CHAPTER SIX: Mauville and Lewis

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| Chikorita no. 152
| type: Grass
| Evolution: CHIKORITA -> BAYLEAF -> MEGANIUM
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"Well, there you go. Mauville city." John announced as his Wailord nudged up against the far shore.

"Thanks!" Cassie called to him as he and his Pokémon slid out of vision, "Tell Catherine thank you too!"

There was no return call and the trainer shrugged and turned toward the city. Shapes loomed up through the earlier morning fog, trees and rocks and plants that suddenly seemed far more sinister due to the mist.

"I'll be glad when we get into Mauville." Cassie commented, rubbing her arms to ward of the bite of the early morning cold.

"Torchi choo." (me too) Flame agreed, fluffing up her feathers to keep out the chill.

Skitty and Eevee walked along beside them, talking to each other so fast that Cassie couldn't figure out a word they were saying. She could, however, be totally sure that they weren't complaining about the cold.

They reached the city after about three minutes brisk walking. The buildings towered through the mist like huge black goliaths, giving the place the look of a ghost town. But as Cassie got further into Mauville the mist started to clear and she could finally see properly. There were a few people moving about and lights shone in the windows indicating life. The trainer felt the nervous tension she didn't know was gathering in her leave at the presence of the normalities of the city.

She sighed, "Cummon guys, let's go see if anything's happening before we go off to route 117."

The three Pokémon cheered their agreement and the small group entered the Pokémon centre to check the board for any reports of anything. Cassie swished her gaze over the multicoloured bulletins advertising custom made Pokéballs, special items at low prices and numerous Pokémon adoption agencies, seeing nothing that caught her eye.

"I guess the world is just as boring as rumoured." She mumbled, turning away to walk out of the centre.

"Hey! Cassie!" A familiar voice called after her, stopping her from leaving.

"Huh?" She turned, "Lewis?"

"Yup." The slightly older Lilycove resident responded, "How's it going?"

He was taller than her, with a stockier frame and redish brown hair that glinted gold in the sunlight. He was wearing a pair of slightly bagging jeans and a navy blue t-shirt with the 'Ripcurl' symbol on the front. Around his neck he wore a grey metal chain with two fake metal ID plates hanging of it [a/n: I hope people know what I mean by that, you know those thing people where in the army? Yeah, those. And this is what guys my age wear is England, dunno 'bout you Yanks]. A Chikorita sat on his shoulder, studying Flame with its violet eyes.

"Great! My team's doing really well." She looked around as they walked out of the Pokémon centre together, "Hey, where's Tom?"

Lewis rolled his chocolate brown eyes, "He left me behind while I waited for Raazor here to be healed. Said something about not having time for weaklings." He blew a stray lock of red-ish brown hair out of his face and wrinkled his nose in disgust. "Raazor was in a real bad way after he got ambushed by a group of Spearow. He needed the treatment quick."

Cassie groaned, "Tom's such an idiot." She glanced at the Chikorita she guessed was Raazor, "He's okay now, right?"

"Fighting shape." The boy replied, "Thinking of fighting… Wanna have a Pokémon battle?"

"Anytime!"

"Great!"

Cassie returned Eevee and Skitty to their Pokéballs and the two humans ran out of town to the grassy area that marked the beginning of route 117; fighting wasn't allowed in cities without reason. Unless it was a Gym Battle, of course. They stood with a distance between them, Flame and Raazor looking eager to start.

"Go get 'em Flame!" Cassie ordered her fire chic, letting the little bird leap from her shoulder.

"Okay Swiss, let's do this!" Lewis shouted, holding up a Pokéball.

Red light shot out of the ball and formed the shape of a little rat-like creature that stood tall on its tail. It bounced a bit and squeaked at Flame.

"A Sentret, huh?" Cassie murmured, "No prob! Flame, Ember attack now!"

"Put out its fire with Surf, Swiss!"

"WHAT?"

Cassie looked on in horror as Sentret called up a huge wave behind it. Flame shot her Ember straight into the foam as it bore down on her, to no avail.

"!" (AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!) She cried as she was swept backwards into her trainer.

When the water had cleared Cassie found herself stuck up a tree, Flame knocked out in her lap. She picked a stick out of her hair and dropped down to the ground, returning her Pokémon to her Pokéball.

"Okay, how did it do that?" She demanded of Lewis, ready to send out Skitty.

Lewis shrugged, "I traded my Rattata for her with some kid, turns out he'd found out she could learn Surf and Cut and Strength and all that. He traded her to his brother, who taught her Surf and traded her back. Pretty neat, hey?"

She couldn't help herself, she nodded. "Yeah… Anyway, we've got a battle to finish!"

"Yeah, and then a you to dry." He joked, returning Swiss and letting Raazor into the battle.

"Shut up." Cassie mumbled, wringing an unimaginable amount of water from her shirt and sending Skitty out onto the battlefield.

The little kitten Pokémon leapt onto the battlefield and grinned at her opponent, bright eyes shining mischievously.

"Raazor! RAZOR LEAF!" Lewis ordered, his Pokémon letting out a rain of sharp leaves at Skitty.

Skitty leapt swiftly to one side, the deadly green blurs shooting just centimetres past her left flank.

"Skitat!" (Missed!) She cried.

"Tackle attack!" Her trainer ordered.

The command was carried out quickly and Skitty threw her body into Raazor.

"Chikaaaaa…" He moaned, but managed to keep his head.

"Again!"

"Skittu!"

The second attack sent Chikorita flying back into Lewis's arms. The boy patted his fainted Pokémon's head before returning him to his Pokéball.

"Okay, one down on either side." He chewed his lip for a second, then took out Swiss's Pokéball again.

"Oh great." Cass groaned, "Get ready to get wet, Skitty." She warned the kitten.

"Ti. Tat?" (Ok… why?)

"SURF ATTACK!"

"TIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!" (!) She yelped, leaping up to the very top of a tree to avoid the surf as her trainer was soaked through once again."

Cassie spat out a mouthful of dirt, water and leaves. "Tackle that thing, Skitty!"

"Skittow!" (ja!) She cried and hit the Sentret head on.

"Treeeeeeee…." It moaned, just managing to tackle Skitty back before hitting the ground with a thud.

"Skiiiiittttttyyyyyy…." Skitty fell seconds later.

"Huh. Guess it's one on one now." Lewis looked a lot more nervous than he sounded.

"Yeah. GO! EEVEE!"

"Veea!" The brown mouse had hardly hit the ground when it was charging Lewis.

"Eevee! Nooooooo!" Cassie yelled as her rebellious creature hit her friend in the chest with a resounding 'THUD!'.

"Ow." Said Lewis, picking himself off the ground and holding out a Pokéball hesitantly. "Go… Jaws…"

With a flash of red light a fish appeared on the ground. As soon as it hit dirt it started to thrash wildly, cries of 'Karp karp karp!' escaping its gaping mouth. Cassie burst out laughing, despite the embarrassing antics of her newest team member, as she realised what it was.

"You've… Got a… Magikarp! HAHAHAHAHAA!" She gasped and giggled.

Lewis glowered, "Yeah, well, Jaws'll be a mega strong Gyarados one day." The sight of the pathetic fish Pokémon flopping about on the ground removed a large portion of the conviction from his voice.

"Karp karp karp karpUUUUUUUUU!" It croaked as Eevee Headbutted it in the side.

"EEVEE!" Cassie shouted, resisting the urge to hit her head against a tree, "Can't you wait for an order?"

"Vee." (no) He responded casually with a shrug of his little furry shoulders.

Lewis returned his Magikarp to its Pokèball with a sigh, "Guess you win then." He handed her some money, "Use it to get that Eevee some manners."

Cassie sighed as they headed back to the Pokèmon centre. "Sorry about that. I hadn't actually used him yet so I didn't know what to expect…"

Lewis shrugged, "No prob. Just train it some more before you fight me again."

Cassie just sighed, she would happily bet that Sarah wouldn't have a Pokèmon that didn't obey her, the brown haired girl had a thing about control. She and Lewis spent the next hour sitting about the Pokèmon centre while their Pokèmon were healed. The light that indicated healing in process seemed determined on staying lit, and that little bulb was stinking stubborn.

"So, Winona whipped Tom up good, right?" Cassie commented, scratching her Eevee behind the ears.

"You should have seen the look on his face!" Lewis laughed, "Complaining about being beaten by a girl…"

"Sexist freak." The blonde muttered.

"…Of course," Lewis's tone went serious, "He then made me fight her too, even though Jaws was my only Pokèmon not fainted and I only wanted to get to the Pokèmon centre quick."

"Just wondering," Cassie put in after a moment of silence, "But why are you two friends? I mean, it sounds like he's just ruining your Pokèmon journey."

Lewis nodded, "Yeah, he is. And I guess we're just friends because, well, we are…"

With a ting the light went out and Nurse Joy entered the room, 5 Pokèballs held in her arms.

"Here you go!" She said, handing the balls to the trainers, "We hope to see you again and be careful out there!"

As they exited the centre and started to walk along Route 117 Cassie couldn't help but comment, "If we see her again our Pokèmon have to be hurt. Perhaps she's evil, wanting our Pokèmon to be injured so she can heal them again and again and again until their minds are converted and she becomes their master!"

Lewis gave her a 'what are you on' look and shook his head, "You're loopy, Cass."

The Pokèmon nodded in mutual agreement; they had a maddo in their midst.

Okay people, I know this chapter isn't too good and I've taken AGES updating, but... well, writer's block and my account being locked (grrr. My 'What exactly is an Apricorn Anyway' fic wasn't evil! I just forgot a rule... or two) really didn't help. This chapter is a filler, so that's why it's so short. And it replaces that evil author's note (Blushes in humiliation) that I wrote before so I hope people have noticed! In fact, I'll post another "Chapter" just to make sure people see it. Now, N E wayz, to the reviewers...

Keleri: Thanx for all the praise! I greatly appreciate it. And I probably will read your fic, once I'm done writing the next chapter for my own. Expect to see a review from me! ^_^

The Pokemon Breeder: Yeah, you're right, Taylor does look like Snape! I just didn't notice... -_-' Shows how smart I am...

Digifan1: You just got the game too? I got it on the first day it was released in England, so I've had it for about a month. It's a good game, but a little fast to complete... And Torchic is the best! Torchic rules! The only starter I prefer is Cyndaquil, but just because I prefer Quilava over Combusken. Good luck on whipping everything's butt! It's fun to win!

ElementalZoidFighter: Hee hee, I caught Latias yesterday. :p As for a dragon scale, I think you have to win your way to the top of the battle tower some number of times. but I can't be sure. The Battle tower sucks though 'cause I can't use my Kyogre up there... ::glowers:: Stoopid battle tower...

DarkAngelTorchic: Hey! Love your new pen name more! And you've got a female Torchic... How long did it take you to get that? I restarted several times in the attempt to get a female... But I'm still stuck ith a male. Very annoying.

Topaz2: Woah! Thanx for all those tips! I'll make sure future battles are better and action scenes too, after your examples I actually feel like I could manage it. ::nods:: dankechen. I would have worked on everything this chapter, but I actually wrote it during my locked account time and before you submitted the review and I'm too busy typing away at the next chapter to redo this one. Yes, yes, I know, bad me, but I'm working on it! And to anyone else who didn't read Topaz's review; from now on translated Pokemon speech will either be in {} or italics like my other fic, RAVEN, depending on what reviewers decide. Thanx again for all your help! ^_^

The Pokemon Breeder: No, I guess not. The thing to remember about me is my general weirdness... Just don't mention anything that might blow up in my zaney mind and we might not experiance another embaressing episode as the last again... -_-'

Siara Angel: Hey! Mind reader! I posted the fic under the name 'RAVEN' (but you allready reviewed so I guess you know that) and I did reload over the freaky author's note! Just a suggestion though, but why don't cha spell check your reviews? ::ducks:: eek! I was just trying to be usefulllll!
P.S. Do ya think I should repost my humor DW fic? It's been christened 'Just What Exactly Is An Apricorn Anyway?' to relay its total insanity. What do ya think gal?

ElementalZoidFighter: ::sigh:: Yup, that they did. Don't it suck? Hey, I'd still be using my 'SSDayrin Blooddragon' account if it weren't for some freak insisting that my 62 review fic needed to be rated higher! Grrrr, I lost 127 reviews total over that thing, as well as a stable account. Not that the new one's doing badly... Sorry 'bout your fic, ever wondered if the reporter peoplez are drawn to the fics that are doing well? It sux! Grrrr...

::looks up at all the reviewer replies:: OoooOOOOoooooOOO, I really did take forever to update! There is no excuse for this! But still, I'm not going to pledge my every-day updating schedule due to some good advice from Topaz2. Quality over Quantity sound good peepos? N e wayz, I must ride the wave of inspiration and write some more while I can sooooo, byez! ^_^

~Blade-chan