Chapter 2

* * *

We arrive at the scene of the crime. Large red fire trucks hose down the remaining fire, where as the plentiful ambulances escort the injured to the Pallet City Hospital.

"Wonder what happened here?" Rachel questions herself.

"Go ask." I suggested. I found a nice unoccupied bench and sat down.

"I will." Rachel declares marching off. I watched as she burrowed her way through the crowd until the masses of people flooded her from view.

<Whatcha look’n at? > Phobias asks.

"Nothing." I reply. "Nothing at all."

Phobias’ eyes narrow as a sinister smile stretches across his face.

* * *

"Some sort of bomb." Rachel explains, "Made of sugar and weed killer."

"Napalm." I reply.

"Hmm?" She asks.

"When you mix sugar and weed killer together, it makes an explosive called Napalm." I explain.

"Wait… How do you know this." Rachel questions.

I shrug in return.

"Welllllll…" Rachel continues, "They said that the Professor was killed in the explosion, along with everyone else in the building."

"So what do we do now?" I ask.

"Our best bet would be to head to Viridian, and from there we’ll decide what’s next." Rachel replies.

"Fine." I return.

"Fine." Rachel replies

<Fine> Phobias interjects into our minds, smiling.

* * *

"Go Golduck." Rachel orders.

We had stopped at a pond for the night, and we were just getting in some training before we’d sleep.

"You’re up Phobias." I ordered.

"Golduck, Water Gun." Rachel orders.

"Redirect." I counter.

Phobias thrusts his hands forward, turning the column of water back to the Golduck. The Column of pressurized water shoots into Golduck’s stomach, knocking the wind out of it.

"Brain Freeze." I order.

Phobias’ eyes glow a mysterious blue, as his body takes on the same blue glow. Golduck cringes as he rubs his forehead as hard as he can, screaming all the way.

"Thunder Punch." I command.

Phobias charges forward, his hands crackling with electricity. Two electric punches slam into the brain frozen Golduck’s stomach, rendering him unconscious.

"Golduck, return." Rachel sighs in defeat.

"That’s all?" I ask.

"My other two are no match for you’re Kadabra." Rachel admits.

"Well, what else do you have?" I question.

"A Squirtle, and a Horsea." She replies. "And you."

"Besides Phobias, I’ve got a Drowzee." I answer.

* * *

The Next Morning

I wake up to the unfamiliar sounds of the wild. No cursing. No traffic. No Gun shots. Just the sounds of nature. I glance over at Rachel. She’s sprawled out on the ground, breathing pretty heavily.

Anyway, I pack up my stuff and continue through the woods, Phobias floating behind me.

<Why’d you leave? > Phobias questions. I ignore him and continue my trek.

"Hey kid." A voice calls out, "I challenge you to a battle."

"For what money or TMs?" I ask.

"Money." He responds. "How about 25 bucks."

"Deal." I return.

A sinister smile forms on his face as he calls out his first pokemon, "Go Sneasel."

"Phobias, you’re up." I order.

Phobias nods as he takes a battle stance.

"Sneasel, Faint Attack." The boy orders. Sneasel’s body fades from view.

"Fly." I calmly order.

Phobias Teleports himself above the battleground.

"Foresight." I order.

Phobias extends his arms out, his hands glowing a faint red. The outline of a Sneasel takes form.

"Extreme Speed." I command.

Phobias launches himself earthward, surpassing the speed of light. A sickening crack responds to the completed attack. The Sneasel lay on the ground motionless.

"Is… he dead." The boy asks.

I walk over and feel the dark Pokemon’s pulse. "No. He’s still alive." I answer. "Now I think you owe me 25 bucks."

The boy walks over and hands me a 20 and a 5. "Thanks for the battle." He replies.

"Sure kid." I return.

Meanwhile…

Two dark figures rest quietly in a tree, watching a battle between a Sneasel and Kadabra. The Kadabra’s trainer orders it to use an Extreme Speed attack to finish the battle, and it does just that.

"This boy could be of great use to us." One of the figures state.

"He IS pretty powerful. Maybe would should pay him a visit." The other returns

"Maybe." A third figure decides, joining the other two. His eyes glow a satanic Red, and although it wasn’t visible, a smile was definitely plastered on to his face.