Chapter 13 - Out of the Frying Pan and Into Burned Tower

After heading back to Ecruteak and looking around a bit more for Morty, we had only one place left - the Burned Tower.

"He has got to be in there," Silver said. "He has to be. There is nowhere else he could be in this city."

"And, quite frankly," Timas added, "he wouldn't dare leave. The only question is do we need to prepare..."

"I doubt we'd need anything more than me," Cecelia said.

"If you are so sure," I said, "why don't you lead the way?"

We entered the building and it immediately felt like a different world all together. It was dark, mostly. There were no lights but part of the upper floors and roof were gone, leading to some light coming in from the outside. The entire building smelled very musty. It somehow felt very humid too, as if the building itself had its own problems with humidity.

Looking around, it was obvious that the tower was in shambles. The upper floors were decrepit and completely inaccessible. Even if you could get to them though, you would not be able to move around as there was little floor on every floor. I could clearly see the floor beneath me (which housed some interesting creatures) through large gaps between me and some odd people on the other end of the building.

Looking down in the gap, I saw three majestic... quadrupeds. They looked very interesting, almost indescribable. The three beasts each looked different - the red looked scraggy and rough, the yellow looked sleeker and fierce and the blue looked serene and calm. They all sat down below me. I could see the stairs there.

I could also see three people in the way, two of whom I didn't know but the first who I knew all too well.

"Well well well, if it isn't Quennel," Lucius sneered. He looked down at the three pokémon. "Those are the legendary beasts. You know that, right? Their power is unequalled by regular pokémon. They are powerful... fierce...just like me. And that is why I want them."

"How wonderful is that," Silver responded. "I bet they are nicer."

"Watch it, you egg thing."

"And you watch it," Cecelia said. "Don't go threatening my friends."

"What are you gonna do about it, rocky?"

With that, Lucius sent out his Gastly. Jenna quickly flew in to battle. The two exchanged glares before Jenna swooped in and bit it, taking it down with one hit. Lucius sent out his own Zubat, prompting Silver to join in. Silver shot off an extrasensory while avoiding supersonic attacks to take it down. After that, Cecelia stepped up, magnituding Lucius's Magnemite and chucking a nice rock throw to critical hit his Quilava.

Lucius glared at me. "You know, out of desperation, weak people sometimes do okay at fighting back. I guess that's all there is to it." He looked down at the beasts again. "You would never be able to catch one of them anyway. They are too strong, too powerful, too...malicious for you." With that, he walked off. I caught Jenna glaring back at him. She then started to glow...

Jenna grew larger. Her wings became much more profound and, beyond that, so did her ears. Her lower appendages became feet and she grew a visible set of eyes. She was now a Golbat.

"Yay! I evolved!"

"Indeed you did," I said. "Which helps to make you even cooler."

"I must agree," said a man from behind me. He was on the tall side and wore an odd purple suit with a white cape. "Although I have not used one, I have found Golbats and Crobats to be interesting pokémon." He bowed. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Eusine. I am here because of one of the legendary pokémon down there - the serene Suicune. One day Suicune will be mine...but it must accept me first. I have been following it for a while but I am afraid to move closer, lest the three of them flee."

"Okay..."

"Suicune is a magnificent beast. Do not listen to that fool who battled you. They are powerful but wonderful as well. And Suicune shall be my partner one day. Of that, I can assure you." He nodded to Jenna and went on his way. The third person between me and the stairs then approached.

"I have not seen you before. I take it you are new to this city?"

"Yes, I am. I come here on a long journey."

"What is your goal?"

"Ultimately? Or at the moment?"

"Both."

"Well, now I am attempting to prove myself as a pokémon trainer, I guess, though I suppose my ultimate goal is to better the world somehow. Not that I know how. I also guess another goal would be to further the relationship between human and pokémon. Professors Elm and Oak have both entrusted me with that goal, so to speak."

"I believe I can help you with one of your goals. And you can help me with one of mine. And we can do it the same way."

"Okay...?"

"This guy is confusing me to no end," Cecelia muttered.

"Oh hush," Bella said. "It is getting good."

"Anyway," the man continued, "I am this town's protector. I am Morty, the gym leader. I am here for many reasons. One, however, is the legend of this city. Long ago, a golden hued pokémon came and blessed this town. We built towers to its glory...but we have forsaken it. It set this tower on fire, or at least its will did. And, because of this, we let it stand as a reminder. We wish for this pokémon to come back some day. I wish for this. But I must become a better trainer for that to happen. Just as you wish to do so. Therefore, we shall battle."

"Sweet," Cecelia said. "Let's go right now."

"Not so fast, my friend. Two days time. Then I will be ready. But I must prepare. And confer with some people. Once you have beaten me, you may enter Bell Tower, the one to the legendary pokémon." He smiled. "Of course, that means you must beat me. It is my goal to get stronger. It is why I became a gym leader. Battling you will help, I am sure."

He stepped aside. "You may go down there, but I am sure they will flee if you do. Not that that is a bad thing, but it is rather a certain one."

"Thank you for all of the information."

"Do not mention it. I feel a destiny about you. I am sure my old friend Eusine did too, or else he may not have spoken to you." He smiled. "But that does not mean I will let you see Ho-oh before me."

He then left and I had the stiars in front of me (and a few trainers just beyond them to sweep as well.

After dealing with the fire-breathers, Jenna was felling very good and started to glow again. Her body actually got smaller. Her feet become anterior wings and her eyes got fiercer. When she ceased glowing, she was now a purple color instead of the blue she was prior.

"Sweet! I am a Crobat now! Awesome!"

"Indeed it is. We should test you out."

Sophie, KOFFING (female)

Levitate; Jolly (+Speed -Sp. Atk.)

Lvl 14, Burned Tower.

With another new pokémon in tow, we headed downstairs. We were able to see the beasts up close for only a second, as they quickly fled, just as Morty had predicted. Suicune, however, gave us a close look before departing. After exploring this level a bit further, we decided to go back to the pokémon center.

"So what now?" We were lounging when Cecelia asked me that question. "Do we wait it out?"

"No," I said. "We train. But if we have two days, we can probably also head down to Olivine and over to Ecruteak. We may get some new pokémon and it will give me a chance to round out your levels and train Nick. And maybe, just maybe, I'll find an electric type."

"So where first then," Bella asked. "Olivine for a rod?"

"No. Mt. Mortar and then Ecruteak. That sounds good to me."

Preview Chapter 1 - Enter Beans

Timas walked up to me as I was sitting at the Safari Zone Gate. He briefly looked around and sat next to me. "Jenna and Bella have left to get the potion to Jasmine," he said. "And you did beat Chuck without another loss. You've done well."

"Have I? Have I really?"

Silver came up next to me, floating steadily.

"Of course you have," he said. "You beat Chuck in grand fashion and have saved the life of a pokémon in need."

"Yeah...but at what cost?"

Body Count - 3

From where I was sitting, I could easily see Amy (my Poliwhirl) and Serenity

(my Quagsire) playing on the shores of Cianwood. Timas and Silver were sitting not too far, chatting with Nick (my Tauros). AgentSmith (the Magneton) hovered over to me.

"You Need To De-Stress Some."

"Easy for you to say. You aren't...um...well...um..."

"Go Ahead. Say What You Will. I Know What I Am."

"You are just a bag of bolts, technically. No offense."

"None Taken. I May Be A Bag Of Bolts, But Do Not Forget That I Am Your Bag Of Bolts. And I Would Not Want It Any Other Way."

I smiled. "Thanks."

"Do Not Mention It. Or Do. Your Choice."

Nick and Timas started heading our way while Silver flew over to the females still in the water.

"Hey," Timas said, "We were thinking...you could use a break. You've been going for a while without much free time and I think that you deserve a rest before these next two gyms."

"And don't even think of arguing," Nick said. "It will do you good and you will do it. End of discussion."

"Okay guys," I said, "I can see there would be no point arguing. So where should I go?"

"Well," Silver said, flying back with Amy and Serenity in tow, " you are sitting on the Safari Zone Gate. You could go there."

"But Baoba hasn't called me yet."

"Yes He Has," AgentSmith said. "You Recieved A Call From Him While Battling Chuck. It Is On My Voicemail. You May Access It Whenever You Are Ready."

"And your didn't tell me this before because...?"

"It Is Not My Fault If You Do Not Notice My Screws Blinking." I looked. Indeed, the screws were all blinking.

"Well...I guess I should listen to that."

"Hey Quennel, this is Baoba. My Safari Zone has just about to open and I would love for you to be one of the first visitors. I am sure that, by the time you get here, we'll be ready to open the doors. So hurry on down to the end of Route 48!"

"So it's settled, I guess," I said.

"It certainly is," asserted Nick. "And you can catch more team members on the way there too."

We walked through the gate and soon made it to a beautiful seaside cliff. There were a few trainers, but Nick and AgentSmith handled them all very well. We went through a short cave where AgentSmith mauled a Golbat before getting to the end of Route 47.

"There are some trees here," Serenity said. "Should we try for something from them?"

"I don't know," I said. "Amy, how does the water look?"

Amy, who was swimming in the stream next to us, jumped back on to the land. "I am seeing a lot of Tentacool. Some Seels too...but they are scarce. And...Magikarp. There will always be Magikarp. There are some other pokémon toward the bottom, but I am not sure how likely you are to get one of them."

I turned to Serenity. "Headbutt away."

Joeseph, LEDYBA (male)

Early Bird; Mild (+ Sp. Atk., -Def.)

Lvl 17, Route 27.

"Still No Heracross Quennel."

"Too bad," I responded.

"Wait a sec," Nick said. "Do you...smell that?"

"Smell What?"

"It smells like...I don't know." Serenity looked puzzled. I stuck my nose up and sniffed. I smelled it too.

"It smells like...BEANS!"

"And you know what tham means," said Timas excitedly. "Someone's cooking something good!"

"Quickly," Nick said, "follow that smell!"

The seven of us quickly ran through some grass on Route 48 where we came across the source of the smell - a small Vulpix roasting a can of food with a small flame.

Beans, VULPIX (female)

Flash Fire; Hardy (N +Atk. -Atk.)

Lvl 24, Route 48.

"It wasn't a meal," I said, "but I'm still glad we found it."

"I must agree," said Timas, "but I still have a question."

"Yes?"

"Why did you name her Beans? Just because she smelled of it?"

"Allow me to speak some insight," Beans said, hopping out of her pokéball. "Did you know that the great Roman lawyer and orator, Cicero, had a name that, if translated, means Garbonzo Bean? He is simply following in suit."

"Really? You Mean It Is Not Because You Smell Bad?"

She glared at AgentSmith and her eyes flared with fire. "Excuse you?"

"No. Excuse You."

I chuckled. "AgentSmith, while we appreciate your unique brand of electronic sass, I think I am going to put you back in your pokéball before you get roasted alive."

"Ah. You Mean Before I Am Roasted Like Beans."

"No," Beans responded. "Before you are roasted by Beans!"

Chapter 12 - Surf and Strength

Silver handed me a checklist.

"Leaving Goldenrod," it said.

"Beat Whitney?" Check.

"Shop at the store?" Check.

"Gamble some?" Minimally, but check.

"Visit the underground?" Check.

"See Bill?" Well, he wasn't actually there, so no check.

"Get watering can?" Check.

"Get the radio?" Check.

"Get a bike?" I'm not a biking kind of guy, but I still got one, so check.

"Anything else?" Nothing of which I could think, so check. Time to head north.

We headed through Route 35 to get to the national park. Upon Timas's suggestion, I headbutted a tree to see what I may see.

Misako, EXEGGECUTE (female)

Chlorophyll; Modest (+Sp. Atk., -Atk.)

Lvl 12, National Park.

We went through to Route 36, fighting a few trainers along the way. Jenna was having fun demolishing the psychics and Cecelia was delighted to take down more Flying types, much to the chagrin of half of my party. However, we soon had to stop, as the route north was blocked. I approached someone wearing the uniform from the flower shop.

"Hey, this odd tree is blocking the route, so we can't get through." She mumbled to herself something about a watering can and I pulled mine out.

"Wow. You must have gotten a free one from where I work. I bet if you water that tree, it'll move. I don't think it is actually a tree."

Timas stepped forward. "Allow me," he said, grabbing the can. As he moved toward the tree, it shook a bit. He watered it and it jumped in rage. I saw it open its eyes - it was a pokemon! Timas quickly restrained it and I caught it, just in case I ever needed a fake tree.

Hershel, SUDOWOODO (male)

Rock Head; Rash (+Sp. Atk., -Sp. Def.)

Lvl 20, Route 36.

The woman was happy that the tree was gone. "You deserve a reward," she said. "These are Berry Pots. You can grow berries right in your bag."

"Cool," I said. "I've been looking to get more Lum berries."

"I have to go back to work now though. Have fun with those pots." She headed off in the opposite direction as we took to route 37. Night having just hit, a Hoot-Hoot jumped us. However, Silver decided not to make Luna jealous and to take it out.

We got to Ecruteak City shortly afterwards. A surprise was in the pokémon center though, as Bill was fiddling with the PC as we entered. "There," he said, "now it should work perfectly." He saw my pokédex sticking out of my bag and walked over to me. "You have a pokédex? Awesome. You should see me at my house sometime."

"We already tried that," Silver noted. "You weren't there."

"Ah, well, you should try again some time." With that, he left and we got to heal.

Afterwards, we explored Ecruteak. I couldn't get into the Bell Tower until after beating Morty, so I wandered around before heading into the burned tower, where he was said to be hiding. Jenna wanted to visit the dance studio, so we made that our next stop.

Inside, we saw a member of Team Rocket harassing another Kimono Girl. Silver and Jenna quickly dispatched him and we were greeted happily by the owner, how gave us the Surf HM as a reward.

When we left, Timas began musing. "You know," he said, "we'll need a water type at some point."

"I know. But after we've found Morty and found out what he wants in order for us to get into the Bell Tower I think we can deal with that."

"And how will you do that?"

"Well," Gideon said, "Olivine city to the west is a port city, so we could probably find someone there who would be kind enough to give us a decent fishing rod."

"Good point. We'll head there after we find Morty."

With that settled, we decided to survey the route to Olivine first. To our surprise, we met a new friend there.

Nick, TAUROS (male)

Intimidate; Impish (+Def., -Sp. Atk.)

Lvl 13, Route 38.

"Do you want to check the other route?" Silver said as we reentered Ecruteak.

"We certainly could, but only if there is grass right there. Otherwise, we'll head back right away."

We went and, while we found no grass, we saw some water at the base of a large mountain. A hiker came out and greeted us.

"Hello lads. Are you here to scale this mountain?"

"Not at the moment," I responded, "but maybe later."

"Not a bad choice," he said, "but if you wish to do that, you'll need this HM." He handed us a new HM and continued talking. "Strength is a powerful Normal type move, but it can also be used outside of battle to move boulders. Make sure a strong pokémon knows it."

"Oh yeah," Cecelia said, "that's me."

"Go for it," I said, tossing her the HM. "Just know that our friend Nick will get to learn that too. So don't break it."

"With my strength, I make no promises."

"Drama queen," Bella muttered.