Chapter 3: A Night Out In Celadon
After a few hours of flying, Giovanni’s helicopter arrived over Celadon City in the Kanto Region. The sun had begun to set over the tall buildings that littered the skyline. The helicopter landed on the roof of one of those tall buildings, and Giovanni led Marie and Zorua inside. They went down four floors of the building through hallways filled with doors on both sides, until at last coming to a door at the end of a hall. Giovanni opened the door and Marie saw that the room some sort of apartment.
It was a very large and well-furnished apartment. In the center of the room had a purple couch, a glass coffee table, and two purple chairs. On the wall facing the couch was a flat screen T.V. In the left corner of the room near the door was a fairly small kitchen that looked to be well stocked; while in the far right corner of the room was a large wooden desk. There was a door on the far side of the apartment that seemed to lead to another room.
“Not the most extravagant accommodations I’ll admit, but I’m sure it’s a hundred times better than that crumbling cell you had.” Giovanni said to Marie. “Your training as a member of Team Rocket begins tomorrow. Until then, make yourself at home. I’m sure you’ll want to clean up and rest after your time at Scorch Gate.”
With that, Giovanni left, closing the door behind him. As soon as Giovanni had left, Marie carried Zorua over to the other side of the apartment and opened the door. On the other side was a large bedroom with a queen-sized bed made with clean white sheets and a green blanket. On the far wall was a large window that overlooked the city. Night was falling and Marie could see that the neon lights of Celadon were already beginning to come on. Next to the bed on the left side was a single nightstand with a lamp and a digital clock.
To Marie’s right was what appeared to be a large closet. She put Zorua down on the bed and went over to it. The closet contained many cloths; among them was a blue jumpsuit with a large red letter R on the chest. Marie assumed that the jumpsuit was her Team Rocket uniform. After seeing that the closet was fully stocked, Marie turned to the other side of the room and went to another door that led to an adjacent bathroom.
Marie drew a cold bath and threw the tattered rags that made up her prison uniform in the trash. Once in the tub, Marie began washing away what felt like two years of sweat and grim. Zorua wound up joining Marie on the far side of the tub. The little grey fox seemed to greatly enjoy the bath, as it began to make noises that could be described as singing. Later, after Marie had changed into some comfortable cloths, she and Zorua had a large from the food in the kitchen. It was the first decent meal the two of them had eaten in a long time.
A couple hours later, Marie had gone to bed. But after going to sleep, Marie had a troubling dream that woke her up. It wasn’t as bad as the nightmares she had at Scorch Gate, which told her that Darkrai wasn’t responsible. But she found that she was unable to get back to sleep afterward.
“Hey Zorua?” Marie called to the little fox Pokemon that was sleeping on the foot of the bed, waking it from its slumber. “I can’t sleep. Why don’t we go out for a walk?”
With that, Marie changed out of the pink pajamas that she found in the closet and into a back t-shirt and jeans. Marie wondered just who had picked out the cloths that were prepared for her, but did not dwell on the question long. Just as Marie and Zorua were heading out, Marie noticed a pair of Pokeballs on the wooden desk. Since she had technically become a Pokemon trainer, Marie decided to take the items with in case she found some wild Pokemon that might be living in the city. Soon after, Marie and Zorua took the elevator down to the ground floor, and within minutes the two were outside.
The building Marie’s apartment was in turned out to be across the street from a park, so Marie decided that would be where she and Zorua would have their little stroll. It was a good-sized park with an ornate fountain in the center and white flowered bushed in various spots. The moon above was half full, and the stars could not be seen because of the bright lights of the city.
“It’s a cool night out, isn’t it?” Marie commented to Zoura. “You know I never thought I’d be able to walk around like this outside again.”
Suddenly something flew down and attacked Zorua with wings that glowed with a white light. Zoura quickly recovered from the surprise attack. Meanwhile, the creature that had attacked landed on the ground a few feet away from where Marie and Zorua were standing. The creature was a small black bird with red eyes and a large yellow beak. The feathers on top of its head took the shape of a hat, and its tail resembled a feather duster.
“That’s a Murkrow!” Marie observed. “And it looks like it wants to fight.”
Murkrow flew at Zoura again, and as it did its wings began glowing with a white light again. Zoura fought back by firing several rings of black energy from its mouth. The rings hit Murkrow’s right wing, causing it to fall to the ground.
“That was Dark Pulse, wasn’t it?” Marie realized. “I guess I never got the chance to find out what your attacks were in the prison. Um, let’s see. Use Fury Swipes!”
Zorua charged at Murkrow and began scratching the black bird repeatedly with its front paws. After being hit about five times, it looked as if Murkrow was beginning to wear down. Marie took the opportunity and threw one of the Pokeballs she had brought with. Murkrow was sucked in. The ball jiggled a few times before making the sound that indicated the capture was complete.
“My first capture.” Marie said as she picked up the Pokeball. Zorua tilted its head and quirked its brow in response to what Marie just said. “Well technically I caught you and Darkrai by accident.”
Suddenly both Zorua and Marie heard a growling noise from nearby. They turned in the direction of the noise, and from behind a nearby bush came a black dog with a red snout and underside. On its back were with bands that looked like ribs, and on its forehead was a white marking that resembled a skull.
“A Houndour.” Marie observed.
The Houndour fired a barrage of fiery sparks from its mouth at Zorua. Zorua managed to jump out of the way seconds before they hit.
“Try Fury Swipes!” Marie commanded.
Zoura charged at Houndour to attempt to scratch it. But the black dog breathed out a cloud of thick purple smog from its mouth. Zorua coughed on the smoke. Houndour then fired another barrage of sparks that hit Zorua in the face. Zorua then began to cry, causing Marie to become very worried. Houndour suddenly became less aggressive and walked up to Zorua to see if it was okay. Suddenly Zorua surprised Houndour by firing more black rings from its mouth, which hit Houndour right in the face. Zorua snickered after using the attack.
“Oh, you were using Fake Tears.” Marie realized with a sigh of relief. “You shouldn’t scare me like that little guy. Okay, let’s try Fury Swipes again!”
Zorua nodded and rapidly scratched Houndour in the face four or five times. Marie decided to take the chance and use her remaining Pokeball. The ball hit and sucked Houndour in. Both Marie and Zorua waited to see if Houndour would break out. But after jiggling a few times, the ball made the sound that signaled that the capture was complete.
“I think that’s enough excitement for one night.” Marie said as she picked up Houndour’s Pokeball. “Let’s go back to the apartment.”
A few minutes later, Marie and Zorua were back in what was fast becoming their new home. Once inside Marie decided to let out Murkrow and Houndour. Both Pokemon breathed in exhaustion upon coming out.
“Sorry for being so rough with you back there.” Marie said to them. “Keep in mind though, you did start those fights. Let’s be friends now, okay?”
Murkrow responded by flying up and perching itself on Marie’s right shoulder. Marie then bent down and held out her right hand to Houndour, allowing the black dog to come up and sniff it. After Houndour sniffed Marie’s hand a few times it began licking it. Suddenly the door to the apartment opened. Marie and her Pokemon turned to see Giovanni and Persian standing in the doorway.
“You continue to impress me my dear.” Giovanni said to Marie. “You’ve passed your first test with flying colors. I had one of my men waiting at the ground floor of this building to follow you in case you left the building and see what you did. Not only did you return to the apartment, but you also managed to capture two new Pokemon. Well done.”
“So you’re spying on me?” Marie asked.
“Not at all.” Giovanni chuckled. “You’re no longer a prisoner, but the thought did occur to me that you might just take this opportunity to just run off and never return, but you didn’t.”
“Where would I go?” Marie coldly pointed out. “I have nowhere else to turn. I was a criminal, and now as far as the rest of the world is concerned, I’m dead. This is the only place left for me.”
“Smart girl.” Giovanni told her. “I remind you that your training begins tomorrow. So you might want to try and get some sleep.”
With that, Giovanni and Persian left, shutting the door behind them. Marie sighed with relief as soon as they were gone.
“Sorry about him.” Marie said to Murkrow and Houndour. “I really don’t like that guy, but he was the only way for me and Zorua to escape the life we had before. Oh that reminds me, there’s one other friend I’d like you two to meet.”
Marie then sent out Darkrai. Both Murkrow and Houndour were a bit frightened by Darkrai’s appearance. Houdour even growled at the Legendary Pokemon.
“Don’t worry, Darkrai won’t hurt you.” Marie assured her two new Pokemon. “He actually helped me and Zorua survive in… that hell.”
Zorua talked to Murkrow and Houndour in its own language, seeming to reassure the two of what Marie told them. Both Murkrow and Houndour relaxed after a moment.
“Now listen Darkrai.” Marie said to the Legendary Pokemon. “I’m going to have to keep you a secret from Team Rocket. If they knew I had you, they’d take you from me and do who knows what to you. So I’ll only be able to send you out when we’re alone, understand?”
Darkrai gave a silent nod. Marie then got up and sat in a nearby chair and sighed.
“I hate this.” Marie said to her four Pokemon. “I hate the idea of working for Team Rocket. I’ve heard about some of the awful things they do to Pokemon. But like it or not this is what I have to do. Agreeing to join them was the only way out for me, so I guess for now we’ll all just have to suck it up and do the best job we can to work for them…. It’s all I can do for now until I can get back at Lisa and Andre for what they did. And I will get back at them one day… I swear it.”
