Chapter Six: Light Screen Through sheer luck, they all managed to sneak out of the Celadon Grand without getting caught. Uiru and Jessica went to change. "So now what?" Allison asked when they got back. "Go back to Viridian, I guess," Uiru replied. "Unless something comes up." "Something's up there," Pittman pointed. "Isn't that the Fire Strike helicopter?" Nick looked. "Hey! Who's flying MY helicopter?!" It was Matt, who was trying his very best not to crash the thing. It was all over the news that the Sunder Force was on the move from Vermillion City to Saffron City. Heading up Route 6, it wouldn't be long before they were at the gates. Saffron was well defended by a large city-encompassing wall, but if Sunder Force did get in, it would be extremely difficult to get them out. In addition, their defence force wasn't all that it should be. "Everyone's all right, right?" Eric asked. The medicine they had recieved was very effective. Leah nodded. "We're just gonna block the gates, right?" "Yep. Havn't done this for a while, eh Matt?" Erin asked. "Nope. Usually we liberate towns, not defend them. Oh well. I'm just hoping I don't crash this thing into a building when we get there." "Nick will kill you," Robert stated. "I know." They landed at the southern gate. "Who're you?" one of the Saffron guards asked. "We're Fire Strike," Erin replied. "And we're friends of Fire Strike," Leah added. "I've never heard of Fire Strike," the leader informed them. "It doesn't matter," Matt replied. "The important thing is, Sunder Force is on their way with a ton of new Electric Pokémon. And we're here to help defend Saffron." The guards murmured. "You look a little young," one of the guards declared. Matt arched an eyebrow. "If you've ever helped take down a 40 foot tall Vileplume, raise your hand." The six raised their hands. "The little girl?" the guard captain asked. "You bet!" Heidi declared. Jigglypuff shrilled. "Okay, there's two ways we can do this," Thomas declared. "You guys can meet the main force head on, and we'll clean up whatever breaks through. Or, we can switch." "We'll defend the door," the guards decided. "If you're as good as you say, go out a little ways and hold them. Don't worry if some get through, we aren't novice trainers either." Eric nodded. A group of Electabuzz, Raichu and Magneton were on point. The team of about 20 were told to jump in and start the party. As they charged, they came upon Saffron's first line of defence... a Jigglypuff standing in the road. It started to sing! The Electric Pokémon knew what was about to happen. They opened fire with their electrical attacks, but they bounced right off Jigglypuff's Light Screen. They started to drop! To add insult to injury, Jigglypuff danced as it sang. Most of the Pokémon had fallen asleep! However, one Electrode had other ideas. It charged Jigglypuff, and used Explosion! Light Screen was useless defending against Explosion. Jigglypuff was blasted backwards! "Jigglypuff!" Heidi shouted. "Are you okay?" It cooed weakly in responce. "Okay Heidi, get out of the way," Eric stated. She nodded. "Good luck!" "Yo, Heidi," Robert hailed. "What?" He tossed her a Super Potion. "Here." "Thanks!" The group of Sunder Force guards passed their comatose Pokémon and the fainted Electrode. It wasn't long before they came upon the others. "Mr. Mime, Abra, go!" "Venusaur, Exeggutor, attack!" "Weezing, Muk! I choose you!" "Onix, Cubone, go!" Eric looked at Robert. "Flying," he said. "Electric is strong on Flying." "Oh." Onix started the attack by diving into the middle of the fray. Several Electrodes tried to go kamakaze on the giant rock snake's ass, but it didn't work. Sunder Force knew they could never beat the Onix, so they decided to just avoid it. Onix was rather slow, after all. "Exeggutor, Hypnosis!" Matt shouted. Exeggutor opened up with it's Sleep inducing waves. Some Pokémon fell asleep, but not many. An Electabuzz and Raichu charged up their power and shot it with Thunderbolt. Leah's Cubone dived right in and started Bone Clubbing left and right. However, the smaller Pokémon was vulnurable to the physical attacks of the Electric types. A Jolteon Quick Attacked it, but Cubone Bonemeranged it and it left it alone. Mr. Mime started shooting blasts of PSY Beam into the enemy ranks, often hitting trainers when the Electric Pokémon dodged out of the way. They attacked it but it wasn't very effective. It was about now that the enemy trainers decided to use Fire Strike's (and friends of Fire Strike's) own tactic against them. The trainers were assailed by blasts of Thunderbolt! "Damn! Onix, get back here and defend us!" Leah shouted as she jumped clear of a thunderbolt. "Cubone, Bonemerang!" With a skillful toss of the bone, Cubone belted many of the attacking Pokémon. "Vileplume, go!" Matt shouted. "Stun Spore, now!" The cloud of paralyzing spores drifted over the Electric Pokémon, adding to their problems. A few guards decided to run the barrier. Sending Electrodes straight at the party, they ran through the gap created when they dove out of the way. "Should we go after them?" Matt asked. "No, the others can handle them. There's not many," Leah replied. "I'll slow them down though! Pidgeotto, Fearow, attack!" Although the bird Pokémon were weak on Electric types, the Electric trainers didn't have that attribute. When they summoned their Electrics to fight the birds though, Robert recalled them. Abra began Teleporting into the enemy ranks, trying to confuse them. When the enemy fired at it, it would Teleport somewhere else. Often, another Electric type would get hit. Although it didn't do much damage, the Pokémon were greatly annoyed, and some Electabuzz started punching each other. Onix, annoyed at the speed at which the little creatures evaded it, unleashed an Earthquake. Although it devistated the enemy line, many of the defending Pokémon had to be recalled as well. The few Electric trainers which had gotten through came upon Heidi and Jigglypuff. "That's the girl that was with the others!" one of the trainers declared. "Grab her, we can force a surrender!" Jigglypuff jumped in front of Heidi! It slammed the man with Disable! He couldn't move! "Blast that imputent balloon!" the guards shouted. "Jolten, Electabuzz, Raichu! Thunder, all together!" a guard ordered. The sky darkened, and a continuous bolt of pure lightning power shot from the heavens and stopped a foot from Jigglypuff's head. It's Light Screen was blocking out all the thunder! "That's impossible! How can that Jigglypuff block so much power?" the guards asked. The Thunder attack ended. "Jigglypuff!" Heidi shouted. "Show the bastards how it's done! Thunder Ball!" Jigglypuff had absorbed enough Electric energy to power it's unique Electric attack. Rearing back, Jigglypuff launched a giant beam of electricity at the group of Pokémon. It didn't matter that they were Electric Pokémon- they got fried just like their trainers. "Good shot Jigglypuff!" Heidi congradulated. However, Jigglypuff was extremely weak now. Heidi picked it up and ran towards the city. Meanwhile... The taxi holding the rest of Fire Strike tore up to Saffron's west gate. "Thanks so much," Allison told the taxi driver. "How much do I owe you?" The driver shook his head. "No need. I've heard of Fire Strike," he replied. "I know exactly why you're here." "Are you sure about this?" Patrick asked. "It was a long way to go." "Hey, don't worry about it. All my buddies know about Fire Strike. I can tell them all I drove them to the battle!" The trainers looked at each other. "Now what are you standing around here for? You've got a shitkicking to deliver!" "Thanks a lot!" Thomas replied. "Later!" The taxi driver tore away. "All right," Uiru announced. "The news said they were attacking from the south gate. Which is that way." Saffron was built like a cross. The main roads ran east to west and north to south. Fire Strike and company were in the middle of the city and about to head down when Allison caught sight of something. "Yo... Are Poliwraths usually that big?" she asked. Uiru looked where she was pointing and cursed. "They probably sent it from Lavender Town to take the defences from behind," he announced. "We'll have to stop it before it gets there! Raichu, attack!" "Magneton, go!" "Electabuzz, I choose you!" Nick, being the Water expert, shared his knowledge with the others while Uiru, Allison and Jessica shocked the giant tadpole. "Poliwrath is unique among the Water Pokémon of the world because it is the only Water-Fighting type in existance," he announced. "Not even Poliwhirl, which evolves into Poliwrath, is a Fighting type. Therefore, it is weak against Psychic and Flying, as well as Electric and Grass. In addition, it's Fighting powers are ineffective on Bug and Poison types." "Hang on a second..." Pittman started. "This one looks even smaller then Vileplume did. What's the deal?" "I don't know," Nick replied. "Anyway, shall we give them a hand? Ivysaur, go!" Pittman shouted. "Vine Whip!" "Victreebel, go!" Thomas added. "Razor Leaf attack!" "If it's weak against Psychic..." Geoff began. "Kadabra, attack!" Kadabra appeared and shot Poliwrath up with Psychic power. However, Nick had forgotten to mention that Poliwrath possessed strong mental powers. It used it's Hypnosis ability to put Ivysaur under, then reached down and Slapped Victreebel! The big plant slammed into a nearby wall. "Victreebel!" Thomas shouted. "Return!" "Allison, Jessica!" Uiru shouted. "I think it's time for the new Electric attack!" "Raichu, Electabuzz, Magneton!" Allison shouted. "You guys ready?" The Pokémon shouted in confirmation. Raichu jumped on Magneton and Electabuzz grabbed onto it from below. Magneton floated up above Poliwrath, awaiting orders. "Triple Team, Raiden's Gate!" Jessica shouted. "Let it rip!" Raichu leapt off Magneton, and Electabuzz swung in the other direction. When the three Electric Pokémon formed a perfect triangle above Poliwrath, they summoned all their Electric power, and a ball of pure lightning appeared over Poliwrath's head. Kadabra used it's Psychic power to keep Poliwrath pinned under the orb of lightning. Suddenly a gigantic bolt of Thunder shot down from the clouds and pierced the ball, causing it to explode in a pillar of pure Pika power. The three Pokémon landed, and kept up the blast until Poliwrath vanished from view. Then they fell to their knees. "Wow! What a blast!" Pittman declared. They recalled their Pokémon. "The Pokémon Center awaits," Allison declared. The others ran up to them. "We just beat back Sunder Force," Leah declared. "We were getting worried because Onix was doing most of the pounding and it's about to rain." "What the hell was that pillar of light?" Erin asked. "Not light, lightning," Geoff told her. "We'll tell you later."