Episode One: Passing the Torch

Co-Written by Joanie Rich and Sheila Coe


Chapter 8: Battle for the First Badge


After feasting on the many delights at the Japanese restaurant, Krystal was eager for a battle to satisfy her appetite for Pokémon battling! Like a fever consuming her, she pressed on towards Viridian Gym. When she reached the towering doors, she twisted her hat around, just like her Dad, and stood looking in awe. This was it. Jacen and Buddy were still having problems with eating too much of the buffet and lagged slightly behind her.

"Buddy, how can she pack it all away? I'm sooo stuffed. I think I'll explode. (groan)"

"Bul---ba...saaaaaur."

"You know it buddy!"

"Come on guys, lighten up! I can't wait till my midnight snack. My stomach is empty. I'm STARVING here!"

Their mouths gaped open in shock. She was a bottomless pit!

"Okay," she straightened up, "I'm ready...NOW!"

She burst in through the doors. Only a bit of light shined in. The night was heavily on, and she couldn't see more than 10 feet in front of her, which turned into pitch black. Yet, she was unmoved by this, eager for battle.

"Oh look," came a voice from the void. A bright florescent white light flashed and blinded the trio for a second, illuminating the left side of the battle arena. "It's my goody-goody little brother."

Another light popped on from the opposite side, "And his little friend, too!"

A light fog flowed across the marble floors, and two shadows appeared in the midst of the mist.

"If at first you don't succeed..." called two voices as one.

"Prepare for trouble,"said a female voice.

"Make that double!" said a male voice.

"To take all the world's pokémon,"

"Being honest is no fun!"

"To make the goody-goodies suffer our plight,"

"We're here to rekindle the fight!"

Jacen and Krystal starred into the fog, "JANNIE!?" they blurted out in astonishment.

"JANNIE!" she snarled, as Jared rolled his eyes.

"Jared!"

"NEO Team Rocket Unite in the Ways of Old!"

"Sit back now, and watch our plot unfold!

"Sandshrew!!"

It's just not the same.

"What are you guys talking about?" Krystal shouted, "Now, tell us where the gym leaders are, or get outta my way!"

"We are the leaders of this gym," Jannie bragged.

"Actually, I'm the legal gym leader. You guys are just my sidekicks."

"I thought I was your girlfriend!!! Aren't you supposed to treat me REAL nice?"

"Not now, Jannie."

"Now!"

"Later!"

"Now!"

"SHREW!"

"You stay outta this, Sandy!" Jannie squealed.

Krystal giggled a bit at this display of foolishness.

"What are you laughin' at! You may have beaten Jerky-Jannie here, but I'm a LOT more experienced with pokémon."

"Bring it on little boy!"

"You're asking for it! I'm the son of the infamous Giovanni, perhaps you mortals have heard of the great power of-"

"Jared," Jannie interrupted, "You're adopted, stupid!"

He grimaced and turned to release his wrath on her, "I told you not to tell anyone," he spoke through gritted teeth.

"But it's like... obviously obvious, obviously. You don't look anything like him."

"Yeah, but he taught me all the secrets of raising pokémon. I can't lose."

"He did?" She mumbled.

"A-HEM!" Krystal interrupted, "I came here for a match, not to watch you two little lovebirds scrap!"

"All right. Prepare to lose."

He threw out a pokéball, and out popped a farfetch'd!

"A farfetch'd, huh? Gotta love those normal types!" Krystal commented to Jacen who waited outside the battle box.

"Not just any old farfetch'd. Meet IMPLAUSO the AMAZING!"

"Fa-HAR!" Implauso bowed to his audience.

"I have a special guest for Implo...whatever. Prepare to meet my BABY!" She tossed out a pokéball and a snubble appeared.

"A SNUBBLE! I want one Jared!" Jannie cooed.

"Not now!! I keep telling you-" he tried to push her out of the way.

"You never get me ANYTHING!!" she bawled, stepping outside of the battle arena, "Come on Sandy. We won't help him now."

"I don't need help from you. I'M the gym leader. Not YOU. ME!"

"And I'm still waiting..." Krystal tapped her foot impatiently.

"Okay, I'm ready NOW! Thanks to Jannie." Now it was Jannie's turn to roll her eyes.

"Go Baby!" Baby entered the center ring.

"Implauso, use Slash!"

Implauso surged at Baby and swung his onion. A red scratch appeared and Baby got mad.

"Quick, Bite, Baby, Bite!" Baby clamped her jaw on Implauso's wing.

"FARRRR!" Implauso screamed.

"Smooth move Jared," Jannie smiled mischievously.

"Be quiet you," he eyed her, "Uh-Implauso, use-uh-um... PECK!"

Implauso pecked Baby's head and she let go of his wing. Her eyes swirled around and she was dazed for a moment.

"Hang in there, Baby!"

Jared blew rasberries at Jannie, who turned away mad, "Ha! Swords Dance!"

Swiftly swinging swords surrounded Implauso and his power to attack rose.

"Baby Take Him DOWN!"

Baby rammed into Implauso and sent him flying.

"Implauso! Use Swift!"

Implauso flinched and couldn't respond quickly enough.

"No you gotta finish it off!"

"Baby, Tackle!"

Baby pounced on him like a roaring persian and he went down for the count! Implauso flopped a little, lost a few feathers, and fainted from loss of strength.

"I did it?" Krystal murmured, "I DID IT!"

She grabbed Jacen and they cheered. Then they did a nice rendition of the Charleston.

Jared growled and clenched his fists, "Go gettum Sandy. NOW!"

"Sand...shrew..."

"She doesn't have to do anything I don't want her too, especially help you. Now give the brat your stupid badge and shut up!"

"Fine." He fished around in his pocket and pulled out an Earthbadge. He stared at it, and then sighed, "A good gym leader knows when to throw in the-" he chucked it at her. It roughly knocked her in the head, and it fell into her open hands.

"I got an Earthbadge!" she cried as an eerie light surrounded her for a brief moment.

"SNUB-BLE!" Baby added.

"SAUR-SAUR!" Buddy agreed.

She pinned on the inside of her jacket and showed it proudly to Jacen.

"Whoa." He commented.

"Thanks!" she beamed with pride.

"I've never seen anyone beat Jared. All the kids in North Pallet couldn't."

"You know how to pick your friends, Jacen. Now let's go celebrate with a victory dinner!"

"(groan) We already had dinner, Krystal."

"There's always room for more! Right, Baby"

"Snub-snub"

Buddy groaned as they exited the gym, leaving Jared, center ring, to confront his defeat.

"No!" He threw himself to the floor and pounded his fists on the ground. In disappointment he called back Implauso, who had crawled beside him, into his pokéball. He sighed deeply. "I knew I should've asked Dad for a Psyduck."

Jannie laughed, "They're smarter."

End of Chapter Eight

END of Episode One


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