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Pokemon, Asylum of the Damned

Chapter XVII

Saga V- Voltbadge Saga

Chapter II- Electeriffic

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Tom and Porygon stood outside the towering Ionica City Pokemon Gym. "Ready, 
Porygon?" Tom asked his Pokemon.

Porygon quickly nodded once and said, "Le-t's do it."

The gym was brightly lit inside, so bright that it nearly blinded Tom as he 
and Porygon walked down the wide halls, looking for the gym leader. 
Suddenly, a blast of electricity shot down from out of nowhere, striking the 
ground inches from Tom's foot. Jumping back in surprise, Tom looked where 
the electricity hit the floor, leavign a smouldering black mark. Suddenly, 
Porygon said, "Up th-ere, T-om!"

Tom looked where Porygon's nose was pointing, and found a small, 
steely-looking Pokemon with two magnets jutting out of its sides, gently 
floating in the air.

"Magnemite," it said. Tom pulled out his Pokedex, and aimed it at the 
creature.

"Magnemite, the Magnet Pokemon." Tom's Pokedex said. "Using its two magnets, 
it can generate bolts of electricity, which it fires at its opponents. Its 
steel-like body can withstand most attack. Strangely, this Pokemon is 
attracted to electromagnetic waves. Magnemite are one of the few Pokemon who 
have no gender. Because of this, their origin is still unknown."

Then, the Magnemite charged up another Thunderbolt between its two magnets, 
when a faint voice called to it. "That's enough Magnemite, fall back." Tom 
and Porygon turned to see who had spoken to the magnet Pokemon. In the 
middle of the hall stood a young girl, looking up at Magnemite. "I said, 
stop attacking."

Her bright blonde long hair hung down near to her waist, and her bright blue 
eyes quickly connected with Tom's as Magnemite fell still.

"Magnemite," the Pokemon obeyed, backing off and disappearing into the 
depths of the gym.

"I'm sorry about that," the girl said walking towards Tom and Porygon, 
"Magnemite can be quite protective of this gym sometimes. Oh, by the way, my 
name's Ampre." She extended her hand towards Tom.

Tom extended his own and shook hers. "Mine's Tom." He said. "Hey, are you 
the Gym leader here?" Tom asked.

Ampre nodded. "Mmm-hmm. Why? You want a battle?" she asked.

Tom nodded. "Why else would I be here?"

"Well if you want a fight," said Ampre, "you've got one. Since it's my Gym, 
we battle under my rules. Best out of three, okay?"

"Whatever you want."

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Tom with Porygon stood on their sides of the battlefield. Tom, being the 
challenger, had to send out his Pokemon first. Plucking a ball from his 
belt, Tom quickly opened it up. "Go, Quilava!" The red mass of energy 
shooting from the ball solidified into Tom's Quilava.

Ampre brushed her hair aside with her fingers, and brought it back with a 
Pokeball in her hand.

"Go, Chinchou!" Ampre's Pokemon materialized into a strange, blue Pokemon. 
Tom pulled out his Pokedex again.

"Chinchou, the angler Pokemon. It's two antennae shoot both positive and 
negative electricity between them. It uses this electricity to shoot at 
enemies when attacked. This Pokemon is a strange combination of water and 
electric types."

"Water and Electric, huh?" Tom thought to himself. "That could be a problem 
for Quilava, better not use fire attacks." focusing on the battle, Tom 
ordered, "Quilava, Strength!"

"Chinchou, Hydro Pump!" Ampre commanded.

At Tom's comman, Quilava reared up before charging at Chinchou. As soon as 
Quilava neared Chinchou, Chinchou shot out a powerful blast of water from 
his mouth, blasting onto Quilava. The hissing of extinguishing fires filled 
the air as Quilava fell over, defeated.

"Dammit," Tom muttered under his breath. "Quilava, return!" Tom said as he 
zapped Quilava back inside her Pokeball. Ampre returned Chinchou back to his 
Pokeball.

Tom looked at Porygon. "Go for it, Porygon!" He said. Porygon nodded once, 
and drove out to the battlefield. Ampre plucked another Pokeball from behind 
her, and let out the Pokemon inside.

"Ele-bruu!" he said.

"Electabuzz, the electric Pokemon, the evolved form of Elekid." Tom's 
Pokedex said. "Using its natural electric abilities, it can shoot out 
powerful blasts of electricity. Electabuzz are usually found hanging around 
near sources of great electricity. However, for reasons unknown, Electabuzz 
hate the color red, and they will charge anything red relentlessly."

"Porygon, Tri-Attack!" Tom commanded.

"Electabuzz, Thunderpunch!" Ampre ordered.

Electabuzz pulled back his fist and channeled electricity into it, letting 
it spray sparks everywhere. Porygon's nose began to glow a red hue, his left 
foot began to glow an icy blue, while his right foot began to glow a 
yellowish tint as Electabuzz charged at Porygon hitting him with his 
electric fist. The blow sent Porygon skidding back a few feet, with Porygon 
soon regaining balance. As soon as Electabuzz wound back another fist, 
Porygon shot a blast of fire from his nose, a beam of ice from his left 
foot, and a blast of electricity from his right foot. All three beams hit 
Electabuzz dead on, with the Ice Beam hitting Electabuzz's shoulder. Soon, 
Electabuzz was completely encased in ice, collapsing clumsily to the floor.

Ampre groaned. "Pretty good," shwesaid, zapping Electabuzz back inside his 
Pokeball. Porygon drove back to Tom.

Ampre pulled another Pokeball mysteriously from out of nowhere and opened it 
up, the red mass of energy shooting from the ball quickly forming into a 
Pokemon. Tom pulled out his Pokedex again.

"Ampharos, the Beacon Pokemon. The evolved form of Mareep, following its 
Flaaffy stage." Tom's Pokedex said. Tom put his Pokedex back in his jacket 
pocket.

Porygon nudged Tom's leg. "To-m, tha-t Am-pha-ro-s l-oo-ks ve-ry tou-gh," 
Porygon said.

Tom nodded. "Yeah. I bet it's on a pretty high level, too. So that's why..." 
Tom trailed off as he plucked a Pokeball from his belt, and opened it up, 
"...I'm choosing you, Machoke!" Tom said, as the Pokeball opened, letting 
out Machoke.

"Ma, choke." Machoke grumbled.

A smug grin smeared across Tom's face. "Alright Machoke, Ice Punch!" Tom 
commanded.

Machoke yawned, grumbled some more, and sat down. Tom's jaw could have 
dropped to the floor. "Machoke! Ice Punch!" Tom pleaded. Machoke yawned 
again, ignoring Tom.

Ampre chuckled. "I see he doesn't think much of you, Tom." She taunted.

Tom ignored Ampre and continued to beg Machoke. "Please Machoke? Ice Punch? 
Please?" Tom's pleas fell onto Machoke's closed ears. Tom slumped to his 
knees, disgraced.

Ampre rolled her eyes. "This one's over."

Tom hung his head low. She was right. He had lost by default. "Machoke 
return!" Tom muttered angrily as he zapped his lazy Pokemon back inside his 
Pokeball. Tom got back to his feet.

"Too bad Tom," Ampre said, "You could've beaten me." Tom was too ashamed to 
even speak. "You're welcome to try again sometime," she said. "Until then, 
talk with that Machoke," she said as Tom made his way back to the Pokemon 
center.

-End

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