Indigo League - A Rubber-Chu's journey through Kanto.

Chapter 4 - "Luico Vs. The Seas! Aquatic Battle for the Cascade Badge!"

Luico and his new allies walk through Route 4, making their way to Cerulean City. Luico whistles a tune as he skipped through the valley. Bulbasaur and Squirtle were busy chatting about Cerulean City, about how famous it was for its crystal clear water. Charmander... she was in deep thought about Luico's capabilities, wondering how he was able to stretch to abnormal lengths. "Rattata! Use Hyper Fang!" A voice shouted suddenly as a Rattata lunged at the group with glowing fangs.

 "Gomu no Gum!; Taser Pistol!" Luico shouted as his arm slingshotted towards the Rattata, sending it flying into a group of Tentacool, Pidgey, Ekans, Pidgeotto, and Oddish. "Looks like we've got company. Lots of it." Bulbasaur said as he readies a Vine Whip attack. Many Team Rocket members emerge from the trees and bushes, grinning maliciously. "You guys again?" Luico mutters in unamusement as he cranks his arm back. "Look, I want to have a fitting and thrilling adventure, but that doesn't mean I want to waste it fighting you clowns—" Luico finds himself cut off by a rocket grunt laughing. "What's so funny, huh?" Luico growls as the man sneers. "You're outnumbered, idiot! What's a rat like you gonna do against all of us-" Luico's arm slingshots into the man's face as he growls. "Toxic, and weak... All too common among you and your comrades. On that note, you've got less honor in your memory than respect." Squirtle and Charmander look at Luico questioningly as Bulbasaur attacks the Tentacool group.

 "Pidgey, Pidgeotto! Use Sand Attack!" The group of Bird Pokémon use their wings to kick up sand from the ground in an attempt to blind the three in front of them. "Gomu no Gum!; Rubber-Hose Smash!" Luico yells as his fists pound the ground, uprooting the terrain around and beneath the rocket grunts. "Gomu no Gum!; Dust Wind Sweep!" Luico yells as his legs stretch and wipe the opposing group into the air. Luico grabs his crew as he sprints to Cerulean City, arriving to their destination in a few minutes.

 "Here we are. Cerulean City, was it?" Luico asks Squirtle as he sets them down. "No other city in the region better represents Water-Types than this one!" Squirtle exclaims proudly. (Meanwhile, somewhere on Route 5); "C- Captain Kamanaki!" A man exclaimed as he came running into a dark room, his face riddled with panic. A deep, tired glare is seen glowing in the dark as a sigh is heard. "Connor... How many times must I repeat this? Do not disturb me during my afternoon nap...." The meddlesome voice reeked with toxicity as the glare only got harsher. "You better have a good reason for disturbing me this late...." Connor, trembling in fear, gulps and speaks in a shaky voice. "W- Word from the boss just got out...." The voice sighs as the lights within the room flash on. This reveals the voice to be a Meowth, known as the Scratch Cat Pokémon. "Well?... Spill already, I'd rather go back to sleep than listen to you babble on all day." Kamanaki growls as he impatiently awaits for Connor to break the news. "T- There's been word of a thrashing in Mount Moon... all done by a Pikachu. It even beat the boss' weakest team! What do we do?" Kamanaki huffs as he scratches his chin. "I want details; Actually how did it beat the boss?" Connor sweats and gathers up the courage to speak. "W- Well... It's stretchy and bouncy— Nidorino and Rhyhorn couldn't even scratch it!" Kamanaki hummed in thinking as he interrogated Connor once more. "Stretchy and bouncy... can't be scratched?... Is its body... elastic; Like some kind of Rubber?" Connor nods as Kamanaki's eyes widen in surprise. "... A Gomu-Gomu user..." Kamanaki's glares harshens again. "Issue everyone this message - That Pikachu's a Gomu-Gomu user: Someone whose body is mostly made of Rubber. as low ranking rocket members, we are not equipped to deal with this level of power. Here's a bit of advice for you: Electric-Type moves are useless against its Rubber body, don't let it fool you! If you have a Fire, or Ice-Type Pokémon; Try your hand and ware down its defense as much as you can! If we don't do something now. This Pikachu might end up a huge threat to our plans! For those of you carrying Grass, Bug, Poison, Flying, Ground, Water, or Fighting-Type Pokémon: Step down, this match is not yours to pry into. To all of my status move experts, fall back. Your knowledge will be of no use against what we'll soon face." Kamanaki ends his speech and tosses the recording to Connor. "Make sure the base gets this message as well. They must be aware of what they're really facing." Connor nods and runs out of room to inform the rest of his squad as Kamanaki quietly sighs. "Another day... another battle...."

 (Meanwhile in Cerulean City); Luico is seen running into the Cerulean Gym with Squirtle and Bulbasaur, while Charmander watches from the sidelines. "Hello! I've come to challenge this Gym!" Luico exclaims loudly, Squirtle looks around in wonder, and Bulbasaur seems ready to fight. Misty looks at the three Pokémon in shock and wonder.

 "A- Aren't you Pokémon?-", "But I want to battle!" Misty sighs at Luico's eagerness to fight. "Fine, I accept your challenge. But don't think I'm going easy on you!" Misty warned as Luico smirked. "Shark to shark, I wouldn't have it any other way." Misty pulled out a Pokéball. "Go Staryu! Use Water Gun!" Staryu appears from the Pokéball and sprays out a jet of water. "Rubber Shield!" Luico yells as he curls into a ball, as the Water Gun simply splashes off his rubbery body. "W- What?! How did you- Staryu, use Tackle!" Staryu rushes to Luico and slams into him, only to bounce off his body seconds later. Luico uncurls his body and smirks as he slingshots his fist towards Staryu. "Let's see if you can tank this!" Luico exclaims as his fist makes contact with Staryu's core, sending it flying backwards. Misty gasps and returns Staryu, pulling out another Pokéball. 

"Starmie, use Bubble Beam!" Starmie appears from its Pokéball and sprays out a jet of bubble-shaped water, which Luico dances around as he slowly closes in on Starmie. "Gomu no Gum! Taser Pistol!" Luico slingshots his fist towards Starmie, striking it with a roaring fist of Electricity. "Gomu no Gum; Dust Wind Sweep!" Luico uses his legs to sweep Starmie into the air, giving him enough time to land one more attack. "Gomu no Gum! Taser Pistol!", "Starmie, use Water Gun!" Starmie sprays out a jet of water as it collides with Luico's fist - Though Luico ends up overwhelming Starmie's attack, causing it to be struck once more as it falls to the ground. "Starmie!..." Misty sighs and recalls Starmie. "I guess you won, here's the Cascade Badge—" Suddenly, Misty is cut off by the appearance of a Cloyster emerging from the pool. "Whoa!" Luico exclaims as he jumps back, having been ambushed by the Cloyster's Aurora Beam. "Gomu no Gum; Taser Pistol!" Luico slingshots his arm towards the Cloyster, but it uses Withdraw to block his attack - As well as send him flying into the water. Bulbasaur quickly begins to unleash Vine Whip after Vine Whip upon the Cloyster, trying to weaken its defense as Squirtle dives into the pool to retrieve Luico from the water. Cloyster tackles Bulbasaur a fury of times, and just as it charges up an Aurora Beam to finish him - Luico leaps out of the water, completely enraged by the Cloyster's actions.

 "Gomu no Gum! Soaring Blade Kick!" Luico shouts, his legs forming the shape of a blade as it smashes into Cloyster, sending it crashing back into the pool. Luico lands back on dry land, just as Squirtle dives out of the water in relief. "That couldn't gone worse...." Bulbasaur couldn't help but nod at Squirtle's remark, for he too felt that Cloyster would've wiped them off the board if it wasn't for Luico. Speaking of Luico, he's busy thanking Misty for the Cascade Badge as he motions his friends to leave.

 (Meanwhile on Route 5); "Since none of you slackers can't deal with that Rubber-Rat, I'll just deal with him myself." Kamanaki growled as he left the secret facility parched in a set of trees within Route 5. He jumps high into a nearby tree and waited there patiently for his target to arrive. "You'll see soon, Shock-Rubber. You're the second Devil Fruit user to exist," Kamanaki smiled maliciously as his claws protracted from his fingers. "And It'll stay that way..."