Tempest

An aurorabeam lit up the room, I shielded myself with my hands, the sharp sounds of battle rang around me. Sultan, Mei Ling's poofter of a gyarados, fended off an Onix. He incapacitated the rock type with barrels of water which shot endlessly from his wide incisor filled mouth then quickly whirled around to face off against a croconaw. An array of ugly scars gained from previous battles decorated the pokemon's reptilian body. It was a dreadful display of the many hardships it had been forced to endure under the cruelty of Team Rocket. I almost felt a swelling of pity inside me.

"No you don't," I snapped at myself matter of factly. Sorry, I guess I'll have to be honest with ya; Pity? Me? Hah! In your dreams mate! The truth of the matter is; I'm a cold heartless bitch. No buts, ands, or ifs about it.

My shirasharmi flew above me from where I took cover with Jiang behind an observation desk, weaving deftly between and around Team Rocket's pokemon. Coo-ee extended his talons and with a defiant battle cry, struck at an unsuspecting Nidoqueen. The ground type hissed, lashing out blindly with razor claws only to meet nothing but air as the sunset bird dodged her slow reaction. Coo-ee grinned, using his speed and agility to his advantage. He darted about the Nidoqueen with ease ducking beneath every futile strike the blue pokemon unleashed.

"Nidoo!" She screeched angrily, staring daggers at the Shirashami.

Coo-ee chuckled, then without warning, spun, and cannoned towards her, a speeding ball of red and purple. He tackled the nidoqueen in what we Metonians call a ripper of a 'rugby tackle' at home.

"You beauty!" I cried gleefully as the Nidoqueen crashed, screaming at the top of her lungs into another pokemon.

Crikey, these Rocket pokemon were pretty useless. Coo-ee could’ve kicked all of their arses in a heart beat. Looking around, I realized with some contempt that most of the rocket pokemon were at a bloody low level. Hah! They had more of a chance of beating me at hopscotch than this!

"Come on Coo-ee, Sunset Fan!" I declared.

"What?" Jiang cried horrorstruck, whirling around to face me, "Are you crazy?!"

"Do I look fucking crazy!?"

"Remember what happened last time at the Indigo League Championships?" The spiky haired brat reminded earnestly, ignoring my death stares clenching fists, "You almost blew up the whole stadium with that attack!"

I growled, "Look here, you. I don't bloody well care. Now hurry up, Coo-ee!"

The bird froze in the middle of an aeroblast at a fearow, "Are you off your bloody rocker!? Kangaroo lost in the top paddock!?" He absently delivered an attack straight into the breast of the rocket pokemon, sending it crashing to the floor. Coo-ee glided towards me, halting inches from my face. "Tempest, if I use that attack, there'll be bugger all left to save!"

"Just do it you dumb bird!" I screeched.

"Down!" Jiang shouted, shoving my head beneath the observation table we were hiding behind.

WHOOSH!!

A computer monitor flew over our heads and smashed into the wall behind, it exploded into smaller pieces, showering us with glass nicking my skin and drawing blood. I was breathing heavily, my heart pounding wildly in my chest. I was high on adrenaline. Strewth, I bloody felt like I could look everywhere at once, conquer the Geneva League, take over the world and be back home at six ready for dinner.

I roughly pushed Jiang away, "I don't need your help!"

Popping my head up, I made sure the coast was clear then carelessly got to my feet, "See," I gave the ten year-old a vicious poke of the tongue, "If I want your bloody help, I'll bloody well ask for it!"

I snorted in disdain, turned -

WHACK!!!

My whole world exploded into a billion stars!

I toppled, dazed and confused to the ground. My cheek burned from where I'd been hit. My ears rang with the sounds of something akin to bells, or maybe it was just my brain. Jiang's face appeared over me, blurry and unfocused. "Are you awright?"

"Yeah, never better." I muttered weakly, doing little to hide my sarcasm. Christ, my head hurt like bloody oath.

"You just got punched!"

"Oh really? Why didn't anyone tell me that?"

The idiot missed my sarcasm and looked at me confused, "but... I just did."

Gloved hands seemingly appeared out of no where and I wasn't quite sure if I was imagining them or not. To tell you the truth I was more interested in all the little starmies swimming around my head. The hands seized hold of Jiang.

"Hey! Lemme go!" He struggled, eyes wide in surprise. His fists flayed out fruitlessly. He was lifted off the ground by the scruff of the neck, his stick-like legs dangling in the air. "Let me go!" He yelped as another pair of hands slapped him across the face. "Ow!" Jiang's bottom lip began to tremble, crystal tears welled up in his eyes, "That hurt..."

I looked up at him groggily not quite comprehending what was happening. Wait. Something was wrong. My eyes narrowed, "Hey! Nobody... But... me... beats... the twerp up!" My head lolled lazily onto its side. Bugger it, I felt too weak to do anything and I had a whopper of a headache. My vision began to darken. Bugger, night time already?

"Aw like, poor widdle Tempest," a voice mocked from somewhere above me. I groaned and turned onto my side. Piss off Dickhead, can't you see I'm trying to sleep?

THWUNK!!

I shrieked as the hard rounded point of a leather boot buried itself deep into my stomach, ripping its way beneath my ribs. I gasped for breath. Stinging tears burst from my eyes and flooded down my cheeks, an unstoppable torrent of warm salty water. I howled uncontrollably, screaming as wave after wave of pain surged over me, I curled myself into a ball, wailing into my knees, rivers of salty tears flooding down my face. I had never felt so much fucking pain in my LIFE!

"Get up you like, bitch!" Someone grabbed my scruffy fringe, yanking my head back. I screamed, the searing agony was more than I could bear.

"Hands off me!" I blubbered, I could only just make out the obscure head of some arsehole with white hair looming above me, blurred and distorted through my wavering glass of tears. I lashed out furiously, scratching at whatever I could. "Pedro! Or Peter! Or whoever the fuck you are! You're fucking dead!"

"Ow! Like, Ow!"

Their grip lessened, and, before they could regain their hold on me, I fought loose, pushing myself dazedly to my feet.

"Touch me again, and I'll rip your arm off!" I angrily wiped away my tears and the sight I saw made my blood boil. Seth, was down and out for the count. The Rockets had roughed him up bad, and he lay groaning on the floor. Wounds and bruises ordained his body. His nose looked like it was broken, no – mashed, a river of scarlet poured down his face and off his chin, dripping onto the tiled floor. Mei Ling lay limply against an upturned table. Dry blood stained her clothes, ugly bruises marred her features and a nasty gash tore across her forehead; dried and cracked with red. Her lip was split and trickled crimson blood. Her hair, usually shiny, soft and enviably perfect, was a complete mess, matted with yet more blood and sweat. Professor Willow hadn't moved from her spot amongst the wreckage. She lay in a daze, transfixed by something on the wall. Things were not looking good. We’d chewed off more than we could bite. The room was a complete disaster, broken furniture, demolished computers, cracks and holes in the walls, everything was strewn everywhere. A hand grabbed my shoulder, and without thinking I turned and hammered the offender with the heel of my palm, shattering his nose.

"Yeah! How do you like them apples!" I crowed watching the blood splatter. And people wonder why my favuorite colour is red.

A Rocket leapt at me from behind. The dirty bastard wouldn't even face me like a man. But then again, would you if you were facing the greatest Pokemon Master who ever lived? The back of his fist smashed into my temple, driving me to the ground.

That was it. I was going way too easy on these guys. "Go Artem...Ahhh!" Before I could toss my pokeball, he snatched my wrist and twisted it back and around. A sickening Snap accompanied with a wave of pain made my vision swoon. I let out a primitive animalistic cry mixed with anger, agony and fury. My leg snapped up catching the Rocket in the groin and he grunted, toppling on top of me.

I tried to push him off but my hand refused and only complied with a vicious stab of pain that overwhelmed my senses and brought spinning stars to my vision.

"Tempest! Tempest!" Great just what I needed, pity from a kid.

CRACK!

"Like, ow, you little whelp!"

"I'm coming Tempest! You just hold on there!"

The weight of the groaning Rocket was eased off me. I realized my eyes were closed and I peeked from under them.

Jiang grinned at me from above. "You OK?"

I wheezed. "I'm barely conscious you bloody matchstick and my hand is broken, what do you think?"

"Well I think.... Ahhh!" Pedro or Prick or what ever the hell his name was had Jiang by the hood of his jumper and without further ado, hurled him with a crash against the wall. Jiang's wail of fear ended with a low moan as his head hit the wall and he faded into unconsciousness too. Man, was I the only one who could stay awake?

Before I could do anything, Prick wrenched me up by my injured hand. I screamed as the muscle tore and the broken shards of bone knifed into my flesh.

As it had so many other times throughout my life, a film of gold clouded my vision and power surged through my blood and to my aching limbs, numbing the pain like an anesthetic.

"Tis Daughter of the storm, child of the skies

When fury brought forth, her power dost rise

Song ring through the heavens, to halt Earth's demise

Or thus the world be doomed to die

Born of the elements, Guardians of life!" Willow shrieked from some where in the room.

I barely heard it.

The roar of thunder rolled in the air above. My scream was lost within its blast and lightning crashed through the roof, shattering it into oblivion. Light flooded the room as it crackled through the air and into my outstretched palm.

I allowed it to course through my body like a river of power. Prick, who still held me by the arm, screamed and shrieked and hollered in his girlish voice, unused to the electricity that now engulfed him. He released my hand and dropped to the ground, convulsions and spasms ripping through his body.

But I wasn't done with just him. I glanced about the room seeing everything as a hazy gold. Each Rocket watched me with terror and panic, and before I could do or say anything, they turned as one and bolted, fleeing into jungle of dirty buildings, smog, and roaring freight trains of the outside. I grinned and laughed, arcing my arms in a slashing upwards movement. Lightning surged from my fingers and into the air above. The thunder died down, the sky slowly changed from its angry red to cyan blue once more. The gold left my vision, leaving me suddenly so weak I couldn't stand. The pain returned with a vengeance, rolling over me as unstoppable as a tidal wave. I collapsed whimpering.

My last thought before plunging into an inky abyss; "Bugger..."

Jiang

She slumped, mewling to the ground and falling to her belly, the life suddenly lost from her. Gone were the pupils of golden radiance that had glowed furiously from her eyes, she no longer acted as someone possessed. Just a tired, hurt and well, basically as normal as any of us could be under our circumstances. I stared at her, knowing that I should have probably rushed over to her to help, but fear held me back. I leaned against the cracked wall to which I'd been thrown, pain flaring into my tailbone. Tempest wasn't just a trainer anymore, was a superhuman murderer.

I slowly got to my feet, stepping carefully over the debris that littered the ground. I stopped a few paces away from her, unsure what to do. What I'd just witnessed was remarkable, yet every bit just as horrible. It all seemed so surreal, like a horror movie I had snuck out to watch, hiding behind the sofa. Logic and reason kept telling me over and over that what had just happened was completely irrational, absolutely impossible. No human being could ever summon lightning. They didn't have the capability of doing such a thing. It was just, just unrealistic! I barked out a laugh, startling even myself at the harshness of my voice.

Unrealistic? C'mon Jiang, you saw it with your own eyes, so it had to have been real! Right? But I still wasn't sure. I was confused and my brain refused to accept what had just occurred. My mind reeled from not only that, but from the fact I had just been present to the a killing of a Rocket, despite his nefarious lifestyle, he was still a person. What would his twin do without his brother? I felt a sharp pang in my chest, and a lump rose in my throat as I realized what Tempest had just done.

What if I touched her and she fried me too?

Naw, Tempest wouldn't do that to me. She may be a freak but I guess I was still her biggest fan... maybe. I urged myself to move towards her. Yet I lingered back, afraid. Bending down, I picked up a broken boom handle. I prodded her arm, but she didn't move.

"Mei Ling, um, other dude. Come here quick. Tempest is hurt real bad."

"So....?" Seth called in a tiny voice.

Mei Ling groaned, her almond green eyes flickered open. Shakily, she heaved herself up into a sitting position, her injured arms trembling under the weight. She wiped the gash across her forehead with her sleeve. When she looked at it she paled slightly. "Hang on a moment while I spew my guts up...."

Finally she stood and limped towards Seth. She shuddered as she glanced over to where Pete lay, a blackened corpse. Mei Ling arrived beside the dog trainer, she looked down at the blonde and kicked him weakly in the back. "Get up," she grunted.

"Noooooo," he whined in a hurt voice, rolling over.

She kicked him again, harder, and I cringed. Mei Ling looked at me. "You better thank your lucky stars this isn't you," she muttered.

I nodded my head vigorously. Seth lurched painfully to his feet. "Don't I deserve a little love?" he moaned. I gasped, shocked by his appearance. His nose had been demolished. Literally. All that was left was mashed flesh. Crimson seeped from the wound, dripping down his chin. Seth touched it gingerly with his forefinger, wincing in pain. I doubt he'd want to look at himself in the mirror ever again. My attention turned back towards Tempest. Her breathing was so shallow it was almost nonexistent. Occasionally static would ripple though her raven blue hair, now in an afro.

Seth stepped behind me. "Man, she's uglier then she was before."

"Come down here and say that."

ZAP!

"AHHHH!"

"She's awake!" I yelped, a grin plastered on my face.

"A mirror, I need a mirror."

I turned to the frantic Seth who was trying desperately to smooth down his new blond afro. Soot flecked his features and tiny bolts of electricity jumped from his hair as it stood on end. He began to sob quietly. "My hair..."

"Uh, you all right Tempest?" Mei Ling asked, hesitantly reaching down to help her up.

"Don't touch me."

* * *

Three days later we checked ourselves out of the hospital and arrived once again at the now ruined lab of Professor Willow. Seth was still whining that it didn't do his good looks justice to hide his gorgeous nose behind plaster. The cartilage had been splintered into fragments and he had whined even more when they couldn't get his hair to stay down. However, I suspected hi complaining was just a cover up to hide the pain he really felt. Luckily for us, well, mostly him, a Therap, an only recently discovered species of pokemon, had been on hand. With its amazing restorative abilities, it had fixed up most of the damage, fixing up his nose good and proper. It was only his pride that remained in tatters. The plaster was on for a week to protect it and assist the regeneration process.

After a few days of rest, Mei Ling had recovered quickly and thanks to Therap, only shadows of her bruises marred her features. But this uh, particular bruise that just wouldn't go away made it painful for her to sit down.

Willow was back to her normal self, relatively unhurt except for a slight concussion. She remembered nothing after the door had burst open and she’d been sent flying to the other end of the room.

Me? I was fine, never been better, a few bruises and cuts here and there, but nothing major. Oh, and about Tempest, well let's just say with her throwing arm in a cast for a week or two, she wasn't in the best of moods.

We were all still kind of unsure, and I admit, slightly scared, about the incident but she refused to talk about it.

The day was a bit chilly and I glimpsed the crisp blueness of the sky behind the brownish smog. Mei Ling shoved her hands into the front pockets of her hooded red jumper. I shifted my pack uncomfortably to my other shoulder.

"So what are you gonna do now?" Mei Ling asked the professor who ruefully kicked away a small slab of cement with her foot. “Are you gonna use the government money to rebuild again?”

Willow barked a laugh, "What? I'm gonna torch this dump and that Rocket’s body with it. So who cares if some Rocket arsehole is dead? With the money from the government I can move to Hollywood and retire for life."

"Where's that?" Seth asked, edging closer, a dreamy look in his eyes.

"Oh, I believe it’s off the coast somewhere."

"Can I go with you? Please? Pretty Please? Pretty please with a - "

"No."

"What about my pokemon?" I felt my lower lip quiver. During the confusion, the beginner pokemon had escaped from their cages, leaving me empty handed.

The professor sighed, placing a hand on my shoulder, "I’m sorry, Jiang, you’ll just have to wait till I contact the League Officials and order some new ones."

“But that could take ages!” Tears stung my eyes.

She shook her head sadly. "I'm sorry Jiang, unless you buy one, there’s no other alternative."

Before I could do anything about it, tears trickled down my face. I felt betrayed, I'd only just survived an onslaught by the rockets, witnessed a horrible murder, and now I couldn't even get my first ever pokemon. Was it so much to ask? This was the worst birthday of my life! I openly started to bawl.

"Hey Tempest!" Coo-ee said, a bandage wrapped around his wing, from where he sat on his trainers shoulder. The nurses at the hospital had kindly taken our injured pokemon to the PokeCentre for us. Coo-ee had suffered a broken wing, Sultan; second degree burns on the side of his body, and suicune was relatively all right, since he'd cowered behind a cupboard throughout. "Why don't you give the kid the one you caught the other day."

I heard her curse the bird quietly, then out loud muttered, "Fine kid, have my Nymbis." She levelled me with a cold glare. "You better look after him cos if you don't." She drew her finger across her throat.

My heart soared. "Thank you, thank you so much." She was a goddess! Wonderful! My hero! I instantly wrapped myself around her ankles, showering her with gratitude and tears.

"Get off me or Nymbis is still mine!"

"OK," I said quickly uncoiling myself and getting to my feet. I cupped my hands around my mouth and called to a seemingly deserted warehouse across the road. "HEY GUYS! GUESS WHAT? I GOT A POKEMON!"

"WHAT?!" came the echoing cry. Surprising everyone.

"OH MY GOSH! JIANG GOT HIS POKEMON!?" Another voice sounded from the building next to it.

"YOUR KIDDING!"

"NO WAY!!" I answered.

"HE'S GOTTA BE LYING!!"

Suddenly a crescendo of voices filled the air. The garble of children suffused the street.

"NU UH!" I protested.

"PROVE IT!!"

"COME AND SEE!"

"YOU HEARD HIM! LET'S GO!!"

Immediately children, no older than eleven burst from the buildings around us, charging towards me. My playmates rose over the crest of the hill, then suddenly froze.

"Oooooo," the murmured with awe. "Tempest..."

I had never felt so proud in life.

"Yep, I know the great Tempest," I said smugly.

"What about me!" Seth wailed.

They looked at him questioningly, "Who are you?"

"Yeah, get a haircut, man."

The kids echoed in agreement and then crowded around the bird trainer and me.

'You know her?" Gavin drawled.

"Yep!"

Whispers and murmurs rippled through them.

"Can we touch her?"

"Only I may touch her," I said snootily, trying to hold her hand.

"Don't touch me."

"Oooooo, she speaks."

"I'll pay two bucks to touch her."

"I'll pay four bucks for a lock of her hair!"

I grinned, "And, she's giving me one of her Pokemon."

"OH WOW!"

"Can I have one?"

"Me two!"

I turned to her. "So, can I have Nymbis now... hey, where’d she go?"

All that was left was a cloud of dust disappearing down the street and Coo-ee cackling after her, "Run Tempest run!"