Blackthorn City, �A quiet mountain retreat'. The home to the dragon gym of the Johto League.
Jack flips through the Kanto Yellow Book to find an adequate place for his Pokemon to be sent to. Seriously, he is having a hard time taking care of 18 Pokemon all at once. Snorlax just eats and eats and drains his money while Miltank needs to be milked before she explodes. Jack can't deal with those and others so he needs to locate a cheap location to store his Pokemon and hope the personnel take good care of them.
The Pokemon Center might not have been the ideal place to do this, but being a new comer to the city, he has nowhere else to go. It's been three days since he left the broken down magnet train and he has just arrived here an hour ago on this busy morning. What happened to the two Tan Gang members is beyond him. Would they show up again? Probably not.
"Yes, I found a spot." Jack pushes the ground with his feet to move the chair with wheels he was sitting and slides over to the phones.
But just as he is about to dial the number, the registered Nurse Joy drops a different Kanto Yellow Book. "This is the newer edition, you might want to look through these. That book is from three years ago." She grabs the older book, walks away to the back, and places it in the recycle bin.
Jack sighs deeply and scans the new book for any new locations that might be better. After five long minutes, he actually reads something very promising.
"Inkleberry Ranch... Saffron City... elegant service at a low price..." He pushes around in his head trying to find that memory. "Oh, Marty, Marty Inkleberry. This must be one of his father's businesses. Forget everything else, I'm going here for a discount. He..he..he..."
With a new plan to exploit friendship for a discount, Jack dials the number for the Ranch.
"Inkleberry Ranch, the new way of the training. How may I help you?"
"Yes, I would like to speak with Marty Inkleberry please."
"Uh, I can patch you through to Mr. Inkleberry..."
Quickly, "No, not the father, the son..." but the operator disappeared and the line was switched. Don't operators normally ask who is calling before switching to the head boss?
An older man answers on the other side. "Mr. Inkleberry."
Jack doesn't know what to say. "Hi... umm... I met your son Marty a while ago and he gave me a ride in his limo..."
The rich man interrupts, "Jack was it? He told me about you. Thanks for standing up against that Magnemite for him. He's had a fear of them for quite some time. He's not with me at the moment, so what can I do for you?"
Ok, this is going better than Jack expected. "Well, I was wondering if I could have my Pokemon sent to your fabulous Ranch to be taken care of."
"Sure. We will even do it for free for such a great person like you. I don't know how you did it, but Marty changed since meeting you. More caring towards Pokemon and people and more responsibility for our business. He is becoming the son I've always wanted thanks to you."
FREE! This is even better than discount. "Oh thanks very much. And I'm glad I helped Marty change for the better. So, when can I send them over?"
"Give me one hour. I will personally set you up. Don't worry, your Pokemon will be treated the best we have to offer."
Jack is speechless. "Again, thanks very much. You have no idea how this helps me."
With the final words, the two hang up and end communication.
Nurse Joy places a basket next to the trainer with Pokeballs filled to the top. "Your Pokemon are healed and doing fine." Jack thanks her and places them in his pack and quickly dozes off to sleep laying his head on the table while sitting in the chair.
Two hours pass and he wakes up. Talking to Mr. Inkleberry directly, they finish the contract and legal mumbo-jumbo. Of the eighteen Jack has, he decides to send over Miltank, Snorlax, Ariados, Stantler, Qwilfish, Butterfree, Beedrill, Sudowoodo, Meowth, Zubat, Muk and Farfetch'd. Which leaves the other seven, Vulpix, Gyarados, Magneton, Bellsprout, Gastly and Abra to stay with Jack for now.
With the day moving well into the afternoon, Jack's second idea for the day, finding a location for his Pokemon being the first, moves into action. His Pokemon haven't had any battles since his capture of Zubat and Abra a couple days ago. He also needs to warm up before braving the challenge of his first Johto League Gym to go up against.
(Cue 1v1 Conference Battle with pokemaster148)
It's a short win for Jack. But he needs another quick warm up.
(Cue 2v2 Conference Battle with eric_is_cool258)
Once more, Jack proves to defeat his opponent. And now he seems ready to challenge the Gym.
"Oh, it's late." In fact, the sky has darkened a bit from the afternoon sky once above. Even though the trees around block most of the sky, it is still visible at the horizon. "I can't battle on an empty stomach and if I eat now, the Gym will surely close when I'm finished." Jack snaps his fingers in disgust. "Drat!"
So, back to the Pokecenter after his fast food dinner. Not knowing exactly what to do, he goes to sleep in the guest room.
*YAWN* It's morning and Nurse Joy walks around the Pokecenter, having just opened the front doors. She peaks around one of the corners where the computers are to see Jack sitting in front of one. "Morning!"
Jack turns with a smile, "Hey! Door open?" Nurse Joy nods. Jack quickly finishes his typing and gets off the computer, grabbing his pack lying on the floor next to him. "Time for a gym battle." With well wishes from Nurse Joy, Jack makes his walk to the Blackthorn Gym.
And with his new team of six which will be facing the Gym, Jack has much confidence in himself. "Dragon may be one of the toughest out there, but I will do it."
Upon arrival of the Gym, a middle aged man in a brown shirt and lime green pants, whom was watering a plant, steps into Jack's way. "Challenging the gym, are we?"
"Yes sir."
The man looks Jack over with ease. "Nope, don't have it."
Curiously, "Have what?"
"Respect for Dragon Pokemon."
Probably not the smartest thing to say, but oh well. "What!!?? How could you say that? I am honored to be challenging this gym. It's been my dream since I was a child to see a Dragonair. I've read everything about them and know all the legends. So yes, I do respect Dragon Pokemon."
The man just stands there, rubbing his chin. "Hmm..." He looks at Jack again. "Then how many Dragon types do you have, huh?"
D'oh! "Well, I, um... I have a Gyarados. Gyarados is close enough."
The man shakes his head side-to-side. He brings out a Pokeball. "Show me your respect."
"What?" o O (Is he serious?) O o "I have a gym battle to do first."
Being persistent, the man stays in Jack's way. "Ah, but how can you battle what you don't respect?"
Caught. How can you get out of a phrase like that. "Ok, but let's hurry."
(Cue 1v1 Conference Battle with aaron_lover95)
Jack's Gyarados against the man's Gyarados. Only one Gyarados comes out, and that is Jack's.
"So, you have some spark in you. But it is not enough to challenge this gym. If you want to respect Dragon Pokemon, you must be one with them."
"Huh? Where does it say I have to do that in order to battle?"
The man smiles nervously, "Actually, the gym leader is on vacation so I'm just stalling you."
*SIGH* Now what? Wait... "I see. So... you can show me respect then?"
He nods. "I am Gorgi. We can talk inside." He grabs his handful of keys and finds the correct one. Leading to a different building, titled "Dragon Apprentices", the two walk inside. Eventually, both sit on the floor at a table like the Japanese do. Shoes off, of course.
"I was an apprentice of the great Lance of the Elite Four. He is by far the best Dragon Trainer on this planet. And now I run this School for those who aspire to be Dragon trainers."
Sipping his cup of water, Jack looks around the room. Desks, white board, books... normal classroom items. "How about showing me the ropes. Some day I want to train Dragonair and having you teach me some pointers in Dragon etiquette would be nice."
Gorgi nods placing his tea down. "School is out for recess. I have some spare time on my hands. And you have a lot of spunk and fire. That's a good quality, like I had." He smirks to himself.
Jack jumps up all excited. "When do we start?"
"Tomorrow." He scribbles an address on a piece of paper nearby. Meet me here and..." A faint buzzing starts, and Gorgi checks his Pager. "Oh, I forgot about the flowers I was watering. Must get back to duty." He springs around the room and exits... "See you tomorrow."
Jack takes the paper and holds it tightly. His dream of Dragonair will one day be fulfilled; and that day will hopefully be soon.
One month, then another month go by.
Jack wakes up from his sleep. The soft grass massages his back with ease. He blinks a few times, looking around. Dragonair and her two Dratini were playfully swimming around in the pond in front of them. The dragon paradise has been lovely today. Nearly perfect weather- not to cold, not to hot. "Two o'clock. Gorgi should be here by now." Slight footsteps could be heard behind him. Jack moves his feet to a sitting mode as the person nears closer. A quick look back, "Hey Gorgi..."
"Hehehe..."
Wait a minute... what is going on here? What happened during that two month period of time? It could have been something important and vital to the information that preceded. Well.... backtracking two months....
"Do you really think a Dragon would respect you? Come on, focus. Almost there." Gorgi encourages his mental training toward Jack. The two of them are sitting near a waterfall lake surrounded by trees. The mist of the falling water surrounding the area with dampness. "Focus �til you can't hear the water. All sounds disappear. Concentrate." Both of them in the meditating position, Jack trying to concentrate, eyes closed with slight perspiration. Gorgi looks over at him. He grabs the book Meditate for Dummies lying on the ground and stands up. *SLAM* The book hits the floor with a loud noise and Jack flinches a little, remaining as much focus as he can. Gorgi smiles at his action. "Better than last week. Keep trying and see me in a couple days." And Gorgi grabs his items and vacates the area. Jack remains for an hour and finally snaps out of it.
"Phew. That's intense.
The mental training continues the following week. Questioning everything from Dratini to Aerodactyl. To understand dragons, you must learn it all. All the stories, the legends and the myths. From fact to reality and back- this is the way to learn. And the end of the week, the meditating test again. This time, Jack doesn't flinch nor hears a word what Gorgi says.
Jack wanders over to the dragon school to find Gorgi the next day. As always, he is watering the plants. "Do that too much and they die."
"Yes, but it's better to feed than to starve."
Slipping off his shoes, Jack heads over and sits on a pillow. "Now what?"
Gorgi places the watering can down next to the Bonzai tree. Facing Jack, "You passed the metal. Quite fast too for the couple meetings we have had."
"Great."
"The next part is physical. Meet me in two days for the trip not many see or even know about."
Oh, is this exciting? Of course!
At the Pokecenter, Jack lay in his room, trying to sleep but too anxious to get any. "I can't wait for two days." He looks at the clock on the table next to the bed- 12:01. "Oh, it is tomorrow... One day left. Ha." Eventually, like all people, he gets some sleep.
The boat ride sure is peaceful but traveling on a Gyarados's back is extreme fun. The two of them ride their Gyarados down a stream. Eventually the stream hits a cave with stalactites and stalagmites all around the entrance.
"Welcome to Dragon's Den!"
The large water fish continue swimming into the cave. A dull color, not too exciting but caves are nice and cold to be in. Relaxing in a way. As the light lessons, it quickly gets brighter again. The exit is near and... they are out. A ten minute journey of intenseness.
Huge acre of nature: grass, trees, flowers, a large lake, little patches of clouds in the sky with the sun up above. Both Gyarados pull to the side of the stream and Gorgi jumps off, recalling his Pokemon. "Boats and people can't normally make it through the cave. That is why not many people have been here."
Jack slides off his Gyarados, splashing into the water. He gets up, shaking around. Gyarados's Pokeball is put up, but...
Gorgi suggests, "No, leave him out. This is a Dragon's paradise."
Understanding, "Ok. Gyarados, enjoy the sights my friend."
"Gggrrraawww..." and it swims off.
Jack follows Gorgi to the lake. "This is quite an amazing place. Untouched by people."
"Yes. This is the place where Dragon Pokemon have been coming for numerous years. The Diglett here keep this place beautiful while the Zubat keep unwanted guests from going to far in the cave." Jack is still in awe of this place. But he will be even more awestruck in a little bit.
"This is a very nice Pokemon paradise. I mean, Dragon paradise." Gyarados dives underwater in the lake, like he senses something underneath.
Gorgi takes out a small whistle and blows it. The faint sound echos around the mountains protecting this place. The water in the lake before them slowly bubbles as something is about to surface.
"Oooo." One Dratini.
"Eoouu." Two Dratini.
"Eee." And a Dragonair.
"Gwaaaa." Not to mention, Jack's Gyarados pops up.
Speechless. Utterly speechless. "You are so kidding it's not funny."
"We spent a month with metal, now for your month of physical. Interaction with Dragon types. Go ahead."
Dragonair looks at Jack with it's large eyes from however tall in the air it is. The Dratini just swim around Dragonair. And Gyarados, looks at the Pokemon as enemies.
"Really? So that must be why you bought me a tent. I'm to sleep here...." Jack stops to see Gorgi fly away on the back of a Dragonite. "Ok then." He takes a step forward and just like that, Dragonair and the two Dratini swim back, and dive underwater. Gyarados continues to follow. "No, Gyarados. They aren't enemies." It hesitates but trusts Jack and turns back. "We are guests here. Have fun."
The night pulled in fast. The tent set up with sleeping back and pillow and lantern. "Dragonair and two Dratini's. What a wonderful experience. Just seeing them is enough but I must explore further. Gorgi wants physical trust." He almost begins to cry of achieving his childhood dream. Vulpix, his pet for many years before training, looks to his trainer. Jack proceeds to pet her. "Yes, I know you understand."
The next day, Jack tries to get close to the dragons. No luck.
And the second day, again it doesn't work. Jack stands in the afternoon sun wondering what to do. "This isn't working."
From behind, "If you want to gain trust, let them go to you." It's Gorgi. "Remember, humans aren't meant to be here, especially ones they don't trust. It took me a week before I could get anywhere and even then it was sketchy. Give it time. Try meditation near the water."
"But you told me Dratini are curious and friendly."
He nods. "True. But as I just said, people aren't suppose to be here. Also, the Dragonair is the mother of the two Dratini. Maybe that will help you in some way."
A new idea- it might work. Patients!
*SIGH* That very afternoon, having tried the technique all day, Jack is ready to give in. He sits on the bank just before the water of the lake but nothing. "They don't even appear when I wait for them to come to me. Maybe I'm too close."
And a minute later, a Dratini pops up over the water, looking at Jack. He takes is sunglasses off to make sure he isn't seeing things. "Hello there." He waves to it with a smile. But Dratini is startled by the movement and submerges. "Aw man."
"This is so boring!!!"
But in the coming weeks, his moment will happen. He tries everything: waiting for them to go to him; swimming in the lake; playing with his own Pokemon. And still, he has yet for physical touch. But everyday, the Dratini get more interested.
It's been a two weeks stay at the Dragon paradise. Jack lay in his tent, resting but not sleeping. Night sure is serene here but it's safer for him to stay with the lantern of light in the tent than to wander around.
"Ooo."
Startled, Jack springs to the back of the tent.
"Ooo."
What is the noise? Could it be...? Jack slips out of the tent, shining the lantern around. There, lying on the ground, is one of the Dratini.
"Ooo." it says as it looks at Jack. It was facing toward the lake, not toward the tent.
"Oh my. You must be lost." He slowly rushes over to Dratini, trying not to scare it. He wraps his arms around it, lifting the long snake in his arms.
"Ooo..."
Having left his lantern at the tent, the darkness of night when the moon is behind the clouds, keeps Jack from seeing the lake. But Dratini points him in the correct direction. At the bank, Jack kneels down and lets the Dratini out and into the water. It circles around and looks at Jack with its big eyes as if to say �thank you'. Jack watches it swim further into the lake before it disappeared in the mist. Just barely visible, Dragonair blinks at Jack and also goes into the mist.
Jack begins to start the water pumps in his eyes. "This is the greatest moment of my life thus far. DRATINI!"
"Wait by the bank tomorrow." Gorgi shows up again.
Wiping his tears, "Why do you show up at the right moment?"
Smiling, "I have a good sense of timing." And just like his other talks, he quickly escapes view.
The next morning, Jack lay by the bank and within five minutes, a Dratini is there. "Ah man, I'm getting all emotional again."
Having gotten over that large mountain, it's all downhill from here. The next day, and the next, and the next, the Dragonair family familiarizes with the new human in the area. The last week of the physical aspect, Jack has become friends and great pals with the Dragons. All his Pokemon and him interacting with the Dratini.
Gorgi wanders over to the bank while Jack swims around with the family in the lake. "It looks like you pass. I should tell you more information. That Dragonair doesn't trust any human, not even me. I didn't think you would get very far. But you treat all Pokemon with respect, I was sorry to doubt you so. The Gym leader will be back in 5 days. You have the respect for Dragon types. You are a true worthy challenger.
One of the Dratini pulls Jack underwater and seconds later he is splashed into the air. "Woohoo!" *SPLASH* He clears his face of water. "Hey Gorgi, this is the greatest feeling ever. I love Dratini and Dragonair!!" He says that while hugging each one.
Gorgi lets out his Kingdra and gets on its back. "I'll visit you tomorrow with a pin."
Jack wakes up from his sleep. The soft grass massages his back with ease. He blinks a few times, looking around. Dragonair and her two Dratini are playfully swimming around in the pond in front of them. The dragon paradise has been lovely today. Nearly perfect weather- not to cold, not to hot. "Four o'clock. Gorgi should be here by now." Slight footsteps could be heard behind him. Jack moves his feet to a sitting mode as the person nears closer. A quick look back, "Hey Gorgi..."
"Hehehe..." A guy in a tan outfit with an insignia on his tan shirt reading TG. "Our plans were put back two months because you got that Abra. But now we are here to collect on this Dragon free-for-all."
Jumping to his feet, Jack stares at the guy, noticing the second guy behind him. Similar features to the same tan people he had met a while ago. "Wait. What is going on here?"
The first tan guy speaks. "Since you remember us, may as well introduce. Claude and that's Paul." Paul waves with a smirk. "Gorgi is a little tied up at the time. He wanted to give you this." He holds up a Pin with a picture of Dratini on it surrounded by blue. "Too bad I will keep it. Another thing I want, all Dragon Pokemon." His voice more serious as he finishes talking. He selects and sends out two Pokeballs. The first and Alakazam and the second a Jynx. "Let the operation continue."
Jack shouts out to the Dragonair family. "Hide, get out of here."
Claude pushes Jack to the ground. "Lay down before you hurt yourself. You won't be saving any Pokemon this time."
Jynx puts her hands close together, just inches apart. A blue-white ball of energy appears and a bolt of the color shoots out at the lake. Ice Beam. Jynx is going to freeze the lake to flush the Dragon's out. Little by little, the surface of the lake turns to ice. Within minutes, the lake is fully iced over.
Paul moves over to watch Jack. Jack can't do anything- if he tired, surely Paul would get him with the large mallet in his hand.
"Come on out."
In the middle of the lake, the ice cracks and *SMASH* Dragonair shoots out of the ice creating a ten foot diameter hole in the ice. Both Dratini surface to watch helplessly.
"Here we go! Jynx, fall back. Alakazam up front.
In the distraction of Dragonair showing up, Jack kicks Paul in the leg and scrambles to get some distance. Jack grabs a Pokeball on his belt, ready to square off.
"Let's do this kid."
(Cue 2v2 Conference Battle with pokemaster148)
While Jack battles, Abra wakes up from it's nap under a tree not to far away. It looks around and quickly realizes the trouble.
"Alakazam, Pysbeam." Alakazam at the bank of the lake while Dragonair hovers in the air ten feet about. The spoons connect and the colorful beam shoots into the air. Dragonair dodges left, then right. Dragonair glows fast, and releases and breeze of ice at Alakazam. The psychic Pokemon takes the ice gently, freezing some part of it.. "Recover that, use DISABLE NOW!" Alakazam glows purple and the ice melts away. Dragonair heads in straight for a direct attack but Alakazam sets Disable up faster. Dragonair stops in the air, cringing from the control of Disable wrapping its long body into a ball. "Step up Jynx. Ice Beam NOW!" Jynx does it again with her hands and fires the beam of frozen water at the disabled dragon. "More, more..." Dragoniar freezes, and freezes into a large block of ice. "Enough." Jynx stops, Alakazam lets go, and the ice falls down, down, down... and into the lake, crashing through the surface. Alakazam uses its psychic powers and drags the frozen Pokemon out of the lake and on land. Alakazam nears the ice block, touches it, and in seconds, the two phase out of the area. "Phase three is now complete." Claude spots the two Dratini at the center of the lake, crying out but helpless to do anything since that can't get out of the ice hole.
Paul collapses next to Claude. "Man is he tough."
Claude smirks at Jack. "I can take this kid. Pokemon, front and center." Jynx gets ready. "After this, those Dratini will come too."
His heart is on fire. He has spent so long with his new dragon friends he never wanted to leave them. "Not on your life."
"Abra" Abra tugs Jack's wearing his pack over his back.
"You packed my stuff? Why?"
"Abra." The world around changes scenery. It flashes from a green, to dark to light blue. Abra has teleported Jack in the ice water with the Dratini.
Struggling to swim in the frigid waters, Jack manages to stay about water. "N-nniceee onnee."
"Oooooo..." the two Dratini spark."
From the land, "Curse you kid. At least we go what we came for."
The scenery changes again. A longer flash of black this time as if teleporting further away. White streaks fly by the black space. Then the new picture is clear. Jack, Abra and the two Dratini are at the school. Gorgi sits at the table.
"I never tire of teleporting. Just warn me next time." Gorgi coughs. "Oh what happened here?"
Gorgi explains that two tan men tied him up, however loose. He then asks Jack what is going on. Jack tells the tale how the Tan Gang caught Dragonair and tried to catch the two Dratini. The Pin is also mentioned.
"Don't worry about the Pin, I can make another one."
"Handmade? No, I will get it somehow. That Pin is too special to me to just make me another one."
The two Dratini slink behind Jack, avoiding Gorgi.
Gorgi nods. "So, what about these Dratini?"
Abra jumps on a pillow, putting Jack's pack on the ground. He goes to sleep. Jack looks down at the Dratini. "I want to get there mother back. It's what a true Pokemon trainer would do. In the meantime, the Dratini should stay here with you to be safe."
"Haha..." He laughs. "They don't trust me, remember."
Jack shrugs. "Well, they can't stay back at the paradise alone and vulnerable when I try to get their mother back. The only option is..."
Gorgi and Jack share the same idea, however, Jack is not sure what to do.
*1- Would Jack respect the Dratini so much to sacrifice ownership of them?
*2- Would Jack respect the Dratini so much to take care of them with love and care.
All he ever wanted to do was see a Dratini, let alone touch one. Now he has the chance to have two of them.
*Yes, the grader decides which star Jack choses. *1 no catch. *2 catch. Got it? Thanks.
(-o-) Dratini
(-o-) Dratini
~Graded: Both Captured!
