The Misdreavus Menace

Chapter Twenty-One — The Educated Pokémon

"Clefairy! Double slap!"

Daunted by its huge opponent, the small, cute Pokémon stood transfixed, staring at its opponent fearfully.

"Machoke, double kick," called out Butch, "but take it easy."

The towering fighter struck with each of its feet in turn. With the first kick the Clefairy yelped and fell down. The second sent it rolling back to Cassidy, dazed and demoralized.

"What's the matter with you?" said Cassidy. Her words were those of someone who might be concerned, but her tone held unmistakeable tinges of frustration and anger.

"Clefairy! Clefairy, fairy!" replied the creature.

"I don't know what that means, but listen to me! You're no use to me until you learn to fight. I've never had so much trouble training a Pokémon before."

"It said," came a voice from the open door of the secluded cabin, "that it's an engineer, not a gladiator."

"Meowth," replied Cassidy, "are you trying to tell me that this useless Pokémon is claiming to have an education?"

"That's right."

"Well then, let's use it for something else beside fighting," suggested Butch.

"I use my Pokémon for winning my battles," said Cassidy.

"Anyway, it's time for planning our next move," said Meowth. "Come inside."

Butch returned his Machoke to its Poké ball. Cassidy ignored her Clefairy. Rubbing its bruises, it followed her inside anyway.

Butch and Cassidy sat at a table where Giovanni was waiting. He did not waste time in initiating the proceedings.

"We have to decide our next move after taking Celadon," he said.

"How do you know they'll hand it over without a fight?" asked Butch.

"They've seen what we can do. The authorities won't take any chances after the threat I made."

"I say we take over Lavender Town next," suggested Meowth. "Once we get hold of the radio station, we've got it made. Humans'll fall for anything they hear."

Butch tried hard not to show his anger. "It's a bad idea," he said. "We should wait until we get stronger. We recruit from Celadon, train them first, then expand."

"That'll take too long," insisted Meowth. "We'll have more control and recruitment will be a lot easier once we have the radio station."

"I'm worried about spreading ourselves too thin," said Cassidy. "Clefairy, pass me the map on the other table," she ordered. "At least I can find some use for you."

"Clefairy!?" it uttered, looking at the table, perplexed.

"It's that diagram," explained Meowth, "with the pictures of the roads, towns and sea and stuff."

Cassidy rolled her eyes. That creature was obviously good for nothing. Nevertheless, it looked at the table again, quickly perceived what it was asked to retrieve, and handed it over to its mistress.

"I suppose you want a pat on the head," Cassidy said with obvious sarcasm.

"Cassidy's right," said Butch, continuing the discussion. "Look at the distance between the two towns. If we spread out too quickly, we leave Celadon undefended. They'll strike back."

"We have a weapon," said Meowth. "We can blast 'em."

"Then it'll be all-out war," replied Butch, raising his voice. "We won't win unless we grow in numbers first."

Finally Giovanni spoke. "Meowth is right. Once we have Lavender, recruiting will be much easier. Furthermore, unless we decentralize, it makes it easier for us to be surrounded. In any case, they won't risk attacking us. If they do, we shall be ready to stage another demonstration of our power. And we shall be ready to defend ourselves."

Butch seethed.