Disclaimer: Pokemon belongs to Satoshi Tajiri, Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfiction belongs to me under international copyright laws and taking it is plagiarism. Thank you. *Phantomness bows*

Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics if a pokemon talks

Chapter 3

 

            For several days, the discussions continued. Tempers ran high, as was expected. There were dozens of hot-blooded former trainers around, and no one seemed to be willing to compromise.

            Pryce shook his head, quietly listening to all the suggestions. It was difficult to be the voice of reason.

            Ash got into a dozen arguments and people kept sniping at him. Of course, some of it was jealousy, pure and simple, and when Pikachu shocked Giselle, Brawly was all for getting rid of the pokemon. It might be a spy!

            There were several black eyes and bruised knuckles when the combatants were pulled apart.

            Bruno grunted. “You kids stay put! We have enough trouble without you all getting into fights!”

            The Pallet trainer looked somewhat chastened. Brawly and Wally were still mutinous, but quieted down.

            After all, no one wanted to get pounded by the muscleman.

 

            Paul presided over the meetings with a lofty air, trying to calculate if it was time to use the nuclear weapons that had been left behind.

            Why not just blast the pokemon back into submission?

            Flannery had studied pyrotechnics, and though it was not quite the same as nuclear engineering, she knew enough of history to guess that it would be a bad idea.

            Their weapons were a last resort.

            For one, the radiation would undoubtedly spread, and there was no guarantee that their base was properly shielded. The radiation would eventually kill them all, at a high enough dose, she remembered videos of people with melting skin and shuddered.

            Erika’s worries were more practical. There were still areas of Kanto and Johto that were relatively unscathed, and it was from those outposts that their foodstuffs were imported. Without their farmland and supplies, they would starve.

            Nothing would have been gained.

            Maybe the pokemon would die, but salting the earth to do so would destroy everything.

            There had to be another plan of action!

 

            It was imperative to find out what the pokemon were building, that was for certain. If there was no real threat, they would have to ignore it.

            No sense in wasting what precious few resources remained…

            The fact that pokemon might be organized was the more important concern.

 

            Several of the technicians were still trying to find information on the missing trainers. Details were sketchy at best. It was almost as though they had just vanished off the face of the earth.

            What to do…

 

            Almost ten fruitless days later, Duplica came up with an idea. For once, everyone quieted and listened as she explained her plan.

            Paul, predictably, had a complaint.

            “This is suicidal!”

            “I don’t see you volunteering, pretty-boy.” Duplica scowled at Paul. “If I can obtain the information necessary to decide our plan of action, it’s a necessary sacrifice.”

            Bruno nodded. “I agree. Out of all the people gathered here, only Duplica has the skills we need to pull off this operation.”

            “But she’ll be out there alone, and we’re not sure if the radio frequency will carry over such a long range, and…”

            “And we don’t want to spend another few months debating!” Dario snapped at him. “I don’t see you coming up with a plan!”

            They would have resorted to blows again, but luckily, Surge and Bruno managed to pry them apart.

            “Let’s not start this again.” The military man growled. “Paul, get that stick out of your ass and listen up! Duplica’s plan is risky, but it’s the best chance at information we’ve got at the moment!”

            Paul flushed with anger, but finally nodded, still seething.

 

            “Do you have the necessary supplies?” Violet asked kindly. “We still have some fabric and accessories stored at our safe house, if you need them.”

            “That would be great, Violet.” Duplica smiled. “My best bet would be to pass as a normal type.”

            “Hmm,” Pryce nodded. “That would indeed be the safest.”

            Normal-types were everywhere. No one would bat an eye at seeing another one. Plus, there wasn’t the need to rig up fake elemental attacks.

            “I think Granbull is my best bet.” Duplica said. “I shouldn’t have to talk, and it’s the only pokemon I can think of that I’m not too tall for.”

            The others began to think. Duplica was correct. Chansey, Furret, or Wigglytuff – those common pokemon were all too short, even for a short girl like Duplica to pass for. Kangaskhan or Snorlax would require extra padding.

            Granbull was a good idea.

 

            It took several days for the cutting, stitching, and fitting to be completed. When at last things were completed, even Paul had to admit that Duplica had done well. She looked exactly like a Granbull.

            “We’ll drop you off near the site on our way home.” Giselle told Duplica. “Good luck!”

            “Thank you!” The former entertainer blushed. “I’ll do my best!”

            She wished Ditto was with her. That would have been easier, but alas, Ditto had left long ago, like all the other pokemon…

           

            By the time Duplica arrived, the building was nearing completion. She stared in disbelief at the dome-like structure.

            There had to be a plan!

            It almost resembled a Coliseum, like the old stadiums in Orre. She shivered inside the costume. This would be dangerous.

            The pokemon working didn’t even bat an eye as she passed. She noticed a variety of fighting-types, and several evolved forms of pokemon that could learn strength, busy working on the building.

            Duplica continued walking inside. “I haven’t found a definite answer yet.” She whispered into the radio mike attached to her shirt. “I’ll keep looking. But it looks like they’re building a Coliseum.”

            Back at the base, the others exchanged worried looks.

 

End Fic

Completed 5/2/08

No one likes Paul. *Snickers* Plus, there are a ton of cranky humans who used to be powerful trainers locked up together. That’s not a good combination!

So, why are the pokemon building a Coliseum?