Chapter 143: Stronger, better, harder, faster

Chapter 143: Stronger, better, harder, faster

I almost walked straight out to talk with Empress. But then I considered what I was about to do.

One does not simply walk up to a Pseudo-legendary pokemon and ask them to join your team.

There were good odds that shed be offended by my offer and trash the reserve. I pinged a message to the Gym trainers to return all the pokemon that were too weak before checking that none of the pokemon we stabled for our trainers were out and about. This caused one trainer to approach and ask why, which had me grimacing.

Im going to do something a bit risky. Tell me, youve been on the roster for looking over the stabled pokemon. Has Empress, the new Tyranitar sheltering here, ever threatened or approached them? I waved my hand about, Looking to eat them?

The trainer shook their head. No, shes observed them, but we keep the stabled pokemon in a segregated paddock. Only time we pull them out is for the twice a week training that we have mandated.

I raised an eyebrow. And she respected the paddock fence like the rest of our pokemon do? She hasnt tried to walk up to it at all?

The trainer nodded, and I could only frown. This didnt make sense. She was respecting other pokemon that were around, but she went to snack on a caterpie? It had been fairly distant from its person? Hmmm, then again they had said it was a wild caterpie How would she know that? Did she smell it on the Caterpie? Was there some markings or feel to its aura that changed when it became captured?

Wasnt she a wild Tyranitar? Certain behaviours werent adding up.

Should I call Jackson and Dennis back? They left already, sir, said the trainer nervously.

I shook my head. I think I can handle her. Id just need Bertha to I reconsidered that. I didnt want to come in and threaten her or put her on the back foot. I needed to be able to talk with her.

I sent off another message, and a moment later, Sabrina appeared next to me. Are you alright?

Im good; todays been an interesting day for me. I rubbed my jaw in thought. I was thinking of doing something and

And you realised how risky it would be, so you thought it a good idea for me to be with you, Sabrina spoke over me.

I coughed and nodded. Yeah pretty much. This chapter's initial release occurred on the n0vell--Bjjn site.

She nodded seriously and levitated above me. She patted my head. Good.

She seemed all too amused and pleased, like I was a well-trained Growlithe that had just followed her training without prompting.

I bristled slightly before snorting. You didnt even hear what I was planning, though. How can you call it risky already? She raised a dubious eyebrow, and I dropped my head. Yeah, alright, there's a bit of risk. She continued to stare at me, and I sighed. Alright, a fair amount!

She nodded. Excellent. Admitting you have a problem is one of the first steps, according to the books I have read. Tell me what youre going to do.

So I told her about offering Empress a place here permanently. How I was hoping to add a truly powerful pokemon to my roster.

Sabrina pursed her lips in thought. That is not a terrible idea. Lance thought it was what you were going for eventually, and I thought you might end up seeing it that way, but I knew you didnt initially make the offer with this in mind.

Thanks, I said, pleased she knew where I had been coming from.

She nodded. Empress might still be hurting, and having her here might help. I would point out that shell never be able to fight at anything beneath an Elite level; however, even then, I would be hesitant to use her as she is a wild pokemon. She will not lessen herself or hold back her punches.

I waved my hand back and forth. Yeah, about that, actually. I was thinking about it, and shes reacted a little too easily to being around other pokemon and people. She hasnt been as aggressive as I would have thought. Some of that is due to being fed regularly, I imagine.

Also having Terra and Titan around to help her calm down, but shes too quick to pick up on certain things, like not eating her fellow pokemon. I hadnt considered it, but I wouldnt have been surprised to hear that shed tried. Shes only tried it once, and on what was an uncaught caterpie.

Sabrina tilted her head. That is irregular behaviour. She frowned. How long are Tyranitar known to live for?

I rubbed my chin. Theyre known to live a fairly long time, honestly. Theyre thought to live upwards of two hundred years old.

Thought to?

I waved my hand back and forth again. The reports I have of them only have a few examples of them staying with a family line. So some of it is anecdotal. Documentation from before the war was rather lacking, especially in terms of scientific rigour. What is known is that if a trainer attempts to trade them or have another person, deemed unworthy by the Tyranitar, inherit them upon their passing, the Tyranitars are known to simply wander off after breaking their own pokeballs.

Hmmm interesting; this opens up another possibility, Sabrina said.

Alright? Im all ears, I replied.

Brock, what happened to the Gym Leader of Pewter before Flint? she asked. That pulled me up short. I scratched my chin.

Im not sure? I think he was reported to have died during the war?

Sabrina nodded her head. Would Flint know this?

I inclined my head and gestured towards the house. Sabrina touched me, and a moment later we teleported into my kitchen, causing my family to gasp in shock. Flint flinched and knocked a few things around. I grimaced as pots and pans hit the floor.

Oh goodness! Hello Brock! Sabrina! You startled me! said Flint only to flinch as Billy and tilly upended their bowls, deciding to join in on the game. Sabrina caught their bowls and they clapped with delight.

Sabrinas lips twitched upwards and I had a sneaking suspicion that shed teleported in deliberately. Suzie hopped off her stool and approached Sabrina before raising her hands up. Sabrina lifted her up to hold her against her hip without a hint of strain.

I decided not to chide her and instead coughed. Can I ask you a question, Flint? I said instead.

Yeah! Sure thing Brock! Flint said, suddenly much more upbeat and energetic.

I made a circle in the air, indicating the building around us at large. The Pewter City Gym wasnt always ours; did you know the previous Gym Leader?

Flint blinked and sat back. You want to know about Brock? he said.

I blinked. Uhm what? This was news to me.

Flint coughed. Oh sorry! You were actually named after him. He was a great man! Im surprised more people didnt name their kids after him but Flint shrugged and shook his head.

Salvadore and Yolanda turned their heads from their food. I could practically feel their stares as they drank in this new revelation of Flints history.

I rubbed my chin. I hadnt known his name was Brock what sort of pokemon did he have?

Flint grinned. Oh he had Steelix, Graveler, Pidgeot, Sandslash, and a Tyranitar! He smiled widely at me as the others gasped in surprise. You certainly won a lot of praise from the community when they learned youd come back from the Silver Ranges with Titan. Everyone was thinking you were the next coming of him! He laughed. They were sort of right, I suppose!

I nodded. Right... and with his passing, is it possible that his Tyranitar might have taken up a spot on top of the Silver Ranges?

Flint blinked slowly. When he spoke, he did so with careful deliberation. You think Empress, as you call her, is, or was, an old Gym Leader pokemon?

I nodded. Certain things, such as her willingness to allow people around her and the fact she has only tried to eat one pokemon in the entire time shes been with us, points to a certain level of domestication.

Flint rubbed his chin and nodded. That would make a lot of sense, but shes not Brocks, old Brock that is, pokemon. He had a male Tyranitar and it was confirmed to have fallen alongside him during one of the worst fights in Pewter city.

Ah, I hadnt seen any records of that, I said.

Flint inclined his head. Again the war isnt something that people like to talk about I know a lot of records got accidentally misplaced or worse, so people couldnt avenge fallen comrades when things settled down. He stared off into the distance.

What hed just said made me stop and reconsider my previous stance. Id always thought it was shortsighted and ridiculous that so many people didnt like talking about the war, but what if it had been a short-term measure to stop tensions from reigniting? Only it had become more by the time the next generation came around.

It almost made sense after all.

I nodded. Right, well, thanks for that. I had a suspicion about her but that seems to be a dead end.

Flint jolted, realising that he had lost himself in memory. Hmmm, whats that? Oh, yeah, no problem.

I ran a hand through Salvadore and Yolandas hair before considering them. Hey, can you all make sure that the others stay inside? Im going to go talk to Empress and feel her out about sticking around on a more permanent basis.

Both of them perked up, but Salvadore grinned. Thatd be amazing! Then you could be like Lance! Able to throw down multiple powerhouse Tyranitar during a match! Ha!

I chuckled and rubbed his head again. Maybe, Lets not count our eggs before they hatch eh? Ill ask, politely, I stressed before pointing at the ground. "Alright, you hold down the fort here, kids.

Yolanda turned to Sabrina. Youll look after him? Sabrina inclined her head and Yolanda relaxed. I stuck my tongue out at her and huffed before walking around to where Empress liked to camp out in the early evening.

I approached openly with my hands visible. Empress barely looked at me; instead, her eyes were turned towards the lights of Pewter city.

Hey Empress, I said to start things off.

She glanced at me and grunted. She tilted her head and made an odd little noise before turning back to inspect the distant lights.

I shuffled back and forth and glanced to the top of the plateau, where I could feel Sabrinas gaze boring into me. She was close enough to help if things went south, but not too close to threaten Empress.

I rubbed the back of my head sheepishly. Oh, well. I paused when I realised Empress was also looking away sheepishly. We caught each others eyes and I chuckled. She gave a hesitant smile of her own and relaxed.

I shook myself. Right, well, that answered a few questions. I wanted to check in with you honestly. Youre happy here, yes?

Empress glanced around and considered the reserve, the various pokemon about, and the view. She slowly nodded. Tar, she said, allowing a small smile to show on her scaley face.

Right, well, if you want, you can stay here; I have no issues housing you, but I also wanted to offer another idea I had. Empress glanced at me; her eyes locked on mine. I held her gaze. Im looking to go into some serious fights in the future. Fights at least as serious as we were against Moltres.

That got her nostrils flaring.

I wont be going against Moltres, but there is almost a guaranteed chance of my having to face the pokemon that caused Moltres to awaken like it did.

She growled and jerked her head. Tar!

We learned that its name is Mewtwo, and it is a pokemon that a criminal organisation used to raid the Silver Ranges. They also did what they did to get to me. They knew Id come up to check on you and used that, I said.

Sabrina blinked in surprise, and I realised Id let slip Mewtwos name. Had I told her before this? Sabrina merely nodded, accepting the information. I mentally felt like Id dodged an interrogation.

Empress frowned and considered that. She then gestured from me to her.

I nodded. Now, I could ask you to stay here, and youd be great as a threat deterrent. Youd ward off many of the threats that might come after me, but I want more. I clenched my fist. I need more if Im going to face down Mewtwo.

I stretched out my hand to her. Empress, I want you to join my team, work with me, and help me punish Team Rocket for what theyve done.

I locked eyes with her. If you join me there are chances I will need to give you orders, orders that you will follow. This would mean youd need to train with me and my team.

I kept my hand outstretched. Will you join me?

She stepped forward and loomed over me. Then she reached out with her claws and wrapped them around my hand. Tyranitar, she said firmly.

Sabrina smiled. "Congratulations to both of you, she said. She stepped closer. Empress, my name is Sabrina, Brocks girlfriend. I look forward to training with you sometime in the future, and my pokemon will also be training with you. My pokemon will enjoy testing themselves against you.

Empress blinked at this before giving a wide, fanged grin at Sabrina. Tar! she said, accepting the future challenge. I grinned and patted her on the chest.

Alright, well, we train before the sun rises, usually. Titan is the leader in this. You come out tomorrow and join us, and well start from there. I grinned up at her. Its going to be funny watching you work with him. Mother and son, neh?

Empress nodded, a pleased expression on her face. She then gave me a considering look. With a single claw she reached up and flicked a sharp edge into one of her joints. A red line appeared a moment later and I blinked only to stiffen when she reached out and traced a line of blood straight across my cheeks and nose. She then flicked the blood off, spraying me.

Uhm? Thank you? I said, uncertainly.

Empress clapped me on the shoulders and waved her claws around my head in a circle. Tar! she barked before nodding once more. She lowered her head and licked me on the forehead. She then turned and marched off.

Sabrina inspected my face. It seems she has accepted joining your team, and decided to adopt you in turn.

So it would seem. I touched my now very wet face. Does it look as bad as it feels?

Sabrina considered me seriously. You have the biggest Miltank lick with how your hair is sticking up... and Im not kissing you until you sanitise your face.

I snorted and nodded. Thats fair.

I trundled back home, only to find my family waiting for me in the lounge.

Are you wearing make up? Suzie asked, even as Flint blanched at the blood on my face.

No, Empress did something symbolic to show she accepted me. Hang on- I need to change clothes and clean myself off. I got changed and then returned once I was clean. The kids hounded me about how it went and I told them shed accepted but that it was a secret they werent to share around. Tilly and Billy giggled as they made shushing gestures at each other.

Timmy then announced that he wanted story time, much to my other siblings ire. I decided to tell them their bedtime story in the lounge room. Hooray! shouted Suzie. Munchlax! cheered Munchlax. Everyone got comfortable with Eevee claiming Yolandas lap while Nanny Grav handed out hot chocolate. I rubbed my chin and considered what story to tell them.

I smiled. Long ago there was a little Larvitar, I said to start things off. Terra perked up and the kids became spellbound as I told them the story of Empress.

The next morning, I got to enjoy watching the moment when Titan noticed his mother had joined us. He shifted nervously and approached her subtly. My ears twitched as they broke into a discussion, only to break apart. Titan stepped up to me and stared at me with the most betrayed expression. I was confused until I noticed the other pokemon were snickering to themselves.

Yolanda had to break off as she burst into giggles at the by-play.

I shrugged. Sorry buddy, shes strong, so I made an offer. Shell make a great addition to the team. I shot him a look. If youre worried about having to order her about, dont be; I need to work on her with regards to that before anything else.

Titan huffed and I got the feeling Id missed the point of what was annoying him. He shook it off however and instead considered his mother as she copied Bertha doing some stretches. Titan nodded slowly, a conflicted look on his face. He then leaned in. Ty? Ranitar? he said, flicking a claw from himself to her.

I considered him. Whos stronger?

He nodded seriously. I snorted. Itd be close, but I think youd beat her in a straight match, but dont discount her. I imagine shes got more than a few tricks up her sleeve. Out of anyone, Bertha is the most at risk of losing her spot as second strongest, I said, pitching my voice so that Bertha heard me.

Bertha paused in her stretch and looked over at Empress. Her grin widened, and she pumped her fist in mock threat.

I snorted, it seemed if anything, Bertha welcomed the challenge. Empress straightened up and then looked from Bertha to Titan. She barked something, and Bertha blinked before waving her hand back and forth before laughing.

Titan looked like he wanted to crawl off and hide.

I hummed. Did she just say that shed test Bertha as a worthy mate for you?

Titan nodded, his face in his hands. I chuckled. "Well, I'm sorry that I didnt consider the team dynamic before I made the offer.

Titan sighed and shoved me before barking out an order and having everyone fall in for the morning run. I took off with them, tapping Empress as I passed her. Yolanda, catch up! I called to my sister, causing her to run after me.

When the warm-up was done I grinned. Alright! Yolanda, let Terra down, were going to work through Simon says! Empress! Follow along; this is part of the training to get used to commands that might be given.

Yolanda gaped. Brock! Shes a fully evolved pokemon! You cant play Simon says with her!

I grinned. Its one of the basic drills, but that just makes it all the more important. I nodded to Titan. Alright, start up the others.

Don, whod been nearby, laughed and shrieked at us in a jeering manner. Empress narrowed her eyes at what must have been a taunt. I grinned. Well, if Don was going to offer himself up like that I could start things off with an order that Empress certainly wouldnt mind following.

Alright! Everyone! Simon says! Whip around like were using Iron Tail to smack away a pest!

I spun on the spot and was amused to hear a dull thwack. When I turned back, Don was still sailing away, and Yolanda was gaping. Terra fell on her backside, giggling.

Empress snorted, more than happy with herself. I grinned.

Alright, one small step to having her follow my orders. It would take a while, but it would be so gloriously worth it to be able to use her in a high-end pokemon match.

Or throwing her out against Will.

That would be just desserts for that sneak. By the time the mornings training was over, I felt like Id made some significant progress with her. I tapped her on the side and pointed to the back wall of the Gym. Ill have the matches for the day projected there. Yolanda, youre on Gym duty today instead of school again, yeah?

She nodded Yup! No school for me this week!

"Huh, I said, getting an idea. I think I want you to sit down with me later when Will fights against the Cerulean sisters. Lots of people are writing them off, and while I dont think theyll win, I think we might learn something if we watch the fight.

Sounds good! she said enthusiastically.

I grinned. We might as well set up the back screen for us to watch it with my Elite Team

Oh! I like that! Yolanda said.

Nice, I said before considering something else she could do. "Also, do you think youd be alright with no gym battles for today?

At her curious expression, I elaborated. I want you to sit with Empress and explain what we do and why certain moves are good or bad. Also, explain to her what were doing; I dont want her to think Im weak with how some of these matches will go.

Yolanda nodded seriously. I can do that Brock! she said, turning to start talking with Empress.

I chuckled and wrapped an arm around her. After breakfast, little sister, after breakfast.

I walked with her back to breakfast, feeling much more upbeat about the future that was to come. While I didnt think the Cerulean sisters match would amount to much, that didnt mean I couldnt keep the motivation high in my team.

If anything, seeing Will fight would motivate them further.