Chapter Three: Transform "What in God's name...?" Eric asked. "Let's go back to Pallet," Thomas suggested. "I'd rather take my chances with Sunder Force." The huge Arbok was slithering towards the town, a rather annoyed look on it's face. The giant snake Pokémon was intent on trashing Viridian City. "It just looked at us," Leah announced. "It's coming!" Heidi shrieked. Jigglypuff shrieked as well. "I'll deal with this!" Lauren declared. She disappeared inside a nearby building. She came out a moment later on the roof. "Ditto, go!" "That pink thing against that giant snake?" Pittman asked. "Are you crazy?" "Just watch! Ditto- TRANSFORM!" It took a few seconds, but Ditto successfully mutated into the giant Arbok! "Ditto, Skull Bash! Knock it out of here!" Ditto charged at the enemy Arbok and smashed it in the underbelly. Attempting to keep it out of Viridian, Ditto blocked the way, and whapped it with it's tail. Arbok opened up with Poison Sting, but the poisonous needles were like mere pinpricks on Ditto's giant snake hide. Ditto dove for it's middle with a giant Bite move. Arbok howled, but chomped down on Ditto's neck. "Ditto, Counter!" Lauren shouted. Ditto ripped itself away from Arbok and gave it a head butt from below. Both giant snakes were wounded. Black poisonous blood ran down their bodies. "Will Ditto be okay?" Heidi asked. "It should," Eric told her. Arbok smacked Ditto across the head with it's tail, then dove at it with Bite again. Ditto dodged the move and Wrapped the snake up, then bit it again! "You know, it would be funnier if Ditto bit itself," Thomas stated. Leah hit him. "This is serious!" she scolded. "Ditto might be winning," Robert announced as the imitation snake gave it a thrashing. As he spoke, however, Arbok managed to shake Ditto loose and actually threw it! Landing with a crash, Ditto quickly righted itself and spat a blob of burning Acid at Arbok. While normally the Poison attack would be ineffective on a Poison Pokémon, Ditto managed to nail Arbok's body wound. Arbok Screeched in pain. The trainers on the ground had to cover their ears. While Arbok was recovering, Ditto grabbed it with the end of it's tail and Slammed it on the ground repeatedly. It Wrapped it again, and with one final Bite, bit the evil demon snake clear in half! The two parts vanished as they struck the ground with a crash. "Ditto, Reform!" Lauren shouted. Again, it took a moment, but Ditto became it's old self again. However, it was extremely weak. "Return!" A helicopter landed nearby. Uiru jumped out of it. "Hey!" he shouted. "Where'd the Arbok go?" "I defeated it!" Lauren shouted back. "You mean we're too late?" he asked. A crowd was forming nearby. "These guys over here just beat the Arbok," someone shouted to the masses. "And those guys over in the helicopter kicked the crap out of a titanic Ninetails this morning!" The rest of the trainers filed out of the chopper. "Okay, I'm confused," Uiru announced. The two groups of young trainers didn't get a chance to properly introduce themselves until much later at the Viridian Pokémon Center. "You're from where?" Leah asked. "Charteruse City," Allison repeated. "The seven of us are all from Cinnibar Island," Eric told Uiru. "That's the island a ways south from here, right?" Uiru asked. He had been looking at a map of the area. Eric nodded. Jessica picked up Jigglypuff. "I've never seen this Pokémon before. It's so cute!" Heidi laughed. "It's my Jigglypuff! It's really powerful!" "Really? What can it do?" "It can put anybody to sleep with it's song! It can also lock out enemy moves, shield itself from magic attacks, and has some really strong physicial attacks!" "Wow, it sounds like you've a great trainer." "I am! But Eric helps me a lot." Robert looked at him. "You help train that pathetic balloon?" "It's not-" Eric started. "It's not a pathetic balloon!" Heidi shouted. "It could beat any of your wimpy Flying Pokémon into the ground!" Silence fell as the challenge was issued. "Okay, outside!" Robert shouted. "Nobody insults my Flying Pokémon." Leah laughed. "Don't you think you're overreacting slightly? She's just a kid." "No," Robert replied. Heidi and Jigglypuff stomped outside. Robert followed her. "One on one!" Heidi shouted. "My Jigglypuff against your 'best' Flying type!" "All right then! Farfetch'd, attack!" "Jigglypuff, go!" The others sat back to watch the battle. "Farfetch'd, Sky Attack!" Robert shouted. Farfetch'd ultimate attack would destroy Jigglypuff. Although it was incredibly difficult teaching it to Farfetch'd, for some reason. Farfetch'd began to glow! "Jigglypuff, Disable!" Heidi ordered. Jigglypuff glowed pink, and then Farfetch'd squawked in surprise. It couldn't finish the attack! Both Robert and Farfetch'd were temporarily stunned, so Heidi launched an all-out offensive. "Body Slam, Jigglypuff!" Jigglypuff tackled the confused bird Pokémon. Then it jumped up in the air and delivered a Jump Kick! Farfetch'd landed with a crash, and Jigglypuff finished it's killer combo with a Mega Punch from the air. "You're getting pounded by a nine-year-old," Eric reminded Robert. "Shut up! Farfetch'd, you okay?" Farfetch'd knew if it lost, it and it's trainer would be horribly disgraced. It pulled itself to it's feet and squawked a battle cry. "All right! Swords Dance, Farfetch'd! Counter!" "Jigglypuff, Pound!" Jigglypuff ran at the powered-up Farfetch'd, but it smacked it with it's leek twig, knocking it away. Farfetch'd went after it, giving it a severe thrashing. "Low Kick!" Heidi shouted. Jigglypuff hit it with a sweep kick, knocking it over. Then, rearing back, it delivered a Mega Kick to the bird's backside! Farfetch'd was getting mad now. It caught itself in midair and dove at Jigglypuff, Slashing with it's minisword. Jigglypuff tried to Counterattack but Farfetch'd was too fast. "Jigglypuff, Agility!" Heidi ordered. The next time Farfetch'd dove at Jigglypuff, it jumped back. Then, showing it's newfound speed, it rolled under the swooping Farfetch'd and struck it with a Rolling Kick! Almost in the same instant, it was after the duck with a Jump Kick. Farfetch'd parried the attack and pounded Jigglypuff with the stick while it delivered power punch after power kick. Jigglypuff dodged a terrific swing from Farfetch'd and rushed in with Double Edge. The attack was powerful enough to finish off Farfetch'd but Jigglypuff was severely weakened as well. The tired Jigglypuff returned to Heidi, who scooped it up with a shout of joy. "Still think it's a pathetic balloon?" she taunted. Seething with rage, Robert recalled Farfetch'd and stomped into the Center to heal it. "I said it was strong," Eric said as he passed. "Shut up." Jigglypuff got some food and went to bed early. "Doesn't it sleep in your Poké Ball?" Allison asked Heidi. "No," she answered. "Jigglypuff doesn't like it in there. It stays with me all the time." Matt and Patrick were trying to cheer Robert up. "Your Farfetch'd fought really hard," Matt told him. "Most Pokémon couldn't take half the beating it took." "And you almost blasted Jigglypuff away!" Patrick added. "I've heard they've got a ton of health. Draining their power takes a lot of effort." "She's still a little kid," Robert scowled. "Eric will never shut up about this one." "So challenge him," Patrick suggested. "Nah, all his Pokémon are masters of attacks Jigglypuff used. He did help train the stupid thing." Matt nodded. "Disable is a very useful attack. Agility is very powerful as well." Robert nodded as well. "Eric's Pokémon have those powers and more. With their Psychic power, my Flying types can't get close to them, and even if I did land a hit, he'd use Recover." "What do you have?" Patrick asked. "I've got Farfetch'd, Scyther, Pidgeotto and Fearow," Robert replied. "Cool. I've got Venusaur, Victreebel, Vileplume, Exeggutor, Tangela and Parasect," Matt stated. "And I have Butterfree, Beedrill, Scyther, Pincir, Parasect and Venomoth," Patrick finished. "Might as well get this over with now," Matt stated. He pointed around the room. "Geoff over there has Dragonair, Kadabra, Nidorino, Scyther, Gyarados and Arcanine. Jessica uses Machoke, Haunter, Marowak, Starmie, Scyther and Electabuzz. Erin has Weezing, Arbok, Muk, Nidorino, Nidorina, and Hypno." Patrick continued. "Nick has Omanyte, Horsea, Squirtle, Golduck, Tentacruel, and Kingler. Allison has Arcanine, Kabutops, Beedrill, Primeape, Magneton and Dugtrio. And Uiru has Butterfree, Sandslash, Blastoise, Raichu and Kadabra." "Only five?" Robert asked. "Yeah. He hasn't decided what he wants as his sixth yet," Matt replied. "Ah," Robert said. "Pittman has Golduck, Ivysaur, Graveler and his pet Meowth. Leah has Cubone, Sandshrew and Onix. Eric has Mr. Mime, Staryu, Abra and Butterfree. Lauren has Ditto, Charmeleon, Kadabra, Exeggcute, Electrode and Vaporeon. Thomas has Wartortle, Rhyhorn, Victreebel, Dodrio, Kaunter, and Primeape. And Heidi has Jigglypuff." "Well, now that the exposition's over..." Patrick started. Matt noticed Uiru holding the door for Jessica. "Oh, there he goes again." "What?" Robert asked. "Uiru's going out with Jessica again." Matt laughed. "If you think you have it bad with Eric now, it can't be worse then the hell Nick puts them through. He doesn't let up." "I aim to please," Nick spoke up. He came up to them. "I'm taking a poll. If you think Jessica is the cutest thing in all creation, say aye." "Aye," Matt and Patrick answered. Robert shrugged. "She's all right," he replied. "She seems too nice for my likings though." Matt laughed again. "You've never seen her on a bad day," he informed Robert. "She almost killed Nick with a broken broom handle once, after she missed trying to crack it over his head." Robert's gloom finally cracked, and he laughed. "What did you do?" he asked. "Made one too many remarks about their... personal activities," Nick grinned. "OOH... Really?" Robert asked. "No, of course not," Patrick replied. "They're like fifteen." Across the room, Leah, Erin, Lauren and Allison sat looking at them. "What do you think they're talking about?" Erin asked. "Girls," Allison answered. "At least Nick is, the dirty minded perv." "It's a well known fact," Leah started, "that when four or more males gather, they talk about women." Eric poked his two cents worth into the conversation. "And when four or more females gather, they talk about men, correct?" A few hours later, Uiru and Jessica were on their way back to the Center when Lauren ran up to them. She was clearly upset about something. "Uiru!" she shouted. "Sunder just called the Center. He's in the middle of Viridian Forest, and wants to battle!" "Take us to him!" Uiru declared. "Uiru!" Jessica intrrupted. "All our Pokémon are being recharged at the Center, remember?" "Oh... right." "You guys run back and get your Pokémon. I'll go start the party, okay?" "Okay. Be careful!" Uiru warned. On the way back to the Center, Jessica looked at him. "You're starting to sound like Booster. 'Be careful' this, 'Be careful' that." "Oh be quiet." The other twelve trainers stampeded up to them. "Did you see Lauren?" Thomas asked. "Yeah, she's on her way to battle Sunder," Uiru replied. "What kind of crap did she feed you?" Eric shouted. "She's not on her way to battle him- she's probably going to give him our Pokémon!" "What?!" Jessica's eyes lit up like fire. "She's got our Pokémon?!" Allison handed her four Poké Balls. "Here," she said. "Machoke and Haunter are gone." Matt gave Uiru his four. "She took Kadabra," he reported. "Into the woods!" Uiru declared. As one, the fourteen trainers charged into Viridian Forest. Lauren laughed as she ran through the woods. What a haul! Twelve Pokémon from those idiots. It wasn't just random though- Sunder had instructed her specifically to get Uiru's Kadabra, Geoff's Dragonair, as well as Robert's Scyther and Pittman's Golduck. And, of course, as many others as she could carry. She would have gotten the Jigglypuff as well, but it wasn't in a Poké Ball and she didn't have time to look for one. Since it was nighttime, it was even more difficult to navigate Viridian Forest. "No time to guess! Abra, come out!" Eric shouted. His Mr. Mime had been pinched. "Lead us to that little bitch!" Abra's PSY powers quickly detected her, and it ran down the path. The others followed. It wasn't long before they caught up with the young girl. "Lauren, stop!" Leah shouted. She ignored her. "She's not getting away with my Pincir! Butterfree, Venomoth! String Shot!" Patrick called his butterfly Pokémon to stop Lauren. The sticky goop hit her, causing her to drop some of the Poké Balls. She quickly grabbed a few and continued running. "Who owns these?" Nick asked as he grabbed them. "We'll figure it out later!" Thomas shouted. Butterfree and Venomoth flew ahead of Lauren, then turned and dove straight at her. The agile little thief dodged both Tackles, but the others were catching up. Lauren burst into a clearing. In the middle of the small field was Sunder, sitting in a helicopter. She jumped in. The engine started and the rotor blades began turning. It began to take off! "They're not getting away!" Matt swore. "Venusaur, Victreebel! Vine Whip that chopper!" While Venusaur grabbed it with it's many vines, Victreebel sent one around Venusaur and one around a nearby tree. "Sandshrew, Cubone!" Leah shouted. Her Onix was gone. "Climb the vines!" The helicopter suddenly discharged an electric shock! The jolt ran through the vines and zapped Venusaur and Victreebel. Cubone and Sandshrew fell to the ground. "Shit! Marowak, go! Bonemerang, quick!" Jessica called her evolved form of Cubone to try to stop the chopper. It threw the bone straight at the heli, but it was stronger then it looked. It resumed course! "God DAMMIT!!" Uiru roared. "Raichu, come out! Thunder!" Although Raichu tried valiently, it missed the chopper. By now it was out of range. "DAMMIT!!" Jessica cursed. She fell to her knees. "Haunter... Machoke..." Uiru tried to comfort her. "Lauren dropped lots of Poké Balls," he told her. "Maybe you got them back." Jessica shook her head. "I know they have them..." Of the twelve Poké Balls Lauren had stolen, six were recovered. Haunter and Machoke were not among them, however. Uiru's Kadabra, Geoff's Dragonair, Pittman's Graveler and Nick's Omanyte were also gone. The Pokémon that were still out were returned. A painful silence fell. Heidi looked around. "What are you all standing around here for?!" she suddenly shouted. "If you want your Pokémon back, then let's go take them back! There's 14 of us and only one Sunder!" Jigglypuff shouted it's agreement. "That's right!" Nick agreed. "Robert, that chopper headed east. What's east from here?" "Celadon City and then Saffron City," Robert answered. "They're probably headed for Celadon," Eric announced. "There's an abandoned base there. Not many people know about it." "Back to the chopper!" Nick declared. "We'll have our Pokémon back by this time tomorrow!"