from?”

Gavin put on a mock-stupid voice which made him sound very slow in the head. “I don’t know, Lisa! Let’s see … we’re two humans in a cave filled with very strong wild pokemon which we don’t want to attack us. I think our best bet is to send out an electric pokemon which will produce a lot of light and attract the pokemon to us and force them to attack us.”

It was the most annoying thing Gavin had ever really said to Lisa, and she glared at him, only half angry, still half-joking. Unfortunately, he didn’t take a hint.

“Geez Lisa, it’s pretty obvious. Next thing you know you’ll be driving through Dark Cave with headlights on, calling the Zubats to come and feed on y–”

He didn’t see the slap coming, but he sure as hell felt it.

After Gavin had been silenced for the moment, there was a rumbling somewhere deep inside the Ice Path. Lisa, still feeling a hot anger in her, moaned loudly. “WHAT is that?”

Gavin muttered something about pokemon attracted to light, under his breath, but Lisa ignored him. The rumbling was becoming ever-louder, and Lisa began to feel apprehension build up like a toxin in her stomach. The stalactites and stalagmites began to tremble, and one near Elekid shattered. Something was going on further in the cave … it wasn’t safe, Lisa knew.

And then, without warning, it happened – so very quickly that neither Lisa, nor Gavin could have seen it coming.

Two large pokemon came pelting down the path, one of them slipping slightly on the ice, the other looking as though it were a part of the ice. The pokemon shot past Lisa, Gavin and the buggy, and Lisa noticed that one was Suicune. The other … it was too big to be Raikou, and too small to be Lunanine (as she presumed Suicune would only hang around with it’s own kind, especially since it had tried to kill Lisa’s Wooper on her first day) – there was only one possibility.

“It’s Entei,” said Lisa.

Gavin was still rubbing his cheek, but looked stunned. Only a few metres away, Suicune and Entei had stopped, and were facing each other, perfectly still, but glaring loathingly.

“They’re going to fight!” hissed Gavin.

“Duh … it’s gonna be a big fight, too.”

They were peering through the darkness, trying to see more clearly, when the cavern was suddenly filled with light … Entei had barked out some strange language, and thousands of tiny flaming orbs hovered in the air, illuminating the cave so brightly it was like any civilised building.

“Cool … wish I could do that!” said Gavin, loudly. His voice echoed, and Entei and Suicune turned to look at them.

Lisa gulped. “Hi Suicune!” she called to it, trying to be friendly. Suicune did not have any trace of emotion on his face, as he shot out a beam of silver straight at them, from his aurora on his back. Lisa cringed, and Gavin yelled out, but the beam did not hit them. Instead, a silvery bubble enclosed them safely, along with Aipom and Elekid, and Gavin suddenly recognised the bubble … Suicune had placed him in one once before, when he gave the Sacred Ball to Gavin.

Gavin had never been able to forget that strange ball … he took it out of his pack, there and then, and noticed it had changed colouring since he had last looked at it, before going to Houen. It was now a very pale gold, rather than strong, and the other half was turquoise. He had always wondered what the purpose was … nothing had ever been in it. Suicune had given it to him once, then taken it back, then given it to him again. Every time, nothing had been in it.

//Trying to protect them, are we?// snarled Entei, his face become a fierce shade of red fury.

//Only as much as you are trying to destroy them// replied Suicune, and Lisa could have sworn that she heard a hint of threat in his voice. Which made sense, she told herself, since they were going to fight.

Entei glared at Lisa and Gavin. //Thought you could beat me, eh?// he said to them, reminding Lisa of the crazed scientist Lenina, in Houen.

“No,” said Lisa truthfully, under her breath. When all the pokemon had rendered Entei almost unconscious a week or so ago, she had not for one moment thought him to be beaten. Only delayed, maybe. The last week or two had seemed like such a blur. Ever since Moo-moo Farm, things had really changed.

Entei must have heard her. He looked puzzled for a moment, then shot out a stream of crimson fire directly at them. Lisa flinched as the fire beat at the silvery shield Suicune had set up for them. She knew it couldn’t hurt her, but it was a reflex to flinch.

They weren’t affected, but for the first time Lisa realised that the entire area around them was ice. The floor was ice, with small snowflakes clustering on the walls. The roof was cluttered with stalactites. But they were dripping steadily now, and the ice all over the ground was breaking.

//Leave them alone// Suicune said sharply. //I’m telling you for the last time, Entei. Try it again, and I have no choice//

Lisa thought Entei was deaf for a moment, then she realised he was antagonising Suicune. He breathed a long stream of grey, wispy smoke at the silver bubble around her and Gavin. Suicune reacted at once. A very strong jet of water spiralled out of his mouth at Entei. Lisa gaped as the fire beast jumped up past the water, then breathed out a similar stream of fire to before.

//Entei, I’m warning you …// Suicune said, but Entei kept attacking, flames licking at his entire body, but Suicune refused to budge, or flinch, or show any pain. Lisa couldn’t work out if he was being incredibly calm, or if it just wasn’t hurting him. But, like before, the icicles were melting, some snapping off from the roof and crashing to the floor. Some were engulfed in fire and vaporised instantly. But the floor – the frozen inside lake – was melting too, becoming slippery. Lisa could see what was coming.

Gavin had already plunged a hand into his pocket and drawn out three pokeballs, but Lisa noticed this and placed a cool hand on his arm. “Don’t,” she said firmly. “It’s not our fight.”

Gavin opened his mouth to protest, but thought better of it and clamped it shut.

And then Lisa saw Suicune actually use an attack. She couldn’t remember him actually using offence before, except maybe against Wooper. But there it was – Lisa had been expecting a beam of ice or something, but the everlasting aurora on his back glowed brighter than ever, then a blue blast of electricity speared the air and neatly connected with Entei’s body. The fire beast shook wildly for a moment, then stopped the flow of fire.

//That …// snapped Suicune. //… was for attacking that Professor, and forcing Raikou to help you, against his will//

Entei glared at him, but prepared another beam. Gavin shrugged suddenly, and sat down cross-legged on the ice. Lisa shadowed him; there was nothing else to do – they could only watch.

A beam of deep purple shot from Entei’s mouth. This one’s tip formed into a sharp arrowhead of some sort, maybe to pierce something. Suicune shut his eyes, then opened them again, and a smile broke out over Lisa’s face. Shadow Team, the step up from Double Team. About twenty Suicunes circled Entei, each identical to the last. The beam of purple pierced one, which evaporated, but then, without any instruction, the rest of the Suicunes shot out a thin beam – more like a thread – of gold. Each thread spun at Entei, then became rigid and seared through him, spiking him in all parts of the body like tiny golden knives.

Entei panted, sweating intensely. //What was that?!//

//That// Suicune continued. //Was for deceiving me and others, then turning and stabbing them in the back!//

Now Entei’s eyes had become less fiery, and even from her distance Lisa could see a trickle of fear in them. The whole area was still melting, rapidly in fact, but the battle was so awesome that neither Lisa nor Gavin could tear their eyes away.

Suicune was looking at Entei coldly. Lisa glanced at his eyes, his entire face; never had she seen such fury, such an absolute aura of vengeance. Suicune was serious. He would not back down. And then, he spoke to Entei – and Lisa was absolutely stunned to hear him speak through his mouth, the human way, and the silence in her head was odd.

“This,” Suicune said sternly and loudly. “Is for the innocent human you killed.”

And an orb of sheer jet black appeared from mid-air. Nothing came from Suicune at all, but he was staring at the blackness with a look of power and rage. Entei did not – could not react. The hovering blackness descended suddenly, like a bird diving for its prey. Lisa forced herself not to look away, and her eyes were filled with the images of attack. Entei screamed as the darkness seeped into him, tearing him apart slowly, and then, after a few seconds of roaring and thrashing, there was an enormous burst of flame and a fireball mushroomed out from where Entei had been. Flames were everywhere, razing the silvery bubble, tearing at the icicles, which all melted in record time. Lisa definitely heard herself scream. And Gavin, too. The ice cracked above them, and below them, and water began filling the cavern, though Lisa could barely see it through the smoke, fire, ice and water.

Then, without warning, the bubble popped, frigid, biting coldness swept over her. Lisa spluttered under the water, saving her breath as much as possible, but it was becoming increasingly harder. The frigid water was black above her, black below her, blotting out all light. And then it became impossible; Lisa’s lungs couldn’t contain the air anymore and they released it. Lisa felt the bubbles flow over her face and realised numbly that her last few seconds were up.

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

Next up on Lisa the Legend

Have you ever experienced confusion beyond science?

“I’m fine,” said Lisa quickly, hearing her voice as though it was a long way away. Gavin’s voice seemed very distant, too. “But why? Shouldn’t we have drowned by now?”

Lisa and Gavin feel completely stuck, wedged between logic and uncertainty. Where are they? And what has upset Gavin?

“Don’t!” he replied, voice breaking and squeaking as he shifted away somehow. “Don’t touch me …”

Find out in the next chapter …

Chapter 34 – The Flight of the Phoenix.

[AquaBabe727]

Aaah!!! Suicune rocks!!! He's better than all the other legendaries put together! XD Awesome chapter, Gavin! Very, very visual. You do an excellent job of painting a scene, and it worked very well in this chapter. I want to know what Entei's deal was; why he turned, but I guess we'll never know now. Mwaha, Suicune is so cool. Sucks that Lisa and Gavin are drowning now, though. They should have taken the short cut! Hope they make it out all in one piece... But yes, a very vivid, exciting chapter! Can't wait for the next! ^_^

Bye~

[Chris 2.1]

very nice. This Chapter, as Aquababe said, was very visual and we could really see how things went on. It;s interesting how you've portrayed the legendary Pokemon as much more sinister, deceiving characters, not like their usual stereotyped role of a friendly, helpful beast.

I didn't realise Glenys and Ripper's hotel (from EBTV) was in Hoenn! (is that the right english spelling?). It's interesting to say the least...

I think Ho-oh or Moltres will emerge in the next Chapter...maybe...

[Hyperness is a Good Thing]

Wow............cool battle.......^_^

Entei took quite a beating there....poor thing......

I liked the way you described the battle, dramatic, yet simple in a way....

[Master Kirby]

I think that was a great chapter. It really showed how Suicune was feeling towards Entei.

Lisa and Gavin drowning?! It'll never happen. ...........or wil they be revived by something/someone?

The ending really leaves you hanging.

"The Flight of the Phoenix"
Does that mean that Ho-Oh will be in the next chapter?
The legendary Phoenix was a giant firey bird, just like Ho-Oh.

[Chris 2.1]

I just had a thought. Maybe the sacred ball has some way of keeping people alive underwater? It doesnt seem to have any Pokemon in, and Gavin was able to breath underwater (or grow leather lungs XD) when he first got it...maybe?

[GeneChildMewtwo]

Another great chapter! It seems that Suicune is now aware of Entei's betrayal, but I wonder what Entei did after siding with Team Rocket? Maybe Suicune was going to stop Entei before it did anything else... but it seems that Entei had done something during his time with Team Rocket, since Suicune mentioned being back-stabbed... but I guess we'll find out when the time comes.

It was interesting how we got to see more into what was going on with Entei and Suicune, although I wonder why Raikou isn't around? Maybe it's busy with something else. There isn't really a rule saying that they are always together anyway. Maybe Entei had something to do with it?

Although, if the whole Ice Cave is flooded, that means that not only Lisa and Gavin are submerged, but so is the buggy... It can't possibly be good for any kind of land vehicle to be submerged in lots of water and of course there's the fine for buggy repair, but that's probably the least of Lisa's worries.

This time we should see Ho-oh, although last time I said that I was wrong, but this time it seems very likely.

I hope my replies aren't too long. ^_^

Well, I can't wait until the next chapter. Keep up the great work!