Journey Through Johto |Discontinued|

Chapter 2.9: Gliding Under the Radar

"D-did you hear that?" Emmy asked as she, Sky, and Zia walked through the forest on the path. It was broad daylight, but that didn't stop the Serperior from being frightened.

"Maybe it was... a ghost!" Sky shouted at the end, suddenly putting her face right in front of Emmy's. The grass-type screamed, startled, as she froze in terror and fell backwards onto the ground.

Zia chuckled, "Alright guys, stop playing around. We have to get the Azalea Town." She chided. "Gligar!" Something called as a figure flew above the trees before disappearing into another clutch of leaves.

"What was that!? Was it the ghost?" Emmy shrieked, shivering. "No, Emmy, it was a Pokémon. I think it said Gligar?" Zia said thoughtfully, trying to remember if she heard right.

Gligar: The Flyscorpion Pokémon
It flies straight at its target's face then clamps down on the startled victim to inject poison.

"That's... terrifying." Sky stated as Emmy whimpered. "I want to get out of here!" She said, slithering away. Sky and Zia walked after her, only for the three of them to fall into a hidden hole. And who's made digging holes their signature method of capture?

"Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light." "Surrender now or prepare to fight." "Meowth, that's right." Zia caught the last bit of their motto as they placed a wood grid over the hole to stop them from getting out and then used a hose to pour water into the hole.

"We're gonna fill this waterin' hole until you float to the top." Meowth said as he held the hose. "But before we do, we're going to snatch up your Pokémon." James added in. "Absolute idiots." Zia said, about to tell Emmy to use a move when they turned the hose on again, spraying them with an endless stream of water right to the face.

The trio above laughed maniacally at their assumed victory. "Gli." A voice called as Team Rocket looked into the sky to see a strange figure right before it dives straight into the hole, breaking the grid covering it. It then flew back out before any of them could catch a good glimpse.

It landed on a tree branch off to the side, finally showing itself to be a Gligar. It looked like a pink scorpion with wings. "Hahaha. Release them at once, you evildoers." A man said, walking out onto the branch from behind the tree trunk. He was wearing a purple costume that resembled his partner.

"Who're you?" Team Rocket asked, just as confused as Zia's group. "I am the protector of the unprotected, the defender of the undefended, the champion of the righteous, and the sworn enemy of evildoers everywhere. With Gligar at my side, I fight every foe of goodness. And I am known far and wide as GligarMan!" The mysterious person answered, striking a pose as did his Gligar.

"Why're you wearing long underwear?" Meowth asked innocently, causing the man to almost fall out of the tree. "It's not underwear, I'm a superhero!" He yelled at them. "Your personal hygiene choices are your own, but I'd rather not know about them." Jesse said, waving her hand dismissively.

James crossed his arms, "You can't be a superhero. They're not real." "And even if they were, I don't think they'd be quite as lumpy as you." Meowth chimed in. "How dare you! Of course I'm a superhero. Just look at this action pose." The man said, spreading his arms out as the costume's wings opened, also picking his left leg up.

His Gligar partner did the same, trying to emphasize their 'superheroness'. "Well, he did open up the hole for us, so maybe he is a superhero." Zia shrugged. She thought anyone could be a superhero, they just have to do selfless things for others.

"It seems someone believes in me. What's your name, young lady?" GligarMan asked. "I'm Zia." She replied, smiling at him sweetly. "Well, Ms. Zia this happens to be your lucky day. Alright, Gligar. Go and dispense with that trio of troublemakers." GligarMan said, pointing down at Team Rocket.