Yes, I know I've been slacking off. Yes, I have good reason. I got Pokémon Stadium 2 and have been giving my N64 a good workout. Okay, not a good excuse after all but I can't just ,work on my story all the time, right?

Chapter 12
Bug Out!

Ivysaur Level 29
Azulmarril Level 24
Umbreon Level 23
Scyther Level 19
Growlithe Level 21 ________________________________________________________________________________________________

It was the day after the big battle against the Ghost type master, Morty. My Pokémon seem to be a little tired so I decided to rest a while before pushing on. As usual, I hung out at the Pokémon Center. Nurse Joy never mind and it was where most trainer rested anyways.

Umbreon was napping as usual whenever we took a break from traveling. Azulmarril was talking to Growlithe and was teasing at how much of a rookie he was. Scyther was sharpening his blades by rubbing them against each other. Ivysaur was by the window taking in sunlight that was coming through it.

I was sitting on the couch as always watching various Pokémon trainers rush in and out. Nurse Joy had her hands full as always. I was watching over the conversation that Azulmarril and Growlithe was having, making sure Azulmarril wouldn't pull one of his tricks. He was a new-comer after all.

"Azulmarril marril (So you managed to pull a victory, eh?)" Azulmarril said.

"Growl (Yeah)!" Growlithe beamed proudly. He ran energeticly around Azulmarril as they talked. Growlithe seemed to be always full of energy and had a childish innocence to him. He acted like puppy, which is what he is.

"Azulmarril Azulmarril (Not bad but many tougher opponents lay ahead)," said Azulmarril trying to scare Growlithe. He was playing another of his mind games. I rolled my eyes at him which Azulmarril saw but ignored.

"Growlithe Growlithe (I can handle them)," said Growlithe without a hint of fear. He didn't even suspect Azulmarril was trying to scare him.

"Excuse me! Can I have everyone's attention please?!" Nurse Joy announced. Everyone looked up as Nurse Joy did not usually spoke this loud, not even when scolding a trainer.

"I need someone to deliver some medicine over to Azalea Town for a sick Araidos. I will let you borrow my Pidgeot for a while to fly there and back," said Nurse Joy. This must have been my lucky. I needed to get to Azalea to get the Hive Badge and this was my chance.

"I'll do it," I said at the same time another guy said. He was a short guy, wild blond hair and bright blue eyes. His wrinkled plaid shirt and dirty jeans remind me of cowboy movies. The black boots completed his outfit but he had no hat of any kind. He also had on the Pokéball like most trainers have and a brown leather backpack.

We looked at each other in surprise as we realized what happend. He smiled causing me to do the same thing. "Hi, my name is Jim, nice to meet you," he held out his hand.

"Lucky," I answered shaking his hand.

"How about we settle this over a Pokémon match?" Jim suggested.

"We don't have time for that, a Pokémon is in trouble," Nurse Joy scolded us.

"Listen, I need to get over there for the gym badge after delivering the medicine," I said but then felt a little ashamed that I sounded a little greedy.

Jim paused for a second studying me a bit. He then smiled and nodded. Nurse Joy gave me the medicine and a Pokéball containing her Pidgeot.

"Let's go, Pidgeot!" I called out the Pokémon once I got outside. He motioned for me to get on and I climbed slowly on to his back. Pidgeot then lift off the ground my a flap of his large wings. I watched stuff on the ground get smaller and smaller as I got higher. I was suddenly reminded of my fear of heights and leaned on to Pidgeot's back. Pidgeot looked at me and turned back to where he was suppose to go.

"You know where to go, right?!" I shouted over the wind.

"P-geot, P-geot!" Pidgeot answered with a 'yes'. Pidgeot suddenly turned scaring me, I screamed and Pidgeot flew straight and looked at me with alarm.

"That was scary...," I managed to get out scared out of my wits.

"Geoo.....," Pidgeot gave out what was a bird's equivalent of a sigh.

1 Hour Later

We finailly landed after all the screaming I went through. It was one of the most frightening things I had ever done in my whole life. But it was over. I called back Pidgeot in to his Pokéball and ran inside the Pokémon Center. Nurse Joy was there busy as usual.

"Nurse Joy! Nurse Joy!" I had to shout to get her attention over all the other trainers jammed in to the room. I held up a bottle of clear liquid with a red cross sign on it. She immediatly went over to me when she saw it.

"Thank you, thank you so much. Now this Ledian will be all better," said Nurse Joy. She went in to the back. I followed her and saw a Ledian on a small hospital bed. Various medical devices were connected to him/her. His/Her trainer, who I was surprised to see ,was the gym leader, Bugsy stood over the Ledian worried. Nurse Joy prepared the medicine and injected it in to Ledian.

"What happend?" I asked keeping my voice quiet. The room was quite big with various Pokémon unconscoius or resting. Most of them had trainers near them.

"A trainer got me with a well-trained Arbok. I should have given Ledian a more advanced warning," said Bugsy softly. He was blaming himself for his Pokémon's injuries, something quite common from what I saw from the TV show.

"Don't worry, Ledian with be just fine. Lucky here brought the medicine just on time," Nurse Joy asured giving me a nod.

"Yes, thank you," said Bugsy turning to me.

"Your welcome," I answered. There was an uncomftorble silence. Nurse joy went back to the front to get more Pokémon healed.

I was kinda ashamed of what I was thinking right then. I wanted to battle Bugsy, even though he was worried about Ledian. But Nurse Joy did say that Ledian was gonna be just fine. I also had to return Ecruteak City Nurse Joy's Pidgeot. I turned to walk away, maybe wait outside or the gym.

"Wait, I think I know why you're here," Bugsy stopped me. He held up the Hive Badge as I turned around. He knew I wanted to challenge him to a battle somehow.

"How do you know?" I asked.

"Doesn't every trainer?" Bugsy asked. Ledian woke up on the bed. I smiled and walked out so they could talk, hug, or whatever.

After five minutes, we left for the gym. It was a short ten minute walk. We both got in the different trainer boxes and got a Pokéball in our hands.

The Gym was surrounded by different kinds of plants, mostly tree that were commonly a seen in the forest. The walls were hardly ever seen because of the vegetation. The floor was marked my white powdered chalk to show the usual battle ground symbols. The large windows had plenty of sunlight coming through so the lights weren't needed at all.

"Three on three match, no items or time limits," Bugsy stated the rules. He called out his Beedrill for the first battle.

"Growlithe," I said sending him out. Both looked at each other studying for any mistakes they would make. They studied for weaknesses, strengths. At least Beedrill was, Growlithe stood there waiting for a command.

VS.

"Twin Needle attack," said Bugsy.

"Flame Thrower," I said aiming for maximum damage.

Beedrill attacked quickly with his front stingers. He thrust the right one forward, which Growlithe narrowly avoid, followed by his left one. The blow struck Growlithe's shoulder and was struck again by Beedrill's right stinger before he could recover and counter attack. Growlithe inhaled deeply and breathed out a large column of flames. Beedrill couldn't avoid at such a close range. He was burned seriously. Bugsy called him back in to his Pokéball.

"Butterfree, go!" said Bugsy sending out the Pokémon.

"Use an Ember attack," I said.

"Sleep Powder," said Bugsy.

Growlithe shot out a small bolt of fire. The attack missed as Butterfree doved to the side and flew over Growlithe sprinkling a golden powder. Growlithe was instantly asleep. I sighed calling him back in to his Pokéball.

"Scyther, go!" I said sending him out.

VS.

Butterfree swooped over Scyther sprinkling her golden powder. Scyther dodged with his Agility and reached up with a slash/uppercut but missed badly. Butterfree flapped a few times and shot a beam of Psychic energy that hit Scyther on the side sending him to the ground.

"Agility and Slash," I instructed.

"Fly out of reach and use Confusion," said Bugsy.

Butterfree flew up high in the air and used a Confusion attack. Scyther was lifted in to the air and slammed down. He got up quickly and jumped at Butterfree, blades flashing dangerously. Butterfree was able to dodge with aerial expertise.

"Do it again Butterfree," said Bugsy.

"Go Pursuit," I said.

Butterfree flew overhead preparing to launch another attack down on her opponent. Scyther leapt up lightning fast, his right claw dark with dark energy. The Pursuit attack hit home and Butterfree fell like a rock but righted herself before she hit the ground. Scyther attacked again knocking Butterfree out of the fight with two critical slashes.

"Now I choose Scyther," said Bugsy calling back Butterfree and throwing another Pokéball. His Scyther appeared looking almost identical to mine.

"Agility now," I said quickly.

"Scyther, use your Agility too," Bugsy instructed.

Both Pokémon started to blur as they moved towards each other at high speeds. I could heard the sound of blades clashing against each other. It was hard to see but I could tell that they more taking more than a slash in a second. I couldn't keep track of the fight. The fact that they were almost identical didn't help much either.

"Scyther, you can do it," I cheered him on. At that moment, Scyther turned around when me heard me call him. Bugsy's Scyther took full advantage of it giving my Scyther a few mean slashes that put him out of the match. I guess I distracted Scyther.

"Sorry man," I said calling him back in to his Pokéball. "Umbreon, go!" I said sending him out.

VS.

"Be careful, Scyther is faster than you," I warned. Umbreon watched Scyther trying to anticipate the next attack.

"Use Agility and Slash," instructed Bugsy.

Umbreon watched as the flash of green flew straight at him. He leapt mouth open and clmaped down on something. Scyther stopped his Agility and started to try to pull Umbreon off his left blade. Umbreon had bit Scyther on the dull side of the left blade and was refusing to let go.

"You got'em, now Double Edge," I said.

"Scyther, block with your other blade," Bugsy instructed

Umbreon leapt straight at Scyther's face letting go of the blade he was biting on at the last second. Scyther lifted his blade to cover his face but it wasn't going to help. The impact sent Scyther on the ground with Umbreon standing on his chest. Scyther lifted his blade catching Umbreon on the side and tossing him to the ground angrily. Both stood staring ready for more.

"The blades are the main weapon, try for a weak spot," I said hinting him by looking at Scyther's feet. I couldn't let his trainer know or it could cost me the match

"Be careful Scyther, they're up to something," said Bugsy.

Umbreon began to fade away in his Faint attack. Scyther appeared puzzled but stoff ready. Umbreon suddenly appeared tackling Scyther's feet and tripping the Mantis Pokémon. Scyther slashed with his blades instinctively making Umbreon back up before he could attack again.

"Now go for the kill, Double Edge," I said.

"Dodge it, Scyther," said Bugsy.

"Umbreon ran at Scyther and jumped at him. Scyther leapt backwards surprising Umbreon and smacked him aside with the flat of his claw. Umbreon was up in a flash and tried for another attack but Scyther dodged to the side and slashed down at him. But Umbreon was expecting this and rolled out of the way.

"Go for it!" I said.

"Watch out!" Bugsy warned.

Umbreon leapt as Scyther pulled his blade off the ground. Umbreon's attack hit dead center and Scyther was sent to the ground in a heap. Umbreon did it, I had another badge.

"Nice try Scyther," ssaid Bugsy returning him to his Pokéball. "You earned this," said Bugsy giving me a small metal object. I held the Hive Badge in my hands happily. Bugsy also gave me a TM to learn Fury Cutter.

I went outside and immediately called out Joy's Pidgeot. He would have to fly me back I climbed on to his back to told him to go.

"Pi-geot, pi-geot," Pidgeot whined to himself. 'Here we go again.' the Pokédex translated it for me. I couldn't help but laugh at this. The sudden change of velocity stopped me pretty quickly. I looked down to see buildings reaching up towards me and tiny people and cars. I was up in the air again!

"AHH! Slow down!" I screamed.

"Geo........,"Pidgeot sighed.

So concludes the latest adventures of Lucky. See you next time and e-mail me at Luckvillag@aol.com please.