******** Pokemon, Asylum of the Damned Chapter LVI Saga XII- Exodus Saga Chapter III- Kangaskhan vs Rhydon, Round 4! ******** Tom had lost track of all time. When he checked his Pokedex for the first time since he met Sensai, it had already been a month since he landed on the island. Tom was amazed at the natural beauty of the deserted island, although he destroyed parts of it with his Pokemon's training. Tom was convinced there was a legendary Pokemon on the island, and he wanted his Pokemon to be in top shape to confront it. Some days he saw Sensai, other times he did no/, and when the did meet, Tom always asked him about a legendary Pokemon on the island. Sensai always smiled and said, "If there is one here, and I wouldn't mind at all." Tom began to grow more and more curious why the quiet old man spent his life happily on the island alone, and seemingly indifferent at the thought of a excessively powerful Pokemon sharing it. Morning came as usual, but something made Tom feel uneasy this one day. "Somethin' up?" Porygon Two asked Tom. Tom rubbed his eyes, and stepped out of his makeshift hammock. "I've just got this feeling that something's awry here on this island." "Remember the last time you got a bad feeling about something?" Porygon Two asked. "I'm trying to forget about Larry, Porygon," Tom said quickly. Porygon Two sighed. "Are you still going on about that old guy?" It asked. "I don't know," Tom muttered. "Don't you find it a little odd that he doesn't care if there is a legendary Pokemon here?" Porygon Two groaned. "Is that all you ever think about?" it moaned. "You'd be too if you lost in the Pokemon League," Tom shot back. "You didn't lose," said Porygon Two, "You quit." "Don't remind me of that either," Tom muttered bitterly. "Oh, all right," Porygon Two sighed. "Well, we've been training for almost three months straight now. D'you think we could just look for that Pokemon now and leave?" "Why would you want to leave so soon, Porygon?" Tom asked. "The air is fresh, the sky is alwayes blue, the sun is always shining-" "-And there's an angry Rhydon right behind you," Porygon Two suddenly cut in. Tom looked over his shoulder, and then groaned, "Oh, why now?" Rhydon only growled back and pointed at Tom's belt. "Guess what he wants again?" Porygon Two asked. "Again?" Tom muttered, plucking Kanagaskhan's Pokeball off of his belt. "How'd you get all the way over to this island?" Rhydon snorted a reply, and Porygon Two said, "You can swim?" Rhydon nodded and snorted again. "He says to hurry up, Tom." Tom quickly opened the Pokeball and unleashed Kangaskhan. The two giants immediately started glaring at each other heatedly. Tom saw Rhydon's eye twitch as his upper lip curled into a snarl. "Tom, back away," Porygon Two said suddenly. "But-" "I know what they're saying. Back away. Trust me." Tom began to take small steps backward, with Porygon slowly retreating as well. "What are they saying?" Tom murmured as he and Porygon backed away. "Let's just say that things are going to get fairly brutal fairly quick." No sooner had Porygon Two uttered those words, the two monsters were upon each other. Rhydon had already thrown a vicious Mega Punch on Kangaskhan's cheek, nearly knocking Kangaskhan to his knees. Just as quickly as Rhydon had attacked, Kangaskhan wound back his shoulder and landed a Dizzy Punch on Rhydon's snout. Rhydon reeled backwards, hardly able to keep himself standing. Rhydon's eyes began to glaze over, and he teetered back and forth unsteadily. Suddenly, Rhydon gave a confused moan and smacked himself hard on the cheek. After hitting himself again, Rhydon suddenly snapped out of his haze, and as soon as his vision cleared, he lunged at Kangaskhan. The Take Down attack caught Kangaskhan off guard, letting Rhydon spear his shoulder into Kangaskhan's gut, sending both titans crashing to the ground. Rhydon threw another Mega Punch into Kangaskhan's nose, only to have Kangaskhan return with another Mega Punch of his own to Rhydon's chin. The two exchanged right hands until Rhydon suddenly whirled around smashed his tail into Kangaskhan's jaw, sending Kangaskhan reeling backwards. Tom thought of coaching Kangaskhan to victory, but as he watched the furious battle between Kangaskhan and Rhydon unfold, he quickly decided that he would only be wasting his breath. Just as Kangaskhan regained his balance, Rhydon lowered his head and rushed at him, smashing his horns into Kangaskhan's stomach. The tip of Rhydon's drill buried itself into Kangaskhan's soft young pouch, with the force of Rhydon's rock-hard skull slamming into Kangaskhan's stomach enough to send Kangaskhan doubling over, wincing. Withdrawing his head from Kangaskhan's belly, Rhydon gave Kangaskhan one taunting grin before throwing another Mega Punch into Kangaskhan's gut. Spitting up a few drops of blood, Kangaskhan weezed for air as he sunk to his knees, savagely glaring at Rhydon. Rhydon lined up his arm with Kangaskhan's nose, wound it back, and threw his fist forward with all the power he could put behind it. Kangaskhan's hand flew up in a flash, catching Rhydon's fist just before it connected. And with a roar, Knagaskhan leapt to his feet and viciously yanked on Rhydon's arm, sending Rhydon crashing into the ground. Hopping over to Rhydon's head, Kangaskhan grabbed Rhydon by the ears and flung him into the air with them, sending Rhydon screeching as he landed clumsily a few meters away. Rubbing the blood off of his chin, Kangaskhan ran stampeding at Rhydon as the lumbering beast staggered back to his feet. As soon as Kangaskhan wound back his arm, Rhydon leapt forward and tackled Kangaskhan, driving both into the ground. Rhydon was standing again in a heartbeat, and he picked the dizzy Kangaskhan up by his horns along with him. Rhydon gave Kangaskhan a cruel grin before smashing his fist into Kangaskhan's nose again, sending Kangaskhan staggering backwards, barely able to keep his balance. Rhydon paused, drew back a bit, and sucked in a heavy breath. And just as soon as Kangaskhan recollected his senses, Rhydon blew all the air out of his lungs, shooting out a raging torrent of water from his mouth. Tom's jaw dropped as the powerful blast of water smashed against Kangaskhan's chest, toppling him immediately. "Rhydon can use Surf?" Tom blurted out in disbelief. "Apparently," Porygon Two murmured, equally as surprised as Tom. Kangaskhan lay on his belly, breathing heavily as he tried to catch his breath. Rhydon slowly lumbered towards him, holding his clenched fist up beside his shoulder and grinning deviantly. As soon as Rhydon grabbed Kangaskhan by the tail, Kangaskhan viciously whipped himself over, throwing Rhydon to the ground along with him. Kangaskhan threw a punch along the ground as soon as Rhydon fell, smacking Rhydon squarely in the jaw. Clambering to his knees, Kangaskhan threw his body on top of Rhydon's, crushing his adversary with a thunderous Body Slam. Rhydon howled as his spine jolted, hissing blood through his teeth as he gritted his jaws. Dragging Rhydon to his feet again by his arm, Kangaskhan wound his torso around, ready to fling Rhydon like a discus with another Seismic Toss, but when he jerked his arm, Rhydon stayed put, struggling to resist. And with a yank of his own arm, Rhydon sent Kangaskhan crashing to the ground again. Quickly mounting Kangaskhan's back, Rhydon grabbed Kangaskhan by the shoulders and began to drive his face into the dirt again and again. "Get off of him, you stupid Rhydon!" Tom yelled. Rhydon just gave Tom a gesture with his free hand that Tom never thought was possible with such stubby fingers. Finally managing to buck Rhydon off, Kangaskhan stumbled back to his feet, rubbing his bloodied lip. Rhydon struggled to his feet soon after, only to have Kangaskhan grasp him by the ears and fling him to the ground. Tom grimaced. "If only I could catch that Rhydon," he muttered wishfully. "Then why don't you?" The calm old voice from behind him made Tom spin around to see Sensai, looking placidly at him. "He's too strong," Tom murmured. "I tried it once before, and he broke out without even trying." "My boy, things change with time," Sensai said. Tom looked down at Porygon Two, and Porygon Two only shrugged. That was all the motivation Tom needed to take a Pokeball from his belt and open it up. Kangaskhan was now straddling Rhydon on the ground, and the two of them were exchanging fierce Mega Punches between them. "Kangaskhan, move out of the way!" Tom called. And as soon as there was a straight path between Tom and Rhydon, Tom wound back his arm and hurled the Pokeball at Rhydon's skull, zapping the armor-like beast inside. The ball rocked violently on the ground for only a few seconds before it burst open, spraying millions of tiny Pokeball shards everywhere. Rhydon now stood his ground again, glaring angrily at Tom. Suddenly, Rhydon rushed towards Tom, only to have his tail caught in Kangaskhan's hands, tethering him in place. Whipping around, Rhydon smashed his fist into Kangaskhan's jaw again, and the two Pokemon were again Mega Punching the other senseless. "I told you," Tom muttered to Sensai, "He's just too strong." Sensai only shook his finger and grinned. "Men cannot accomplish great things if they do not believe they can at all." Tom blinked inquizitively at Sensai, and then quickly turned his attention back to Rhydon. Rhydon and Kangaskhan were now a bloody mess, with each tired Mega Punch drawing more and more blood with each blow. Tom glanced at Sensai again, just in time for the old man to ask, "Do you believe you can?" Suddenly feeling new confidence swell up within him, Tom picked another Pokeball off of his belt. "Hey Rhydon!" Tom challenged again, "Catch!" Rhydon craned his neck in Tom's direction just as the thrown Pokeball clonked him on the nose. Rhydon was zapped inside again, and the Pokeball began to toss on the ground. The Pokeball suddenly stopped. Tom watched with anxious anticipation, waiting for it to suddenly burst open like it did before. The ball remained still, and was suddenly zapped into the air. Tom could only let his jaw drop. "I... caught him," Tom murmured in awe. "So you believe after all," Sensai chuckled. "Then many great things await you, young man." "Who is this guy?" Porygon Two whispered to Tom. Tom only gave Porygon Two a confused look in return. "Watching your Kangaskhan battle, I can tell you certainly do have a lot of skill raising Pokemon," said Sensai. "Well, thanks," Tom said, lacking anything better to say. "In fact," said Sensai, "if you don't mind, I've got a favor to ask of you." "A favor?" Tom asked. "What?" Sensai only smiled and turned away, beckoning Tom to follow him. Tom and Porygon Two glanced at each other, just as confused as the other, and then at Sensai again. Without so much as a word later, they let Sensai lead them around the island. -End.....? ******