**************** Pokemon, Asylum of the Damned Chapter XIV Saga IV - Powerbadge Saga Chapter II - Random Battle **************** After his bloody battle with the rampaging Rhydon, Tom had decided to let Kangaskhan rest in his Pokeball for a while. Although Dillem's Nurse Joy had stopped Kangaskhan's internal bleeding, Tom decided another fight too soon for Kangaskhan would not be a good choice. "Hey, Porygon, were you programmed with a map on this area?" Tom asked his polygon-shaped friend. Porygon's eyes went blank, then returned. "Y-es. Wh-y?" "How far is it until Funsen?" "A-bou-t tw-en-ty fo-ur hou-rs." "Twenty four?" Tom groaned. At the rate they were going they'd get to Funsen in about a day. Suddenly, Porygon looked around. "T-om, wh-ere-'s th-at gi-rl tha-t kee-ps fo-ll-ow-ing us?" It was a good question. Ever since Tom left New Cinnabar and helped out Jen, she was nowhere to be seen. Just as Tom was passing by a cliff looking over the coastal sea, a small grayish Pokemon jumped out from in front of them. "Sneasel!" she yelled in a high-pitched, squeaky voice. Tom pulled out his Pokedex. "Sneasel, the Sharp Claw Pokemon. Its paws conceal sharp claws. If attacked, it will extend the claws to startle its enemy." Almost instantly as soon as the Pokedex said this, the Sneasel revealed it's razor-sharp claws. "Highly vicious, this Dark-type Pokemon has been known to attack anything at random," the Pokedex continued. "Approach with caution." Tom Put his Pokedex back in his jacket pocket. "A Pokemon like that could sure be useful," Tom thought, as he reached for an empty Pokeball. Tom enlarged the red-white ball, and brought his arm back. Tom, with Pokeball in hand, hurled the ball at the Sneasel. Sneasel simply further extended her claws, and smacked the ball to the ground in mid-air with lightning speed. "Sneasel!" she said vehemently. "I thi-nk yo-uv'e pi-ss-ed he-r off," Porygon suggested. And Porygon was right. Sneasel lunged at Porygon and took a wild swipe at it, a Slash attack, which sent Porygon flying backwards a few feet. The Sneasel turned to Tom. Tom knew that if he did not act fast, he'd be sliced into a pile of bloody human sushi. Without thinking, Tom staggered back and gripped any Pokeball from his belt. The ball opened, and a beam of light separated Tom and the Sneasel. The beam took the form of Hitmonlee. "Ack! Hitmonlee?" Tom gawked in surprise. "Hitmonlee return!" Tom ordered, aiming the Pokeball's return beam at his disobedient Pokemon. But Hitmonlee promptly jumped in the air, and kicked the return beam away. "Sneasel!" The attacking Pokemon screeched, and slashed Hitmonlee in the back. Hitmonlee yelped and staggered forward, trying to grip the long bleeding cut on his back. Blood was still dripping from Sneasel's claw as she crouched for another Slash. Hitmonlee turned around. "Lee," he hissed at the Sneasel. "Sneasel!" the Pokemon said, returning Hitmonlee's threat. Porygon, with a big dent on its forehead, drove up to Tom. "No-t go-od." Porygon said. "Oh?" Tom asked. "The-y see-m to not li-ke ea-ch-o-th-er ve-ry we-ll." Tom didn't think he liked the Sneasel either. Hitmonlee suddenly crouched, and sprang forward with its foot outstretched, looking to land a Jump Kick. The kick caught Sneasel in the face, Hitmonlee's clawed toes leaving a cut on Sneasel's cheek, laying down a bit of Sneasel's blood on the ground. As soon as Hitmonlee landed, Sneasel grabbed his foot, spun around sharply, and flung Hitmonlee away with a Counter attack. Hitmonlee landed a few feet away, lying close to the edge of the cliff. Hitmonlee groaned, shaking the cobwebs from his head as he slowly got up. Then Porygon spoke sharply. "T-om. The cl-i-ff!" Tom looked at the underside of the cliff, and could tell right away that the edge Hitmonlee was on was about to give way any moment. Tom wasted no time in running after his Pokemon in certain peril. As Sneasel was about to follow Tom, Porygon drove in front of her and blocked her path, making good Tom's escape to aid his Pokemon. Hitmonlee had just got to his feet. At first he did not know why Tom was running to him, but he soon found out when he took his first step. Hitmonlee screeched with surprise as the cliff groaned and gave way. "Hitmonlee!" Tom gasped, as he rushed to the cliffside. Luckily, Hitmonlee had gasped a narrow ledge left by the cliff, hanging on by his short arms. But then the rock ledge began to crack, and seconds later it began to crumble. The ledge soon broke, leaving Hitmonlee to fall to the ground countless meters down. Had it not been for Tom to grab Hitmonlee's hand at the last second, Hitmonlee's living days would be over. Hitmonlee looked at the feeble human who had saved his life as Tom struggled to keep a firm hold on Hitmonlee's hand. With a sudden respect for Tom, Hitmonlee came to a new judgment about this human. With an incredible burst of strength, Hitmonlee used Tom's arm as a slingshot and flipped himself up onto the cliff. Tom turned around. "Hitmonlee?" Tom mused. Hitmonlee turned to him. "Lee," He muttered. Tom looked at the Sneasel. Sneasel was mercilessly beating Porygon to a deformed cybernetic pulp. "Hitmonlee, Rolling Kick!" Hitmonlee rushed to Sneasel with blinding speed, leapt into the air, spun horizontally in midair, and planted his foot dead between Sneasel's eyes. Sneasel stumbled back, rubbing her bloodies face. Tom came to Porygon's side, and scooped him up and away from the two fighting beasts. "Porygon, system check," Tom told his Pokemon. "Syyyyyyyyst-em powwwww-er..." Porygon went offline before it could finish. Tom looked at Hitmonlee and his Sneasel opponent. They looked quite battered and bruised. Sneasel sported a cut on her forehead, which was steadily dribbling blood down her face. Hitmonlee's left eye was swollen and closed shut, with a bloody cut on his adjacent cheek. Hitmonlee and Sneasel crouched again, ready to pound each other again When Sneasel suddenly straightened out. She stuck out her small tongue at Hitmonlee, gave him a razz, and scampered back off into the shrub. "Lee...?" Hitmonlee asked, confused. Tom walked over to Hitmonlee, with Porygon tucked under his arm. "Good work, Hitmonlee," Tom said, praising his Pokemon's sudden obedience as he zapped Hitmonlee back in his Pokeball. With Porygon in his arms, Tom continued east to Funsen City. -End **************************