We're building up to the climactic scenes now... but then again, that's
true of almost every chapter. C&C, C&C, wherefore art thou, C&C? (Please
send some.)
Jellic�s Hateful Quest
Chapter 23: Jellic vs. Elvor, Round One: Drago-night and Day-nger
�Are you sure about this?� asked Ashley as Elvor grew to several
hundred times his original size. His skin turned into bright yellow
scales, and tiny wings far out of proportion to his increasing mass
sprouted from his back. �Do you really want to fight that?�
�Not really,� replied Jellic, beginning his own change. �But I don�t
have a choice.�
�At least let�s find out what you�re up against,� said Ashley,
pointing her Pokedex at Elvor.
�Elvor, a human/Pokemon hybrid. In human form, Elvor has the ability
to use dangerous magic. In Pokemon form, Elvor has the full abilities of
Dragonite, the legendary Dragon Pokemon.�
�Dragonite!� shouted Ashley.
�Dragonite is the twice evolved form of Dratini,� continued the
Pokedex, �and is one of the most powerful Pokemon in existence.
Dragonite�s breath can exceed the temperature of a white-hot star, and
its wings allow it to fly despite its incredible weight.�
�I really don�t like the sound of that,� said Ashley, stowing her
Pokedex.
�Are you sure you want to fight him?� asked Katana. �That dragon
looks as dangerous as it sounds.�
�Sci�ll be fine,� Jellic assured them. �Scelvor�s nether beathern me
bether.�
�THIS WILL BE VERY AMUSING,� said Elvor, beating his wings and
creating a powerful gust that blew the humans backwards while Jellic
leaned into the wind to hold his ground. �I TRAINED ON VERY POWERFUL
POKEMON IN MY LAB. I�VE NEVER FOUGHT SUCH A WEAK OPPONENT BEFORE.�
�He seems cocky,� said Katana.
�I�ve never seen a Dragonite before,� said Ashley. �Can they all
talk?�
�PERHAPS,� replied Elvor. �I HAVE NEVER SEEN ONE EITHER. I BELIEVE
THEY ARE EXTINCT OR NEARLY SO.�
�Doesn�t look ther tough,� said Jellic, crossing his blades.
�Jellic, you don�t have any attacks that will be effective on a
Dragon type!� Ashley warned him.
�Scy not? He�s got skin just like any other Pokemon. If it�s not a
Rock type, my blades scyd work fine, right?� Jellic flew up into the air
and launched himself at Elvor, blades poised to strike at the Dragonite�
s vulnerable neck. Elvor leaned his head backwards to dodge the blade
and then swung it forward, knocking Jellic away.
�Careful, Jellic!� shouted Ashley. �Dragonite�s extremely powerful!�
�No problem,� Jellic shouted back. �Sci�ll just use my Agilither and
he won�t be able ther dodge.� Jellic felt the adrenaline filling his
system, enhancing his reaction speed. He spun around in the air and
charged at Elvor again. Elvor�s tail appeared from nowhere, smashing
Jellic from the side and knocking him off course. Jellic whirled
instantly to attack Elvor again, but the huge Dragonite�s tiny wings
managed to lift him above Jellic�s strike. Jellic turned to fly up after
Elvor, but the dragon let itself drop onto Jellic, who barely managed to
get out of the way. Elvor slammed into the ground, his feet making deep
impressions in the earth.
�FOOL!� shouted Elvor. �I HAVE AGILITY AS WELL. BUT THAT IS HARDLY
THE LIMIT OF MY SKILLS.� Elvor opened his mouth, and Jellic poised
himself to dodge. However, the stream of fire he had anticipated failed
to appear. Instead, electricity filled the sky, sending razor spikes of
lightning through Jellic�s body. Instead of the pain he had expected,
Jellic felt a strange numbing sensation all over. His wings began to
grow heavy. �FEEL THE PARALYZING POWER OF THUNDER WAVE!�
�Not a chanscy,� said Jellic, fighting to keep himself aloft. �You�
ll nether have ther scytisfacther of killing me!� Despite Jellic�s
resolve, his wings stopped beating, and Jellic felt himself plummeting
to the ground. He fought to open his wings to slow his fall, but he
landed hard on his left wing and felt a sharp pain followed by numbness.
Ashley screamed.
�NOW IT ENDS.� Elvor lifted a huge foot to crush Jellic. Jellic
could do nothing more than stare up at the death swiftly descending upon
him.
�Blastoise, go!� shouted Ashley, throwing the Pokeball toward
Jellic. Elvor�s foot halted in mid-descent, propped up by the large
turtle.
�Are you sure we should be interfering?� asked Katana. �Jellic�s
honor is at stake!�
�His life is at stake!� retorted Ashley.
�You should let him decide which is more important,� said Katana.
�DO YOU THINK YOUR PATHETIC BLASTOISE CAN RESIST THE POWER OF MY
SLAM ATTACK?� challenged Elvor.
�Blas,� grunted Blastoise as it strained against the crushing foot
above.
�Hang in there, Blastoise!� shouted Ashley. �You can do it!�
�Hurry, Jellic!� shouted Katana. Ashley turned her attention to
Jellic, who had turned one of his blades into an arm and was reaching
into his satchel. He slowly drew out his hand, holding the bottle of
Paralyze Heal, and sprayed it onto his own body. He rolled aside, out of
the way of Elvor�s foot, wincing each time his left wing hit the ground.
�You did it, Blastoise!� cheered Ashley. �Now return!� As the red
beam from its Pokeball drew Blastoise in, Elvor�s foot pounded the
ground where Jellic had been. The earth shook, and both Ashley and
Katana lost their footing again. Jellic quickly got to his feet, but his
left wing bent in the middle at a sickening angle.
�I think his wing�s broken!� said Katana.
�Jellic, just give up!� shouted Ashley. �You can�t fight with a
broken wing!�
�Scy�ll nether give up!� replied Jellic. His wings shrank into his
back as his body began to return to human form.
�RETURNING TO HUMAN FORM WON�T HELP YOU,� said Elvor. �AS A HUMAN,
YOU�RE FAR TOO WEAK TO FIGHT ME.�
�On the contrary,� said Jellic. �I�m far more powerful as a human.�
He turned to Ashley. �What�s strong on a Dragon?�
�I�d recommend at least three Wizards and a Knight,� advised Katana.
�Dragons are weak to Ice,� said Ashley. �The only other thing that
will work well is another Dragon type.�
�Or a Dragon type attack...� Jellic grabbed a Pokeball from his
belt. �Gyarados, go!�
�USING YOUR POKEMON IS AGAINST THE RULES!� protested Elvor.
�I�ve never known you to play by the rules,� returned Jellic.
�Stabbing a foe in the back is dishonorable,� said Katana, �but that
doesn�t make him any less dead.�
�Right,� agreed Jellic. �Gyarados, Dragon Rage!� Gyarados flew up
toward Elvor with its jaws wide open. Elvor�s head flew down at an
incredible speed, and Elvor clamped his jaws around Gyarados�
midsection. Gyarados hardly flinched as its body curved on itself,
placing its head in perfect position to gouge at Elvor�s neck with its
teeth. Elvor involuntarily released his grip on Gyarados, allowing it to
wrap its entire body around Elvor�s scrawny neck and continue its
attack.
�THIS IS AN OUTRAGE!� shouted Elvor. �THIS PROVES NOTHING!�
�It proves you have a hole in your defenses,� said Jellic.
�ENOUGH! IF THIS IS THE WAY WE PLAY, SO BE IT!� Elvor began to
shrink, becoming human once again. Gyarados lost its purchase as Elvor�s
neck shortened, and it circled around, trying to find the Dragonite it
had been fighting.
�Gyarados, return!� shouted Jellic. �Are you ready for a real battle
now?�
�Of course,� said Elvor. �But my knowledge of Secret Machine
techniques will crush you!�
�I don�t think so,� Jellic replied smoothly. �Mewthree, go!� He
threw the Pokeball, and Mewthree emerged, glaring at Elvor.
�I�d be very interested to know how you found that Pokemon,� said
Elvor. �I assumed that it was an evolution of Mewtwo, but Mewtwo evolves
into this.� He threw a Pokeball of his own, releasing a Pokemon that
resembled a Mewtwo, but was shorter, wider, hunched, and its fur glowed
in places.
�What the heck is it?� asked Jellic, pulling out his Pokedex.
�Mewtant, the evolution of Mewtwo using the Cyber Stone. Mewtant�s
twisted body has ferocious attack power as well as powerful psychic
ability.�
Something is indeed amiss here, said Mewthree. I believe I evolved
from Mewtwo using this �Cyber Stone.�
Jellic nodded. �Well, I don�t know what I did differently, but I
think my Mewthree can beat your Mewtant any day! Mewthree, Telekinesis!�
Mewtant rose into the air and slammed into the ground.
�Mewtant, Mind Warp!� shouted Elvor. Jellic felt his brain twisting
inside out as Mewtant�s attack lanced through Mewthree. Both Jellic and
Mewthree writhed in pain.
�What�s happening to them?� asked Katana.
�Mind Warp, a Psychic attack,� said Ashley�s Pokedex. �This attack
allows a Pokemon to use its opponent�s own attacks against it.�
�Mewtant, use Telekinesis!� ordered Elvor. It was Mewthree�s turn to
rise into the air.
�Mewthree, counter with Swift!� shouted Jellic. Mewthree�s attack
struck Mewtant hard even as the twisted Pokemon completed its attack,
smashing Mewthree into the ground. Mewthree stumbled, but remained on
its feet.
�Now finish it!� shouted Elvor. �Hyper Beam!� Mewtant extended a
misshapen arm and blasted Mewthree with a powerful rainbow colored beam,
sending it flying backwards. Katana dodged the flying Pokemon as it
landed, unconscious, where she had been standing.
�No problem,� said Jellic. �Mewthree, return! Bruiser, go!�
�What?� shouted Elvor as the Cyborg Pokemon appeared. �How did you
get one of my Cyborg Pokemon?�
�How do you think?� asked Jellic. �Bruiser, Arm Swing!� The huge
metal arm clocked Mewtant in the head, knocking it unconscious.
�Mewtant, return!� shouted Elvor. �Go, Pikachu!�
�Watch out, Jellic,� warned Ashley. �I think that�s the Pikachu that
knows the Secret Machine technique.�
�Quite right,� said Elvor. �Pikachu, Livewire!� The Pikachu�s tail
shot out, wrapping itself around Bruiser before the Cyborg could react.
As the electricity began to flow through the tail, Bruiser�s body glowed
a dull red.
�Hang in there, Bruiser!� shouted Jellic. �Use Data Stream!� The
high-pitched whines of the attack tailed off as Bruiser�s body began to
melt, but the damage was done. The Pikachu, confused, broke its attack
and fainted, leaving Bruiser barely conscious.
�Shellder, your turn!� shouted Elvor, throwing out his next
Pokeball.
�Bruiser, try a Boolean Boost,� ordered Jellic. Sparks flew from
Bruiser�s head, and it whirled to attack Jellic instead. �Don�t attack
me!�
�It�s the same thing that happened to the Crusher in Elvor�s lab
when its power got low!� realized Ashley. �When a Cyborg Pokemon
weakens, it gets confused and won�t obey its trainer!�
�Then it�s useless to me,� said Jellic. �Bruiser, return! Persian,
go!�
�Shellder, Withdraw,� commanded Elvor.
�Persian, Fury Swipes!� Persian leapt onto the Shellder and began to
claw at it, trying to get at the soft animal within the shell.
�I�ll make this quick,� said Elvor. �Shellder, Absolute Zero!� The
air grew cold as the Shellder opened. Before Persian could react, both
it and the Shellder were frozen solid.
�How am I supposed to beat that?� asked Jellic, recalling his frozen
Pokemon.
�You can�t,� said Elvor. �Just give up and save us both the trouble
of continuing the fight.�
�You�re right,� admitted Jellic. �There�s no way I can win.�
�What are you saying, Jellic?� asked Katana. �The Jellic I know
would never quit!�
�You can beat him!� agreed Ashley.
�Your psychology won�t work this time,� said Elvor. �Tangela, go!�
�What psychology?� asked Jellic. �I�m not going to put my Pokemon at
any more risk.�
�Then you only put yourself at risk in their place! Tangela, finish
him off! Coma Bind!� The Tangela�s vine wrapped itself firmly around
Jellic�s throat, choking him.
�Jellic, no!� shouted Ashley, reaching for her Pokebelt.
Katana grabbed her arm. �Leave him be, if you know what�s good for
you.�
�But it�ll kill him!�
�You�ve saved him once already, and it�s one time too many,� replied
Katana. �This is a formal duel. You and I can only watch.�
Jellic fought for breath, tugging at the constricting vine. His hand
reflexively darted for his Pokebelt, but he pulled it away. This was his
fight. He concentrated, picturing his right arm as a Scyther�s blade. He
felt his bones narrow and his skin harden. Once the change was complete,
he quickly sliced through the vine. Elvor recalled the fainted Tangela.
�I can take anything you can dish out, and I can do it myself,� said
Jellic, returning to fully human form.
�Perhaps you can,� said Elvor. �But you have yet to see my full
power.� He stopped abruptly. �Unfortunately, it seems we have unwanted
company.� Jellic turned to see the Pokemon League Enforcers bearing down
on them from behind, with Natalie leading the way.
�Who is that woman?� asked Katana aloud. �I�m sure I�ve seen her
before...�
�There you are, Vordekar!� shouted Natalie. �We need to talk. Now.�
�Natalie, what an unpleasant surprise,� said Elvor, undaunted.
�Don�t toy with me,� snapped Natalie. �Your giant robot is
destroying Obsidian as we speak!�
�The Crusher from Karddor Labs!� shouted Ashley. �It must have
broken out of the basement!�
�It�s only a Pokemon,� said Elvor. �You can faint it with little
effort, surely.�
�Don�t you think we�ve tried? It�s attacking with Fire, Water,
Electric, Ground, Poison, and Ice attacks simultaneously, as well as
attacks that aren�t of any element we�ve ever seen! No Pokemon we have
can get close!� She shook a finger at Elvor. �You created that monster;
you destroy it!�
Elvor crossed his arms. �It�s not that easy, you realize. Unlike
most scientists creating mechanical devices, I chose not to install
failsafes in my early versions. The only way to shut down the Crusher
is, as I said, to damage it until it faints.�
�Then damage it!�
�What�s in it for me?� asked Elvor. �I lose nothing if the city is
demolished � especially not after you destroyed my lab.�
Natalie sighed heavily. �You�ve got me over a barrel, Droll. But I
don�t have a choice. What do you want?�
Elvor shrugged. �Oh, I don�t know... How about the Pokemon League?�
�I can�t just hand the League over to you!�
�Then I suggest you find me someone who can,� said Elvor. �I have
the power to defeat the Crusher. All you have to do is pay the price.�
�Jellic,� whispered Ashley, �we can�t let him get control of the
Pokemon League. The world will belong to him if he does!�
Jellic nodded. �Natalie, we�ll take care of it.�
Natalie turned to Jellic and his friends. �Jellic? What is your
interest in the fate of Obsidian?�
�I�m a hero by trade,� replied Jellic. �The lives of innocent people
are my responsibility. Besides, I can�t let you turn the Pokemon League
over to him.� He pointed at Elvor.
Natalie�s eyes narrowed. �I see.�
Katana�s eyes narrowed as well. �I�m sure I know her...�
�He can�t help you,� snarled Elvor. �He doesn�t have half the power
I have.�
�He may not be as powerful as you are,� agreed Natalie, �but his
price is right.� She turned to Jellic. �The Pokemon League is willing to
reconsider your criminal status in return for your assistance. Bring
down the cyborg, and your charges will be dropped.�
�You can�t side with him!� shouted Elvor, grabbing a Pokeball.
�Why not?� asked Natalie. �We need a hero, so we might as well hire
a professional. And I wouldn�t advise attacking me, if that�s what you
had in mind. The Enforcers will have your hide.�
�We don�t have time for a fight,� said Ashley. �That Crusher is
still destroying the city!�
�Right,� said Natalie quickly. �Let�s go. The three of you can ride
back with me. Trevor, watch Droll and make sure he doesn�t follow us.�
�Yes, ma�am,� said Natalie�s large secretary, brandishing a bat.
�Come on, Jellic,� said Natalie, leading the group to a limousine.
They all climbed in, and the driver set off toward the city.
Katana gasped as the silhouette of the Cyborg type appeared on the
horizon. �It�s huge! How are we ever going to beat something that size
without magic?�
�Magic?� asked Natalie. �How could you possibly know about magic?
Are you also an interdimensional hero?�
�That�s right,� replied Katana, staring into Natalie�s eyes. �Those
eyes... I know who you are now! You�re Kasmira, the sorceress who sent
me to this dimension!�
�So, you�ve recognized me at last,� said Natalie with a chuckle.
�Indeed, I am Kasmira. And you would be Katana, burnt to a crisp, but
that never stopped you, did it?� Katana shrugged. �I suppose my secret�s
out, then. I�m rather disappointed. I always thought Elvor would be the
one to catch me.�
�You know that Vordekar is Elvor?� asked Jellic.
�Of course. Using an anagram of his own name as a pseudonym was a
dead giveaway. I wasn�t nearly so foolish, naturally.� She snorted and
shook her head. �Men.�
�What should we do about her, Jellic?� asked Katana. �We can�t leave
this dimension under her control. She�s as evil as Elvor, if not more
so.�
�Well, we�ve already agreed to put our differences aside,� said
Jellic. �Saving the city is our first priority now. Once we�ve defeated
Crusher, we�ll worry about evil sorcerers.�
�Just like old times, eh, heroes?� asked Kasmira.
Jellic nodded. �At least Katana�s here. Two heroes together can do
more than five apart.�
�Makes you wish we�d been able to stay together, doesn�t it,
Jellic?� asked Katana.
�Sort of,� Jellic admitted. �But we both know why we can�t.�
�Why?� asked Ashley.
�It�s a long story,� replied Jellic, �and we don�t have time for it
right now.� He turned to Kasmira. �We need to get our Pokemon healed.
They�ve been through some tough battles recently.�
�The Pokemon Center was hit long ago,� said Kasmira, tossing them a
basket of healing items. �Use these instead.�
�Here, I�ll do it,� said Ashley, spraying the contents of the
bottles onto the Pokeballs in Jellic and Katana�s belts. �Do you really
think we can beat that Crusher?�
�Of course we can,� boasted Katana. �Jellic and I are the greatest
team in all of history!�
�Well,� said Jellic, �we�re up against what�s possibly the greatest
Pokemon in all of history.�
The car stopped. �Whether you�re ready or not,� said Kasmira, �it�s
time.� Everyone climbed out of the car, which drove away as soon as the
doors were closed.
�Here we are,� said Jellic morosely. �We�ve got a monster cyborg in
front of us, an evil sorcerer behind us, another one right here with
us...� He sighed. �And I thought this dimension was tame...�
--------------------------------------------------------------
Welcome to "Whose Line is it Anyway?" where we make things up as we go
along, whether they make sense or badger.
JOHNNY BRAVO: *sigh* The only woman I ever really loved... and she's
gone. I wonder if I'll ever get over - Hey! Nuggets!
JACKIE CHAN: Oh, sorry. I broke your spy camera! (pause) SPY CAMERA?!
My webpage: http://www.rose-hulman.edu/~katinamp