Episode 5: The Samurai and the Scyther
"Will he be alright, Professor?"
"Definitely. The effects should be over within several hours. But we mustn't take any chances. This is the first known of Destiny Bond being used on a human."
Suddenly, the white figure on the bed gave a groan, and slowly, painfully sat up.
"Ooooh... What happened? All I remember is attacking that gas monster and then... Ouch, my head..."
"You're in the local hospital, Jack." Professor Oak explained. "Threezing had used Destiny Bond on you, causing you to faint along with it -- it must have been an interesting experience."
"Painful, too." whispered Brock.
"All the Pokemon have been returned to the Pokemon Center and their respective trainers," said Misty. "You did a really cool job, Jack."
"Except one," a voice piped up. Everyone turned to see Nurse Joy in the doorway. "All the Pokemon were returned except for one of them -- a Scyther."
"Do you know who it belonged to?"
"We have no idea at all. That Pokemon was a special case we received in a Pokeball months ago that was dumped on our doorstep. But after the raid yesterday, it seemed to have disappeared."
"Weird." commented Ash. "Pika pika." Pikachu agreed.
As the 6 people and Pikachu talked and talked, a green figure stood outside the window.
"Scy-ther!"
Giovanni glared at the four individuals below him.
"The Grand Master is not at all pleased at your reappearance, you understand?" he barked. Jessie, James, Cassidy and Butch nodded gravely.
"Lucky for you I managed to persuade him to allow you back in the Team, or you would have been as dead as a Cubone's skull," he added angrily. "Anyway, maybe it is a good thing that you've returned, because now with the addition of that Samurai, we need all the help we can get. I've assessed what you did at the Pokemon Center, and despite the fact that you didn't steal any Pokemon, I can say that you four will have good progress in the future." Giovanni's grim expression changed into a slight smile. "We've already started research on our next attack plan, and this where you come in." Giovanni continued.
"Now, listen carefully. These are the plans for our next attack..."
Meanwhile, in the Research and Development Center...
"Hey, do you see that?" A scientist nudged his colleague's arm.
"Sure I did," replied the other, as they observed the figure sitting at the opposite table. The figure was dressed in schoolboy uniform, and had a very large head, like an alien's. Empty plates lay by his side, and he was staring into the screen of his Pocket PC, sighing occasionally.
"Has he always been like that?" The other scientist nodded. "You newcomer?"
"Yeah -- How'd you know?" The other scientist sighed. "He's been like that since he started here. It even gets on the Grand Master's nerves, but since he's among our top scientists, the Grand Master lets it go."
"He's a bit young to be one of Aku's scientists, isn't he?"
"I agree, but he's exceptionally brainy for his age -- in fact, he's one of the two famous child prodigies of science."
"You mean --" *RRRRRRRING!* Without warning the bell was sounded. The lunch break was over. The boy turned off his Pocket PC, then made his way to the labs, murmuring.
"DeeDee..."
At this time, Samurai Jack had been admitted out of the hospital, and soon he was on the road with his friends.
"Where should we go now?" Ash asked.
"Anywhere where we can take a break!" Misty groaned, cracking her knuckles. "This continuous battling is driving me nuts!"
"Maybe we should break off for a while," agreed Brock. "It'll give us time to relax and Jack time to recuperate."
"I know! How about the imperial 5-star hotel over there?" Ash said, pointing to a nearby building. Misty sighed. "Ash, don't forget we had to pay for Jack's medical fees." "Oh, don't worry about that, Misty," Brock piped up. "The local Police Office subsidised the entire bill for what we cleaned up at the Pokemon Center!"
"Yee-ha! Then it's off to the hotel we go!" Ash shouted, breaking into a run.
"Hey, Ash! Wait for us!"
"Pika!"
As the gang sped towards the residential building, they did not noticed that they were being watched... Except maybe one.
"Scy..." Jack stopped suddenly. "What's up, Jack?" asked Ash.
Jack frowned. "I heard something in the bushes." The others turned and looked. There were only trees and bushes, rustling in the breeze.
"It's only the wind, Jack."
"But-" Jack paused to say something, but soon joined the gang in their run for the hotel -- just as unaware as the others as to what they were in for...
Meanwhile, in the bushes, the mysterious shadow suddenly found itself getting pulled back into the bushes...
"Scy?!" (What the...?!)
"Scyther scy scy scyther scy." (Another intruder. Sixth one this month.) One of the other Scyther said grimly.
"Scy, scy, scyther," (We'll just bring him to the Queen,) muttered its partner. Tied up with thick vines, the Scyther found himself towed by two of his own species, brought into a huge circular area surrounded by trees, entirely populated by Scyther in buildings hollowed from even larger trees than the surrounding ones.
"Scyther?!" (So that's what they've done with the place,) thought the bound Scyther as he was painfully dragged across the grassy ground, in front of a throne constructed from thick trunks and vines. Sitting on the wooden throne was a mean-looking Scyther, a crown made of sharp leaves atop his head.
"Scyther scyther scyther scy!" (We've caught another one, your Highness!) shouted one of the captors.
"Scyther?" (Another one?) A displeased look cast over the royal Scyther's face. "Scyther scy scy scy scy." (These intruders are beginning to irk me.)
"Scyther, scyther!" (Shuri, my daughter!) The captured Scyther tried to speak but a hefty kick from one of his captors shut him up.
"Scy." (Wait.) The royal Scyther flew down from her perch and helped up the bound Scyther, untying his bonds but holding him firmly.
"Scyther scyther scy scy?" (Who did you say you were?)
"Scyther," (Shuri,) the freed Scyther choked between tears, "scy scy scyther." (I am your father.) Minutes of silence passed as the queen Scyther slowly tried to digest what her alleged father had said.
"Scyther scyther scyther..." (If you're truly my father...) choked the queen.
"Scy... scyther scyther." (I... have the royal birthmark.) The freed Scyther lifted up his wings, revealing a dark green birthmark in the shape of a skull and crossbones symbol. No words were said as the father and daughter embraced in happiness of their reuniting.
Meanwhile, in a broom cupboard of the hotel...
"Twerp alert!" James muttered as he focused his binoculars on the foursome walking down the corridor.
"Get back in, you idiot!" A gloved hand grabbed James by the shirt and the door quickly closed. Cassidy fumed at her blue-headed colleague.
"So, we've got the Tesla Circuit Setup, the Electromagnetic Spectrum Laser input, the Mirrored Forcefield Cage... what've we missed?" Butch said as he ticked off items on a list.
"Nothing that I know of." Jessie replied, then joined the others in laughter.
"The twerps'll never know what hit them."
"Scyther scyther scyther..." (I remember we used to do this together.) Shuri sighed as she observed the serene surroundings from the Observatree.
"Scyther, scyther scyther scyther scyther scy." (Indeed, our clan has prospered under your rule.) Her father placed his right arm proudly on her shoulder.
"Scyther scyther scy scy scy scy..." (We have been training hard, father...) Shuri suddenly tensed.
"... scy scy... scyther." (... since your... capture.)
"Scyther scyther. Scyther scyther scyther scy scyther." (It has been long. I never thought I'd see you again.) Her father agreed.
"Scy, scyther scyther scyther scyther!" (But now, we will be able to ensure such a disaster never recurs!) Shuri suddenly turned away from the window, slashing at the air fiercely with her blades. Her father remained quiet.
"Scyther? Scy scy scy scy?" (Father? Is there something wrong?)
"Scy, scyther." (Nothing, Shuri.) Her father tried to reassure her. "Scy scyther scyther scyther scyther scyther..." (But if not for a certain human I would have remained hateful to them...)
"Scyther! Scyther scyther scyther, scy scy scy scy scyther? Scyther scyther!" (Humans?! They have imprisoned you once, father, against your own will, and took you away from us... why this sudden change? You always taught us to be against them!"
"Scyther, scyther scyther scyther scyther scyther..." (Shuri, the very reason why I am here is because I have been freed... by one of them...) As Shuri's father related the events of the fight at the Pokemon Center, a sudden explosion rang out throughout the forest, taking all the Scyther in the community by surprise.
"Scyther scy?" (What's going on?) Shuri's father rushed to the window to see a pillar of smoke about a hundred or so metres away.
"Scyther... scyther scyther! Scyther!" (The hotel... they're in trouble! I must go!)
"Scyther! Scyther!" (Father! Wait!) Before she could stop him, Shuri's father had already flown through the window, headed in the direction of the hotel...
"PIKA!" Ash suddenly jolted up from his bed. That shout certainly wasn't dreamed; he knew there was something afoot.
"Pikachu?!" Frantically he groped around his mattress, hoping to find Pikachu, but to no avail. Leaping up, he rushed to the window and ripped the curtains open.
"Holy --" Ash gasped at the shocking sight. Amidst the smoke, out rose a balloon in the shape of a Persian's head, with the four Team Rocket cronies in control. Below the balloon hung a steel lattice cage, containing a whole bunch of Pokeballs, Togepi and Pikachu!
"Pika! Pikapi!"
"Don't worry, Pikachu, I'll get you out of there!" Turning back into the room, Ash shook his friends awake. "Brock! Misty! Jack! Wake up!"
It took less than a few seconds for the others to realise what had happened. They rushed out the room, raced down the stairs and out the hotel.
"Give us back our Pokemon!" Misty yelled.
"Not so easy, twerps!" Cassidy cackled as she pressed a button on the control panel. The jewel on the Persian's head began to glow a dangerous crimson, and to the gang's horror a laser beam was fired as it lit up the sky.
"Look out!" With an awesome lunge Jack pushed the rest aside. The laser made contact with the ground, leaving a smouldering crater.
"Ouch." cringed Ash. Jack looked about the surroundings and his eyes landed on a row of nearby trees that decorated the pavement.
"Aha." he smiled. "I need a boost, Brock." Nodding his head, Brock gently lifted Jack up, who leaped towards a nearby tree. "Don't worry about me!" he shouted back. "Give chase and rescue your Pokemon!" The three began chasing the balloon again, while Jack followed them through the treetops.
"Pikachu!" Ash shouted. "Try releasing some of the others and break through that cage!" Pikachu's paws began to dance about deftly over the pile.
"Crobat!" The ominous bloodsucking Pokemon emerged from its orb.
"Corsola!" Out popped Misty's coral companion.
"Cyndaquil!" Ash's Fire Mouse Pokemon was released in a beam of light. Quickly, the four Pokemon (not including Togepi) began to fire their respective attacks at the cage, but only got hit back as their attacks got fired back.
"Huh?!"
"Trying to break through, twerp?" laughed James from above. "It's impossible to break through this cage! It only reflects attacks back at you!" taunted Butch. The four protagonists glared.
"What now?" "I've got an idea, listen here, Misty..." Ash briefly whispered in Misty's ear and a smile grew on her face. "You know, Ash, it's so crazy it just might work!" The two turned their faces up to the cage.
"Pikachu! Let Heracross out!" With slight contact of a paw the Singlehorn Pokemon popped out of its Pokeball. "Everybody use your strongest attacks on one point!" Ash shouted.
"CROOO!" Crobat fired its Toxic attack.
"PIKACHUUU!" Pikachu launced out a Thunder.
"CYNDAQUIIIL!" A Flamethrower burst from Cyndaquil's mouth.
"CORSOLASOLA!" Rocks flew as Corsola used its Ancient Power.
"HERACROSS!" Heracross didn't have any other ranged attacks, so it shot out a deadly Leer instead. As the attacks hit the cage and went back for a crash course...
"Heracross! Counter!" "Corsola, Mirror Coat!" Like a ball bouncing between two walls, the mixture of attacks began to rush back and forth, between Pokemon and metal, faster and faster, accelerating all the time...
"HYAAAAAA!!!" A familiar shout rang out as Jack launched himself at the balloon, his arms outstretched, reaching for the balloon... and missed. The wind flapped around him as, with lightning speed, flicked out his sword and stopped himself from falling by striking his sword through a hole in the cage, which Crobat and Pikachu firmly held. Getting hold of the cage, Jack began his work.
"I told you we should have mirror-proofed the outside!" argued Jessie.
"Not to worry, we've got this!" James pressed a yellow button on the control panel, sending a current of electricity through the cage. Caught unawares, Jack got shocked and lost his grip, plummeting down, down, below...
"Jack!" screamed the gang.
"Nya!" sneered the Rockets.
"Whoosh!" A sudden shadow flew through the air, catching Jack with its sharp foreclaws. As it glided into the moonlight, its identity became revealed...
"A Scyther!" gasped the heroes.
"A Scyther?!" exclaimed the villains. Swiftly the Scyther flew near the cage, allowing Jack to leap back unto the metal prison. The swordsman and swords-Pokemon began to slash at the cage together, their movements a whizzing blur. Suddenly, a yelp from Misty caught Jack's attention. Looking up, Jack spotted an angry spark travelling down the cage, about to make contact. Trying to aim for the trees, Jack leaped back into open space, the Scyther following suit...
"Cast the Persian Laser!" Butch ordered. Meowth's paws activated the deadly beam, which fired time and time again at Jack and Scyther. Hiding in the trees, leaping about from one to another, reflecting the laser beams back at the balloon. The Persian lasers, however, simply bounced off the balloon like minute fleas.
"If you think you can destroy this Diamond Lattice balloon, think again!" taunted Cassidy. "This baby is shock-proof, fire-proof, sound-proof, laser-proof, waterproof, weather-proof, in fact there's hardly anything this thing isn't strong against!" All the protagonists glared. Meanwhile, back within the cage, Heracross and Corsola were still struggling with the attack combination in the cage...
"Heracross! Hang in there!"
"You too Corsola!" Back to the swordsmen, Jack and Scyther were still kept busy with the crimson beams. Streaking through the night, a laser suddenly hit the handle of Jack's sword, knocking the blade clean from Jack's hand. Unarmed, Jack could only leap about the trees, avoiding the fatal lasers, until a laser shot down the tree he'd landed on a split second ago. Taken by surprise, Jack fell unto the ground below.
"Jack!" Rushing to his aid, Ash and the others ran towards in his direction, only to be stopped by a series of lasers. As the lasers began looming closer in Jack's direction, Jack tried to get up, but slipped. Suddenly, another swift shadow quickly stole away with Jack as another laser created a crater where Jack should've been.
The samurai looked back at the Scyther, stunned. If the Scyther is over there... he thought, that means... He looked back at his second saviour to find...
"Another Scyther?" Cassidy exclaimed in indignance.
"This is getting to be quite predictable," muttered Butch.
"Scyther." (You came.) said the first Scyther. The other one smiled.
"Scyther scyther scyther." (I could never let you down, father.) Shuri said. Gently landing Jack on the ground, Shuri turned back into the forest and raised her arms into the air.
"SCY!" (Charge!) At that moment the air was suddenly filled with a dark mass that advanced towards the area. Everyone discovered that the mass was actually a swarm of angry Scyther, their blades gleaming like their furious eyes. Launching themselves at the cage, the balloon, and even at Team Rocket, the Scyther made noise as an all-out melee began. Stunned by the sudden turn of events, Ash, Misty, Brock and Jack could only watch. Team Rocket were busily trying to fight the Scyther off, when suddenly a shocked cry rang out. One of the Scyther had landed its claw on the electrocution control panel, and was getting some shock treatment. Completely drained, the Scyther fell unconscious. The control panel fizzled a bit, then choked and died.
"Arboking, go!" Sensing that the situation wasn't exactly good, Jessie released the King Cobra out of its Pokeball. "Poison Sting attack!"
"CHARBO..." The horrifying monster reared its head, and fired the deadly needles.
"OW! NOT AT ME, IDIOT!" Jessie screamed as some of the needles scratched her face. "AIM DOWN THERE!" Curling down, Arboking fired more of its Poison Stingers, taking down quite a number of Scyther. Grabbing a few Pokeballs, Jessie flung them at the fallen Mantis Pokemon...
CLANG! The Pokeballs came flying back, hitting Jessie squarely on the face. Looking down, she spied Jack standing on the ground, sword in his hand.
Tensing, Jack leapt into the air once more. Aided by two Scyther, he caught onto an empty spot of the cage and began the slashing sequence with the other Scyther.
"Slypno, come out!" Butch commanded as the Nightmare Pokemon emerged. Though it had no crystal ball, its psychic powers were still strong. "Poison Gas!"
The deadly fumes wafted downwards, choking Jack and the Scyther. The Pokemon inside the cage were meanwhile still tending to the mirrored attack hybrid, when suddenly a glaring glow shone through the Poison Gas cloud.
Trying to see past the cloud, Jack squinted to see what was going on. Suddenly, a few Scyther grabbed him from behind, just as the cage exploded in a sphere of energy...
"I get it!" exclaimed Brock. "Although the cage is mirrored, Heracross' Counter and Corsola's Mirror Coat double the effect of attacks, so the effect kept doubling! Heracross' Leer was within the mixture, which lowered the Defence of the cage! In addition, the Scyther, Jack and the attack hybrid further weakened the cage, so it disintegrated!"
"Yes, but what about the Pokemon?" asked Ash, worried. Unable to get back in their Pokeballs, Corsola and Cyndaquil flung about helplessly. Pikachu and Togepi were equally terrified, and they didn't even have Pokeballs to start with. Luckily, Heracross grabbed Pikachu and Togepi, and Crobat caught Corsola and Cyndaquil. The other Pokeballs simply dropped onto the ground, releasing their occupants with the light touch of the floor.
"Hey! Everybody's safe!" shouted Misty with relief. "That's great, because now we can take down that balloon! Charizard, Pidgeot, Butterfree, Noctowl, and Heracross -- go help the Scyther!" Ash ordered. "You too, Crobat, give them some air support!" The six flying Pokemon nodded, and flew up to the balloon where Team Rocket's remaining Pokemon had already been released. Arboking was trying to shake off the Scyther on its tail; Threezing tried to belch away the attacking Mantises on all three of its heads; Vampirat was desperately wrestling with several Scyther and Slypno was trying to defend itself as some Scyther Fury Cut away at its Barrier. As for Victreebel, Primeape, Wobbuffet, Houndour and Hitmontop, they were been tossed about like basketballs.
"Let's get away while we still can," urged Jessie. "Roger that," James affirmed. He reached for the button that read "Rocket Getaway Sequence"...
"NOOOOO!!!" Jack leapt from the Scyther holding him, sword poised for attack. Everyone looked at him as time seemed to slow down.
Decisively, the samurai plunged the sword, deep into the centre of the Persian crystal. A crack announced that the sword had pierced through its cover.
Glowing a blinding vermillion, the crystal began to break apart, about to explode. Quickly, the Scyther and all of Ash's and Brock's Pokemon leapt off the balloon, including Jack. Team Rocket's Pokemon were too weak and stunned to realise that the balloon was about to self-destruct...
Far away in the city, Officer Jenny was going about on her rounds as she noted a column of smoke rise in the distance and a flying spot travelling higher into the sky. Straining her ears, she thought she had heard something, or someone, scream,...
"Looks like Team Rocket's blasting off again...!!!"
Firmly, she barked orders into her walkie-talkie.
Fifteen minutes later, after Jenny, Joy and some human-Pokemon backup had arrived at the scene, Joy peered under the wings of a very familiar Scyther.
"Yep. This is definitely the Scyther that went missing from the Centre." Ash and company looked at each other in confusion and wonderment.
"This symbol signifies the royalty mark of the monarchy ruling over the Scythian Race, a secretive group of Scyther living deep in the forests near here," Joy explained. "It would be quite safe to assume that he had escaped in the confusion to return back to his domain and Pokemon..." she went on as she looked under the wings of another smaller Scyther. "...and his descendant had come to aid him in your fight against Team Rocket."
As the ex-king Scyther looked at Jack, he smiled. Thanks to Jack, he had been returned to his people, and now he could rule over them in prosperity and joy like before... or would he?
Unlike the previous trainer he had been under, Jack was the full embodiment of what a Pokemon trainer really should be. He felt secure under Jack's prescence, and somehow felt inclined to be his new Pokemon...
"Scy?" (Father?)
"Scyther, scyther scy?" (What is it, Shuri?)
"Scyther scyther scyther scy?" (Are you thinking of...) The ex-king Scyther looked at Jack, at Shuri, then back again twice and bowed his head.
"Scy. Scyther scyther scyther scyther." (Yes. I have decided to join Jack in his quest.) At her father's answer Shuri nearly fell back in shock, then gazed at her father. "Scy..." (Oh, father...) A tear glided down the left side of Shuri's face as she brought her father into a hug. Now that they would be separated again.
"Scyther, scyther." (I'm sorry, Shuri.)
"Scyther scyther, scyther scy scy scyther..." (It's okay. There's no need to apologise...) Shuri wiped her tears away and looked at her father.
"Scyther scyther scyther." (Just take care of yourself.)
"Scyther." (I will.) Shuri's father smiled assuringly at her. Shuri smiled back.
"Er... can somebody tell me what's going on?" Ash scratched his head, as clueless as all the humans who witnessed the touching scene as to what was going on. They soon began to understand as Shuri's father bowed down in front of Jack, his claws held in the 'X' position.
"It looks like you've got a new Pokemon, Jack." Another familiar voice appeared from behind, and everyone turned back to see who it was.
"Professor Oak?!"
"That's right, Misty. I came by to see Professor Elm who was in the area, and heard that you were nearby, so I decided to see what was going on. Don't worry, Officer Jenny told me everything." The old professor smiled at Jack.
"I... I..." Jack was entirely stunned. He had been a samurai all his life; how was he going to adapt to the role of a Pokemon trainer?
"You can do it, Jack!" Ash suddenly said.
"Yeah, you can do it!" chipped in Misty.
"Don't worry, we'll teach you all we know and give you our fullest support!" said Brock, giving him the thumbs-up.
Deep in thought, Jack closed his eyes before opening them and announcing his decision.
"I... accept." Cheers rang out among humans and Scyther as the message was passed.
"Excellent." Professor Oak took a Pokeball out of his laboratory coat pocket and placed it in Jack's hand. "This is a Pokeball, used to catch Pokemon in for transport anywhere, anytime. You can use this to hold Scyther when you're travelling."
"What do I do with it?"
"Just throw it at him, and if the light beacon goes off, it means you've got a new Pokemon."
"I'll do my best." From a short distance away, Jack aimed, and threw the red and white ball at the Scyther, who was captured in its brilliant light. The ball vibrated for awhile, then stopped. Once more cheers rang out as everyone celebrated Jack's new position.
Goodbye, Father. Shuri gazed at the humans for one last time before taking back into the skies. The rest of the Scyther followed suit as they flew back into the forest.
The next day, Ash and gang left town, headed for the next city on the map. Jack was beaming more than usual, and he had a new addition besides his sword by his waist.
It was the beginning of a long, true, friendship.
TO BE CONTINUED...
Author's Note:
At this point I would like to thank all the people who did review this fic. It has been a year since it was last updated, and I almost gave up on it due to writer's block. Many things have indeed changed, including my life itself and my writing style. Fanfiction almost disappeared from my mind if not for the SARS outbreak, which gave me time to re-explore fanfiction. Having written some Codename: Kids Next Door fanfics I eventually moved back to this fic after some discussion sessions with Mikazuchi, the author of Pokemon: Ultimate Adventures.
Once again, I would like to give my thanks to all reviewers. Thanks to your support, the Pokemon Adventures of Samurai Jack is back online.
-- Arcanine