#014 - Pokémon Challenge, Part One
(Pokémon and related elements ™,©1995-99 Creatures/GAME FREAK/Nintendo.)
Storyline, art by Robert H. Magnusson

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! THE MOMENT... YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR!!" There was definite electricity in the air, perhaps literally as Ray stepped up to the mike for his usual announcing. "TONIGHT! The Heavyweight Championship of Pokémon City WILL BE DECIDED!"

"IN THIS CORNER, DEEEEEFENDING FOR THE FOURTEENTH STRAIGHT MATCH, AT SIXTEEN AND ONE, IT IS CHAMP THE HIT... MON... CHAN!!"

"IN THIS CORNER, THE ONLY POKÉMON TO BEAT CHAMP ONCE... ONCE! - AT 13-6, IT IS AGAIN - LEE THE HIT... MON... LEE!!"

"This match is brought to you by SILPHCO... Remember SILPH for your Pokémon needs!..." The television in Tartaruga's headquarters, as with every set across the city, was broadcasting the match, as Chue prepared for a match of his own, pulling on a pair of black pants the boss had provided.

"So, you're SERIOUS - you want to CHALLENGE our best fighter for your FREEDOM? If this is a TRICK, your Pika... I mean your MARRIL pal will lose her, such as it, HUMANITY."

"No TRICK, Tartaruga! If I win, you let Marrilyn and me GO - If I LOSE, we will GLADLY join Team Rocket - but DON'T hurt Lyn!..."

Tartaruga put one hand behind his back and leaned forward in a bow of respect. "So be it. Naturally, I would fight you myself, but I'd rather..."

"I'm fighting SANDRA."

"... have you fight SANDRA. WHAT?!"

"I have to PROVE to myself, and to YOU guys, and ESPECIALLY her, that I can fight her and WIN..." Chue unfolded the shirt he was given. "... and I'm NOT wearing THIS."

"Not YET."

"HERE... WE... GO!" The fights both happened to start at about the same time, and as Lee ducked a hard left from Champ, Chue was energizing his electricity in the small round arena the base provided. "Okay, Sandy, this is IT - the last hope. Now, don't try to make it too EASY on me... there's too much at STAKE for BOTH of us!"

"Oh, don't worry - by the way, it's SANDRA now." She had switched into her preferred fighting suit of a black tanktop with jeans, and stared at her opponent through the blades at the ends of her paws.

"Right... oh boy..." At that instant Sandra had lept into the air, claws flashing in the light, and took the first swipes. Chue drew back for his most powerful punch...

...which connected with nary a stagger from Sandra. "FORGET it - you KNOW electricity doesn't affect ground types!"

Chue stepped back, rubbing his nose. "Just buying time..."

"TIME... is exactly what you don't HAVE, Chue!" Sandra rolled into a ball and flew through the small span of air between them, imbedding the Pikachu with her quills.

"Well, Lee's taking a major beating here, but he can clearly take it... I wonder if he'll still be standing for Round Two?"

"That's my CUE," thought Ivy, as she stood concealed among the sandbags and girders that made up the overhead walkways. Taking a small vial from her pocket, she held it to the flower on her back long enough to eject a small seed into it, which burst into a fine powder on contact. She then leaned over the rail just long enough to drop the vial off into space. "One Sleep Powder... DELIVERED." Just as the bell rang, the vial landed in Champ's bucket with a muffled splash.

"THAT's the way, Champ, keep it up! Okay, time to freshen up..." Odie led Champ back to his stool, not easy for an Oddish at most a fifth of Champ's size, but the two had worked together long enough to know where they stood. With minor difficulty, Odie picked up the bucket and splashed the contents into Champ's face...

"STOP THE FIGHT!" The moment Tartaruga saw the splash, he called to Sandra and Chue, the latter of whom was gasping and plucking quills out of his fur... again. "I want you to witness my GREATEST TRIUMPH!..."