Chapter 8: Real skill

Hiro’s Feraligator pushed hard to jet as fast it could to catch up with Jasmine’s kidnapper. As Hiro held on with all his strength he kept asking himself how did this happen. It only happened a few minutes ago but it felt like hours. Details were crystal clear of how it happened.

Jasmine got a call on her pokegear; apparently it was an emergency since Jasmine had to excuse herself from their day off together. Their time relaxing on the beach had been a good two hours, enough time to socialize, play a game in the water, and also have a snack. Hiro packed up the beach equipment to return to the rental shop and Jasmine went to change. Even if Jasmine said that she could go alone, Hiro wanted to follow along. When Hiro finished changing and walked out to meet Jasmine there he saw someone grab her by the wrist and drag her away by force. Hiro rushed towards Jasmine and gave chase to the seaport just in time to see the direction of where Jasmine’s kidnapper was headed.

Hiro felt the rush of adrenaline flow through his body as he summoned out his Feraligator. Jumping on its back he rushed towards the direction that the kidnapper was headed. There was hell to pay when he caught up.

Hiro: Come’on Feraligator, we must catch up! Give it your all!

Feraligator jetted forward as fast as it could, his sense was telling him that they were closing in.

Jasmine sat down in the speedboat worried to what was going to happen to her. Her kidnapper is someone she’d known before, someone very dangerous.

Hotori: Relax Jasmine, you and I will be together again.

Jasmine: I never wanted to be with you!!

Hotori: You’ll learn to want to be with me.

Jasmine wish she had never met Hotori a year ago. Hotori was a former classmate of Jasmine when they were on their senior year at the Pokemon Gym Leader Academy. He helped Jasmine with her studies and they use to date. It was during one study session when Hotori tried to make a move on Jasmine but Jasmine refused. Her pure and innocent ways frustrated Hotori greatly and tried to push himself onto her. Fortunately Jasmine escaped and reported the misconduct of Hotori, which lead to him being expelled.

Back on the beach before Jasmine was kidnapped, she received a call from a nurse joy that was attending to a sick pokemon in the lighthouse. The only way to cure this sickness was a special potion that was only sold in Cinawood, which was across the ocean. After Jasmine changed and got her things Hotori must’ve remembered her then followed her to the seaport and that is where he kidnapped her. Taking the speedboat that was available for Jasmine to get to Cinawood, Hotori jetted out as fast as he could to find a place where he and Jasmine could be alone.

Jasmine: What are you going to do to me?

Hotori: Nothing you won’t enjoy. I’ll forgive you for having me expelled from the academy, that is, I’ll accept your apology when you and I . . .

Hiro: Jasmine!!

Hotori looked behind of the boat, there was someone riding a Feraligator after them. It was a young teen wearing black and has long red hair. Hotori assumed that this person chasing after them was Jasmine’s new love interest. Feeling wrathful he slapped Jasmine with the back of his hand, jealous of their pursuer.

Hotori: You betrayed me! How could you have found someone else!

Jasmine looked behind her, there she saw Hiro chasing after her trying to rescue her.

Jasmine: Hiro!

Hotori pushed the throttle forward pushing the speedboat to go faster. He’d out run that Hiro guy and have Jasmine all to himself. Hiro’s Feraligator matched speeds with the speedboat and started to catch up with it. Hotori, frustrated tried to lose Hiro by driving in a swerve but Hiro followed through.

Hotori: How annoying!

Hotori grabbed a pokeball from his belt and summoned out an Ivysaur.

Hotori: Ivysaur use razor leaf on that Feraligator and slow it down!

Razor leafs flew out of the speedboat and headed right at Hiro. Feraligator dodged most of the attacks however some connected.

Hiro: Feraligator do bubblebeam and knock those leafs away!!

The stream of bubbles knocked the leafs off course. Hotori felt frustrated so he turned around to summon another pokemon, this time it was an Electabuzz.

Hotori: Strike him down with thunderbolt! Ivysaur keep trying razor leaf.

Feraligator dodged as much as it could to avoid every attack, it was very difficult and it started to get tired. It dived under water a few times but couldn’t stay under for long because of Hiro. Things were getting dangerous as Feraligator started to feel very exhausted. A few razor leafs flew in and scratched Feraligator upper body reducing it’s concentration.

Hiro: Hang in there we have to stop them!

Hotori: Be a good boy and just leave us alone!

As Hotori commanded his pokemon to stop Hiro he didn’t pay any attention to where he was going. Jasmine saw the hard coral reefs only a few yards away; she got up then jumped out. Hiro saw Jasmine fall off the speedboat and immediately had Feraligator stop to get Jasmine.

Hiro: Jasmine! Quickly grab my hand!

Jasmine reached for Hiro and grabbed on. Hotori noticed that Jasmine had jumped out and wondered why. He turned around to see he was approaching some reefs at great speed. Feeling a sudden dread, Hotori closed his eyes awaiting the crash. The speedboat slammed into the reefs ripping the bottom out. The boat also flew upwards then got trashed by the reefs, which lead to Hotori catapulting into the air and landing in the water. Hiro and Jasmine saw this, they didn’t know if they should go over to see if that guy was alright but he probably got what he deserved.

Hiro: Are you okay? What was that all about?

Jasmine: A long story but I’m glad you saved me. I didn’t expect you to save me.

Hiro: I saw you being dragged by that guy and I thought you were being kidnapped. Who was that guy anyway?

Jasmine: Just no one worth worrying about. Lets go Hiro; I just want to get out of here.

Hiro: Alright, sure. Where to?

Jasmine: Cinawood, there’s something I need to pick up. And Hiro . . . thanks.

Jasmine close to Hiro and lightly kissed him on his cheek. Hiro didn’t know how to feel, he felt relieved and excited all at once and looking back at Jasmine he noticed her Silver Tears.

*****

Kenta handed Whitney a caramel apple as they watched the pokemon performance festival somewhere in Olivine. The pokemon all did well in performing their acts, the crowd applauded loudly for the talent. Kenta felt impressed, he didn’t know pokemon could do such tricks.

Whitney: Oh that’s so cute! I totally like that Natu act.

Kenta: I guess these trainers train their pokemon to do performances rather than battle, which is pretty neat.

Whitney: Yup, pokemon acts takes just as much time and effort as battling.

The last performers took a bow as the crowd applauded them. The chairman applauded too as he walked onto the stage to end the show.

Chairman: Thank you for that fabulous act. Well ladies and gentleman, that ends this afternoon’s show. Be sure to return later this evening for the next performance. And remember, these pokemon performance is brought to you by our sponsor Mr. Gio. Please give him a nice round of applause.

The chairman pointed at Mr. Gio to his right and everyone clapped. Mr. Gio looked to be a businessman wearing a red suit and a slick hairstyle. From appearance alone he looked like a real powerful guy who owns his own corporation or something.

Kenta: That Gio guy looks real rich.

Whitney: He is. He owns a lot of businesses around this area; he even owns his own amusement park.

Kenta: Wow. I wonder why he hangs out around here if he’s that wealthy.

Whitney: I remember reading an article about him. He started to contribute funds for pokemon performers and their shows two years ago. I think his reason was to find a better understanding for pokemon as well as to learn more. Everyone thinks Mr. Gio is very nice. So what do you wanna do now?

Kenta: Let’s just go roam around and see what else is happening.

Gio looked towards the audience as they slowly dispersed. The budget director commented on the attendance of the past few weeks, there was an increase of ten percent. This made Gio glad, he handed the wages for the pokemon performers with a bonus to his budget director. Gio looked towards the seats and anticipated another increase in attendance wondering if he should install more seats, but as he gazed on he noticed a young teenage boy wearing a pokemon cap walking around. Something familiar was felt from the boy, something of a strong aura that he sensed a few years ago.

Gio: That boy, its not him but the aura is just as strong.

Gio walked down from the stage and headed towards the boy in the cap. He was accompanied with a redheaded girl with pigtails. This made Gio wonder if it was the same person and if it was; then the vanishing champ has be found. The two looked different from the last time he saw them. The girl that hung around the vanishing champ had a more orange color hair, not so much fully red. Gio had to make sure just to see if it was he; if it wasn’t then maybe this person could became the next big champ. Just as Gio approached there was yelling nearby, everyone turned in that direction. A frantic lady screamed out that her pokemon was stolen.

Kenta caught a glimpse of the pokemon thief, a man dressed in black running with a pokemon in its arms. Kenta recognized the uniform; it was a team rocket grunt. Tossing his bag to Whitney, Kenta made a mad dash towards the grunt going to try and stop him. Slowly Kenta started to gain on the grunt then made a great leap towards him to tackle him to the ground. The grunt was knocked down then wrestled around with Kenta try to get the stolen pokemon free.

What just happened brought back memories for Gio. It was a few years ago that the boy that became the vanishing champ thwarts many team rocket plans. Now a similar boy that has just as strong aura is doing the same, maybe there is a trend to becoming champ. It was nearly the same only difference circumstances; the boy with the cap battled the rocket grunt to a pokemon match. The outcome was also the same, rocket grunt losing then running away with the stolen pokemon safely returned to its owner.

Gio: Amazing, maybe Ash has a twin brother.

Kenta returned to the puzzled Whitney and retrieved his bag. He took off his cap and wiped the sweat of his forehead. There was nothing like a good work out after sitting around all day. Before even Whitney could ask what went on, the man in the red suit approached Kenta.

Gio: Excuse me, I just saw you rescue that person’s pokemon. You did a fine job, what’s your name.

Kenta: My name is Kenta sir; I’m from New Bark town.

Gio: Your pretty good in battling Kenta, I’m wondering if you could battle me so I can see your real skill.

Kenta: Sure thing.

Gio: Follow me then.

Kenta and Whitney followed Gio to an open area where they could have their pokemon battle. Whitney wondered what was going on, why did Mr. Gio want to battle Kenta.

Whitney: Have you figured out why he wants to battle?

Kenta: I guess he just does. Probably saw how I handled the rocket grunt and wants to test me or something.

Whitney: Maybe, I’d be careful though. He’s a corporate so he has more than enough money to give his pokemon all they need to become the best.

Kenta: Don’t worry, I’m gonna do my best as always.

They reached an open area in the park, perfect for pokemon battles. Gio stood at his zone and Kenta stood at his. Whitney stood between them going to referee the match. A three on three battle with no time limit was agreed upon, the first to knock out all three of their opponent’s pokemon is the winner.

Gio: Choose your best! I’m a veteran at this and I use a lot of powerful pokemon. Are you ready?

Kenta: Ready!

Whitney: Okay, begin!!

End of Chapter 8