| The Wrath of Brock
A Night at the Rocket's
Crazee Halloween
Channel Surfing with Ash Misty and Brock
Titanic/ Team Rocket Crossover
A Pokemon Fairy Tale
Nutragrain
Nutragrain 2
Pokemon Mental Cases
Sugar Shock
A Foxy Dilemma
On the Wings of Council
Partners In Crime
Pokemon Poetry
The Birth of Mantespe
The Great Dragonite Fight Series
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By:Chance
A Note:
This Story can get confusing if you don't know a few japanese words and names! Study this name key before you read it.
Name key:
Satoshi=Ash
Kasumi=Misty
Takeshi=Brock
Koduck=Psyduck
Windei=Arcanine
Iibui=Eevee
Otsukimi Yama=Mt. Moon
Hanada=Cerulean
Tokiwa=Viridian
Kitsune=fox
Masara=Pallet
Zenigame=Squirtle
Yadoking=Slowking
Lizardon=Charizard
fushigidane=Bulbasaur
Mariru=marill
On their long journey toward the Pokemon Championships, Satoshi, Kasumi, and Takeshi discuss the adventures and experiences they've endured thus far.
"I can hardly wait to get to the Championships!" smirked Satoshi.
"You only got this far with our help," snapped Kasumi. "If it weren't for Takeshi and me, you wouldn't have even gotten past Otsukimi Yama!"
"You're just jealous that I'm a better trainer than you!" Satoshi retorted.
Behind the arguing pair were Takeshi and Pikachu. They glanced at each other and sighed. Those two never stopped fighting! With all the noise Kasumi and Satoshi were making, Takeshi and Pikachu were beginning to feel like a pair of Koducks!
"Don't you two ever quit?" nagged Takeshi.
"Not until Satoshi gives me a new bike!" Kasumi yelled.
"Wait," mumbled a confused Takeshi. "What's with this 'bike' situation you two have?"
"This dumb pokemon dimwit," she slugged Satoshi in the shoulder. "stole my bike to get his Pikachu to the Pokémon Center. When I finally caught up with them, he'd completely destroyed it!"
"I told you I'd get you a new bike eventually!" Satoshi rubbed his sore shoulder. "and I will if you'll just give me time!"
"You've already had over a year to do that!" Kasumi reared back for another punch.
She didn't get the chance. Before anyone could utter another word, a snare snapped up Satoshi and Kasumi in a net. Takeshi and Pikachu gasped in surprise.
"Get me outta here!!!" screamed Kasumi.
"Cut it out!" Satoshi covered his ears. "You're giving me a headache!"
"You're more of a headache than my Koduck is!" Kasumi shouted.
"Cool it, you two!" called Takeshi from the ground. "We'll get you out!"
"Pika pi!" cried Pikachu.
"You won't be getting anyone out of there!" growled a raspy, female voice. "Go! Windei!"
From the midst of nowhere, a Windei pounced on Takeshi. Pikachu would have Thunder-shocked it, except another unseen pokemon floored him as well.
"Takeshi! Pikachu!" cried the two in the snare. But it was no use. They had all been captured.
A lonesome figure stepped from the bushes. It was a kitsune-like creature, but it could stand on two legs. It glared menacingly at Satoshi and Kasumi.
"Well now," she grinned. "What have we here? Three pokémon trainers and their Pikachu. Take these two to camp."
The Windei retreated, dragging an unconscious Takeshi with him. An Iibui followed the Windei, carrying Pikachu on its back.
"Where are you taking them?" Satoshi demanded.
"That's the last thing either of you need to worry about." the kitsune-jin replied. "C'mon, boys, let's go."
"Wait!" cried Satoshi.
But the kitsune-jin and her pokémon walked away without another word, leaving Satoshi and Kasumi still in the snare.
"Great," Satoshi grumbled and glared at Kasumi. "I'm stuck in a net with YOU."
"Oh shut up!" hissed Kasumi. "You're not exactly the perfect company either!"
"So how are we gonna get outta here?" Satoshi mumbled.
"Maybe we could use one of our pokémon to help us out." she answered.
Simultaneously, they reached for the pokéballs and gasped.
"My pokeballs are in my backpack and it's not with me!" cried Kasumi.
"Oh no! All the pokeballs on my belt are gone!" groaned Satoshi. "Now we're really stuck!"
They sighed miserably and fell silent. Kasumi and Satoshi sat still, just staring into space. An hour later, Kasumi moaned.
"What's the matter?" asked Satoshi.
"I've got a leg cramp from being in this net too long." she complained. "When are we ever gonna get out of here?"
"Maybe when that kitsune-jin comes back." guessed Satoshi.
"How do you know if she's ever going to come back for us?" Kasumi inquired.
"I don't know," Satoshi shrugged. "I just assumed she would."
"Bad idea to assume, Satoshi!" Kasumi frowned. "'Cause when you assume..."
"Alright! Alright!" Satoshi interrupted. "I get the idea!"
"Glad to hear it!" Kasumi sassed.
An even longer period of silence passed until night fell. The dark chill blew in their direction. Kasumi sneezed.
"I don't even belong in this stupid snare." she shivered. "I should be back home in the Hanada City Gym."
"It was your idea to follow me, you know." said Satoshi softly. "Why did follow me anyway?"
"To get back the bike you own me." she calmly replied.
"I already said I was sorry and that I'd get you a new bike someday." he sighed. "Wasn't that enough?"
"Hello up there!" called a voice from the ground. Satoshi and Kasumi glanced downward. Two green eyes glistened in the moonlight. It was the kitsune-jin.
"Hey!" yelled Satoshi. "when are you gonna let us out of this net?"
"When you both learn something by being up there." she replied.
"You can't keep us up here forever!" Kasumi snapped.
"You're right," the foxy creature grinned. "I can't. But I can until you're ready to come down."
"If you want a pokemon match, you can have one!" challenged Satoshi. "I'm ready!"
"Why would I want a pokémon battle with two loud-mouthed, short-tempered brats?" the kitsune-jin turned to leave. "You'll both stay up there until you're ready to come down."
"Wait!" called Kasumi. "At least tell us your name, please!"
The kitsune-jin stopped, glancing eerily at the girl in the net. Kasumi suddenly wished she'd kept her mouth shut.
"My name is Mandy Kota, Kasumi-chan." the fox turned and left.
Kasumi sighed. The cool, night air was getting to her. Strangely, she found it comforting to be in the net, back to back with Satoshi, no matter how much she disliked him. Still, she shivered and tried curling up.
"You cold?" asked Satoshi.
"A little." she replied.
"I'm surprised you are," Satoshi remarked. "The way you like water and water pokémon so much, I didn't think you'd mind a little breeze."
"Sorry to disappoint you." she shivered.
The hours passed, and eventually Kasumi and Satoshi fell asleep. Two black, pointed ears poked out from a bush below. Mandy Kota stepped out into the open. Not hearing any noise, she glanced up and grinned all-knowingly.
"Now's the time to work my magic!" she whispered silently to herself.
Satoshi moaned in his sleep; dreams interrupted his slumber. He found himself shrouded in mists. In the midst of it all, a familiar voice called out his name.
"Satoshi? Satoshi, where are you?" echoed Kasumi's concerned tone.
"Kasumi?" he answered. "I'm right here! Where are you?"
The dense fog sifted away, revealing a place Satoshi could vaguely remember. Kasumi was sitting on a rock by Masara river, fishing. Satoshi called to her, but she didn't hear him.
"Why does this area look so familiar?" he wondered.
Kasumi tugged on her fishing line excitedly.
"Oh wow!" she cried. "Looks like a big one!"
Instead of hauling in a fish, Kasumi yanked on the line, and half-drowned Satoshi and Pikachu were fished from the water.
"Now I remember," thought Satoshi. "This was the first time Pikachu and me met Kasumi."
Kasumi groaned at the sight of her poor catch, but her attitude changed when she noticed Pikachu. She scolded the soaked Satoshi for being so careless with his pokémon, but as soon as she told him where the next Pokémon Center was, he sped away on her bike.
Mists set in, concealing the distant past once again.
"Satoshi? Where are you?" Kasumi's voice called out.
"I'm right here!" he replied. "Can't you hear me?"
The fog cleared again, this time in the presence of the ominous Pokemon Tower. Satoshi watched as he and Pikachu, both in ghostly form, soared through the skies with the playful ghost pokémon. Kasumi's nervous whimpering caught his attention.
"I wonder if Satoshi is okay in there." she shuddered. "I hope the ghost pokemon didn't get him."
"Hey," thought Satoshi. "Why is she worried about me? She hates my guts -doesn't she?"
The vision faded away, and a shadowy figure approached him.
"Kasumi?"
She stepped through the mists, standing face to face with him. For a moment, she stood silent, much unlike her usual self.
"I don't hate you, Satoshi." she whispered.
"Then why do you keep following me?" he asked calmly. "I promised I'd buy you a new bike."
"That's not the reason." she answered. "It was never about the bike."
"Then why?"
Satoshi suddenly opened his eyes and remembered where he was- trapped in a snare net with Kasumi. It had all been just a dream.
"Hey, Kasumi," he whispered. "are you awake?"
No answer. Satoshi figured she was still asleep.
"It was just a stupid dream." he mumbled to himself. "Besides, why should she even care? All I did was destroy her bike! I think being in this net is starting to affect my mind!"
Behind him, Kasumi stirred, but didn't wake up. She, too, wasn't enjoying her slumber, not to mention that the cramp in her leg was still bothering her.
Kasumi looked around, but was surrounded by water.
"That's funny," she wondered. "How come I'm not drowning?"
A hand grabbed her ankle and pulled her deeper into the water. Kasumi looked, but no one was there.
"Hey, Kasumi, where are we now?" echoed Satoshi's voice.
"Huh?" Kasumi whirled around, but no one was there. "Satoshi? Where are you?"
Suddenly, a whirlpool opened beneath her. Despite her struggles, she was sucked down into the darkness, alone and quiet.
She shook her head, trying to remember where she was. A familiar voice suddenly pierced the silence, causing Kasumi's heart to skip a beat.
"No! No! You're still doing it wrong!" it scolded. "Can't you do anything right?"
A door opened in the midst of nowhere, peeking into a melancholy moment in Kasumi's life: the day she left Hanada City.
"I'm sorry," her eyes welled up with tears. "but that's the best I could do."
They didn't seem to hear her, and that hurt her even more. As she watched, Kasumi's three older sisters surrounded her seemingly younger self. They glared angrily, frustrated that Kasumi had messed up again.
"I'm sorry," the cornered Kasumi sobbed. "but I just can't do it! I did the best I could! Doesn't the effort count, at least?"
"NO!" two of the older girls barked.
"Your still getting the twist wrong when you dive." the other sister explained. "If you keep practicing..."
At this point, the young girl broke into a river of tears.
"But I've been practicing for two weeks now!" she cried. "Can't you let me be in just one show?"
"I'm sorry, Kasumi," the third sister shook her head. "but no."
Infuriated, young Kasumi dashed away to the pokémon rack and snatched two pokeballs.
"Kasumi?" the sisters yelled. "What are you doing?"
"I'm leaving!" Kasumi shouted back. "When I come back, I'll be a water pokemon master! Then I'll show you who's the real star!"
"Kasumi! Wait!" they called. But it was no use. Kasumi had already run away.
The door suddenly slammed shut, sealing the Kasumi in the darkness once again. Water flooded all about her, yet still, she did not drown. It drained away calmly, opening up another scene in the water pokémon trainer's life. However, this recollection appeared clearer and far more recent.
Tokiwa City Pokémon Center. Tired and extremely upset, Kasumi dragged the remains of her bike to where a very worried Satoshi was standing and waiting to know if his Pikachu was okay. She dropped the bike on the floor and scolded him viciously.
"You creep!" she fumed. "Look what you did to my bike!"
"I'm really sorry if Pikachu accidentally..." Satoshi stuttered.
He didn't get to finish. Her blood boiling, Kasumi slapped Satoshi across the face.
"Hey! I said I was sorry!" he shouted, rubbing his sore cheek.
"'Sorry' isn't gonna fix my bike, kid!" her temper slowly subsided when she remembered the Pikachu.
"Is your pokémon gonna be okay?" Kasumi's voice softened.
Satoshi pulled his Pokemon League cap over his face to hide the tears that were coming.
"I-I.......I don't...know...." he replied sadly.
A sudden tidal wave swept Kasumi away from the distant memories, this time, leaving her half-choked with water. Someone approached and pat her back to help her cough up the water.
"Thank you..." she uttered between coughing fits. Looking up, she realized it was Satoshi who was helping her. His eyes reflected concern, and he reached out to aid her to her feet.
Kasumi got up, somewhat wobbly at first, but she didn't fall down. She leaned on Satoshi's shoulder for support, wondering why he hadn't said any insults yet. She looked into his eyes.
"Why are you following me on my pokemon journey?" he asked softly.
Kasumi didn't get to answer him. Her eyes opened, and she recalled that she and Satoshi were caught in Mandy Kota's snare. She sighed, then realized she had a vest covered over her. It was Satoshi's; she hadn't gotten cold because Satoshi had removed his vest and blanketed her, though rather clumsily, with it.
Behind her, Satoshi shivered as the wind brushed past.
"Satoshi?"
"Huh?" the boy stirred awake.
"How much longer do you think that kitsune-jin is gonna keep us up here?"
"I don't know..." Satoshi sneezed.
"Bless you..." Kasumi mumbled as she stared into space. The sun would be rising soon; maybe Mandy Kota would let them out at sunrise.
"Hey, Kasumi?" Satoshi uttered.
"What?" she answered, snapping back to reality.
"Did you...have any weird dreams?" he asked.
"Huh? What do you mean?" Kasumi's attention had been caught.
"Oh, nevermind." Satoshi closed the subject.
"No, really." she continued. "Go ahead and say what you were gonna say."
Satoshi sighed. "Well, I had this dream where you were actually worried about me. Weird, huh?"
"Yeah...." she spaced out.
Satoshi noticed she wasn't yelling at him in her normal fashion. Was she sick? Or just too tired to argue?
"You okay?" he queried. "You don't sound like your normal self."
"What did you mean by that?" Agitation arose in Kasumi's voice. NOW she was starting to sound like her old self!
"I don't know," he yawned. "You just didn't give the reaction I expected, I guess."
Kasumi realized her mistake. Quickly, she fumbled for an excuse to make up for her careless words.
"I'm just tired, okay?" she grumbled. "I'm not in the mood to be arguing with you right now."
"Fine..." Satoshi sighed. Then, he remembered the last part of his dream; in it, Kasumi hadn't answered why she was following him. Maybe he could ask her now....
"Um....Satoshi?" Kasumi's voice broke the silence.
"What?"
"Well,.....uh....thanks for lending me your vest."
"No problem," Satoshi yawned, stretching as best he could in their confined space. "By the way,.....
"Huh?" Kasumi answered.
"Why are you following me anyway?"
"For the bike you owe me."
"Are you sure?" he double-checked. "I thought you said it wasn't about the b--"
Satoshi suddenly slapped his hand over his mouth. Now, he was confusing his dreams with reality!
"When did I say that?" she poked her elbow gently into his rib.
"Forget I said that!" he quipped.
"No! I wanna know where you heard that!" Kasumi demanded.
Satoshi relented.
"Fine, it's just something I thought you said. But it was only a dream from being stuck with you here in this net, I guess."
"Quit lying!" Kasumi snapped. "What did you think I was following you for? C'mon! Out with it! Now!"
"Um well" Satoshi fumbled for an answer that wouldn't make Kasumi any more mad than she already was. "M-maybe you felt alone, so you needed me for company" He curled up, ready for any kind of blow Kasumi might inflict.
"What?" Kasumi blinked.
"I figured you needed someone to talk to, so you started following me around everywhere I went."
"How did?" Kasumi choked on her own words.
"Well, I uh" Satoshi stuttered. "I saw it in some dream, but I didn't really think it meant anything."
Kasumi was on the brink of tears, but she wouldn't tell Satoshi that. If she said anything at that time, she would have broken down crying.
"What am I gonna do?" she wondered.
"Is it because you like Pikachu?" Satoshi uttered. "Or is it--"
"What do you care?" Kasumi blurted out.
"Well, you're always following me, so I think I've got a right to know!"
Mandy Kota peered up at them from the ground unnoticed. The first rays of the sun peeked over the horizon and shined its light on the situation.
"Perhaps a little intervention is called for" she thought.
"Ok," Kasumi sobbed. "Maybe it was about the bike at first, but now"
"Swallow that pride of yours, Kasumi," called Mandy. "and the truth will be much easier to spit out!"
Kasumi hardly noticed Mandy, believing it had been her own conscience talking.
"But now, what?" Satoshi blinked curiously.
"But now" she breathed. "it's because Iwant to be with you."
"With me?"
"You're right. I followed you because I needed company, so I just used the bike as an excuse." Kasumi cleared her throat. "But even though you're a clumsy, dim-witted pokemon trainer who's mean sometimes, I preferred being with you to being with my sisters"
Satoshi sat still as stone, shocked by what Kasumi had just said. It took some time for it to all sink in, but eventually he was able to say something.
"You like me? Instead of your sisters?" he muttered. "Iuh I'm kinda flattered but well"
"Well what?"
"Well, I thinkmaybe you should go back and make peace with your sisters, if that's why you're avoiding them."
"Oh yeah right!"
"I think Satoshi has a point, Kasumi-chan." said Mandy. "It is worth the effort."
Satoshi and Kasumi finally noticed Mandy Kota below them.
"Are you gonna let us out now?" asked Kasumi.
"As a matter of fact, I am." Mandy grinned.
An Iibui hopped out from the foliage and nibbled the snare rope. The rope snapped in two, and Kasumi came crashing down, landing on Satoshi. Mandy Kota whistled, and a Windei leapt from behind her, with Takeshi and Pikachu seated on top.
"Satoshi!" he called. "Are you okay?"
Satoshi pushed Kasumi off of him and stood up, brushing the dust off himself. "I'm okay. How about you?"
"Just great!" Takeshi smiled. "It turns out Mandy Kota here is a new gym leader!"
"A new gym leader?" Kasumi glanced at Mandy, then back at Takeshi. "But I thought there were only eight badges to qualify for the Pokemon League."
"There are." said Mandy. "Eight badges are required to enter the Pokémon League, but the new badge is quite beneficial."
"New badge?" Satoshi blinked.
"The Illusion badge is optional, of course." Mandy grinned smugly. "But, if you don't battle me for it, none of you will be allowed to leave this forest!"
"Huh?" Kasumi started.
"Alright!" cheered Satoshi. "If it's a pokemon match you want, then you got it!"
"You'll be needing these." Takeshi handed Satoshi his pokeballs and Kasumi her backpack.
"So where's your gym?" Satoshi's eye gleamed anxiously.
"Right here." Mandy responded.
"In the middle of nowhere?" Takeshi puzzled.
"This whole forest is my gym." explained Mandy. "We will have a 4-on-4 battle. Choose your first pokémon!"
"I'm ready." Satoshi grinned.
"Then let the match begin!" Mandy leapt in the air, glowing, then taking the shape of a large, glittering bird of all colors.
"Whoa!" cried Satoshi. "How'd she do that?"
"Kitsune-jin are shape-shifters and illusionists." Takeshi explained, somewhat startled himself. "Be careful!"
"Send out your pokemon!" Mandy squawked.
Satoshi plucked a pokeball from his belt and tossed it onto the ground. "Zenigame, I choose you!"
Zenigame faced the opponent, then glanced back at Satoshi as though puzzled. Satoshi pulled out his pokédex to see what he was up against.
"Hou'ou, the rainbow bird pokemon." The pokédex uttered. "According to legend, this pokémon uses its strange powers to carry prayers to heaven."
"Oh great, a lot of help that does me!" Satoshi grumbled. "Zenigame! Water Gun attack now!
Zenigame attacked with full force, but Mandy blocked it with ease.
"My turn!" grinned Mandy. "Psywave!"
The attack hit Zenigame hard, leaving him confused.
"Zenigame! Return!" Satoshi withdrew the confused pokémon and pointed toward the transformed kitsune-jin. "Pikachu, go!"
"Pi!" the electric mouse dashed into the battlefield.
"Pikachu!" called Satoshi. "Thunder attack! Now!"
The attack caught Mandy Kota completely off her guard. The high voltage weakened her greatly, but she remained standing.
"Fly!" Mandy Kota called out as she shot straight up into the air.
Pikachu used his Swift attack, but it hardly scratched the psychic bird. In an instant, Mandy dive-bombed Pikachu with the second part of the attack. Pikachu stood, scratched and bleeding, as though ready for more.
"KaCHUUUUU!!!!" Pikachu's Thunderbolt attack slammed shockingly into Mandy. She squawked in agony as she collapsed and reverted back to her true form.
"Gotcha!" cheered Satoshi, striking his victory pose.
"The battle isn't over yet, Satoshi!" Mandy shifted her shape again, this time becoming what appeared to be a crowned Slowbro.
"What's that?" Satoshi pointed the pokedex at Mandy Kota once more.
"Yadoking, the clever dimwit pokemon." the pokédex's voice crackled. "It takes a lot of hard training to make a slowpoke become this unusual pokemon."
"Yeah," Satoshi muttered. "But what does that tell me?"
"Satoshi!" called Kasumi. "Water pokemon are weak against Electric attacks! Use Pikachu!"
"Reflect!" Mandy Kota called out. The shells and crown formed an armor around her.
"Pikachu! I choose you" cried Satoshi. "Give it your Swift attack! Now!"
The attack scratched through the Yadoking's armor, but only by half as much as the attack might have inflicted.
"Confusion!" Mandy inflicted a fair heap of damage, but Pikachu remained unconfused.
"Hey!" Satoshi yelled at Kasumi. "I thought you said this was a Water-type!"
"It is!" Kasumi answered. "But it's also a Psychic-type pokémon."
"Now she tells me." He muttered quietly.
"Ready to give up, Satoshi?" Mandy grinned.
"Far from it!" Satoshi retorted. "Pikachu! Thundershock! Now!"
Pikachu wasted no time in executing the attack. It dented the Yadoking-shaped kitsune-jin, but not by much.
"Waterfall!" Mandy counter-attacked viciously, leaving Satoshi's Pikachu half-choked with water.
"Pikachu!" screamed Satoshi as pulled his soaked pokemon from the battlefield. "Fushigidane! I choose you!" Satoshi cradled Pikachu in one arm and sent out his plant pokémon with the other.
Fushigidane poised itself defensively. Mandy Kota stepped back apprehensively.
"Fushigidane! Vine Whip! Now!" ordered Satoshi.
Mandy Kota attempted to dodge the attack, but to no avail. She took the hits, but was still ready for more.
"Confusion!" Mandy sent out the attack's psychic waves, hitting Fushigidane with perfect accuracy. Fushigidane seemed confused at first, but it was gone in an instant.
"Solar Beam! Now!" called Satoshi.
As Fushigidane drew in the sun's rays, the bulb on its back began glowing and throbbing. Mandy Kota took advantage of the opportunity to strike.
"Waterfall!" she called. Tons of water poured down on Fushigidane, but it had next to no effect. Now it was Fushigidane's turn to attack. He let loose the full force of the Solar Beam into the Yadoking, knocking it out completely.
"Alright!" cheered Satoshi.
"Keep going, Satoshi!" cried Takeshi. "She's only got two more!"
Mandy Kota shifted back to her original form before hauling herself to her feet. She seemed unable to go on, save for the defiant gleam in her eyes.
"I fight on!" Mandy shifted into something like a blue Pikachu.
"I should keep this thing out!" Satoshi retrieved his pokédex again and pointed it at Mandy Kota.
"Mariru, the aquatic mouse pokemon." crackled the pokédex. "A rare pokemon that dwells deep in caves."
"So it's a water-type." Satoshi uttered. "Alright, Fushigidane, go!"
Fushigidane whipped its vines at Mariru, but Mariru just whacked them aside with its tail. At one point, the vines caught Mariru and it seemed as though the battle was over.
Mandy Kota, despite her entrapment, grinned mischievously. "Thundershock!" she screamed. The powerful voltage sparked along the vines back to Fushigidane, electrocuting him into defeat. Mariru stood, nearly untouched.
"Oh! How?!" cried Satoshi. "Fushigidane! Return!" The shocked plant pokémon returned to its pokeball.
"Had enough?" laughed Mandy Kota.
"No way!" Satoshi retorted.
"What other pokémon can Satoshi use against Mariru?" Kasumi asked.
"Pikachu and Fushigidane are knocked out, and Zenigame makes number three" mumbled Takeshi. "Satoshi can only use one other pokemon, so he'd better choose wisely."
Satoshi pulled a pokeball from his waist and tossed it. "Zenigame, go!"
The turtle pokemon made the scene, now recovered from its previous confusion.
"The Zenigame again." Mandy Kota grinned. "This should be interesting. Thundershock!"
Zenigame just barely dodged the attack and reared back for an attack of its own.
"Waterfall!" Mariru attacked with the tonage of water, but it did little against Satoshi's water pokémon. Zenigame charged at Mariru through the reminants of the aquatic attack and Skull Bashed it head-on. It knocked the wind out of Mariru, but didn't knock her completely out. Mandy Kota counter-attacked with Tail Whip, weakening Zenigame's defenses. Zenigame Skull Bashed her again, and it was lights out for Mandy the Mariru.
"Yes!" cried Satoshi.
Mandy Kota shifted to normal once more before making her final transformation.
"Don't celebrate victory before it comes!" she growled. Her body took on the shape of the rarest pokémon of all-- Mew.
"Uh oh," Satoshi gulped.
"Psyshock!" Mandy forced a bomb of psychic energy into Zenigame, knocking him completely senseless.
"Zenigame, return!" Satoshi withdrew the fainted pokémon back into its ball.
Mew grinned, sure that victory was hers. With all the weak pokémon this trainer had been sending out, the last one was certainly to be no different.
"Satoshi! Be careful who you send out!" yelled Takeshi.
But Satoshi had already chosen which pokemon to send out against Mandy Kota. He stared nervously at the pokéball in his hand, wondering if this pokémon was really the right one to battle right now. The match was counting on his decision.
"I'm waiting!" teased Mew. "Or do you give up?"
Satoshi tossed the pokeball out into the field. "Lizardon! Go!"
The majestic fire pokemon exploded from the pokéball spewing flames in all directions. Trees were singed as well as onlookers. All but Satoshi and Mandy Kota took cover from the searing inferno.
"Clever." Mew grinned. "Shall we see if he can fight?"
"Lizardon! Flamethrower!" yelled Satoshi.
Lizardon's attack caused even more damage than his entrance, inflicting Mew with some serious burns. But Mandy Kota was not to be so easily defeated.
"Barrier!" she called. Psychic energy formed a thin force-field around her, sheilding out some of the flames.
"Fire Spin!" called Satoshi.
Lizardon spewed its flaming attack at Mew. Mandy Kota took the hit and remained standing, but barely so.
"Psybeam!" Mew shot her invincible beam at the towering fire pokemon. Lizardon was badly hit, but still standing.
"Slash! Now!" Satoshi ordered.
But the last attack had confused Lizardon, leaving him open to attack. The burns Lizardon had inflicted were weakening Mew little by little, and if she didn't attack soon, the match would be lost.
"Barrier!" Mandy Kota weakly called out. The force-field surrounding her grew thicker and stronger.
"Lizardon! Slash!" cried Satoshi.
Lizardon finally shook off the confusion and poised to attack. Mew floated ready for any hit. Lizardon puffed up its cheeks for a different attack.
"Lizardon! What are you doing?" Satoshi was starting to get nervous. Why didn't this pokemon ever listen to him?
"Satoshi! It's disobeying you again!" yelled Kasumi. "Take cover quick!"
"What's going on?" wondered Mandy Kota. "That doesn't look like a Slash attack!"
Mandy Kota couldn't have been more right. Lizardon opened its mouth, releasing a hellish inferno of flames in all directions. Unable to withstand the blow, Mandy Kota collapsed to the ground, reverting back to her original form.
Satoshi peeked timidly at the situation and realized that he had won. Lizardon poised its victory stance, pounding its chest with its fists like Godzilla. Windei and Iibui stood over their beaten mastress, worried.
Kasumi and Takeshi crept out of hiding and looked around. Satoshi ran over to Mandy Kota to see if she was all right.
The Iibui was trying to wake Mandy, but to no avail. Windei licked Mandy's face, and she stirred awake.
"Are you ok?" asked Satoshi. "I've never seen anyone take a beating that bad from Lizardon before!"
Mandy Kota sat herself up, leaning against what was now a charred tree. Her fur was singed, but no mortal injuries had been inflicted.
"You beat me, damn it" she sighed, smiling weakly. "And for that, you've earned the Illusion badge." She held out her paw and a small, pearly badge appeared. "Here."
"Are you sure you're all right?" Satoshi took the badge from her. Takeshi came up behind him and gave the kitsune-jin a super potion.
"Yes, thank you." Mandy sipped the potion. "You are- how old, Satoshi?"
"Eleven and a half." he replied.
Mandy Kota grinned. "How would you like your future told?"
"Oh! Will I get a new bike soon?" Kasumi excitedly cut in.
Mandy Kota laughed. "You'll neither remember nor care about that bike in twenty years. As for you, Satoshi, only through perseverence and understanding will you ever hope to achieve becoming a true pokémon master. In twenty years, your red-headed son will take up that trainer's vest of yours and follow in your footsteps."
"A- A son????" Satoshi stuttered.
"A red head?" Takeshi puzzled.
"Worry not about it now." said Mandy. "Do concern yourselves, however, on becoming a pokémon master. I wish all of you the best of luck."
As they set out on their way, Satoshi continued to puzzle over Mandy Kota's prediction. Him? With a kid? Impossible!
"What's the matter, Satoshi?" Takeshi queried.
"Mandy Kota said I'm gonna have a kid, right?"
"Right."
"I don't see how anyone would want to get married to you!" Kasumi scoffed.
"But if he's gonna have red hair," Satoshi continued.
"It just means you'll get married to someone with red hair." Takeshi finished.
"But who do I know that has red-" Satoshi suddenly stopped himself and glanced nervously at Kasumi, who was doing the same to him. That couldn't mean
"EEEEWWWW!!!" they writhed. "NO WAY!"
From woods behind them, Mandy Kota's all-knowing laughter trickled by on the breeze.
THE END
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