The Otherside of Training Part Four Marlix comments: marlix86@aol.com Kalika "My feet hurt!" "Shut up Singe, you're not the only one!" "Shut up both of you, we have better things to do!" "For bloody sakes, I don't know what you're complaining about!" It was at the end of our third day walking down the route to Azalea and they were all complaining of sore feet, lack of food and being tired. I really didn't understand, but I guess that I was used to being on the road. I had well worn in shoes, a comfortable pack and actually knew how to ration my share of supplies as opposed to Singe and Marlix. By the end of the first day they were bugging Jewel and I to share. Jewel, being a softie passed them some of hers. Wrong choice. By the end of the second day, the three had been begging me to divide what was mine. Fat chance. "OK Marlix, I'll give you a tiny bit of mine if you set up the tent. I'll give you some Singe if you and the rest of Marlix's pokemon collect some firewood and Jewel if you cook." "What?!" they squawked outraged. "Child labor is illegal!" Marlix cried shaking a finger in my face. Suddenly his tummy let loose a loud growl. "Why don't you let your stomach do the talking Marcalark," I said with a smirk, jabbing his rock-hard belly. Defeated, he walked off mumbling to get the tents up before dark. Jewel whistled happily and his other Pokemon moved between the trees returning periodically with a stick or branch. When I saw Singe leaning against a tree, he claimed to be supervising. Lazy little lizard. "Oh well. Time to relax and soak up the tranquility. Come on out guys." I released my beautiful birds into the twilight at rested against a tree. Cooee hopped onto my shoulder and burst into his mysterious song he sung only at eventide. He was after all the Sunset bird. The song ended just as the sun sunk into the horizon in a crimson haze, I was barely keeping my eyes open. As I looked around, Marlix was slumped over the tent poles using them to keep up right. Jewel was head first in some sort of weird concoction and Singe, Sear, Bob and RVD were all in a pile snoring away. My birds were perched in the trees heads tucked beneath their wings Why fight it? I thought drowsily. Suddenly an explosion jolted me awake. "What the!" Marc screamed lurching to his senses. He stumbled around looking dazed. Jewel lifted her head slowly from the stew, a noodle hanging over her eyes. "Huh?" "Come on! Let's go!" I yelled with an eager grin! Finally something to do! On my journey through the Orange Island I always had something to keep me occupied whether it be a rumble with Team Rocket or some Pokemon gone scitzo and attacking the locals. "Maelstrom! Here!" The largest of my birds swooped from the trees and while still aloft on an evening thermal I leapt on. "What about us!" Marlix yelled as I soared higher. "Fine!" I whistled and Pulsar dropped down. Jewel scrambled on behind her neck and Marlix on behind her with a pleased smile. He recalled his other Pokemon and yelled, "Get on Singe!" The lizard shook his head vigorously. "Uh uh! You're not getting me on that flying turkey! It'll turn me into Charmander ala Carte! Roasted!" "Get on now or I'll make sure she will eat you!" I screamed at him impatiently. Singe frantically latched onto Marlix's jean cuffs just before Pulsar took of, her crest flaring skywards and her wings setting the night on fire. Luckily she didn't flame them, which was her habit with those she didn't know. As we soared through the air I saw the source of the explosion. A house was on fire and flames licked it eagerly. "Down there!" "I see!" he screeched in an Italian accent. He plummeted and I saw Pulsar mirror him. I laughed heartily at the swinging Singe screaming his longs out and puffing great balls of flame at my Moltres who only glared at him with hungry eyes. We came down in a smooth landing, not that it mattered to those novices of the air and was running across the distance between the house and us. "Who are you?!" purred a voice from somewhere in the shadows. "And what are you doing here?" demanded a gruffer, more gravelly voice. "Rockets!" I snarled. I knew them, they were Tanya and Paul. I couldn't believe they had followed me all the way from the Orange Islands but they would do anything to get my birds. They were little more then an annoyance. "For gawd sake haven't you learned? You can't beat me in a battle, you can't trick me, heaven forefend." "No, but we can bribe you!" Tanya stepped out from the shadows, the flames flickering across her face. A slim frame with a mass of lavender curls that cascaded down to her waist and framed her delicate heart shaped face. Large green eye glared at me vehement. Behind her Paul shoved someone to the ground in front of us. A strangled squeak alerted us it was female. Paul smirked. His hair was a dark green that hung by his ears, adorned with a single gold stud. His eyes were a sea green that studied us three with great interest. My eyes shifted to the person on the ground. Small and frail with bright pink hair hiding her facial features, she was only a little younger than us. "Give us your Pokemon or she gets it." "What makes you think I can't blast you into oblivion!" "Because, we know you wouldn't want to hurt this gorgeous young thing over here," Paul said licking her cheek, " We already have her Mareep tucked away." "Wanna be...." "Don't!" Jewel hissed grabbing my shoulder. She then declared to the Rockets, "How about a match. One on one!" "You're on!" Paul grinned. "You idiot! We can't beat Kalika!" Tanya yelled smacking upside the head. "No!" he yelled back. "Tanya and I will fight the girl and the boy, she can't interfere at all!" "Hey that's not fair! They're playing for my Pokemon! They-" "Relax Kalika, you can count on us!" Marlix declared with his cocky grin. "Don't you remember the last time I did that!" "It's OK, Kalika. Have a little faith. What ever they dish out, Simular can take it!" Jewel whisper "Hell! You don't even know what he can transform into!" "Yes I do! I've been experimenting. He does quite a few but his strongest are the Eeveelutions, even the new ones!" "Fine, but if you lose I'll kill you!" "Anyone feel a sense of Deja vu," Singe said coming up behind Marlix. He still wobbled like a drunk from his flight. "You said that last time and we're still here-" "Not for long!" I snapped grabbing him round his tiny little neck and lifting him of the ground. "Hey, cool it! I need him!" Marlix cried peeling my fingers off. Singe "Ladies first." Marlix said with a mock bow. "Figures," Jewel sighed, "Go Simular!" A small bunny standing on two legs greeted us. It's hard to believe that that pipsqueak beat Artemis, who knew how to fly unlike that dirty Moltres! She needed a good preening or ass kicking. I don't know which one she needs more. The blonde bimbo sent out a Pidgey and I couldn't help but laugh. No wonder no one took this new team Rocket serious. Suddenly the pidgey exploded. "Karaka!" Tanya screamed looking at her Pidgey. "Oh shit!" I heard Marlix mutter before he charged Jewel yelling. Then I saw the small little wobbly red dot on the back of Jewel's neck. I looked back and saw the thing Marlix called a gun. It was very far away. The way that pidgey got shot I knew Marlix wouldn't reach Jewel in time. He took an empty pokeball from his waist and beamed it at her head. A loud 'whack' sounded on contact followed by a 'thud' when Jewel fell, which was followed by a 'whoosh' as a small metallic bullet flew by narrowly missing her. It hit the female rocket right in the neck. Blood spurted out as she fell to her knees her eyes rolling toward the back of her head. "Get toward those rock formations! And hurry." Marlix said picking the unconscious Jewel up and began running in a zigzag way so as to keep the shooter confused. He hid behind the large boulder breathing heavily. The boy rocket was crying like a girl but I could understand why. "Uh, Marlix, where's Simular?" "Goddamnit," he sighed, "That shit was a sniper rifle. If I make one wrong move he'll nail me. Hey you, rocket, you have a gun?" The sobbing fool handed him the gun. Marlix turned it around and pointed it at the rocket. "Now you go get your bitch's gun and Simular and make sure you don't get shot! Now go!" he yelled shoving the barrel in his face. The frightened rocket recovered the two requested items but not before the sniper shot him in the ankle completely decapitating the foot. Marlix picked up the gun and tossed it toward Kalika. He dragged Jewel as he ran. "What about Paul?" Kalika looked at the sobbing rocket. "Leave him." "What about the girl?" "Aw, c'mon!" he sighed, "Where is she?" "I saw her by the fire, last time." I said pointing toward the burning house. "But that's out on the battlefield, that freaking guy has a freaking sniper freaking rifle!" "So... we are going have to take him out." "Take him out? Take him out? Are you crazy he's about five hundred meters away! This pistol is a simple Colt 45 it wouldn't even make it through those trees let alone hit him and even if it did-" he was cut off by the scream of the girl. He grabbed the pistol and ran toward the burning house his panting breath visible in the crisp November air. Kalika and I stayed and watched Jewel who was slowly waking up now. In what seemed like an eternity, which was really ten minutes, Marlix was back running with the girl. Bullets ricocheted off the rock wall where they were a few seconds ago. The girl wasn't hurt probably just scared of the onslaught of bullets. "I am surprised you managed to survive but somehow I don't think-" another Alpha-Iad said he was cut off as the bullet entered his brain. The girl and Kalika jumped back in shock. I stood in awe of what happened. And Marlix... Marlix held the pistol with the smoking barrel. "How could you do that? You're no better than them now..." "Relax... Look the guy was already dead. He's part of the Alpha-Iad piece of crap. Now do you know of anyway out of here?" "I have a car around back but I just turned sixteen so I only have a permit." "No worries, I'll drive." "No!" Jewel said waking up, "I'm not going anywhere with you as the driver." "Jeez, what a baby." Jewel hopped into the four-door BMW. Marlix grumbling about how he knew how to drive and that men were much better drivers than women. Which I started to believe when the sniper started shooting and Jewel was still only going about ten miles per hour on a dirt road. "Oh c'mon! I don't know how the hell you got your license!" Marlix yelled hopping out of the passenger seat and demanding Jewel move. Grudgingly she did and he entered the driver's seat and slammed his foot on the gas. The barren trees were just a blur as we sped through soon we were on the freeway. The only problem was we were on the wrong side of the road. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH "Calm down I'll just switch to the other side now." He drove the car across the freeway but he miscalculated his speed and time and ended up hitting the side of the bumper. The car did about seven flips in the air and ended up landing upside down. "Ok, ok... every one relax. And get the hell out of this car before it explodes!" Marlix said trudging through the shattered window. When we got out we ran for our lives and good thing too. After we ran a good hundred yards a loud explosion went off which we knew to be the BMW. "Hey Look! Azalea town down Exit 16. I told you I would get you here in record time Kalika." Marlix said walking down the exit leaving the young girl muttering, "My car, my car." Jewel This is just perfect! After Marlix and Kalika go to the Pokecenter and get their pokemon healed we can go to Kurt's house where I could study the ancient pokeballs used before Prof. Oak and Silph Co. made what most trainers use now. "Man, this town is dullsville." Singe said. "You got that right." Marlix sighed. "Who said you could speak, human?" "How bout you suck on my left nut?" "You must be talking to RVD, he'll prolly want to do that. He may find it a little to small for his taste, though." "Little? Is that right? My thing is bigger than you, whereas you don't have one pipsqueak." "Don't make me whip it out and smack you with it." The red lizard said jumping to the ground. "Please... you probably can't reach down to touch it. You know the term multiple orgasms... I made that. Women go crazy with me. Whereas with you... They're like 'Is it in yet' and you're already done." "Oh you did not just say that. Tell me he did not just say that." Singe said looking at me. "I'm not getting involved." I muttered as I had now come to accept these daily disturbances as usual. "Jewel doesn't want to hurt your feelings cuz she knows I'm the alpha male in this group. Ok I'm the Suicine and you're the... ... um, someone help me out here. Anyway I'm the big dog around here. You know what I mean now learn some respect and respect my flow-" "Listen!" Kalika screamed, her temple bulging, "If you talk about 'it' anymore I will shove my foot in it!" The two of them winced and grabbed their sensitive parts then Marlix's eyes lit up, "First you have to reach-" He was cut off as he ran around the Pokecenter with Kalika hot on his heels. Singe snickered when I saw a man with slick black hair dressed all in black. Boots, trench coat, shirt, sunglasses; all black. He looked like he was in his early twenties and the idea of Marlix, as an alpha male with this guy around seemed ridiculous. Wait, what am I talking about. Since when do I start comparing guys? Sure I've had some boyfriends but I only I dated them because I was too nice to say no. None of them really caught my eye like this. Not that Marlix was unattractive but how can I say it nicely. He's slightly immature and not to mention younger than me. Sure he was funny but sometimes he got to the point where he was downright obnoxious. This guy was... What the hell am I talking about? Marlix saw the guy and stopped his shenanigans. Just stopped, I had never seen anyone ever do that to him in the few months we had been travelling. The man took his glasses off and smiled. "Fancy meeting you here Marc." Marlix didn't respond. His jaw was clenched tightly and his eyes were unblinking. "No response, huh, are you still griping over what happened? I thought by now we would at least could have nice conversation." "What happened?" Kalika and Singe asked, both of them being inquisitive of the sudden mood change. "Nothing." The voice that came out was cold and menacing. Never even when he shot the Teutonic knight did he ever seem so... cold. A voice so cold that it shut-up both Kalika and Singe up and sent shivers up my spine. I knew Marlix would never hold a grudge unless something real serious happened. "Nothing? Well nothing sure has you angry Marc. You don't want to share family business. I see. Fair enough. I guess I'll be leaving. Got lots of badges to win." He looked at me and smiled, "As for you I hope we will meet again." He said bowing and kissing my hand. I blushed. He went to leave but as he passed Marlix he was grabbed by the arm and pulled into Marlix's view. They stood eye to eye staring dangerously at each other. "If you ever and I mean ever lay a hand on anyone I know again I swear to God you will lose it, Calibur." He hissed. "I'm sorry to say you don't own her Marc and she can do whatever she wants and I have a first name." "This time I'll take care of you and I could give a shit what your name is." Marlix let his arm go and he left. The awkward silence that followed was beyond strange. It was scary and I had to break it especially the way Marlix stared at me. "How bout we go to Kurt's now?" "Yeh." Singe uttered wanting to get out of this place almost as badly as I wanted. We headed out the door to talk to Kurt and later fight Bugsy for the Hive Badge." Kalika "Are you done yet? I wanna battle already! And we're spending eighty million years looking at some dumb ol pokeballs." I muttered looking at the ecstatic Jewel, bored Singe and ... Marlix. The face didn't fit him and I didn't like it so I turned back to look at the fastball. It may be useful to catch Celestial. That bloody bird always managed to fly away whenever I was about to catch it. "I can make that for you if you want." A guy that was amazingly smaller than me. "Guinness World Record! First human being shorter than Kalika!" Singe squealed with a stupid smile on his face. Marlix cracked a smile as if trying to fight it but, "I know you're right! Jewel check this guy out! He's shorter than Kalika!" "What? Where? Huh?" Now they were pissing me off and they were all being rude to this guy... but FINALLY SOMEONE'S SHORTER THAN ME. HAHA. Ok, enough... enough. "Ahem, as I was saying for a hundred dollars you can buy a specialized ball made from a special nut." "Wait a minute! Wait a minute! So that ball is made from a nut?" Marlix asked his eyes glowing like they always do when he's found his punch line. "Yes" "So there's a nut in that ball?" "Well... sort of, why?" "So does that make this pokeball a nut sack?" Both him and Singe cracked up at this point. I was about to kill him but Jewel smacked the back of his head... really hard. "Ow you stupid b..." the word that rhymes with itch was close to coming out but he caught Jewel's eyes and quickly shut-up. "Sorry my friend is mentally retarded. It is a great honor to meet you Kurt. Unfortunately we don't have enough money to buy a pokeball." "What the hell are you talking about? Singe has money but he doesn't spend it. The stingy bastard, gimme a hundred bucks right now or else." "Or else what?" "No Mickey Ds for you!" "Here! Take it," he said handing the hundred dollars to Marlix, "those fries are delicious..." The rest of the sentence was followed by a bunch of mumblings and a whole lot of drooling. Marlix gave Kurt the money and took the fastball. "Hehe" he smiled, wiggling the ball in my face. He put the ball in his book bag. Which was slung over his third leather jacket. No wonder the bloody idiot was poor buying three leather jackets for himself in a time span of two months. Not to mention Singe's. This one however was black as for me I was still dressed in my dirty white sneakers along with my plain fleece. No brand name I wasn't fixated on that as was Singe and Marlix. Despite him embarrassing me beyond belief it was good to have the good old Marcalark back. I headed toward Bugsy's gym to win my second badge. We walked through Azalea Town and gazed at their small house and the wandering Slowpoke that were so abundant in this place. We finally reached the building that had the three letters that exemplified my career 'GYM'. "Yes we're here!" I cried triumphantly, "Hey Marcalark you wanna go first?" "Nah, its cool." He stated winking at Singe. The inside of the gym was warm unlike it was outside and there were tons of trees and bushes lining the gym. Eventually we came to the opening where the battles would be held. "Hello, anyone here?" "I guess no one is-" "New challengers await you, my magnificent bugs!" "Wow that dude is homo." Marlix whispered to Singe while pointing out Azalea's Gym leader, Bugsy. He was dressed in a purple shirt with a purple Butterfree flying in a field of daisies on it and pants that even looked tight on Jewel's slim figure. Singe smiled and in a high voice chanted, "Like you know, we're here for a Gym battle and my name is like so totally awesome. I'm Singe and though I'm red my favorite color is so purply wurply. And aren't you the darnest thing I've ever seen. You're so adorable darling. Fabulous! OOO did someone say swim team? Yay!" After that his voice cracked and he fell on the floor rolling with laughter. The four of us stared at him. Bugsy stood still his face flush. "You!" he said pointing at Marlix, "You and that lizard one on one battle for the Hive Badge!" "Sweet," Marlix stated, "Go on Singe." "Go Scizor!" Marlix "I don't want to battle that thing! Look at that! That ain't no bug pokemon!" "Listen Singe if you battle, I'll get you the red leather jacket that Michael Jackson wears in the Thriller video." "You mean the one he wears when he's still black?" "Yeah the one when he was still cool!" "You're on!" Suddenly Jewel walked up to me and patted my shoulder and smiled. "You don't know a thing about pokemon, do you? If you did you would know Scizor is a steel pokemon which just happen to be weak against fire." "Oh, this should be easy Singe forget Whacko Jacko's jacket now!" "Damnit!" "But," Jewel started again, "If I were you I wouldn't take him to likely considering that's his best pokemon it should be at a high level." "Always have to spoil my fun, right Jewel." Singe entered the arena and took his position across Scizor. "Scizor Agility! Then Double Team! Followed by a Quick Attack! After which you will use your Slash!" "Huh!" Singe gulped. The pokemon split into ten different Scizors who were both moving at incredible speeds. If that wasn't bad enough all of the Scizors were attacking. Singe ran around like a maniac on crack, his arms waving frantically as he ran around the corners of the squared ring. The steel blade connected with Singes head. At contact the real Scizor returned and the images disappeared. The blade sunk in as I watched in horror. How could... No? A huge gulf of flames swallowed the Scizor from behind. His shadow disappeared in the thickness of fire. The intensity of the heat made back away. The flames died down to show a fainted Scizor with a very much alive Singe on top of him. "But? What? You were... How could? Huh?" "I learned double team! Cool, right?" he said raising his thumb, "I call that my Kamehameya Flamethrower!" "Damn Toonami!" "Cartoon Network! Alright!" "Hey you! Butterfree dude! You owe me a Hive Badge and your sign says that comes with one thousand bucks!" I said. He gave me money and his Pinsir and Scyther were quickly and quietly finished by Kalika's Pulsar. "Yes six more than I can conquer Johto!" We were in the Pokecenter relaxing so despite Kalika's cries to keep moving we decided to take a rest. Jewel lay on the couch deeply involved in her book. Kalika was out training in Ilex Forest and Singe was using his half of the money in, of course, the diner. I looked at the two badges, which were held in my hand and sighed. I put them away and turned back to look at Jewel. Her book was down on her lap as she stared at me. "Whatcha thinking bout?" "Not much." "Not much? You hardly ever think. You just blurt out whatever comes to your mind. Now you are all quiet and serious. So what's wrong?" "You really wanna know?" "Sure, this book is kinda of dragging." "Well you know Calibur?" I waited till she nodded and then continued, "His full name is Michael J. Calibur and he was my sister's boyfriend." "You have a sister?" "Had." I stated reliving the first time I heard the news, "She was found in his friend's apartment. Apparently she was... she was-" "Its ok I understand just go on." "He was found innocent in court and his friend was sent in for life." "So, that's good they caught the bastard." "I know it wasn't that man." "What?" "It was Calibur but they couldn't found enough evidence to prove him guilty." I said my anger beginning to well up again, "That's why you have to stay away from him because I can't let him do what he did..." She cut me off as she hugged me. This was great. Show weakness. I shrugged her off and made some attempt at a joke that she laughed at only because she understood I wanted to change the subject. Then the only thing that could lighten my mood came in. "Hey guys! Who wants nachos? I had cheese but I can't see where I'm going and I think I ruined some lady's pants." "How much did that cost?" I asked looking at the mountain of snacks the pipsqueak had bought. All I saw was his fiery tail wagging behind Mount Food. "Uh, how much did I have?" "You had 500 bucks." "That sounds right." "You spent 500 dollars on snacks!" "Uh, is that a bad thing?" I shook my head in disbelief and began to walk up the stairs toward my room. I over heard Singe before I entered my room. "Hey Jewel want some of my beef in your taco? OW! I didn't mean it that way! Damn it! You stupid bitch! That hurt!" "What did you call me?" "Uh nothing. Oh my God. Please no. No! No! Noooooooooooooo!" I chuckled and entered my room. I had to get my rest Goldenrod and Whitney were waiting. Author's Note: Well there it is. Once again I would like to thank Topaz. Despite some of her complaints with certain parts I feel its good. So what I say goes. Anyway as for Michael Jackson fans... The few of you who are reading this. We all know he was cool when he was black. He can still dance and everything but he just looks , scary now. I liked to thank those of you who voted for me again. And now I'm rambling cuz I just don't want to do my homework. Damn it. Peace **The author now moonwalks away**