Last time, Icy did battle with Bruno and Agatha of the Elite 4.  After he easily defeated Bruno’s fighting squad, Agatha’s ghostly bunch made short work of Icy’s team.  You might say, she *licked* the problem.  Discouraged by the utter defeat, Icy must decide whether to give it another shot, or give up on ever becoming a pokémon master.  And now…

    “Cheer up master.  We’ll try again to beat her.”
    “It’s not that simple.  I have to beat Lorelei and Bruno again before I can challenge Agatha to a rematch.”
    “But we beat them both easily.  If we could do it once, there’s no reason why we can’t do it again.”  Hocus put his hand on Icy’s shoulder.  “Master, you can’t give up on something that requires you to take your whole life to achieve.  Becoming a pokémon master was your life-long dream!”
    “I know, but now it seems like I’ll never reach that goal.  The Elite 4 are just too tough.”  Icy looked at the ground.  “I’ll never win…”
    “Master, you can still become a pokémon master.  You just need to have confidence in yourself and us.  C’mon, what happened to that lively spirit you once had?”
    “It’s gone…” Icy sulked.
    “Hmm… not quite the answer I was looking for.  Master, you must challenge them again.  It’s your goal, your dream.  Your destiny?  Why would you just quit like this?”  Icy was silent.  “Please think it over some more at least…”
    “You don’t understand.  I can’t win…  I just can’t beat them all…”  Icy went into the bedroom and threw himself onto his bed.  “I’ll never become a pokémon master,” he mumbled into the pillow.  Hocus wasn’t ready to give up just yet.  He went into the room too.
    “Master, you are just upset over this loss.  But you’ve lost before and won the very next time.  Why should this time be any different?”
    “Because I didn’t just lose to Agatha, she completely humiliated me.”
    “Next time, use a pokémon that’s strong against ghosts.  Bugs, they have an advantage against ghosts for some odd reason.  Maybe one of your Caterpie could help here.”  It was getting late and Hocus could see Icy was just not in the mood to see a positive outcome to the events unfolding.  “Good night master.”  Icy muttered some more nonsense into the pillow before falling asleep.  Sara joined him some time later.  Hocus also went to sleep, but on the floor.
    The sun rose over Indigo Plateau as the Dodrio crowed.  Icy slowly woke up.  “Someone really does need to shoot that darn thing…”  He got breakfast for Sara and himself.
    “Good morning Icy,” Sara yawned, half-awake.  She sat down with him and ate breakfast.  “So what’s the plan for today?”
    “There isn’t any plan.  I don’t want to battle them again.  I’ll only lose.  Who’s gonna come to a gym whose leader is a loser?  No one!”
    “No one’s gonna come to our gym if you don’t become a pokémon master.  Please Icy, give it another try.  You and your pokémon have come too far to give up now.”  Icy just sighed and ate his breakfast.  “C’mon Icy.  Do it for me at least.”
    “Why are you all trying to get me to battle again?  I don’t want them to hurt my pokémon again.”
    “Icy, what if the next time, you win?  Remember when you were battling Blaine?  Even after he almost killed Buttercup, you still challenged him again.”
    “Ohh…  Hmmm…”
    “Icy, you know deep down inside this is the right thing.  It’s what you want.  You can’t let your loss to Agatha ruin your dreams.  Please give it another shot.”
    Icy thought long and hard.  Flashbacks of his battle against Blaine appeared in his mind.  “I… I… I’ll do it!  I’ll do it for you, for my pokémon, and for myself.  I’ll beat them.  This time, it’ll be different.”
    Sara was overjoyed.  Hocus, who had been listening in on the conversation all along simply smiled to himself.  “I won’t let you down master…” he said to himself.
    “This is great Icy.  New, we need to work on some strategy, especially on fighting ghost pokémon.”
    “Right.  C’mon everybody.  We’ve got training to do!”

***

    Icy and Sara walked to the training arena.  There weren’t many trainers there now because the day’s battles had already begun.  “All right, we really need to get prepared for Agatha’s ghost pokémon.  But remember, you all still need to get past Lorelei and Bruno first.  We’ll train for them a little later.”  Icy went to the computer and selected Gengar for an opponent and chose normal difficulty.  “Hocus, let’s get started.”
    “Right master.  Which attack shall I use?”
    “Well remember, Agatha’s pokémon are at higher levels then you, so your attacks might not do as much damage as normal.  For now, let’s go with attacks that can prevent her from using Gengar’s special attacks.”
    “Ok.  I believe my confusion attack could help in that department.”
    “Hmm…  I thought we tried that.  Confusion can easily be countered if the pokémon is strong and well trained.  Can you use disable?”
    “I’m not sure.  Can you have the pokédex explain the move and level?  Perhaps I can learn the attack naturally.”
    “Sure.”  Icy found is pokédex from the bottom of his pack and opened it, knocking of the pile of dust that had collected on it, and asked it for technical details on Disable.
    “Disable.  Kadabras are capable of learning this attack and do so naturally.  It involves using psychic energy to prevent the usage of an opponent’s attack.  The energy must be targeted at the opponent’s brain in order to work.  For further assistance on helping your Kadabra master this attack, please click the yellow button then give the pokédex to the Kadabra.”
    “Hmm…  Do you think you can perform that attack right now without help Hocus?”  Hocus wasn’t too sure so he shamefully shook his head no.  “Well, that’s ok.  Maybe the pokédex can aid you in it.”  Icy pressed the yellow button and handed Hocus the pokédex.  It blinked and made strange sounds while Hocus stared at its screen.
    “Ahh…  Uh huh…  Yes…  Of course…  Ha!  I knew it!  Mmmhmm…  Got it!”  Hocus closed the pokédex and handed it back to Icy.  “I was very close.  Just need to channel the energy over a slightly higher frequency for the right effect.”
    “Wow, pokédex told you all that?”  Hocus nodded.  “Well, I’m certainly impressed.”  Icy and Sara were both glad that Hocus had learned a new attack.  “Try it out on the Gengar and I’ll have the computer display a report on the outcome.”
    “Got it!”  Hocus took a fighting pose.  He touched his finger to the star on his head and began glowing.  Only seconds later, he pointed his finger at the holo-Gengar firing the disable beam.  The computer began calculating the results.
    “Let’s see what we got here,” Icy said reading the screen.  “The attack did cause minimal damage and you were able to disable its Night Shade attack.  Good work.  Now, do you think you can focus on a specific attack?  Maybe ‘D’ has some more methods you can try.”  Icy gave Hocus his pokédex again.  Hocus accessed more information on the Disable attack.  Soon after, he returned D to Icy.
    “It says I still need more experience with the attack before I’ll be able to disable specific abilities.”
    “Ok.  I guess that’s all right for now.  How ‘bout you practice that attack while the others get some training as well.”
    “No problem.  I won’t let her make fools of us again master.”
    “Thank you Hocus.  You’re a true friend.”  Icy went over to the next available area and had the Porygon there produce another Gengar.  Just as he was about to release Wiggler, a familiar man rushed in.
    “Oh, hello little boy, are you and your girlfriend the only trainers in here?”
    “Uh, yeah, I think so.  Why?  Are you lost?”
    The man shook his head.  “No, not lost…  I am looking for someone.  Someone I met a few months ago, in Celadon City.  You know, they had that big auction thingy…  ahhh…  well maybe you didn’t get a chance to go.”
    “No, I was there.  I remember, they had a Porygon Technology Demonstration.  Who are you looking for, maybe I saw the person.”
    “No, not a person, a pokémon.  Ahh, you wouldn’t understand, I know I didn’t at first.”  Now Icy was certain.  It was the man who had traded him Hyper for Bulbasaur and the Dugtrio King.
    “Was this pokémon Pikachu by any chance?”
    “Yes, how did you…  oh, never mind,” he finished, seeing Icy’s Kadabra.  “You’re a psychic aren’t you?  I heard only psychics could control psychic-type pokémon.”
    “You heard right.  Although Hocus there can sometimes do things all on his own, without my instruction.  I still can’t figure it out, but he is a very good friend.  So, did this Pikachu have a name?”
    “Yes, I believe it called itself, Icy.  Yes, that’s it.  Someone told me the trainer by the name of Icy was here.”
    “Well, I can tell you one thing, you can stop looking for the Pikachu.”
    “Really?  I don’t see how I’d find this trainer any other way.  You see little kid, this Icy fellow was involved in a tragic accident that transformed him into a Pikachu.”
    “Ahhh, the good days.  Remember Sara, when we could just camp out in the forest together.”
    “We still do…”  Icy sweatdropped.
    The man’s face went white as if he’d just seen a ghost (no pun intended!).  “Uh, are you ok mister?”
    “You, you’re Icy?!?”
    “That’s right.  The former Pikachu-trainer.  And this fine lady is my girlfriend Sara.”  Sara giggled slightly and bowed.
    The man was still getting over it.  Icy quickly related how he and Sara were cured with the help of Mewtwo and Bill.  “Ok, I get it now.  Well, my search is over then.  I have a small business matter to settle with you Icy.”
    “Really?”
    “You remember your Dugtrio and Bulbasaur you traded me.  I gave you my Dratini for them.  Well, I’m sorry to say it, but I’m growing tired of creaming young trainers as well as old ones with my pokémon.  Your pokémon, after being trained by me, turned out to be very strong fighters.  I want you to have them back as a token of my appreciation in getting to train such excellent pokémon.  I’ve got plans to open a pokémon dojo for trainers who want to become champs like me.  I’ve already got the pokémon I need to teach with and want to return these fine pokémon to you.  They seem to miss you dearly…”
     “I guess it’s only fair I give you back your Dratini in return right?”
    “No.  It’s not that I don’t want Dratini back; I want you to hold on to it.  Icy, after I trained your pokémon, I found that there was something missing that I couldn’t teach them.  Something you were able to show them.  I found that even after we won so many matches and seemed to be becoming close, they always reflected back to you.  You have taught them to show respect for the trainer and to know they will always be there for them.  I’ve tried to get them to understand how much I enjoyed being their trainer, but they just didn’t get it.  Not even Dratini ever fully trusted me; he just knew that he was capable of wining inside.  I guess that’s my talent, building a pokémon’s confidence.
    “Wow.  I never though I was really teaching my pokémon such a deep lesson.  Well, thank you for giving me Dugtrio and Bulbasaur back.  Stop by and visit anytime.  I own a pokémon gym in the Viridian Forest.”
    “Ok, perhaps I will.  Maybe I’ll bring some of my pupils along and you can show them how to build a pokémon’s trust in the trainer.”
    “Oh course.  Goodbye!”  They waved goodbye and the man ran off.  Icy was still a bit shocked he didn’t want anything in return.
    “Well, I’ve never seen those types of pokémon before.  Do they have names Icy?”
    “Not yet.  Let’s see, Dugtrio will be called, Triking, and Bulbasaur here will be named, Seedy.”  Icy gave his old friends a big hug.  They all had tears in their eyes as they felt each other’s loving hold.  Sara watch from a short distance with Wiggler on her shoulder.
    “Wiggler, who are those two pokémon?”  Wiggly answer her in Caterpie-talk.  Sara got the gist of it and understood why Icy was so glad to see them again.  “Well Icy, that’s two more to put in the running for battle against the Elite 4.”
    Icy let go of Triking and Seedy.  “Yes…  Maybe they can help me defeat Agatha.”  Icy looked back at Hocus to see how he was progressing.  “How’s it coming Hocus?”
    “I am getting a little more accurate, but a simulation is no way of judging this.  I’ll have to hope I get it right when the time comes.”
    “You’ll do it Hocus.  I know you can.  And I know I can now too.  I won’t quit until I’ve reached my dream to become a pokémon master!”

***

    “That’s great master.  By the way, the computer has measured a high increase of level since I began sparing with this Gengar.  I think you should be sure the others get a thorough workout too, especially Wiggler.”
    “I almost forgot…  But what attacks can Wiggler use to defeat Gengar?”
    “Well, I just know that bugs have advantages over ghost pokémon.  Wiggler’s small size should prevent Gengar from licking it.  I think if Wiggler uses a few string shots, he’ll be able to slow Gengar down enough to get the upper hand.”
    “Well Wiggler, are you ready to get trained to beat Gengar?”  Wiggler produced a few cute Caterpie sounds and crawled down from Sara’s shoulder.  “Ok, let’s start by using your string shot attack.”  Wiggler nodded and sprayed the white string at Gengar.  Gengar faded away before the string hit then reappeared.  Wiggler was too slow.  “You need to be faster Wiggler.  This Gengar isn’t nearly as strong as the ones Agatha has.  Let’s try it again.”  Wiggler charged toward the Gengar who once again faded away.  But this time, Wiggler had a plan.  As soon as the Gengar reappeared, Wiggler sprayed its string shot at it.  Gengar found itself unable to move.  “All right!  It worked!  I’ll reset the simulation and you keep practicing it.”  Wiggler nodded and waited for Porygon to reset his opponent.
    Hocus was resting beside the computer.  “I’m worn out.  Perhaps you should select a preliminary team now.”
    “Right.  Well, you and Wiggler are in.”
    Sara interrupted him.  “Icy, don’t you have a ghost pokémon of your own?”
    Icy suddenly remembered the Gastly he had captured a while back in the Pokémon Tower.  “Oh yeah, Vapor.  He could help me get past Lorelei and Bruno really fast.  Go Vapor!”  Icy’s Gastly materialized.  “Hello Vapor.  You’ve been added to the team to battle the Elite 4.”  Vapor seemed pleased and floated around in circles.  “Let’s see, how about we have you battle the types of pokémon Lorelei uses.”  The Porygon produced a Lapras for Vapor to battle.  Vapor was only able to use its Lick and Night Shade attacks.  “Good work Vapor.  Try disappearing now and then to avoid its attacks.”  Vapor did as Icy suggested and was getting even more attacks in while not being hit as much.  The computer tracked his performance.
    “So, should I add Vapor to the list?”
    “Yes.  Put Static and Hyper on there too.”
    “That leaves room for one more.”
    “Cyber.  Put Cyber on the list.  That team will do it.”
    “Yeah.  I think you’ve got a good chance of beating them all this time.”
    Wiggler was getting tired out from battling Gengar.  It wanted to stop, but something inside it told him to keep going.  Wiggler’s body began to glow bright green.  “Wiggler, are you ok?  Oh, no wait, you can’t evolve yet, I need you to stay as a Caterpie for now.”  Somehow, Wiggler understood what Icy was saying and stopped glowing.  It collapsed from the workout.  “Ohhh…  Here Wiggler…”  Icy picked up the worn out Caterpie and pet him gently.  “You’ll be all right after some rest.  Let’s see how you did.”  The computer readings showed good potential for Wiggler verses Gengar.  His attack speed was much faster along with reaction time.  Icy returned Wiggler to his pokéball and let Static do some training.
    Later that day, after all of Icy’s pokémon had had a full workout, he took them to Nurse Joy to be healed.  Meanwhile, he and Sara went to a Brock’s Diner for dinner since it was getting late.
    “So, how do you think your pokémon will do?”
    “They seemed to get a lot out of that workout.  Tomorrow, I’ll sign up to battle the Elite 4.  Before I do, I’m gonna have them train some more.  I want them pumped for battle.”
    “Great!  I hope you win!”
    “I will.  This time, Agatha won’t get the last laugh.”