Chapter 21: Anarchy in the Big Apple

"Maybe we should talk to that guy? That little girl's father - the girl that we helped back at the Wellspring Cave - had that information on why Team Plasma wanted to keep turning Pokémon into zombies," Pedro said as they were about to enter the desert. He looked at Harper ponderingly. It was unusually for Pedro to question her decisions and he started to annoy her. He was becoming worse than Brandon – both were getting on her nerves. She gave him the why-do-I-care look. He responded anyway which annoyed Harper even more. "By learning about the zombification and how those disgusting criminals can do that, maybe we can put stop to them. It’s important to know your enemy before you can put a stop to their nasty and notorious schemes."

Harper nodded her head. She decided that he had a point, even if it meant delaying going into the desert. She was excited to experience the desert. The girl had never seen one before. She had heard a lot about this place. It was odd to have a desert next to a city area. Since the city was expanding, with building works being made in the desert, the desert probably wouldn’t be around for long. Harper wanted to see it before it disappeared.

"We’ll go find this person first. But I want to make this thing quick," she said. "Where did she say her father lived?"

"I cannot remember," said Pedro – this annoyed Harper; was he always this helpless. "I remember her saying he lived in Castelia City. Where he lived, I cannot know." He was even more useless.

Pedro stared at her. She used to love his bright eyes staring at her. It used to comfort her but now it only enjoyed her. Why did she like this person? They were nothing alike. She was sure that there was someone better for her to go out with. Someone can befall her safety. At this current moment, Pedro couldn’t do that for her.

"That was a very obvious answer," said Harper. She was getting really annoyed at him now. "I already know that this person lives in this city. The girl told us in the cave. Can you remember his name? I think we can use that name to work out where he lives. I wished that girl told us where he lived when we met her. Things would be easier now."

"I don’t really have a good memory," said Pedro apologetically. “What about you Brandon?”

"Funny you’d ask! I have a photographic memory," Brandon added. Harper forgot her friend had a photographic memory. Because Brandon had Asperger’s, he had the ability to focus on even the obscure detail. She should’ve asked him sooner.

"What’s his name?" Harper asked.

"His name was Maximus Davies," Brandon remembered. He looked very proud of himself. Harper hoped that he had remembered the name correctly.

"Let us go to the Pokémon Centre. I hope they can answer where this person lives," Harper said, leading her group away from the desert. "I really want to get this sorted out as soon as possible."

They rushed towards the Pokémon Centre dodging the oncoming traffic of people. They moved like how a fish traversed through seaweed. They were able to leap left and right, making sure not to walk into anyone. They used Gym Street to get to the Pokémon Centre. Since they’d been in the city for several days now, they had gotten used to the city’s layout. There was no way they would get lost now. They soon arrived at the Pokémon Centre. A few people waited outside to get their Pokémon healed. They were trying to take on the gym leader, but it looked as if Harper was the only person that day who managed to defeat the gym leader. They were able to skip the line because Harper had been able to defeat the gym leader. As a result, they were able to talk to the nurse right away.

"Do you know where Maximus Davies lives?" asked Harper.

"He lives here," the nurse said, pointing her finger to the map of the city. Harper noticed a nametag that said ‘Nurse Joy’. Harper wondered whether every nurse called that? "I hope that helps you.”

Harper said thanks and then exited the Centre. As she was walking out, a punk walked up to her. He was wearing his usual black mask. It was Hector.

"Because of you guys I was kicked out of Team Rocket," he started to complain, waving his arm in the air angrily. "After you beat us the last time on that bridge, my boss decided that I’d lost for the last time. I was kicked out quicker than you could think. Why was I kicked out when Havana and Toby are still in? They lose more battles than me. It is not my fault it was my first day with them!"

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From the look on Hector's face, he looked particularly mad. They could see the wrath on his face. Harper thought that she would be mad if she was kicked out of a group on her first day. But since Hector worked for a criminal organization, she did not have any sympathy for him. She was going to ignore him, but he stood in her way. He was purposely doing this to annoy her.

"Get out of my way loner," said Harper. "Just because you alienated your own friends does not mean I have to put up with your stupidity."

"No!" Hector stamped out. "I’ll challenge you to a Pokémon battle!"

"If it gets you to get out of my way, I’ll accept your challenge," answered Harper. "Tepig and Pansage, I choose you!"

"Cofagrius and Zoroark, I choose you!" yelled Hector angrily. Harper hoped that he wouldn’t be reckless as he battled. She didn’t want to explain to the nurse why they’d wrecked the Pokémon Centre.

Harper's Pokémon stared intensely at the Cofagrigus and Zoroark. Team Rocket had caused them a lot of pain. Even though they weren’t as dangerous or as evil as Team Plasma, they were a criminal organization and had to be taken care of. If Hector was arrested and sent to prison it would be good for everyone else. But from past records, he was more likely to run away. But the joy of beating a Team Rocket member in a Pokémon battle would be enough for Harper to satisfy her need for payback.

"Where did you get those Pokémon?" taunted Harper. "I bet they were stolen. That seems like the only good thing you can do. No wonder you are angry. You can’t get any other job since you’re very untrustworthy."

"I actually caught these Pokémon fair and square," answered Hector.

"Of course, you did," replied Harper sarcastically. But she made sure that it wasn’t obvious. But since Hector was not the sharpest tool in the shed, he did not notice Harper’s sarcasm.

The Cofagrigus was some Egyptian-like coffin Pokémon with massive grey ghost hands, ready to grab its opponent and smash it across the room. The Zoroark was some grey fox-like Pokémon that stood on its two feet. Its sharp claws could cut through anything, and its dark red bushy fur at the top of its head could frighten anyone who dared come across it. Both were dark and ghost-type Pokémon respectively, so Harper knew her Pokémon had to use special attacks to defeat them.

Harper's Tepig quickly circled the Cofagrigus, which was trying to grab hold of Tepig. Luckily Tepig was very quick and dodged the other Pokémon’s attempt to grab it. Cofagrigus performed Ominous Wind which created a gross purple misty wind that inflicted pain on its victim. Both Tepig and Pansage were gradually losing health, so they had to deal with this Pokémon as quick as possible. Luckily the mist inflicted pain on Zoroark yoo, which suffocated in the poisonous wind. Cofagrigus then used disable to stop Tepig from using Flame, which was its strongest attack. Cofagrigus used disable again which stopped Pansage from using its Seed Bomb, which was its signature move.

"That’s unfair," yelled Harper. She never knew a Pokémon could do that. She wondered if she should’ve been more prepared and read up on Ghost-type Pokémon. Harper was yet to encounter one until now.

"I’m going by the rules so you shouldn’t be complaining," Hector chortled. It was obvious that if she did not do anything now, she would lose the match. She thought hard and strong, but she couldn’t think of anything to do.

"Just tackle that Pokémon!" she screamed, screeching at the top of her voice.

The Tepig and the Pansage started to tackle the Cofagrigus. They alternated between each other to swipe the opposing Pokémon with their claws. But Cofagrigus was too good. It was able to dodge the other Pokémon’s attacks with ease. It dawned on Harper that Ghost-type Pokemon were immune to physical attacks. Suddenly, Pansage – who had lost a lot of health already – was grabbed by Cofagrigus. It tried to fight the grab, but the Cofagrigus was too strong. While dodging Tepig, it threw the Pansage across the room and into the wall, knocking the Pokemon out. Tepig knew it had to do something – it had to do something very fast and quick, or else they would lose the battle.

"I know I can still beat you," yelled Harper. "I’m a pretty good trainer where you’re a newbie. so, you’ll lose even if you have stolen some pretty good Pokémon."

"I will tell you once and I don’t want to repeat myself," Hector yelled as his temper began to flare up, "I did not steal those Pokémon!" Harper knew he was angry by the tone of his voice. She decided to finish the battle before he got extremely mad and did something stupid.

Tepig was still very quick and managed to dodge the strikes of the opposing Pokémon. The Cofagrigus was starting to slow down. It was probably starting to wear out and tire. Although the Tepig couldn’t do any physical attacks, hopefully, it could keep the Cofagrigus busy until the move Disable wore off. The Cofagrigus was still dodging some of the attacks, but it was beginning to wear down. Tepig could feel the move Disable rub off it, so it knew it was about time to do another Flame attack. Before it could strike, however, the Cofagrigus grabbed hold of Tepig. Swiftly it threw the little pig Pokémon across the room, knocking it out.

Hector stood there in shock. "What has just happened?" he simply spindled. Quickly before he was arrested for anything, he dashed off out of the Pokémon Centre. He did not even brag – most trainers did. Harper and her friends stood there as well in shock. Never had a Team Rocket member defeated one of them before – and Harper had not lost since taking on her first gym battle. It was all a learning curve for her, but she was still shocked about what had just occurred

"Is that what I think happened," pondered Brandon loudly.

"Yes, that’s what we have just witnessed," said Pedro. "Hector can truly battle."

Harper remained silent.