EP011

Emerald, Beedrill, Leaf, and Khoury are at the Pokémon Center. Emerald is sitting on a bench with Beedrill and Khoury, while Leaf is standing up.

Leaf: You’ll need to be at your best, today! You know Koga’s a part of, (whispers) Team Rocket. He’s not as strong as Lt. Surge, but is just as dangerous.

Emerald: Pfft, and I beat Lt. Surge! My Pokémon are stronger now too, and I’ve got more Pokémon on my team!

Leaf: (Sighs exasperatedly) Still, don’t you think it’s a good idea to prepare some you know, strategies?

Khoury: Y - yeah, his Venomoth beat you and Gary! Now that you’re alone, w - what if knocks out all of your Pokémon?!

Emerald: Nah! I’m fine! I’ll beat him, believe it!

Leaf: At the very least, you might wanna swap out some of your Pokémon. You haven’t used some of your Pokémon yet in a gym battle, and now that you have a team of seven, you might want to.

Beedrill: (Nods) Bee.

Emerald: Huh?! (Grins) Well if Beedrill agrees, alright!

Leaf: (Thinks) You told me last time you used Wartortle, Charmander, and Beedrill.

Emerald: (Grins) And we won!

Leaf: Maybe you could use some of your newer Pokémon like Gastly or Rhyhorn?

Emerald: (Whips out a Pokéball) Or Meowth! Let’s go!

He releases Meowth, who can barely stand up. It looks up at Emerald, barely able to see him.

Emerald: Meowth! Show me what you’ve got!

Meowth claws at the air, falling over from swinging too hard.

Khoury: M - maybe not Meowth? It can’t b - battle!

Emerald: (Grits teeth) Fine! Sorry, Meowth, maybe next time!

He returns Meowth.

Leaf: Well, I guess Meowth isn’t much of a battler. That should free up a spot on your team.

Leaf guides Emerald and Khoury to the PC.

Leaf: Professor Oak said he’d be gone for Celadon, so we should call his lab before dropping off Meowth.

Emerald: (Grumbles) I just wanna head to the gym! I gotta beat Koga!

Khoury: M - maybe if you were more patient, y - you’d…

Emerald: I’d what?

Leaf: I think he means you’d win more battles if you were more patient.

Beedrill: (Nods) Bee.

Emerald: (Scoffs) That’s impossible! I’m gonna be the strongest trainer there is! Believe it!

Emerald calls Professor Oak’s lab, ready to drop off Meowth. Instead of Professor Oak, there’s a girl Gary’s age with similar features.

Daisy: Hi, I’m Daisy! (Notices Leaf) Oh, hi, Leaf!

Leaf: (Smiles) Hi, Daisy.

Daisy: Professor Oak’s currently gone, so I’m running the lab right now.

In the background, Gary’s Machop is fighting a Lickitung. The Lickitung licks Machop, paralyzing it and knocking it over.

Daisy: (Looks over) Lickitung, Machop! Professor Oak said not to fight! (Turns back to face the group) Things are… (Laughs) a bit hectic. Gary’s Pokémon like to pick fights with each other. Just like Gary I suppose.

Emerald: (Pinches nose, shaking his head) Gary! I have to drop off my Meowth! I’m gonna battle Koga, (grins) and I plan on winning!

Daisy: (Giggles) Alright. Send your Meowth over and I’ll make sure to take care of it!

Emerald drops Meowth’s Pokéball into the PC, transporting it over to Daisy. Daisy picks it up on the other side of the screen, releasing the baby Meowth. She holds it up on the screen.

Daisy: Aww, it’s so cute! (Notices something on the computer) Oh, it says right here you can use your Rhyhorn now!

Emerald: (Grins) Awesome!

Daisy: Good luck on your gym battle! And good luck on your research, Leaf!

The group all wave goodbye to Daisy.

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Scene change

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Emerald, Beedrill, Leaf, and Khoury stand before the Fuchsia Gym.

Khoury: A - are you ready? T - this is it! T - there’s no turning back now! … Is there?

Emerald: (Grins) Koga won’t know what’s coming!

He barges through the doors, finding an empty room bar two statues. Emerald looks around, searching for Koga.

Emerald: (Calling out) Koga? … Kogaaaa? (Looks around, frantically) KOGA?!

Ninja stars are shot at from the statues, aimed at Emerald. He widens his eyes, putting his arm up defensively. Beedrill moves in the way with Agility, smacking the ninja stars away with its stingers.

Beedrill: Bee!

Khoury: W - we have to turn back now!

Leaf: We’ll just have to be careful. There’s likely traps all over the place.

Emerald: Hah! That’s not gonna stop us!

He walks proudly, knocking into an invisible wall. He rubs his head.

Emerald: Ow!

Leaf: I told you…

Leaf walks up to the invisible wall, touching it. She begins to walk alongside it, finding a turn. She follows it, making it to a platform.

Leaf: Just follow the walls!

Leaf continues to walk, the platform suddenly disappearing before her.

Khoury & Emerald: LEAF!

Emerald and Beedrill run alongside the wall, hopping down the the spot she fell without consideration. Khoury hesitates.

Khoury: (Sighs) A - am I really going to do this?

Khoury follows after, hesitantly jumping down. He finds Emerald, Beedrill, and Leaf.

Khoury: (Panting) E - Emerald, Leaf!

They turn around, smiling briefly. Their smiles fade upon seeing the wall close in.

Leaf: Khoury! Move out of the way, the walls are closing in!

Khoury turns around, panicking.

Khoury: I - I’ve gotta get outta here!

Khoury runs past Emerald and Leaf, however finds the other wall closing in.

Khoury: W - we’re gonna die!

Emerald: I can't die like this! I have to go out in the coolest way possible!

Leaf gives him the look.

Emerald: What? I have to have my priorities set!

Leaf: The walls are closing in, so, (looks up at the ceiling) we’ll either have to go up or find a way to escape.

Emerald: (Grins) I have an idea! Beedrill, Drill Run at the walls!

Beedrill nods affirmatively, spinning in place without the use of Twineedle. It rushes to a wall with Agility, crashing into it. A massive hole’s created in the wall.

Emerald: (Grins) You rock!

He follows after Beedrill, finding himself in a dark room. Leaf and Khoury follow.

Khoury: I - it’s dark!

A ceiling tile drops onto the ground, the group hearing footsteps.

Emerald: Hey! Who’s there?!

The lights turn on, revealing a girl with purple hair and a ninja outfit. She sulkily poses with a Golbat.

Girl: Drats! How’d you figure out it was me?

Leaf: (Rolls eyes) You’re very subtle.

Janine: I’m Janine, daughter of Koga and gym leader in training! Beware!

Emerald: Where’s Koga?! I wanna battle him!

Janine: (Hammy) Ha, ha, ha! You stand no chance against Koga, puny trainer! In order to battle him, you’ll have to beat me!

Emerald: (Whips out a Pokéball) Who are you calling puny?! Let’s go, Luma!

Emerald releases Luma.

Luma: Char, char!

Janine: Golbat! Wing Attack!

Emerald: Block it!

Zubat pops out of its Pokéball, fluttering its wings excitedly upon seeing the other Golbat. It watches as Janine’s Golbat rushes towards Luma, slamming her in the stomach with Wing Attack. Luma grapples onto Golbat, skidding back.

Zubat: Zu, zu!

Janine: Poison Fang!

Emerald: Ember!

Golbat bites onto Luma’s hands, forcing Luma to release it. Luma thrashes around briefly, poisonous foam releasing from her mouth. Luma releases spews of Ember which Luma dodges.

Khoury: I - it’s poisoned!

Leaf: That’s not good. If Janine can simply stall out the entire match, then it’s just a matter of time for Emerald.

Emerald: (Thinks) Gotta get Luma to listen! (Grins) Got it! Spin around, hit Golbat with Ember!

Janine: Wing Attack again!

Luma spins around, her tail flame growing with oxygen. The flame spews into smaller flames that are thrown at Golbat. Golbat maneuvers past them but is knocked aside from Luma’s tail. It quickly recovers.

Emerald: Way to go!

Luma winces, feeling the poison.

Zubat: (Sad) Zu…

Leaf: It’ll be alright, Luma will recover just fine.

Janine: Bite!

Emerald: Dragon Rage!

Luma attempts to use Dragon Rage at Golbat however Golbat ducks underneath her. Golbat pops out from behind, biting onto Luma’s tail.

Luma: (In distress) CHAR!

Luma wags her tail around, trying to throw off Golbat. Golbat sinks its teeth into Luma’s tail harder.

Emerald: Do that spin Ember trick!

Janine: Bite!

Luma spins around, throwing Golbat off. She releases spews of ember, however Golbat flaps its wings to blow them away.

Emerald: Ember!

Janine: Wing Attack!

Khoury: I - is he crazy? He’s just repeating Ember when Golbat keeps dodging!

Leaf: I think he’s realizing it, but I’m not sure what he’s getting at.

Golbat dodges Luma’s Ember attack, rushing in for Wing Attack -

Emerald: Thunder Punch!

Luma creates a spark of electricity around its fist, briefly holding it in an uppercut. She releases it as a projectile from underneath Golbat, knocking it into the ceiling. Golbat falls onto the ground, defeated. Luma also collapses, feeling a sting from the poison.

Emerald: That was awesome! (Returns Luma, grinning) Return!

Khoury rushes up to Emerald.

Khoury: D - did you plan that out?! I, I didn’t expect you to do that!

Emerald: (Grins sheepishly) Of course! (Leaf walks by) Er, well, I came up with it as I went!

Leaf: That was pretty clever! I wasn’t sure what your plan would be, but I guess having no plan works for you as well.

Janine: Aw, man! You beat my Golbat!

Emerald: (Sticks tongue out) Who’s puny now?!

Janine: (Sheepishly) Me. (Quickly) But my dad will beat you! One mistake, and it’s over for you!

Emerald: Pfft, yeah, right!

A doorway opens, startling Emerald, Leaf, and Khoury. Beedrill’s antennae perk up briefly, however rest. Janine bows.

Janine: Koga wants to battle you.

Emerald: H - huh?! You just said a mi - bah! Alright!

Emerald bursts through the doors with Beedrill. He finds a slanted hallway going uphill, walking along it. Leaf and Khoury follow. They eventually find themselves outdoors, finding an arena marked by chalk and Koga.

Koga: Ah, the boy who took down Lt. Surge. I’ve been awaiting you.

Emerald: (Winces, clutching stomach) You’re a part of Team Rocket!

Koga: (Sharply) And what? You’ll call Officer Jenny? (Shrugs) Not like they care.

Emerald: (Whips out a Pokéball) I’m gonna beat you!

Koga: Ah, a battler. Venomoth.

Venomoth flies in.

Khoury: V - Venomoth! T - that took on Emerald a - AND Gary at the same time!

Leaf: He’s sending it out first, so whatever comes next will be more difficult to deal with.

Emerald: Let’s go, Rhyhorn!

He releases Rhyhorn, who stomps his foot.

Koga: Going straight for power, hm? That’ll be your downfall. Quiver Dance to Psybeam.

Emerald: Take Down!

Rhyhorn stomps his feet, charging towards Venomoth. Venomoth dodges, leaving behind afterimages with Quiver Dance. Rhyhorn runs past Koga, unable to slow down. He slams into a wall, however shakes it off. Venomoth shoots a pink ray of energy from behind, striking Rhyhorn.

Rhyhorn: RHYY!

Rhyhorn pants heavily, slowly turning around.

Leaf: Rhyhorn is more physically defensive, another Quiver Dance-boosted Psybeam should be enough to knock him out. (Sighs exasperatedly) I don’t think Emerald even realizes he has the type advantage here.

Khoury: H - huh? Really?

Leaf: A rock type against a bug type.

Emerald: Rhyhorn, uh, (sheepishly grins) what other moves do you have again?

Leaf: You have a Pokédex, you realize?

Emerald: Oh, yeah!

Koga: (Scoffs) If all you have is strength on your side, then you’ve already lost. Psybeam.

Emerald: (Whips out Pokédex) Pokédex, uh read some moves to me!

Pokédex: Rhyhorn knows four moves; Takedown, Smack Down -

Emerald: Smack Down!

Rhyhorn forms an orange energy and a trail of stones with his horn, releasing it towards Venomoth. Venomoth releases another Psybeam, countering Rhyhorn’s Smack Down. An explosion occurs, smoke covering the field. The trail of stones clear the field, striking Venomoth. Venomoth falls, defeated.

Khoury: H - he did it!

Leaf: A rock type move against a frail bug type, (smiles) not bad.

Koga: Hm? One hit. (Returns Venomoth, releasing Koffing) Sludge Bomb.

Emerald: Smack Down!

Koffing puffs out toxic waste, hitting Rhyhorn. Rhyhorn grunts, falling onto his stomach, however holds on. Purple foam escapes Rhyhorn’s mouth, causing him to collapse, defeated.

Emerald: One hit?! What was that?!

Koga: A special move on an injured Pokémon, with poisoning.

Return, Rhyhorn! (Returns Rhyhorn) Let’s go, Wartortle!

He releases Wartortle, who strikes a pose with its sunglasses.

Wartortle: War, war!

Emerald: Water Pulse!

Koga: Smokescreen.

Koffing releases smoke, covering the field. Wartortle throws a sphere made of water, missing.

Emerald: Gah, I can’t see!

Koga: That’s the point. Poison Gas.

Emerald: Rapid Spin!

Wartortle spins around, blowing away the smoke on the field. It gets up, pushing up its sunglasses.

Emerald: Great!

Koffing appears behind Wartortle, releasing a poisonous gas that hits it.

Emerald: (Grits teeth) Wartortle!

Khoury: O - oh no!

Wartortle winces, purple foam escaping its mouth.

Emerald: Water Pulse!

Koga: Self-destruct.

Khoury: W - WHAT?!

Leaf: Oh no, this isn’t good…

Emerald: H - huh?! Wartortle, block it!

Wartortle nods, creating a large sphere of water that it releases towards Koffing. Koffing spins around, glowing white and swelling up. Leaf and Khoury cover their eyes and ears, awaiting the explosion. Emerald watches in horror as a blinding light expands across the room, his hearing going poorly.

Emerald: WARTORTLE? YOU ALRIGHT?

Wartortle stands still, knees wobbling.

Wartortle: War! (Coughs) Wa…

Purple bubbles escape Wartortle’s mouth. Wartortle falls, defeated from the poison.

Emerald: SHOOT!

Leaf: (Regains hearing) It’s a tie, so far

Koga: So long as you even draw, I will not need to win. (Smirks) Now! For my final Pokémon, Arbok!

Koga releases Arbok.

Emerald looks towards Leaf and Khoury, gritting his teeth.

Emerald: That poison’s a real pain! (Grins) So let’s go, Frisk!

Emerald releases Frisk.

Frisk: (Laughing sinisterly) Gaa!

Frisk looks determined upon seeing Koga.

Koga: Coil.

Emerald: Curse!

Arbok flares its hood up, seemingly growing as it glows purple. It begins to moan in pain from Curse, wincing.

Emerald: Shadow Ball!

Koga: Dodge, then Coil.

Frisk creates a large sphere of dark energy, shooting it towards Arbok. Arbok slithers past it, however winces from Curse. It flares its hood up again, glowing purple.

Koga: Crunch!

Emerald: Payback!

Arbok leaps towards Frisk, sinking its teeth into it. Frisk creates rings of energy that strike Arbok, throwing Arbok off of it. Frisk groans in pain.

Frisk: (Winces) Ga…

Leaf: Not a smart plan, the damage Frisk took from Crunch was greater than that boosted Payback on Arbok.

Koga: Crunch!

Emerald: (Stunned before grinning) Eat this! SHADOW BALL!

Arbok leaps towards Frisk, mouth wide open. Frisk shoots another Shadow Ball, this time into Arbok’s mouth. Arbok sinks its teeth into the Shadow Ball, being recoiled back by the explosion. Arbok stands, however, winces from Curse before collapsing.

Koga: Hm. You repurposed my poison strategies with Curse?

Emerald: Shut up! You’re apart of Team Rocket! You’re lucky if I don’t call Officer Jenny.

Koga: Hmph. (Flicks Soul Badge at Emerald) Take it and leave.

Emerald takes it.

Emerald: Why should I? Rocket scum!

Khoury: L - let’s get out of here.

Koga taps something in his ear.

Koga: Officer Jenny. I have… unwanted attraction within my gym.

Emerald: W - what?!

Leaf: You can’t arrest us!

Koga: I can’t. But she can.

An Officer Jenny enters with a Growlithe.

Khoury: N - no!

Officer Jenny: Please leave the building in an orderly fashion, before I have to detain anyone.

Emerald grumbles, returning Frisk. He walks out the gym, pinning his Soul Badge to his hat. Beedrill follows, then Leaf and Khoury.

Emerald: Koga’s gonna regret that. I’m not gonna stop till Team Rocket’s gone!