Pokémon PrismGold

Chapter Forty-Two: "Ready or Not..."

Nate followed Zoey down the mountain trail toward Fire town. He had an idea where to go to get the stuff he needed to sneak them through. He'd snuck through this town a few times before without getting caught. Skidding to a stop, Nate dropped down behind a bush. Beside him, Zoey slowly sank down to all fours, watching the group of workers trudge through the rain with heavy looking crates. Once they had passed, Nate pointed to the closest mine, telling Zoey under the rushing sound of the rain. "Sneak in and see if anyone fits Mark's and Sean's size." Zoey rubbed his head with her paw, whispering back. "Stay down." Nate nodded, watching her turn invisible before dashing off. Nate wrapped an arm around his sore ribs, taking smaller breaths. He was in a lot of pain, but he willed himself to keep pushing through it. After a few minutes, Zoey crept back to him and reported. "There are a few workers inside. About thirty or so. Not counting a few Team Rocket members."

Nate flipped the hood of his jacket up, informing her curtly. "Alright. Let's do this." Removing a pokeball from his belt, he got up and casually headed toward the entrance with his head down. An exiting miner that was leaving with two others bumped his shoulder, snapping out. "Watch where you're going, grunt!" Nate stopped to turn and face the man, his face still hidden beneath his hood. The Miner shoved Nate up against the wall, then turned to leave with his friends while muttering out. "Fucking assholes, think they own the place." Nate watched them leave, noticing the Valor tattoos on their necks and arms. Smirking, Nate stated under his breath to an invisible Zoey. "Change of plan. This will work much better." Straightening up, Nate yelled back at the Miners. "Hey, assholes!" The miners all turned to look at him. Nate put his pokeball away and raised both hands to flip them his middle fingers as he smugly stated aloud. "Suck it. Your mother's did." The large miners crackled their knuckles in response. The largest one that had shoved him, took a step closer bellowing out darkly. "What did you just say to me?"

Nate lowered his hands slowly, chuckling out to them. "A little slow, are we? I guess, fucking her brains out had side effects." The Miners tensed up, before they yelled out. "YOU'RE DEAD!" They dashed after Nate, forcing Nate to turn tail and run farther into the cave. For big guys, they were fast. Nate had to run faster than he had in his life. Running into a wall, Nate stumbled but felt Zoey tug him to the left. The Miners rushed down the left tunnel after him. Rushing into a larger tunnel with people that were all working, Nate made sure to clip the two Team Rocket members by staggering between them. Falling to the ground, Nate pointed back at the Miners, yelling up at them. "They're after me!" The Team Rocket members whirled around as the Miners skidded to a stop and snapped out. "MOVE! That fucker is OURS!" The Team Rocket members reached for their pokeballs, telling the Miners. "Back off!" The Miners pointed to them, retorting loudly. "FUCK YOU! Who do you think you are?!" More members of Team Rocket rose from around the cave, while the leader of this squad stated out to the miners. "We are Team Rocket. Now get back to work!"

The miners suddenly began to straighten up to face off with the Team Rocket members as the large Miner, yelled out. "You can't boss US around! This is OUR territory!" Nate jumped to his feet, snapping back out to fuel the Valor's further. "Not anymore! We own your ass!" Half of the groups withdrew pokeballs to engage in a pokemon battle, but others just lunged at each other to fight. Nate ducked a swing that came at him, punching the man in the balls. Kicking the man across the face to knock him down, Nate winced as his ribs seized up. Dropping to his knees, he gasped for air, watching as a miner that came at him was flipped by an invisible force and knocked out. He felt a paw touch his back as Zoey's voice asked him with worry. "Nate? You ok?" Nate forced himself up to his feet, nodding as he said. "Fine. Stay focused." Removing smoke pellets from the pocket of his jacket, he threw them up at the ceiling, yelling out to the Team Rocket members. "Light them up!" The pellets hit the ceiling, exploding into a thick fog that rained down over the cave.