EPISODE 190: Fighting Against Yourself!

Finally, after walking through five frosty routes, we've finally arrived at Glacevelt City. Only a little information is known about the place. No one can come inside except for trainers and citizens. Due to this fact, Glacevelt city remains as the most mysterious city in the Laurenburg region.

"Please state your name." The police guarding the toll instructed while holding a piece of paper and a pen on his other hand. Even the guards looked suspicious to me and my friends.

"My name is Kalem. This is my buddy Lucario and these two are my friends, Camellia and Glade." I greeted and introduced.

"Kalem huh? Alright, please take these red IDs. Wear them once you enter the city's proper, and return them to me when you leave.

It is obvious to me that the three of you are trainers. I'll allow you to pass through the toll. Don't dare disrupt the orderliness of the city." The guard giggled and gave us three red passes. He looked confident and optimistic about giving the three passes to us without even asking other questions.

"Um, just our names? Ok then. May I ask who the gym leader of the city is?" Glade questioned.

"Her name is Emerald. She's an expert in ice type Pokemons. Plus, she's known as one of the strongest gym leaders in this region." The guard bragged.

"She's known as one of the strongest gym leaders in this region? But, why does it seem like no one knows here?" Camellia questioned with suspicion.

"Gck... Ah, whatever, don't believe me if you don't one too! Just go inside, you're wasting my time." The guard swallowed his saliva intensely as a small sweat droplet fell off his face.

I was expecting to see a winter wonderland themed city due to the snow shrouding the city, but that all changed after seeing empty streets and quiet houses. An aroma of gloom and sorrow filled the sky, garbage scattered throughout every corner, no malls, and no entertainment arenas. Only the Pokemon Center and the Pokemon Mart looked clean and sterile, the rest? Filled with filth and muck.

"This place gives me the creeps." Camellia's voice shuddered while her eyes rolled around her surroundings.

"I think it's best if we go to the Pokemon Center first. I'm going to arrange my team before challenging the gym leader Emerald." I suggested. I didn't mind the aroma of gloom and despair, it's still a city after all.

The Pokemon Center of Glacevelt city looks like a large wooden hut with a tall chimney on top. "Welcome to the Pokemon Center. How may I help you?" Nurse Joy greeted us with a pleasant smile. No one was inside the Pokemon Center except for Nurse Joy and the three of us.

"Hi Nurse Joy! May I use the telephone booth?" I questioned respectfully.

"Sure, just turn left and you'll find the booths." Nurse Joy instructed.

Camellia and Glade sat on the long bench beside the counter. They observed Nurse Joy's technique of using natural remedies instead of technological ones. Being a curious girl, Camellia decided to question Nurse Joy.

"Nurse Joy, why are you using natural remedies? I mean, you can use technology to make your work better right?" Camellia questioned.

"Glacevelt city didn't provide any technology for the Pokemon Center except for the telephone booths. All the city's technology is used by the guards, citizens, and the gym leader." Nurse Joy explained while crushing two berries with a mortar and.

"But aren't you a citizen of this city as well? You should complain to the mayor of the city, there is some sickness which could only be healed through technology." Camellia suggested.

"Sorry but I'm not a citizen of this city. I just go here to work from day to night. I live in Meteor Town which is near Dracovolt city. Plus, the mayor of the city is no other than the gym leader herself."

"Well I'd say, Emerald, is not worthy to become a mayor. She only keeps technologies for herself and her citizens." Glade enraged.

"I know right, but there's nothing we can do, this city isn't democratic. She's always the mayor of the city. I'm trying to suspise the citizens, guards, and the gym leader as members of team Chaos." Nurse Joy concurred.

"Team Chaos? Hm... Doesn't Kira have a C symbol on her Frost Badge? Could that mean that this city is under the control of team Chaos?" Glade guessed and assumed.

"I remember a memory with my mother. She told me that the regime has a secret city hidden in the corner of the region. Still, if this city is under the control of the regime, shouldn't the guards where their uniforms?"

"Alright! I'm all set, let's go to the gym!" I interrupted and beamed with determination. Just like during other gym challenges, my body burned with a fiery passion to win.

"So you're a gym challenger. The location of the gym is at the very end of the city. You'll know if it's the gym if you see a building clinging to a mountain."

"Really? Thanks for the information Nurse Joy. Come on Glade, Camellia, let's head to the gym!" I and Lucario leaped with determination, our fiery spirits are ready to thaw Emerald's Pokemons.

"Wait Kalem, I'll take a restroom break first before we leave."

"Um sure. Just make it quick Camellia, the sooner I'm done with the gym challenge the sooner we can leave this city."

"The daughter has led herself to a tight spot. She's in the bathroom, you know what to do." A spy peaked on the small vents of the restroom. She reported her findings to the clone through a watch which has a speaker on the back.

"Alright then. Leave the mission to me." The clone's current location is unknown. One thing's for sure, Camellia's up against herself.

<Swoosh...>Camellia tapped the flush of the toilet. She cleaned the seat with a pair of tissue and wiped the flush afterward. Camellia opened the doors of the cubicle and proceeded to the sink. No one was in the comfort room except for her. She even whistled while washing her hands.

Everything seemed normal to Camellia, when suddenly the windows of one of the cubicles spurted into pieces. The noise alarmed and startled Camellia. That's when she knew she wasn't alone.

"Who's there!?" Camellia shouted. Her body trembled with fear while holding one of her Pokeballs. One by one Camellia took a glimpse of the cubicle. Everything seemed fine except for the last one, the cubicle where the glass spurted.

She held the doorknob with her shivering hands. Camellia had a slight hesitation pulling her away from the cubicle. Still, just like what I've said, Camellia is a curious girl.

The door of the cubicle squeaked. Camellia took a glimpse of the cubicle and saw someone inside. Someone with the same hair and hat as her. Camellia ran as fast as she could to escape the comfort room.

"Stop moving!" The spy kicked the vent doors and jumped down.

"A spy? This city is really filled with grunts. I have to warn Kalem about this." Camellia panicked and grabbed the doorknob to escape quickly.

"There's no escape Camellia. You've been captured." The spy giggled with confidence and locked the door from the outside through the use of her smartwatch.

"Let me out!" Camellia infuriated while trying to pull the doorknob. Her clone went out of the cubicle with a cold smile.

"Ah!? Who are you?" Camellia beamed with shock. Her heart pounded louder with fear.

"I am you, but way better and proficient." The clone mocked with the same voice as Camellia. She walked closer to her with her vile and malicious scowl.

"Leave me alone, or I'll battle you. You're just a clone, you don't have any Pokemons." Camellia warned while holding Absol's Pokeball. She prepared to toss the Pokeball and fight with her clone.

"I'm sorry... but I have to do this, it is the king's order anyway." The spy scowled and pointed the taser at Camellia.

"Absol, come out and help me! My father would never order something which could hurt me!" Camellia finally tossed Absol's Pokeball to the sky, but the Pokemon wasn't able to get out of her Pokeball. The clone quickly grabbed Absol's Pokeball with a magnetic device.

<Gzzz!>The spy electrocuted Camellia with the taser. Her body fell on the ground as her consciousness and sight slowly fades away.

"Well that was easy an easy task. Will she wake up?" The clone knelt before the unconscious Camellia. It played with her pocket and took her Pokemons.

"She won't for now, but her consciousness will return after an hour."

"Eh, that's enough time to complete the mission. With her Pokemons, there are no longer differences between me and her. Tie her in one of the cubicles. She'll still be trapped even if she wakes up." The clone commanded while tossing one of Camellia's Pokeballs.

"Leave the rest to me. Her friends are waiting outside." The spy unlocked the door with her smartwatch and allowed the clone to pass through.

Camellia's body was tied inside one of the cubicles. The spy also secured the cubicle in order for her not to escape when her consciousness returns.

"Camellia, there you are! What took you so long!?" I stood up from the bench with relief.

"Just a little tummy ache, that's all. Anyways, let's go to the gym." The clone's really sounded like Camellia. Her actions were of those of the original daughter as well.

Camellia's excuse seems reasonable, but why would her tummy ache all of a sudden? With the real Camellia trapped inside one of the cubicles, and with the clone traveling with me, what unexpected things could happen next? Only time will tell as the journey continues...

"Are you a trainer? if you are please state your name." The guards instructed to a woman about to enter the city. Her face was covered with a black cloth, and beside her was her partner Pokemon.

"My name is um... Tessa. This is my Pokemon Blastoise, we're here to challenge the gym as well." The woman explained.

"Eh you sure? I feel like I've heard your voice somewhere." The guard suspised and took a closer look at the woman.

"Heard my voice? Um, you must be talking about my sister." The woman excused while her body shivered with worry.

"Ok then! Here's your Id, please return it to me once you leave the city. I never knew people wear black clothes nowadays."

"Phew... that was a close one." The woman uttered to herself as her body felt relieved. She took the red pass and hung it around her neck. The guard opened the toll and allowed her to enter the city's proper.