Rapture

Cascade Badge

Red smirked to himself thinking about how well everything went to plan. Sabrina was seldom wrong about things like this though… It was several days prior when they were discussing how events would unfold.

“Aww come on… a full frontal assault should work fine against this stupid gym! All they got is water Pokémon!” Lt. Surge sighed indignantly as all of the generals were gathered to discuss strategies for the upcoming assault. “A pure electric attack would knock em cold before they know what hit em!”

“You’re underestimating a gym leader’s potential…” Koga waved a finger at his larger friend, “They may use primarily water Pokémon, but don’t believe that leaves them defenseless against electric types. If that were the case any trainer with a Mareep would be able to storm in and claim a Cascade Badge. No they have defenses in place just for that kind of event; Pokémon and abilities capable of nullifying the inherent weakness of their Pokémon.”

“Alright then, what’s the plan?” Lt. Surge leaned back in his seat obviously not enthused.

“For the most part the trainers in the northern cities are novices. Besides the gym leaders, trainers in those cities tend to leave on Pokémon Journeys to other places once they reach certain proficiencies in their training ability. Each gym does have a few select upper leveled trainers, but even they are not of the type to concern us…” Koga explained.

“Could you PLEASE get to the point…” Surge rested his hands on his face as stared at the ceiling.

“We must draw the gym leaders away from their gyms,” Sabrina put in.

“Huh?” Surge sat properly back in his seat and looked at the psychic girl.

“Without their herders, the Mareep are lost. Remove the gym leaders from commanding their troops and the gym will fall without a leader…”

“Ohhhh, I get it now!” Surge grinned stupidly.

Red shook his head, “OK, good boy, now how do we do this?”

“I have insight in this as well…” Sabrina motioned eerily.

“Of course you do…” Koga sighed.

“During my gym battle in Saffron City against the Gym Leader from Celedon, the leader of the Cerulean Gym accompanied her. I saw images in her mind. It would appear she is quite infatuated over Red.”
Surge made a wolf whistle sound and jabbed Red lightly in the ribs.

Sabrina cleared her throat, “From a distance, Red, you could make your presence known to her. Stand where she alone will see you. She will leave to follow you anywhere.”

Red nodded, “So make her follow me… but to where?”

Koga suddenly bolted forward in his seat, “If this plan indeed works, you could have her follow you to this point,” He pulled out a map of Cerulean City, “This is the gym and it’s not too far to this entrance to the Aqueducts under the city.” Pulling out another map, he laid it out on top of the city map, “These are the tunnels which lead all across underground Cerulean. From the point of entrance on the other map you should be able to easily get to this room,” Koga said pointing out a larger room in the schematic.

“If you make it that far you should have her disoriented enough to where she would not easily be able to retreat. The room here is large enough for a decent battle also. You’d be able to fight her and when you win there’s another exit close by on the other side of the room where we could have a van ready to take her prisoner…”

Red nodded, “Sounds like a plan.”

“While Red has the gym leader occupied, Surge should have no troubles picking off the remaining gym trainers.” Surge chuckled to himself at Koga’s statement.

“That takes care of the Cerulean front, but what about Pewter?” Red asked.
Koga smiled, “Leave Pewter’s gym to me. I have a hostage situation in mind to draw out the Pewter Gym Leader.”

“Good, we have it all covered then,” Red pointed out waiting for anyone to disagree.

“Great then let’s get the hell out of here, I need to go buy some supplies anyway.” Surge got up in a rush to leave the room, “Maybe I can find some sucker to pay real money for this piece of junk I found too!”

‘Almost just how we planned it…’ Red smirked to himself as he faced off against the two gym leaders.

“Red! Please tell me what’s going on? What’s happened to you over the last three years?! Why are you doing this?!” Misty demanded loudly, tears flying from her face as she struggled in the vine’s grasp.

Red laughed, “The last three years? Wow… I’ve probably… yeah… I spent most of that time preparing for this!” Red shouted and his Venusaur tossed the girl aside breaking off the vine and leaving her constricted in its tight wrap.

Red looked on to Erika, “I don’t suppose you’d be willing to just give up and join your friend?” Red said sarcastically.

Erika dropped into a fighting stance with her hand on her Poké Balls ready to fight if need be. She was also lost in a state of confusion. This was the real Red, she was sure of it, but why he was doing this… She didn’t understand…

“Good, I was hoping you wouldn’t!” Red reached for his belt and drew another Poké Ball and held it tightly in his hand waiting for Erika to make a move.

“Red… Please… we’re your friends… What’s wrong? Why are you fighting us? Why are you wearing the clothes of Team Rocket? Why were you gone for so long? What’s happened to you?”

“Questions, questions, questions, geez, what’s up with you people?” Red scratched his head through his cap, “Let me take a stab at this… First… nothing. Second… because. Third… because. Fourth… ‘cause again. And fifth…” Red stopped for a moment, quiet. “You know… I guess I just opened my eyes and saw the truth the rest of you have ignored for years, how’s that?”

Erika shook her head, that smugness… indifference… and uncaring… “You can’t be Red!”
Red grinned darkly again, “Oh no?”

“I’ll get to the bottom of this!” Erika finally threw her Poké Ball releasing a Vileplume. “Paralyze Powder, now!”

“Pluuume!” The large plant acknowledged and launched its spores into the air.

“Oh come on, coming from the plant gym leader… that’s predictable!” Red tossed a Poké Ball and shouted, “Flamethrower!” The Pokémon attacked the moment it materialized from the ball, igniting all the spores in midair.

Erika shielded her face from the fire. Looking up she saw a Houndoom placed in front of her Vileplume. She gasped realizing she would be at type disadvantage with all her Pokémon now.

Red smirked at her change of expression, “Firefang that Vileplume!” The Houndoom howled a deathly frightening sound and lunged at the Vileplume, biting down hard into the plant, flames erupting from its fangs. The Vileplume squealed in agony, but Erika didn’t flinch.

Red noticed Erika’s expression had gone from panicked to a calm and composed battle face, “I see, you brought a Houndoom knowing if you were to confront me that I would use either plant or psychic type Pokémon.”

Red didn’t let his stance falter; he’d been warned the Celedon Gym leader had some mild psychic ability.
“It’s unfortunate for you then that your dark Pokémon will not have the chance to confront my psychic ones…”

Red looked confused for a brief moment at Erika’s cryptic words. Looking back to the battle at hand he noticed Vileplume’s sappy blood pouring out of the bite wounds into his Houndoom’s mouth. Taking a moment to gauge the Vileplume’s capabilities Red realized, “Vileplume’s poisoned itself!”

“And that poison is being fed directly to your attacking Houndoom. It won’t be long before it starts feeling the strong effects of a Vileplume’s poison.”

“Flamethrower!” Red shouted.

Houndoom jumped off the Vileplume and got into a position to launch the flamethrower attack.

“Drainpunch it Vileplume!” Erika commanded.

Red’s eyes widened as he saw the portly plant fling itself at his Houndoom, stubby arm outstretched for a punch. He knew Houndoom was weak against fighting moves, but he had already given his Pokémon a command that hadn’t been carried through yet.

The punch impacted the black dog, sending it rolling down the brick floor. The energy transfer took place during the punch and immediately healed some of Vileplume’s wounds. Houndoom jumped up on its feet but immediately slouched in its posture, the effects of poison now taking their toll also.

Red watched the Pokémon struggling to return to battle. Erika prepared herself for Red to give some kind of command to his Pokémon. Instead the boy started laughing hysterically. “Ohh this is great! I was so worried you guys were going to be pushovers! This is actually going to be fun!” Red jumped into a serious stance facing Erika.

Erika wasn’t sure what to make of Red… This was just so… awful…

“Oh what to do against such a Vileplume… a Vileplume that has poisoned my Houndoom?” Red chuckled in a low tone, “Houndoom, use Façade!”

Erika gasped realizing that move was devastating from a Pokémon with status ailments. The Houndoom stood properly on its feet, and in a rapid leap it jumped through the Vileplume. The plant took full effect of the blow and fell over.

“Fine then… “ Erika recalled her Vileplume and threw in another Poké Ball releasing Natu. The tiny bird fluttered about, “Miracle Eye!” Erika shouted rendering Houndoom’s invulnerability to psychic moves useless.

“Uhoh…” Red mumbled still grinning.

“The Houndoom is weak Natu! Keep it busy!” The green bird chirped and charged into battle. Erika used the opportunity to dash over to Misty’s side.

“Are you alright Misty?” Erika looked down at her friend noticing her eyes wide and teary staring at the lost boy on the other side of the room. “I know Misty… I KNOW! But please… you have to pull yourself together! I need your help if we’re going to help him… Something’s happened to him and I need to find out what so we can reverse it.” Erika pulled on the vines holding Misty in place.

Opening another Poké Ball, Erika called out a Roserade, “Help me Cut these vines Roserade!”
Nodding to its trainer, the Roserade used Cut on the vines with amazing precision, cutting a line across them setting Misty free.

Pulling Misty to her feet, the girl already looked defeated, “Why is he doing this?”
Erika took hold of her friend again, “Misty, I think he’s been hypnotized by Sabrina. If I’m right then I should be able to use my abilities to undo the hypnosis effect on him. I just need to get close enough to him to touch him. If I can just place a hand on his head I should be able to channel enough energy into him to free his mind from the control he’s been placed in. Then things can return to normal!” Erika smiled at Misty hoping to encourage the girl.

Misty nodded, a look of determination crossed her face, “Alright, let’s do it!”

Erika smiled and turned back to the battle, “Natu use Night Shade!” The colors of the room seemed to invert as the Natu used the Ghost attack against the Houndoom.

The Dark hell hound howled a spine chilling shrill and collapsed to the ground. Red recalled it back to the Poké Ball, “It’s about time you got back!” he grinned.

Misty pulled out one of her remaining Poké Balls to join in the fray alongside Erika’s Natu and Roserade, “Go Gorebyss!” Leaning over to Erika Misty whispered, “I only have one other Pokémon with me besides Gorebyss…”

Erika nodded, “We’ll just have to make this count then…”

Red shook his head, “Ganging up on me huh… finally a fair fight!” Red tossed in his next Poké Ball materializing a Tyranitar.

Erika looked puzzled at the large Pokémon, “Why would he use a slow Pokémon that’s weak against grass and water types against us?”

A mischievous look crossed Red’s face, “Tyranitar, Taunt them!” On command the Tyranitar motioned to the other Pokémon in various insulting manners.

The three Pokémon standing against Red’s Tyranitar began to look angered; though the girls didn’t seem understand what was going on, “Gorebyss, use Aqua Tail!”

The Gorebyss complied with pleasure, slapping the Tyranitar in the face with a splash of its tail.

“Roserade use Magical Leaf, Natu use Miracle Eye!” Erika shouted.

Roserade immediately used Magical Leaf, hitting Tyrantar hard, but Natu used Swift instead of Magical Eye causing some damage.

Erika stared blankly at her Natu, it had never disobeyed an order from her. Taking a moment to pear into its psychic mind she began to understand the effects of Tyranitar’s taunting.

“That taunt has made it so our Pokémon are too angered to use any moves that don’t inflict direct damage to it…” Erika explained to Misty.

Red laughed, “Tyranitar, help that little Natu out, use Swagger!” The Tyranitar made some strange swaying motions, and Erika’s Natu seemed to grow in power.

This caught Erika and Misty even more by surprise. They tried to decipher why Red would be helping them until they saw the confused look on Natu’s face… That same one that reminded Misty of a Psyduck.

“It was intended to confuse Natu…” Erika confirmed to Misty, “That doesn’t mean it will work, Natu use Swift again! Roserade, follow up with Energy Ball!”

Misty pointed to the Tyranitar, “Gorebyss, back them up with Water Pulse!”

The three Pokémon followed their orders explicitly causing much more damage to Red’s Tyranitar. The giant Pokémon was starting to look weakened.

“Hang in there Tyranitar, use Endure!” The Rocky Pokémon growled loudly as it prepared itself to take more damage.

“Don’t let up on it!” Misty shouted, “Gorebyss, get through Tyranitar’s defense! Use Hydro Pump!” The pink fish blasted Tyranitar with its most powerful water attack.

“Get Tyranitar off its feet Roserade! Trip it with Grass Knot! Natu make sure it stays down with Shadow Ball!”

Tyranitar took a critical hit from Hydro Pump first taking massive damage. The Grass Knot and Shadow Ball that followed brought it to its knees. If it hadn’t been under the effects of Endure which it used this turn it surely would have been knocked out.

“Alright, stand steady, we’ve got it now…” Erika assured Misty.

“You think so?” The cocky grin hadn’t left Red’s face this entire time, “Let’s find out… Tyranitar… FLAIL!”

Both Erika and Misty stared in shock at the unexpected attack. Flail was normally only known by weak Pokémon… But using Flail… the more damage a Pokémon has taken… the more damage it deals.

Before they could react, Tyranitar jumped at their Pokémon, flailing its limbs wildly, impacting all three of its opponents and knocking them out immediately from the force.

Erika gritted her teeth… she couldn’t believe they played right into that one… Being that it was Red they were up against she’d allowed herself to hope that some part of him in there would restrain from going all out against them…

“What do you have left?” Erika asked Misty.

“Just my Corsola…” Misty spoke sounding panicked.

“We’ll be alright, just remember the plan!” Erika tried to sound as reassuring as she could.

“Right!” Misty threw her Poké Ball calling out the pink water rock. Corsola materialized and Misty shouted, “Bubble Beam!” Corsola used the attack immediately KOing the weakened Tyranitar.

Erika tossed two more Poké Balls into the fray to replace her fallen ones, “Go Bellosom and Kirlia!”

“You still want more huh?” Red pulled out another Poké Ball, “This is getting fun now! Go Spinda!” Throwing the Poké Ball, a small teetering bear looking Pokémon emerged, stepping around randomly looking happily dizzy.

Erika leaned closer to Misty to whisper, “He’s letting his guard down, take control of my Pokémon while I try to get on his blind side…”

“Spinda, do a Teeter Dance!” The Pokémon moved fluidly with absolute randomness. Its opponent Pokémon couldn’t help but stare at its movements trying to gauge where it was going only to be lead astray again and again.

Misty shook herself trying to build up her composure, “Corsola, fire a Spike Cannon!”

“Hit it with a Sucker Punch Spinda!”

As Corsola prepared to launch its spike, the small bear danced over it following a strange path and punched the Corsola right in the face, confusing the Pokémon enough to make it forget the attack it was supposed to use.

Misty tried to think about the moves she’d seen Erika use with her Pokémon before and which would be best against this thing… “Magical Leaf can’t miss! Go Bellosom!”

Red’s expression turned to worry for a moment as the Bellosom shot the leaf at his frolicking Pokémon. The Leaf managed to knock it off its feet.

“While it’s immobilized, Kirlia hit it with Psychic, Corsola use Rock Blast!” The two started beating on the downed bear.

Red gritted his teeth, “Don’t let them pick on you Spinda! Keep on Teeter Dancing and hit them with Dizzy Punches!”

The Spinda flipped itself back onto its feet and in several wild steps started punching its enemies with spinning fists.

“Don’t give up guys! Bellosom use Giga Drain!” Misty remembered the attack that was Erika’s signature move. The Bellosom pulled off the attack and healed itself a considerable amount.

Red grinned, “Spinda still has plenty of spunk left, so don’t go thinking…”

“PIKA!” The Pikachu lighting up the room started screaming causing Red to turn and see Erika standing right beside him. Her hands quickly outstretched and grabbed onto his temple.

“Let’s see what exactly they’ve done to you Red…” Erika concentrated peering into Red’s mind to undo any hypnosis spell he might be under. Red became paralyzed as Erika created a psychic connection between the two of them.

Flashes of the last three years came crashing through their mental link. Erika became subject to seeing the incredible training Red endured in countries across the world. The mountains climbed, caves explores, incredible beasts slain. He was no mere member of Team Rocket… but a general. There was a man shrouded by shadow who Red considered his… lover… Going back far enough Erika bore witness to the memories of the months of torture and rape that Red had endured at the beginning of this madness.

Erika let go of Red in shock, the two of them falling back from each other. Erika stared at Red in disbelief.

Red gritted his teeth in anger, having a vague idea of what the girl just did to him. “…I take it easy on you two… Have a fun time just playing around… And this is what you do with that huh?” Red clenched his fist tight, “FINE!” Jumping to his feet Red looked over to his Pikachu, “Pika! DISCHARGE!”

“Pika!” The rodent jumped into the battle emitting an incredible amount of electrical power capturing everything that wasn’t its ally in the mighty wave. Both Misty and Erika screamed as the electrical current coursed through their bodies.

Bellosom who was less susceptible to the electrical attack began to push off the effects and launch a counter strike. Red saw the Pokémon recovering and preempted the attack, “Pika, Megavolt the Bellosom!”

“Chu!” The Pikachu acknowledged the command and charged up a massive attack. Electric sparks filled the room as Pikachu prepared to release an attack of unheard of voltage. “CHUU!” The room filled with blinding light as the attack was unleashed catching the Bellosom in its full brunt.

The Bellosom’s scream was barely heard over the thunderous crackling of the attack. Erika was able to open her eyes enough to see her Bellosom burst into flames from the intensity of the bolt of lightning. In a final massive wave of energy the attack concluded, leaving nothing but charred ashes where the plant Pokémon once was.

Both Gym Leaders stared in disbelief. The Pikachu stood looking unfazed from releasing such an attack, its body glowed and sparked with energy.

“Saur! Vine Wrap them both!” The Venusaur quickly lashed out with its vines wrapping the girls up before they could recover enough from the attack to move.

Red looked over what he had done and grit his teeth while spinning around to kick the wall hard. He was furious… He couldn’t remember a time he felt so angry. No one had ever dared invade his mind like that before. Even Sabrina knew better… The things she could have found out… He didn’t even know what memories of his she actually saw… But the memories which had resurfaced through the ordeal only fueled his rage further.

Red recalled his Spinda to its Poké Ball and placed it back on his belt. He then none too gently rolled Erika over to Misty and reached in through the vines to pull out their Poké Balls. He recalled the fallen Pokémon back into the balls and tossed the belts to the corner of the room. Both girls now could only watch him through tear stained eyes.

Red knelt down in front of Erika and lifted her head up by her hair, “I should kill you, you know…” Erika made no response and he let go.

“It should be time for pickup now anyway though…” Red plopped down against the wall in the corner of the room by his Venusaur; his Pikachu strode over to stand by its master as well.

The Poké Gear on Red’s wrist started beeping. Red pressed a button to activate it, “About time, the wagon ready to go?”

“That’s a negative we’ve been given the order to retreat!”

Red’s eyes widened as he stared at his Poké Gear, “Retreat?! What the hell are you talking about Surge?! I’ve got two gym leaders down her beat!”

“Yeah well we’ve got an unexpected visitor up here, and we’re being picked apart!” Surge yelled sounding angry and frustrated.

“What do you mean an unexpected visitor?”

On the surface, Surge called retreat orders to his men as they gathered up their Pokémon and ran for the vans. As the Team Rocket soldiers ran, a line fire strafed at them from the sky.

While shielding his face, Surge held his Poké Gear up to his mouth and grunted out, “It’s the champ!”

_____________________________