Chapter 27: Biker Gang!
After their amazing adventure in the Safari Zone, the gang rested at the Pokémon Center. Lyra phoned Professor Oak to ask about her Pokémon; he was happy to hear she had caught even more.
Professor Oak told her that all her Pokémon were doing fantastic and were welcoming the new additions. He mentioned that they were helping the new Pokémon train and that he had already sent Budew and Chimecho to her mother. He even asked how she had caught a Zorua, noting that Professor Rowan from the Sinnoh region said Zorua were quite rare and hardly ever seen. Lyra explained how it happened at the Safari Zone and mentioned that the same thing occurred with the Slakoth evolutionary line. He understood perfectly. Lyra ended the call after asking the Professor to say hello to all her Pokémon for her.
Lyra then spoke to her mother on the phone and introduced Tomo. Julia thought Tomo looked adorable. Ranger Jenny had already spoken to her about Tomo, and Julia agreed that he could travel with Lyra. After Lyra finished speaking with her mother, the gang began to plan their next move. Just then, Nurse Joy ran over to them. "I need your help," she said.
Nurse Joy explained that there was a very sick Pokémon at the Pokémon Center in Sunny Town that needed medicine immediately. "I would take the medicine myself," she said, "but I can't leave my Center. Would you mind taking it for me?"
The gang agreed and prepared to head to Sunny Town. "Hang on a minute," Brock said, "there might be a problem." The problem was that the only way to get to Sunny Town was by crossing two bridges. The first bridge, meant for cars and pedestrians, was still under construction. The second bridge was only available for bikes.
The gang didn't have bikes, but Nurse Joy said she had plenty of spares in the parking lot. "You can use them," she offered. After receiving the medicine, the gang started across the bridge. Lyra had a light blue bike, Tomo had a green kid's bike, and Misty and Brock shared a tandem bike. Pichu and Pikachu rode in Lyra's bike basket, while Growlithe was returned to his Poké Ball because he was too heavy. They enjoyed the ride; it felt nice not to walk for a change.
Soon they reached a resting spot. They bought drinks from a vending machine; Lyra, Pichu, Pikachu, and Tomo had lemonade, while Misty and Brock had fresh water. "This is good exercise, don't you think?" Lyra asked.
"Yes," Brock replied, "and at this rate, we'll be in Sunny Town in no time."
"Hey Misty," Lyra said, "didn't you have a bike when we first met?"
"Yes I did," Misty said, "but I left it at the Pokémon Center in Viridian City. Nurse Joy is looking after it for me."
After finishing their drinks, they set off again. Suddenly, a gang appeared in front of them. "What the—?" Lyra gasped. Tomo felt scared and grabbed her shirt.
"Who are you?" Lyra asked demandingly.
"We are the bike gang," a red-haired biker replied. "I'm Chopper, the leader. Who are you four?"
"I'm Lyra."
"Pichu!" "Pikachu!" The two glared at the bikers.
"I'm Tomo."
"I'm Misty."
"I'm Brock."
"Now that we've introduced ourselves, can you let us pass, please?" Lyra asked.
Chopper chuckled. "Afraid not, Sweetheart. Not without a battle."
Lyra was annoyed by him calling her "Sweetheart." They needed to get the medicine to Sunny Town immediately, but she knew the gang wouldn't let them pass without a fight. Lyra agreed to battle. Chopper sent out Golem.
Golem, a Megaton Pokémon.
The evolved form of Graveler. Once a year it sheds its bedrock shell and grows larger. It is a turtle-like bipedal Pokémon with plated, green rocks as its shell.
Rock and Ground type, huh? Lyra thought. Psyduck is close to evolving; maybe this battle can help him. "Psyduck, show them your power!" she cried.
"Golem, use Rollout to flatten that duck," Chopper commanded.
"Psyduck, use Disable," Lyra said calmly. The move stopped Golem in its tracks. "Now, use Water Gun!" The attack hurt Golem significantly, as it was weak against Water moves.
"Golem, use Tackle!" Chopper ordered.
"Finish Golem with Ice Beam," Lyra said. The attack froze Golem in a block of ice. Lyra had won.
A girl named Tyra stepped forward. "Now you will battle me," she said. "Go, Cloyster! Beat that wimpy duck."
Cloyster, a Bivalve Pokémon.
The evolved form of Shellder. Its shell is incredibly strong and resistant to a bomb. Its shell only opens when it attacks.
Lyra was not happy with Tyra's insult, and neither was Psyduck. "You'll be sorry for saying that. Let's beat her, Psyduck!"
"Psy!" Psyduck quacked and suddenly began to glow. He grew to twice his size, turning into a blue, duck-like Pokémon with red eyes and a gem on his forehead.
"Golduck!" he cried.
Golduck, the Duck Pokémon.
The evolved form of Psyduck. Golduck is very adept at using its webbed hands and feet, making it the fastest swimming Pokémon of all.
Lyra was happy to have a Golduck. Tyra ordered Cloyster to use Aurora Beam. "Use Protect," Lyra countered. The beam was blocked. "Now, use Focus Punch!" Golduck's fist glowed white and he punched Cloyster hard, knocking it out instantly. Golduck smiled and saluted his trainer.
The bike gang was angry and prepared to gang up on the group when sirens were heard. It wasn't the police, but Team Rocket on bikes with a siren machine.
"Hey Chopper," James said.
"Hi Tyra," Jessie added.
Lyra and her friends were unhappy to see Team Rocket, but the bike gang welcomed them. "Big Jess and Little Jym!" Chopper and Tyra exclaimed. Apparently, before joining Team Rocket, Jessie and James were members of this bike gang. Jessie used to swing a chain while riding, and James used training wheels.
"We need your help to deal with these pests," Jessie said.
"They keep ruining our plans," James added.
"We also need you to take their Pokémon," Meowth said, pointing at the group.
Lyra was about to have Golduck use Psychic when a real police siren echoed. Team Rocket and the bike gang fled immediately. When Officer Jenny arrived, Lyra explained their delivery mission. She wished them luck and left to handle an emergency.
"We really need to hurry now," Lyra said. "Thanks to that gang, we are late."
"But what if we run into them again?" Misty asked.
"Don't worry," Lyra grinned. "I have Triton, my red Gyarados. He can frighten them away."
As they began to pedal, it started to rain. The gang put on raincoats as the storm grew worse. "We need to be careful," Misty said. "Riding in this weather is dangerous."
They reached a drawbridge that was rising to let a ship pass. "We won't make it," Brock said in despair.
"Yes we can," Lyra insisted. "We'll just need to jump to the other side on our bikes."
"But Mew, that's crazy!" Misty cried.
"It might be, but it's our only chance to save that Pokémon," Lyra said. Tomo agreed with his sister. Brock and Misty reluctantly agreed.
Team Rocket was also cycling nearby and decided to attempt the jump as well. As Lyra's group leaped, Lyra shouted, "Let's bounce!" They used Team Rocket's heads as platforms, bouncing across them one by one to reach the other side safely while Team Rocket fell into the sea.
Just as they were about to continue, the bike gang surrounded them again. Lyra finally snapped. "Are you serious? Get out of our way!" she shouted. "There's a very sick Pokémon waiting for this medicine!"
The bikers were astonished by her outburst. "Is that why you're cycling in this storm?" Tyra asked.
"Yes," Misty said, "and if we don't hurry, that Pokémon might die."
The bike gang was moved by their bravery. "That's real bikers for ya," Chopper said, nearly moved to tears. "Okay gang, we're going to help them!"
The bikers cleared a path and escorted the group all the way to Sunny Town. Inside the Pokémon Center, Nurse Joy was worried about a sick Shellder.
Shellder, a Bivalve Pokémon.
It has an enormously long red tongue which it uses to burrow into sand. Its shell is said to be harder than diamond.
Lyra burst in and delivered the medicine. Shellder began to recover immediately. Nurse Joy thanked them and called her sister with the good news. Before the gang left, the bikers surrounded them one last time to give them nicknames.
"From now on, you are Mysterious Lyra," Chopper declared. Lyra sweat-dropped, wondering why she was "mysterious." Misty was named "Mighty Misty," Tomo became "Terrific Tomo," and Brock was dubbed "Bashing Brock."
The group laughed, said their goodbyes, and continued their journey.
~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=
Thank you for reading this chapter!
See you in the next episode of Pika Ball Z! ⚡
Donate Power Stones