Pokémon RP Kanto Quest, the adventure begins.

[coreystranick]

Corey and Joseph started to head towards town. They could hear the sound of battle.

Something was going on and they were missing it.

"Joseph let's hurry!"

---------
This is all I can do gotta go to work now.

[Prpl_Mage]

Frank noticed that more grunts had joined the fight.
And from the way they were fighting - at least three different parties of Rocket.
The admins in control of the grunts had a great effect on them. And if Saiar was one of the Rocket admins - things could get horribly hard in the future.

His Primeape returned to his side as he punished Alfred's Growlithe and Rattata.
-"Nice try." Frank said and grinned widely at Alfred as he sighed and returned his pokés.
-"Yeah I got him captain." Alfred said in his phone and Frank looked at him alarmed.
-"Sure thing captain." He said afterwards and looked up at Frank.
-"Captain wants to see you. He's over there." Alfred said and smirked.
Frank spun around and noticed a woman in the distance, he'd knew that hair anywhere. The next second a large pokémon blocked his sight.

-"Long time no see!" Darren said and walked up to greet Frank. Frank showed no signs of recognition.
-"What? Who the hell are you? Some youngster I beat a couple of years back or what?"
-"As if! Not me. Him." Darren said and pointed at the Tyranitar.
-"What?" Frank said and looked at the mighty beast in front of him.
-"This is your old Tyranitar, did you give it a cute nickname or something that I should call it by?" Darren asked and grinned.
-"The hell, my old Tyranitar... Is this a trick, how did they even know? Oh right, they did take my trainer ID and passport of course they'd know me." Frank thought as he stared at Darren.
-"Nicknames are for sissies." Frank said and stayed adamant.
-"No tears? No hugs? You must've missed this cute darling." Darren said and didn't get the reaction he expected. He wanted a devastated trainer begging to have it back.
-"It's an unstoppable force." Frank said and came to a realization.
-"If this is indeed my Tyranitar, then I'm in a lot of trouble...." He mumbled and wondered what the best thing to do was.

----------------------------------
-"Allright, fine. We'll start of easy then. With some other of your pokémon. How 'bout facing your Graveller and Butterfree 2 on 2. And hey, I haven't even had to use them yet thanks to this guy." Darren said and pointed at the Tyranitar before taking it back.
-"He's overconfident, I like that." Frank thought and knew something about those two that this guy obviously didn't. But then again, with his Tyranitar he'd be bound to be overconfident.
-"Allright, it pains me inside to do this. I'm sorry Graveler and Butterfree." Frank acted and sent out Primeape and Kabuto.
-"Let's get this party started you pathetic cur!" Darren shouted and pointed his pokémon to attack.

Graveller moved close to Kabuto and used Strength. He pushed with all his might but the attack barely left a scratch. Next up was Butterfree which used gust against Primeape - neither this did anything good at all.
-"What the hell is wrong with you guys?" Darren asked and looked at them with disgust.
-"Take 'em." Frank said calmly and watched Primeape bolt of and striking out Graveler with a single blow.
-"Use psychic then or something?" Darren shouted at the Butterfree which simply looked confused before getting smashed under the power of Rock Slide.
-"What the crap?" Darren exclaimed and obviously lost his focus.

-"There was a reason those two were collecting dust in the PC." Frank said and watched the rocket feeling clearly humiliated.
-"What the crap were you doing with them?" Darren asked disgusted at the sudden weakness.
-"Graveler was used to climb Mt.Mortar and the Icy path. Butterfree.... Well, Butterfree just plainly sucks.
-"The hell did I even get those. Oh I'll punish the boss for this." Darren noticed Frank looking rather amused and keeping a silly grin.
-"What's the matter? Can't fight on your own? Do you have to rely on the work of others?"
-"Screw you man. We're here with a suggestion and you'd be wise to take it." Darren calmed down and closed his eyes for a second.
-"Again? I already turned you down once." Frank said and crossed his arms.
-"If you join us, we'll let you have your pokémon back. You'll be a part of Team rocket and can even become an ambassador in Jotho." Darren said and stretched out a welcoming hand.
Frank thought for a moment. His old strength, his Tyranitar, bitter medicine, protein, power, money, excitement, battles and perhaps even his old flame.
-"I can see it in your eyes. You want this power back, you're sick of being the lousy underdog. You want to be able to simply wave your hand and have your pokémon run over all competition." Darren said and grinned hoping to swap Frank's side.

Frank remained silent and stared at Darren. And he was getting uncomfortable, this wasn't the plan. Time to get back on track.
-"Too bad, too late!" Darren said and Frank snapped out of his thoughts as Tyranitar emerged from the ball.
-"There are people who want you." Darren said and grinned.
-"But I'm not one of them. I rather not hand over this awesome power just like that. I'll beat you and prove that you're just another failure."

Frank knew the danger he was in. Tyranitar poses a great threat without doubt.
-"Primeape beat it up quickly!" Frank shouted and watched the Tyranitar bowing it's head.
Primape leaped but was flung backwards as a sandstorm was whipped up.
-"You gotta be kidding me..." Frank thought and watched how the weather basically was tearing nature apart.
-"Hey kid! You think a snowstorm, thunderstorm and sandstorm is the best goddamn combination?" Frank shouted through the whizzling storm.
-"Hell do I care, I'll win." Darren said and Tyranitar gathered power in his jaw and struck Primeape with Ice fang.
Primeape fell and crumbled instantly

-"Kabuto charge it!" Frank yelled and Kabuto let out Aqua Jet against the beast. It barely flinched and curled together a little.
-"You're screwed." Frank said to his Kabuto before the Earthquake struck and his Kabtuo helplessly were crushed.
-"No, man. You're screwed!" Darren shouted from the other side and laughed.
-"How does it feel to be at the other end of the food chain huh?"
Frank gritted teeth as he knew that he was right. Murkrow would fall as quickly as it got out of its' ball.

He did it anyway, he had a plan.
-"Murkrow use thief!" Frank shouted hoping that noone had went through his old pokémon with care.
Tyranitar stood its' ground when Murkrow swooped down and took of with a prize.
-"Blackglasses." Frank said calmed and ordered Murkrow to keep it.
Darren told his Tyranitar to hold as if just enjoying the moment of Frank being completely at his mercy.
-"Murkrow use night shade, no point in attacking it dead on." Frank shouted.
Night shade struck Tyranitar but it didn't even flinch.
-"Stone edge!" Darren called and a powerful stalagmite struck Murkrow from below. It fell and didn't get up.

-"This is no time to be useless!" Frank yelled at his bird and sighed.
------------------------------

-"Not so cocky now are you?" Darren said and let Tyranitar stand there as a momentum of Frank's weakness.
-"You're nothing without power Frank. You'll never be. You're just a lousy underdog hoping to achieve the impossible. But guess what? You won't defeat us. We're just to strong for a nobody like you!" Darren laughed a malicious laughter and made his Tyranitar stomp the ground which pushed Frank back into the dirt.
-"That's we're you belong." Darren said and walked up to him.
-"Tyranitar and this whole town  - is mine now." Darren said and grabbed his phone.
Frank got up from the dirt and watched his Tyranitar, there was no way in hell he could've defeated it. Team rocket was just too strong for that.
He started walking backwards and then ran. Ashamed of what had happened and filled with an strange desire for power. There was no use in these new pokémon, they just couldn't match the power of a real trainer, and real competition.
He made his way back to the Gym and noticed the grunts outside. He stayed there in that exact spot filled with a strange mix of feelings of failure and hate. And he would make sure he'd never had to feel the same way again.

[coreystranick]

Corey and Joseph came upon the bridge.
They were stopped by the man that gave them a nugget and let them pass.

Nigel- "Sorry but you are not allowed in town."

Joesph- "Why not?"

"We Rockets have taken over and do not need any interference from little twerps like yourselves."

"Then we will have to just fight!"

Corey looked to Joseph."If you wish to fight him go ahead, I will try to head in town and help the guys."

Joesph stood like a rock."Go I will do my part here."

------------------
Corey snuck past them as they were battling, he went over the side of the bridge and ran on the route underneath it.

He arrived in town, it was  in ruin there were people fighting everywhere. He spotted Frank and decided to head his way.

[SaiKar]

"Admin! Admin!" Their cries could barely be heard above the swirling winds. Saiar had to brush her long hair from her eyes to make out the frames of Holly and Dan were running up to her, looking upset. "Not a moment's notice..." she mumbled.
"Admin! I got beat by this guy!"
"Me too!"
"Kept lecturing me about stuff!"
"Man, he was this total prick..."
"Kind of cute, though..."
"Why do I even have an abra! Totally useless!"
"SHUT UP! Shut the hell up!" Saiar snapped. "Remember your fights. Analyze them, fret over them, learn from them. But later! This is a damn war zone!"
The grunts had their mouths hanging open, shocked into silence.
"Where is Paige? Alec? Either of you know?"
They shook their heads.
"I'm here." Paige called, running up to meet with them, her Lapras trailing behind on some sort of weird floating cushion of water.
"Were you defeated too?" Saiar asked.
"Nope. Actually I did pretty good. Why? These goons get their faces smashed?" Paige asked, grinning.
Saiar shook her head. "Never mind. No sign of Alec? No? Okay. Kato, your team is in good shape. Go find Alec. Get him out of whatever hole he's dug for himself. Meet us east of town, on route 9. The rest of you, with me."
Kato nodded and ran off.
"Where to?" Holly asked. "Gunna help the Rockets secure the town?"
"F that," said Saiar. "What are we going to do, sit around in this dump and protect a Rocket flag? No thank you. No, we are after Articuno, of course, because that is our task! I have been analyzing the weather patterns and am almost certain it is roosting to the east, somewhere on route 9 or 10. But before leaving town, I need to find someone I know."
"Someone you know?" asked Holly. She stopped, thinking about it. Now that she considered it, none of them really knew anything about Saiar's past.
"Yes," Saiar said. "Someone from a life long in the past that I never expected to see again. Well, one can not run from their ghosts forever. It is time to see how Frank is doing for himself."

[X_marks_the_ed]

Edwin could not believe what he was seeing. The entire gym was prepared for a fight. Lyle seemed the most prepared, as his Starmie was already spinning around Whiscash, whom was visible above ground for once, resting on its giant whirlpool. In the pools closer to the door where three Goldeens, a Seaking, and a Seadra. Looking out of place were a Nidoqueen and a Victreebel. Their owner sat in the back with Lyle. But Bruce looked as confident as ever. Lyle shouted at the top of his lungs. "Attack, now!"

Bruce's Bronzong was struck with sprays of water of varying sizes. It was completely covered to the point where it could barely be seen. After the spraying stopped, the Bronzong remained unmoved. "Again!" The front two pools again sprayed it with everything they had. "Clowns." Was all Bruce said. "Nickel, Charge Beam the pools." Amongst the spraying water, the beast began creating a large ball of electricity. "Retreat now!" Lyle commanded. The fishermen held up their Pokeballs and called them back just as the electricty was split in two and fired into the pools. One of the goldeens was a little too slow and took a hit, but it managed to return with the rest.

"Whiscash, Earthquake!" The Whiscash slammed itself through the whirlpool into the ground, shaking it violently. Edwin could feel it much more now. Bruce adjusted himself, but never took his eyes off of Whiscash. As the fishermen prepared to sent their Pokes back out, Bruce finally acted. "The fish."  He pointed at Whiscash, and the Bronzong pointed itself towards it.
"Block." Bronzong complied and fired a beam at the giant fish. It didn't flinch but now it was covered in a red aura. "I had no intention of retreating against you, Whiscash Surf!" The Whiscash shot towards Bronzong as a flood of water surrounded the ground beneath him. Starmie was still spinning around it, thought faster to keep up.

The Fisherman sent their Pokemon out into the front pools at last. "Assist him, all of you." Just as the wave and the jet hit Bronzong, Bruce simply stated "Charge Beam." As it charged the beam, the jolts covered the oncoming wave, right into the front pools containing the Goldeens and such. Whiscash remained unaffected as well as Starmie. The fishermen were all out. All that remained were Whiscash, Starmie, Nidoqueen, and Victreebel.

[Prpl_Mage]

Frank arrived at the gym and saw how Chris were on the ground with a Rocket flaunting his victory.
-"He lost as well." Frank mumbled and recognized the look and posture of Chris.
-"Frank!" Corey shouted and came up to him. Frank straightened up and greeted him.
-"What's going?" Corey asked and Frank raised an eyebrow.
-"Isn't it pretty obvious? Rockets in town." Frank said but wouldn't bother grinning. He didn't feel like it all.
-"Is that Chris?" Corey asked and watched Chris in the distance.
-"Yeah. Want to take care of some Rocket trouble?" Frank said and tried to sound as enthusiastic as possible
-"We gotta get Chris." Corey said and nodded.
They both set out and Frank quickly grabbed his medicine to restore his pokés.
-"Godamn nerd ruining the healing machine..." Frank mumbled as he and Corey walked up to Alec.

-"Hey!" Frank shouted and got the grunts attention. He saw the two trainers getting close and realized that he was in a bad spot.
-"You okay Chris?" Corey asked as the got up to them at the gym.
-"Alec! The boss wa-" Kato started before stopping mid-sentence when seeing Frank.
-"I remember you. You fight me in center!" Kato said and stepped up to Alec's side.
-"Mareep and Scarmory." Frank informed Corey as they got ready for battle.
Pokémon left their balls and the fight had begun.

-"Zap that damn bird down or my weaklings will get annihilated." Frank told Corey just as the battle began.
They were all healed but he knew that all of them beside Murkrow would fall to Scarmory without much effort. And he refused to lose again. Never that he would lose against team rocket. If they fought unfair then he would return the favour in the future.

----------------------
Leaving this open for either Corey or Sai.

[SaiKar]

The gym seemed to be where the resistance was headquartered. Trainers and rockets alike were swarming around the area; trainers with tears in their eyes and rockets with smug, somewhat stupid grins. Is Team Rocket winning? Saiar wondered. At what price victory? We do not even WANT Cerulean... I never asked for...

A fancily-dressed Rocket was standing outside the gym's door. He said, "Ahh, you must be Admin Saiar. A pleasure. Your grunts have fought in your name admirably, if their results were a bit sadly laking. Ah, but I am being rude! I am Agent Darren. I have been sent here to accompany you as well as take the city for Team Rocket. It will be a pleasure working with you."
Ignoring his introduction completely, Saiar said, "I do not need company. I am looking for a certain trainer. Purple coat, wind-blown hair, cocky demeanor. Have you seen him?"
"Ahh, old Frankie boy? Had a run in with him earlier. Think he's cowering in the gym now."
Saiar glared. "You fought Frank?"
"I seem to remember doing something like that," Darren said, grinning. "You can thank me later. He was a high-priority Rocket target and his team is in pretty bad shape now."
"Frank is mine, you hear me. MINE! Mine to deal with! Not yours!"
"What the hell? He an ex-boyfriend or something?" Darren joked. Saiar's glare deepened, but she said nothing, and Darren gasped and said, "Wow, I didn't really think... though, now that you mention it, you do have a bit of the same vibe going on. Well, hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, I suppose, and you are certainly full of fury."
"Say something like that again and they will be the last words that come out of your fat mouth. Now move it. I am going in."
"I would appreciate it," Darren said, with a big of a smug sniffle, "if you would show me a bit more respect than your average grunt. I will have you know that I am an Agent directly under the Saffron home office."
"I do not give a zubat's dropping what your title is. You are in my way, therefore you are nothing."
"Bitch!" Darren yelled, finally losing his temper. "Now I see why they sent me here to keep tabs on you. You're a loose zap cannon if there ever was one."
"You will move," Saiar said sternly.
"I don't take orders from spoiled brat bigwig daughters that get promoted because of their family!" Darren yelled, throwing down a pokeball and releasing his tyranitar.
"You bastard!" Sair raged. "That tyranitar! That is HIS tyranitar! Rusty, iron tail with everything you have! We are taking this thing down!"
"Tyranitar, destroy this worthless snake!"

As the battle began, the citizens, trainers, and rockets watched in horror and fascination. Some mumbled, "Wait, now they're fighting eachother?!"

[ellie-is]

Just as Lucas was heading back to the gym, he noticed Saiar and Darren fighting.
"Two admins fighting each other... I wonder whats happening. I guess I will just sit here and watch as they beat each other to death."

The battle started by Steelix landing a powerful Iron Tail on Tyranitar. "Super Effective.", he thought. The other admin ordered Tyranitar to use Thrash. The huge beast started going around hitting everything, landing some heavy blows on Steelix. "Eh, that wasn't very effective. I don't think that dude knows what he is doing. Must be a stolen Pokémon and a sucky Rocket.". The female admin then ordered Steelix to use Earthquake. Another super effective move. That battle should end fast, he thought. Tyranitar was taking quite a beating, and got confused after he ended his Thrashing. "I have no idea why someone would use that move against a Steel type... Lame. Oh well, its fun to watch Steelix."

[X_marks_the_ed]

Edwin had to help, but with only Clefable, he wouldn't be able to do much to that beast. "Eddy boy. Give me a few more minutes. Then, we can play." He really wanted to have another go at Bowser, but he couldn't just let this thing go on. "Claire, Follow Me!" Clefable ran up to the tin can from behind and lept up onto its head. "Lyle, attack while you can! It won't be able to fight back!" Bruce looked over at the angry trainer. "Fine then, we'll play now." He grabbed his only other Pokeball and released it.

Bowser looked as fierce as ever. It purple fur matted in all directions, it was experienced. Upon seeing Clefable, it lept at it. Clefable jumped off of Bronzong just as soon as the Granbull lept at her and ran, knowing that not only was her "playmate" chasing her, but the newly enraged Bronzong as well. Lyle saw the opportunity and shouted "Whiscash, Surf!" It (and the spinning Starmie)crashed a quick wave right into the three of them, against the wall, bouncing all five into the closest pool. Shortly after, the pool was filled with electricity. Edwin ran over to the pool and pulled Clefable out of the pool. She was fazed, but okay. Starmie vanished back into Lyle's Pokeball at the back. "Sally, you gotta help Ed. I'll take care of the tin can myself. Whiscash, volley!" Bronzong shot out of the pool and landed into the one across the walkway from it, Whiscash lept over, following it as well. Sally came running over to Ed with her two Pokemon.

"Is she alright?"

"Yeah, where's the dog?" As soon as he asked, the dog crawled out of the pool, and charged Clefable. Tackling her and it started rapidly striking her with punches that were too fast to even see. Ed could hear Bruce issue his commands in a relaxed tone. "Close combat, close combat, close combat." "Claire, fight back!" But it couldn't, the punches were too quick. Suddenly, it picked her up and threw her into the nearby wall. She was done, and returned to her ball almost immediately.

"There. Now sit in your little corner and watch like a good boy. You, girl, you going to fight or just watch? Bowser's not done yet, so keep him busy, will ya?" She just stared at it, shaking.

That was it. Same as it ever was. He looked at Bruce, who was turned back to his Bronzong. "Stop playing around and destroy it, Nickel." The whole time Whiscash was lobbing the hunk of metal from one pool to another. Suddenly, as it was landing, Whiscash was blasted by a bolt of silver from beneath the pool, launching it back onto the walkway. The Bronzong lept back out of the pool. It began charging another ball of silver energy. "Whiscash, stop it! One more hit and..." Nickel fired. Whiscash was down.

Bruce retrieved both of his Pokemon. "Done." He then turned and left the gym.

[Prpl_Mage]

Luxio - or Spark used the move with the same name against Kato's blasted Scarmory.
Frank had to use Murkrow for this battle and it did little good against Growlithe and Scarmory.
But there was just no point in using Kabuto or Primeape until the bird was gone.

-"Growlithe use Flamewheel!" Alec shouted as he were trying to take Luxio down.
The attack connected but Luxio still stood up.
-"Dammit Murkrow - it's your friggin job to take that blow!" Frank said upset and looked at his useless bird.
-"Spark again!" Corey shouted and the bird reacted to the hit. It was finally going to work.
The attack came suddenly but not unexpected, Murkow was finally slapped out of the sky and down on the ground by the steel wing of Scarmory. He wanted to defeat Frank's other two.
-"Dammit." Frank said as he returned Murkrow and loked at Corey.
-"Get it down now, please." He said annoyed and sent out Kabuto.

-"Growlithe use bite!" Alec called and Frank reacted.
-"Aqua jet, now!"
Kabuto dashed towards the Growlithe and stopped it before it reached Luxio which would've been the end of it.
-"Good." Frank said simply and nodded as the Growlithe buckled backwards.
The Scarmory moved in to use steel wing on Kabuto once more but Luxio stopped it an inch before it reached it. The spark struck the Scarmory hard and it seemed severely weakened now.
But even though it was weak - it struck kabuto which sacked completely and Frank returned it annoyed.
-"Primeape." He said with content in his voice.

Kato smiled at this and ordered his Scarmory to attack the Primeape as well but Corey was faster and Luxio took the Scarmory down with the last Spark. Unfortunately - growlithe also managed to strike Luxio at the same moment with Fire wheel which sent it backwards.
-"C'mon get up!" Corey exclaimed but Frank simply said:
-"Don't bother - get the next one."

-"I'm out." Alec said as he returned his Growlithe. He'd lost it all to these trainers. Although a healing break between these battles would've done wonders - too bad he didn't bring any medicine before leaving the room.
-"Go Mankey!" Corey said and sent out the Mankey. Frank liked mankeys.
-"Get 'em Mareep!" Kato said and sent out his remaining pokémon.

--------------------------
The battle ended not that long afterwards. Mankey was downed since all attacks were focused on it but Primeape managed to deal the finishing blow before the sheep had the chance to zap Starly down.
Frank was amazed that the sheep hadn't evolved already since it seemed obviously strong.

-"Not again!" Kato said and looked at Alec.
-"We'll see you guys around." Alec said and lifted his cap a little.
-"I hope so, could use the sparringpractice." Frank said and grinned as the two walked off.

He'd returned some self-esteem but hoped that the battle would've gone better.
-"Great job Corey." Frank said as they left.
-"Really?" Corey said surprised - it was not the kind of thing he'd expect Frank to say.
-"Well... Y'know." Frank said and handed over some of the stolen Medicine to Corey. Both his Luxio and Mankey were downed in that battle. But Frank noticed a 4'th ball. He wondered what was in it since Corey decided to use Starly.
-"Maybe he just knew the battle would be over soon." Frank said and was about to use his pokédex to scan the ball when he heard roars and commotion nearby.

[coreystranick]

"Thanks for the medicine Frank. Sorry I was late getting back, Joesph and I had a run in with a wild muk, or so it seemed it was pretty strong, and a familly of Pichu and Pikachu."

"Where is Joe now?"

"Last I saw I left him to battle the guy on the bridge, the one that was at the end of the five fighters."

"Oh...him hmph."

"You had a run in with him too."

"Yeah. Now let's go see what the commotion was."

[drenrin2120]

"Hey! Don't just leave me here. I'm coming with you guys!" Chris had gotten up and was running to catch up with corey and frank. It was better than being alone with rockets around every corner waiting to snatch your pokes.

[SaiKar]

Edited: added Chris to the group. Sorry Dren.

Chris, Corey, Frank, and Lucas exited the gym straight into a battlefield. Saiar, surrounded by five grunts, was commanding a steelix against a weakened tyranitar.

"No, damnit. I said earthquake! Why thrash again?!" Darren was yelling pathetically.
"As I suspected," said Saiar. "Rusty, enough of this. Finish it off with a giga impact!"
"Normal attack against a rock pokemon?" Darren said, sneering, but his face fell as his tyranitar did as well.
"That was just for show, of course. Your tyranitar had no strength left. A gust could have knocked it over."
"Bitch," Darren spat as he recalled the fallen Pokemon. "You cheated somehow. This stupid thing wouldn't obey me at all."
Saiar grinned. "Having issues with disobedient pokemon? You know, I hear gym badges can help with things like that. Maybe you had better pretend to be a 12-year old boy and go on your first real pokemon adventure and take the gym tour."
"I hate you with every fiber of my being."
"I do not care," Saiar said. "Okay, enough games. Get out of here. If you do not, well, I am not entirely sure what a steelix eats, but I feel confident that eating a rattata like you will not upset its stomach one bit."
"I'm telling the Saffron admin all about this! He's gunna call the boss, and you'll be out of Team Rocket before tomorrow! Just you wait!" He sent out a Duduo and hopped on board, using Fly to soar into the sky.
"Kay!" Saiar called after him. "Be sure to explain how you launched an unauthorized attack on an unimportant town somewhere in that rant too! There is a good boy!"

Corey said, "Geez, even the Rockets are fighting amongst themselves now."
"With any luck, maybe the tough trainers will take eachother out," said Chris
Lucas said, "Infighting is not uncommon within Team Rocket. They are a morally corrupt organization, after all. Several months ago, there was a big story about-"
"Shut it." Frank snapped. "Anyway, I'm glad someone beat that ***hole, even if it really should have been me."

Saiar recognized that voice. Turning around, she saw Frank and two other trainers just outside the gym doors. Emotions and memory flooded into her mind at his apperance, but she quickly forced her face back into her usual expression of cold indifference.
"Frank," she said.
"Saiar," he replied, equally chill.
"How you been?"
"Oh, you know. Pretty much like usual. You?"
"Good, good..."
Awkward silence.
"Who's this?" whispered Lucas to Frank.
"I will tear your goddamn head off if you say one more word in the next five minutes," Frank barely whispered back.
Lucas took the suggestion to heart.
Saiar asked, "What are you doing here?"
Frank shrugged. "Kicking ***, taking names. Actually not taking names really."
"Well," Saiar said, giving her best tough-gal voice, "as an Admin of Team Rocket, I seem to take objection to that."
"Hey, yeah, what the hell is up with that? I thought you hated Team Rocket."
She shook her head. "No. How could I, being who I am? It was the Pokemon League that destroyed my career and forced me to abandon my dreams of the gym. I never had a chance of being one of the good guys."
Frank scoffed. "Yeah, the big bad league. It's sure not the Rockets that are destroying the world. Looks like the gal I knew has succumbed to her own propaganda. Pity. She was a pretty rad chick, way long ago."
Saiar now had no trouble maintaining her stony glare. She said, "Shikam. Enough. I do not care about the town. This attack was unauthorized. Beat off the grunts, I care little. But your little crusade against Team Rocket ends today. By tomorrow, I want you gone and never want to hear about you messing with Team Rocket again."
"You gunna make me?"
"You know I can," she said, plucking a Pokeball off her waist. "Unless you think you can take Kophy?"
Frank hesitated, aggitated. He knew he couldn't, not with his current team, and a beat up team from a day's worth of combat at that. He had to try to stall for another way out.

He said, "If you don't care about the town, then why are you even here at all? What do you even care what happens?"
Saiar paused, but evidentially saw no harm in telling him. "I hunt the legendary bird."
"Ah, Zapdos. You always did think big."
That threw Saiar off her game. "Wait, what? Zapdos? No, Articuno. It roosts to the east."
"Articuno is here too?"
"What do you mean, too?!?"

A massive bolt of lighting crashed down onto a nearby house, setting it ablaze. The flash lit up the darkened sky and all could see the form of a massive yellow bird flying overhead. Its wings were made of sharp angles, as if the sky itself had been cut to pieces and rearranged in avian form. Electricity seemed to arc across its massive wings as they beat, sending it soaring directly overhead, flying to the east.
"Hey, nerd," Frank said. "Weren't you rambling about the birds back in Pewter or something? What happens when they meet?"
Lucas was uncharacteristically silent.
"Hey, listen up man! This is serious!"
"I do believe," Corey said helpfully, "that you ordered him to be quiet under the pain of a horrible death."
"FOR FUCK'S SAKE! I don't-"
"Destruction," Lucas said quietly. "Absolute destruction. It is said that the confrontation between the legendary bird trio has the power to devistate the world, unless their master Lugia intervenes."

Saiar and Frank locked eyes for a brief moment before they started off at a full out sprint to the east.
"GRUNTS, we move! Our hour has come!" Saiar barked to her team.
"Dudes, keep up!" Frank yelled to Lucas, Corey, and Chris.
Saiar glared over her shoulder at Frank as they ran, saying, "Why the hell are you coming?!"
"Cuz this is gunna be awesome. Just like old times," Frank said, grinning.
"I am going to beat you-"
"No, you're not," Frank yelled, cutting her off. "You don't have time. Stop to mess me up a bit and those two will meet up for sure. And if there's any bit of who I knew left in you, I don't think you want that to happen."
Saiar was silent for a moment. Then, she said, "If you get in my way at all, AT ALL, I will strike you down without a second thought to our past. Your only warning."
Frank's smile deepened. "Yep. Just like old times."

[A Forgotten Legend]

What have I got myself into?
"Tentacruel, make this quick."
A Tentacruel?!  What do I have that can even challenge that thing?
"I'm waiting, kid!"
"Uh, I choose you, Pineco!" What can Pineco do?!  This is going to be tough..
"Tentacruel!  Use supersonic!"
"My ears!  Pineco!" Pineco was disoriented and hurt itself in its confusion. "Pineco!  Use protect!"
"Tentacruel use Acid!" Pineco had protected itself!
"This is not good, Pineco, use Rapid Spin!" Pineco tried, but it hurt itself again.  Pineco couldn't take much more of this.
"Tentacruel, get him while he's down!"  With that the Tentacruel used Constrict on the bug pokémon.  It was just too much.  Joseph recalled his Pineco. How can I get out of this?!
"Go, Pidgey! Use gust!"
"Pih!" It was a valiant effort, but the Pidgey was hit by the Tentacruel's tentacle and was weakened by its poison.
"This is a piece of cake." He looked at Joseph struggling to find a way to beat him.  It was amusing.  Joseph was losing focus and couldn't handle a battle at this level with the pokémon he had.  They just weren't strong enough.
"Pidgey!  Come back!" Pidgey had fallen from the sky.  This is not what I had in mind for a pokémon battle today... "Arrrrgh!" Joseph screamed in frustration.

[X_marks_the_ed]

Bruce heard the whole thing. He only a few feet away. "What?" He ran up to Darren, whom was in the middle of storming off. "We can't retreat now! The gym is down! I had to do it without any help, and you're gonna leave just because she told you to?" Darren ignored him. Suddenly, a coat smacked him in the back of the head. It was Bruce's. Darren watched as he too, stormed off in his own direction. "Who was that?


Edwin finished using up Lyle's machine. The place was quiet until Lyle finally spoke up. "What now? We were decimated with a single Pokemon." Edwin had to glance at Sally, whom sat in the corner alone. Both of her Pokes were back in their balls. Suddenly, one of the fishermen shouted back at that group, as he stood next to the window. "Hey guys! He left! The rocket left!" Everyone looked at him. "He threw his coat at one of the admins and left." It didn't make anyone feel better. If Bruce wanted, the gym would've been his. "Does this mean that the other Rockets are gonna leave?" "Dunno."

With all of his Pokemon healed, Edwin headed out of the gym. "Hey, where're you going?" He turned back to Lyle. "I'm gonna get stronger. I'll defeat him someday, but I won't get any better here." After a while, Lyle nodded in agreement. He spoke again. "Besides, you have someone else who could be your third man, or girl." He closed the gym behind him.

Outside was pretty quiet. Almost as if everyone left the area shortly after the Rocket Admin did. He decided to head up the bridge to check out the rest of the town.