Victory Road  

Go Back   Victory Road > General > Artwork, Music, and Fan-Fiction > Fan Fiction and Literature

Notices

 
 
Search this Thread
  #1  
Old July 3, 2013, 08:36:08 PM
GrassPokemonFTW's Avatar
GrassPokemonFTW GrassPokemonFTW is offline
Kyurem
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: [INSERT GENERIC LOCATION HERE]
Posts: 2,222
Default GPFTW's Mono-Grass Random Nuzlocke: the Story

Chapter 1: The Beginning of an Arduous Journey

I was young, ignorant, and most of all, hopeful. It was not until I was a Trainer that I finally realized how the bond between Pokémon was beautiful...yet ever so fragile. I had hung onto the belief that friendships could last forever, even when they were so far apart...but upon setting off for my journey, I finally realized how very wrong I was.

I remember it all so clearly; the first day of my travels. It was late afternoon; the autumn leaves gracing the skies on soft winds complemented the orange hue of the setting sun. I was just a fickle young boy then. Strange how, even with little time, one can grow several years wiser. I, like all boys my age, was anticipating the day when I would finally be able to get my starter Pokémon, and set off on a journey to become a Pokémon master. Not for a second did I think of how hard it was going to be, and how many obstacles were going to stand in my way. When my mom first called me and told me that I had an opportunity to retrieve my first Pokémon, I didn't waste a second saying yes to the proposition. I was as ready as I had ever been, and my mind was set on the many adventures I'd have, and the many friends I would make. But I was anticipating most of all the opportunity to walk in my father's footsteps. My father and I were in tune with nature; so much so, that we could hear the voices of Pokémon. All of their rejoicing, their happiness, and their pains and sufferings; we could hear them all. I suppose that in time, spending many days and nights with my father in the forest, I came to love Grass-type Pokémon. And ever since, I have wanted to become a Grass Pokémon master. I had dreams of it. I had desired it with every fiber of my being.

Not a few seconds after my mom had told me about the chance of obtaining a Pokémon was I dashing out the door to meet with the Professor's assistant. All I heard was that she was a girl with a big green beret; it wasn't much to go off of, and I think I realized it once I got to the center of town. I was at a loss, and I had only just begun my adventure. Like a lost puppy wandering an alley, I spun around and wished that I had listened to my mother, and hoped to find someone who would help guide me to the person I was supposed to meet.

Finally, with much luck, I ran into my old friend Hugh. I saw him walking with his little sister off in the distance; his spiky blue afro-like hair wasn't hard to miss. I ran over to him like a kid caught in a daze.

"Hugh! Oh, Hugh...thank goodness you're here! I'm totally lost, and I have no idea where I'm going!" Hugh rolled his eyes a bit, clearly annoyed that I was clutching his arms in desperation. His little sister giggled a bit, though she didn't attempt to hide it. In my daze, I didn't notice she was laughing until way afterwards.

"Alright, Grass, calm down..." Hugh reassured me, loosening my grip on his arms. "Now, what is it? I've got to get to Floccesy Town, so you'd better make this quick..." I finally realized that I was grabbing his arms, so I let go and apologized.

"Erm, you see..." I began to explain. "My mom told me that the professor...what's her name...Julie, or something...yeah, her assistant came over and is going to give me my starter Pokémon! I was so pumped that I ran out here in a hurry...so I have no idea where she's supposed to be waiting!"

Hugh facepalmed and gave a prolonged groan. "Really? This is the biggest moment of your travelling career, and you're already going to mess up? You'd better get your act together..." Hugh's sister was breaking out laughing now, loud enough to catch the attention of passersby. I was embarrassed, but I had to get the information I needed.

"Y-yeah...so, anyways...of what I did catch, the person's supposed to be a girl with a big green beret. You wouldn't happen to have seen her, would you?" I knew it was desperate asking, but I had no choice. I hadn't gone this far into town, especially being in the Pokémon district, which I had no purpose to go to prior, as I didn't own any Pokémon. Hugh, on the other hand, with his Pokémon, already knew the area quite well. I was hoping that he would be able to get me out of this sticky situation, and my luck did not fail me.

"Girl in a green beret? I saw someone like that on the Aspertia Lookout," Hugh said, recalling the encounter. "I guess you wouldn't know your way around here, huh...oh well, I'll take you there." Hugh then turned to his sister, who had finally arisen from her hysterical laughter. "Go on home, I'm going with Grass to meet this girl. Make sure you don't get lost on the way!"

"Alright, big bro! Bye-bye, Grass!" she said light-heartedly, and she skipped along in the direction I came. I felt a little embarrassed that a girl half my age knew the area better than I did, but I decided to put it in the past, and followed Hugh to the Aspertia Lookout.

The Lookout was as beautiful as I remembered it. My mother and father had taken me there together as a kid, during the springtime when the fresh petals of flowers glided on the breeze that could be felt up on the lookout. Today was no different, as the autumn leaves glided into the heavens, their colors vibrantly glowing from the luminescent setting sun. By the time Hugh and I made it to the lookout, the pavement was covered in freshly fallen leaves, which crunched like rocks under our shoes. Hugh looked ahead, and motioned for me to follow.

"This is her. She doesn't really look like a professor's assistant...but you never know." Hugh let me go on ahead. I climbed up the stairs and onto the lookout, where Aspertia City's famous view was as mesmerizing as ever. By the railing, I saw a blonde girl, wearing a massive green beret, leaning towards the open view, her eyes shining with awe and excitement. At the same moment, I believed mine must have looked the same.

"E-excuse me," I said, once a quick glare from Hugh reminded me that I wasn't there to dilly-dally. The girl spun around and gave a huge smile.

"Hello there! This view is amaaaaazing, isn't it?" she exclaimed. "It's a beautiful view! Don't you agree?" I was taken slightly aback by the sudden question, but I played along. "Yeah...I remember, looking out towards the lake...it always inspired me."

The girl nodded as if in agreement. "Yup! That's totally what I think! Oh, also, by the way, have you seen a boy named Grass around here? I was supposed to meet him here."

That was all the confirmation I needed. "Oh, y-you must be who I was looking for. Yeah, I'm Grass, and I'm here to get a Pokémon!" Her eyes flashed like she had been waiting for this her whole life. "Awesome! Well then, come here, come here! I've got the Pokémon right here!" I rushed over, as she set this strange machine on the ground. She pressed one of the buttons, and three fresh Pokéballs popped out, shining with great luster. Little can describe the euphoria I experienced in that very moment; the sheer thrill of finally, after so many years of waiting, to receive my partner in my journey. Like a child on his birthday, I clutched the Pokéball that had, enclosed in it, a Snivy.

"Snivy, huh? Is that your pick?" the girl asked, sensing my utter joy. I had stopped paying much attention to her, as I was busy acquainting myself with my new partner. I opened the ball, and from it, Snivy popped out.
NEW MEMBER!
Pokémon Sprite 495
Sir Ivy the Snivy (♂)
Met 7/3/2013, at Aspertia City, at Level 5
Quirky Nature, Likes to relax
Ability: Overgrow // Moves: Tackle, Leer

I looked into his eyes, and I knew that we would be destined for great things. "Hey there, Snivy! Let's become great friends, shall we?" I knew it was a rather dull thing to say, and Snivy let me know early on.

"That's Sir Ivy to you, mister," he said vitriolically. "And you shall only refer to me by that name. I do not call you human, or homo sapien, do I? Show a little class, if you will." I stood there, a little baffled by this Snivy. I remember seeing others and they were far more kind and sweet. He was a bit more haughty than others...just another way Pokémon are variable. The girl placed the remaining two balls back into the machine and caught my attention.

"My name's Bianca, by the way," she said, still excited and flighty. "And before I forget, here's your Pokédex too!" She handed me a strange red electronic dictionary-like contraption. I didn't realize it then, but this Pokédex would be important to me from then on. I was about to up and leave with my new Snivy to make my way to the route just outside of town when Hugh approached me, clearly annoyed.

"Gee, Grass, let's just spend the night here while we're at it!" Hugh said sarcastically. He was about to grab my hand when he noticed the Pokédex dangling out of my pocket. He knelt down to get a closer look.

"Woah! Is...is that a Pokédex!? Did that girl give you one!?"

"Y-yeah," I said hesitantly, a little taken aback by his sudden change in mood. Bianca made her way down and noticed Hugh admiring the Pokédex. Hugh caught her presence and dashed up to her.

"Y-you! Give me a Pokédex too!" Bianca nearly fell backwards when Hugh dashed up and stared her right in the eye. Bianca, without saying a word, reached into her bag and pulled out another Pokédex and handed it to him without a word. Hugh grabbed it and admired it for a while. He then took notice of Sir Ivy and stared me down.

"Alright! You've got a Pokémon now! I've been waiting so long for this!" Hugh pulled out a Pokéball and sent out his Tepig, aptly named Firehog. I wasn't familiar with battling at the time, so Sir Ivy jumped out and took the initiative.

"No need to say anything, sir," he assured me, though I was far from calm in this moment. "I'll handle this swine, and they shall rue the day they dare defy us!" I couldn't comprehend it then, but I now realize how, even with a greenhorn trainer like I was, Sir Ivy was risking it all in a battle, and even more impressively, he was defending me. I said nothing then, as I thought it was one of the perks of being a trainer, but I would realize otherwise...

The battle began as Firehog charged right at Sir Ivy. Sir Ivy took the hit, and retaliated with his own tackle. Firehog was blown back by the force. Amidst the collision, I could hear them, taunting at each other:

"Heh heh! That's some good stuff, ya' little snake!" Firehog teased. "But you ain't got what it takes to defeat me! Jus' give up!" Sir Ivy growled and spat at him. "Ha! I would not be caught dead losing to one as unrefined and slovenly as you! Now, shall we finish this once and for all?"

The Tepig snorted smoke out of his nostrils. "Finish this? You mean -- finish YOU!" Firehog once again charged and slammed into Sir Ivy, to which he responded with a slap from his tail. The tail knocked Firehog down the stairs, landing him at the base of the lookout and exhausted. "Okay...n-now you've d-done it..." Firehog attempted to stand up, but was too weak and fell over. The battle was over, and we had come out unscathed. I wiped the sweat of my forehead. Even though I hadn't done anything, I was totally nervous. Even then, as Hugh recalled his Tepig, my knees were shaking like jelly.

After the battle, we all walked to the Pokémon Center and got our Pokémon fixed up. Bianca told me that she was going to show me the ropes, as she handed me some empty Pokéballs and motioned for me to follow her to the route just outside Aspertia. Hugh had left the Center almost as soon as I had healed Sir Ivy, so I didn't even get a chance to talk to him about how he raised Firehog. I was a little disappointed, but my excitement got the better of me and I didn't think much of it.

Just before I left the Center, my mom came in with Hugh's sister. I must admit I was a bit relieved that they showed up; I was planning to leave for the next route right then and there, and doing so would have left me to miss out on a bunch of useful items.

"Grass! We've been looking for you, and...oh!" My mom looked over to my Snivy, and smiled. "Oh my! Such a cute little Snivy you've got there!"

Sir Ivy was peeved, groaning, "Madam, I am not cute, I am elegant..." He continued to groan, but eventually stopped when he realized that my mom could make no sense out of what he was saying, unlike I could.

"Grass, before you leave, you might want these," my mom continued, handing me a brand new pair of shoes. I put them on; they were nice and light, and I felt I would be able to run in these shoes, unlike my old ones, which were beginning to fall apart. Hugh's sister came up to me and handed me a map, something that I knew would be critical in my adventure, especially considering how I got lost in my own hometown. I thanked them both quickly, and was about to run off when Hugh's sister stopped me.

"Wait! You have two Town Maps. Make sure to give the other one to my brother, OK!?"

I looked back, gave a thumbs up, and was out the door. I didn't realize how late it had become; the sun was long gone, and the moon was up in the sky. Bianca was waiting for me on the next route, so I figured that I might as well make my way to the next town, where I would rest up for the night...

Current Team:
Pokémon Sprite 495
Sir Ivy - Snivy - ♂ // Level 6
Moves: Tackle // Leer // --- // ---
Ability: Overgrow
Nature: Quirky (neutral)
Characteristic: Likes to relax.
Changes in this Part: Obtained, gained 1 Level

Pokémon in the PC:
None
Pokémon that have died:
None
Current Location: Aspertia City


Click here for the systematic version.

Last edited by GrassPokemonFTW; July 4, 2013 at 12:18:38 AM.
  #2  
Old July 4, 2013, 09:21:46 AM
GrassPokemonFTW's Avatar
GrassPokemonFTW GrassPokemonFTW is offline
Kyurem
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: [INSERT GENERIC LOCATION HERE]
Posts: 2,222
Default

Chapter 2: Beginning Steps

"Over here, over here!" I followed Bianca's voice, though it came from a distance. In the darkness of the night, I wasn't exactly sure now if setting out would be wise, but I stuck with my guts and pressed on. I approached the Aspertia Gate, which would take me to Route 19. I began to have second thoughts again when Sir Ivy jumped up onto my shoulder.

"Do not fear the darkness, Grass," Sir Ivy said in his usual, casual and accented voice. "For the night is merely the day without the moon in place of the sun. No matter what happens, I ensure you; I will protect you to the very end." I was touched that Sir Ivy was so dedicated to me, but again, fickleness got the better of me. I didn't realize that Sir Ivy was being so utterly selfless, that he was so set on protecting me, even when I wasn't able to protect him. I thought it was all part of the relationship between Pokémon and Trainer...I thought it was the unspoken rule that went unchallenged.

Regardless, I met up with Bianca at the end of the gate, where I got my first whiff of untainted air since I went camping with my father so many years ago. She was waiting at the edge of the area where the grass grew taller, with her Lillipup beside her. "Alright, Grass!" she called out towards me. "I'm going to tell you how to catch a Pokémon!"

At that moment, my eyes were glued to her movements. After all, catching Pokémon was the key part of any Trainer's curriculum, was it not? I watched her run around in the tall grass for a while before a Purrloin, awakened and startled by Bianca's movements, jumped out and swiped at her with its claws. "Heeey..." the Purrloin hissed. "Don't go running around like that! Do you have any idea what time it is!?" I felt a little bad for the Purrloin, but the battle went on. Bianca's Lillipup, named Lillie, charged at the Purrloin with a full-force Tackle. The Tackle seemed to do quite a bit of damage, and the Purrloin was already down for the count. Bianca reached in her bag and pulled out a Pokéball.

"Pokéball, go!" Bianca shouted as she tossed the ball towards the immobilized Purrloin. As attributed to her clumsiness, the Pokéball soared far over the Purrloin, and landed in the nearby lake. Bianca, clearly embarrassed, blushed and quickly pulled out another Pokéball. The tried once more, and this time, the ball landed its mark and plopped on the Purrloin's head. The ball opened up, encasing the Purrloin in a strange red light, and sucked her into the ball. The ball rocked a few times, and then the ball, securely closed, stopped. Bianca cheered as she ran to pick up the ball from the grass.

"And that's all there is to it!" Bianca said, muttering about her clumsiness under her breath. I looked to the 10 Pokéballs I had received earlier, and hoped that I could put them to good use. I heard that lots of strange Pokémon were beginning to appear in Unova, and I was hoping to make some of my fellow Grass Pokémon my partners on my journey. Needless to say, I was eager to get started.

"Alright, Grass, this is where you're off on your own for a bit!" Bianca said, turned back towards the Aspertia Gate. "I'll be in the Aspertia City Pokémon Center if you need me, but if you don't, then why don't you go on ahead towards Floccesy Town? There's a man named Alder there who'll show you the ropes to becoming a full-fledged Trainer." I nodded hurriedly. I knew that Alder was the former Champion of this region, and that if I were going to become a great Grass Pokémon master, I would have to see him to learn the basics.

Bianca turned to leave before she looked back and said one last thing. "Also, if I don't see you again for a while...be careful. Adventures like these aren't all fun and games; there's tragedy and heartbreak too. So don't get too caught up in training your Pokémon...and be aware of the dangers that you can encounter." With those words, Bianca walked into the gate. I was a little unsettled by her words; it was the first time I saw Bianca so serious, especially from the aloof personality that I made her out to have. I quickly forgot her words, however, as I was quickly distracted from more pressing matters.

Not far into my walk into Route 19 did hear the sound of some hissing Purrloin. Even from a distance, I could hear voices: "Get her!" "No, it's too powerful! We have to retreat!" "Don't just stand there, help us!" I ran to get a closer look, and my ears didn't deceive me; a pack of Purrloin, defending their home, were getting tossed around by a lumbering Tropius. The Tropius, a girl, as far as I could tell, was warding off the Purrloins' Scratch attacks, her towering size knocking Purrloin over. She would also flap her wings, creating small tornadoes that blew the Purrloin away. I couldn't stand and watch the Purrloin get massacred like this, so I intervened.

"Hey! You!" I shouted, directing my voice to the Tropius. She noticed me, and gave me a distinct look of annoyance. "Who are you? And what say do you have in this matter?" Though clearly angry, her voice was serene and calm, which allowed me to take control of the situation without fear. The Purrloin around me were all struggling to get up, some even bruised badly and beaten.

"Don't you think these Purrloin have had enough? I'm not sure what happened between you two, but I'm sure we can resolve thi-" Before I could finish, Sir Ivy popped out. "If you want to pick on someone, my dear, then pick on me!" He turned to the group of Purrloin. "You guys, get out of here! I'll hold her back!" The Purrloin nodded in affirmative, and with the healthy carrying the injured to safety, they disappeared deeper into the trees.

Sir Ivy then turned to the Tropius, a sinister look in his eyes. Now, then, if you're going to fight...fight me, instead!" I was shocked that Sir Ivy was still so willing to put himself at risk of taking damage, but his mind was set on it, so I didn't intervene. Also, I was quite intimidated by the tall, lumbering Tropius, so I tried not to get too close.

"So, you wish to challenge me?" the Tropius said, slightly amused in light of the Purrloins' escape. "Well then, I hope you're ready for a thrashing!" The Tropius used her wings to fly up high, and began blowing gusts of wind in our direction. I was hard-pressed to stand up, as the winds were rather strong. Sir Ivy didn't stand a chance; he was blown away by the wind and he was slammed into a nearby tree.

"Sir Ivy! Are you alright...!? Gaah, this wind!" I slipped and fell on my back, forcing me to clutch the ground to keep myself from being swept away. Sir Ivy tried to stand up, clutching his back from the pain of being slammed against the tree. "I will be alright, Grass. It takes more than that to defeat me!" Sir Ivy, in a flurry of passion, ran in the wind and approached where the Tropius stood. Her heavy body could not be supported by her wings for long, so she came down with a thud. Sir Ivy took this opportunity to tackle her. Though she had a body far taller than Sir Ivy's, the Tackle attack had force behind it, causing the Tropius to lose her balance.

"Why you...I'll see to it that you pay for that!" Though her words were cruel, I could see her smiling. The spirit of competition was in full swing! I was mesmerized by it, and all the worries I had just seemed to dissipate. She flew into the air once again and let out a big Gust, but this time, Sir Ivy was able to hold his ground. Still, the damage was taking its toll on him, as he was getting tired.

"I...will NOT...let you...defeat us!" Sir Ivy charged once again, leaping up and tackling her in mid-air. Her equilibrium, set off balance, caused her to fall down on her side. She winced in pain, but retorted, "That was a good move...but I'll have my next Gust take you down and out!"

Sir Ivy suddenly turned back to me. "Grass! Now!" At first I didn't understand what he meant, but then, looking into my bag, I found my 10 Pokéballs. I then understood. "Hey!" I shouted to the Tropius, who was struggling to get herself back on four feet. "Take this! Pokéball, GO!" I hurled the Pokéball as hard as I could, and my aim was true. The ball hit its target, and like it did with Bianca and Purrloin, the ball enveloped her in a red light, sucking her into the ball. The ball shook a while, and each shake almost felt like an eternity. But soon, the red dot on the ball disappeared, and the ball stopped shaking. I had finally caught my first partner.

NEW MEMBER!
Pokémon Sprite 357
Tropicana the Tropius (♀)
Met 7/3/2013, at Route 19, at Level 4
Nature: Gentle // Characteristic: Impetuous and silly.
Ability: Solar Power // Moves: Leer, Gust

I sat down in the grass, and breathed a huge sigh of relief. I grabbed the Pokéball and looked at it a while. It took a while for the fact that I had caught my first partner to sink in. I hoped that we, together, would conquer any obstacles that we faced...

I turned back to Sir Ivy, who was laying down in the grass, breathing heavily. I ran to him, and checked him over. He wasn't in the best physical condition, especially after taking two super-effective hits, so I took out one of the Potions I bought at the store in the Pokémon Center, and sprayed it onto Sir Ivy's wounds.

"I'm sorry, Sir Ivy...I got so caught up in the battle, I didn't realize how hurt you were..." He winced as the medicine reacted with his wounds, almost instantaneously healing them. Sir Ivy stood up after I used the Potion, and gave me a little smirk.

"Do not be ridiculous, my dear Grass. Like I said to her, it will take more than a few gusts of wind to take me down." He looked at the Pokéball in my hand. "In the meantime, why don't we get acquainted with our new friend here?" I nodded, and opened the Pokéball up. The Tropius came out, at first enveloped in a blinding white light, but her form eventually appeared, and she gave a caring look to me.

"Well, I suppose I lost that battle fair and square!" she laughed. "I must admit, you are quite the Pokémon!" Sir Ivy chuckled.

"So then, old sport, allow me to introduce myself. I am Sir Ivy the Snivy, pleased to make your acquaintance. And you are?"

She smiled. "My name's Tropicana. Pleased to make your acquaintance." Tropicana, attempting to mimic Sir Ivy's accent, chuckled at her silly attempt to do so. Sir Ivy wasn't nearly as amused and gave a little pouty look before turning back to me.

"Well, I suppose it's getting late. We've worked hard today...oh?" Before his thought was finished, we were in for more combat. The pack of Purrloin from before were back, and with a vengeance.

"Hissss...how gullible and naive you are!" one of the Purrloins said to Sir Ivy. He widened his eyes and knit his brow. "Come again? I do not believe that you were so crass when you were getting obliterated by Tropicana here. So why do you insist on returning? Must you repeat the same unfortunate actions, and face the same unfortunate consequences?"

The lead Purrloin hissed and spat. "Don't be ridiculous! There's a whole pack of us; that lone Tropius didn't stand a chance! Now, get off our territory or we'll force you out!" The Purrloin sharpened her menacing claws, prompting the others in the pack to do the same. They began to slowly advance on us, their eyes filled with hatred. Sir Ivy and Tropicana both stood back, trying to avoid a confrontation. As much as I wanted to flee, I knew I couldn't...and to think I showed mercy on these Purrloin before!

"Grass! There is too many of them," Sir Ivy whispered. "One Pokémon is one thing, but a whole pack? I will need you to direct orders...that is what being a Trainer is all about, is it not?" I was a bit frightened, but I knew that this moment would have to come sooner or later. I gulped, and like a commander and his troops, I began to relay orders.

"Alright, Tropicana, fly up and use Gust! Sir Ivy, while the wind's blowing, use the wind blowing at your back for a full-force Tackle through the group! We'll need to split them up if we're going to defeat them!" Tropicana replied almost instantly, flapping her wings and sending strong winds their way. The Purrloin were swept off their feet, and the few that were able to stand their ground were only able to do so by sinking their claws into the dirt. Sir Ivy took care of them, however, as his increased-speed Tackle bowled them over. The uniformity of the group was broken up by the strategy.

Sir Ivy dealt with the leader of the pack, as Tropicana continued to blow away the Purrloin in her flurry of Gusts. Some Purrloin fled in terror, some were completely baffled in the confusion and lack of uniformity, and some were knocked out by the Gusts. The leader refused to back down, however, and Sir Ivy stared her down, right in the eye.

"Don't think for a second that you're close to winning...you may have blown apart my troop, but you're not out of the woods yet!" the Purrloin taunted. Sir Ivy smirked.

"Do not patronize us! I am sure you are powerful...but you shall not defeat me!"

The Purrloin smiled. "Who said I was after you?"

Almost as instantly as I heard that line, the Purrloin jumped above Sir Ivy and dashed towards Tropicana, unsheathed her menacing claws, and swiped at Tropicana's arm. The swipe tore away at the skin, leaving a clean cut. Tropicana screeched in pain, and her arm collapsed, unable to support her weight. Sir Ivy, furious, suddenly produced vines from the collar on his neck, and grabbed the Purrloin with them. I had realized that Sir Ivy had then learned Vine Whip.

"Now you listen here..." Sir Ivy growled, holding the Purrloin up in the air, leaving her struggling to break free. "I do not want to see you EVER hurting my comrades...do you understand me..." Without waiting for an answer, he tossed the Purrloin aside and onto the ground. She got up, gave a quick glare, and ran off. With the ordeal over, I ran to Tropicana to get a good look at her arm. It was cut, and bleeding, but it wasn't anything too serious.

"You okay, Tropicana? That Scratch took me rather by surprise..."

Tropicana smiled. "It's alright, Grass. This is only a small wound, nothing that the Pokémon Center can't handle." I was relieved that Tropicana was still okay, even after that nasty swipe. I sprayed it with another Potion, and looked out towards the horizon. I could see a few lights coming from the distance...it was Floccesy Town. I motioned for my Pokémon to follow me to the town, where we could spend the night at the Pokémon Center. I was getting tired too...

I don't know if it was my imagination or not, but I caught a quick glimpse of a moving silhouette. It was the silhouette of a man, with oddly long hair tied up in a ponytail, and a generic hat. I looked to catch a glimpse of the silhouette again, but before I could, it was gone.

The Crew    
Pokémon Sprite 495
Sir Ivy - Snivy - ♂ // Level 10
Moves: Tackle // Leer // Vine Whip // Wrap
Held Item: None
Ability: Overgrow
Nature: Quirky (neutral)
Characteristic: Likes to relax.
Changes in this Part: Gained 4 Levels, learned Vine Whip and Wrap

Pokémon Sprite 357
Tropicana - Tropius - ♀ // Level 8
Moves: Leer // Gust // Growth // ---
Held Item: None
Ability: Solar Power
Nature: Gentle (+SpD, -Def)
Characteristic: Impetuous and silly.
Changes in this Part: Obtained, gained 4 Levels, learned Growth

The Reserves    
None

The Fallen    
None

Current Location: Floccesy Town


Click here for the systematic version.

Last edited by GrassPokemonFTW; July 4, 2013 at 05:10:02 PM.
  #3  
Old July 4, 2013, 05:06:06 PM
GrassPokemonFTW's Avatar
GrassPokemonFTW GrassPokemonFTW is offline
Kyurem
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: [INSERT GENERIC LOCATION HERE]
Posts: 2,222
Default

Chapter 3: Needle in the Haystack

After a good night's sleep, I went in to have breakfast at the Floccesy Pokémon Center's cafeteria. There, I saw a whole bunch of greenhorn trainers, just like I was. Some were paired up with the local Pokémon, some were with Pokémon I have never seen before. They all seemed happy together, so I decided to call Sir Ivy and Tropicana out. They popped out of their Pokéballs, as ready to train as always.

Sir Ivy stretched out his arms and gave a good yawn. "Ah, good morning, Grass. I am feeling rather famished; what say you to some fresh berries and milk?" I nodded in affirmative. "Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. There's a whole berry section over there, why don't we go pick out some?" Sir Ivy and Tropicana cheered, and we made our way to the stand. Both of them took a Rawst Berry from the stand, as they were both in the mood for bitter tastes today. They looked at each other and grinned. "Well, looks like we are of equal tastes!" Sir Ivy remarked.

"Excuse me..."

I turned around to find a girl with golden hair facing towards me. She was wearing a light blue shirt and a long, flowing yellow skirt. She was wearing sunglasses, which I found to be rather odd for someone who was wearing such beautiful clothes. I wasn't sure what to say at first, especially with a random girl suddenly talking to me. She didn't seem to have any Pokémon either, so she couldn't have wanted to battle.

"Um...hello! Can I help you with something?" I said, a little flustered. She seemed as embarrassed as I was.

"Er...sorry for asking...but, um...were you just speaking to your Pokémon?"

"Oh, yeah! That's one of my special skills; I can hear the voices of Pokémon. I guess spending lots of time with them will do that to ya'...haha!"

"Is that so...hm...then perhaps you're much like..."

"What's that?"

"Oh...it's...it's nothing. I'd better go." With that, she turned away and walked out of the cafeteria. I was quite confused by the whole ordeal, but I chose to shrug it off and continued to eat breakfast with my Pokémon.

While I was eating my routine sandwich (yes, I ate sandwiches for breakfast for quite some time, before I became more skilled at cooking) I began to look around for Hugh. I didn't see him at the Aspertia Center either, so I assumed he got ahead, but I had hoped that we would see each other again at this Center. However, Hugh was nowhere to be found. This discouraged me a bit, as that meant he was probably way ahead of me and is probably getting stronger. With pride at stake, I chose to pack my unfinished sandwich back into my backpack and got up.

"Alright guys, Hugh's probably ahead of us, so we've gotta catch up to him! Also, I gotta hand this Town Map to him so he doesn't get as lost as I did!" Sir Ivy, under his breath, muttered, "Tell me about it..." With a newfound inspiration to keep training, Sir Ivy, Tropicana and I headed out for Route 20.

Route 20 was quite a beauty of a route, but far more arduous. The signs of autumn were in full swing, with piles of orange leaves building up at the river's edge, and with fallen leaves flowing down the river like small little boats. The air was fresh and clean, and I finally began to feel like I was on an adventure. The perilous cliffs added to the excitement, as I began to take on other trainers like me, and I was able to defeat them all. I was beginning to feel pretty confident about our chances.

Sir Ivy's abilities were getting sharper, and Tropicana was no longer lumbering around when she moved like when I first caught her. She was actually beginning to become more swift and nimble movements, and her Gust attack was becoming more powerful than ever. Still, after a few hours of training with wild Pokémon, Sir Ivy, Tropicana and I were getting kind of exhausted. Off in the distance, I noticed a little sign post, reading "Floccesy Ranch." I figured that maybe we could get some rest there, so I didn't hesitate to head there.

I looked around, and oddly enough, there didn't seem to be anyone tending to the ranch at the time. Without any energy for searching for answers, we headed to one of the corrals full of Mareep, and rested on a giant stack of hay. Sir Ivy rested next to me, who sat and leaned back into the haystack. Tropicana, with her large size, had to lay down on the side of the haystack, but immediately jolted up as soon as she had gone all the way down.

"Ow! Huh? Is there something in this haystack?" Tropicana said, still feeling the sting on her side. I got up and looked at the haystack from the side, and felt around. Suddenly, I felt something sharp cling onto my hand. The pain rushing into my hand, I flung my arm out, taking with it a Pokémon. The Pokémon let go of my hand, and rolled around on the floor for a while. Only after I got over the pain did I realize that I had just pulled out a Cacnea out of the haystack. She rolled back on her two feet and began to pout and shake her fist(?) at us.

"Hey! Don't you have to, like, apologize or something!?" she shouted, clearly angry. I wasn't sure what to say in response, after all, it wasn't me who was at fault, as far as I knew.

"Ugh, just, like, whatever, 'k!? I'm not gonna leave without my apology!"

"Um...excuse me, but why are you so mad? And what were you even doing in that haystack in the first place?" Sir Ivy asked, just as confused as I was. "I would like to know why you are so upset, so if you would please have the common courtesy to just explain..."

"Explain? Hah! I don't have to, like, associate myself with you losers!" the Cacnea spat. Sir Ivy was taken aback by such rude comments.

"U-um, w-why are you so mad!? I really don't know, please explain!" I pleaded. She turned away from me and refused to acknowledge my pleas. "It doesn't, like, matter, don't you get it? Like, hello! Look at yourselves, and, like, look at me. Don't you just see how utterly fabulous I am? Look, dummies, I don't have to associate with you guys, but you guys just keep pushing and pushing...and, like, what's a girl to do, y'know? But, y'know, I was having my beauty sleep in there! But you just had to come along, treat my bed like your own, and then you have, like, the NERVE to tell me that I'M in the wrong! Like, HA, that's a laugh! I can't even believe that-"

Before I had realized it, she had been bonked on the head with a Pokéball. "Someone had to do it," said Sir Ivy, smugly satisfied with himself. The ball only gave a little shake before it stopped, and she was caught. I sat down, wiped my head, and groaned. "I really hope I don't have to keep dealing with this..."

NEW MEMBER!
Pokémon Sprite 331
Ms. Pokey the Cacnea (♀)
Met 7/4/2013, at Floccesy Ranch, at Level 5
Naive Nature, Strongly defiant
Ability: Sand Veil // Moves: Poison Sting // Leer // Absorb

I turned to Sir Ivy and frowned a bit. "Sir Ivy, I...don't think that was wise. I'm sure that as soon as I let her out of her ball, she'll just start complaining again..." Sir Ivy winced at the idea. "Yes, I do believe that she will begin to deplore her state and will not cease complaining once we have let her out to train...in fact, I believe she will not be willing to train unless we apologize for whatever it is we are supposed to apologize for..." Her treatment of us was something that I wasn't going to get over easy, as I was already annoyed with how little respect she was willing to show.

"HEY!"

I turned around, hearing someone yelling at me. At first I thought I was hearing the Cacnea from her Pokéball, but it turned out to be Hugh. I turned to him and gave him a little wave. Hugh was trying to keep a straight face, although it was very obvious that he had seen the whole incident with the Cacnea.

"Grass, c'mon, admit it, that was hilarious," Hugh said in between fits of laughter. It was the first time that I actually felt annoyance during my adventure. Hugh eventually picked his composure back up and held out a Pokéball. "Anyways...chuckle...now that we're here, why don't we have a battle? I'd like to see how Firehog is doing in comparison to...what's his name...Sir Ivy?"

"Sure, why not?" I said, hoping that it would take my mind of the annoying Cacnea. Sir Ivy stepped forward, confident that he could take another win back from his rival. Hugh sent out his Tepig, Firehog, who blew out some smoke from his nostrils and glared at Sir Ivy.

"Well, well, back for more, are we?" Sir Ivy taunted. "Shall we settle this score? It is 1-0 in my favor; I will see to it that it becomes 2-0 with this battle's conclusion." Firehog snorted. "I think not, Sir Ivy! I will not let you get the upper hand this time!" With that remark, the two of them charged at each other, much like they did in their match in Aspertia City. But something was very different about this match; in the previous match, it was a pure match of power, with their attacks colliding full-force against each other. This time was much different, with tactics becoming more important. Sir Ivy was able to get hits in, but only after he was able to dodge Firehog's charges. Sir Ivy would follow a dodge with a Tackle of his own, inflicting damage to Firehog and whittling away at his endurance little by little. Finally, one last hit from Sir Ivy took him out. Firehog lay on the ground, exhausted.

"And I suppose that is that. Good effort, old sport," Sir Ivy said, smirking with the delights of victory. Firehog managed to push himself back up, groaned with defeat, and looked at Sir Ivy. "Mark my words, I'll get the better of ya' one day..." he groaned, though still smiling. Sir Ivy smiled back, and winked. "I am looking forward to that."

"Oh, and Hugh, before I forget..." I reached in my bag and pulled out a Town Map. "I got this from your sister, who asked me to deliver it to you." Hugh took the map and smiled. "Oh...thanks, Grass. Good to see that I can count on you when I really need it. I'm sure we'll be helping each other out a lot during our adventures." After that, we talked about our treks down Route 19, all the while getting our Pokémon fixed up. Two people in Pokémon Breeder outfits also passed by, a Herdier following up behind them. They clapped at our battle, and offered us Potions.

"Oh, by the way..." said the man, "you wouldn't happen to have seen another Herdier walking around here? She doesn't usually wander far, but we haven't been able to find her...I'm a little worried." I took the situation lightly and as one to help out a fellow trainer, but Hugh suddenly jolted up and grabbed him.

"Are you kidding me!? A LITTLE WORRIED!? C'mon, Grass, we gotta find it!" I was startled by his sudden outburst, and I wasn't sure why he was so angry, but I played along and began to search around the ranch. Before I left, the other Herdier barked to me: "Please look for her...I'm too lonely by myself..." I nodded. "Don't worry, my friend. I'll make sure to find her."

I was rather surprised with how expansive the ranch was; while there were fields in which the Mareep played, there was also a forest to the north where I passed by some of the ranch Pokémon. Hugh was looking desperately, and definitely more intently than I was. I wasn't really sure where to look, either; I started to become worried as well. What if something like this had happened to one of my Pokémon?

Suddenly, I began to hear whimpering and barking from a deeper area of the forest. Hugh heard it too, and motioned to me. "I think the Herdier's around here somewhere...I'll go grab the rancher, and you keep looking!" Hugh ran off in a hurry, but I was still completely lost. I tried to follow the sounds of the barking, but it was harder than I thought. I eventually found a dead end where I found the Herdier and a strange man in an odd black uniform. The person turned around and jumped in surprise.

"Woah! Oh man, what do I do...w-we have protocol for this, right!? T-Team Plasma has protocol for this, right!? Uh...uh...well...s-stay back!" Clearly a suspicious character, he continued to freak out more the closer I stepped towards him. Sir Ivy and Tropicana could easily feel his sinister aura, and the closer we got, the more tense he did.

"Uh...um...HERE, TAKE THIS!" the strange man threw a strange, CD-shaped contraption at me. He then bowled me over, yelling "PLASMAAAAAAAA!" with his arms flailing. I took me a while to register what had happened, and even now I don't know what the best response to his outburst would have been. Before I could comprehend what had happened, the rancher, the Herdier, and Hugh all arrived to make sure that the other Herdier was okay.

"Ah! Herdier! I'm glad you're safe..." the rancher sighed. His two Herdier were finally reunited. It was a pleasant scene, until Hugh came up and slapped the rancher in the face.

"I can't believe you! What if your Herdier was lost, or stolen!? Are you out of your mind!? Why don't you show a little more carefulness next time!" Hugh shouted angrily. He turned to me. "Thanks for helping out. You're the only one I can count on; these other trainers just don't get it..." He turned away, about to head out of the ranch. "Oh, and before I go...Grass, you'd better go check out Alder's place in Floccesy Town. I went there, and he's got a lot of information that will come in handy to you on your adventure." He turned away once more, grumbling in anger, with his hands in his pockets and his head sagged down.

"Um...sorry about my friend..." I told the rancher once Hugh was out of sight. The rancher nodded.

"It's okay. I should really be more careful from now on. Really, thank you for all you've done. Seeing your Pokémon skills in action...you know, I really think you should go visit Alder. A trainer of your skill...I'm sure Alder will see the potential in you."

I smiled. Alder, the former champion...I was nervous, but I knew that if I was going to become a better trainer, I would have to take his advice. I made my way out of the ranch, back into Floccesy Town, and looked at the old rustic building where Alder supposedly made his residence...

The Crew    
Pokémon Sprite 495
Sir Ivy - Snivy - ♂ // Level 11
Met 7/3/2013, at Aspertia City, at Level 5
Moves: Tackle // Leer // Vine Whip // Wrap
Held Item: None
Ability: Overgrow
Nature: Quirky (neutral)
Characteristic: Likes to relax.
Changes in this Part: Gained 1 Level

Pokémon Sprite 357
Tropicana - Tropius - ♀ // Level 10
Met 7/3/2013, at Route 19, at Level 4
Moves: Leer // Gust // Growth // ---
Held Item: None
Ability: Solar Power
Nature: Gentle (+SpD, -Def)
Characteristic: Impetuous and silly.
Changes in this Part: Gained 2 Levels

Pokémon Sprite 331
Ms. Pokey the Cacnea (♀) // Level 10
Met 7/4/2013, at Floccesy Ranch, at Level 5
Moves: Poison Sting // Leer // Absorb // Growth
Held Item: None
Ability: Sand Veil
Nature: Naive (+Spd, -SpD)
Characteristic: Strongly defiant
Changes in this Part: Obtained, gained 5 levels, learned Growth

The Reserves    
None

The Fallen    
None

Current Location: Floccesy Ranch


Click here for the systematic version.

Last edited by GrassPokemonFTW; July 4, 2013 at 05:10:39 PM.
  #4  
Old July 5, 2013, 11:12:36 PM
GrassPokemonFTW's Avatar
GrassPokemonFTW GrassPokemonFTW is offline
Kyurem
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: [INSERT GENERIC LOCATION HERE]
Posts: 2,222
Default

Chapter 4: A Battle of Two Years

With Pokéballs in hand, I made my way to where Alder, the former Champion was supposed to live. Like when I first battled with Hugh, my legs were shaking and I wasn't sure how Alder would see me. I was hoping he wasn't too judgmental, or too domineering. Coming to the front porch of the rustic-looking house, my hands were shaking as I turned the doorknob and entered the building.

There I saw him. His back was turned to me, and he was tending to a giant red moth-like Pokémon. Even though I had not made any commotion, he quickly turned to me and gave a warm, sunny smile. He got up and rushed to me, almost as if he had known me his whole life. "Ah, I heard about your exploits at the Floccesy Ranch! You are indeed noble for someone so new to Pokémon training!" He shook my hand vigorously, making my arm flop weakly in his firm grip. Sir Ivy and Tropicana, both behind me and observing the sudden outburst of warmth and companionship, laughed and giggled at my embarrassment. Alder took notice of them, and walked up to them as well.

"Oh! And are these your Pokémon? You may be a new trainer, but they look very well raised! In fact, if I didn't know any better, I'd have thought I trained them myself!" I was a little thrown off balance by how nice and caring Alder was, so much so that I was left speechless through his entire admiration. He turned back to his Pokémon and recalled it to his Pokéball, and once again turned to me. "I must say, these are very impressive Pokémon! What say you to a battle, eh?"

"Wh-what!? W-with you, Alder, sir? N-no, I'd stand no chance against you!" I trembled. Alder, a little surprised to see me talk after all that silence, eventually laughed and patted me on the shoulder.

"Hahaha! No, not you and I, but with these two here!" Alder then motioned to two other children who had been in the room the whole time. One, a boy, was tending to a blue-colored monkey Pokémon, and the other, a girl, was holding a similar red monkey Pokémon. Reassured that I wouldn't be facing Alder, I regained confidence and agreed to face the two trainers. Sir Ivy, almost instantly after I accepted Alder's offer, jumped into action and took the initiative. Alder laughed.

"Looks like your Snivy is ready to go! Alright, Seymour, why don't you lead off?" Alder motioned to the boy, whose Pokémon seemed just as raring to go. The boy, Seymour, jumped into action.

"Alright, Panpour, let's beat this guy!" he shouted enthusiastically. The Panpour, making some fancy moves in the air, jumped in front of Sir Ivy and gave a little smile. Sir Ivy smirked back, clearly a little annoyed with the violation of his personal space.

"Alright, Panpour, let's use Lick!" Seymour commanded. Panpour jumped into the air and, when he landed, grabbed onto Sir Ivy and proceeded to lick him. Sir Ivy immediately began to struggle to get the monkey Pokémon off, but to no avail.

"Sir Ivy, use Vine Whip! Get him off you!" Sir Ivy reacted immediately, sending out his vines and grabbing Panpour. Soaking in saliva, Sir Ivy was irked to the extreme and showed no mercy against the helpless Panpour. "Well, well. You had better get your affairs in order..." Sir Ivy grumbled with rage. He hurled Panpour through the air and slammed him into the wall, smacking into it with a great thud. Falling helplessly to the floor, the Panpour was defeated.

"S-Sir Ivy, wasn't that a little...extreme?" I asked him, a little worried about the Panpour's well-being. Sir Ivy wiped the saliva off him, and looked back at the beaten Panpour.

"Perhaps. But what else was I to do?"

"Sorry, Sir Ivy, but I just think that was a bit too harsh...well, anyways, we have another fight left, so let's give it our best, shall we?" Sir Ivy gave a little nod, turning to face our next opponent, Cassie and her Pansear.

"Alright, Sir Ivy, let's get the drop on them first! Use Tackle!" Sir Ivy charged ahead with his ridiculous Speed, slamming head first into Pansear, who tumbled backwards but regained his balance. Cassie, after making sure that Pansear was okay, gave her commands.

"Alright, Pansear! Use Lick!" As dreadful as it sounded, Sir Ivy was in no position to retaliate. Still regaining his composure from the reckless charge, he was helpless to the fire monkey jumping on him and licking him once again. Something was very different this time, though, as Sir Ivy couldn't retaliate at all. I could tell he was trying to use Vine Whip to get the Pansear off, but his body was refusing to move.

"Gah...Grass, I...I am paralyzed...something in this cretin's saliva...is preventing me from moving!" Sir Ivy groaned, his arms and legs completely immobilized. I wasn't sure what to do, but to me, anything sounded like a good idea at the time.

"Sir Ivy, since you're in close proximity, try using a Wrap attack! You won't have to move far that way!" Sir Ivy liked the idea, and tried to pull his vines out enough to wrap around Pansear. Luckily, the Pansear, who was so preoccupied with licking Sir Ivy, didn't notice as the vines slowly wrapped around his body. Soon enough, Sir Ivy was squeezing him with all of his strength, and, in doing so, the Pansear began to struggle to get free. Sir Ivy took it a step further and rolled over on top of the Pansear, and proceeded to do what he could to lower the Pansear's health further. Soon enough, the Pansear was out of breath and let go of Sir Ivy, and struggled away. Sir Ivy stood up, though with great difficulty. The battle was won; with Pansear out of breath, it collapsed on the floor and panted.

Alder turned to me and clapped, handing me a Parlyz Heal and a few Oran Berries. "Well done, Grass! Well done, Sir Ivy! I see a lot of talent in you two! Your teamwork is impeccable, well done!"

"Hah, that's a laugh! I, like, could have totally done that on my own, but I, like, don't want to get licked by those creeps." I turned around to see the Cacnea I caught before out of its Pokéball, staring at me with her arms folded. I had dreaded this moment, and by the looks on Sir Ivy and Tropicana's faces, they were too.

"Oh...it's...um...you..." I said, trying to cool my head, especially in Alder's presence. She wouldn't have any of it, as she hit me over the head with her arm.

"My name is Pokey, you little snot! MISS Pokey! And, like, don't you forget it!"

"Alright, alright...Ms. Pokey...got it..."

Alder came up from behind and spoke, startling me a bit. "Oh? You can understand your Pokémon?" I nodded, making light of the special skill. He rubbed his chin for a moment, in deep contemplation. He began to mutter nearly inaudibly to himself in his deep thought. "That sounds awfully like...yes, you have the same skill as that one fellow..."

"Who?"

Alder broke his train of thought and smiled. "No, no, never mind that. Still, this Cacnea, she too looks quite impressive! What's your secret? Actually, no; it wouldn't be a secret if I knew, huh? Hahaha!"

Ms. Pokey frowned a bit. "This guy is, like, totally lame..." I covered her mouth instinctively, even though I knew that Alder didn't know that she was insulting him. In a panic, I turned her around and whispered, "D-don't say that! Don't you know he's the former Champion!?"

She rolled her eyes. "Well, there's, like, obviously a reason he's the former champion..."

I turned back to Alder apologetically. "You'll have to excuse my Cacnea...she's a little on the defiant side, if you know what I mean..." Alder laughed.

"Ah, of course. All Pokémon have their own little quirks." Alder gave a smug little smirk at Ms. Pokey, and she, in turn, gave back an annoyed jeer. "Now then, for a strong Trainer like you, I'd suggest heading for the Aspertia Gym. The Gym Leader there is tough, but with your skills, I think you'll be up to the challenge." I tried to smile, but I was still so embarrassed that Ms. Pokey would be so disrespectful to the former Champion, even if he was no more than a jolly man now. Before I headed out, I returned her to her Pokéball and apologized to Alder once again. Alder waved his hand in sympathy.

"Oh, no need to apologize, my boy. But if you can indeed communicate with Cacnea...er, Ms. Pokey...then I'd suggest doing so. Get to know her, and understand her. Maybe then you can understand why she is the way she is. And perhaps you may grow to appreciate her more than ever before." With that parting remark, I thanked him and set out on my way. I knew that I should have taken Alder's advice, but at the time, I just felt so embarrassed and angry with Ms. Pokey for her arrogance. I saw a strong Pokémon in her, but she was a brat, and that's all there was to it. I was just too angry to even want to talk to her at all.

Walking back down Route 19, Ms. Pokey popped back out of her ball, as she didn't seem to enjoy being locked up in a Pokéball for very long. I didn't say anything, for I was sure that would lead to further complications. Even Sir Ivy and Tropicana didn't say anything, but they did steal occasional glances in her direction. Sir Ivy seemed more annoyed, periodically glancing towards her and giving a little sneer, which Ms. Pokey generally returned. The team was in disarray, and I wasn't sure what to do. Ms. Pokey refused to talk to any of us, and we in turn didn't talk to her at all. It was a very tense relationship.

Upon arrival in Aspertia, I encountered Bianca again, who was sitting on the stairs of the Aspertia Lookout. She seemed occupied with her Xtransceiver, so I merely shrugged it off and passed her, but after I had passed her, she caught notice of me and called me over. While I wasn't in the mood for her sunny presence, I wasn't going to be cold-hearted, so I walked over and tried to hide my inner turmoil under an external facade.

"Hello, Bianca. What have you been up to?"

"Oh, nothing really. Are you going to go challenge the gym?"

I nodded in affirmative. Bianca stood up and smiled. "Well, then if you beat the Gym Leader, I have something nice for you! So I'll be waiting at the Pokémon Center when you've done so." She waved goodbye and headed towards the Center. I sighed, feeling a little sick. I was trying to get my head out of my situation with Ms. Pokey, but I had to get my head into the game and concentrate on beating the Gym Leader. After minutes of reassuring myself, I headed for the Gym, which was actually the Trainers' School.

The Trainers' School was recently built as a way for soon-to-be Trainers would learn the basics about Pokémon training and battling. I attended the classes myself and did well in them, but even now I still felt very unprepared. While it was nostalgic to return to the place where I learned everything I needed to know about Pokémon, but I found that I didn't really know the place very well at all. Behind the classroom, there was a door that led to the park behind the school. I had not even been aware of it; though I may have heard a rumor about a battlefield behind the school, since the teachers blocked access to it, I guess I never was interested enough to sneak into the back area.

There really wasn't much to see there, though. There were two trainers, training their Pokémon in the usual style, and another taller trainer, with sleek black hair and a snazzy red tie, observing them and writing notes in his notebook. On the notebook cover, I noticed the Gym Leader symbol. The boy looked up from his notebook, tightened his tie, and smiled.

"Ah, you must be a challenger. Pedro, Serena, to your places, please." The two trainers nodded, and as if on cue, they stood on their halves of the battlefield. The Gym Leader motioned for me to come over.

"My name is Cheren, and I'm the Aspertia Gym Leader. I'll have you battle these two trainers. If you can defeat both of them, then I'll face you. Good luck." Without so much of any more words, he stood up on a little stage at the very back of the yard, ready to watch my battles. Pedro came first, sending out his Patrat. I wasn't sure what compelled me to do so, and even now I look back upon it and wonder, but I attempted to see if I could get Ms. Pokey to do something. I sent her out, and even she was a little surprised that she was called out. It didn't stop her from folding her arms and ignoring me.

"Alright, Patrat, use Tackle!" Pedro called out. The strange-looking rat charged towards Ms. Pokey, who didn't even move from her spot. She unfolded her arms and fired a spike from her arm that hit Patrat square on the chest. Suddenly, he began to look very sick, and lie down, clutching his stomach. I recalled learning about this in the Trainers' School; it took me a while, but I realized that the Patrat had been poisoned, and the move Ms. Pokey used was Poison Sting. Then, Ms. Pokey shot out another spike, this one connected by a vine. The stinger latched itself into Patrat's fur, and then started to drain him of his health. The energy it stole away began to make its way into Ms. Pokey's body. The Patrat was struggling to make a move without getting stopped by poison, but it was for naught, as he collapsed. The same fate befell his next Pokémon, Lillipup.

Serena challenged me next, and I was hoping that Ms. Pokey was finally going to listen to me, but sad glances from Sir Ivy and Tropicana told me that it wasn't so hopeful. Serena sent out her Lillipup and commanded a Tackle. This time, Ms. Pokey refused to do anything, allowing herself to get Tackled. I knew her defense was rather low, so before Lillipup could cause more damage, I recalled Ms. Pokey into her Pokéball, frustrated and confused. Tropicana ended up going next and taking out Serena's Lillipup with her massive gusts, and did the same to her Patrat.

Cheren nodded all throughout the battles and continued to write things down into his notebook. After I defeated my second opponent, I turned to him. He wrote some last-minute notes into his book, shut it, and placed his pen in his pocket. "Well done," he said, his eyes closed and arms tense. "Looks like you're ready for the final test." He pulled a Pokéball from his belt and sent out his own Patrat. I, not wanting to risk the same problems as I had with Ms. Pokey, sent out Tropicana. Sir Ivy stood next to me, observing the battle with intense eyes. Cheren hopped down from his stage and held the book in his free hand.

"Alright Patrat, let's get things started! Use Work Up!" Patrat clenched his fists and began to make his entire body tense.

"Two can play at this game, Cheren! Tropicana, use Growth!" She complied, absorbing energy from the sun, which remained high in the sky. Both Patrat and Tropicana were powering up in their own way; it would essentially come down to who would outsmart the opponent and take out the opponent in one shot. After the two had been charging for some time, I decided to jump out with an attack.

"Alright, Tropicana, Razor Leaf!" Tropicana shook her wings, sending out a flurry of sharp leaves headed Patrat's way. The leaves cut and hacked away at Patrat, leaving him with several cuts and bruises. One leaf that was well aimed slammed into Patrat in the stomach, and knocked him over. Patrat was down, and it was unable to battle. Cheren, a little disappointed with how he wasn't able to do damage, recalled his Patrat and frowned a little.

"I must admit, I made a mistake with this approach. But be warned, I won't let you get away with that!" He sent out his next Pokémon, yet another Lillipup. The Lillipup was swift, however, as it showed off its speed with a few laps around Tropicana.

"Alright, prepare yourself! Lillipup, Tackle!" The tiny dog was so fast and swift, it was able to slam its whole body into Tropicana, making her lose her balance.

"Tropicana, into the air, then use Gust!" Tropicana, before she fell over, flapped her wings forcefully enough to get her into the air. She then generated a swirl of wind, catching the runaway Lillipup and sending it into the air. The end result was harsh; Tropicana landed down, leaving Lillipup helplessly floating in the air. Once the winds died down, the Lillipup fell from the sky and landed hard on the ground. Letting out a little grunt, the Lillipup collapsed, unable to battle any more.

I sighed a huge breath of relief; Tropicana had pulled through for me and won me my first Gym Badge. Cheren recalled his Lillipup and opened up his notebook once more.

"It shames me to say it, but...you are indeed the better trainer." He pulled out a purple badge from his notebook and handed it to me. "Here's the Basic Badge. You've earned it!" I smiled and happily accepted the badge. For a moment, I felt euphoric; I had taken the first of many steps towards the Unova League.

"Congratulations! That Basic Badge will allow you too---"

"HEEEEY!"

Bianca suddenly rushed in, out of breath and completely exhausted. After panting for a while, she stood up and forcefully hugged Cheren. "Cheren! It's been too long!" Cheren struggled a bit before conceding to his trap. He smiled and tried to make the most of the situation.

"Y-yes, it has been. 2 years, in fact."

Bianca suddenly let go and saw the Basic Badge in my hand. She jumped, shouting, "Woah, you actually did it! Great job!" She reached in her bag and pulled out another one of those disc-like contraptions, similar to the one I received from the strange man who had kidnapped the ranchers' Herdier. "Like I promised, here's a little gift!"

Cheren smiled. "Ah, that's TM number 27, it'll teach your Pokémon Return. It's a move that gains power the more the user has bonded with its trainer. Oh, speaking of which...could I talk with you in private?" Cheren closed his notebook, motioned to the two trainers to take care of the Gym for him, and walked back into the Trainer's School. I wasn't sure what it was that he wanted to talk about, but based on how seriously he said it, I figured it was anything but good...

The Crew    
Pokémon Sprite 495
Sir Ivy - Snivy - ♂ // Level 13
Met 7/3/2013, at Aspertia City, at Level 5
Moves: Tackle // Growth // Vine Whip // Return
Held Item: Oran Berry
Ability: Overgrow
Nature: Quirky (neutral)
Characteristic: Likes to relax.
Changes in this Part: Gained 2 Levels, learned Growth and Return

Pokémon Sprite 357
Tropicana - Tropius - ♀ // Level 12
Met 7/3/2013, at Route 19, at Level 4
Moves: Leer // Gust // Growth // Razor Leaf
Held Item: Oran Berry
Ability: Solar Power
Nature: Gentle (+SpD, -Def)
Characteristic: Impetuous and silly.
Changes in this Part: Gained 2 Levels, learned Razor Leaf

Pokémon Sprite 331
Ms. Pokey - Cacnea - ♀ // Level 12
Met 7/4/2013, at Floccesy Ranch, at Level 5
Moves: Poison Sting // Leer // Absorb // Growth
Held Item: None
Ability: Sand Veil
Nature: Naive (+Spd, -SpD)
Characteristic: Strongly defiant
Changes in this Part: Gained 2 Levels

The Reserves    
None

The Fallen    
None

Current Location: Aspertia City

Click here for the systematic version.

Last edited by GrassPokemonFTW; July 7, 2013 at 09:38:06 PM.
  #5  
Old July 7, 2013, 08:18:13 AM
GrassPokemonFTW's Avatar
GrassPokemonFTW GrassPokemonFTW is offline
Kyurem
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: [INSERT GENERIC LOCATION HERE]
Posts: 2,222
Default

Chapter 5: Getting Picky over Pokey

It was nighttime, and the Trainer's School seemed more empty than ever. With each step I took, my footsteps resonated down the hall, and though I knew I was alone in the school, except for Cheren, I tried to walk slowly, as if I felt that some presence would find me and condemn me. Sir Ivy, sitting on my shoulder, seemed suspicious of the school's unusual quietness, and Tropicana, who hardly even fit in the hallways, went back into the Pokéball and waited until I met up with Cheren.

The moon was full that night; I remember this night so memorably, for I'd like to call it the day I caught my first glimpse of what it's really like to be a Trainer. Turning the corner, I saw Cheren, who motioned me into one of the rooms. I followed behind him. Walking in, it was a very big and spacey room, almost like an auditorium, without the chairs. I let Tropicana out here, and she got her bearings. Sir Ivy hopped down to get a look around on his own feet. Cheren gave me a quick glance, as if to observe what I was going to do in the case of Ms. Pokey. I didn't know if he was predicting whether I would send her out or not, but I ultimately decided against it and sat on the matted floor. Cheren sat down as well, though he brushed off the lint and loose cloth on the ground before he made himself confortable. He set his notebook aside and looked at me in the eye.

"I guess by now it's no surprise to you that I want to talk to you about your Cacnea...Ms. Pokey, was it?" I nodded to confirm. Cheren straightened his tie and clasped his hands together. "I notice that the two of you...well, you aren't really on even terms. Now, I understand you're a new trainer and all, and you probably caught Ms. Pokey pretty recently. But something seems off about this case." Cheren picked up his notebook, and flipped through it, as if looking for notes that he had taken in regards to Ms. Pokey during our time at the Gym.

"I...I'm not really sure anymore..." I muttered. "I still consider Ms. Pokey to be a great partner. I don't understand what I could be doing that is causing her to act this way...I mean, we has a kind of shaky start, but that should all be in the past. It was like that with Tropicana." Cheren nodded and jotted some notes down. He then looked at me with the same serious eyes.

"Grass, you can't think that a few battles are going to strengthen the bond between Trainer and Pokémon that easily. Heck, even the Pokémon who accompanied me on my journey...we still haven't totally bonded. I guess that's our shortcoming that never let me defeat my old rival, but I kept searching for a way to connect with my Pokémon. It's going to be the same for you, but you'll have to find your own way." I let what Cheren said sink in for a moment. I recalled what Alder said; it was that I had to communicate to Ms. Pokey, and that it would help me understand her and, most importantly, bond. I began to wonder what he truly meant by those words.

"In any case, you and your Pokémon make a darn good team, and I believe your team's powerful enough to take on some tough obstacles. Here, I forgot to give it to you in the commotion with Bianca..." He handed me yet another TM, this one labeled "83." Cheren stood up. "That TM contains Work Up, a move that boosts both Attack and Special Attack. You might find it useful to you." Cheren looked around furtively, as if he was trying to avoid detection. "I'd suggest that you move on to the next town. The next Gym lies in Virbank City, which plays home to a powerful Poison-type Gym Leader. For a Grass-type Trainer like you, I'd be on my toes." With that fair warning, Cheren led me out of the Trainer's School. Before he closed the door behind me, he gave me one last sympathetic glance and turned away.

I headed back through Route 20 and Floccesy Town, and I realized that to get to Virbank City, I would have to make my way down the slope. Recalling my Pokémon to their balls, I slowly headed down, inching down so that I wouldn't fall or slip. The darkness of the night made it even more difficult for me to navigate, but in time I saw a dim light coming from the Virbank Gate.

Suddenly, as little as I had expected it, it had begun to rain. Feeling the first few raindrops on my cheek, I made a mad dash for the gate, hoping to avoid a torrent of rain. It seemed that other trainers were getting the same idea and dashing away, though some headed for the Floccesy Ranch, and others had taken shelter in their cars. I noticed some vacant tents outside, and I wondered why someone would just up and leave their tents there. However, with no time to think, I ignored them and dashed for the gate.

Once I had entered the gate, I found that I had made it through without getting completely soaked. I noticed a couple of really young kids huddled together with a woman, presumably their teacher, based on her uniform. She noticed me and gave a warm, inviting smile.

"So, the rain caught you too, huh? We were out camping there; did you happen to pass by any tents while you were there?" I nodded slowly. "Yeah, and they looked like they were getting kind of soaked. I was wondering why the tents would just be left out there...especially since anybody out there might be using them now."

The woman chuckled and scratched her head. "Yeah, I realize that now too. Oh well, it's not like we set up every tent we had out there. I can afford to leave a little help for the unfortunate ones who are still stuck out there." I nodded, though a little apprehensively. I couldn't stand the thought of some creep using the tent and getting too comfortable in it, even when it wasn't his own.

The rain evidently began to pour much harder, and soon became accompanied with the sound of thunder. The children, frightened, huddled together and hugged their teacher, completely unwilling to let go. To be honest, I was a little frightened myself, especially now that the situation had potential to become dangerous. Some of the children began to cry and wail in fear, and the teacher was hard-pressed to take care of all of them.

"I know!" the teacher suddenly called out, trying to get the children's attention. "Why don't we take our minds off the storm with some Pokémon battles? I'm sure all of you brought your friends along for this trip right?" Some of them couldn't hear her on account of their own wailing, but some of them pulled out Pokéballs from their pockets and smiled at the prospect of battle. Some called them out just for companionship, while some boys, being boys, were eager to get into battles.

"Say," the teacher called out, directed towards me. "Why don't you battle too? I'm sure that they would enjoy battling someone with a little more experience, rather than just their friends over and over." I felt a little put on the spot, but I decided that there wasn't really any reason not to, so I felt obligated to comply. I called out Sir Ivy and Tropicana, again not bothering with Ms. Pokey, although I felt a little guilty especially after what Alder and Cheren had both told me. After a little while contemplating, I decided to send out Ms. Pokey too. Even when I attempted to, however, she refused to come out, leaving the Pokéball stationary on the floor.

I looked to the Pokéball. That moment seemed to pass all too slowly, as if it were just me and Ms. Pokey's Pokéball moving, while everything around us was frozen in time. I gave a little smile. "Ms. Pokey," I began, as if she could hear my voice from the ball. "I'm sorry. I haven't been thinking about what you want." I kept looking at the ball, for any signs of movement. "If you don't want to battle, that's fine. If you do, you can come out at any time. I'd be honored for you to fight alongside me, Sir Ivy, and Tropicana."

No movement from the ball.

"I guess, since our first meeting, I didn't see you as any more than an air-headed, selfish Pokémon. But I haven't taken the time to see the other sides of you, so how should I know? I guess what I'm saying is...I'm sorry, and we want you back. And not just the good parts, but the bad." I turned away from the Pokéball and began to face my first opponent, a young boy who trained a Psyduch. Sir Ivy went out to battle, and with type advantage on my side, it was an easy match. The second, a girl with a Lillipup, suffered the same fate as she tried to beat Tropicana's bulk and size. Occasionally I would turn back to the Pokéball, almost as if to see if Ms. Pokey was watching.

The hours passed, and I had ended up defeating every preschooler there. I felt a little bad, especially facing children who were far younger than I was, but the teacher and child alike seemed amused by battling me, so I guess there was no harm done. "Thanks for helping out," she said, attending to the children's defeated Pokémon, all of which were resting on small blankets that she had brought for the camping trip. "As your reward...you get to face me in battle!" All of the children gasped and cheered, as if it were a great honor to face her.

"Ooh, Teacher's reeeeally strong!" one of the boys said. "But maybe he can beat Teacher? Is that even...?"

I relished the challenge and was about to let Sir Ivy go to battle when I checked the Pokéball one more time to find that it was popped open. When I stared out ahead on the battlefield, Ms. Pokey was standing there, arms folded and with a big, silly grin. She turned back to me and smiled.

"You were, like, right about one thing," she said, smirking, as if taunting me. "I really am air-headed and selfish. But that's me. And if you, like, don't like it, you deal with it, you know?" I smiled. "Sure thing, Ms. Pokey. You're a member of the team; and if I'm not willing to deal with you, then I'm not doing my job. So let's take her on...partner."

Ms. Pokey rolled her eyes. "Partner...doesn't, like, sound quite right. But enough about that; let's get going!" She spun her arms around in an excitement I had never seen from her before. The teacher smiled and laughed. "She looks really ready to battle! Well, we are too! Let's go, Dunsparce!" She tossed her ball into the air, and out popped a rather strange looking Pokémon. I whipped out my Pokédex to get some information on the strange creature.

"Dunsparce, the Land Snake Pokémon. Dunsparce has a drill for its tail. It uses this tail to burrow into the ground backwards. This Pokémon is known to make its nest in complex shapes deep under the ground." I looked around. The ground was too hard for it to hide underground, so I didn't think that would be too much of an issue.

"Alright, Ms. Pokey, let's start off with Poison Sting!" Ms. Pokey rolled her eyes again, in her usual haughty way. "You don't, like, have to tell me what to do, I know!" She shot out a barrage of needles from her right hand, all aimed for the Dunsparce.

"Dunsparce, Defense Curl!" The Dunsparce immediately rolled its body into as much of a ball shape as it could, making the Poison Sting do less damage. However, as he continued to coil up his body, one of the needles struck him and lodged itself into his back, poisoning him!

"Alright, Dunsparce, let's Rollout!" the Dunsparce quickly charged forward, rolling into Ms. Pokey like a ball. Ms. Pokey tried to counter the attack head-on, but it failed to do anything, as the ball steamrolled her.

"Careful, Ms. Pokey! Use Absorb!" Ms. Pokey was aggravated by that first attack and intended to make sure that it would not happen again. She shot a vine out that intended to grab the Dunsparce and hold it from using another Rollout, but the spinning snake deflected the vine and slammed into Ms. Pokey again. She was sent flying backwards and into the wall, knocking the air out of her.

"Ms. Pokey! Are...you all right!?" I almost wanted to jump into the fray and guard her from further damage, but I knew that wouldn't be wise. Ms. Pokey coughed and hacked, but got back up, albeit very weakened. She turned to me a gave a little smile. "Heh heh...looks like...I'm not quite ready...for this..." The Dunsparce rolled around one more time and intended to dish out another Rollout, probably powerful enough to take any of my Pokémon out. Unable to move on account of her losing her breath, Ms. Pokey stood there, completely exhausted.

"Ms. Pokey! Watch out!" Before I noticed it, Sir Ivy jumped in and pushed Ms. Pokey out of the way, taking the hit and got sent flying backwards. Slammed into the wall in a similar fashion to Ms. Pokey, Sir Ivy took the hit much better, on account of his better defenses. Ms. Pokey, utterly mystified, turned around and glared at Sir Ivy, who was coughing and wobbling, but still standing.

"You idiot! What do you think you're doing!?" Ms. Pokey shrieked. Sir Ivy groaned and gave a little smirk to her.

"You are a part of the team now...and teammates look out for each other, do they not?" Sir Ivy stood in for Ms. Pokey now, who was still panting hard from the hit. Dunsparce was about to charge for another Rollout, when the poison began to take its toll, and Dunsparce began to uncoil.

"A-Alright, now's our chance! Vine Whip, Sir Ivy!" Sir Ivy lashed out his vines, smacking the Dunsparce senseless and finally, tossing him around and slamming him into the ground. The Dunsparce, successfully knocked out, uncoiled and groaned. The children there were shocked; even their teacher was defeated! She recalled her Dunsparce and gave a hearty smile.

"Wow, you've got one heck of a fine team! You're too strong for us!" She praised. Sir Ivy walked back to me high-fived me, and we exchanged a big laugh. I then walked over to Ms. Pokey, who had managed to roll herself back upright but was still breathing heavily. I knelt down and smiled.

"Thanks for helping me out today, Ms. Pokey. Let's keep up the good work!" I offered her my hand, which Ms. Pokey accepted with a little smile. "Hmph. It, like, goes without saying."

In the commotion of battle, I hadn't realized how late it had become, along with how the storm had passed through and the rain, along with the thunder, stopped completely. The children cheered, as their camping trip may not end in total loss. The children thanked me for the battles, and passed through the gate and into Route 19 once more. I figured that, with all my business done there and my Pokémon exhausted, that I should head to the Virbank City Pokémon Center to heal up my Pokémon.

As soon as I headed out of the gate, Virbank City posed itself as a very industrial city. The air seemed thick, and it was a little difficult to breathe compared to other times. Splashing in puddles, I looked left and right for the Center. Suddenly, as I was walking, I heard a small groan coming from near the big industrial complex at the south side of town. I headed there, and there I found a large burnt spot where lightning must have struck, and a few meters away, a frightened Foongus. I knelt down and examined him; he seemed scared out of his wits, and shivering from the cold.

"Oh man...we gotta get you to a Pokémon Center, and..." I looked around for anybody else who might be around. All I saw was an arguing sailor and some girl who looked like a punk rock star, but no one else was around. I saw the Pokémon Center from there, but as much as I tried to get the Foongus to come with me, it refused to move out of fear.

"You could just catch it," Sir Ivy proposed. "He does not appear to be in a state where he would put up much resistance." I nodded, looking at the Foongus. "Don't worry, little guy. I'll give you a good home." I took out a Pokéball and tapped him on the head with it, and without even resisting, he went into the ball, which didn't even shake upon enclosing the Foongus. With capture complete, I dashed for the Pokémon Center, hoping to get assistance for the little guy...

NEW MEMBER!
Pokémon Sprite 590
Fassad the Foongus (♂)
Met 7/6/2013, at Virbank Complex, at Level 11
Timid Nature, Likes to fight.
Ability: Effect Spore // Moves: Absorb // Growth // Astonish

The Crew    
Pokémon Sprite 495
Sir Ivy - Snivy - ♂ // Level 14
Met 7/3/2013, at Aspertia City, at Level 5
Moves: Tackle // Growth // Vine Whip // Return
Held Item: Oran Berry
Ability: Overgrow
Nature: Quirky (neutral)
Characteristic: Likes to relax.
Changes in this Part: Gained 1 Level

Pokémon Sprite 357
Tropicana - Tropius - ♀ // Level 13
Met 7/3/2013, at Route 19, at Level 4
Moves: Leer // Gust // Growth // Razor Leaf
Held Item: Oran Berry
Ability: Solar Power
Nature: Gentle (+SpD, -Def)
Characteristic: Impetuous and silly.
Changes in this Part: Gained 1 Level

Pokémon Sprite 331
Ms. Pokey - Cacnea - ♀ // Level 13
Met 7/4/2013, at Floccesy Ranch, at Level 5
Moves: Poison Sting // Leech Seed // Absorb // Growth
Held Item: Oran Berry
Ability: Sand Veil
Nature: Naive (+Spd, -SpD)
Characteristic: Strongly defiant.
Changes in this Part: Gained 1 Level, learned Leech Seed

Pokémon Sprite 590
Fassad - Foongus - ♂ // Level 11
Met 7/6/2013, at Virbank Complex, at Level 11
Moves: Absorb // Growth // Astonish // ---
Held Item: None
Ability: Effect Spore
Nature: Timid (+Spd, -Atk)
Characteristics: Likes to fight.
Changes in this Part: Obtained

The Reserves    
None

The Fallen    
None

Current Location: Virbank City

Last edited by GrassPokemonFTW; July 7, 2013 at 09:39:43 PM.
  #6  
Old July 8, 2013, 02:56:51 PM
GrassPokemonFTW's Avatar
GrassPokemonFTW GrassPokemonFTW is offline
Kyurem
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: [INSERT GENERIC LOCATION HERE]
Posts: 2,222
Default

Chapter 6: A Toxic Complex

I had made a mad dash for the Pokémon Center in the hopes of recuperating the Foongus that I had found, who I had found outside the Virbank Complex, completely scared out of its wits from the storm that had just passed. Upon arrival at the Pokémon Center, the nurse seemed to have her hands full with Pokémon, all of which appeared very ill.

"Excuse me, nurse?" I asked politely, knowing she was very busy. "I'm just here for a routine heal-up..." The nurse gave me a little look, as if she was trying to acknowledge my existence, but quickly went back to tending to the ill Pokémon. I peered over the counter, seeing a lot of Pokémon whose faces were pale and sweaty, and they were breathing heavily, almost to the point where it seemed like they were going to collapse from exhaustion at any moment. I stood there a while, surveying the situation, when the nurse once again glanced in my direction.

"S-sorry. My hands are a bit full right now..." she apologized. She then tossed me a little key, which I recognized from the Floccesy Pokémon Center as one of the keys to the rooms. I decided to take what I could get, and decided that it was as good an opportunity as any to talk to the Foongus and calm him down.

I found my room, seeming a little bit more furnished than the room I had received in Floccesy Town. I noticed that there were a lot of posters with that punk rock star girl I had seen earlier. I figured she must be rather popular in Virbank City, and made it a part of my agenda to go check out one of her concerts sometime.

I called out all of my Pokémon, who all stretched out, feeling good to get out of their respective Pokéballs. Still, the Foongus that I had caught immediately fled to the corner and curled up. The rest of the team looked at him, confused and mystified.

"Like, what's his deal? He seems scared, or something..." Ms. Pokey commented. "Seems kinda lame. Grass, you gotta stop catching these lame-wad Pokémon." Sir Ivy gave her a bitter glance for a moment, then turned back to the recessive mushroom and rubbed his chin in contemplation.

"Perhaps he is just timid. You know, some Pokémon are...just like that." He peered over to catch the face of the Foongus, and it was contorted with a face that seemed to try to keep itself from crying. I decided to approach him to see if I could make any sense of the situation.

"Hey...what's your name?" I asked, hoping that making small talk would let him open up to me without getting too frightened. The Foongus turned around a little bit, his expression obviously twisted with worry. Eventually, he spoke, in a very soft and scared manner, "Fassad...my name is Fassad..." I nodded. "Fassad, huh? That's a cool name. Fitting too! My name is Grass, and this is my team," I said, pointing to the rest of my Pokémon. They all smiled, with the exception of Ms. Pokey, who was being uncooperative as usual.

"My name is Sir Ivy. It is a pleasure to meet you." Sir Ivy handed out his hand, which Fassad was hesitant to take and shake. He did eventually, but after one shake, Fassad quickly retracted his hand and trembled.

"I'm Tropicana," said Tropicana in her usual motherly, soothing voice. "Don't worry, we don't bite. At least Sir Ivy and I don't..." she murmured, giving a mischievous little smirk in Ms. Pokey's direction. She responded with a little shake of her "fist." Fassad made a small chuckle, but it was almost inaudible and as soon as I had noticed it, he turned towards the corner again and cringed.

"I'm Ms. Pokey." The introduction was over as soon as it had begun, as she was unwilling to say any more.

Fassad, even after the introductions, was still nervous and didn't want to speak. I smiled, remembering the situation with Ms. Pokey only the day before. "It's okay if you're uncomfortable speaking. We're going to do some training at the Virbank Complex today; if you want to tag along, then go right on ahead. But we won't force you." I looked out the window. It was hard to tell, especially with the city being foggy as it was, but it just becoming dawn. I hadn't realized that I had been out the entire night since I left Aspertia City after my gym match with Cheren, so I was sleep-deprived and shaky. Still, I experienced that same lack of a need to sleep, especially now that mad dash I made for the center.

"Well, I guess we'll head out when it gets brighter out. Until then, let's take a little break, shall we?" The team complied and got a little rest. The window was foggy due to the cold, and still a little wet from the storm. As I tried to sleep, I kept looking at the window, then to Fassad, who was still curled up in the corner, then I closed my eyes again in a vain attempt to sleep. Regardless, after a few hours, I figured that it was enough rest for me to work the rest of the day on.

"Alright, let's get healed up, assuming the nurse hasn't completely finished with those other Pokémon." I headed into the main room, where I hadn't realized that the entire Center had been in total chaos. Upon entering, the entire room was full of trainers, trying to keep their Pokémon conscious. They all had the same characteristic; their faces were pale and sweaty, while their bodies shivered. I stepped in between the many trainers who were waiting for assistance while sitting on the floor, and went to the nurse's desk. She was nowhere to be seen this time, though with the state of disarray I saw the desk in, I knew that she must still be busy. I left the key there and figured that I'd just have to go shopping for my own remedies.

After I reached a relatively vacant area of the Center, I let all my Pokémon out. They all seemed relatively healthy, even Ms. Pokey, who had been dealt pretty heavy damage in the battle against the teacher's Dunsparce earlier that morning. I figured that if they were all fine, then I wouldn't need to worry and just head to the Virbank Complex as planned, after I went shopping for Potions and such. I headed to the store, to find it packed with trainers as well, but I was at least able to get some service this time.

"Hello, how may I help you?" the clerk asked, clearly exhausted but trying to maintain good customer service. I smiled at his consideration and asked for a set of 10 Potions. He handed a small box to me, containing the 10 Potions. "That'll be 3000 Poké, please." I handed him the money and put the box in my bag, then noticed something odd. "Huh...don't Pokémarts usually carry Antidote? Your shelves seem completely empty of them..."

The clerk gave a little frown and nodded. "Yes...I see, you must not be from around here. The Gym Leader is an adept user of Poison-type Pokémon. Everyone here has been defeated by her, and most of these losses are on account of her ability to inflict so much damage with her toxic Pokémon." He looked around me as if to examine my Pokémon. "I see you only have Grass Pokémon with you...please, be careful. I don't want to see another sorry soul pass in here because of a poisonous loss to the Gym Leader..."

I nodded, a little worried that the Gym Leader could possibly be so potent. I thanked him for the Potions and headed out on my way. Once we were outside, I turned to my Pokémon. "Alright guys, we've got a tough Gym Leader coming up...so we're going to have to train hard! So let's get going to the Virbank Complex, shall we?" The team seemed raring to go, even Fassad, whose face would normally give no indication of what he was thinking, but I saw in his eyes a burning spirit that I didn't see before. Perhaps he wasn't as gutless as I originally made him out to be.

The complex was indeed rather large, with a complicated system of pipelines and odd machines and towers that I could make no sense of. Still, I heard that there were still wild Pokémon running rampant in the complex, so I figured that I would still be able to get a day's worth of training done while in the complex. I was a little surprised that it was allowed to just waltz into a construction zone, but as the gates were unguarded and there wasn't any sign indicating that people weren't allowed to enter, I figured people were free to walk in and out as they pleased. When I walked in, I didn't see much work going on, especially for a place that was supposed to be a construction project.

"Grass! Watch out!" Sir Ivy suddenly shouted. I spun around instinctively, only for a solid steel wrench come flying in my direction and barely miss me. I heard a loud clang on the ground as the wrench settled on the floor, and my felt my cheek, almost incredulous that I hadn't even been hit. But where did that wrench come from!?

"Oy, wot ya' tink ya dyooin' here!?" a strange, scrawny-looking worker started shouting. I was about to respond, when I found that he wasn't yelling at me, but at another worker, who was an unshaven, spectacled worker who stood on the other side of the gate.

"Ay, mate, I'm just doin' my job, you bloody imbecile!" the other worker shouted back, shaking his fist in the air and threatening to hurl another wrench. I hoped that I would be able to take cover from the fight that was about to ensue. The place didn't look like it was stable enough to support an all-out Pokémon battle.

"Oy, y' got no reason t' be here! Y' git back t' your turf, y' hear!?" the first worker replied, his teeth grinding and his hands on a Pokéball. The other worker screeched back, "Ay, mate, this is my turf, ya bloody tart! Y' best be on your way now, chap!"

Suddenly, another worker, extremely buff and incredibly intimidating, walked onto the scene. I sighed a breath of relief. He surely would break up the fight. He gave a little grunt to catch their attention. They both stared at him with malevolence in their eyes, as if to say that they would settle the situation in their way, not his.

"Grrmmph..." the buff worker grunted again. "Yar both in the wrong..." He stepped back and bellowed, "THIS...IS...MY TURF!"

As soon as it had begun, they were in all out conflict and at each other's necks. As if so that they wouldn't have to fight alone, they each called out a Pokémon to fight with them, the scrawny one sending out his Magby, the spectacled one sending out his Riolu, and the buff one sending out his Elekid. The three Pokémon were duking it out as well, their claws and fists pummeling each other. They began to run around, in a vain attempt to dodge the other belligerents' attacks. Jumping on the thin pipelines, climbing the smoke towers, and hiding behind the spherical gas holders. It was an all out melee. I was about to hightail out of there when another man approached me, but he was not a worker.

"Oh, my! A trainer! I'm the foreman of this complex, and these three were to work in the complex today...but unfortunately, they're very territorial, and I, not being a Trainer, can't do anything to keep them from getting at each other's throats! Listen, you HAVE to evacuate immediately! I've never seen them this angry, and they or their Pokémon could very well damage one of the gas holders, or deal some other sort of damage to the complex! It's not safe here, you need to get out now!"

"U-understood! I'll just..." I stopped to duck out of the way of a thrown screwdriver. "I'll just follow your lead!" The foreman nodded and led me to the emergency exit. Looking around I didn't see any damage to the complex itself, but there were many close calls. The Magby's Ember almost made direct contact with the gas holder, and the Riolu slammed right into the smoke tower, but didn't appear to do much damage. As I was being led out by the foreman, I heard a loud, crackling sound. I stopped to try to find the source of the sound, but that turned out to be a bad mistake on my part; the source was of a pipe that had come apart from the rest of the pipeline, and collapsed right in front of me, blocking the exit and trapping me! I head the foreman yelling for me, but I realized that he had managed to get across and was on the other side!

"Ey, you! Whaddya think you're doin' here!?" The spectacled worker approached me from behind, holding a hammer in his hands. His eyes were thin with anger, and his teeth, yellow with grim, gnawed together. His Riolu landed from an attack that the buff worker's Elekid had dealt, but it had lost all interest in that enemy and became more concentrated on the person before him.

"I caught ya' on my turf...and now that there's nowhere to run, you'd better prepare for some pain!" With that, his Riolu charged forwards, with my Pokémon in his sights. Sir Ivy, quickly thinking, jumped forward and used Vine Whip to knock the Riolu away. As the Riolu was sent flying, the Magby appeared and hit it with Faint Attack. The Magby then turned its attention on us and used Ember, aimed at Ms. Pokey. Tropicana flew in and protected her frail teammate from the hit, which allowed Ms. Pokey to get in a Poison Sting that poisoned the Magby to get in.

As soon as we believed we had gotten the upper hand in this brawl, the buff man jumped in and stormed the field, with his Elekid dashing around like a Pokémon possessed, cloaked in utter electricity. I hoped that its erratic movements wouldn't get near us. Looking behind me to check the state of my Pokémon, they all seemed to be fine, though Tropicana was slightly hurt from the Magby's attack.

The Elekid's sporadic movements would get the better of us, as it suddenly discharged a huge wave of electric energy, knocking me and all of my Pokémon over. Unfortunately for me, the wave had paralyzed Ms. Pokey, and Tropicana's increased damage put her in a not so good shape. Fassad started squealing in fear and was just trying to avoid a confrontation. Sir Ivy, as he usually was, stood tall, even after getting bowled over. Suddenly, the other pipes, dislodged from each other due to the Elekid's attack, all began to fall, one of which was about to land on Fassad.

"Fassad! Get out of there!" I screamed. He didn't hear me, so Sir Ivy dashed as fast as he could, knocking Fassad out of the way and getting crushed by the pipe himself.

"NO! Sir Ivy, what were you...!" I shouted. Fassad was knocked into a wall, who was terrified with how close he had been to getting crushed by the pipe. Tropicana quickly made her way to the pipe and pushed to get it off of Sir Ivy. With much struggling, she was able to dislodge the pipe and free Sir Ivy, who looked literally smashed. However, he still was moving. Tropicana kept the other trainers and Pokémon at bay; the workers seemed to calm down, knowing that fighting any further would cause further damage and chaos like this.

Sir Ivy struggled to move his head up. He gave a weak smile to Fassad, who had a traumatized look on his face.

"Heheh...y-you all right, Fassad?" Sir Ivy said, after a while. He flashed a silly little smile, which I was surprised he could even do, after I had assumed that he was smashed by an incredibly heavy pipe.

"W-Why...?" Fassad spoke, after a while. It was only the second time I heard Fassad speak. "Why would you risk your life...for me...for someone you hardly even know?"

Sir Ivy smirked and nodded. "Eheheh...I know...it must seem silly...but you are my comrade in this team." He sighed and paused a moment. "And a member of this team...I will defend...with my life." Fassad was taken off balance by that answer, and began to weep a little bit. Tropicana helped Sir Ivy up, and even when he was standing on his two feet again, he was quivering. But even I had tears in my eyes; this was something I loved to see, a sense of camaraderie. Even Ms. Pokey, who was crippled with paralysis and stuck on the ground on her back, was smiling at the scene.

Suddenly, Sir Ivy became cloaked with a mysterious bright light. I had never seen anything like it before; as I kept looking at him, Sir Ivy's form seemed to change and get bigger. I, and everyone else there, was utterly mystified by the spectacle. After his form had finished changing, the bright light had dissipated, and what stood before me now was not a Snivy, but a Servine. Sir Ivy looked at his new form, and gave a weak little chuckle before starting to collapse again. Tropicana caught him and held him up again.

"Hey! What's this big pipe doing here?" a voice resonated from the other side of the pipe that had initially blocked off the exit. "Foreman! Get the crane!" Then, I heard a shuffling of feet, and before I knew it, a large, lumbering crane arrived and pulled the pipe out of the way. On the other side, standing just behind where the fallen pipe used to be, was a girl with a large striped shirt and a strange-looking bass strapped behind her back. I immediately recognized her as the person who was on the poster in the Virbank Pokémon Center. The three workers behind me did a double take and began to quiver.

"R-R-Roxie!? W-W-Waaaaaah!" They all shouted, almost in unison. Roxie stormed past me and up to the three workers.

"What the hell do you think you guys are doing!? You're gonna risk the lives of all those people out there just for some territorial squabble!" Roxie slapped all three of them in the face and gave them a death glare that made them all crawl backwards in fear. "Now, if I ever catch you doin' that kind of stuff EVER again, you'll be facing my REAL wrath! YOU UNDERSTAND ME!?" The three workers nodded quickly and dashed off, not caring anymore where they went, just so long as it was away from her and her wrath.

Roxie turned around and sighed heavily. She walked up to me. "Yo, sorry about that. Those three are a real pain..." I shook my head.

"No, you don't have to apologize. Everything turned out all right in the end...well, except that these pipes need to be put back in place." Roxie nodded, looking at the numbers of pipes rolling about on the floor.

"Well, y'know, it won't be that necessary," she said, not too worried. "It's a one-man job, and it's not a real problem as far as functionality goes. So don't worry about it! I'd be concerned over getting your Pokémon healed. Your Servine isn't looking too good." She pointed to Sir Ivy, who was wheezing heavily, clearly with the wind knocked out of him. Tropicana walked beside him as a support, while Fassad hopped behind, still feeling shaken by how close he had been to being crushed. I had to pick up Ms. Pokey (which she clearly didn't like), but since she was paralyzed, there wasn't any way for me to move her around otherwise.

"I would take them, Roxie, I really would, but..." I looked to the Pokémon Center off in the distance. "There's so many people there...this Pokémon Center just seems so busy, you know?" Roxie chuckled a little bit.

"Oh, well, that would be my fault. I've been having a lot of challengers at the gym, and..."

"Woah, slow down there; you're the Gym Leader!?" I shouted. "Wait...so...you're...um..." Roxie laughed and waved her hand in front of me, signalling to me that she would explain.

"Wow, I had no idea you didn't know! I'm this complex's boss by day and a punk rockstar by night, but I'm a full-time Gym Leader! Yup, I lead a pretty busy life...oh! Anyways, we need to get your Pokémon healed up. As I was going to explain, the reason the Center is so crowded is because I had a lot of challengers recently, and they all didn't put up much of a fight...oh, but I think you're different, guy. The way your Servine was able to endure such a thing happening to him...man, that was impressive! I'm eager for you to show me that in battle!"

I certainly hoped I would be able to. We went to the Pokémon Center together, to find that it was about as crowded as the Center was when I left that morning. Roxie ran up to the receptionist.

"Could you get this guy's Pokémon healed up first? Consider it a favor from me." The nurse smiled and nodded, taking my Pokémon into her care, while she wheeled away a few more Pokémon into the healing facilities. Roxie made a little wave to catch my attention.

"I'll be headed back to the gym. You shouldn't be able to miss it, no one does. I'll be waiting for ya!" She held up three fingers in the peace sign, and dashed off. I was kind of surprised that she was the Gym Leader, along with the cause of all the people at the Center. The nurse returned promptly with three of my Pokéballs. She gave me a quick look.

"I'm still restoring your Servine to full health. How did he get into that condition?" I told her the whole situation with the pipes, the three workers and their Pokémon, and the all-out brawl that ensued. The nurse nodded.

"I see...I'm shocked, actually. An incident like that could have killed him. You were lucky." She turned away from me and dashed back into the other room. I sat down patiently, replaying the incident all in my head. I chuckled a little. "Sir Ivy..." I thought, "He really is fearless, isn't he."

"Hey, Grass!" I heard someone call from behind me. I spun around to see Hugh, who had Firehog with him. I noticed that Firehog hadn't evolved yet, and was still a Tepig, but I still could tell that he had matured greatly since I last saw him at Floccesy Ranch. "How goes it, buddy?"

I made a little smile. "It's been all right. What are you here for? Did you face the Gym?"

"Nah, not yet. We're going to do a little training before that. What, did you lose and have to come here to get your Pokémon healed?" he joked, laughing at what would be my misfortunes if I had confirmed what he said.

"No, but after we've been healed up, we'll be headed for it. We had a little incident at the Virbank Complex that got my Pokémon pretty weak, so I came here so that I would be fully prepared for the match when it came." Hugh nodded.

"Well, best of luck to you then," Hugh said, before recalling his Firehog and making his way out of the Center. I made a little wave to him as he left, but he didn't notice, as he didn't reply.

"Grass!" the receptionist called a few moments later. I looked to her, and she held up Sir Ivy's Pokéball, signaling that she was done healing him. I happily accepted the ball, thanked her for being kind enough to heal my Pokémon so promptly and on short notice, and headed for the gym.

When I arrived at the gym, I did not expect what I saw. At the very end of the battlefield, I saw Roxie and her band, rocking it out while the strobe lights flashed all around and the fans cheered at the top of their voices. My Pokémon popped out of their Pokéballs to catch a glimpse of the battle, but were quickly blinded by the bright strobe lights.

"Ack, this is far too bright for my tastes!" Sir Ivy shouted. "What kind of gym is this!?"

Roxie eventually caught sight of me on the other side of the field. She played one last long guitar riff to please the fans, then jumped down from the stage and onto the battlefield. As she walked to the trainer's box, the fans began to chant her name. Roxie took a deep breath and gave me a look of confidence and power that made me feel that I wouldn't last long in this gym.

"All right, Grass!" She called out, her first Pokéball in hand. "Let's put on a show!" She tossed it in the air, revealing her first Pokémon, a Koffing. I knew that I would have a tough time facing that Pokémon with anyone but Sir Ivy, so I sent him out first without much thought into it. Sir Ivy happily complied, however, jumping onto the field and looking confidently into the Koffing's eyes.

"Ah, there's the little trooper now! But don't think you'll get the upper hand in this gym! Alright, Koffing, use Smog!" Koffing spun around and started spewing out a dark cloud of smoke, which smelled utterly putrid. Sir Ivy muffled his nose and wretched.

"Hang in there, Sir Ivy! Use Leech Seed!" Sir Ivy looked around in the dark cloud. He was able to detect the Koffing as a silhouette in the smoke, and sent a seed that planted itself into the Koffing and slowly began to sap it of health. Roxie, shocked, played another guitar riff.

"Woah, Koffing! Don't let that Servine catch you off guard, now! Use Smog again!" The Koffing continued to spew out the horribly noxious gas, which Sir Ivy was doing his best to avoid its toxic properties.

"Sir Ivy, use Growth! Let's use this opportunity to boost our stats!" Sir Ivy nodded and began to absorb the clean air that the Smog hadn't touched. I was surprised that the fans were breathing in Koffing's Smog without even needing to plug their noses. I guess they were just used to it. Sir Ivy continued to absorb energy as the Smog attack continued. Soon enough, Sir Ivy looked back to me and gave a thumbs up.

"Alright, Sir Ivy, let's use Return!" Sir Ivy charged towards the Koffing, cloaked in a bright yellow light. Sir Ivy spun around and slammed his tail into the Koffing's face, sending it hurling backwards and into the wall, where it fell out, completely deflated and unable to battle. Roxie played another guitar riff, as she shouted angrily to vent. She pulled out her Pokéball and recalled the Koffing. She then looked to me and smiled.

"Looks like your Servine really is a trooper, to not get poisoned by the Smog! You guys are rockin' hard! But can ya' deal with this? Go, Whirlipede!" She sent out her second Pokémon, a purple wheel-like cocoon Pokémon that looked pretty vicious. I pulled out my Pokédex to get some more information on it.

"Whirlipede, the Curlipede Pokémon, and the evolved form of Venipede. Storing energy for evolution, it sits. But, when predators approach, it moves to stab them with poison spikes." Being a Bug-type, I had intended to send out Tropicana to gain a type advantage, but Sir Ivy looked back to me and gave me a smile.

"I am ready to keep going!" he called. I nodded, then looked to Roxie. "I'll be sticking with my trooper!"

Roxie smirked. "As you wish. But will you penetrate my Whirlipede's defenses? I think not! Whirlipede, use Venoshock!" The Whirlipede generated a sticky, toxic film between its appendages, and fired it off in an electric-like style. Sir Ivy moved quickly to dodge the "bolts" of poison to get in close.

"Alright, Sir Ivy, Return once more!" Sir Ivy, once again cloaked in yellow light, made a full-force tackle the slammed right into Whirlipede's tough shell. It wasn't tough enough, though, as the Whirlipede was hurled backwards by the force of the hit, and too smashed into the wall. The crowed gasped in disbelief. The Whirlipede eventually fell out of the wall, already taken out. Roxie took a step back, as if she didn't believe that she had been defeated so easy. And at the time, I didn't believe it either.

"Well...even with what I believed you had, I still underestimated you!" Roxie said, breaking the silence. "Well, I guess that's that! Here you go!" She threw her guitar pick to me. I ran forward and caught it, finding that the Gym Badge was her pick the whole time! I laughed and put it in my badge case.

"Well, that makes two badges! Oh, and take this too! It's a TM for Venoshock!" She walked to me this time and handed me the TM. I happily accepted it. Sir Ivy walked up to me and smiled.

"Hah, this new form...I feel more nimble and powerful now! Let's keep it up, Grass!" I smiled. "You bet!" Roxie smiled at the scene.

"Oh! But to get to the next gym, you gotta cross the sea...which means..." Roxie then turned to the crowd. "Sit tight, guys! I'll be back in a moment!"

The Crew    
Pokémon Sprite 496
Sir Ivy - Servine - ♂ // Level 22
Met 7/3/2013, at Aspertia City, at Level 5
Moves: Leech Seed // Growth // Leaf Tornado // Return
Held Item: None
Ability: Overgrow
Nature: Quirky (neutral)
Characteristic: Likes to relax.
Changes in this Part: Gained 8 Levels, evolved, learned Leaf Tornado and Leech Seed

Pokémon Sprite 357
Tropicana - Tropius - ♀ // Level 20
Met 7/3/2013, at Route 19, at Level 4
Moves: Stomp // Gust // Growth // Razor Leaf
Held Item: None
Ability: Solar Power
Nature: Gentle (+SpD, -Def)
Characteristic: Impetuous and silly.
Changes in this Part: Gained 7 Levels, learned Stomp

Pokémon Sprite 331
Ms. Pokey - Cacnea - ♀ // Level 20
Met 7/4/2013, at Floccesy Ranch, at Level 5
Moves: Venoshock // Leech Seed // Absorb // Sand Attack
Held Item: None
Ability: Sand Veil
Nature: Naive (+Spd, -SpD)
Characteristic: Strongly defiant.
Changes in this Part: Gained 7 Levels, learned Sand Attack and Venoshock

Pokémon Sprite 590
Fassad - Foongus - ♂ // Level 20
Met 7/6/2013, at Virbank Complex, at Level 11
Moves: Mega Drain // Growth // Faint Attack // Venoshock
Held Item: None
Ability: Effect Spore
Nature: Timid (+Spd, -Atk)
Characteristic: Likes to fight.
Changes in this Part: Gained 9 Levels, learned Mega Drain, Faint Attack, and Venoshock

The Reserves    
None

The Fallen    
None

Current Location: Virbank City


Click here for the systematic version.
  #7  
Old July 11, 2013, 11:15:55 PM
GrassPokemonFTW's Avatar
GrassPokemonFTW GrassPokemonFTW is offline
Kyurem
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: [INSERT GENERIC LOCATION HERE]
Posts: 2,222
Default

Chapter 7, Part 1: Lights, Plasma, Action!

I walked out of the Gym and club, my forehead sweating from the gross concentration of people in that room. I hadn't realized that it was almost night when I went in to battle Roxie, so the moon was up now, and a nice cool breeze came by. I don't know exactly what about the breeze made me feel this way, but after it passed, I shivered a little. I wasn't sure if it was something in the wind, or something in my head, but the wind seemed oddly cold. I didn't take much note of it, so I followed Roxie to the Pokéstar Studios.

The area was flashy to say in the least, like Hollywood at night, which I had seen in photographs. The neon lights, the names of newly released movies sprawled out on billboards all over the place, and the glamorously pampered individuals who walked around in their high heals and flashy skirts, their top hats and lavish suits; it was like something from a movie! Here, in every sense of the word, was the meeting place, the calling of the lavishly rich and beautiful. Being confined to the suburbs of Aspertia City, this was the first time I had seen so many stars in one place. It wasn't like I was unfamiliar with the trend, as there was one celebrity who came to Aspertia to film some sort of segment on the Aspertia Lookout, and of course, everybody made a big fuss about it. I couldn't remember her name if I tried, but I remember her somewhat, though it was a while back; she was very pretty, her pink hair tied up a little strangely, but it had a certain allure to it. I only remember that she was on television, and probably still is. I also remembered she had a great singing voice. But as I wasn't into the TV craze as much as my mom, much less the rest of the residents of Aspertia, so I didn't really know all that much.

In any case, the flashy lights were definitely new to me. My Pokémon were a little startled by the loud noises and the sheer number people, Fassad most of all, who was already rather timid. Sir Ivy seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself, however, as he was very familiar with glitz and glamour, being very uptight about those things himself. Ms. Pokey too was enjoying herself, being especially into leisure and fashion, especially when combined into one place. Tropicana seemed to be pretty indifferent to the spectacle.

"Oh my goodness!" Sir Ivy said, admiring the well-dressed women from afar. "Now these people understand the meaning of good taste! Grass, shall we take lodge here a few days?" Sir Ivy turned to me hopefully, a shiny glimmer in his eyes as he clasped his hands together. Ms. Pokey too, with the same hopeful glimmer, came up to me with a smile that rarely crossed her face, and I just couldn't say no.

"Well, let's spend some time here. We'll have to make our way to Castelia City at some point, but we'll spend the rest of the evening here." To Sir Ivy and Ms. Pokey, the concession was a victory, and they were about ready to dash off and explore. I recalled Fassad and Tropicana; both didn't seem so amused by the idea. Roxie pointed to a billboard.

"Hey, is that...?" she thought out loud. I turned to the billboard. In big block letters, the board read...

"MIDLIFE MAN OF JUSTICE VS. BRYCEN-MAN: STARRING VETERAN STAR BRYCEN AND DEBUTING STAR POP ROXIE!"

"Don't tell me..." Roxie murmured. "That...that dim-witted...dense...dumb...daft...dorky...DAAAAARGH!" She was about to storm into the movie theater when a familiar voice interrupted.

"Hey! Grass! What're you doing in a place like this?" Hugh called. He came rushing over, a big smile on his face. But I would soon figure out that it wasn't really me that he was excited to see, but Roxie. As soon as he approached us, he turned to Roxie.

"You're the Gym Leader, right? You and me, battle!" Hugh shouted, tossing his Pokéball into the air. Out of that Pokéball came out Firehog, but something was different; much like Sir Ivy, his form had changed drastically. No longer was he the Tepig that I remembered, but now was a bulky, powerful-looking Pignite.

"Yo! Sir Ivy, check it out!" Firehog called out to Sir Ivy. Sir Ivy turned and noticed Firehog's new muscular form.

"My, my! Firehog, you look as powerful as ever," Sir Ivy noted. "Quite impressive indeed. But how do you plan on becoming any faster like that?" Firehog looked down to his new bulky frame; it was true that his newfound power would come with a price, as he was no longer as fast or nimble as he was as a Tepig. On the other hand, Sir Ivy's sleek frame would make him faster than ever. Firehog snorted and made a little laugh.

"Aye, it's true that I gained weight and I ain't as fast as I probably could be...but hey! You won't be talkin' when one swing from these bad boys takes ya' out!" He flexed his arms, showing off his power. Ms. Pokey admired his copious muscle, but Sir Ivy was not at all impressed.

"Yawn...how vulgar, Firehog," Sir Ivy taunted playfully. "We shall see who is the better man in our next battle." Ms. Pokey turned to him incredulously, but didn't say anything.

Firehog stamped his foot on the ground in anger. "Is that a challenge!? I'll take ya' out right here and now!" Sir Ivy spun around, as if ignoring him. After a length, Sir Ivy responded.

"Hmph. Do not be so hasty, Firehog. You have a Gym battle approaching, and if anything, you need to save your strength. Perhaps sometime soon, my friend. But until then, I would suggest working on fitting your own words in your mouth." Sir Ivy turned away from him and turned to me, as if waiting for me to allow him and Ms. Pokey to explore. Hugh was still intent on battling Roxie. I could see it in her face; I knew she wanted to get to her father before anything else, but a challenge was a challenge, and a challenge she must accept. Roxie turned to me.

"Sorry...Grass, I have to take this, as my duty as Gym Leader. I can't make the same mistake my dad made." She looked to me, her eyes as intense as I had ever seen them. I nodded.

"Alright, then. Since we'll be spending the rest of the evening here...I'll make sure to bring him back," I said. Roxie nodded to me and made a confident smile.

"I'm sure you will. I'm countin' on ya'!" Roxie called. She then guided Hugh out of Pokéstar Studios, and towards the Gym. I turned to the billboard that held the name of Pop Roxie, and I wondered where I might come to find him. I was sure he would be somewhere around here...but where?

"Hello there! You just look positively lost." I turned around to find a strange man with a blonde afro talking to me. He seemed to be friendly, albeit a little eccentric. He held out a map of the studios to me, which I heartily accepted, as my Town Map was too confusing and too big for my tastes.

"Um...thanks, I guess." I unfolded the map, which didn't simply include the map of the premises, but also gave an overview of the various studios and their specific purposes. When I looked up from the map, I found that the man was still standing there, his eyes fixated on Sir Ivy and Ms. Pokey.

"Hey! You! It's impolite to stare!" Ms. Pokey growled, her arms folded in her usual fashion. Sir Ivy seemed a little disturbed by the man's strange stare, so focused on him. He stared him right back in the eye, for reasons that I couldn't possibly begin to understand.

"You know..." the man finally spoke, after a length. "These Pokémon of yours...they have this certain aura. I'm not exactly sure how to describe it, but it's definitely interesting. Something tells me..." He stood back up and beckoned for me to follow. I put the map in my pocket and followed him tentatively, with Sir Ivy and Ms. Pokey picking up the rear. They seemed just as unsure of this situation as I did. As we were walking down the brightly lit "streets," wealthy-looking women and fancy-looking men were looking at me with a certain eye, as if they were all judging me and my appearance. It was a little embarrassing, since my hair was a little unkempt and messy. One even whispered, "Look, no tact whatsoever. Especially for someone who's going to be a movie star." I wasn't sure what she meant by that, so I shrugged it off for the time being, but her words were silently being replayed in my mind as I tried to make sense of them. Eventually, the man led me into a theater.

The inside of the theater was just as glamorous as the buildings outside. The walls were lined with flashy lights, and held posters of movies that I'd never heard of, but apparently achieved fame and their stars immortalized in pictures. I saw a whole bunch of people, movie stars and fans alike, sitting in the lobby talking about the latest smash hit, or the latest box office flop. To be honest, I had never been into those things, and I couldn't fit in to their conversations if I tried. It was easy to tell the fans from the stars; the stars were wearing clothes that were flashy, even compared to what I had seen outside.

The man who had guided me turned around and gave a big smile. "Could you wait here for a moment? I'm going to come bring the manager. It might be a while, so why don't you talk with the other movie stars? I'm sure you'll learn a thing or two from them." He then dashed off, leaving me confused as to why I was even there. I sat around, wondering if I could sneak off to find Pop Roxie and come back in time.

"I'd better not..." I thought then. "But I do wonder...what am I doing here?" As I was pondering, a boy about my age tapped me on the back. Startled, I spun around and jumped a little bit. The boy was blonde and had spiky hair, with little green highlights at the tips. He was wearing a purple-and-blackish shirt and black jeans. Like the rest of the movie stars there, I assumed that he must be one as well.

"Woah, sorry about that," he chuckled, quickly retracting his hand as soon as I spun. "I must have startled you there...erm, you look lost. What are you looking for?" I stepped back a little, trying to catch my breath from the fright that he had given me. The boy gave a hearty laugh and grinned.

"Heheh...you don't need to freak out, y'know. I mean, you're probably shocked that a star like I am is talking to ya', but you don't need to make a fuss about it! After all, we're both people, right?"

"N-no, it's not that..." I responded, still out of breath. "It's not that I'm shocked that you're talking to me, but more...*cough*...you really startled me!"

"O-oh," the boy said, looking away a moment. He blushed a deep red and his grin turned into a frown. "D-do you even know who I am, though?"

I shook my head. "I don't really watch movies, or television in general..."

He sighed and regained his original easygoing nature. "Well, then, let me introduce myself. I'm the movie star, singer, and idol, Christoph. It is just a screen name, though...friends call me Curtis." He held out his hand, and I slowly took it and shook it firmly. Curtis smiled a bit.

"Oh, but back to the point...are you lost, or are you waiting for someone, or...?"

I shook my head again. "No...erm, some blonde-afro-guy brought me here, saying something about my Pokémon having some sort of movie-star quality...or something like that." Curtis laughed.

"Oh man, does that take me back. See, when I was little, that same man said the same thing about me! Well, I guess that means you're gonna be a movie star, man! I look forward to working with ya!"

I wasn't sure what he meant by that, but I was so confused already that a little more confusion wasn't going to change anything. "Well, I didn't come here to get a movie career...well, I guess in reality, the real reason I came here in the first place is to find Pop Roxie and get him to run the boat to Castelia City again. You see, I'm a Trainer, going on an adventure to become a master of Grass-type Pokémon...and I need to get to Castelia City to get my next Badge."

Curtis nodded. "Understandable. And I guess you got caught up in this whole mess of an incident, huh? Well, that's life; it throws you a whole bunch of loops and turns, and I guess we're expected to just take it all in strides, huh? Well, I'll explain the situation to Mr. Stu Deeoh...that's the manager's name. As for Pop Roxie, he should be here any minute. His debut movie's going to be screening here."

Almost as if on cue, the doors burst open to reveal a man in a sailor suit and a sailor hat; there was no mistaking it, it was Pop Roxie. "Ah, Curtis...er-hem, excuse me, Christoph...good to see you again! Oh, and who's this?" He turned to me and looked me dead in the eye, his smile not friendly at all, but one of mockery. "Heh, if you're going to walk around Pokéstar Studios, don't wear something as filthy as that! You need to show a little class, right?" I was resisting the urge to yell at him. What did he know; he wasn't very much more experienced at acting than I or my Pokémon were. Regardless, I constrained myself and turned away from him.

"Pop Roxie, no need to be that blunt..." Curtis whispered, frowning a bit as he nudged his elbow into Pop Roxie's side. "And besides, he was picked out by him. He's got movie-star blood running through his veins, so don't go discouraging him." Pop Roxie turned to me again and smiled, this time more sympathetically.

"Oh, don't get upset, I was just teasing," Pop Roxie said, though I could sense a bit of falsity in his voice. "Anyways, if you're going to act in any movies, then you'd better get some advice from a pro like myself." I wasn't exactly sure how much I would be able to trust this guy.

"Ah, Pop Roxie, dahling, you've finally arrived!" came a clearly flamboyant voice. I turned around to find that the blonde afro man was back, this time with the manager, who I remembered Curtis referring to as Mr. Stu Deeoh. Mr. Stu Deeoh seemed as flamboyant as his voice, with his puffy blonde mustache and opulent jewelry. His purple suit gave off a luster in a class of its own, being the most lustrous thing I'd seen all day.

"Oh, and you, dahling, must be Grass! Pleasure to meet you, sir!" He took my hand in two of his, and shook it firmly as if he had known me all my life and respected me. I wasn't really sure how to take this man seriously, but after the initial shock of his forceful shaking I began to get used to his intricacies. He continued shaking my hand as he continued, "You simply must join us for Pop Roxie's debut, and then we should record your debut! Now, let's do it to it, shall we?" Mr. Stu Deeoh, his hands still firmly clasped around my one hand, dragged me into the movie theater, Pop Roxie and Curtis following us into the room.

The movie room was very dark, but I could faintly detect the silhouettes of statues of legendary Pokémon lined up on the sides. The seats were also made from some sort of very comfortable material; as we all sat down, we seemed to sink into our seats. Pop Roxie seemed tense, though; despite his confident attitude before, there was no faking that he was worried about his performance in the movie. Curtis leaned back, his generally jolly nature holding up even here. Mr. Stu Deeoh seemed impatient for the movie to begin. As I sat, Sir Ivy and Ms. Pokey came up from behind and tried to get a shot of the movie.

"Hey, how about..." I thought to myself. I pulled out Tropicana and Fassad's Pokéballs, and let the two of them out. The theater was spacious, so it gave Tropicana and Fassad plenty of viewing room. The two of them didn't seem to thrilled at the prospect of watching a movie, but they decided to make the most of it as they watched the movie alongside Sir Ivy and Ms. Pokey.

Suddenly, the already dim lights grew dimmer as the screen began to glow white. Pop Roxie seemed to get even tenser in response, and his hands began to shake as they held on to the arm rests. Curtis tapped him on the back and told him not to worry. The movie soon began, with the title appearing in big, dark, jagged letters.

The events of the movie drudged on, and I for one, was not entertained. The plot moved far too slow, the acting seemed too faked, and Pop Roxie was clearly not up to the task. At the same time, though, I felt bad for him. I looked to my right and saw him clutching his head, as if in total despair. Curtis's classic grin was no longer on his face as he stroked his chin, as if he was trying to make sense of the movie. Mr. Stu Deeoh, with a completely unreadable expression, just stared into the movie as if analyzing it deeply within the deep recesses of his mind. I looked back; my Pokémon seemed thoroughly bored.

As one of the "action" scenes were about to begin, I was ready to hightail out of there and wait in the lobby until the movie was over. Looking around at the only half-full theater, it looked like some people already had. Pop Roxie was in a terrible condition now; I could literally see tears running down his cheeks as he stared into the mess of a movie; his movie. The theater was lost in silence as the ones of us that remained were either asleep or bored to death watching the movie. Suddenly, a giant explosion jolted us awake; the movie screen seemed to be enveloped in a fiery blaze that engulfed the entire screen. Mr. Stu Deeoh literally jumped out of his seat.

"My goodness!" he shouted, disregarding basic theater etiquette. "Those visual effects are amazing! Glorious!" It was not long before we all realized that it was no effect; the explosion was very real, and that it was far from glorious. Jolted awake by the sudden turn of events, me and my Pokémon jumped into a furtive stance. As the smoke from the explosion cleared, I saw a few very familiar silhouettes, and one, not so similar, robed silhouette. I recognized the silhouettes clearly; it was Team Plasma, much like the one I met in Floccesy Ranch. Sir Ivy and Tropicana remembered them clearly from the last encounter.

Curtis leaped up and his normally laid-back nature was all but eradicated. "What's going on!?" he shouted, a little in panic. "What's happening!?" Pop Roxie too was jolted by the explosion, but with no Pokémon by his side, he was completely defenseless. Mr. Stu Deeoh was completely frightened by the noise and fled in an instant. The other moviegoers were making a mad dash towards the exit. We were about to evacuate as well, when we realized that the Team Plasma grunts had entered the lobby as well, and had barricaded us in from the inside.

As the smoke cleared, it was evident that it was not just grunts. One man stood in front of the now burning movie screen, his eyes slanted and his mustache full. He wore a strange, bluish-black robe, and on it was the Team Plasma crest. He might have been old, but his call for attention caught the ears of everyone in the theater.

"Er-hem...allow me to introduce ourselves," the man spoke, clapping his hands together. "We are Team Plasma. An organization that seeks to end the oppression of Pokémon by Trainers. We were disbanded two years ago...but now...our comeback begins." The crowd became panicked, and some resorted to bashing the door in the hopes of knocking it down. The man on stage turned around and faced away from us.

"Now, for myself. I am Gorm, one of the former Seven Sages of Team Plasma. Some of us kept their allegiance to lord N...however, I am one who believes that we have been betrayed and hurt by our lord N. So, now, the new Team Plasma shall rise, and our conquest begins today!" As if on cue, the grunts sent out their Pokémon, and commanded them to take Pokéballs at will. The massive pack of Pokémon began to come after us, and we were one of the targets. I wouldn't back down, however, even if I didn't know what was happening, in all honesty. My Pokémon seemed ready to fight too, for it was for a just cause.

"Yo, Grass, you ready!?" Curtis called over, a Pokéball in his hand. I nodded in affirmative. "Alright, Tropicana, use Gust! Once they've been incapacitated, Sir Ivy and Ms. Pokey, use Leech Seed to keep them anchored down!" Tropicana flew as high as she could without hitting the ceiling, and started blowing a tornado that flung Team Plasma's Pokémon around like rag dolls. Sir Ivy and Ms. Pokey then flung out seeds that trapped the Pokémon in its intricate web of seeds and vines, rendering them immobile.

"Hey, nice job Grass!" Curtis called out. The other moviegoers were now looking on to the battle, with awe and inspiration in their eyes, as we fought against the forces of evil, for the good of the relationship between humans and Pokémon. Curtis now turned to the next wave of Pokémon, his hands held onto his Pokéball tightly. He tossed it up into the air; "C'mon out, Electivire!" From the Pokéball came a large, powerful being of electricity. The Woobat charged in towards the Electivire, but a powerful electric shock felled them all. The Pokémon were no match for Curtis's well-trained Pokémon, as Thunderbolt after Thunderbolt managed to fell the rest of them with no problem. Irritated, Gorm jumped down from the stage and pulled out his own Pokéball.

"Bah! Meddlers! I won't let you have your way! I'm sick of playing the loser! Go, Cofagrigus; DECIMATE EVERYTHING!" He tossed his Pokéball into the air, popping to reveal a mysterious and strange Pokémon, a Ghost-type Pokémon seemingly full of malevolent intent. I had never seen such a Pokémon before, so I took out my Pokédex.

"Cofagrigus, the Coffin Pokémon, and the evolved form of Yamask. It has been said that they swallow those who get too close and turn them into mummies. They like to eat gold nuggets."

"Grass, be careful!" Curtis called. "That Pokémon can get to be very dangerous!" His warning came too late; the Pokémon's numerous shadow arms grabbed both me and Curtis and threatened to consume us, much like the Pokédex described. Gorm laughed and taunted, seeing us in such a desperate situation.

"Hahaha! How does it feel to be the loser now!? Hahahaha!" Gorm turned away and snapped his fingers. "Cofagrigus! Do with them as you will!" The Cofagrigus began to hold us closer and closer to his mouth. Our Pokémon were trying to shoot Cofagrigus down, but the coffin was oddly adept at dodging and managed to avoid the attacks of my Pokémon and Curtis's Electivire. It looked like it was going to be the end...

"Not if I have anything to say about it!" a voice came from the lobby. I recognized that voice thoroughly; and before I could call out his name, the locked door was busted down, and a being, completely surrounded in flames, charged at the Cofagrigus and tackled it hard, causing him to lose his grip and drop us. The charging Pokémon then cast off its flames. It was Firehog! Thanks to his help, we landed safely in the aisle, and our Pokémon came promptly to guard us from another possible attack. I spun around to the now bust-down door, and there stood Hugh and Roxie.

"Hugh! And Roxie, too!" I called out. The other moviegoers cheered as they flooded out of the theater, while Hugh and Roxie hopped down to meet us.

"Everything okay here? I heard an explosion, and..." Hugh trailed off as he caught sight of Team Plasma. His expression quickly turned grim as his fists and teeth clenched tightly. Gorm grumbled and took a step back, as if to avoid Hugh's death stare. Roxie looked around, seemingly worried.

"H-hey, where's my dad!? I heard he was here!" Roxie shouted, obviously distraught. I wondered; since the explosion, I hadn't really kept track of where Pop Roxie was. I looked around, but I didn't see him where we used to be sitting. For a moment, I thought he had fled the scene.

"Roxie!? I'm over here!" a voice boomed from afar. We turned to see Pop Roxie, along with a tied-up group of Team Plasma grunts. The rope was tied with an intricate knot, a true boating knot. He gave a little smirk. "I may have gotten into the movie business, but a sailor always stays a sailor!" Gorm grimaced at the sight of his backup being tied up and incapacitated. It became very clear that he did not have the upper hand anymore. Still, he stood his ground and remained confident.

"H-humph! So what if you managed to tie up our men? Do not underestimate me! I have the strength of a whole force of Team Plasma members!"

"Can it, old man!" Hugh shouted. "You have no right to talk! Firehog, let's finish this!" He realized something completely wrong not long after he said that, as he saw Firehog acting strangely, as if he wasn't in the right mind. Curtis turned to Hugh.

"Oh no! That's...that's Cofagrigus's ability, Mummy! When you make physical contact with it, your Pokémon's ability is overridden by Mummy, and can cause your Pokémon to act strangely!" Curtis turned back to the Cofagrigus, whose evil grin maintained plastered to his face. Hugh glared at Gorm, holding Firehog in his arms as he seemed to suffer.

"Now then, shall we end this?" Gorm said. "Go, Cofagrigus! Destroy them!" Cofagrigus clenched his shadow hands into fists, and proceeded to throw a barrage of punches at us. The flying fists were literally faster than I could see, as the punches collided with all of our Pokémon. While Curtis's powerful Electivire was able to hold onto the fist, mine and Hugh's were knocked backwards by the force, even throwing Fassad, our lightest member, several rows back. However, after hurling the punch at Fassad, he seemed to suffer as he could no longer float and seemed very sick. Fassad, picking himself back up, was shocked to see that he actually did something.

"W-what's going on!?" I shouted, hopeful that Curtis could explain. He looked to Fassad and then back to me.

"That...it must be Effect Spore! You see, sometimes, when a Pokémon makes direct contact with a Pokémon like your Foongus, it can either paralyze, poison, or incredibly tired. And it looks to me like you poisoned him!" With that information, I knew exactly what to do next. I turned back to Roxie, smiled, and turned back to the Cofagrigus.

"Alright, Ms. Pokey and Fassad, both of you, use Venoshock!" Roxie gave a thumbs up, as I evidently put her TM to good use. Pop Roxie was shocked, knowing that I had defeated his daughter and successfully earned her badge and the TM. The bolts of poison shocked the Cofagrigus, making it feel even more sick and unable to move. Gorm growled and recalled Cofagrigus.

"You...you fools!" Gorm shouted angrily. "It does not matter what you try...in the end, Team Plasma shall prevail! Just watch and learn, fools!" From his robe, he pulled out a smoke ball and hurled it onto the ground, detonating it and releasing a thick smoke. We coughed and hacked as the smoke concealed our vision, and by the time it cleared, Gorm was gone, but his henchmen were still tied up in the corner.

"Well...I guess that's that," Curtis sighed, totally exhausted. "Thanks, Electivire. You really helped out today." He recalled his Pokémon and let out another deep, relaxed sigh. We were all about to do the same when a voice came from the exit of the theater.

"And...CUT!" Mr. Stu Deeoh shouted in his usual flamboyant way. "Marvelous, simply a work of artistry! This will make a great feature film!" I almost didn't believe that this was happening. Mr. Stu Deeoh recorded the entire ordeal...when he fled, it wasn't for his own safety, but to get a cameraman to record the battle! I had to give him credit, though. He was especially sneaky.

After the whole of it was over, we got more information on the Team Plasma attack. It turned out that other theaters were attacked as well, and some trainers did not get out so lucky and had their Pokémon stolen. According to what was heard between grunts, the Pokémon were going to be sent off to Castelia City, where a Team Plasma head would be standing by. With even more reason to head off to Castelia City, it was more essential than ever to get Pop Roxie back to his old sailing ways.

"Well..." Pop Roxie murmured when confronted about the situation. "I must say, my debut...it was a joke. An utter flop."

"Don't say that!" Curtis encouraged. "It wasn't all bad."

"Regardless, I'm causing trouble for the people of Virbank City. My daughter tells me that people are lining up at the port, waiting to get to Castelia City. And if the rumors are true, then it's more important than ever to get Grass and Hugh here off to the city so that they can get the stolen Pokémon back. I'm sorry, Curtis, but I'm afraid I must cut my career short."

Curtis frowned a bit. "That's a shame. I feel like you have potential too..."

Pop Roxie smiled. "It's for the best. My daughter made me realize that." Roxie smiled and gave her dad a big hug, as if this whole ordeal helped them reconcile. Curtis then turned to me.

"Well, looks like you're off to see more things and discover more places! Y'know, I think that I'm starting to outgrow Pokéstar Studios myself. I'm going to have to return to my day job as an idol soon enough anyways. Hey, why don't we register each other on the Xtransceiver? I'll be sure to give you a call every now and then." I was happy to oblige, not because it would make me a celebrity because I could say that Curtis AKA Christoph was registered in my Xtransceiver, but because I thought he was a rather friendly guy that I could depend on. And isn't that what a friend is?

"Well, we'd best be off," Pop Roxie said when Curtis and I were done. "Farewell, Curtis. May the waves of the open sea make our paths cross again someday." Curtis nodded and gave a little wave to both me and Hugh as we left Pokéstar Studios. The full moon in the sky, Pop Roxie led us to his ship, which would lead us to the big city of Castelia, and yet another likely encounter with Team Plasma...

To be continued in Part 2...

Click here for the systematic version.
  #8  
Old July 15, 2013, 07:52:28 PM
GrassPokemonFTW's Avatar
GrassPokemonFTW GrassPokemonFTW is offline
Kyurem
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: [INSERT GENERIC LOCATION HERE]
Posts: 2,222
Default

Chapter 7, Part 2: Caught in the Big City

The ride to Castelia City wasn't very long. The ride there did give me a good opportunity to reflect on the past, and to recall all the memories I have had. My team was chatting with Hugh's, which upon further inspection now included a Pidove who apparently went by the name "Peter." I also began to think about what Gorm had said back in the theater...how they were supposedly "An organization that seeks to end the oppression of Pokémon by Trainers." I didn't really know what he meant by that, nor did I understand why Hugh had such a grudge against them, for as far as I could remember, Aspertia never was in any immediate danger from Team Plasma. But Hugh has lived in Aspertia longer than I have, so maybe something happened before I moved there, when we were little kids with big dreams and fantasies of our own.

I knelt over to the group of Pokémon at the back of the ship. They were all chatting, talking about some random thoughts that they were feeling. I listened in to their conversation from around the corner.

"Well, there really isn't much to say about it...it all ended so quickly; one Flame Charge, and that Whrilipede was done! Man, it's a good feeling..." Firehog physically demonstrated as he pounded his fist into his other open hand. Sir Ivy was, once again, less than impressed, his eyes trailing away from Firehog and towards the open ocean, as if to ignore Firehog's rambling. Next to Firehog was Peter, who was perched on top of an open box, flapping his wings in a very suave and delicate manner. It was clear that this Pidove was far different from the brash, reckless Firehog.

"Wow, what a riveting tale, Firehog..." Sir Ivy groaned sarcastically. "Now, if you are as powerful as you make yourself out to be, then how come you have not been able to defeat me in a battle yourself?" Sir Ivy giggled a bit as Firehog snorted some smoke from his nose and folded his arms in frustration. Sir Ivy sure seemed to enjoy taunting Firehog.

Ms. Pokey rolled her eyes in her usual fashion. "Oh, come on, Sir Ivy, you're, like, all talk. If you're as powerful as you say, then we might as well be heading to the Pokémon League by now." Sir Ivy tapped Ms. Pokey on the head, trying to get her to stop talking. Ms. Pokey rolled back up on her feet, steaming with irritation.

"Hey! What did I tell you about doing that!?"

"Hehehe...sorry, I could not resist," Sir Ivy giggled, trying to hold in his laughter. Ms. Pokey folded her arms and sat, facing away from Sir Ivy. "Jeez, you always treat me like a kid. You're a real jerk, Sir Ivy."

"You know I do not mean anything by it. Besides, even if I did, I would have told you up front by now."

"Ha...likely story."

Sir Ivy turned to Fassad, who had been pretty much mute since we first encountered him at the Virbank Complex. Fassad was a rather interesting Pokémon in my eyes; really silent, really timid, but deep down, he seemed to have a passion for battling; I had seen it in his eyes when we went to train at the Virbank Complex the morning after I discovered him.

"So, Fassad, how have you been coming along?" Sir Ivy asked him. Fassad quivered a little, shocked that someone was talking to him, and turned to him. He poked his tiny hands together, not saying anything. I could tell he was trying to make an effort to communicate, but he was too timid to say anything. Sir Ivy took no note of it and just let him remain in silence, remembering what Cheren said to me about respecting the needs of the other members.

Tropicana was flying to the side of the boat, for reasons that she said was to get some "much needed exercise," but I knew it was so that the boat wouldn't tip over under her weight, which I knew she was already rather insecure about. I turned away from the corner and talked to Tropicana for a while.

"So, Tropicana, how have you been?" I asked. Tropicana tilted her head as she continued to fly alongside the ship. She smiled at the consideration.

"I've been fine. How about you? You've been getting into all sorts of issues lately, first with the whole fiasco with Ms. Pokey, and now this Team Plasma business. If I were you, I'd be utterly exhausted by now."

I smiled. "Yeah, I guess you're right. To be honest, I am actually really tired right now. But I've been experiencing this sort of restlessness since we made our first stop in Floccesy Town. I guess the adrenaline from being a Pokémon Trainer...I guess it keeps me going, you know?"

Tropicana giggled. "I guess so. But you know..." Suddenly, Tropicana became somewhat grim. "What are you going to do about Ms. Pokey and Fassad? Ms. Pokey hardly ever listens to you, and when she does, she gives you a whole lot of back talk. And as for Fassad, he just doesn't seem to be able to communicate at all, and is terribly afraid of just about everything. What do you intend to do?" I stood there, my elbows resting on the railing, and pondered. Everything Tropicana said was true; Ms. Pokey is utterly defiant and Fassad is utterly timid.

"I don't really know the answer to that, Tropicana," I said at length. "But I...I'll just have to hope they'll get over it. Cheren said to me, back when we earned the Basic Badge...that Pokémon will never listen to you unless you listen to them first. I need to get a feel of what they want, why they act the way they act, and when I do, to encourage them, not fight them back. I don't think they'll immediately respond, but I can only hope that they'll understand that I respect their wishes."

Tropicana nodded. "I don't know whether they'll respond either. But hope...I know that they say that you have nothing if you don't have hope, but it's such a fragile thing...just promise me you won't lose hope. Not in us, not in yourself, not ever." I nodded back.

"I won't. You can bet that I won't ever give up hope."

Before long, the boat pulled into Castelia's Unity Pier, and Hugh and I got off. Looking around, I was more awe-inspired by Castelia City than I had been at Pokéstar Studios. Even this late at night, boats of all kinds were pulling in and out of the city's numerous docks. The skyscrapers were tall and domineering; I felt a little intimidated just by being in their presence. Then there were the commuters; even at night, Castelia City was full of them, which made it a little intimidating to go out into the crowd to try to navigate our way around the city, much less to track down the Team Plasma members and the Pokémon they stole. Hugh, however, was not fazed at all as he dashed into the crowd without much warning. I ran behind him and caught up, only to be threatened to be split up again by the moving traffic.

"C'mon Grass, keep up!" Hugh called out to me. I fumbled in my bag to call my Pokémon back into their Pokéballs, as here was no place to have Pokémon walking around with you. I eventually managed to find everyone's Pokéballs and recall all my Pokémon without falling too far behind. Like Magikarp caught in a current, Hugh and I flowed wherever the crowd moved, and after several wasted minutes of getting tossed around by the excess commuters, we found ourselves in the central plaza of Castelia City.

"Ugh, where are we!?" Hugh panicked, his fists clenched tight. "AGH! And we're wasting precious time here! Grass, where are--!?" He spun around and found me, dead exhausted and sweating from being locked in the mass of moving people. With legs sprawled out and arms outstretched, I leaned to the back of a tree and rested, not even wanting to care about Team Plasma for the moment. Granted, I knew it was important, but I figured that I would be able to more actively seek them out once I was revitalized. Hugh scoffed at me, but he realized that rest was a necessity.

"Fine, I'll go look for them myself. When you're ready to go, try to look for Team Plasma." Without so much as a second glance, he simply dashed off, back into the crowd. I lie there, staring at the full moon that night, and began to nod off. My legs were aching, and my arms felt too weak to do anything, and my mind was simply exhausted. Without so much as a minute passing, I began to sleep heavily.

I was suddenly awoken not long later after something landed on my head and awoke me. I promptly got up, and though I only was asleep for some odd 10 minutes, I was pretty much totally revitalized. As for what hit me on the head, I searched around the vicinity, and I found a Petilil lying not 2 feet from where I was lying for my rest. She was just getting up as well, and she seemed tired, much like I was. She spun around and gave me an annoyed glance.

Sir Ivy suddenly popped out of his Pokéball. His eyes were filled with irritation, and it became clear to me that he was going to speak in my defense again. "Excuse me," he began, "I do not think you are in the position to make such an annoyed expression towards him. I find it quite rude to my trainer and to me as well."

"Well, what do you expect me to d--!?" the Petilil started to say as she spun around. When she stopped, she was face-to-face with Sir Ivy's serious countenance, and she hopped back a little bit. She quivered a moment, but before long, her eyes became glossy and her face began to burn a scarlet red. I wasn't entirely sure what was happening, but it was clear she was getting incredibly flustered. She looked to the ground, hiding her face.

"Oh...u-uh...umm...well...uh...you see, uh...well, uh..." the Petilil kept searching for an answer, but she couldn't find anything. She was just grabbing at straws at this point. "Um...uh...n-nice to meet you? Er...um...I'm L-lilly..n-nice to meet you..."

Sir Ivy shook a little bit. "In any case, you had best apologize..." Sir Ivy said, nodding. Suddenly, he cocked his head to the right, letting me see his face in full. I was surprised to find that he too had become incredibly red-faced, and his tail was now twitching. "...Well, regardless of whether or not you do...um...I'll f-forgive you, anyways." There was a surprise if I ever saw one; Sir Ivy never, ever stuttered. The two of them were making no progress in their talks after that, at which point I knew something had to be done.

"Sir Ivy, could you stand aside a moment?" I asked. Sir Ivy was lost in a daze for a second, but once he processed my voice, he stepped off to the right. I got a full look at the Petilil, whose eyes were still focused on Sir Ivy. I swiftly pulled out a Pokéball and tossed it at her. I don't think she even realized what I was doing, so by the time the ball made contact, it was already over, and she had been successfully caught.

NEW MEMBER!
Pokémon Sprite 548
Lilly the Petilil (♀)
Met 7/8/2013, at Castelia City, at Level 15
Hardy Nature, Alert to sounds.
Ability: Own Tempo // Moves: Growth // Leech Seed // Sleep Powder // Mega Drain

Sir Ivy turned and gave me a dirty look. "Grass! That was uncalled for!"

"How so? Weren't you arguing with her?" I asked, teasing him a little bit. Sir Ivy blushed a deep scarlet and turned away. "A-anyways, we had best get moving. Hugh is waiting for us to find Team Plasma, is he not?"

I giggled a little before turning to follow where Hugh left, when I came face-to-face with a strange, tall man. I was unprepared for the sudden encounter, so I jumped backwards and fell back when I ran into him. He gave an interesting laugh that oddly reminded me of the flamboyant Mr. Stu Deeoh that we had met earlier that day, and stretched out his hand to mine. I hesitantly accepted it.

"Ooooh, girl, did you just mention Hugh's name? I just ran past a guy named Hugh, and he was chasin' after some Team Plasma thugs." I was utterly shocked; Hugh had found Team Plasma already! Though I had been dazed when I fell back, I was now on full alert. I grabbed at his shoulders and looked at him dead in the eye.

"Where was he!? Did he say where they were going!?" I asked frantically. He pulled my hands off of his shoulders.

"Girl, I'm the only one allowed to do that!" The man cleared his throat. "First off, mt name's Burgh, and I'm the faaaaaaaaaaab Gym Leader of Castelia City! Now, as for your friend, he seemed to be chasing them down to Thumb Pier. I can take you there if you like~!" I was a little hesitant to agree with him, and I was a little distracted thinking about how this guy could become a Gym Leader, but I decided, for the greater good, I'd follow him. I gave him a little nod as a confirmation of his offer. He smiled, and suddenly, he crouched and held his hands out behind him.

"Alright then! Hop on!" Burgh said, arching his back as if I were supposed to get on him. I gave him a stare that gave him the impression that I had no intention of complying with him if he were going to fool around, so he sighed and stood up. "Fine, girl, no need to get yourself tied up in a bunch now. We'll try it your way; follow me~!"

He ducked his way in and out of the crowd with ease, making it very difficult for me to keep up. At times, with the way he gracefully maneuvered his way around the commuters, I began to regret not taking his offer to ride his back, but for the sake of self-image, I stuck with my own comfort zone and tried to replicate his dodging technique. As one might imagine, it didn't go nearly as well as I would have liked, as I began accidentally stepping on people's feet and tripping.

"Hurry up, girl! We're almost there!" By the time we had reached the piers, my legs were aching from repeated mishaps. It didn't help that the pier we ended up going to was the farthest from where we came in. I followed him, trudging along with my legs that I couldn't tell were broken or not, and eventually collapsed at Thumb Pier. Burgh picked me back up and dusted me off, saying something about how a proper man shouldn't get his clothes dirty. I wasn't sure whether Burgh was a proper man or not, but I went along with it and tried to remain standing.

"I saw them running into the sewers here. I'd follow you in, but...you know. I can't let myself get dirty, now can I?" Burgh hugged himself, as if trying to protect himself from the grime. I sighed; could this get any worse? Hopefully not, but I figured that Hugh was enduring it, so I would have to as well.

"Anyways, you had better get going~!" With that, Burgh dashed away from whence we came, without any word of protest from me. I slumped my shoulders and soldiered on into the sewers. As one might imagine, the sewers were far from hospitable. The place reeked of sewage, and wherever I walked, there were puddles of stagnant water getting in my way. The roof dripped with some sort of stinky liquid, and I felt like I could hardly breathe in there.

My problems would eventually fall into the background, as from afar, I heard the sound of explosions. I started towards the source, Sir Ivy behind me. As I had largely expected, the source of the explosions was from a Pokémon battle! Hugh was standing there, looking totally exhausted, and it didn't look like his Pokémon were in good shape. Firehog was collapsed on the floor, breathing heavily, while Peter was lying against the wall, completely tuckered out. Hugh turned around to me, and his expression was that of defeat. Looking past him, I saw some familiar faces; Gorm, along with his Cofagrigus, and a handful of Team Plasma grunts, stood there, their eyes full of animosity. Gorm was especially frustrated, his face distorted with a grimace of pain.

"Aggh...how long must you continue to pursue me!? It is futile, I tell you; you cannot defeat me, no matter how long you chase me!" Gorm took a step back, and I expected him to continue to vent, however, much to my surprise, his frown broke into a mischievous smile, coupled with a sinister laugh that bobbed his mustache up and down. "Ah, but I must say," he went on, "this could not come at a more convenient time! I know what you're here for; you're here for the stolen Pokémon from the movie studios, correct? Well, won't you be in for a surprise..."

Hugh turned to me. "Grass...it's them! Their boss is coming...what could I possibly do in this situation..." It was scary to see Hugh losing faith in himself, but I couldn't let him admit defeat now. I stood up to bat, my Pokéballs in my hand, and stared Gorm right in the face.

"I guess I'll have to beat you before that surprise happens, won't I?" I said, taunting them. Gorm sneered, and eventually broke out into insane laughter.

"DEFEAT ME!? HAH! That's a laugh! Cofagrigus, go and destroy the cretin!" The Coffin Pokémon that had nearly consumed me before now chased after me, but I steeled my courage, resolving not to be afraid any more.

"Sir Ivy! Use Leech Seed to restrain him!" Sir Ivy quickly responded, planting a seed firmly in his coffin overcoat, and quickly jumped away as the seed promptly began to sprout and entangled the Cofagrigus in its web of parasitic vines. Its impeded movement forced the Cofagrigus down and unable to move much. Struggle as he might, he could not break free. I then pulled out Lilly's Pokéball.

"Alright, Lilly, let's see what you can do!" I tossed the Pokéball up in the air, and our new ally popped out. She jumped, a little shocked that she was out, and she still seemed a little flustered from her encounter with Sir Ivy. However, she saw the enemy Cofagrigus in front of her, and she turned to me, a confident smile on her face. I smiled back.

"OK, so let's see what ya' got! Lilly, use...something!" Lilly sighed, and jumped into action with what she knew. She spun around, releasing a powder-like substance from the leaves on her head, all of which fell onto the Cofagrigus's head. At first, it didn't seem to do anything, but the Cofagrigus soon became incredibly drowsy, and soon enough, it was nodding off while Sir Ivy was sapping energy from the incapacitated Cofagrigus. Gorm, realizing that the battle would go nowhere if he proceeded as is, he recalled his Cofagrigus, letting out a roar of anguish.

"GRAAH...you...why do you keep meddling in my affairs!? Why must I keep playing the loser!? We, Team Plasma, are fighting for a cause far greater than you children can understand...so why must you keep antagonizing us!?" Gorm pounded his fist into the walls of the sewers, its emptiness making the sound echo all throughout the sewers. Hugh stood up, holding up his fainted Firehog and Peter, and clenched his teeth.

"Don't you realize!? You claim you're fighting for a just cause, but it's nothing more than thievery! That's all you guys are; common crooks!"

"Silence, knave!" Gorm shouted. "I will not have you speak of Team Plasma this way! I will not return the Pokémon to you, and I shall leave our commander to destroy you here and now!"

"Oh?" Hugh said. "And where is this mystery commander? You said he'd be here a long time ago."

Gorm squirmed. "Er...yes...he is..."

Sir Ivy and Lilly advanced on Gorm, and I too was feeling ready to take this old man down another notch or two. Clenching my fists, I began to walk up to him. "I'm going to count to 3 now," I said. "If you don't give me the Pokéballs, I will..."

Gorm didn't even let me finish my sentence when he cowered and handed me the sack of Pokéballs, and promptly fled. Hugh attempted to intercept them, but the grunts blocked the path and pushed him down, giving them enough time to flee with Gorm. Hugh got up promptly. "Hey! YOU! I'm not finished with--AGGH!" Hugh knelt down and grabbed at his shin. It seemed that he had hit it when he fell down. "Dang it all...dang it...dang it..." Hugh sweared a few times under his breath, all the while clutching at his shin. I waited with him until he got better, though the stench was just about killing me at this point.

"Well, Hugh, I hate to admit it, but they've hightailed and got away again...what are you going to do now?" I knelt, getting a better look at the shin. It looked like he just hit it, as a small bruise was forming, but nothing more. He shook his head in defeat, and did nothing else for several minutes. All I could do was sit there and support; I didn't know what else I could do. Once he stood up, he recalled his Pokémon and looked to me.

"Grass...I...I'm going back to Virbank. I need to return these Pokémon to their rightful owners..." He then turned away, taking the sack by the hand and hauling it over his shoulder. "You...for us, I need you to get stronger. It's clear that you're a strong trainer with a real knack for this kind of thing. So...I'm asking you...please get stronger, so that I know I can count on you when we meet Team Plasma again."

I nodded. "Of course, Hugh. Don't worry about a thing." Hugh turned back slightly, gave a weak thumbs-up, and walked out of the Castelia Sewers, walking out as a solemn and lost little boy whose power wasn't enough to stop his nemesis...

The Crew    
Pokémon Sprite 496
Sir Ivy - Servine - ♂ // Level 26
Met 7/3/2013, at Aspertia City, at Level 5
Moves: Leech Seed // Growth // Leaf Tornado // Return
Held Item: None
Ability: Overgrow
Nature: Quirky (neutral)
Characteristic: Likes to relax.
Changes in this Part: Gained 4 Levels

Pokémon Sprite 357
Tropicana - Tropius - ♀ // Level 25
Met 7/3/2013, at Route 19, at Level 4
Moves: Stomp // Gust // Growth // Razor Leaf
Held Item: None
Ability: Solar Power
Nature: Gentle (+SpD, -Def)
Characteristic: Impetuous and silly.
Changes in this Part: Gained 5 Levels

Pokémon Sprite 331
Ms. Pokey - Cacnea - ♀ // Level 24
Met 7/4/2013, at Floccesy Ranch, at Level 5
Moves: Venoshock // Leech Seed // Absorb // Sand Attack
Held Item: None
Ability: Sand Veil
Nature: Naive (+Spd, -SpD)
Characteristic: Strongly defiant.
Changes in this Part: Gained 4 Levels

Pokémon Sprite 590
Fassad - Foongus - ♂ // Level 23
Met 7/6/2013, at Virbank Complex, at Level 11
Moves: Mega Drain // Growth // Faint Attack // Venoshock
Held Item: None
Ability: Effect Spore
Nature: Timid (+Spd, -Atk)
Characteristic: Likes to fight.
Changes in this Part: Gained 3 Levels

Pokémon Sprite 548
Lilly - Petilil - ♀ // Level 24
Met 7/8/2013, at Castelia City, at Level 15
Moves: Growth // Leech Seed // Sleep Powder // Magical Leaf
Held Item: None
Ability: Own Tempo
Nature: Hardy (neutral)
Characteristic: Alert to sounds.
Changes in this Part: Obtained, gained 9 Levels, learned Magical Leaf

The Reserves    
None

The Fallen    
None

Current Location: Castelia City

Click here for the systematic version.
  #9  
Old July 16, 2013, 12:18:30 PM
GrassPokemonFTW's Avatar
GrassPokemonFTW GrassPokemonFTW is offline
Kyurem
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: [INSERT GENERIC LOCATION HERE]
Posts: 2,222
Default

Chapter 8: Buried Beneath the Sands

I was dead tired that night, and yet, I think it was the first time I actually got a good night's worth of sleep. By the time I awoke, the sun was high in the sky, clearing the sky of any of the clouds. It was a beautiful morning, more so than the other nights. I was feeling really good myself, totally refreshed and raring to go. It seemed like the other trainers in Castelia were feeling the same way; everyone in the Center was in an uplifting mood, with trainers talking to each other and laughing heartily. I received my Pokéballs from the receptionist at the front desk, and let all five of them out.

"Alright guys, it's time. Today, we're facing Burgh to get our third Gym Badge. While the last two gyms were all about pure power, we're going to think differently this time. Now that we've reached higher levels, strategy is going to be really important." All my Pokémon nodded in understanding.

"You know," Tropicana said, stepping forward. "This is a Bug-type gym, after all...so my Flying-type could come in handy. Considering the only Bug-types we've encountered up to this point were either part Grass-type, part Poison-type, and part Rock-type." I nodded. Sewaddle, Venipede and Whirlipede, and Dwebble, respectively. I was confident that Tropicana would be able to take down any Sewaddle, but what about the others?

Tropicana then turned her head to Fassad. "Also, Fassad, I know you may not necessarily have type advantage, but for the Poison/Bug-types and the Rock/Bug-types, do you think you could cover me? Your secondary Poison typing will actually probably be useful to resist their moves." Fassad hopped back, at first scared at the prospect of battling such a strong trainer so early in his career, but he nodded, the same fire in his eyes I saw before.

"Well, I guess that's that. Tropicana and Fassad are going to be anchoring this team for the Gym Battle; so let's get it done, shall we!?"

"WAIT, hold on, hold on..." Ms. Pokey intervened. "What about the rest of us!? What're WE supposed to do!?" I scratched my head. I hadn't thought of what she, Sir Ivy, and Lilly were going to do while Tropicana and Fassad were getting all the action.

"Well...cheer them on! If they get tired, I suppose I can switch one of you in..."

"Oh, that's a load of bull---"

"Now, Ms. Pokey, calm down," Tropicana asserted. "If we let you do the work, given your track record, what do you think would happen to you? You aren't one to really take super-effective hits, and I think you'll admit to that, right?" Ms. Pokey stepped back, giving back a menacing glare to Tropicana's calm and serene stare. Ms. Pokey looked away and folded her arms.

"Seriously...always treating me like a little kid..." I was a little worried for her, when Tropicana looked over to me and shook her head. I then knew that it was all for the best.

"A-alright guys, that's the plan. Let's roll out, team!"

Burgh's gym was incredibly peculiar, but I guess I shouldn't be surprised by now, as Roxie's gym just the town before was a punk rock hideout at the same time, so I suppose I was just getting used to these things by now. Although I found the initial room to be a little lackluster for someone as...vibrant...as Burgh. Taking a look around, most of the walls were purely in black and white, and the cocoons that you were supposed to use to navigate weren't very colorful themselves. To be honest, I was a bit lost, until I found my way to Burgh's chamber, where there was color everywhere. The ground was wet with paint, and the walls were beautifully decorated. In the back, Burgh was painting something, and when I walked further into the room, he turned around and gave off a flashy smile.

"Oh! Grass, you had me waiting for, like, ever!" Burgh spun around and showed me the picture he was drawing. Three Bug Pokémon were dancing together, creating some sort of web-like structure. It was a very pretty and cute scene.

"Ooooooooh, Bug Pokémon are just sooooo...elegant! Captivating! Beautiful~! Now that you're here..." He pulled out a Pokéball from inside his shirt. Not sure how he pulled that off. "Let me show you what I mean!" A Pokémon popped out of the ball, and it became clear to me that the picture he was painting was actually his team. The first was Swadloon, a Pokémon that looked like it evolved from Sewaddle. With that in mind, I knew what had to be done.

"Alright, Tropicana, it's all you!" I called out, sending Tropicana out to the front lines. Her bulky stature and overall height made the chamber shake, sending ripples in the puddles of paint here and there. Burgh's Swadloon looked intimidated, but it wasn't going to back down just like that.

"OK, Tropicana, show them your trademark Gust!" Tropicana hurled herself into the air, and began to blow a forceful wind. The wind shook the entire chamber, and more so Swadloon. The Swadloon was trying its hardest not to get blown away by the powerful winds, but its struggle turned out to be in vain as Swadloon was blown back, slamming into the walls several times, and once the gust died down, the Swadloon fell to the ground and plopped there, defeated. Burgh put his hand up to his mouth.

"Ooooooh noooooooo~!" Burgh screamed in mock despair. He recalled his Swadloon, his hand dramatically placed on his face, as if to hide the face of his defeat.

"I must say, you're good. Very good. But let's see how you handle this!" He tossed out his next Pokémon, a Dwebble, and I remembered that this was one of the things I had prepared for Tropicana. Dwebble was a Rock-type, and was likely holding Rock-type moves, so it would be risky to stay in with Tropicana.

"Alright, Tropicana, take a rest for now. Fassad!" I turned to my other Pokémon, who had been cheerleading on the sidelines. Fassad trembled, hopping forward a few steps before stopping to cower. Sir Ivy came up and patted him on the back.

"Fassad! You can do it, I know it!" Sir Ivy said. Lilly and Tropicana joined in. "Fassad, we're counting on you! Go show that Dwebble who's boss!" "Go, Fassad! Show 'em what you're made of!" As if in a fit of gained confidence, Fassad jumped into the battlefield, raring to go. I looked to the three of them, who smiled back. "Thanks, guys! A confidence boost was just what I needed for him!"

"I like that! Your Pokémon supporting each other in the thick of battle...it just is fabulous! Now then, Dwebble, let's not get outdone! Use Smack Down!" Dwebble formed a little stone in between his hands, which I believed wouldn't do much, but it fired it off at amazingly fast speed. Luckily, it didn't make a direct hit, but clocked Fassad hard enough to send him spinning.

"Fassad, don't let that attack get you so easy! Use Mega Drain, and use the vines to hold Dwebble down!" Fassad responded as he stopped spinning, pulling out threads from the cocoon and used them as absorbing vines. The vines encased Dwebble, immobilizing him. The Dwebble continued to struggle, however, and was able to fire another Smack Down, but this time, Fassad was able to dodge.

"Nice job, Fassad! Now, let's keep draining health!" The Dwebble wasn't looking good, and the damage Fassad sustained from the Smack Down was beginning to heal. Suddenly, the Dwebble managed to cut through the vines, and dashed after Fassad.

"Alll riiiiiiight, now let's use Struggle Bug!" Dwebble scattered spores around himself as he got ready to tackle Fassad, but at the poor state of health Dwebble was in, I knew exactly what to do.

"Fassad, disappear with Faint Attack!" Fassad quickly used the move, with Dwebble incoming at amazing speed. Fassad's move made him quickly disappear from sight, and Dwebble was no longer sure where he was supposed to go. Suddenly, Fassad reappeared, right above him, and one smack from his tiny hands was enough to knock his momentum of and crashing into the ground. The Dwebble, completely exhausted, collapsed, unable to battle. Burgh smiled and recalled the Dwebble.

"Girl, you are sooo strong! I can feel your desire burning through like a wildfire! But can you defeat my ace in the hole...Leavanny!" From the Pokéball emerged another Pokémon, much like Swadloon, but much stronger. I recognized Leavanny from my father's photo collection, so I knew what moves they could learn, their caring nature...and their deadly strikes. I recalled Fassad and had Tropicana go out there, knowing that I needed a Pokémon that could take on its powerful attacks.

"Alright, darling, slice and dice that Tropius!" The Leavanny jumped towards Tropicana, swiping at her with his powerful arms. A few hits collected, but Tropicana stood firm.

"Alright, Tropicana, you know what to do! Gust, and don't hold back!" Tropicana jumped up and began to produce a great whirlwind that blew all about the cocoon. The Leavanny was able to hold her stance far better than the Swadloon, but it was evident she was struggling to keep standing too. The Gust eventually became to much for her, as she flew backwards and tumbled all over the place before finally coming to a stop, knocked thoroughly out. Tropicana saw he was unable to battle, and thus stopped her attack, and landed firmly on the ground. Burgh at first frowned, but it quickly changed back to a sunny smile as he recalled his Leavanny.

"Well, well...you, girl, are simply fabulous! You totally demolished me!" Burgh said in compliment. "Now then, for your prize...you get to have my shirt!" Suddenly, Burgh tossed his shirt over to me, though it only landed about halfway in between us. Burgh, completely shirtless, stood in a pose that reminded me of a supermodel. Regardless, I wasn't really one to laugh at his shenanigans, so after a few seconds without inducing a reaction, Burgh sighed.

"Girl, don't be so serious all the time. It isn't healthy. Now, for your REAL prize...I hereby confer unto you, the Insect Badge!" Before he could toss it over for another miss, I walked up and accepted the badge from his hand. "Now then, for your next Gym Battle...you'd better cross the desert just north of here, and once you're through, you'll be in Nimbasa City. There you'll meet the next Gym Leader. Oh, since you are heading there...will you tell darling Elesa I said hi? She's the Gym Leader in the next town."

"Alright...I will," I said to Burgh. Burgh nodded. "Well, then, I'll leave you to it! Come again soon!"

With the Insect Badge now in tow, I headed back to the Pokémon Center to celebrate. The whole team was in high spirits, even Fassad, who seemed to enjoy the taste of adrenaline that he got from the match against Burgh's Dwebble. We were all bouncy, and after healing up, we celebrated with enough berries to go around.

"You two were awesome today! Thanks...thanks so much, guys!" I gave Tropicana and Fassad a great big hug, which was returned with equal affection. Tropicana looked to me and said, "See? I told you, that if you had hope, you could overcome all obstacles." I nodded.

"Well, I do not believe we were in any danger," said Sir Ivy, confidently. "I believe we are powerful enough to take on the challenges that lie ahead." I nodded in agreement, looking at my badge case. I was nearly halfway done with the Pokémon Gym League challenge, and I couldn't thank my Pokémon enough.

"Heeeey! Grass!" a familiar voice called from nearby. I spun around to see Bianca coming my way. I hadn't seen Bianca since I beat Cheren in Aspertia City, so seeing her was a nice change of pace.

"Oh, hi, Bianca!" I called back. "Long time no see!"

"I know, right!? Listen, could I get you to do me a favor?"

I nodded. "What kind of favor?"

She sat down and explained the details to me. Apparently, the Professor who I had mistakenly thought to be named "Julie" had sent her to go study the Relic Castle, which was an area in the route Burgh directed me to go to for the next Gym. She said that the road there was treacherous and fraught with sandstorms, so she hoped that I could come along to help her along the way. Furthermore, she said there was a bunch of rocks in the way of the path, so she needed my help to go and move the rocks out of the way. Since I was headed in that direction, and it would be a good opportunity to get some training in, I agreed. Besides, I was in too high spirits to say no anyways!

"Really!? Thanks a bunch, Grass! If you don't mind, could we get going now? There's a lot of things I want to investigate once I get there, you know?" I nodded, and my Pokémon followed behind. At this point we waved goodbye to the big city, with its many commuters, high-rise buildings, and interesting people. I can't say I enjoyed every part of my adventure in Castelia, especially with the confrontation of Team Plasma, but it was an experience I wouldn't forget soon.

Despite Route 4 being called a desert, it was far from what I expected it to be. It looked modernized, like a small avenue of buildings were beginning to rise up, and the sandstorms that blew around didn't affect us while we were on the paved road. Still, Bianca and I were extra cautious while we were on the way to the Relic Castle. The two of us walked without saying much of anything when Bianca suddenly reached in her bag and pulled out a strange device.

"Oh, before I forget, why don't you take this? It's a Dowsing Machine. You can use it to find items that might be buried in the sand or just lying out of sight. I think it'll really come in handy in this area, right?" I happily accepted the machine and began to fiddle around with it. I wasn't sure how it worked, but I figured that I would find out its functions eventually.

"Oh, a Dowsing Machine! How did you get your hands on one of those?"

From ahead of us, there was a man with a large lab coat and some sort of touch-pad device in his hands. He seemed thoroughly intrigued with the device I just got from Bianca, and proceeded to look over it. He then looked to me and backed off a little.

"Oh...my apologies; where are my manners? Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Colress, and I am researching how to bring out the maximum potential of Pokémon."

Bianca suddenly lit up. "Oh! Professor Juniper told me once about you! Your experiments and postulations are renowned worldwide! Wow, I can't believe I'm meeting Colress face-to-face!" Colress smiled, a little bashful and embarrassed for being put on the spot like that. I, on the other hand, have never heard of him or his exploits, but he seemed to be a true scientist, in the flesh.

"Why thank you, young lady, it's nice to see you've taken an interest in my work. Oh...but..." Colress turned to me and looked behind me at the group of Pokémon. He pointed to them and asked me if they were mine, and I nodded in confirmation. He touched a few keys on his touch-pad device, and then turned to me again. "Excuse me a moment, but could you tell me which one of these Pokémon you caught most recently?" I nodded, and pointed to Lilly, who was standing next to Sir Ivy. The other Pokémon moved out of the way as Colress pointed his touch-pad towards Lilly, and pressed a button. The device made a few strange noises before finally stopping, at which point Colress looked back to the screen.

"Interesting...very interesting indeed! It says here you caught her only recently...but she seems to have developed a self-confidence level far higher than I have usually seen. You are a most impressive trainer!" I put his touch-pad back into his lab coat's pocket, and turned back to me.

"I am rather surprised to see a young boy like you being able to bring out the maximum potential in each of your Pokémon. If you're not in any hurry, I would like to battle you." I turned to Bianca, who nodded back.

"Don't worry, Grass, we're not in any major hurry. This is good for your Pokémon training career!" I turned back to Colress, who heard the news and already had produced a Pokéball from his belt.

"Alright, experiment, begin! Go, Magnemite!" The Pokémon floated out from the ball, letting out little mechanical noises before staying stable in the air. I turned back to my Pokémon.

"Lilly, how about you show off how much ability you have!" Lilly nodded back, and jumped into action. Lilly seemed raring to go, especially since she hadn't been involved in the Gym Battle, so she had some power to let loose. "Alright, Lilly, use Sleep Powder!" Lilly promptly began to spin, shaking out spores that floated towards the Magnemite.

"Go, Magnemite, Thunder Wave!" Magnemite spun around a bit and finally released a weak jolt of electricity, before the spores made contact and began to make Magnemite's systems slow down. However, it was not the only one getting slowed down; Lilly was hit by the jolt, and she suddenly became unable to move from where she was standing. The Magnemite, its systems running too slow, fell from the air and landed firmly on the path.

"Alright, good job Lilly, and hang in there! Use Leech Seed!" Despite her paralysis, she was able to incapacitate the Magnemite even further with her Leech Seed. She proceeded to drain energy from the Magnemite, and with the Magnemite's internal battery running completely to a halt, it couldn't shake off the effects of Lilly's Sleep Powder and eventually crashed. Colress clapped his hands and returned Magnemite to its Pokéball.

"Well done! I was not mistaken when I said you were a strong trainer. But let's see how you deal with my next Pokémon!" The next Pokémon he sent out I had never seen before; it was a Pokémon that looked like two interlocked gears. I pulled out my Pokédex and looked the Pokémon up in its database.

"Klink, the Gear Pokémon. The two minigears that mesh together are predetermined. Each will rebound from other minigears without meshing."

"Lilly, are you able to keep going?" I asked her. Lilly might have not taken any direct damage, but the paralysis looked painful. Sir Ivy even stepped a step as if he wanted to switch in for her, but Lilly looked back and said she was fine.

"It's no worry, Grass...I can pull through!" she said. I nodded back.

"OK, Colress, I'm sticking with my Lilly on this one!" Colress didn't seem to hear, as he carried a dumbfounded look on his face as he stared straight at me. He literally looked like he had seen a ghost, as his lips quivered and his eyes bulged out like saucers. Even his face was pale.

"Wait...you can...speak to Pokémon!?" Colress shouted, unable to believe that I had just directly communicated with my Pokémon. I nodded to him.

"I can. It's a skill I've always had since childhood..." I said, a little hesitant to say it since he was making such a big deal of it. He was about to take his touch-pad out again, but he shook his head and retracted his hand.

"In any case, let us proceed. Klink, use Gear Grind!" The floating gears began to spin erratically, and then charged towards Lilly. Lilly tried to dodge, but on account of her paralysis, she couldn't. The Klink slammed hard into Lilly, sending her flying backwards. I was worried she might get tossed on the concrete path, but Sir Ivy was quick and caught her before she landed. Sir Ivy then tenderly set her back down and charged in between me and the Klink.

"Sir Ivy...do you want to have a go?" I asked. Sir Ivy looked back to me, determination in his eyes, and seriousness in his countenance. I turned back to Colress. "Alright, Colress, I'm making a switch into my starter Pokémon, Sir Ivy. Let's do this!" Sir Ivy charged in, and I realized that he was attacking without me even commanding him! Regardless, he did what I was going to tell him, which was to use Leaf Tornado. The swirl of leaves collided with the Klink, but because of its Steel typing, it wasn't too fazed by it.

"Klink, Gear Grind, once more!" Colress commanded. The Klink spun around again and crashed into Sir Ivy, who took the hit far better than Lilly did. Still, repeated uses of Leaf Tornado wasn't doing much to faze the Klink, but it was getting notably weaker. Gear Grind was still hurting Sir Ivy badly, however, and I needed to get someone to stop the madness before Sir Ivy got too weak again.

"Alright Sir Ivy, that's enough! Go, Tropicana!" Tropicana lurched ahead, now the new target of Klink's Gear Grinds. Colress continued have Klink grind its gears, but this time, Klink's gears malfunctioned and it completely missed Tropicana when it charged.

"Alright, Tropicana, now's your chance! Use Strength!" Tropicana charged forwards towards the Klink and slammed it with a full-body throw. The blow was enough to take out the Klink as it spun around some more before it ceased levitating and collapsed onto the concrete. Colress smiled and recalled his Klink.

"Very good...and very interesting..." Colress muttered. "You are a very interesting young trainer indeed. I can see why Team Plasma has their eye on you."

"Wait, you know about Team Plasma!?" I shouted. Colress solemnly nodded his head.

"Yes...I used to be affiliated with Ghetsis, the former leader of Team Plasma. I was employed by him to make a device that would energize Pokémon. Little did I know he intended to use it for his own evil purposes...in any case, when he fled Unova two years ago, I destroyed the copies and kept only the prototype for myself. I still keep it around with me just in case; for example a group of Crustle further down the path here were in the way, so I used my machine to give them some energy so that they would return to their natural habitat and I could be on my way."

"Oh! Grass! Remember, I said that rocks were in the way..." Bianca remembered. She turned back to Colress. "So, those rocks were actually Crustle?"

"That is true. You two are headed towards Nimbasa...hmm...well, I've taken enough of your time. Grass, it was a pleasure meeting you. I need to hurry along now, I've got an important meeting with Fennel and Amanita. Now then, perhaps we shall meet again." With that, Colress walked away and towards Castelia, his lab coat fluttering in the soft breeze.

"You know Fennel and Amanita?" Bianca asked. "Amanita created the PC system! She, along with Fennel, another scientist, have also created technological innovations that have changed trainers' lives here in Unova." I nodded. I feel like I had heard the name before, but I didn't know they were living in Castelia City. Regardless, with the Crustle already out of the way, Bianca and I headed towards what was called the Desert Resort. It wasn't much of a resort, as the place was plagued with harsh sandstorms, and the place itself wasn't really all that fancy. We were literally rushing through the sand in order to get to the Resort Gate to avoid the sandstorms.

"Yeah, we get sandstorms here all the time," the receptionist at the gate said as we rushed in to get away from the sandstorms. "But if you can make your way to the Relic Castle and can endure the sandstorms, then I hope you enjoy your visit! Make sure you tell me what kinds of treasures you guys find!" At first I thought she was joking, but boy was I wrong; as soon as I entered the vast Desert Resort and pulled out my Dowsing Machine, the thing went crazy, locating items all over the place. Among them were usually these strange colored pieces of glass, referred to as Shards, and sometimes some lost Potions. I did find one rather hefty piece of gold buried in the sand, and I drooled at the prospect of what I could sell it for.

"Hey, Grass! Over here!" Bianca called out. She led me to a staircase that seemed to head underground, but it was almost totally concealed by the sand. "This is the Relic Castle entrance! C'mon, let's go!" I headed down the huge staircase; it was large enough for everyone to fit through, even Tropicana. It was a truly fascinating place; hieroglyphs were sprawled out over the walls, there were sand pits here and there, and while there was some treacherous landscaping in the castle itself, it was a truly interesting place to explore.

"Oh? Come to visit the Relic Castle as well?" a boy said, walking up from the deeper floors. "I'm afraid there really isn't much to see beyond this point; as you can see, sand leaking in from above is slowly burying this castle. What a shame."

"Aww..." Bianca groaned. "I hadn't been here for two years, so I thought that there might be new areas to explore, but I guess time has been cruel..."

"I know, disappointing," the boy said, sticking his hands in his pockets. "Well, not much more I can do here. Hey, you want to battle while we're here?" Bianca urged me to, and I was itching for another battle myself, especially after that one with Colress pumped me up. I sent out Tropicana while my opponent sent out a strange looking bird that I, again, had never seen before. I quickly took out my Pokédex to get more information on the Pokémon.

"Sigilyph, the Avianoid Pokémon. The guardians of an ancient city, they use their psychic power to attack enemies that invade their territory."

"Alrighty then, Tropicana, you got this one?" Tropicana looked back to me and nodded affirmatively. I had to admit, looking into this bird's "eyes" was pretty intimidating, and it didn't appear to speak, so all the more cryptic. Regardless, I had to focus on taking it out. "Alright, Tropicana, use Strength!" Once again, she made a full-bodied tackle against the Sigilyph, who held it back from slamming it into a wall.

"Sigilyph, hit it with Air Cutter!" Sigilyph managed to get Tropicana off of him, and blew sharp gusts of wind that sliced at Tropicana's wings, but she held fast and endured the hit. It was a powerful move though, and I was seriously considering switching, but I wasn't sure whether my other Pokémon would be able to survive many hits from that Sigilyph. I had to stick with my guns and keep pushing ahead with Tropicana.

"Alright, use Strength, one more time!" Tropicana charged forward again. The boy smirked, as if he knew that would happen.

"Sigilyph, use Psybeam!" The Sigilyph rose slightly and fired a beam of psychic energy at the ground; it created a huge sand cloud the obscured our vision. Already, I could tell this wasn't going well.

"Oh no...I can't see with all this sand..." Tropicana groaned, trying to catch Sigilyph somewhere. However, she wouldn't find him, and a huge blast of wind came and knocked all of us off our feet. I was shocked that Sigilyph was able to blast Tropicana so far back, so much that she collided into the wall. What happened next was all like a bad dream; the collision with the wall caused the wall to become unstable and unable to support the roof, which promptly began to collapse!

"Oh shoot!" I screamed out instinctively. The other boy knew exactly what was happening and quickly recalled Sigilyph. "Bianca, Tropicana, everyone, we gotta get out of here! This place is about to fall!"

Bianca, in a panic, began to flee, but she tripped and fell. "Ouch...aaaah!" she screamed; she had sprained her leg! In every sense of the word, this was turning into a nightmare. Rendered nearly immobile, she tried to crawl out, but as pile upon pile of sand began to fall atop us, she couldn't move. The other boy, who was close to the exit, grabbed her hand and carried her out. I was left in a panic, the only one left in the collapsing Relic Castle.

"Everyone, get back in your Pokéballs!" I called out, fumbling through my bag. My shaky hands would grab a hold of the balls, then drop them, and repeat the same sequence, and I eventually had to give up on the endeavor. "Gah, there's no time! Everyone, we're going to have to run out!" I led the way, Sir Ivy and the others following behind me. A few steps away from the staircase, I noticed something was terribly wrong. I spun around; Tropicana, being incredibly weakened, was trudging along, barely able to move.

"Tropicana! Hurry!" I called out desperately. Tropicana gave a somber look to me, and then collapsed, breathing heavily. More sand was piling on her now, and it looked like the whole wall and roof were going to collapse at any minute now. I kept trying to run back to grab her, all the while fumbling through my bag to find Tropicana's Pokéball.

"No..no, no, NO, NO, NO, THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING! TROPICANA!" By this time, she was completely buried under the sand. I was willing to dig her out if I had too, but Sir Ivy was pulling me back. Ms. Pokey, Fassad, and Lilly had all fled the scene in fright, and were with the boy and Bianca.

"Grass! It's not worth it! We have to get out of here, NOW! GRASS!" Sir Ivy kept tugging at my leg and I kept trying to resist; only when the wall and roof finally collapsed over us did I flee in a panic and flew up the staircase. A giant cloud of sand forced its way up the staircase, and I just barely managed to escape its clutches before I collapsed into the sands of the Desert Resort. I was gasping for air, my heart pounding heavily as I coughed up some sand. Sir Ivy gasped, utterly terrified. The others surrounded him, making sure he was okay.

"Grass! Oh my gosh, you're okay...and everybody...did everybody make it out!?" Bianca shouted. She was being attended to by the boy I had been battling, who had a look of guilt on his face. Bianca looked around and finally realized that Tropicana didn't make it out.

"Oh...oh, oh no...it can't be..." Bianca quivered, beginning to weep. I finally managed to stand, and I was going to run back into the Relic Castle to see if Tropicana was okay, but I could only walk so far down the staircase before I was met with a wall of sand. In desperation, I clawed at the sand, digging up mounds of it and hurling it over my shoulder.

"Tropicana! TROPICANA! Can you hear me!? ARE YOU OKAY!?" I shouted as I continued to dig. I don't know what compelled me, or what caused me to go into such a fit. Sir Ivy and the others looked to me in the staircase, trying desperately to salvage their ally. I just kept digging, but the sand I hurled behind me fell down the staircase and settled itself back into the wall of sand. And yet, for at least half an hour, I kept digging.

"TROPICANA!!! TROPICANA!!!" I began to bawl at this point. There was no way I was going to let the first Pokémon I ever captured on my own to go like this. I kept digging, and digging, and digging. My hands began to ache, and my fingernails were full of sand that got caught in there. My tears began to create little drops of wet sand here and there, only for me to dig it up and for new drops to form.

I stood up after a while of digging. "SOMEBODY HELP! My Tropius...Tropicana's stuck in there! I need help digging her out! SOMEBODY! ANYBODY...!" I looked to my team, and all of them had looks of defeat on their faces. Sir Ivy looked to the ground, both Fassad and Lilly were crying their eyes out, and Ms. Pokey, arms folded, looked away in somber resignation. Bianca too was weeping, and the boy I had battled tended to her sprain, wearing an expression of utter guilt. I quivered a moment, and fell backwards onto the sand.

"How could this be...WHY DID THIS HAVE TO HAPPEN...!?" I screamed. I pounded my fist into the sands, the grave of my beloved Tropius.

"But hope...I know that they say that you have nothing if you don't have hope, but it's such a fragile thing...just promise me you won't lose hope. Not in us, not in yourself, not ever."

I sat there, my face drenched in tears, my clothes full of sand. "Hope...Tropicana...you told me never to lose hope...not in you...or in me..." I sobbed a moment before closing my eyes. "But...what happens when the one who tells you not to lose hope...loses hope...there just isn't any hope for me then...isn't there..."


R.I.P. Tropicana the Tropius
Level 4 - Level 26

The Crew    
  • Sir Ivy - Servine - ♂ // Level 28
  • Met 7/3/2013, at Aspertia City, at Level 5
  • Moves: Leech Seed // Growth // Leaf Tornado // Return
  • Held Item: None
  • Ability: Overgrow
  • Nature: Quirky (neutral)
  • Characteristic: Likes to relax.
  • Changes in this Part: Gained 2 Levels
  • Ms. Pokey - Cacnea - ♀ // Level 26
  • Met 7/4/2013, at Floccesy Ranch, at Level 5
  • Moves: Venoshock // Leech Seed // Absorb // Sand Attack
  • Held Item: None
  • Ability: Sand Veil
  • Nature: Naive (+Spd, -SpD)
  • Characteristic: Strongly defiant.
  • Changes in this Part: Gained 2 Levels
  • Fassad - Foongus - ♂ // Level 25
  • Met 7/6/2013, at Virbank Complex, at Level 11
  • Moves: Mega Drain // Growth // Faint Attack // Venoshock
  • Held Item: None
  • Ability: Effect Spore
  • Nature: Timid (+Spd, -Atk)
  • Characteristic: Likes to fight.
  • Changes in this Part: Gained 2 Levels
  • Lilly - Petilil - ♀ // Level 27
  • Met 7/8/2013, at Castelia City, at Level 15
  • Moves: Growth // Leech Seed // Sleep Powder // Giga Drain
  • Held Item: None
  • Ability: Own Tempo
  • Nature: Hardy (neutral)
  • Characteristic: Alert to sounds.
  • Changes in this Part: Gained 3 Levels, learned Giga Drain

The Reserves    
None

The Fallen    

  • Tropicana - Tropius - ♀
  • Met 7/3/2013, at Route 19, at Level 4
  • Died 7/15/2013, at Relic Castle, at Level 26
  • Moves: Strength // Gust // Growth // Razor Leaf
  • Ability: Solar Power
  • Nature: Gentle (+SpD, -Def)
  • Characteristic: Impetuous and silly.

Current Location: Join Avenue


Click here for the systematic version.

Last edited by GrassPokemonFTW; July 16, 2013 at 12:19:25 PM.
  #10  
Old July 18, 2013, 10:43:16 AM
GrassPokemonFTW's Avatar
GrassPokemonFTW GrassPokemonFTW is offline
Kyurem
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: [INSERT GENERIC LOCATION HERE]
Posts: 2,222
Default

Chapter 9: Dark Illusions

By the time I came to, it was nearly sunset. After finally willing myself up from the sand, I found Tropicana's Pokéball, buried it into the sands, and pushed the mounds of sand I pulled out back into the pit, burying the Pokéball. I wiped away the rest of my tears, and I walked back up the staircase to the surface. Bianca had recovered by then, and the boy who battled me still had a look of guilt on his face. When I came out, he stood straight up, stammering. I put my hand up to show that he didn't need to say anything. There was nothing he could say, and nothing to be said; Tropicana was dead, and there was no changing it.

"...Bianca, I'm leaving for Nimbasa. I'm going alone. Don't follow me." I then went along on my way, ignoring the sand building up in my shoes and in my shirt. I was sweaty all over, and the sand hitting against my skin was painful, but at the time, I felt too much emotional pain to feel the physical. Sir Ivy looked up to me with a worrisome face.

"Grass, I know the loss of Tropicana is hard. But we have to move on. I feel bad too...I'm the proverbial leader of this team, yet I wasn't able to do anything for her... " Sir Ivy comforted. "I feel like I've failed as the team's mentor, and that I could have done something to prevent Tropicana's death. But even so, I...it's hard, but we have to get on with our lives and not dwell on it." I nodded, though it was hard to take my mind off of Tropicana, as the whole incident kept replaying itself over and over in my mind. I noticed he was carrying some strange orange stone in his hands. As if he sensed that I was curious about it, he handed it to me. "It's a Sun Stone. While you were...resting...in the pit, I found it in the sand. I hear that this stone can evolve certain Pokémon."

I saw one of these before. I recalled my studies and remembered that this stone would be able to evolve Lilly into a Lilligant. I thought about it for a moment, then turned to Lilly, who was sulking behind me. I knelt down and handed the stone to her.

"Lilly...I'm sure the loss of Tropicana is hard. We need to become strong...and I think this Stone will help you do just that. But remember...once you evolve, there's no going back. You want to evolve?" Lilly stared at the stone for a while and thought of the prospect. Eventually she nodded and touched the stone, at which time she began to glow much like Sir Ivy did when he evolved. She starting growing arms, and grew much taller, and the shrubbery on her head turned into a flower. She had evolved into a Lilligant.

"Oh...my...this is great!" Lilly shouted, looking at her new form. She hopped over to Sir Ivy. "Look! Look at me!" Sir Ivy smiled, scratching his head. "Alright! You're the second of us to evolve now!" Looking at my Pokémon, I felt like they were taking the loss of Tropicana very well. Fassad, the weakest-hearted of all of us, continued to hop along, albeit with a long face. Ms. Pokey went along just fine, Lilly was happy with her evolution, and Sir Ivy has always had a steel resolve.

"Guys...I'm sorry. I really shouldn't be so upset...if you guys aren't, I'd better suck it up and get going," I gave all my Pokémon a great group hug, and when I let go, I looked back to the entrance of Relic Castle. "Goodbye, Tropicana. You'll be missed...and your sacrifice won't be forgotten."

Nimbasa was actually only a short walk away, and it was almost like a miniature Castelia City. There seemed to be a lot of fun things to do in the city, the giant Ferris Wheel catching my eye first. I knew that it was a little too soon to be having fun, but my Pokémon were far from tired. I turned to them and suggested a training detour, as I remember Burgh saying that there's a Gym Leader here. I wanted to be thoroughly prepared so that another death was out of mind. I headed to the west of Nimbasa first, where there was a short street. It was awfully crowded, though, as there seemed to be a commotion of trainer battles going on there.

"Hey, are you here to see the heartbreaker too?" a woman asked me as I tried to peer over the crowd. She let me in to see what the commotion was all about. There was a thuggish-looking guy on a motorcycle challenging a man to a battle. He kept casting a glance to a girl to his right, but she didn't seem all to amused with him. The man had a Pokéball clenched in his hands.

"I'm a heartbreaker..." the guy on the motorcycle murmured, just barely audible over the sound of his motorcycle's engine. "My name...Charles." He revved his engine excitedly, while the other man looked disgusted with him. He sent out his Pokémon, a Sigilyph. With flashbacks of Tropicana's death at the hands of a Sigilyph running through my head, I inched out of the crowd to do some solitary training. The others looked ready to go, mostly out of the need to get Tropicana's passing out of their minds, and back onto scheduled practice. I wouldn't get far, as Lilly was wandering around when she and I both heard a voice coming from the bushes.

"Hey! Lilly, is that you!?" Lilly turned over her shoulder, and stared into a bush that was rustling a bit. From the small bush hopped out a Cottonee, who oddly seemed to have the same eyes as Lilly. Lilly jumped up in surprise.

"Oh! Cirrus!? What are you doing all the way out here!?" Lilly gasped, kneeling down to get a look at her. Cirrus smiled and hopped into Lilly's arms, and cuddled into her loving embrace. Lilly stood up and walked over to Sir Ivy, who was practicing a new move he was trying to master, but he couldn't quite get a hold of it. Sir Ivy turned around and saw the Cottonee.

"Oh, hello, Lilly. Who might this be?" Sir Ivy said, looking into the Cottonee's eyes. "Hey, you two have the same eyes."

Lilly and Cirrus both blushed a deep red and seemed flustered. "O-oh...um, th-this is Cirrus. She's my twin sister. Fraternal, of course." She looked down to Cirrus, who was staring deep into Sir Ivy's eyes. This seemed like a repeat of what happened when Sir Ivy and Lilly first met at Castelia City. However, something was different. I couldn't quite put my finger on it though; but something in Sir Ivy's reaction to Cirrus was different.

"By the way, Cirrus," Lilly said, looking to her sister. "What are you doing out here on Route 5? Why aren't you with everyone else at Pinwheel Forest?" Cirrus, finally breaking eye contact with Sir Ivy, looked up to Lilly.

"Oh...that's because...well, these creepy guys in black outfits have overrun the place. It wasn't safe anymore, so we split up. I ended up over here, but I haven't the faintest idea where mother and father are by now..." Lilly seemed a bit worried, but she smiled after a while. "Well, it's mother and father. They probably got out safe."

I walked over to them. "So you're Cirrus? Nice to meet you! I'm Grass, Lilly's Trainer." Cirrus looked at me, and seemed to be a little intimidated, so she jumped out of Lilly's arms and behind Sir Ivy. Sir Ivy blushed a bit and tried to move Cirrus away, but she clung onto him fast. I scratched my head and wondered; she seemed to be a lot like Fassad in the timid sense, but she sure was attached to Sir Ivy for some reason. I couldn't possibly tell why. Regardless, Cirrus blushed a deep red and kept hidden behind Sir Ivy.

"Cirrus, it's just Grass! He's taken good care of me and the others; and look! It was thanks to him and Sir Ivy there that I got a chance to evolve!" Cirrus opened one eye and glanced over to me, but she quickly flinched and held onto Sir Ivy again.

"Well, I wouldn't blame her, Grass is pretty repulsive to look at," Ms. Pokey joked, walking into the conversation. I was already just about set to kick her out of it, but Lilly and Sir Ivy laughed enough that I didn't want to seem like a jerk. Sir Ivy looked down to Cirrus, still clung to his side.

"Cirrus, if you would like, how about you join us on our travels? We could always have more friends to join us." Sir Ivy outstretched his hand. "Well? Would you...care to join us?" I was surprised; Sir Ivy was being especially friendly to this stranger. Cirrus nodded fast, but she refused to be anywhere near me for whatever reason.

NEW MEMBER!
Pokémon Sprite 546
Cirrus the Cottonee (♀)
Met 7/16/2013, at Route 5, at Level 23
Quiet Nature, Alert to sounds.
Ability: Prankster // Moves: Mega Drain // Cotton Spore // Razor Leaf // PoisonPowder

"Well, Cirrus," Lilly said. "I guess you're part of the team now! And as your sister, I'll do everything I can to prote--"

"WATCH OUT!"

I spun around instinctively. The battle that I had been ignoring all along had suddenly gone out of control; the Sigilyph that I saw before was flying around erratically, the eye at the top of its head turning red, then to its original blue, then back to red again. It began flapping its wings over and over, releasing slashes of wind everywhere. Pedestrians fled the scene, and Charles, the heartbreaker, lost his thuggish countenance as he fled the scene on his motorcycle, screaming and wailing in fear. The Sigilyph spun towards us, and let out another slice of air. The slash flew straight towards Sir Ivy and Cirrus, whose backs were turned to the Sigilyph. Lilly spun around and caught sight of the slash headed towards them.

"Sir Ivy...!" Lilly shouted, almost as if in slow motion. She pushed the two out of the way, knocking them over toward the other end of the road, but she paid the price; the slash of wind caught her right in the stomach, and before I knew it, there was a catastrophe lying before my eyes. The slice had air had cut through her like a knife; her blood spilled out like cascades all over the road as she collapsed onto the ground, her blood spilling out.

"L-lilly...!?" I called out, almost breathless. I couldn't believe my eyes. I didn't want to see what I was seeing, and my mind kept telling me that it was all an illusion. Sir Ivy stood up, his arm scratched, but nothing more. His eyes bulged out when he saw Lilly collapsed, her blood spewing profusely out into the road. Bystanders stood there, shocked speechless, no longer frightened of the Sigilyph that had suddenly calmed down. Cirrus also got up, and her reaction was horrifying. She stared at her sister's lifeless form, then to the blood that slowly spilled out of her stomach and her mouth, and finally she looked to her face. Lilly's face was pale and unmoving, her mouth slightly ajar and her eyes full of tears. Cirrus hopped back, and I saw tears beginning to flow down her face.

"NOOOOO! LILLY! NOOOOOOOO!" Cirrus screamed as she fell backwards and sobbed. As if on cue, I jumped into action and ran to my fallen companion, and tried to stop the bleeding. Sir Ivy stepped forward as well, but I could see in his eyes the same aura that he held when Tropicana was buried in the Relic Castle. I saw his eyes, and I saw defeat, but I wasn't willing to accept it.

"SIR IVY! NO! I'M NOT GIVING UP...NOT THIS TIME!" I turned back to Lilly. "Lilly...you're going to be just fine...you'll be okay...SOMEBODY, CALL THE DOCTOR!" I looked to the crowd that had been watching the match, and they all stood there like statues. Some looked away, some pretended not to listen, and some stared. They all had looks of defeat, however. I continued my efforts regardless. I kept trying to control the bleeding, but the blood spilled through my hands, staining my clothes.

"Lilly...please, speak to me! I know you're in there!" I began hugging her tight, even though I knew that I was going to get blood all over me. Sir Ivy and Cirrus came over, while Ms. Pokey stayed behind, trying to control Fassad's fit of crying. After a minute of trying to resuscitate her, she finally let out a cough. A bloody cough, but nonetheless, a cough. Sir Ivy was shocked that she was even alive, and Cirrus quickly pushed me out of the way to get to talk to her sister.

"Lilly! Lilly, are you okay!? LILLY!" Cirrus shouted. Lilly's eyes opened and locked with her, and she gave a weak smile.

"Cirrus...I'm...sorry...but I can't...travel with you guys..."

Cirrus began sobbing angry sobs. "What do you mean!? You're alive! You'll be fine, Lilly, someone's going to come and take care of you...and...and..."

Lilly put her hand up to Cirrus's mouth. "Cirrus...don't...don't worry about me...I'm...happy...that I got...to see you...and save...Sir Ivy...before...the end..."

Sir Ivy bowed his head in defeat. Cirrus kept trying to convince Lilly that she was going to be fine, but as her body kept losing more and more blood, she got weaker and weaker and her face more and more pale. Her arms lay limp on the blood-covered ground. Sir Ivy turned to the Sigilyph, who had suddenly become quiet and docile. Sir Ivy suddenly produced a blade in his hands, and charged at the Sigilyph with it.

"You...YOU CRETIN! YOU SON OF A--!" Sir Ivy sliced and diced at the Sigilyph, inflicting massive damage to him. His trainer quickly recalled the Sigilyph and ran to me.

"Young man, your Servine is angry---!"

"AND HE HAS A DAMN RIGHT TO BE!" I shouted back at him, not looking him in the eye as I kept trying to stop the blood, but it was like an endless stream that kept pouring through the cracks of my hand. Cirrus wept like a child, clinging onto Lilly's arm. She kept trying to talk to her, to keep her alive, to keep her from slipping away from her. But it was too late. Lilly was no longer speaking, nor was she breathing. I stepped away from her lifeless body, looked at my bloodied hands, and knelt, sobbing, on the ground. I vowed to myself that I wouldn't let another life slip, and here I was, only hours later, losing another companion, another friend, under the same circumstances. Ms. Pokey held her hands to her mouth and gasped, knowing that it was the end. Fassad wailed, his tears creating a puddle of their own. Sir Ivy, calmed down after his fit of blind rage, realized that he had learned the power he was training himself to learn. He cried too, not wanting to have become stronger in his rage.

After a while, the doctor arrived after an anonymous tipster had called the authorities to take Lilly away. They said they wanted to speak with me later tonight concerning the death of Tropicana and, now, of Lilly. I nodded, complying to their demands if I were allowed some time alone first. They were understanding and allowed me to have the rest of the day alone, and would have me in the Pokémon Center office tomorrow. I gathered my team up, and left the route for the Pokémon Center. Cirrus even followed, but was clinging to Sir Ivy as usual and was weeping the entire way.


R.I.P. Lilly the Lilligant
Level 15 - Level 27

As I walked into my room in which I would be spending the night, the depressed gazes of passerby were all aimed at me. I felt them, as if they were piercing my skin and through to my heart, wringing out the pain of my loss. I began to walk faster, subconsciously wanting to escape the eyes of humanity. Once I arrived at the room the Pokémon Center provided me, completely silent. Sir Ivy was consoling Cirrus while Ms. Pokey sat silent, facing the wall, and Fassad was moping in the corner. I looked at my hands, still somewhat stained with Lilly's blood. No matter how much I washed them, they still seemed to red with blood. I shook my head. How could I have lost two Pokémon in the same day? What could I be doing wrong? Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Sir Ivy and Cirrus, and I listened to their conversation.

"Cirrus...are you going to be okay? I am sure that this is tough for you...but we are all here for you. As a team." Cirrus looked into Sir Ivy's eyes, her own full of tears and mourning. I began to weep, seeing her eyes so full of tears; it reminded me too much of Lilly's eyes when she died. Cirrus nestled into Sir Ivy's arms, crying deep sobs into his chest.

"Oh...Lilly...why did you have to die..." she kept saying, her whole body shaking. "I'm...I'm so afraid..."

Sir Ivy nodded. "I cannot blame you. I would be afraid too...but Lilly died rescuing us, she died on her own terms. So nothing can be done about it. I know I went after the Sigilyph in blind rage...and looking back, I now know I should not have. But listen, Cirrus...if you are too afraid to go on with us, then nothing is stopping you. You can return from whence you came, and live a peaceful life without danger. That is a decision I cannot make for you."

Cirrus looked down, her eyes still glossy and shining. Sir Ivy stood up and looked to Ms. Pokey, who seemed to be replaying the situation in her head over again, and Fassad, who was still horrified from seeing two deaths in a day; this one, however, struck a chord, as unlike Tropicana, Lilly died right before our very eyes. The image, her body flying through the air with the open gash in her stomach, was plastered in my mind, and I couldn't comprehend anything else.

I needed time away. I got up and told my Pokémon that they were to stay inside the room and to wait for me, as I was going to take a walk alone. Sir Ivy tried to follow me out, but I wouldn't let him.

"Grass, you...ugh...like I told Cirrus, you cannot beat yourself up over this. Neither Tropicana's death nor Lilly's death was your fault. And had the Sigilyph hit me and Cirrus, well, you would have lost both of us. Lilly sacrificed herself to save us, on her own terms. That's something we have to bear; but no matter what anyone says to you, or what you may believe, the truth remains that it was not your fault, Grass. We protect each other to the end; that's the only thing we must uphold as Pokémon." Sir Ivy then turned away from me and continued to console Cirrus, who was still bawling in despair. I hated to give Cirrus such an awful time just at the beginning of our adventure, but there was nothing more I could do. There was nothing more I could do. That line just summarizes my helplessness.

I left the Pokémon Center with a heavy heart. I didn't want anything to do with the flashy lights of Nimbasa City, so I promptly went the opposite direction of Route 5, to Route 16. I walked off the paved road, so that I wouldn't be disturbed in my attempts to flee society, and so that other trainers wouldn't mistake me for one and challenge me while I had no Pokémon with me. I don't know what compelled me to keep walking farther off the beaten path, but I kept walking forward, my mind pressed on other matters than getting lost.

"Hey, what do we have here?" a voice called out. I didn't even turn to the direction the voice came from, my mind completely occupied with other matters. The bushes rustled as a Pokémon came out, and chased after me. "Hey! Don't ignore me! Hey! Hey! Hey!" I tried ignoring his obnoxious voice which sounded a lot like Burgh's. Still, this particular Pokémon was unusually persistent, and continued after me. After a while I lost my nerves and spun around.

"LOOK, I'M NOT IN THE MOOD RIGHT NOW!" I screamed, startling the nearby Pidove into flying away. I stood face-to-face with a Sunflora, who stood completely motionless as I stared him down. I eventually loosened up and turned away from him to continue my solitary walk. Or so I thought; as soon as I turned, he began to follow me again, shouting his obnoxious "Hey!" over and over. I spun around again a few steps later.

"Listen, I just want to be alone, can't you see that!?" I shouted. The Sunflora, a perpetual smile plastered onto his face, made a waving motion with his hand...er...leaf.

"Hey, sorry man. Didn't mean to cause you any trouble. I just thought, you seemed kinda down, so I might go ahead and try to cheer ya up!" he said cheerfully. I had to admit, his cheeriness was a nice change of pace, but I wasn't interested in happiness at this time. All I desired was solitude.

"I...I appreciate that, but it's not what I need right now. All I need right now is to be...is to be alone."

The Sunflora nodded. "I see. But is that truly what you need?"

"Yes, I need to be alo--" Somehow, the Sunflora's words made me think about what it was I really needed. Suddenly, the Sunflora waved his hands...I mean, leaves...and pointed them right at me.

"Aha! You see? If you have to think about it, then is it something you truly, utterly need?" the Sunflora asked. I thought about it; this crazy, raving sunflower Pokémon might have had a point. Regardless, the pain of losing Tropicana, and now Lilly, was burning a huge hole in my heart.

"Now, why don't you sit down and tell uncle Sunshine all about it," the Sunflora said, sitting down and patting the grass, as if motioning for me to sit with him. I had a strong urge to just hightail and leave him there, but after what he had said before, I honestly couldn't see why I shouldn't. I sat down with him, and I began to tell him about the incident at the Relic Castle, and the incident at Route 5. I told him both about Tropicana and Lilly, and how they had been my partners and how they ultimately perished, oddly enough, both due to Sigilyph. The Sunflora periodically nodded, and after I was done with my story he stood up.

"Well, see you later!" he called back as he turned around and proceeded to leave. I stumbled up and caught him back.

"Woah, there...you're just going to leave!? Now that I've told you everything, you're just going to leave!?"

The Sunflora nodded. "Well, I asked you to tell me all about it. And now that we have, there is nothing more to do. You and I, we never said anything about what would happen afterwards, did we?" He gave me a little wink, his smile still present.

"I...I guess we didn't," I said, scratching my forehead. I couldn't even begin to understand this guy. "Well, isn't it sort of rude, you know? I kind of expected a common courtesy..."

The Sunflora laughed. "Oh, you are silly. What can you expect from a total stranger like me? You're too trusting, man. But, I guess I'll forgive you and give my two cents on the whole situation. The way I see it, your Pokémon...Sir Ivy, you said, right? Yeah, I think he's right. You can't take the blame for whatever happened back there. Just 'cause you're their trainer doesn't mean you're totally liable. But there's something more suspicious about all this. You said that both of them were ultimately killed by a Sigilyph attack, right? Y'know, Sigilyph, regardless of how silly they look, are actually quite timid by nature."

I turned my head. That's not what I remembered; before it calmed down, the Sigilyph on Route 5 seemed to be full of malevolence and anger.

"My guess is something startled them," the Sunflora continued. "Some higher power is disrupting the air and scaring them into attacking with full force. I don't know what, but if it keeps up, I'd bet...well, you'll see for yourself." The Sunflora began to turn away and leave again, but I called after him again to stop. He turned around and smiled.

"Oh, what now? I do hope you're not going to throw another task my way." I sighed, and looked him in the eyes again.

"Listen...you seem to know a lot, regardless of how you put yourself out. And...I know this probably seems a little strange, but I'd be honored if you joined my team."

The Sunflora let out a huge laugh. "Join you? I don't think I'd want that. Getting killed by Sigilyph just ain't my thing, you know?"

I grinned, catching him in his own trap. "You think, or you know?"

The Sunflora grinned back. "Now you're catching on!"

I laughed, for the first time in a while. It felt good to get that laugh out. "Well, what's your name, buddy?"

The Sunflora laughed again. "I already told you~!" I thought back in our conversation a while back, and I did realize he mentioned his name once, though a little discreetly and in a way that made me miss it.

"Well, Sunshine, welcome to the team!"

NEW MEMBER!
Pokémon Sprite 192
Sunshine the Sunflora (♂)
Met 7/16/2013, at Route 16, at Level 21
Bashful Nature, Strong willed.
Ability: Solar Power // Moves: Mega Drain // Leech Seed // Razor Leaf // Worry Seed

"In any case...you'd better head out of here. Why'd you come walking out here? You do realize where you are, right?" Sunshine called after me, as I began to head deeper in the direction I was initially headed. To be honest, I really didn't know where I was going; my mourning heart and mind were just guiding me in a straight direction, but were totally unconscious of my movements. I turned around to head back the way I came, but I found that the way I came was suddenly blocked by a mass of vines.

"Wait...wasn't I just on a straight path?" I wondered. Sunshine looked to me and gave a cheeky grin.

"Well, this isn't good," Sunshine said cheerily. "It seems we've stumbled into Lostlorn Forest." I couldn't understand how he could be so cheery at a time like this, when we were so utterly lost. I didn't even know where Lostlorn Forest was, much less what it was. I kept turning around to find an open path, but it seemed like I was thoroughly surrounded.

"What? Where are...Lostlorn Forest? I've never heard of such a place."

"Well, then you're going to have a bad time."

"What?" I turned to where Sunshine was, but he had disappeared. "Where...what's going on!? Where are we!? What is this place!?"

"Tch, tch, so many questions, so few answers. No wonder they've perished."

It wasn't Sunshine's voice anymore. It was a deep, dark voice full of evil intent. But, surrounded by vines, there was nowhere where it could have come from. I was trapped, stuck in a small area with a thicket of vines surrounding me on every side.

"Who are you!? Show yourself!" I called out. As if on cue, the vines began to slither like they had a life of their own, and started to reach out towards me. "Wait...no! Get away from me!"

"So indecisive. So insecure."

"What do you want from me!?"

"Life."

I twisted and turned, desperate to find an exit from this prison. The vines continued to advance on me, and I couldn't do a thing but stand there, at the mercy of some unknown force, coming towards me with a wont for destruction. The vines approached my legs, and began to coil around them tight. I was trapped. Suddenly, I began to see a light above me, one so bright it was almost blinding. I tried to get a closer look, but the light was too bright for me to look at directly.

"Why do you squint so? Are we so ugly? You can't bear to look at us?" the voice teased. The voice had suddenly sounded like it split into two tones. Was there now two of them? They had referred to themselves as "we"...

"Do we frighten you? Do we scare you? Do we make you weep and mourn and cry? It should. For your existence led to our demise."

The light suddenly turned black and enveloped me. I could see little distorted silhouettes off in the distance, but at first, they were hard to make out. They began to approach me, and in terror, I tried to flee, but the vines that had been coiling me had come up to my waist and had tied my arms, rendering me immobile.

"Stop! STOP! Sunshine, where are you!? HELP!"

"Salvation shall not come to those who sin," came the voice, far darker than before. "We saw not salvation, for we aided you. And neither shall everyone else you hold dear..."

The world became entirely dark, but I still felt the force of the vines tying me, and progressively getting tighter. On the horizon, I saw images, distorted and monochrome, of my Pokémon; and suddenly, they disappeared and were replaced with grotesque, corpse-like versions of their former selves. Sir Ivy, eyes gouged and body rotting. Ms. Pokey, arms amputated and bloody smile. Fassad, consumed by scavenging birds. Even Cirrus and Sunshine were not exempt from the wrath of this menacing spirit. Finally, after all that, the silhouettes I saw before became clear; they were shadowy, ghost-like forms of Tropicana and Lilly. The looked at me somberly, but then their frowns became grotesque smiles as they advanced towards me. The vines that entangled me became infinitely tighter, and I felt like my body was going to become squeezed and crushed.

"You'll pay dearly for your crimes...you'll pay...you'll pay...y...o...u...w...i...l...l...p...a...y..."

I had closed my eyes in fear, but the voice had stopped for a while. I opened my eyes again, and I found myself on the path I was on before. I rubbed my head, which was pounding with an indescribable pain, and felt my hands and legs which were tied up before. They didn't seem to have done any damage to me.

"Oh, he awakens. Good, good." Sunshine appeared from the corner of my eye, and I turned to him, thankful to see something good for once. He gave a hearty smile. "You know, I don't know what you were doing in Lostlorn Forest, but you sure went crazy, at least, that's what this guy says." He stepped aside, and from around the corner, a Pansage, looking very serious, folded his arms and nodded in greeting. He didn't seem to be much of a talker.

"Hey," the Pansage said, after a moment of silence. "Check your bag. You never know what you might have lost while you were in that delusion." I hesitated; everything that had just happened--was it all a dream? An illusion conjured by some malevolent spirit? I wasn't sure what to make of it, but I checked my bag regardless. I hadn't lost anything, but I had, for some reason or other, shoved a bunch of rocks into my bag while I was out. They were mostly all ordinary rocks, while one had a leaf shape on it.

The Pansage looked into my bag and then to me. "Seems like you got more than I expected out of that delusion. Regardless, it's not safe here. Something...something is disturbing the Pokémon out here in the Lostlorn Forest. Those who have been immune to the delusions caused by the forest are now starting to lose it. I can no longer stay here." He then folded his arms. "So, I'll follow you. I hear that you are travelling around the region, are you not? I'll accompany you while I look for a new home."

This was a first; before, I had to convince others to join me. This one was just willing to joing me anyway. I figured that the more the merrier, so after digging through my rocks, I found a Pokéball and officially made him a part of the team.

NEW MEMBER!
Pokémon Sprite 511
Broccoli the Pansage (♂)
Met 7/16/2013, at Lostlorn Forest, at Level 21
Adamant Nature, A little quick tempered.
Ability: Gluttony // Moves: Vine Whip // Fury Swipes // Leech Seed // Bite

Sunshine grinned. "Well, I guess that's that, then! We'd better get these rocks out of your bag, though...wouldn't be good to carry unnecessary stuff." As the three of us got to work carrying the rocks out, the leaf shaped rock that I had tossed aside became the interest of the Pansage, who was named Broccoli. He looked at it curiously, and then picked it up. He then became cloaked in the light that I had seen with Sir Ivy and Lilly. His form changed, and he had become a much more buff, stronger-looking Pokémon. He looked at his new physique with minimal interest.

"Hm. Seems like I could get used to this."

Sunshine shrieked. "OH MY~! Such a slice of beefcake you've become! Oh...erm, well, we'd better finish up the job." The three of us continued to pull rocks out of the bag, and once we were done, we began to make our way back to Nimbasa City. I thought about the delusion I had, but I thought about what Sir Ivy had said as well. If Lostlorn Forest was known to give delusions, then mine particularly preyed on my fear of losing more of my friends to battles. I had to steel my resolve, and soon, or else the same tragedies might occur again...

The Crew    
  • Sir Ivy - Servine - ♂ // Level 32
  • Met 7/3/2013, at Aspertia City, at Level 5
  • Moves: Leech Seed // Growth // Leaf Blade // Return
  • Held Item: None
  • Ability: Overgrow
  • Nature: Quirky (neutral)
  • Characteristic: Likes to relax.
  • Changes in this Part: Gained 4 Levels, learned Leaf Blade
  • Ms. Pokey - Cacnea - ♀ // Level 30
  • Met 7/4/2013, at Floccesy Ranch, at Level 5
  • Moves: Venoshock // Leech Seed // Faint Attack // Sand Attack
  • Held Item: None
  • Ability: Sand Veil
  • Nature: Naive (+Spd, -SpD)
  • Characteristic: Strongly defiant.
  • Changes in this Part: Gained 4 Levels, learned Faint Attack
  • Fassad - Foongus - ♂ // Level 29
  • Met 7/6/2013, at Virbank Complex, at Level 11
  • Moves: Mega Drain // Growth // Faint Attack // Venoshock
  • Held Item: Eviolite
  • Ability: Effect Spore
  • Nature: Timid (+Spd, -Atk)
  • Characteristic: Likes to fight.
  • Changes in this Part: Gained 4 Levels, learned Giga Drain
  • Cirrus - Cottonee - ♀ // Level 28
  • Met 7/16/2013, at Route 5, at Level 23
  • Moves: Giga Drain // Charm // Razor Leaf // PoisonPowder
  • Held Item: None
  • Ability: Prankster
  • Nature: Quiet (+SpA, -Spd)
  • Characteristic: Alert to sounds.
  • Changes in this Part: Obtained, gained 5 Levels, learned Giga Drain and Charm
  • Sunshine - Sunflora - ♂ // Level 29
  • Met 7/16/2013, at Route 16, at Level 21
  • Moves: Giga Drain // Leech Seed // Razor Leaf // Petal Dance
  • Held Item: Miracle Seed
  • Ability: Solar Power
  • Nature: Bashful (neutral)
  • Characteristic: Strong willed.
  • Changes in this Part: Obtained, gained 8 Levels, learned Giga Drain and Petal Dance
  • Broccoli - Simisage - ♂ // Level 31
  • Met 7/16/2013, at Lostlorn Forest, at Level 21
  • Moves: Seed Bomb // Acrobatics // Leech Seed // Bite
  • Held Item: Scope Lens
  • Ability: Gluttony
  • Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
  • Characteristic: A little quick tempered.
  • Changes in this Part: Obtained, gained 10 Levels, learned Seed Bomb and Acrobatics, evolved

The Reserves    
None

The Fallen    

  • Tropicana - Tropius - ♀
  • Met 7/3/2013, at Route 19, at Level 4
  • Died 7/15/2013, at Relic Castle, at Level 26
  • Moves: Strength // Gust // Growth // Razor Leaf
  • Ability: Solar Power
  • Nature: Gentle (+SpD, -Def)
  • Characteristic: Impetuous and silly.
  • Lilly - Lilligant - ♀
  • Met 7/8/2013, at Castelia City, at Level 15
  • Died 7/16/2013, at Route 5, at Level 27
  • Moves: Growth // Leech Seed // Sleep Powder // Giga Drain
  • Ability: Own Tempo
  • Nature: Hardy (neutral)
  • Characteristic: Alert to sounds.

Current Location: Nimbasa City


Click here for the systematic version.

Last edited by GrassPokemonFTW; July 18, 2013 at 10:44:09 AM.
  #11  
Old July 24, 2013, 11:37:26 PM
GrassPokemonFTW's Avatar
GrassPokemonFTW GrassPokemonFTW is offline
Kyurem
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: [INSERT GENERIC LOCATION HERE]
Posts: 2,222
Default

Chapter 10, Part 1: Trial by Fire

I awoke that night, shivering from the cold. I wasn't sure where I was; my memory upon leaving Lostlorn Forest left me in a bit of a blur. Something happened, though...something that I wanted to forget. Whatever it was I wanted to forget, I wanted to remember now, as it might explain what was going on. I was lying down on the couch in someone's apartment room, and I was completely unfamiliar with my surroundings. I looked outside from a large window on the opposite side of the room; there was a strange orange glow that seemed to undulate, get smaller, and then explode in size again. It was a strangely mesmerizing glow.

Looking around, I saw that my Pokémon were there too, including the ones that were at the Pokémon Center. I knew I couldn't be at the Center, as this room was completely different from the one I had. I felt my pocket; the key was still there. Sir Ivy was lying down in the corner, resting. Ms. Pokey sat next to him, as if attending to him. She had a strange, worried look on her face that I had hardly ever seen come from Ms. Pokey. Sunshine sat, his eyes closed and leaves folded as he carried a still weeping Fassad. Broccoli paced around the room, his eyes on the floor.

The place was awfully silent. I could sense that they knew I had awoken, but their eyes would not meet with mine, though I tried to make signs that I didn't know what was happening. The sheer power of the silence in the atmosphere made me unable to speak, but I suppose that the silence did tell me one thing that need not be spoken; something had happened. As I began to wonder what might had happened, I noticed Cirrus wasn't in the room. I searched around, and as I did, the orange illumination kept catching my eye. My brain was trying to tell me something, but I still didn't understand. As I searched, I kept being tempted to look at the glowing light.

At a length I fell to my curiosity and opened the window. The late night breeze flowed in, but it was a smoky and warm wind. I waved my hand in front of my face, as if to repel the smokiness, and looked outside. In the darkness of the night, I heard panicked voices and the sound of sirens blaring. I followed the lights of fire trucks to the orange glow. It continued to expand and contract, like a balloon being inflated and deflated. I leaned out to get a better look, but the angle of the building I was in blocked my view. I did catch one thing, however; at one point, the light expanded immensely, and I caught the sight of a little wisp of flame. It was only for a split second, but it was enough to tell me that there was a fire.

I leaned back into the room and shut the window. I still couldn't keep my mind off the undulating glow, however. I sat back down on the couch, my head pounding in pain from confusion. Sunshine set Fassad down on the floor, letting him hop away to check on Sir Ivy, and he approached me, his trademark smile lighting up the room.

"Hey, tough guy. How's it going? I'm sure that you don't feel too well right now, huh?" He patted me on the back and dusted my shirt off. I didn't notice it before, but some parts of my shirt seemed burnt off. Same with the jeans I had been wearing, but to a lesser degree. What had I been involved in? And did it have anything to do with that fire?

Sunshine stood up and walked away. "It's tough, I know. But it's all in the past now. We can't change what's done, but we can change the future for the better. So don't give up hope. That's what your old friend, Tropicana, said, was it not?" I nodded, though I wasn't sure what he meant. But something was up. I began to hear voices, notably of a girl, from the room next to mine.

"Yes...oh, I see...I understand...oh? No, he's still...yes...I'll tell him...thank you very much...yes, I will...alright. Thanks for your help." Suddenly, the door leading to the next room opened, and from it emerged a girl about my age. She seemed a little somber, but her countenance seemed cheery. Behind her, I saw Hugh.

"Oh, Hugh! If you could explain--" I tried to get up to talk to him face-to-face, but a sudden sharp pain ran right through my arm and I stumbled back down onto the couch. I grasped at my arm, which seemed to almost burn with intense pain. Hugh stepped forward as if to help me, but then stopped and turned towards Sir Ivy. He was still asleep, but Ms. Pokey and Fassad were both surrounding him, seemingly worried.

"Don't move too fast, the burns haven't gotten time to heal."

I looked at him incredulously. "Burns? What're you..." I glanced at my arm, and recoiled when I saw how red and singed it seemed. I felt it, and just the touch from my hand sent a sharp pain up my arm, a pain so powerful it almost made me faint. The girl approached me with a bottle of some sort in her hands. She squeezed out some of the gel from in it, and slathered it onto my arm.

"Here! This'll make the burns not hurt as much, but try not to move so much. You only just woke up, so you'd better be careful."

I nodded. I then turned back to Hugh. "Hugh, I don't understand...I guess it's sort of silly to admit, but I haven't the slightest idea what's going on..."

Hugh nodded. "I guess I can understand that. Given the circumstances..." His eyes drifted to Sir Ivy again, and then he turned back to me. "Grass, let me lay it out on the line for you, short and sweet. It's best to get it over with. Grass...your Cottonee, she's dead. Burned to death."

I didn't say anything. What could I say? The pain of two deaths were already eating at my heart, and now a third was threatening to destroy it all. I clutched at my aching heart as my teeth clenched together. Sunshine made a glance towards me that I could feel, without even looking at him.

"You can't take the blame for whatever happened back there. Just 'cause you're their trainer doesn't mean you're totally liable."

I looked back to Hugh, meeting his gaze. I wiped what tears were beginning to form. Hugh sighed.

"I guess I should explain the events leading up to it. You returned from Route 16, and the Pokémon Center had caught fire. But I guess that, by now, you sort of pieced that together, what with your not being at the Center right now. You probably noticed the glow outside the window, so I'm assuming you've gathered that much. Anyways, you had returned with your Sunflora and Simisage, but you dashed in there without a second thought to save them. I gotta hand it to you, Grass. You were fearless."

He sat down and took a sip from a cup of water the girl had brought. She sat down next to him and gave a little sad look to him. Hugh sighed as he put his drink back down on the table and continued. "Anyways, I saw you running in there. I didn't think you were in your right mind, so I had the firemen get you out of there. Next thing I know, the firemen were pulling you out, completely unconscious from a lack of oxygen. But in going in there, you saved their lives. You saved your Pokémon's lives. Sir Ivy, Ms. Pokey, Fassad...they were all in your arms as the firemen hauled you out."

He then frowned and looked away from me. "Your Cottonee, on the other hand...she wasn't so lucky." He looked to Sir Ivy, who was just beginning to stir from his sleep. Ms. Pokey and Fassad both stood back as Sir Ivy slowly pulled himself upright, shaking his head and rubbing it with his hands. He let out a long sigh and turned to me. I could see it in his eyes; he wanted to be happy that I was well, but he couldn't bring himself to smile. Instead, he broke into tears.

"Grass...I do not want you to look at me right now..." Sir Ivy whispered, turning his head away from everyone. "I am...ashamed of myself..." He pulled his blanket close to him, grabbing it tight and wrapping himself in it, like a cocoon. Ms. Pokey snatched the blanket from him, though with difficulty, as he was holding onto it tightly, and then slapped Sir Ivy across the face, knocking him down.

"What're you doing--!?" I began to shout, but Sunshine stopped me, as if he knew what was happening. I sat back, my arm beginning to hurt again.

"What're you thinking, Sir Ivy!?" Ms. Pokey shouted angrily. "Is this what Cirrus would want!? For you to become a damn shell of a Pokémon!?" Ms. Pokey reached for his neck and pulled him towards her, glaring at him deep in his mourning, faint eyes. Her eyes, on the other hand, were intense, piercing, full of rage and anger, but within all the animosity it held, I could sense a feeling of worry. She let go of his neck and let him slouch down to the floor, his head hanging in shame. Ms. Pokey turned away from him, as if disgusted.

"You did what you could, didn't you!? Would you rather have died with her!? Would you...would you rather have lost all of us!?" Ms. Pokey pulled her arm back, as if to throw a punch at Sir Ivy. Sunshine and Broccoli both took quick action, however, as they jumped towards her and restrained her arms. She flailed and struggled, even almost breaking free, but she was eventually completely restrained and she gave up. "Sir Ivy...you...I don't like this. I don't want this, I didn't ask for this. But I was..."

Sir Ivy turned around, his eyes wide. Ms. Pokey looked away from him, her eyes stern but her countenance weak with embarrassment. "I...it's not like...I'm not worried about you, or anything, but..." Sir Ivy looked at her, dangling in Broccoli's arms, helpless and open. He sighed and looked away, out towards the window and the illumination.

"I do not want to speak...I have no right, nor the will. The hard fact remains...I could not save everyone. Even with the responsibility as team leader on my shoulders, I could not save everyone. I have failed in my most important duty."

Sunshine stepped in. "If I may," he said, his smile still present. "You must be Sir Ivy, right? I do not mean any disrespect when I say this, but you really should take your own advice. Grass here, he has been beating himself up already over the loss of two prior comrades. But he got over it, how? With your advice, Sir Ivy. You said that he, even as the leader, cannot be held responsible for things out of his control. Such is the case here. You yourself did not cause the fire, did you not? You even attempted to save her, did you not? Sir Ivy, your valiance is superb, and though you might not have been able to save everyone, you cannot blame yourself for the tragedy."

Sunshine then turned to me. "In fact, Grass has to share in the blame as well. Had he not left all of you alone and had brought you guys with him to Lostlorn Forest, we wouldn't have lost Cirrus. But can we blame it all him? No, we cannot, for he wouldn't have known there was a fire. As you can see, the only people that can be blamed is at the root of the issue."

Broccoli sat down, mumbling. "People and Pokémon alike...they seem to love playing the victim. Such is the way of the mind, I suppose..."

Sunshine nodded. "Yes, unfortunately, that seems to be the case. But when one does not take responsibility where it is due, then there is no denying that there is fault. But we have yet to find the identity of who is at fault..."

Hugh could see in my eyes and my Pokémon's eyes that we wanted to know if there was a particular cause of the fire. He took another sip from his water, and continued.

"I'm sure it's all on your minds that you want to catch the fiends who would torch a Pokémon Center. I guess it's no surprise; it was Team Plasma. Grass, they're here, in Nimbasa. They're striking at the city, and the Pokémon Center was the first to get hit. The authorities have no idea where they might have gone, but they've closed off all the exits from Nimbasa. So they're here, somewhere." He leaned towards me. "Grass, I need your help to take them out. And with them being the cause of your Cottonee's death...well, I'm assuming you'd want revenge, right?"

I turned to Sunshine. I remembered what he had taught me in Lostlorn Forest; I had to clearly distinguish between what was necessary and what was desired, and that I was to follow the path of justice to be truly happy.

"Yeah...Hugh, I'll help you find Team Plasma. But it won't be for revenge. That won't make me any better than them." Sunshine smiled and turned away, assisting Sir Ivy. Hugh looked at me strangely; he must have noticed that these ordeals had really changed me from the bumbling, clumsy, hasty kid I had been when we first left Aspertia City.

"Well, I guess that settles that," the girl said. "By the way, I'm Rosa. I'm a Pokémon Trainer, just like you. Sorry for not introducing myself earlier...I was so caught up in what was happening, that I completely forgot!" She held her hand out to me, which I shook with a smile.

"Oh, and before I forget any more important details..." she added on. "I received a call from the police while you were still unconscious. Apparently you were supposed to meet with them tomorrow morning?" I remembered, a stout, old man approached me not long after the doctors took Lilly's body away. He had told me they wanted to discuss the details of Tropicana and Lilly's deaths, and now I had Cirrus's to explain as well. But he told me to meet him at the Pokémon Center, but that was clearly an impossibility...

"I see...yeah, that's true. Do they want to meet up now?"

Rosa nodded. "But they'll be sending an agent over here, so you'll just have to wait here. Say, would you like some water? You must be thirsty after all that running you did." I didn't notice it before in my confusion, but my tongue and lips were pretty dry. I accepted the offer and quickly glugged down the water she handed to me. Feeling refreshed, I let out a big sigh and turned to my Pokémon, who were now all gathered together. They still seemed to be trying to console Sir Ivy. Even Fassad, who was the resident crybaby of the team, was trying to get his spirits up. I walked to him and knelt down.

"Sir Ivy...you told me that Tropicana's death and Lilly's death were both not my fault. Now it's time for me to try to convince you that you aren't totally responsible for Cirrus's death." I tried to meet his eyes, but they were closed off, as if to keep tears from flowing. "Tropicana's death was an accident, and Lilly's death was on her own terms, sacrificing herself to save you. Cirrus's death is no more your fault than Tropicana's and Lilly's my own. Like you've told me times before...you alone cannot bear the weight of this tragedy. We bear it together. That's what a team is."

Sir Ivy turned, his eyes wide and glistening with tears. They were as full of uncertainty and fear as I had ever seen them; and yet, they seemed as full of color and life as they had been when I first met him in Aspertia City. I couldn't fathom what was running through his mind at that moment in time, but as we stared into each others' eyes, trying to comprehend what the other was thinking, everything around us seemed to be frozen in time. In this moment of weakness, Sir Ivy let go of all his pent-up fear, anger, and sadness. All the despair he accumulated from three back-to-back deaths in a single day finally poured out, as he buried his face into my arms and cried like a child. Ms. Pokey and Fassad backed away, understanding his need to be alone. Sunshine crossed his leaves together and smiled, and Broccoli turned away, not too fond of the pitiful scene.

I don't know how long I knelt there, my arms wrapped around Sir Ivy as his tears soaked into my singed shirt. I held my own tears back, for I had cried far longer than I should have throughout the course of the day. Sir Ivy needed his time, and this time was now. We remained in this embrace for who-knows-long, but it felt like while eternity passed on around us, we were interlocked in a single moment in time, sharing in our despair and releasing it, until it was no longer within our broken hearts and tormented souls.

After a while, I pulled away from Sir Ivy, who was still sniffling. I looked at my own shirt, then at my entire body. If I had been older, some people would have mistaken me for a drunken wreck of a man. Rosa and Hugh stood in the other room, talking about who might be showing up to investigate the deaths, occasionally stopping to peer over the corner and see how I was doing. Rosa offered me a drink of water, which I accepted. In the chaos, I hadn't realized how dry my tongue and lips were. Finally quenching my thirst, I felt relaxed and revitalized. I offered some to Sir Ivy, but he didn't seem interested. I still sensed that he felt an incredible amount of guilt, but I didn't know what to say anymore. It was going to have to be Sir Ivy's weight to bear.

I sat there idly for a while, until a knock on the door arrived. At first I didn't think it to be the agent, because the knock was rather aloof and odd. Rosa slowly opened the door, revealing a very strange-looking Trainer. Tall in stature and seemingly too old to be a run-of-the-mill Pokémon Trainer, he waltzed in with his eyes on me, analyzing my very appearance. I knew his analysis of me couldn't possibly be good, as my appearance was so unkempt.

"Ah, so this is what a Nimbasa City apartment room looks like! I must say, I am rather impressed. And you, young lady, are the owner of this fine establishment? I must say, I am quite impressed! You have kept it quite tidy and neat, neat and tidy. Impressive, I must say!" His flashy arm movements and admiration knocked us all off balance, especially for me, who wasn't particularly in touch with his bright personality.

"Umm...excuse me, who are you?" Rosa asked, holding onto the door as if she were knocked off balance. The trainer spun around and pointed his finger at her, his thumb oddly sticking out as his index aimed square between her eyes.

"Ah, already you forget! We have spoken on the telephone, I have told you I would be coming here!"

Rosa regained her composure. "Wait, are you the agent that's supposed to be here to question Grass? If you are, you sure don't look the part..."

The trainer suddenly darted back and nearly tripped backwards. "Oh, havoc! I seem to have lost my footing...oh! My apologies, young lady, for I hardly realized that I still have my disguise up! However, I suppose it is good to see that I have not lost my touch. My colleagues do not call me the master of disguise for nothing, for I had you totally fooled!"

Hugh sighed. "I don't think..."

"Ah, young man, you deny it, but your heart of hearts knows it to be true! Now, to reveal myself..." In a flash, the man flung off the many pieces of his disguise, tossing his wig, hat and even clothes off as he revealed what he had been wearing under it. Even his complexion changed from that of a normal Trainer to that of a full-fledged man, his gray hairs glistening in the lighting, and his trench coat fluttering about in the air.

"I am a globe-trotting elite of the International Police. My name...ah, no, I shall inform you of my code name only. My code name, it is Looker. It is how I am called!" He turned his attention to me. "Could it be that I can assume that you are the one in mourning?" I nodded, a little apprehensive. He looked about my Pokémon, who all stared back nervously. "But you do not seem in the least incapable of raising Pokémon. I am trusting you are not cruel to them, no?"

"O-of course not..." I said, at first a little angry that he would even think that, but I stopped myself. It wasn't appropriate to yell at a police officer, even one as eccentric and odd as Looker. He nodded and folded his arms.

"I feared this might be happening. Team Plasma, I had taken their leaders for questioning two years ago. I obtained what little information I could about them, but while some cooperated, others fought for the safety of their supreme leader - Ghetsis. And now, with their release from custody, the "sages"...they are planning something ruinous." He looked to the orange glow. "Even Team Plasma's villainy reaches this place, far from the flames...I no longer think it safe to keep the sages free. But even more than that, much more so, other things worry me..."

He then pulled out a pocket notebook and flipped to an empty page, then turned his head up to meet my gaze. "So tell me about your previous encounters. What caused the death of your previous three Pokémon?"

I told him everything; I told him about our ordeal at the now-collapsed Relic Castle, and how the Sigilyph's Air Cutter had injured Tropicana to the point of immobility, and how she was buried under the sands of the collapsing castle. I told him of the out-of-control Sigilyph whose rampage ultimately caused Lilly to die from excessive blood loss and a critical wound in her stomach. I told him of all the despair, the pain, and the experiences we've had as a result. Looker would occasionally nod and write a few notes in his notepad, but he hardly ever reacted to anything I said. Once I had explained my story, he promptly unclicked his pen and folded up his notepad, placing both in his trench coat's inner pocket.

"Well...I must say, you've been involved in a long string of tragic accidents. On behalf of the International Police Force, allow me to offer my deepest condolences." Looker bowed his head in respect for my loss. "However...however, however...there are more frightening matters at work, there are. Pokémon, all around, they are beginning to behave strangely. It is getting worse, and if the problem persists, all Pokémon could become violent."

Hugh stood up. "Do you think that Team Plasma might be up to something regarding that? I mean, their strike...and these deaths...it may just be coincidence that they happened on the same day, but at the same time, something seems really fishy about all this."

Looker rubbed his chin, cleanly shaven, in deep contemplation. "That is what I am investigating. But we cannot assume that just yet. I am not sure what to think about Team Plasma about this point, but one thing is clear; for them, nonviolent resistance is all in the past. They've resorted to brute force."

As if on cue, the entire building shook as we all heard a loud BANG reverberate through the whole apartment. The once clean room that Rosa had kept neat and tidy was now messy with fallen chairs, shards of broken glass, and miscellaneous items falling about everywhere. The building literally felt like it was about to collapse to the tremors. Once the tremors began to die down, Looker grabbed all three of us by the arm and hauled us out. For a man of his age and his personality, I was surprised when he managed to haul us out with relative ease.

"Is this...an earthquake!?" I shouted as panicked tenants dashed for the staircase. In the chaos, I had to struggle to see my team catching up behind us, though it seemed to me that Sunshine was dragging Sir Ivy, while Broccoli carried the stunned Fassad. Ms. Pokey was making her way through fine, but her short height made her unable to see if she were ahead or behind us. She just stuck with Sunshine and Sir Ivy as we headed down the staircases.

Looker turned to me, his oddly strong hand grasped tightly to mine. "No, this is no earthquake. When someone like I have feels it in their blood, there's no mistaking it. This is a bombing attempt. A terrorist plot." When he said the words "terrorist plot," my body immediately froze with fear. Hugh and Rosa had their Pokéballs at the ready. We all knew it right then and there that no one else but Team Plasma could be responsible. The strike continued.

When we made it to the bottom floor, the hallways and what appeared to once have been the visitor's center was in wrack and ruin. We were frightened because if the situation was that of a bombing attempt like Looker had suspected, then the building could collapse on top of us at any moment. Luckily, the building held out enough to keep stable, though the wooden panels that held the building up looked charred and destroyed. The apartment landlords were working to guide us out in an orderly fashion, but of course there were a few unruly people who were frantic to leave the area. We followed the crowd outside into the chilly night, where neighbors and friends embraced and made sure that they were fine. As our group made it outside, Looker immediately dashed out of the crowd, in hot pursuit of some silhouettes that I could barely make out in the darkness of the night. But it was no mistaking it; Team Plasma grunts were responsible, and more interestingly, a man in a familiar robe was with them. I immediately deduced it to be Gorm, who had most likely pursued us for payback for humiliating him twice, at Pokéstar Studios and in the Castelia Sewers. I motioned towards Hugh and Rosa, who followed me there.

"Stop, fiends!" Looker shouted as he madly pursued the grunts like a Herdier gone mad. I had to give credit to him; for a man as old as he was, he sure was fast. The Team Plasma Grunts and Gorm were just as fast, however, and they managed a getaway into the Gear Station.

"Shoot! C'mon, Grass, Rosa, we gotta catch up!" Hugh shouted. "If we don't, they could lose us at the subway!" I ran as fast as I could, and I periodically turned back to my team to see if they were keeping up. While Broccoli had no problems keeping up with me, Ms. Pokey was getting tired, and Sunshine was being slowed down by hauling Sir Ivy around. Desperately, I stopped and recalled all my Pokémon to their Pokéballs, and resumed running. Hugh gave me a dirty look as if saying that I should have done that earlier, but I had no time to stop and apologize. I quickly caught up with them, though in doing that I left myself out of breath and exhausted.

There was no time to stop. Once we reached the Gear Station, it was all panic and chaos. Commuters were freaking out as Team Plasma grunts forced them out of the trains, taking them over for themselves for their getaway. We followed Looker into one of them, narrowly getting in without getting caught between the closing doors. We had no time to regain our balance, for as soon as we got in, the subway systematically began to move, lurching forward and eventually gaining speed. There was no one in the car except for us and Team Plasma; all the passengers had been forced out. With the lighting better, I could clearly see that the sage that we had been pursuing was not Gorm. Instead of Gorm's trademark blue robe, his was a distinct emerald color, and he looked much younger, less affected by the passage of time. No wonder he was able to keep running from us.

"There is nowhere left to run now, cretins," Looker said, whipping out a pair of handcuffs from his trench coat's pocket. "Surrender peacefully and people won't have to be hurt!"

The sage chuckled. "Perhaps if it were us who were in danger then I would be happy to oblige. But it is not I who have put myself in harm's way, it is you three who have dug your own graves." He stroked his mustache briefly. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Ryoku, one of the Three Sages of the new Team Plasma. I have heard of your exploits from my comrade, Gorm. But he is a fool, seeking only glory and fame, forgetting the big picture of things. He forgets what we are to be striving for."

Ryoku nodded slowly. "We strive for the freedom of Pokémon from humans. And for that to occur, Pokémon must reach their full potential...and surpass humans. Only then will they be freed from the reign of the foolish, and free to live their own lives. Fools such as yourselves, I seek to eradicate by my own hand. And it begins now..." He tossed a Pokéball into the air, and from emerged an enormous moth-like Pokémon, whose very wings gave off a burning essence. I took out my Pokédex, having never met the creature before.

"Volcarona, the Sun Pokémon, and the evolved form of Larvesta. A sea of fire engulfs the surroundings of their battles, since they use their six wings to scatter their ember scales."

"A Fire-type...not good..." I thought. "Wait...Fire-type!? Does that mean...!?"

Ryoku saw the suspicion in my eyes and smiled. "I know what you are thinking, and allow me to confirm it. Yes, it was I who was responsible for the burning at the Pokémon Center. But what do you four plan to do about it? Your skills are insufficient to stop me. So come, try and extinguish the flames of my solar deity!"

Looker stepped back and produced a Pokéball from another one of his pockets. It opened up, revealing another Pokémon that I hadn't seen before. It was blue, and had the uncanny appearance of a frog. The Pokédex activated and told me all about the strange creature.

"Croagunk, the Toxic Mouth Pokémon. Its cheeks hold poison sacs. It tries to catch foes off guard to jab them with toxic fingers."

Hugh and Rosa both had their Pokémon at the ready as well; Hugh had his Firehog, and Rosa a Dewott. They looked at me expectantly, and my immediate reaction was to complete the trio of Pokémon. Dewott and Firehog both evolved from a starter Pokémon, so...

"Sir Ivy, it's all you!" I called out as I sent him out of his Pokéball. I immediately recognized that I made a grievous error. When Sir Ivy appeared, he was still somber and lifeless. His sad gaze turned back to me, his eyes and tail drooping and his shoulders sagged. "I...Sir Ivy, I d-didn't mean to..." Sir Ivy turned away from me and faced the Volcarona, his knees shaking a bit.

"Yo, Sir Ivy, you gonna be okay?" Firehog called. Sir Ivy turned to him and gave a weak smile.

"I certainly hope so..."

"There's no time for second doubts!" Rosa's Dewott quickly interjected. "He's coming! Watch out!"

Ryoku pointed his finger in our direction, commanding the Volcarona. However, something was wrong. While I could normally tell what Pokémon are saying, what the Volcarona was saying was completely unintelligible. I didn't understand why my ability wasn't working now, when it was crucial, but the Volcarona gave us no time for preparations. It flapped its wings, then released a giant ball of flames that detonated on the subway car's floor, sending a scatter of flames all around. The resulting force pushed us all back, with a scorchingly hot wind passing us as we tried to hold our balance. Sir Ivy put up no fight, being blown back to the back of the cart with no effort. Firehog and the Dewott stood strong, while it was hard to read Looker's Croagunk's expression, though it looked like he was struggling to keep his balance.

Once the fire died down, I dashed to the back of the car where Sir Ivy lay, half unconscious.

"Sir Ivy! No, no, p-please, hang in there..."

Sir Ivy gave a weak smile. "Grass...don't fret over me...look at me...I'm just a weak little rag doll getting tossed around..."

"Don't say that! You're my invaluable partner! I won't let some Team Plasma jerks get to your head!"

Sir Ivy groaned in pain as his back slid down the wall. "I...I'm ashamed...I can't even fight back against the guys who were responsible for Cirrus's death! I...I can't go on like this..."

Ryoku snickered. "Well, looks like I won't have to deal with you...but shall we have more fun? Volcarona, incinerate him!" The Volcarona, malevolence in his eyes, slowly hovered towards us, fire forming on his scales. Looker quickly reacted, sending his Croagunk to get a quick strike on him from behind. Still, the Volcarona took quick notice and blew Croagunk away with a powerful Gust attack, and promptly turned back towards us.

"Grass...save yourself, and get out harm's way...!" Sir Ivy wheezed, his body seemingly getting more and more feeble by the second. I took no notice of his request, and shielded him with my body. The Volcarona gazed mercilessly into my eyes. I stared back, as if trying to keep cool to the very end, but I knew my life was hanging on the line with this Volcarona. But as soon as it had approached us, amidst all the madness it was screeching, I heard, faintly, a Pokémon's voice emanate from the Volcarona.

Help...me...please...it hurts...help...!

As soon as I had heard it, it was drowned out by the maddening sounds as the Volcarona was about to fire its shot. Ryoku, laughing maniacally, gave the command to fire. Still, as if in slow motion, the Volcarona stalled for a moment before attacking. It was enough; from her Pokéball, Ms. Pokey emerged and used Faint Attack, startling the Volcarona just enough to knock him off balance, during which time he was slammed down by Firehog's Flame Charge, Dewott's Razor Shell, and Croagunk's Poison Jab. Subdued by the trio of attacks, the Volcarona flew back to Ryoku's side, breathless from surprise. I myself was shocked as well, as I didn't expect Ms. Pokey to come out of the blue like that.

"Stop...! Stop! I won't let you hurt him!" Ms. Pokey shouted at the Volcarona. I picked Sir Ivy up, who too seemed shocked from the sudden attack. I wasn't sure if it was I or Sir Ivy she was referring to with "him," but I said nothing. She approached the Volcarona, utterly fearless and angry. "I won't let you hurt him...if you're going to attack him...you'll have to beat me first!"

"Ms. Pokey..." I muttered. Suddenly, her form became encloaked by a dazzling light. She was undergoing evolution! Her legs, once little stubs, emerged as full-fledged legs, and her little crown turned into a sinister-looking hat. He arms grew longer and tougher, and once the light surrounding her faded, she had evolved into a fully-powered Cacturne! She looked at her new form with great surprise, then turned to me.

"Grass, keep Sir Ivy safe! I've got this under control!"

I had never seen Ms. Pokey so serious. I picked Sir Ivy up and held him tightly in my arms while Ms. Pokey went up with Firehog, Croagunk, and Dewott.

"Congrats, Ms. Pokey! So how about we kick some serious Plasm-ass?"

Ms. Pokey grinned. "I like the way you think!" The four of them went on their assault, beating the Volcarona down little by little. The moth seemed to be in pain, but its immense power even proved to be an even match for four Pokémon at once. They were blown back numerous times by the Volcarona's powerful moves, but they got back up and continued to whittle away at the Volcarona's health. Eventually, he had gotten tired and exhausted, both mentally and physically, in trying to deal with four different enemies at once. In exhaustion, he collapsed at Ryoku's feet.

As it calmed down, I could begin to hear the maniacal sounds disappear, making the Volcarona's once drowned-out voice clearly audible.

"Ryoku...help me...it hurts...I don't want to fight anymore..."

Ryoku grumbled and returned Volcarona to his Pokéball. "I must admit, you've trained your Pokémon well. But what of it? You're still trapped on this train."

Looker raised an eyebrow. "Trapped, you say? This train is set to make a round trip, back to Nimbasa. How could you say that we are trapped?"

Ryoku sneered, his mustache twitching as he giggled suspiciously. "Oh, my. For a member of the International Police, you are more clueless than I had imagined. Ah, well. Let me fill you in. This battle was merely a diversion. The time you've wasted fighting me has allowed Team Plasma to overtake the Nimbasa Metro, making the trains unable to stop at any stop. But that is mostly irrelevant, as this train is where our true intentions lie."

Looker stepped forward, his Croagunk mimicking. "Tell me! What are your intentions!?"

Ryoku turned away from him. "What else would it be? We plan to destroy the entire metro system. When each train returns to Nimbasa City, we have explosives set to detonate when each train arrives. Thus destroying the entire system and prevents any escape from the city."

Hugh slammed his fist on the wall. "And what's that going to accomplish!? You're a team dedicated to Pokémon rights, or so you claim; what will doing this accomplish!? And even more, won't you guys get caught up in the explosion!? Why are you doing all this!?" He pointed his finger to Ryoku and the many grunts who stood behind him. Ryoku smiled.

"How kind of you to notice. We have an escape plan, conveniently. As for our purpose, if you come out alive, you'll understand in due time. It's all in the grand scheme of things."

"You're insane!" Rosa shouted accusingly.

"Insane, am I? Brilliance is often mistaken for insanity. But enough chatter. The train will pull back into Nimbasa City soon, and when it does, the beginning of the end shall proceed!" Ryoku motioned to one of the grunts, who had an Abra floating next to him.

"Hmph. I must admit you put up a good fight. If we meet again, I will most enjoy crushing you once and for all. Good luck." With those parting words, the Abra, along with all the Plasma Grunts and Ryoku, disappeared in a quick flash of light. Hugh growled in anger and contempt.

"Those...those idiots..."

Looker turned to us. "Never mind that! Stop this train, we must! But how can we do so!? Team Plasma's hijacked the system..." I was helpless. Was this truly the end? I held Sir Ivy, who was still only halfway conscious, tightly in my arms as I began to panic. Rosa was searching high and low for an emergency exit, but given how fast the train was going, if we were to make an escape that way, it would be just as deadly. Hugh searched for a way to stop the train manually, but it was no use. The door to the conductor's control room was locked shut, and there was no other way to access the controls. We all stood there, helpless, as Nimbasa City approached ever closer.

As soon as we had begun to lose hope, the train suddenly lurched backwards, tossing all of us towards the front and slamming us against the wall. Between the pain, I could tell that the train's brakes had suddenly deployed! The lights in the car began to flicker, leaving our position only dimly illuminated by the faint lights in the tunnel. The train slowly braked to a total halt. We picked ourselves up, not sure what had happened. Suddenly, a voice came over the intercom.

"ATTENTION ALL PASSENGERS. THE NIMBASA METRO SYSTEM HAS BEEN TEMPORARILY DISABLED. PLEASE WAIT PATIENTLY WHILE NIMBASA PERSONNEL LOCATE YOUR POSITIONS. YOU WILL THEN BE GUIDED TO THE NEAREST STATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION, AND HAVE A NICE DAY."

As the intercom shut off, one of the emergency exits opened up, revealing a man clad in a white suit and an equally white conductor's hat. Behind him followed an Eelektross, holding a rope.

"Pardon me. I am Emmet. With my brother Ingo, I run the Nimbasa Metro." He bowed before continuing on. "I sincerely apologize. However, we have managed to regain control of the system from Team Plasma. We are currently working on disabling the explosives. Follow me. I shall lead you back to Gear Station." With nothing else to say, he climbed up the rope the Eelektross had hanging from his mouth. I followed, with Hugh and Looker following behind, and Rosa picking up the rear. Emmet helped us up and down the tower, holding a flashlight to help us seen in the near-pitch-black tunnel.

As we walked down side-by-side down the dark tunnel, I began to contemplate how many time I, and Sir Ivy, have been close to death. This day was naturally a dark moment in my Pokémon Training career. I began to doubt my own validity as a Pokémon Trainer, but I had to keep standing tall now. At a time when my Pokémon needed the most guidance, I needed to be their beacon, the one they could come to for help. I just prayed that I would be able to fill that role to their happiness...and to my own.

To be continued in Part 2...
  #12  
Old July 25, 2013, 09:22:51 AM
GrassPokemonFTW's Avatar
GrassPokemonFTW GrassPokemonFTW is offline
Kyurem
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: [INSERT GENERIC LOCATION HERE]
Posts: 2,222
Default

Chapter 10, Part 2: When One Life Meets Another

It may not have been comfortable, but with nowhere else to go, and with Team Plasma's whereabouts unknown, we all took lodge at the main Gear Station lobby and spent the night there. As expected, none of us were really able to sleep (except for Looker, who fell asleep almost instantly). Hugh was pacing back and forth, occasionally muttering swears towards Team Plasma. Rosa was simply uncomfortable sleeping there, so she stayed up and read. I was totally exhausted, but I was hardly able to even get my eyes to close on our own. In time, I gave up in my endeavors and went to the other side of the lobby. I called out my Pokémon for an early-morning training session, though I sort of knew they wouldn't be much fans of the proposition.

Sir Ivy's sleepy appearance didn't deviate much from his normal appearance, for now. His eyes were baggy and bloodshot, and his tail seemed to be endlessly drooping. His shoulders were still sagging immensely, and a frown seemed plastered onto his face. As for everyone else, Ms. Pokey was still not too tired, being hyped up from the battle. Broccoli looked incredibly tired, and Fassad was literally still asleep from within his own Pokéball. It was hard to guage Sunshine's need for sleep, especially when he wore the same face whether he was happy or sad, awake or tired.

Ms. Pokey quickly turned to Sir Ivy, and walked over to him. She was still not too used to her new form, so she had some trouble kneeling down to see how Sir Ivy was doing. After a quick observation, she socked him right in the jaw, tossing him like a rag doll.

"Ms. Pokey--!" I began to shout, but quickly stopped myself. It was night, and I didn't want to wake anyone. Sir Ivy lay face-down on the tiled floor, not even bothering to move. Ms. Pokey grabbed him and forced him upright.

"Sir Ivy! Knock it off! We're sick and tired of your moping around and feeling sorry for yourself! Back in the train...I-I was really worried, you know? I was scared, we almost lost you, and if we did, I don't know..." Ms. Pokey stopped herself midsentence and strayed away from the sentence. "A-anyways, Sir Ivy, you're the core of this team. We can't progress like this! And yes, we're all upset about Cirrus, and Lilly, and Tropicana! But we can't let them destroy us, or we've already lost! Sir Ivy..." Ms. Pokey let her grip loosen slightly. She didn't meet Sir Ivy's gaze and stared at the floor. "I...I...erm, I don't want to lose you. None of us want to lose you. So that's why we need to be strong for you...and you need to be strong for us."

She fully loosened her grip, but to my surprise, Sir Ivy didn't let himself fall to the floor like a towel. No; he stood firm, though his knees were a little weak, he stood up for the first time in what seemed like an eternity. Finally, their gazes met, and something sparked that I could not understand. I felt her worry for him, and his worry for her, collide in a great fusion of friendship. At the spectacle, I couldn't help but smile. Fassad, Sunshine, and Broccoli; they all could feel it as well.

Sir Ivy finally spoke. "You know, Ms. Pokey, when we first met in the Floccesy Ranch, I thought nothing more of you than as an air-headed girl who knew nothing of the world. I see that this experience has changed that...Ms. Pokey, you are turning into someone I can rely on, someone I can...respect."

Ms. Pokey blushed and turned away. "D-don't think that this is serious, Sir Ivy! Sure, I r-respect you and all, but don't get the wrong idea! I-I mean, we're friends and all, and we're part of the same team, s-so it's only natural I'd try to cheer you up is all!" Ms. Pokey folded her arms in her usual way and turned from him, a little flustered and embarrassed. I thought this to be awfully familiar to Sir Ivy's meeting with Lilly and Cirrus.

Sir Ivy turned to me. "I apologize, Grass. I was not myself back there, and I think deep down I knew it. But I had not the heart to admit it to myself, that I was weak, and I got the notion that with all my power, I would not be able to sufficiently carry out my mission to keep you and the others safe. Cirrus's death was a blow to my confidence, and made me doubt myself...but I am OK now. I am ready for what may come. And whatever does come, we will be there to face it...together."

I teared up a little as I nodded affirmatively. "That's the Sir Ivy I remember! It's great to have you back!"

I never had a more peaceful sleep until after that moment.

-----------------------------------------------------------

"Well, I suppose that to Driftveil City, I should be going," Looker said that morning. "With their plot foiled, there is no reason they should remain here. I will be in hot pursuit of them, but what will I find? What are they plotting? That is something that I must learn." He quickly began to apply his disguise, that of a bicyclist. His disguise even came complete with his own professional-grade bicycle, which I had no idea how he got his hands on it. Also notably, the bicycle had the word "Rydel" written all over it, but most of it was shabbily painted over. I sighed; how does Looker even fool anyone?

"Well, before I take my leave, if I may inquire; what are you three going to do now?"

Rosa quickly jumped in. "I'm taking on the Unova League, and I'm going to be challenging Elesa to a battle this afternoon. So once I get my fourth badge, I'll join up with you again, Looker!"

"Hey, I'm doing that too!" I said to Rosa. She seemed to brighten up as I said that, clasping my hand and staring deep into my eyes with her big, circular pupils. A little embarrassed, I let go of her hands and scratched the back of my head, which was a little habit of mine to do when I was embarrassed. I turned to Hugh. "Well, what about you, Hugh? What do you plan to do?"

Hugh turned to me. "Isn't it obvious? Wherever Team Plasma goes, I'll go to foil their plans once again. So I'm going to Driftveil City with Looker." He then turned back to Looker. "If that's fine with you, that is."

Looker gave a thumbs up. "No problemo! Let us make haste; crime doesn't sleep!" He dashed off while Hugh followed slowly. He stopped for a moment to give us a few last words.

"Grass, Rosa, keep getting stronger. I'll need you guys to back me up when the time comes. Team Plasma's getting tougher by the second, and I'll need you guys to help me. I can't possibly take on the whole of Team Plasma on my own. So keep getting stronger...and let's defeat those jerks once and for all!" We nodded in confirmation, with which Hugh turned back and sped to catch up to Looker.

It made me remember that Hugh and I never really talked about why he had held so much animosity for Team Plasma in the first place. Granted, I now had my own reasons, but I wasn't sure what Hugh's reason was. After all, he knew about Team Plasma far before I had. I tried thinking in our past for whatever might had happened, but I couldn't think of anything.

"Well, Grass, now that the excitement's over..." Rosa said cheerily. "We should get a move on. How about we cut to the chase and head right on to the Gym?"

I smiled. "Sounds like an idea to me."

The part of Nimbasa City that the Gym was in was far different than the rest of the city, and it showed it off with pride. The other parts of the city weren't nearly as flashy, but I was pretty surprised that the Gym was located in a theme park, with a ton of people waiting in line at what appeared to be a show of some sort. As I was walking along, a little glimmer caught my eye. I turned to the glimmer, and there I saw a pink Xtransceiver, adorned with a cute little bow. It must have been lost by someone.

"Hmm. Seems like whoever dropped it hasn't left it here for long. Maybe the owner's still here?" I said, dusting the Xtransceiver off. Rosa looked at it for a moment.

"Huh, I guess someone would lose their Xtransceiver here. There is quite a few people here, so I guess that it's not out of the question. But how are we going to find the owner? There's no lost and found here..." I looked around, and she was right. There was no lost and found building in sight, which I found a little strange. It would be definitely feasible for something to get lost or stolen in a theme park, so why no lost and found?

"Well, if that's the case, I guess all I can do is hold onto this for now and ask around. I hope we run into the owner."

The line for the show seemed to be getting progressively longer. I wasn't even sure what was going on there, but something seemed really off about it. It was far more visited than any of the other attractions, and most of all, the only people in line were girls and a few men who seemed to either be very flamboyant or dragged their by their wives or girlfriends. As we approached the building, I began to see poster of an incredibly attractive-looking woman, side by side with two people. I immediately recognized one of them.

"Hey, that's Curtis!" I shouted when I saw the poster. I remembered when we met back at Pokéstar Studios. What was he doing here, and why was he on that poster? Reading more, I began to gain some more information. The poster read, "Elesa, Christoph, and Nancy! 10 AM - 3 PM, this Friday at Nimbasa Town Theme Park!" I almost forgot that Curtis's screen name was Christoph, but Rosa didn't seem to catch my error, so there was no harm done.

"Wow, I guess that explains it! But Elesa's the Gym Leader, right? Does that mean we have to get in that long line!?" Rosa wailed as she saw the line still getting longer in the time we took to approach it. "Waaaah, I don't want to wait that long! Hugh and Looker will be waiting for us too!"

"But there's no other choice, right? Man, I hope all those people aren't challengers for the Gym...then we really will be here forever."

"Whaaaat!? Noooo!" Rosa wept childishly as she pounded her fists on the ground. "I can't wait that long! C'moooon!"

As we were lamenting our situation, I began to hear some frantic voices coming from the side of the building. The door labelled "Authorized Personnel Only" inconspicuously opened, while two heavily cloaked figures dashed out, looking left and right to avoid detection. Given what we had been through, I assumed the worst.

"Oh, no...don't tell me Team Plasma's up to their dirty tricks again!" I groaned, keeping my eye on the two. "Rosa, let's follow. If it is Team Plasma, those people could all be in danger!" Rosa nodded in agreement and we began to chase them down. Clearly, no one in line for the show had noticed them, as they all continued to talk to each other and laugh, and as a whole, did not look in our general direction.

As we were chasing them, I heard one of them shouting in a squeaky little voice. They stopped running for a moment to scan the area, while Rosa and I hid behind the bushes, seeing what the two of them were up to. I peered in, hoping that I wouldn't fall and expose my position, but it was the only way I could get to hear anything.

"My Xtransceiver!" the squeaky-voiced one shouted. "Where is it? I dropped it somewhere around here, I know I did...but I don't see it anywhere!"

"Are you sure you dropped it here?" the other said in a familiar voice. "It might still be in the dressing rooms or something..."

"Sure, I'm sure! Agh, I can't work under these conditions! I'm to tense! What if a fan got a hold of it!? Oh no, oh no, no, no, this can't be good, this is not good!"

"H-hey, calm down...let's just keep looking, alright?"

"Curtis, I'm scared...!"

I turned to Rosa, who nodded back. That's all we needed to hear, and we knew it wasn't Team Plasma we were dealing with. It was...

"Excuse me, but is this what you're looking for?" I asked, emerging from the bushes. The two of the jumped, the squeaky-voiced one nearly falling backwards and the other about to retaliate with a punch, but he quickly pulled back when he saw who I was.

"Grass, is that you!? What're you doing here, buddy?" he asked. He threw off his cloak, revealing himself to be Curtis in his "Christoph" outfit. "Oh, and hey! Yancy, he's got your Xtransceiver for ya'!"

The squeaky-voiced girl put down her cloak, revealing herself to be an incredibly pretty and innocent girl about my age. Her pink hair was tied up in a strange, yet cute, way, and she seemed awfully familiar too. It took me a while to realize that she was the girl who came to Aspertia to do the segment on Aspertia Lookout. She quickly retrieved her Xtransceiver, checked to see if anything was tampered with, and let out a big sigh of relief.

"Oh, thank goodness! I thought that if one of my fans got a hold of it, I'd be in big trouble...tee-hee!" She giggled, mostly giddy from learning that her Xtransceiver was found by someone who didn't know her well.

"But I'm surprised, what brings you here, Grass?" Curtis asked.

"Well, I came to challenge Elesa for a Gym Battle. Rosa here too wants to face her." I mentioned. Rosa gave a little wave, which Curtis replied with his own slightly awkward wave. Curtis then turned to me, though did not make eye contact, as he was in deep thought.

"You know, this just might work..." Curtis mumbled. "You know, Grass, your movie from before has been a smash hit in Nimbasa. I'm surprised you aren't being followed around by the paparazzi! Haha!" I wasn't sure what he was referring to at first, but then I realized he meant the movie that Mr. Stu Deeoh had filmed in secret as we were fighting off Gorm and his associates at the Studios.

"Oh really?" I asked, a little embarrassed. "That's...nice..."

Curtis smiled. "Yeah, Yancy here's a big fan of your acting, actually. She goes on and on about how cool you look!" Yancy blushed a deep red and whacked Curtis on the head in retaliation.

"H-hey! Don't go saying stuff that isn't true! I-I mean...yes, I enjoy the movie, and your acting was great, uh, but...hahaha!" Her laugh was positively adorable.

"Hey, so why don't you two come backstage with us? We're going to be holding a little concert of sorts, and then a fashion show. Once the fashion show starts, of which Elesa is the star, we can introduce you as Grass, the travelling movie star!"

"That sounds a little tacky, but...sure, if I can battle the Gym Leader..." I stammered, embarrassed. Yancy's big blue eyes were staring right at me, as if admiring me from a distance. I wasn't sure what to make of it, as it made me feel both uncomfortable and happy at the same time. It was a peculiar feeling. In any case, the four of us went in through the side door and down the hall to their respective dressing rooms, Rosa going in with Yancy, and I going in with Curtis.

Curtis went into the immense closet and pulled out a very green outfit. It was sparkling with jewelry and accessories placed all around it, and it nearly blinded me just looking at it. "Here, put this on! You gotta look good for your debut." I imagined myself wearing such a thing; I didn't know whether to be auspicious for my entry, or just plain embarrassed. Regardless, I put the outfit on. I looked pretty silly, but in the same way that Curtis looked silly, and he was popular as ever, so I rolled with it.

"Well, the concert's starting soon, so I'm heading out. You'll be coming out in about a half-hour, so pump yourself and your Pokémon up for battle! And remember, we've got thousands of people watching, so you'd better look cool!" He promptly walked out of the dressing room, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I imagine Rosa was going through the same deal with Yancy right now, so I called my Pokémon out for a little briefing before the battle.

Needless to say, it didn't go well. Sir Ivy and Ms. Pokey went into hysterics over my outfit, Fassad was giggling uncontrollably, Sunshine was being as unreadable as usual, and Broccoli was just utterly disgusted by the gaudiness of my outfit.

"Yes, I know, it's silly, but listen, we've got a Gym Battle to win!"

Ms. Pokey rolled her eyes. "Yeah, sure, in that outfit." Everyone else laughed at her snide comment.

"Alright...well, anyways, Elesa uses Electric-type Pokémon, which is ultimately type advantage in our favor..."

"Elesa's got the advantage in fashion style, that's for sure," Sir Ivy commented. Once again the team laughed hysterically. This sort of went on for quite a while, but while I was a little irritated that I couldn't get words in edgewise, I did admit that it was great to see the team in high spirits again. The half-hour just flew by with them, and before I knew it, Curtis was back, motioning for me to take to the main stage.

As I walked in, a roaring crowd greeted me and my Pokémon. The exit I had took led me right onto a straight pathway to where the Gym Leader stood, her outfit gleaming in the flashing auditorium. The place was more gigantic than it had made itself out to be from the outside; the inside was illuminated by flashing lasers, spotlights, and cameras from awed onlookers. I dashed down the path with my Pokémon and grinned to Elesa. She grinned back as she produced a Pokéball.

"Welcome to the main stage!" Elesa called out into her microphone, signalling the start of the battle. "My beloved Pokémon and your Pokémon shall compete! We're going to see whose star shines brightest!" She tossed out a Pokéball, releasing her Emolga. I was wary; it was part Flying-type, so I needed to be careful. I turned back to my Pokémon, and deduced that Sir Ivy was the best choice for this situation.

"Sir Ivy, you up to the challenge?" I asked. Sir Ivy smiled.

"As ready as I'll ever be!" He jumped in front, ready for combat.

Suddenly, the lights dimmed, and a voice came on the loud-speakers. It was Curtis's voice!

"Ladies and gentlemen, the battle between the Gym Leader, the fabulous Elesa, and the up-and-coming movie star and traveler, Grass, is about to begin!" The crowd exploded in cheer. "I am your host, Christoph, and co-hosting with me..."

"I'm Nancy! I love you, everybody!"

"So, let's see what moves our challenger has to offer!"

I didn't waste a second after that line. "Sir Ivy, ground her with Leech Seed! Let's prevent her from using her Flying moves!" Sir Ivy hopped around and fired a seed towards Emolga. She dodged, but quick thinking on Sir Ivy's part allowed him to fire a second, which securely latched onto Emolga and rendered her helpless.

"Agh, Emolga!" Elesa cried. "Get out of there!"

"And it looks like Emolga can't move!" Curtis shouted enthusiastically. "What will Elesa do!?"

I wouldn't give her time. "Sir Ivy, use Growth! Let's power up with the time we have!" Sir Ivy began to absorb the artificial light through his tail, and he himself became illuminated in the light.

"Wow! How pretty~!" Yancy squealed.

"Yes, but with beauty comes hidden power! That Growth is going to make Sir Ivy super powerful! How will Elesa retaliate!?"

She did so quickly. "Emolga, break out of there with Aerial Ace!" Emolga began to flail her arms, and eventually, her sharpened wings cut one of the vines, eventually allowing her to squeeze out and be free.

"Alright, use Aerial Ace, once more Emolga!" Elesa commanded. The Emolga swiftly swooped down towards Sir Ivy, who seemed ready to strike back.

"Good, Sir Ivy, now hit her with Return!" Sir Ivy cloaked himself in a radiant glow and charged the Emolga. The two collided, flinging both of them backwards. Sir Ivy was hit, but not down. However, Emolga was knocked senseless and unable to battle.

"Unbelievable power!" Curtis shouted over the cheering crowd. "That Servine is one tough customer! With Elesa already down 2 to 3, how will she be able to come back from this!?"

Elesa recalled Emolga and gave a smile. "I must say, that was rather amazing. But you won't get lucky twice! Flaaffy, come on out!" She sent out her next Pokémon, a cute-looking pink sheep. But I kept my stance; cute Pokémon can still be deadly in battle.

"Flaaffy, Spark!" she quickly commanded, not giving me any time to think.

"Sir Ivy, retaliate with your new Leaf Blade!" I called out. Sir Ivy jumped into the air, producing a neon-green sword in his hands. He swooped around with it, looking very elegant and powerful. Flaaffy charged at him, her body encloaked in electricity, but one swoop from Sir Ivy's sword sent her flying down to the stage, crashing and fainting on the spot. Sir Ivy came back down, sword in hand, looking very heroic. With that move, even more of the audience members began to stand up and cheer.

"Wow! Incredible! That Servine has taken out two of Elesa's Pokémon with just ONE hit! To say Servine is powerful is an understatement!" Curtis called out on the loudspeaker.

"WOO! GO, GO!" Yancy suddenly screamed into her microphone. I was startled by it, and by the looks of it, everyone else was too.

Elesa seemed a bit disappointed in herself. "I must admit that this shocks me. I didn't think you would defeat Flaaffy in one hit. But we shall see how you hold up against my ace! Zebstrika, lets get going!" Her final Pokémon, a giant, intimidating zebra, emerged from the Pokéball, ready to fight.

Sir Ivy held his sword out in front, but suddenly he took a knee. "Grass...I'm...not able...to move..." I tried to understand why, but it came to me; Static! That Flaaffy had Static for her ability! But Sir Ivy didn't look ready to throw in the towel yet.

"Yes, we've got him right where we want him! Zebstrika, charge into him with Flame Charge!" I did a double-take; a Fire-type move!? The Zebstrika pounded his hooves into the ground, sending up sparks that encloaked him with flames, and then he charged swiftly towards Sir Ivy.

"Woah, would you look at that!" Curtis shouted. "What speed! What power! What will Servine do!?"

Sir Ivy, still down on one knee, unsheathed his sword and held it out in front of him. The Zebstrika approached quickly, faster than I imagined was possible.

"Sir Ivy, get out of there!" I shouted. He looked back at me quickly, as if to say, "No, I've got this." He swung his sword in front of him, and when the Zebstrika was right in front of him, he swung down. The two forces collided, creating a giant explosion, with dust flying everywhere. I tried to see in the dust, but it was impossible. Visibility was down to zero. I hoped and prayed to see Sir Ivy come out of the dust cloud unscathed...

The Crew    
  • Sir Ivy - Servine - ♂ // Level 34
  • Met 7/3/2013, at Aspertia City, at Level 5
  • Moves: Leech Seed // Growth // Leaf Blade // Return
  • Held Item: Scope Lens
  • Ability: Overgrow
  • Nature: Quirky (neutral)
  • Characteristic: Likes to relax.
  • Changes in this Part: Gained 2 Levels
  • Ms. Pokey - Cacturne - ♀ // Level 32
  • Met 7/4/2013, at Floccesy Ranch, at Level 5
  • Moves: Venoshock // Leech Seed // Faint Attack // Sand Attack
  • Held Item: None
  • Ability: Sand Veil
  • Nature: Naive (+Spd, -SpD)
  • Characteristic: Strongly defiant.
  • Changes in this Part: Gained 2 Levels, evolved
  • Fassad - Foongus - ♂ // Level 32
  • Met 7/6/2013, at Virbank Complex, at Level 11
  • Moves: Mega Drain // Growth // Toxic // Venoshock
  • Held Item: Eviolite
  • Ability: Effect Spore
  • Nature: Timid (+Spd, -Atk)
  • Characteristic: Likes to fight.
  • Changes in this Part: Gained 3 Levels, learned Toxic
  • Sunshine - Sunflora - ♂ // Level 33
  • Met 7/16/2013, at Route 16, at Level 21
  • Moves: Giga Drain // Leech Seed // Razor Leaf // Petal Dance
  • Held Item: Miracle Seed
  • Ability: Solar Power
  • Nature: Bashful (neutral)
  • Characteristic: Strong willed.
  • Changes in this Part: Gained 4 Levels
  • Broccoli - Simisage - ♂ // Level 33
  • Met 7/16/2013, at Lostlorn Forest, at Level 21
  • Moves: Seed Bomb // Acrobatics // Leech Seed // Bite
  • Held Item: None
  • Ability: Gluttony
  • Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
  • Characteristic: A little quick tempered.
  • Changes in this Part: Gained 2 Levels
  

The Reserves    
None

The Fallen    

  • Tropicana - Tropius - ♀
  • Met 7/3/2013, at Route 19, at Level 4
  • Died 7/15/2013, at Relic Castle, at Level 26
  • Moves: Strength // Gust // Growth // Razor Leaf
  • Ability: Solar Power
  • Nature: Gentle (+SpD, -Def)
  • Characteristic: Impetuous and silly.
  • Lilly - Lilligant - ♀
  • Met 7/8/2013, at Castelia City, at Level 15
  • Died 7/16/2013, at Route 5, at Level 27
  • Moves: Growth // Leech Seed // Sleep Powder // Giga Drain
  • Ability: Own Tempo
  • Nature: Hardy (neutral)
  • Characteristic: Alert to sounds.
  • Cirrus - Cottonee - ♀
  • Met 7/16/2013, at Route 5, at Level 23
  • Died 7/18/2013, at Nimbasa City, at Level 28
  • Moves: Giga Drain // Charm // Razor Leaf // PoisonPowder
  • Ability: Prankster
  • Nature: Quiet (+SpA, -Spd)
  • Characteristic: Alert to sounds.
  

Current Location: Nimbasa City


Click here for the systematic version.

Last edited by GrassPokemonFTW; July 25, 2013 at 09:23:44 AM.
  #13  
Old July 30, 2013, 02:48:22 PM
GrassPokemonFTW's Avatar
GrassPokemonFTW GrassPokemonFTW is offline
Kyurem
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: [INSERT GENERIC LOCATION HERE]
Posts: 2,222
Default

Chapter 11: And So, Life Goes On

I sat in the dressing room, my face in my hands, once again drenched in tears. I didn't know what to think anymore; loss after loss, death after death, I didn't know how to think anymore. I honestly began to feel that I wasn't cut out for being a trainer. I thought of my father, and the legacy I had to upkeep, and I once again buried my face in my hands.

"Father...I need help...I need guidance..."

Ms. Pokey was standing in front of the door, waiting for his return. She could not be moved, not by Sunshine's persuasion, nor by Broccoli's brute force. She sat there, solid as a statue and cold as ice. Her eyes did not even move from the doorknob, nor did they seem to blink. She was literally frozen in time, waiting for her friend to return. I tried to speak to her, but I was only met with unspoken resistance; no matter how much I tried to comfort her, her utter defiance to even look at me with her cold, black, unblinking eyes. After all the work I put into being able to bond and be on speaking terms, it all seemed to come crashing down. I bet Tropicana must be disappointed in what I've done.

"Grass, I...I don't know what to say...but all we can do is hope for the best, right?" Rosa said, still wearing her costume. "I'm sure this is hard for you..."

"Rosa, I...I'm doubting myself. I don't think I can do this anymore. My friends are dropping left and right, and I'm to blame..."

Rosa turned her head, as if staring off into the distance. "You know, Hugh told me something interesting earlier. He told me that you have the ability to speak to Pokémon, and understand their innermost thoughts. Now that I realize that you do truly possess that ability, I can understand that you're so close to your Pokémon. But he told me that Sir Ivy...he was the one who gave you solace when you lost Tropicana and Lilly. And you gave him solace when Cirrus was involved in Team Plasma's plot. But...to think, who you're going to gain solace from...that's scary."

I nodded, my hands trembling from the cold. "You know...the reason I went on this journey was to follow in my father's footsteps. I'm sure that wherever he is now...he's probably disappointed in me. I mean, look at me! It's been two days, and I've had three deaths, and potentially another...I just don't know anymore..."

Rosa clasped her hands together and trembled a little, like I had given off a little chill. "I don't know either...I guess the whole uncertainty of it all is dangerous. We don't know what to do from here, nor do we know of his condition...we're in the dark, and that makes us fearful. Grass, I...I can't force you to do anything, but I'm going to Driftveil City to meet up with Hugh and Looker. What you want to do is entirely up to you." She stood up and walked out of the dressing room, taking her street clothes with her to change. I remembered that she didn't have a chance to battle Elesa for the badge, but at the time, I didn't really care. I joined Ms. Pokey in staring at the door.

After what seemed like an eternity, the door opened. Ms. Pokey backed away from the door to make room, but her countenance of utter coldness didn't change. I had hoped that it was the nurse, but it was Curtis and Yancy, still decked out in their fancy costumes. They were completely different from their stage selves, however, as they both bore looks of sympathy.

"How're you holding up, Grass? I heard the story from Rosa," Curtis said, sitting down next to me. "That's tough...I'm glad I've never had to go through death like that. And to think, you've been through three...I have to hand it to you, you're tough. Tough as nails."

I shook my head. "No, I'm not tough. I'm stupid, I'm hasty, and I'm lucky to know what I'm doing half the time. And I'm sure my Pokémon agree." The rest of the team said nothing.

"D-don't say that!" Yancy intervened. "Looking at your battle with Elesa...you were totally c-cool! I sort of lost myself back there, watching your battle...you probably noticed, didn't you? Ehehe..."

I gave a weak smile, but in my mind I regretted it instantly. It wasn't the time to smile. But something in my mind told me to be optimistic, but another part told me that it wasn't going to happen.

Curtis sighed. "Well, I came here to tell you that his condition's still iffy, but he should make it out alive. The nurse tells me that he shouldn't have survived a strike of that power, but his mere determination is keeping him up. She's never seen anything like it."

I was surprised that the nurse could even come, considering the currently dilapidated conditions of the Pokémon Center. I gave kudos to them, for they were really dedicated to their job. I hoped that it was enough. I took a quick glance to Ms. Pokey. She was still sitting there, her eyes intently staring at the door. Her eyes were full of life and intensity, and yet, she seemed so cold and lifeless from where I sat. Curtis and Yancy both cast a quick glance over to Ms. Pokey as well.

"She looks...hm, I don't know how to describe it," Yancy murmured, putting her finger up to her cheek like an innocent child. "She seems...so distant." I kept looking at Ms. Pokey, as if expecting her to react, but she didn't. Not even a twitch.

"Almost like a Shedinja..." Curtis mumbled. "Completely still and unmoving."

At least, she was, until the door opened again. This time it was the nurse.

"Grass? Oh, there you are." She walked in, a clipboard with papers in her hands. "Your Servine's condition has been stabilized. He will be just fine."

At first I couldn't believe it, that I would have a spot of good luck after a seemingly endless chain of misfortune. I fell to my knees, sobbing like a hurt child, and then fell completely forwards, drowned in my own tears of happiness. Yancy patted my back in a desperate and clumsy attempt to comfort me, while Curtis nodded, snickering, "I knew it. That Servine is one tough customer, I knew it."

We all followed the nurse to the makeshift hospital that she had fashioned out of the stage that Elesa had been standing on when we battled. She was still there, but the atmosphere was far different. With no spectators, and medical equipment randomly sorted throughout the room, the place was a mess. There was still some trash around the auditorium from uncleanly fans, but it was good enough to create a makeshift room. At center stage, I saw a rolling hospital bed laid out, and atop it was Sir Ivy, his left eye heavily bandaged, but otherwise fine. In a fit of absolute euphoria, I dashed to him and embraced him, glad to see that he made it out of dust cloud, maybe not unscathed, but still alive. And at that moment, that was all that mattered.

"Grass! I am alright, there is no need to worry!" Sir Ivy said as he was in my arms. "But if you do not mind...could you let go? I am getting squeezed here..." I quickly retracted my arms and flushed in embarrassment. I looked him over; he was fine on the whole, but I particularly took notice of his left eye, which was covered in bloody bandages. He was still smiling, though, as if it weren't in any pain. The nurse walked up to me, noticing that I was trying to check on his eye.

"Oh, yes, that...that's one part we couldn't really fix. The collision caused a massive energy spike that seems to have concentrated into your Servine's eye, which created some pretty bad nerve damage. In time, we can see to it that we repair some of that nerve damage, but as fragile it is right now, we can't operate on it just yet. So, he won't be able to see out of that eye for some time." I lowered my shoulders. I didn't like the idea of Sir Ivy only being able to see out of one eye, but he didn't seem to mind. He was smiling, and didn't appear to be in any pain, regardless of how painful it appeared, so I had to be happy for him.

"Well, that's good to see. I was worried there for a moment." I spun around. Elesa, wearing normal street clothes, was holding the Gym Badge that I had won. I walked up to her, upon which she took my hand and placed the Bolt Badge in it.

"I apologize for my Zebstrika. He's not usually that frisky, I can tell you that. But your Servine appears fine, so I suppose no harm done, correct?"

I nodded. "Don't worry, he'll be fine." I turned back to him, seeing his bright, smiling face while the nurse applied some sort of gel to his arm to clean up his arm wound. "He's been through a lot of emotional difficulty yesterday...so to see him now, his smiling face, even when he's been through so much...yeah, I'm proud of him."

Elesa nodded. "I heard about what you've been through from your friend Hugh. He came to the Gym yesterday, and we talked it over. I just want to say that many Trainers before you have experienced the same sort of loss, and many among them have given up on their journeys because of it. Grass, to see you now, after losing three Pokémon...my, my, what a strong young man you've become."

I blushed a little. Who wouldn't when a brilliant supermodel was complimenting you? I shook it off after a while and placed the badge in my badge case. The doubt that I had felt was still somewhere in my heart, however; I had only just managed to dodge the bullet today. I hoped that I wouldn't have to encounter any near-misses like this in the future, but somewhere, I felt that I was still insufficient, that I didn't have what it takes to be what my father was. In any case, I had to focus my efforts on resuscitating Sir Ivy.

Sir Ivy slid off the bed carefully, and went up to the team, all of which seemed euphoric that Sir Ivy was fine.

"Well, well, Sir Ivy, I'm thoroughly impressed," said Sunshine, his smile wider than ever. "You had me worried there for a moment, with that Zebstrika's Flame Charge coming right at you. I think any of us here would've fled, but you stood your ground. Very impressive, if I may say so myself."

Ms. Pokey suddenly emerged and shoved Sunshine out of the way, then slapped Sir Ivy across the face in a sudden burst of rage. I stepped in to stop her, but Sunshine, who had fallen over, stopped me. This scene seemed awfully familiar. Ms. Pokey stood there without saying anything, her arms tense with anger, but all the same she was quivering with the same sadness of a child. Sir Ivy turned to her, holding his cheek in pain, his smile turned into a confused frown. Ms. Pokey trembled a moment, fumbling with the words that she wanted to say but would not emerge.

"Ms. Pokey, what is the matter? Is it that I..." Sir Ivy began, but he stopped as soon as he realized what was wrong. He took a step back and bowed his head. "I see...I am sorry, Ms. Pokey. I should have realized I was putting myself in a dangerous position. I apologize for the worry I caused you..." He then turned to the other members of the team. "And to you guys as well. I did not think my action through, I was hasty. I made a mistake, and I paid the price. But do not worry, this eye injury will not stop me." He caressed where his eye was, but felt only the cold, rugged feel of the bandages.

Ms. Pokey was still standing there, however, her entire body shaking. She still did not speak, and no longer could I tell if she was filled to the brim with anger or fear. She refused to even move, not even her mouth, which was struggling with the words she wanted to say. We all stood there, very awkwardly, until she finally got the words out.

"S-Sir Ivy...you're...such an...idiot..." She turned away from him. "But...I'm glad...you're okay..." She had been staring at the ground to hide her face, but under her hat I could see that she was crying. "Like, don't get the wrong idea...I'm still mad at you. Positively steaming. You made me so worried...and I thought...n-no, never mind. Just...forget I said anything." She folded her arms and walked away from him, still quivering. Sir Ivy smiled.

"Thanks, Ms. Pokey. You are always there for me."

Ms. Pokey didn't turn to look back.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Upon walking outside, I found that the afternoon was almost over. I knew I needed to catch up to Rosa, Hugh, and Looker, but I knew that if I began crossing the bridge to Driftveil City now, then it would probably be nighttime by the time I got there. I was all set to leave, when Curtis and Yancy, no longer in their costumes and now in normal street clothes, emerged from the auditorium and called out to me to have a word.

"Well, Grass, where are you headed now?" Curtis asked. His street clothes were incredibly concealing to the fact that he was a famous TV star and movie star among other things. I also stole a quick glance at Yancy, whose big white hat and overall simple shirt and skirt masked her popular identity as Nancy.

"Well, I guess I'm after Team Plasma...Rosa, Hugh, and this strange International Police agent are waiting for me there. So I'd better be off quickly."

Curtis nodded. "Well, looks like our paths divert again. I need to head back to Pokéstar Studios. Mr. Stu Deeoh has been having a fit of passion as of late, and he says he wants me back right away to shoot a movie. I sincerely hope it's not a sequel to that first movie we shot. Haha!" I giggled a bit too. I hadn't actually seen the movie myself, but I hoped to come across it someday to see what all the hubbub was about.

Yancy, in her soft, squeaky voice, interjected. "Well, um...I need to get to Mistralton City for my next performance...um, but I don't really have that many strong Pokémon with my, and Curtis is busy, so...um, Grass, I'd appreciate it if I could tag along with you." She suddenly blushed a deep red. "Oh! But it's not out of the way...um, I know you're going on the Gym challenge, and there's a Gym in Mistralton City...so..."

I smiled a little. "Why, I'd be delighted to escort you." I said it as if I didn't know anything of her Nancy identity, which clearly seemed to put her at ease. I figured that if we were going to get to Mistralton City without having any major problems with the paparazzi, I would have to keep her identity safe. She let out a big sigh of relief.

Curtis smiled. "Well, I hope you two don't get into any mix-ups. Be careful out there!" He headed south towards Route 4 and Castelia City, his blonde hair fluttering about in the breeze, even with his cap on. I turned to Yancy, whose lustrous pink hair was doing much of the same. She was holding her cap down with her hands, struggling against the evening wind.

"Well, it'll be getting dark soon. We should really get going," I said, motioning to Yancy to follow. Still holding her hat tightly, she slowly sauntered behind me. I had to make sure we didn't look too obvious, but also to make sure that we weren't so furtive that if anyone chanced to see us, they wouldn't need to be suspicious. The sun was just beginning to set on the Nimbasa horizon, and in the need to remain hidden, I began to feel that the sunlight was clearly exposing us to the public. I hoped that Yancy's disguise would be enough to trick people.

We managed through the Nimbasa streets without too many issues, but Route 5 was a different story. When I got there, there was a crowd that blocked off the bridge. I knew that there was no chance that I would be able to get through without going through the crowd, so I had Yancy stay back while I surveyed the situation. I looked deep into the crowd, to see the odd motorcyclist that I had seen the previous day in a full-on rage.

"I'm tellin' ya! That Pokémon just up and snatched my Pokéball from right under my nose! Why do ya' think I'm lyin'!?" The man was flailing his arms in a fit of fury. For someone as muscular and intimidating as he was yesterday, he looked more like a child today. The people in the crowd were whispering to each other, saying things such as "Oh, don't listen to him, he's just a heartbreaker." "Haha, Charles and his shenanigans..."

Charles growled at the onlookers, which caused them to recoil and fall backwards a way. I began to wonder what all the chaos was about.

"Erm, we're kind of in a hurry to get to Driftveil, so if you could..." I was going to try to get Charles out of the way, but he gave me an intensely intimidating stare that made me want to jump out of my own skin in fear. But his intense stare suddenly turned to desperation.

"Now you look here! You believe me right!? You gotta! Look, I've got no Pokémon with me, and I'm freaking out! How am I supposed to be a punk battler if I don't have my Pokémon with me!? You gotta help me out, kid!"

I shivered a bit in fright of his gruff voice, but I went along with it. "W-what happened? I'm sorry, I just got here, and..."

He revved his motorcycle in rage, which caused me to recoil and nearly fall backwards in fright. He then leaned down towards me and looked me dead in the eyes. "All right, here's what happened. Y'know that Team Plasma guy, the one in the robe?" I made it clear with my facial expression that I wasn't sure who he meant, as I knew two Team Plasma members in robes, Gorm and Ryoku. "Yeah, I was havin' a merry time, when out comes some guy in a robe! He didn't even see me, even when I 'ollered at him. But I caught the Plasma logo, he's gotta be one of 'em! But these people 'ere have got their 'eads in the ground and keep believin' that Team Plasma's gone!"

I was incredulous at first. "How could they not know? They were behind the attacks on Nimbasa City last night!"

"Well, I live in Driftveil, so I wouldn't know any o' that...but I did 'ear that Nimbasa City was attacked, 'n they said the police were investigatin' who done it. They said nothin' 'bout Team Plasma."

I wondered. It was true that no one from the police except Looker knew about the attack on the Pokémon Center and the subway system, so I guess that much was believable. "Well, if that's the case...well, then, what happened here?"

Charles nodded, his arms tightened in rage. "Well, then out comes this Pokémon, followin' Gorm around, an' here's what happened! He jumps out at me, and he snatches my Pokéballs from outta nowhere, and when I tried to catch 'im, he was gone! I'm tellin' ya, Team Plasma's at it again!"

I looked around, to see if I could catch any clues, but there didn't seem to be any traces of a Pokémon around here. I scratched my head. I didn't want to doubt him, on account of my own safety, but what else could I do? There wasn't any Pokémon in sight, and it seemed unlikely that a Team Plasma member would just up and reveal himself right in the middle of public, especially with an investigation going on...

"EEEEK!"

I spun around, my train of thought derailed. It was Yancy's scream! When I saw her where I left her, her hat had suddenly disappeared. I freaked out in that moment; with her hat gone, her identity was more obvious than ever, and when I spun back around to see Charles, his eyes were large with shock. I looked around to see where the hat had gone, but it was nowhere to be found. It couldn't have been the wind, because it died down...and why did Yancy scream like that?

"H-hey, wait!" Charles shouted, pointing to Yancy. "Aren't you that--"

Losing my sense of reason, I jumped at him and covered his mouth. The crowd didn't take much notice, as most of it had dispersed, ignoring Charles's pleas from before.

"Sssh! Not so loud!" I whispered angrily. "Yes, it's what you think, but you can't breathe a word about this!"

Charles looked at me angrily, but then his eyes turned back to shock. Muffled by my hand, he tried to shake me off, which I easily conceded, since I was merely a runt in strength compared to him.

"Hey, but aren't you that movie star too? What're you guys doing here?" Charles whispered, though I suspected that he would be angry with my sudden action and that he would not wish to comply to my wishes. I flushed a little and continued.

"Y-yeah, I'm that movie star. And yes, this is Nancy from TV. But please, you can't tell anyone! We're already in enough trouble right now as it is..."

Charles nodded, keeping his mouth shut. I turned back to Yancy, who was frantically trying to find her hat again, but to no avail.

"Yancy, what exactly happened? How'd you lose your hat?"

Yancy, kneeling down on the ground like a lost little girl, looked to me with worry in her eyes. "Well, um...I think, a Pokémon came out of nowhere and took it. And next thing I know, it was gone..."

"Hey, the exact same thing happened to me!" Charles said. "There's no coincidence. It's gotta be Team Plasma's plot again!" I took Yancy up by the hand, and looked around. There still was no sign of the Pokémon or either of the lost items anywhere.

"Charles, didn't you say where the man ran off to? He headed to Driftveil City, right?" I asked. Charles nodded to me, then looked out over the Driftveil Drawbridge. He then made a little nod.

"Well, I guess that settles it then. You two, hop on!"

Both Yancy and I were hesitant. It didn't look very safe to have three people riding the same motorcycle, but if we walked all the way across the drawbridge, it might be too late. I decided to take Charles up on his offer and hopped on. It wasn't a very comfortable or safe position that Yancy and I took, but we were at least able to hold on.

"Alright, guys, let's rock and roll!" Charles revved the motor and blazed his way onto the drawbridge. The oncoming wind and the sheer speed he drove his motorcycle made it incredibly difficult for Yancy and I to stay on. I looked around; the Driftveil Drawbridge was surprisingly lengthy, but had a beautiful view of the ocean on either side. I wasn't entirely sure if I could enjoy the scene, though, as my hands were quickly slipping from the motorcycle, making it very risky business to hold on. After what seemed like an eternity of struggle, we skidded to a stop in front of Driftveil City's famous fountain, where people hanging out there hollered at Charles for being a reckless moron. He hopped off his motorcycle, helping us down. Yancy seemed a bit dazed from our ride, but she was fine overall.

"So, where should we even begin looking?" I asked Charles, looking around for any Team Plasma members. "I don't see anyone..."

Charles shrugged his buff shoulders. "They must be hidin' out somewhere. I bet they're further in the city somewhere." The three of us walked down to the main part of the city. It was a lot smaller than Castelia City and Nimbasa City were, but it wasn't small in the slightest. It still had its share of large buildings, most notably the many various hotels that were in the area. I couldn't fathom why any one town would need so many hotels.

"NO NO NO GET OUTTA THE WAY!!!"
"GET BACK HERE, TEAM PLASMA SCUM!"

I recognized that voice. Charles and Yancy jumped when the voice suddenly screamed in terror. Looking out in the distance, I saw a Team Plasma Grunt fleeing from Hugh, who was in turn being followed by some strange-looking man in a robe. I quickly identified the man in the robe as a Team Plasma Sage, but it wasn't Gorm or Ryoku. Once they really came into view, Charles pointed at the sage.

"H-hey! That's him! That's the guy!"

If he was the thief, then Hugh was in trouble! In my haste, I tossed into the air two Pokéballs, and prayed they would be ones that could assist me in the capture of the grunt and the sage. I ended up with Fassad and Broccoli. Broccoli quickly went to action, swiftly grabbing the sage and holding him back. Fassad, on the other hand, freaked out in his timidity and was nearly stepped on by the grunt. However, in a lucky stroke for me, Fassad was able to unintentionally trip the grunt, causing him to fall over and land on his face. After he fell, Hugh pinned him down and called for Looker.

Fassad hobbled over to the grunt, almost apologetically. "I-I-I'm sorry! I d-didn't mean to trip you..."

"Fassad, why are you apologizing? There's no need, you did well this time."

Fassad looked back to me, a little shaken and nervous. "O-oh...hehe...then, uh..." He said nothing more. I then turned to Hugh.

"Hugh, what's going on? What's Team Plasma up to this time?" I asked him, as he proceeded to force the grunt's hand behind his back. Hugh looked seriously up to me.

"I can't say I'm sure. But whatever it is, it can't be good."

"Excuse me..."

The sage had begun to speak, though it caused Broccoli to grab even tighter. The sage grimaced a little as he was being held tightly by the Simisage, but he continued to speak calmly as he could. "If you could...would you...unhand me?" He struggled a little bit, but to no avail.

"Hey, shaddup, your Pokémon stole my Pokéballs!" Charles shouted.

"And my hat!" Yancy added in her squeaky voice, but no one seemed to notice her.

"I'm afraid I don't understand..." the sage said, still struggling.

"Can it, Team Plasma scum!" Hugh shouted.

"I told you, I'm not part of the current Team Plasma any more!" he shouted back.

"Stop struggling!" Broccoli groaned.

"Give me back my Pokémon!"

"U-uh...w-what's happening?"

"My haaaaaat!!!"

"Mrrrrph! Mrrrrrrph!"

"Shut up, or I'll keep twisting your arm!"

"MRRRRRRPH!"

"What's going on!? I'm so confused!" I shouted in utter confusion. All the commotion suddenly stopped right then and there, and everyone in the area, including passersby, stared at me, annoyed. I shrunk back a little, embarrassed by the sheer number of eyes looking at me. I adjusted my countenance a bit so that I could refocus my concentration on figuring out the situation.

"So...um, Broccoli, let go of him." Broccoli did just that, letting the sage breathe a little bit. He bowed his head down in thanks.

"Thank you, child. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Rood, and I am the head of the ex-Team Plasma. You see, 2 years ago, the organization split into two factions...ours is dedicated to N, our king and hero. The other, which you see pinned under your friend there...he is a member of the new Team Plasma, who is led by Ghetsis, a scheming man who used to be the head of us sages before the split. I haven't the faintest idea where he is now, though..."

He then caught sight of Charles and Yancy, and he cleared his throat before continuing. "Now, I hate to be a bother...but I'm afraid I know nothing of who took your Pokéballs or your hat. I did indeed pass you when I was on my way to return to Driftveil...but I had not brought any Pokémon with me. The cause of the thievery lies elsewhere. However, if I may, I would like to help you search for your missing items."

Hugh grabbed the grunt's arm even harder. "I'll bet you anything that this guy is responsible..."

The grunt managed to speak, despite his face being well-acquainted with the ground. "Urf...I didn't do nothin'...I swears it..."

"Hmm..." I began to murmur. "If neither of you did it, than who could've..."

"Hold on, Grass. Are you actually going to believe him!?"

I took what he said into account. I didn't really know who to believe in this situation. Luckily, I wouldn't have to think about that.

"STOP! HEEEELP!"

We all spun around to hear a distress call from a woman across the street. Near her, I saw a Pokémon that I hadn't seen before, trying to dig into the concrete, but with no avail. He seemed to be in a panic, with his hands full, as he was carrying a large sack full with miscellaneous items. He kept trying to dig away, but he wasn't making any progress.

"Hey, is that--!?"

The sack had traces of a little wear-and-tear on it. As he continued to dig a fruitless dig, the sack tore open and its contents began to spill out. From that tear, some Pokéballs, a Badge Case, a purse, and two hats spilled out. Charles quickly ran in and grabbed the Pokéballs in elation, while Hugh followed to grab his badge case, and Yancy ran in and got her hat. The remaining hat didn't seem to belong to any of us. It was an odd-looking cowboy hat, which I didn't imagine anyone wearing in this day and age.

"Ack! No, my loot!" the Pokémon groaned. "Why can't I Dig outta here!?"

"Yaaaay, my hat~!" Yancy squealed in delight. "But why is this Leafeon stealing things?"

"That's what this Pokémon is? Leafeon...that name sounds familiar. I haven't ever seen one though..." I quickly looked it up in the Pokédex.

"Leafeon, the Verdant Pokémon, and the evolved form of Eevee. With cells similar to those of plants, it performs photosynthesis inside its body and creates pure air.

The Leafeon began to inch away, knowing that I wasn't going to let it go off scot-free, just because he couldn't successfully make his getaway with the items. I called Sir Ivy out to take him on. Sir Ivy still had his bandages on his eyes, and he was still a little disoriented by it, but he was still able to hold his own. Rather than want to battle me, however, the Leafeon kept trying to dig fruitlessly through the concrete.

"Oh, dear boy, do not be a coward!" Sir Ivy taunted. The Leafeon glared right back at him and stopped digging. The Leafeon quickly charged at him with a Quick Attack, but Sir Ivy quickly dodged.

"Hmph! I thought so. Now, shall we finish this?" Sir Ivy charged at the Leafeon with Return, inflicting a massive amount of damage, knocking him backwards.

"Owowowow! Hey...that's not nice at all..." he struggled back up, but wasn't out.

"Well, that is too bad. If you want to see nice, then I shall give you a show!" Right on cue, Sir Ivy became encloaked in the light of evolution once more. His body grew longer and more serpent-like, and he took on a more regal appearance than before. When the light disappeared, he had evolved into Serperior!

"Alright, now then, how to finish you off?" Sir Ivy snickered, seeing that the Leafeon was intimidated beyond the sense of reason, as he fled, tail between his legs, trying to dig through the concrete once more. I sighed.

"I'll finish this, Sir Ivy. Pokéball, go!" I hurled the Pokéball to the Leafeon, who was an easy target with his tail up in the air, his back exposed as he continued to attempt a dig escape. It clearly did not work, as the ball landed its target, and caught it without much trouble.

NEW MEMBER!
Pokémon Sprite 470
Latifole the Leafeon (♂)
Met 7/26/2013, at Route 6, at Level 25
Naughty Nature, Mischievous.
Ability: Leaf Guard // Moves: Quick Attack // GrassWhistle // Magical Leaf // Giga Drain

Sir Ivy smiled. "And that is the end of that tale."

Charles nodded. "Hey, kid, you're tougher than I thought! We should battle sometime...but, I'm busy, ya' know. Bein' a heartbreaker bad dude is a full-time occupation, ya' know what I'm sayin'? But, now that I got my Pokémon back, it's time for me to be off. You and Nan...er, I mean, Yancy...you two be careful out there, y'hear?"

I nodded. "I hear ya. It was nice meeting you, Charles!"

Charles wiped his hair to the side and faced away from us, back to where he left his motorcycle. He put his shades on and pretended to rev his motorcycle. "I'm a heartbreaker... My name... Charles. Riding a bike and becoming the wind fits a bad boy like me." He then dashed off. Yancy had to dash to get out of his way, as he was charging like a mad Tauros.

"Well...that happened. Yancy, you all right?" Yancy turned to me and gave me a nervous thumbs-up, her other hand keeping her hat in place. I then looked to Hugh and Rood, who were still tending to the grunt, who was still pinned to the ground. "Well, Hugh, it looks like that guy didn't steal anything. Why don't you let him go?"

Hugh looked at me incredulously. "Are you kidding me, Grass!? Have you any idea what they've done!? You can't possibly forgive them that easily!"

I shrugged. "Well, yes, I'm still angry...but what's holding onto grudges going to do? I can't just let you hurt this guy, even if he is part of Team Plasma. Rood, you understand what I mean too, right?"

Rood stroked his beard and nodded. "I too have been among Team Plasma, and I still receive hate from the people. Even the members who have not done anything to harm trainers, they too have faced discrimination. I feel this man is the same. He does not look to be dangerous. Hugh, please...let him go."

Hugh grimaced and groaned, still holding the grunt's arm behind his back. The grunt was doing the same and seemed to be praying for salvation from this pain. Eventually, Hugh backed off and let him go, prompting the grunt to dash off, holding his arm in pain.

"Grass...I know you're a really forgiving kind of guy," Hugh mumbled. "But I can't stand back and let Team Plasma go around hurting people. You may have forgotten, but I need you to back me up when the time comes to take out Team Plasma. But as it is, I'm beginning to doubt whether or not you'll support me when the time approaches. I know it's going to happen, and I can't do it alone. I know there's Rosa, but...I need you to help me too." Hugh turned around. "I'm going to go see Looker. I'd suggest you find who that cowboy hat belongs to." Hugh then dashed off without another word. I wanted to talk to him about Team Plasma, though, but I was too late. He was gone.

Rood bowed his head again. "I don't know what you two have been through on account of Team Plasma...but in place of my former allies, I apologize. If you would like, I would like you to come visit our headquarters some time. As for the hat...it looks like it belongs to the Gym Leader of this place, Clay. I'd pay a visit to him if I were you."

I nodded. "T-thanks, Rood. I will." I recalled Sir Ivy to his Pokéball, and made my way to the gym, where the next trial stood...


The Crew    
  • Sir Ivy - Serperior - ♂ // Level 38
  • Met 7/3/2013, at Aspertia City, at Level 5
  • Moves: Leech Seed // Coil // Leaf Blade // Return
  • Held Item: Scope Lens
  • Ability: Overgrow
  • Nature: Quirky (neutral)
  • Characteristic: Likes to relax.
  • Changes in this Part: Gained 4 Levels, learned Coil, evolved
  • Ms. Pokey - Cacturne - ♀ // Level 37
  • Met 7/4/2013, at Floccesy Ranch, at Level 5
  • Moves: Venoshock // Leech Seed // Faint Attack // Sand-Attack
  • Held Item: None
  • Ability: Sand Veil
  • Nature: Naive (+Spd, -SpD)
  • Characteristic: Strongly defiant.
  • Changes in this Part: Gained 5 Levels
  • Fassad - Foongus - ♂ // Level 35
  • Met 7/6/2013, at Virbank Complex, at Level 11
  • Moves: Giga Drain // Synthesis // Toxic // Venoshock
  • Held Item: Eviolite
  • Ability: Effect Spore
  • Nature: Timid (+Spd, -Atk)
  • Characteristic: Likes to fight.
  • Changes in this Part: Gained 3 Levels, learned Synthesis
  • Sunshine - Sunflora - ♂ // Level 36
  • Met 7/16/2013, at Route 16, at Level 21
  • Moves: Giga Drain // Leech Seed // Razor Leaf // Petal Dance
  • Held Item: Miracle Seed
  • Ability: Solar Power
  • Nature: Bashful (neutral)
  • Characteristic: Strong willed.
  • Changes in this Part: Gained 3 Levels
  • Broccoli - Simisage - ♂ // Level 37
  • Met 7/16/2013, at Lostlorn Forest, at Level 21
  • Moves: Seed Bomb // Acrobatics // Low Kick // Bite
  • Held Item: None
  • Ability: Gluttony
  • Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
  • Characteristic: A little quick tempered.
  • Changes in this Part: Gained 4 Levels, learned Low Kick
  • Latifole - Leafeon - ♂ // Level 36
  • Met 7/26/2013, at Route 6, at Level 25
  • Moves: Strength // Swords Dance // Dig // Giga Drain
  • Held Item: None
  • Ability: Leaf Guard
  • Nature: Naughty (+Atk, -SpD)
  • Characteristic: Mischievous.
  • Changes in this Part: Gained 11 Levels, learned Strength, Swords Dance, and Dig

The Reserves    
None

The Fallen    

  • Tropicana - Tropius - ♀
  • Met 7/3/2013, at Route 19, at Level 4
  • Died 7/15/2013, at Relic Castle, at Level 26
  • Moves: Strength // Gust // Growth // Razor Leaf
  • Ability: Solar Power
  • Nature: Gentle (+SpD, -Def)
  • Characteristic: Impetuous and silly.
  • Lilly - Lilligant - ♀
  • Met 7/8/2013, at Castelia City, at Level 15
  • Died 7/16/2013, at Route 5, at Level 27
  • Moves: Growth // Leech Seed // Sleep Powder // Giga Drain
  • Ability: Own Tempo
  • Nature: Hardy (neutral)
  • Characteristic: Alert to sounds.
  • Cirrus - Cottonee - ♀
  • Met 7/16/2013, at Route 5, at Level 23
  • Died 7/18/2013, at Nimbasa City, at Level 28
  • Moves: Giga Drain // Charm // Razor Leaf // PoisonPowder
  • Ability: Prankster
  • Nature: Quiet (+SpA, -Spd)
  • Characteristic: Alert to sounds.
  

Current Location: Driftveil City


Click here for the systematic version.

Last edited by GrassPokemonFTW; July 30, 2013 at 02:49:14 PM.
  #14  
Old August 1, 2013, 08:17:17 PM
GrassPokemonFTW's Avatar
GrassPokemonFTW GrassPokemonFTW is offline
Kyurem
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: [INSERT GENERIC LOCATION HERE]
Posts: 2,222
Default

Chapter 12, Part 1: Groundbreaking Ceremony

The Driftveil Gym was interesting; I couldn't imagine why anyone would want to be in a place where the lighting was so dark that you could barely see where you were going. And yet, there were workers, hammering away at the ground and uncovering precious gems from the earth. I had trouble trying to find my step, as I kept almost falling off the moving platforms. This gym in itself has got to be a safety hazard!

As I was moving around on the platforms, I began to think about what Hugh said, what Rood had told me, and what Team Plasma had done. I thought about how enraged Hugh was, and I wondered how he got to be so angry and vengeful against them. Hugh had never told me, but then again, I hadn't lived in Aspertia for very long...so I guess it was just because I wasn't there for whatever happened. I heard that they had some big plan 2 years ago...did it have something to do with that?

I also began to wonder about the strange behavior that some Pokémon have been displaying. The two Sigilyph, Ryoku's Volcarona, Elesa's Zebstrika...did Team Plasma have anything to do with this? I began to think about it, and I began to wonder if there was a correlation. There might have been, one never knows right off the bat.

In losing myself to thought, I didn't notice when the platform made an abrupt stop, causing me to fall forwards and land face-forward. As I picked myself up, the figure of a domineering man was before me. His boots were shining with pure luster, his cowboy jeans oversized and baggy, and his shirt complete with fringes. He had a very intimidating look, and yet also the cleanliness and the astuteness of a businessman. There was no mistaking it; he was the Gym Leader.

"Hey, ye' good fer nothin' prawn. Yer gettin' dirt all over the floor. Get yer butt off the ground an' state yer business," the man growled. I picked myself up promptly, though I'm not sure what prompted me to get up so fast. I guess I thought that, with his professional yet gruff appearance, he probably would pick me up and tear me a new spine if I didn't. I even dusted myself off, even though there was no dirt to be found on the floor like he claimed. In my hastiness to get up and comply to his wishes, I almost forgot what I came for.

"Oh! Um..." I pulled out the cowboy hat I found from the Leafeon's sack of loot. I dusted it off a little bit before presenting it to him. He took it from my hands, a little bitter, and looked to see if it wasn't dirty or the like. But I noticed, as he was looking at it, he was already wearing the same hat. Why did he...?

"Hm. Well, then, I guess I should thank ye. I was wonderin' where that hat got off to."

"N-no problem...um...but aren't you already wearing...?"

He tipped his hat a little before he answered. "Oh, I got a whole locker full of 'em. I imagine I'd look perty ridiculous if I wore the same hat day in, day out. It'd get perty dirty. But you know, it never hurts to have more of 'em."

I nodded, though I wasn't sure if I liked his idea of having multiples of the same hat.

"Well, then, should we git on with it? Krokorok, show him what-fer!" he suddenly shouted, tossing out a Pokéball. From the Pokéball emerged his Krokorok, a menacing one at that. Once again, in my haste, I forgot that this man was Clay, the Gym Leader! I had been shocked beyond my own ability to react, which left me to just stand there, my mouth open ajar and stunned motionless.

"Grrmmph..." Clay growled. "What were ya' expectin', an intro? You kids these days, you got no respect for yer elders."

"O-oh! I'm sorry, I know who you are, I was just...erm, never mind..." I produced my own Pokéball. "Sunshine, let's get it done!" Sunshine popped out, not at all intimidated by the Krokorok, or even by Clay's glare. He spat a little bit of something out of his mouth, and scowled at Sunshine.

"Type advantage ain't gonna git ya' nowhere wit' me. Krokorok, use Sand Tomb!" The Krokorok jumped into the fray and began to dig around, sending a bunch of dust clouds around to try and trap Sunshine within the vortex. I wouldn't let him.

"Sunshine, use Giga Drain, and don't let up on any of your power!" I called to him. Once again, I couldn't read his expression, making it very hard for me to tell if he heard me, or understood what I wanted him to do. After a time, he extended roots underneath him, which eventually erupted from the ground and grabbed Clay's Krokorok and drained energy from him. A direct, super-effective hit! Without much of a fight, the Krokorok went down, exhausted and unable to battle.

"Grrmph. Well that's a shame," Clay muttered to himself as he recalled his fallen Krokorok. "I hate to admit it to a lazy-lookin' prawn such as yerself, but you've got some powerful Pokémon. But see if you can keep it up! Go, Sandslash!" He sent out his next Pokémon, a Sandslash, which genuinely looked tough, but I believed in Sunshine's ability to take him on.

"Alright, Sunshine, use Giga Drain again!" I commanded. Sunshine began to move the roots towards Sandslash this time, but something went wrong this time. It was almost as if Clay predicted my move.

"Hmph. Too slow. Sandslash, use Crush Claw!"

The Sandslash dodged the vines, and much to my surprise, slashed right through the roots, then slashed right at Sunshine. Sunshine was hit hard by the Sandslash's sharp claws, leaving a gash on his right leaf, but his face was unchanging, so it made it difficult for me to even tell if he was in any pain. Sunshine quickly created new roots, and they erupted from the ground just the same, entrapping Sandslash and sapping his energy.

"The same old trick ain't gonna work. Sandslash, Rollout yerself outta there!" Sandslash struggled to get in position, but at length, he managed to begin rolling, cutting the roots with the spines on his back. Eventually he broke free, but I wouldn't let him catch Sunshine off guard.

"Sunshine, use Double-Edge!" I commanded. Sunshine began to charge recklessly at the rolling Sandslash, and when they collided, they ended up flinging each other backwards. Sunshine went for a tumble, but he picked himself back up, while the Sandslash lay there out of breath. Clay gave a little annoyed growl and recalled his Sandslash to the Pokéball.

"I won't accept this. Yer nothin' but a lazy trainer with powerful Pokémon. And I'll prove it to ya' that yer nothin' but lucky to have made this far. Show him what-fer, Excadrill!" He sent out his final Pokémon, a very menacing looking mole with steel claws and a very muscular build. I was beginning to actually become incredibly angry at Clay for his continuous mockery of my skills. My hands were shaking, and my teeth were clenched. I was determined to prove him wrong.

"Sunshine, how are you holding up?" I asked. He turned back and gave me a wide smile.

"Not too great. This gash is starting to really hurt."

"Then why are you...agh, never mind. Return, Sunshine!" Sunshine's Pokéball in hand, I had him retreat to safety. Better to be safe than sorry.

Clay raised an eyebrow. "Why are ye talkin' to yer Pokémon? You ain't gone nuts, have ye?"

I glared back at him. "No, I haven't. It's just my personal ability."

Clay folded his arms sternly. "Some ability. Impressive. But yer not any better 'cause of it."

I was stewing now. I reached to my back to get the Leafeon's Pokéball out of my bag, but I found that I didn't even have my bag around my back. I spun around to see if I had dropped it behind me, but it wasn't there either. I was beginning to panic; all my Pokéballs, sans Sunshine's, were in there! I didn't have any idea what to do, since Sunshine was already weak, and I had no other Pokémon to switch out to.

"See? Yer luck's finally catchin' up to ya'. Ye ain't gonna be a great trainer if ye don't take responsibility fer yer actions...er, what's that?"

Suddenly, the ground beneath Excadrill began to bulge upwards. It was hardly noticeable at first, but at length, the ground began to bulge a little more, little by little. Both Clay and I were staring intensely at the bulge, and Excadrill stood back to examine, until it erupted with massive force, when the Leafeon suddenly emerged and struck Clay's Excadrill right in the chin! Surprised by the sudden attack, the Excadrill toppled backwards and fell on his back. The Leafeon jumped back to my side and gave a little snicker.

"H-hey! You! What're you...!?" I began, but I honestly had no idea what was going on. The Leafeon looked back to me and gave me a little quirky sneer.

"Hey, where's the thanks?" he snickered as he licked his lips. I was a little disconcerted by his sudden appearance, but I was also glad to see that he appeared so that Sunshine wouldn't have to bear the whole weight of the battle on his own. At the same time, though, I was still worried because it felt like my bag had just disappeared from thin air.

"Umm...thanks...I guess. Erm, where did you even come from, though? Weren't you supposed to be...well, in my bag...which I can't find..."

The Leafeon raised his brow and chuckled. "Man, you just can't put 2 and 2 together, huh? Listen, buddy, first off, you're bag isn't here. I got bored, so I thought I'd just snatch your bag and hightail it back to that chick you were with."

"What do you...oh! Wait, you took it to Yancy? Oh, well, that's a relief...WAIT, you stole my bag!? Why'd you do that!?"

"Pfft, man, you're bad at listening. I was bored, so I decided to play a little prank. You clearly aren't the most observant guy in the world, aren't ya?"

I scratched my head and sighed. "I guess it can't be helped. You...um...your name is...?"

"Latifole, bud, the name's Latifole. Now if you'll excuse me..." He suddenly began to dig frantically, and unlike when we first encountered him, his digging paid off as he dug out of sight. The Excadrill was left there, not knowing from where Latifole was going to strike.

"Gah, well, we've got no choice. Excadrill, use Bulldoze!" The Excadrill struck his long steel claws together, then slammed them both down to the ground, shaking the earth. The platform upon which we stood began to crumble, with huge cracks forming in it. However, it was too late; Latifole suddenly emerged from the earth, right behind the Excadrill. He struck at him with his sharpened claws, inflicting a massive amount of damage to Excadrill. He stood firm at first, but after a while, he flopped forwards and collapsed entirely, his breath heavy with exhaustion.

Clay grumbled again as he recalled his Excadrill to his Pokéball. "Well done. And I mean that to yer Pokémon, not you." He dusted his sleeves off, as if he was intentionally trying to irk me. "Yer Pokémon are sure powerful, they got lots o' skill. It's you that I've got a problem with. Y'see, yer commandin' style ain't doin' yer Pokémon justice. Y' gotta do better than that. If ye get my drift, then ye ain't got any problems wit' me to discuss."

I hung my head, both from disappointment that I indeed made myself look like a fool in that last battle, and also from my own anger that he was lecturing me. He didn't even know me!

"Well, then unless ye got any business wit' me, then git! Git outta here, yer gettin' dirt all over the place."

"W-wait, what about my badge? I...er, I don't mean to sound rude, but I did still win the battle...right?"

Clay shook his head. "Yeh, ye won the battle, but ye ain't deservin' of the badge if that's what yer lookin' for. I only award the badge t' folks who not only got Pokémon that can beat mine, but also folks who got a strong spirit. Which yer severely lackin'."

"My spirit!? You've got to be..." I thought that it was such an absurd reason to deny me the badge, but I then thought of all the times my spirit had wavered. I thought about when Tropicana died and I lost the will to hope for the future, even when she told me herself that he who lacked hope had nothing. I remembered how I felt like I couldn't go on as a trainer when Sir Ivy was almost taken out in my last Gym Battle. I remembered how my Pokémon have been stronger than I have, and I began to realize the validity of Clay's words. My anger started to seep away and was replaced with doubt. The same doubt that I felt before about my own existence as a Trainer, right after Sir Ivy nearly was felled by Elesa's Zebstrika.

Clay grunted a little to get my attention. "I see yer startin' to see what exactly I mean. But ye still got time to prove yerself. Here, follow me." Clay pulled some odd-looking remote control that caused the platform we were standing on to lurch up. Even in the rubble that Excadrill's Bulldoze had caused, the platform had no problems rising up. When it had finished rising, we were finally at the main lobby where I had originally entered. Yancy was there too, tending to the other members of the party. Sir Ivy quickly took notice of me, prompting the others to give a wave.

"Welcome back, Grass," Sir Ivy smirked. "I trust Sunshine and that little jerk Leafeon got the job done, correct?"

Sunshine and Latifole emerged from behind me, the former still clutching his torn arm, the latter smirking with a wicked smile. I gave a little thumbs up. "Yup, but it looks like we'll need more than what we've done to get the badge."

Sir Ivy frowned. "Ah, I see...well, whatever challenge it may be, we shall overcome it somehow. Right guys?"

Ms. Pokey nodded, albeit a little annoyed. Broccoli was being stoic as usual, only acknowledging with a slight nod. Fassad quivered a little bit, but nodded all the same. With Sir Ivy now fully evolved, I began that he was starting to become more of a leader to the team than I was. Clay obviously took notice of this, as he looked at me while I was talking to him, as if he were scanning my thoughts. I then saw a little hole in the floor where Latifole had obviously emerged and returned through when he stole my bag. I looked at Clay nervously, hoping that he didn't notice, though it was obvious that he did and that he was not at all pleased.

"Y'know yer payin' fer that, right?" Clay asked, clearly not joking. I sighed.

"Well, anyways, we ain't got time to dilly-dally any longer. I'm goin' on ahead. Ye better get prepared at the Pokémon Center. Once yer ready, head to the south o' town. I'll meet ye there." Clay moved ahead, looking very professional in his country business attire. I got off the platform and had everyone regroup to tell them about the situation with the Gym Battle with Clay.

"Ugh, well, I guess we better go quickly..." Ms. Pokey groaned. "I've been itching for some action lately. It doesn't help that this jerk didn't even let us see your match against Clay." Latifole gave another wicked grin, to which Ms. Pokey almost retaliated with a punch in the face.

"Hey, hey, no need for that," Latifole said, grinning evilly. "You should be leavin' your skills in the kitchen, if you know what you mean."

Ms. Pokey snapped and charged at Latifole, only held back by a struggling Sir Ivy. She started screaming, "YOU LITTLE SQUIRT! I'LL SKIN YOU ALIVE!" Latifole shrugged and gave a little laugh.

"Girl, it's just a joke. Sheesh, no need to take it seriously."

"Ms. Pokey, please!" Sir Ivy pleaded. "Calm down! He's not worth it!" Ms. Pokey kept struggling, regardless, trying desperately to get at Latifole's throat for his insolence. Latifole didn't seem at all intimidated by Ms. Pokey's raging fury, which was odd, because I remember him running away, fearing his life, when he battle Sir Ivy. Perhaps he was more intimidated by Sir Ivy, him being the team leader and all.

"Erm...c'mon, guys, we got to catch up with Clay. Yancy, are you ready to head out?"

Yancy, who had sort of dozed off in all of the excitement, suddenly bolted up, adjusting her hat nervously. "Um...y-yes!" I wondered how she could even doze with all the commotion that Ms. Pokey and Latifole were causing. I didn't interrogate her any further, though, since she was already fragile in her state as it was. I opened the glass door, hoping to be able to make it through to the other side of Driftveil City without any interruptions, but of course, there were interruptions abound.

"Grass! So, how did it go!?" Hugh suddenly emerged, as soon as Yancy and I had opened the door and made it outside. I nearly facepalmed at how quickly we were interrupted, but I guess I knew it was going to happen eventually, so I refrained from it.

"Um...well, we beat him, and he didn't award us the badge. Then he told us to follow him. It was...really weird..."

Hugh stomped the ground. "Really!? Agh, that guy! The same thing happened to me! He said some bull about how I'm only in the business of Pokémon training for vengeance. What the hell's his problem?"

I had to admit that I agreed with Clay on that one, but I didn't say anything.

"Anyways, he told me to go to some Pokémon World Tournament thing to the south of here. I waited here to see if you got the badge, and maybe go with you, along with Rosa and Looker. I figured it'd be as good a time as any to test my skills against you."

"Pokémon World Tournament, huh? I guess that where he's leading me...oh, but where are Rosa and Looker, anyways?"

"They're waiting at the Pokémon Center. You should come with me, since I bet your Pokémon are tired, right?"

I nodded in affirmative. We went to the Center together, but much to my chagrin, it was obscenely crowded with a whole truckload of trainers. It was almost as crowded there as when I had trouble getting any personal space at the Virbank City Pokémon Center. A lot of the trainers even looked like they weren't from around here. The whole potpourri of people there made me feel a little uneasy, and I could tell that Yancy was feeling the same. A nurse passed by us as we were carefully stepping our way through, and she kindly stopped for us.

"Oh, would you like me to take your Pokémon for you?" she asked, smiling, despite the clear state of business she was in. I felt kind of bad for giving two more Pokémon in her care. I didn't bother with the team members who didn't battle, so I simply handed Sunshine and Latifole into her care, which responded with a smile as she made her way into the other room.

Hugh beckoned me to the elevator. "Rosa and Looker are staying on the fourth floor. We'll take the elevator up...that is, if you can make it through the crowd. I think I stepped on a few feet as I made my way there, but I managed to make it without a fiasco. Yancy was holding onto my shoulders so that she wouldn't get lost, but as soon as we got into the elevator, she retracted her arms and blushed heavily.

"Say, Grass, I've been meaning to ask; who is she? She seems familiar."

Yancy flushed. "W-what? M-me? N-n-no, I don't think I am who you think I am...hahahaha!" She turned away, hiding her face. Hugh rubbed his chin, clearly suspicious.

"Grass, who is she?"

I wasn't sure how to respond, even though I knew that someone was going to grow suspicious eventually. I had to come up with a white lie so that I wouldn't feel completely guilty to Hugh for not telling the truth, all the while protecting her identity.

"Um...she's a friend of mine. You might have seen her once when she visited Aspertia City...well, at least I think so. She visited once, but I don't think you met her. Um, anyways, this is Yancy. Yancy, this is Hugh."

Yancy, her voice squeaky and stammering, hardly made enough noise for Hugh to audibly here. She held her hand out to handshake, which Hugh took a little suspiciously. As they shook hands, the elevator suddenly lurched to a stop, and the doors slowly slid open, revealing a very hotel-like interior. I joked that Driftveil City must be the land of hotels. The three of us walked down the corridor until Hugh turned and knocked on one of the doors. The door slowly opened, with Rosa right in front. Her big bright smile greeted us at the door.

"Oh, Hugh, you're back! Grass and Yancy came too, it seems!" Rosa beamed, letting us in. The Pokémon Center room was far fancier than any of the other ones I stayed in. The one in Virbank City was alright, and I didn't get to enjoy the one in Nimbasa on account of my hardships there. Here was full of gemstones that looked a lot like the ones the workers were digging up in the Gym, while the whole room was adorned with very fancy-looking furniture, most of which, as I later learned, was imported from other regions. As we stepped in, there were some familiar and unfamiliar faces that greeted us.

As far as people I was familiar with, I saw Curtis, which had actually surprised me, since I thought that he was at Pokéstar Studios for a shoot, like he had told me beforehand. Next to him, leaning back in a chair, I saw Bianca, which was a welcome surprise. I hadn't seen her since we were in the Desert Resort.

"Oh, Bianca! I...I know I left on a rather sour note when we last parted, but it's great to see you again."

Bianca had her trademark aloof smile on her face. "The same to you! I was, like, worried after what happened to Tropicana, you wouldn't want to continue on your journey. Looks like I had nothing to worry about, huh?"

I turned to Curtis. "Well, I'm surprised to see you here, Curtis! Weren't you off to Pokéstar Studios."

He replied in a really peculiar voice. "Pokéstar Studios? What you are talking about, I have no idea!"

I raised an eyebrow in confusion. Curtis did the same. He then made a sudden gasp.

"Oh! My apologies, I am once again forgetting to take off my disguise! Once again, I am sorry, I am sorry, once again!" He then ripped off his wig, hat, and clothes to reveal that he was actually Looker. I laughed; I should have known by his peculiar way of speaking. His sudden burst elicited reactions from the two others in the room, whom I had never seen before. One of them was a little girl, much younger than I, who had long dark salmon-pink hair with a matching pair of shoes and shorts, and wore a plain white shirt with a pink bow at the collar. The other, a much more serious man complete with a blue hat and coat, along with his black shirt and trousers, didn't seem nearly as amused as she was at Looker's antics.

"Sigh...Looker, you never change, do you?" the man sighed. He adjusted his hat to keep his hair out of his eyes. The little girl was nearly in hysterics.

"Oh, I guess I haven't introduced you guys," Rosa interjected. "Grass, Hugh, Yancy, this little girl is Mira. And the handsome man here, his name is Riley. They're both here from the Sinnoh region to compete in the Pokémon World Championships." I remembered that I was to meet Clay there; I had no idea that Trainers from other regions would be there to challenge us. Hugh seemed just as surprised as I was.

Riley gave both Hugh and I a little stare that put us off edge. He then smiled, offering his hand to us. "You two...I really see a lot of potential in you two. Are you two participating as well?"

I shook his hand first. "Yup, Clay invited me and Hugh here to participate." Hugh followed me up with a firm handshake to Riley.

Mira jumped off her seat to get a better look at Hugh and I. "Hmm...Mira thinks you two are strong. Mira senses that you have strong Pokémon!" She outstretched her arms above her. "Okay! Mira's decided! Mira's not going to lose either!" I smiled; such innocence, such optimism. It was like watching me from my younger days.

Riley saw me eyeing Mira, and chuckled a little. "I know what you're thinking, and it may not seem like it, but Mira here's been a trainer for quite some time. She's not new to this, not at all. Although she does come off a little...well, like a child. Like she should."

Mira pouted almost instantly. "Hey! Mira thinks that Riley's being a teeny bit mean! Mira thinks that you are going down in the tournament!"

Riley chuckled. "We shall see, we shall see."

Rosa spoke up. "Well, since we're all here, why don't we head down there together. I'm sure that a whole bunch of other trainers from different regions are going to be there. So why don't we beat the crowd and get there early?"

"Mira thinks that is a good idea!"

"I agree," Riley said. "We should hurry before we get caught in the crowd."

"Ha, I'm ready show Clay that it was wrong to deny me the badge!" Hugh said confidently. "I'll show him that I'm not just in it for Team Plasma!"

"Well, then, what are we waiting for?" Rosa said. "Why don't we head out?"

To be continued in Part 2...


Click here for the systematic version.

Last edited by GrassPokemonFTW; August 1, 2013 at 08:18:15 PM.
  #15  
Old August 5, 2013, 09:19:52 AM
GrassPokemonFTW's Avatar
GrassPokemonFTW GrassPokemonFTW is offline
Kyurem
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: [INSERT GENERIC LOCATION HERE]
Posts: 2,222
Default I have to get off my lazy butt and update

Chapter 12, Part 2: Lost in the Crowds

I had not expected the Pokémon World Tournament to be such a big event, even with a name like that. Being a trainer, you would have thought that I would be aware of things like this, of such big events that it was international, but I had never heard of any such thing. It must have just begun, but already, people from the four corners of the world were gathered here, showing off their powerful Pokémon. The whole area looked like a huge festival was going on, with several people handing out flyers and others at stalls, selling TMs or teaching moves to Pokémon by their own hand. It was incredible, and I'd never seen so many people in one place since...well, ever.

"Well, here we are," Riley noted, his eyes gazing around the port. There were even several ships at the dock, with people from other faraway regions coming in at the dock. "It looks to me that even though we came early, it's still crowded. What say you guys that we split up and look around for a bit? I'm sure that our mobility would be restricted if we were to look around in a big group. Also, Mira and I have got some more friends from Sinnoh coming soon, so we want to meet up with them at the dock."

"Sounds like an idea to me!" Rosa said, looking intimidated by the large crowd. "Mira, you should stay with Riley. You wouldn't want to get lost, right?" Mira made a quick nod before catching up to Riley, her hands holding on to his coat as the two of them made their way to the docks. That left me, Hugh, Rosa, Yancy, Bianca, and Looker to figure out where we ought to go. The trainers seemed to all be heading into a giant stadium, which was complete with its own flashing lights and a giant screen which showed the Pokémon World Tournament symbol. I was sure that Clay would be waiting for us in there, so I wanted to head there first, but from where we were, it was going to be tricky to find a pathway to get there.

"Hmm...looks like a busy situation we are in, here," Looker mused, as he scanned the area for an path for us to move. "Very crowded, this place is. It makes it difficult for me to see where we should go. Further, who knows, Team Plasma may be here."

Hugh nodded. "No doubt. Where there's a lot of people, they really just like stirring up trouble." Hugh then turned to me. "Grass, I'm going to try and head for the stadium. Go with the others to see if you can find any Team Plasma scum outside." Before I could get any words in, Hugh was off, lost in the ever-growing crowd. We had to get moving too, or else we might get stuck.

"So...how do you say we go about getting through this crowd? There's no way we can search like this...and if anything, I should be heading for the stadium with him...I don't know what Hugh's thinking, this whole situation with Team Plasma has got him thinking strange."

Rosa nodded solemnly. "Yeah, Hugh isn't the same. I could sense it back in Nimbasa that he's so bent on revenge that he can't think straight. I guess it's all about what happened 5 years ago...ever since the incident with the Purrloin, he hasn't been able to get it off his mind."

I remembered that I had actually never been told about this by Hugh himself. I was going to ask Rosa what had happened, but here was neither the time nor the place to do it. As we were dawdling, our group was getting more and more squished in the crowd. At our rate, we could barely even move.

Bianca, who had her mind wandering elsewhere, finally spoke up. "Grass... Looker, Rosa, and I will keep an eye out for Team Plasma out here. You and Yancy had better head to the stadium before it gets even more crowded."

I nodded; I was sure that Clay was waiting for me, and I was starting to get claustrophobic from having so little space around me. Seeing as Yancy was a little put off-balance by the number of people, I had to grab her hand and pull her with me as we pushed through the crowd. Internally, I was a little frustrated; wasn't Yancy supposed to be used to dealing with large crowds? In any case, I guessed that it was probably due to her not being in her celebrity persona. Anyways, as I was running, another person, seemingly a little younger than I was, ran into me, causing us to both collapse and fall over. Yancy had let go of my hand before then, so she stood there flabbergasted and flustered as the two of us lay dazed on the ground. The crowd around us didn't even take notice as they just walked past us without helping.

"Ugh...ow..." I groaned as I got up, rubbing my head. I could hear Yancy start to spew out apologies for letting go and not being able to do anything to help. I raised my hand to her to stop apologizing; I wasn't seriously hurt, but I did hit my head a little hard on the concrete. A little shocked, but otherwise, I was fine. The one who had crashed into me seemed a little pale and frail, but he was clearly fine, as he got up at about the same time I did and didn't seem to have any serious injury.

"Oh my gosh! Are you two alright!?" said a woman who came rushing to us as we regained our senses. Appearance-wise, she looked a lot like the boy who crashed into me, but a woman instead of a man. She helped the boy up, making sure he didn't lose his balance as he began to stagger as he got up.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to run into you like that..." he said, still rubbing his head. "I was just in a rush to get out of the crowd, and well, I guess I wasn't looking. Sorry."

"Haha, it's fine. I was in a rush too, and there's no harm done..." I laughed it off.

The woman seemed relieved that we were fine. "Well...erm, I know it seems odd for us to be asking you this now, but could you tell us in what city the Pokémon World Tournament's being held? You see, we just got off the ferry, and frankly, we're a bit lost...heheh..."

"Oh, that's no problem. It's actually right here, in that stadium right over there."

The boy turned to the woman and folded his arms. "See? I told you it was there!"

She laughed nervously. "Wait, so this is Driftveil City? Wow, I didn't think that it'd be so...erm, crowded. Oh, um...s-sorry. It's just that you're usually not that good with directions and..."

"Wanda!" the boy shouted angrily.

"Alright, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be like that." She turned to me. "Thanks for the help! Are you participating in the tournament yourself?"

"Sure am," I replied, trying to be friendly to relieve the tension between them. Though I didn't have any siblings myself, I imagined that these were the general squabbles that siblings went through. Since they looked so much alike, I figured that they were siblings themselves.

"Oh, I'm sorry, we should introduce ourselves," the woman said, seeing that I was trying to be polite. "I'm Wanda. I'm not a Pokémon Trainer myself, mind you, but my cousin here is." I was a little shocked that as it turned out they weren't siblings at all, though they were at least related in some way. "Come on, introduce yourself."

The boy seemed a little nervous, though he had been pretty composed before. He didn't look all that physically able either, as he was incredibly pale-skinned and his forehead seemed to ooze sweat from just standing there. He held his hand out, his arm shaking a little.

"Um...my name's Wally. Wanda and I...er, we're from the Hoenn region. N-nice to meet you." I took his hand. It was clammy with sweat, which made me cringe a little bit, and I think Wally sensed it. But I continued to shake his hand regardless, trying to ignore my own discomfort.

"Well, um...my name's Grass, and this is my friend Yancy. So I guess we'll be meeting each other in the tournament. That's great! I'm looking forward to..."

Suddenly the place grew very quiet as the giant screen at the entrance of the stadium stopped showing the Pokémon World Tournament symbol and was replaced by the image of the receptionist, apparently inside the stadium. She bowed her head slightly before speaking: "Welcome, trainers from around the globe! This is just a reminder that sign-ups will be closing in approximately 15 minutes. If you plan on attending, please make your way to the stadium now. The tournament will begin in half an hour, so all spectators should make their way to the stadium too. Thank you for your time; may the best trainer win!" The screen flickered off and reverted back to the symbol. The trainers resumed their talk, some panicking and making a dash for the stadium.

"Well then, Wally, we should probably get going, shouldn't we?" I said, motioning for him, Yancy, and Wanda to follow. The four of us hurried ourselves to the stadium, where we found that the interior of the building was just as jam-packed as the outside. We struggled to find the line that led to the sign-up desk, but after a while, we found it. After standing in line for what seemed like an eternity, we made it to the front desk, where we were greeted by a smiling receptionist.

"Welcome! So, will you four be participating in the tournament today?" she asked cheerfully.

"No, just me and him." I said, pointing to myself and Wally.

"Okay, now let me just...oh? You wouldn't happen to be Grass, would you?"

I slowly nodded.

The receptionist turned the computer screen around to show me that I had already been registered. My image was somehow already on screen, but the little box where my Pokémon's pictures should have been was empty. It was recorded with all of my information, as far as birthdate, hometown, and all that personal information went. It was rather disconcerting to see that my information was all on file, but then again, I realized that it was probably part of being a Trainer. The Pokémon League Federation does have all these things on file, after all.

"Oh, so I'm already in?"

"Yup! All that's left to do is to pick which Pokémon you want to use. You're allowed 3 per battle, but you have to use the same 3 in all of your battles today. Have you decided on which Pokémon you want to use?"

"Erm...well, if I had some time..."

"Oh, that's fine. Just so long as you've made a decision before the first round of matches, then you don't need to worry. Also, before you go, Clay wanted to meet you on the second floor. Go through the authorized personnel door, and he should be waiting for you up there."

"Alright, then. Thanks!" I motioned for Yancy to follow. "Wally, we'll meet up later!" Wally made a nervous wave before turning away to register for the tournament. The people blocking the door made their way for Yancy and I, which sort of made me feel like a celebrity. But at the same time, I knew what Clay wanted me for, so I wasn't exactly all that thrilled. If anything, I was only happy because I managed to get out of that crowd. Almost immediately after the door closed behind me, Clay appeared in front of me from around the corner, his stern face not at all accommodating.

"Yer late. Follow me." I didn't want to, but out of fear of the consequences, I did as I was told. He led me around the corner and into a room that was also labeled "Authorized Personnel Only." I followed him in, bringing me into a room that had newscasters from all over the world broadcasting the tournament to their hometowns. There were several reporters doing a live broadcast of the tournament, as well as a two people doing a radio broadcast. The room wasn't all that big, but there was enough room for all the technical equipment they would need.

Hugh was there too, with his three Pokémon all at the ready. I saw Firehog, who was still a Pignite, but looking tough as ever. Peter had evolved since I had last seen him, now a Tranquill. He also had a new Pokémon with him, a Simipour, who was very laid back and calm, while Hugh's other two Pokémon were pacing around, itching to get into battle.

"Oh, Grass!" Hugh called, noticing me as I came in through the door. "Looks like Clay got you too, huh?"

"Um...I guess? I'm not really..."

Clay interjected before I could get any more words in. "Now, ye two. I know yer itchin' to get into battle, but ye gotta wait an' listen. Hastiness is partially the reason I didn't hand ye two yer badges, ye know." Hugh and I looked at each other with disdain for Clay's cockiness, even now. "Anyways, I'm havin' ye two face off in the first round. That way, I can yer battlin' styles against each other. Now I want ye to keep it friendly and all that jazz, so ye better get prepared."

"Ah, Clay, so you're in here."

The door opened, and Colress emerged from the hallway. He didn't immediately recognize me, but after I made a quick wave of my hand, Colress made a little grin and waved back, before focusing his attention back to Clay.

"Clay, you had me running to find you! But yes, I believe all preparations for the tournament are complete. If you are ready, then I would much like to kick things off. We have many eager trainers waiting for battle!" Colress did indeed seem incredibly eager to start, as he was almost shaking. Clay tipped his hat.

"Well, wait just a minute, Colress. Yer sayin' that preparations are complete, but how 'bout the trainers? Are they prepared?"

Colress seemed shocked by such a question, but quickly regained his composure. "Clay, you know better than anyone that a true Trainer should be prepared for all situations. And besides, we have provided countermeasures for anything that may go wrong. I believe that preparations are as complete as allowed."

Clay nodded sternly, though a little worried, oddly. But then again, Clay being a businessman and all, I guess it was expected for him to be a little nervous. "All right, then. Start her up."

"Much obliged, Clay. I will be back to discuss other matters with you later. Oh, and Grass, good luck out there!" He made a slight wave as he turned around, his lab coat fluttering in the air.

"Clay, what's Colress doing here? Has he got something to do with this?"

Clay nodded without turning to make eye contact. "Sure does. He's the one who wanted to set this up in the first place. And since I liked the idea, and I knew it'd bring in the revenue for Driftveil City, I indulged him and let him set up the tournament. Why do ye think we built so many hotels here?"

"W-well, that's true..."

"Well, anyways, ye better not be stutterin' once the festivities get started. Ye better get ready. Hey, you three!" Clay called to the three people on the other end of the room, in a little area where they were broadcasting tournament updates.

"Gabby and Ty, ye two better get the camera rollin', and DJ Mary, ye should start the radio broadcastin'. We're just about ready to kick things off."

"Alright, Mr. Clay!" they all called back, as they shuffled to get their equipment ready. Clay turned to leave the room, but then made one more quick glance to us.

"Well, no use dilly-dallyin'. Get down to the first floor an' get yer teams ready. Colress'll be hostin' and will call ye out once yer time to battle comes 'round. So ye better hurry up!" Hugh and I looked to each other, a little worried as to our preparedness, but the two of us followed Clay out and down to the first floor. Clay went off somewhere, probably to watch the tournament from the stands, while Hugh and I were left in a little lobby where the trainers participating in the tournament were staying. Needless to say, the room was incredibly crowded, making our mobility restricted. There were a few televisions placed around the room for trainers to watch the matches. From the looks of it, the first battles had already started. From the corner of my eye, I could see that one of the screens was featuring a match with Riley facing off against someone. I tried to get a closer look, but I was too far away and too restricted in movement to get a good look.

"Agh...Hugh, where'd you go?" I muttered, squirming around to find a comfortable place to stand. Hugh and I had been separated, and in this sea of Trainers, it was hard to locate him. I felt more lost than ever, and even worse, I couldn't even move.

"Oh, Grass, hey!" someone called. The voice was familiar; I was looking around for the source of the call, but no Trainer was looking at me. I was baffled until I heard the voice again.

"Down here, silly!"

I looked down; it was Mira! No wonder I couldn't see her; she was too short for me to see.

"Oh, hi, Mira! Have you battled already?" I asked. She flashed a bright smile.

"Yup! Mira had an easy win! Mira only used one Pokémon!"

I was surprised; I remembered that Riley said that Mira was already a veteran trainer, despite her looks. With such a victory, I guessed what Riley told me was true.

"Well, then I guess what Riley said to me was true! You really are a veteran Trainer, huh? Well, I look forward to maybe getting to battle with you!"

"Yup! Mira's excited! Oooh, look!" Mira turned, pointing to the television with Riley. "Is that Riley?"

"Yeah, but I can't really see what Pokémon he's using...or who he's up against...hm, I wish I could get a closer look, but I guess I can't quite see."

Suddenly, a loud voice rang out in the room. "Grass and Hugh! You're up, go to Battlefield 5. Good luck!" I heard my name, and realized that the time I was so dreading, and yet also excited for, finally arrived. I turned to Mira.

"Well, looks like I'm up. I'll catch you later!" I said, waving to Mira as I began to swim through the crowd. She made a little laugh and waved excitedly back. As I waded through the crowd, I hoped that Hugh wasn't far behind. Or that I wasn't far behind either. I eventually made it through the crowd, and went through the door. The stadium was drastically different from what I expected; much like Elesa's Gym, it was super-flashy and incredibly gaudy. There were fans on either side of the pathways, cheering me on, even if they had never seen me before. As I looked for Battlefield 5, I passed by Rosa, who was in the audience, cheering. Looker in his Trainer disguise, the one that I had seen when we first met in Nimbasa, was standing next to Rosa, being very enthusiastic. I had to admit; Looker could pull a convincing disguise when he wanted to. Behind him was also Yancy and Bianca, who were both cheering me on. Seeing them all here also put me at ease; it became clear that there wasn't any Team Plasma members around.

Once I found the field, I stepped up to it, and it suddenly began to flash in bright colors. Colress suddenly appeared from out of nowhere, floating on what appeared to be some sort of levitating pod. Must have been one of his crazy inventions, I guess.

"And in Battlefield 5, we have Grass vs. Hugh! Good luck!" Colress floated away as the crowd roared like crazy. On the other side of the field, I saw Hugh walking up the steps, a big grin on his face.

"Well, Grass, this is it. I've been itching to have a rematch, and I promise ya, I won't lose this time!"

I smirked back playfully. "I won't back down either! So hit me with your best shot!"

Hugh, fired up with excitement, was ready. "I will! Alright, Peter, show them what we're made of!" His first Pokémon was a Tranquill, Peter, who I remembered was a Pidove when we last met, which was on the boat ride to Castelia City. He still had his classy air about him, flying about elegantly and with grace.

"Alright, then...Broccoli, it's all you!" I called, tossing his Pokéball into the air. The ball opened, revealing Broccoli, who took a defensive pose against the Tranquill, quickly realizing the type disadvantage. He smirked a little, confident.

"Grass...you realize you send me out in a case where a defensive Pokémon would be the wiser choice?" He said, smiling with a sort of amused look about his face. I smiled back.

"But of course. A good defense is a good offense, after all."

"Hmph, fool's talk," Broccoli retorted. Regardless of what he said, he seemed ready for battle.

Peter hovered about Broccoli for a while, as if taunting about how he had the upper hand. "Hmm...a pity, what a pity. A Pokémon such as yourself has no chance to defeat moi! Observe, the elegance and the power, all wrapped into one, as I, Peter, herald of the Flying-type, shall--"

"Broccoli, let's get a first quick strike in! Use Bite!"

"Excuse me, I was not done with my solilo--AGGGGH!" Peter began to retaliate, but Broccoli's quickness got the better of him as he sunk his teeth into Peter's wing, causing a great deal of pain to him. Peter shook him off after a while, but his wing was hurt so bad that he could hardly fly.

"Peter, c'mon, you gotta do better than that!" Hugh shouted as Peter struggled.

"Don't let him get back on balance! Use Low Kick!" I commanded. Broccoli quickly got in on Peter, then swung low with his legs and swept Peter's legs, causing him to fall over and collapse on his other, better wing. Peter grimaced in pain at the fall, and it didn't look like he was getting up any time soon.

"Ouch!! Ouch, ouch, ouch..." Peter groaned as he tried to pull himself up. "You insolent little monkey! You'll pay for this!"

Broccoli smirked. "I'll pay? You must be joking." He produced a seed in his hand and tossed it over to Peter, who looked at it with curiosity.

"W-what's this? Are you mocking me?"

Broccoli turned away, smirking in self-satisfaction. "5...4...3..."

Peter realized what it was, and tried to back away, but his crippled body wouldn't allow it. He began to panic, losing every bit of elegance and suaveness he had to fear. "AHHHHH! HEEEEEELP! DON'T DO IIIIIT!"

"...2...1...and..."

The seed exploded, leaving a huge cloud of dust where Peter lay. When the cloud cleared, Peter lay there, knocked senseless by the blast. Broccoli leaned back, looking back at the fallen body of Peter.

"Checkmate, sir."

The referee, who I had hardly noticed, held a flag in my direction. "Tranquill is unable to battle! Simisage is the victor!" Broccoli, obviously satisfied with himself, made a little pose to the cheering crowd, while Hugh, disappointed, recalled Peter to his Pokéball.

"I have to admit..." Hugh said, putting Peter's Pokéball away. "You're tougher than I could ever imagine you being at this point. But just because Peter's down doesn't mean I'll give up! Like hell I'll give up! Come on out, Firehog!" Hugh sent out his second Pokémon, his starter. The Pignite leapt out, landing firmly on stage. He was a little surprised that Sir Ivy wasn't his opponent this time.

"Heh, this is new," Firehog taunted. "I was expecting Sir Ivy. Not this...monkey."

Broccoli took offense, and clenched his fists. He took his fighting stance, prepared for battle.

"You can complain all you want...but don't you think for a second that I can't trump Sir Ivy in skill! Grass, let's go!" I nodded back, assessing Broccoli's readiness.

"Alright, Broccoli, hit him with Acrobatics!"

Broccoli got in close, his swift feet taking him in close before Firehog had time to react. Firehog took a swing at Broccoli to try to land the hit that Peter couldn't, but his swing was expertly dodged and Broccoli kicked Firehog right in the gut. The kick took Firehog off balance, with which Broccoli responded with a quickly-executed array of kicks, punches, and throws. Firehog kept trying to dodge with what little time he had, but Broccoli had him out predicted.

Suddenly, Firehog, encased in a fiery aura, charged into Broccoli, knocking him off balance. I recognized this phenomenon before; Firehog's ability, Blaze, had been activated! Broccoli took a step back, being careful not to get lured into attacking. The way Firehog was now, it would be hard to land a hit without getting scorched.

"Grr...I admit, you're much more of a challenge than I expected..." Firehog grimaced, clearly weakened greatly by Broccoli's onslaught. But in spite of all that damage, he stood firm, his whole body encased in a passionate flame as he prepared to charge. "But it all ends here! I'll finish you with this single strike!"

Hugh called out. "Firehog, use Flame Charge!" Firehog snorted in compliance, then his whole body became encased in a wildly burning flame. The flames produced such a conflagration that nearly the entire battlefield was enveloped in the blaze. Even from where I stood, on the opposite side of the battlefield, I could feel the burning flames warming the air, and I felt like I was being cooked.

Firehog charged headfirst towards Broccoli, who I could see already had a strategy devised, and I was just thinking the same thing.

"Broccoli, use Seed Bomb!" I called out, Broccoli already a step ahead. He began to form seeds in the palms of his hands, then hurled them towards the charging Firehog. When the seeds hit the floor, they detonated, but soon after, Firehog would emerge from the dust, still charging. Broccoli, knowing that he only had one chance, took his last seed and hurled it with promising aim, and to our luck, it landed on Firehog, hitting him square on the nose, while the fire surrounding his body helped it detonate with even greater force. The explosion rocked the battlefield, but rather than be frightened of it, the crowd continued to roar with utter excitement.

Once the cloud cleared, Firehog was, amazingly, still standing. His fiery aura was gone, probably blown apart by the blast, and he looked utterly decrepit and exhausted, but he stood firm, still on his own two feet. Broccoli seemed just about as shocked as I was to see Firehog standing, especially after such a blast, at such close proximity.

"Well..." Broccoli said, getting into his fighter stance. "I must admit, I underestimated you. You've earned my respect."

Firehog sneered jokingly. "I don't...*cough*...it's not something I can say I'm proud to have earned...but...*cough*...you've definitely...earned mine..."

"The same could be said in my case. So don't get cocky, pig."

"Heheh...as much as I'd love to burn you to a crisp...*wheeze*...I'm on the verge of falling over...heheh. You'd best be ready...*pant*...for our next encounter...I won't go easy on you...ack...!" Firehog dropped to his knees and collapsed, heavily breathing. Hugh jumped into the ring and checked Firehog's condition; despite such a powerful blast, Firehog would live. The referee then stepped in and declared Broccoli the winner once more, which was responded to by the roaring fans.

"Grass..." Hugh murmured, returning Firehog to the Pokéball. "You've overcome the odds twice. Twice you should have been defeated by type advantage, but instead, it was I who keeps getting defeated. I don't understand...how are you able to defeat me, even when the odds are stacked so high in my favor...!?"

I thought about it a moment, and began to remember what Clay said. He told Hugh that he was so bent on revenge on Team Plasma that he wasn't truly in it for training. And he told me that I myself lacked strength, and that it was only my Pokémon who were powerful. I began to think that if I had Hugh's passion, along with my Pokémon...maybe I could be a trainer that my dad could be proud of.

I shook off my thoughts early though, as Hugh still had one more Pokémon to deal with. Hugh pulled out his last Pokéball, and glanced over to me.

"Grass! I have to say, there's no shame in losing to you. You're strong...truly strong! Not just your Pokémon...you, for going through these ordeals, and recovering from them to keep pressing on...you're the strongest person I know. So to lose to you...there's no shame here. But don't think that I won't go down without a fight! I've got one more Pokémon left to use, and come hell or high water, I'm going to fight to the end! Alright, Lamar, it's time to shine!"

The last Pokémon, a Simipour, emerged from the Pokéball and made a little wave with his hand. He seemed to be a very casual, calm, and relaxed Pokémon. I was hopeful; with this, I had type advantage, and to top it all off, Broccoli was virtually unscratched by his previous battles. If anything, I had this match won.

Broccoli seemed ready as well. As if already reading my mind, he began to produce the explosive Seed Bomb in his hands. The glint of confidence in his eyes, he had produced the bomb to its maximum explosive capacity.

"Hey, you! Lamar! Catch!" Broccoli called out, hurling the Seed Bomb over to the unsuspecting Simipour. He caught it, fascinated by the seed for a while.

"Dude...like, what is this...?" Lamar said, a little groggily. Broccoli smiled.

"Your fate."

The seed detonated and Lamar was enveloped in the explosion.

-----------------------------------------------------------

The lobby was once again filled with excited spectators and trainers alike, talking about the first round and the exciting battles that had occurred. I could barely find where I was, once again, and I couldn't tell where I had even come from. The whole crowd, enveloping the entire area, made the entire building seem the same from any angle, sharply hindering my ability to navigate.

"Grass! Hey!" a voice called. I turned around and saw Wally, who was being followed around by Rosa and Looker. The three of them looked ecstatic and joyful, which I could hardly say for myself. I tried to forge a smile, even in the midst of all the torment and guilt I was going through.

"That was some great battling!" Wally complimented. "I saw it on the TV! You were great! So I guess we've both made it to the second round!"

I nodded. "Yeah...I guess so." I was less than enthusiastic when saying it. The three of them became silent, and we stood like that for some time. I looked at Broccoli's Pokéball, and let out a long sigh. Broccoli was indeed powerful, but by any means, I had no intentions to let him go that far. Hugh would never forgive me if worse comes to worse.

"Grass...just, it was an unfortunate set of circumstances, okay? I don't know what Hugh's thinking right now...but things could turn for the better. That Simipour...he may not have had it for long, but if it's Hugh's, it's not going to get taken out easily. Don't worry. You can't worry...for his sake."

I didn't even know what to believe. The explosion had dealt serious damage, that much was certain. But to think that it had such deadly and destructive power...maybe Clay was right, and it wasn't me, but my Pokémon who were the truly powerful, and even deadly, ones.

"Grass..." Looker spoke up. "What Hugh is feeling, what he is thinking, I do not know. But I will figure out. For to set your mind at ease, I must do so. My job here is complete, and now, I must help you, for you have helped us more than I could ask of you, in Nimbasa." Looker began to make his way through the crowd to what seemed to be the exit. He turned back to Rosa. "In your hands, I leave Grass. May I return, with fortunate news to report." He then was lost in the sea of trainers.

"Grass, we have to go too," Wally said, motioning for me to follow him to the trainer-holding area. I begrudgingly followed, leaving Rosa by herself. I hardly knew what lied ahead, as the brackets for the next round weren't announced yet, but something in my body told me that something was very wrong here. It was a strong sense of foreboding that put me off balance. When we made it to the room, the trainer concentration was far less, enough so that I could at least move with relative ease. Even so, I couldn't locate Riley or Mira, who I know won in the first round.

While we waited, the various television screens changed to a screenshot of Colress, who was in his flying pod device in the stadium. Behind him, we could see the spectators starting to flow back in, many now heavily armed with snacks and beverages. Colress floated around for a while before his voice boomed over the intercom.

"Congratulations, trainers! You have made it to the second round! Now this round of competition will be rather...different, might you say? With only half of the original trainers remaining, the difficulty level for you trainers is going to go up. Also, we've planned a little surprise for this round...but, I'm not going to spoil it just yet! However, let's just say that you'll all enjoy this little friendly surprise, and at the same time, it will push you all to your limits as trainers. Good luck to all of you!" The screens turned back to the original shot of each battlefield. A loud whisper ran through the crowd as they discussed what kind of surprise the PWT officials were planning.

"What do you think it is, Grass?" Wally asked, trying to get me back into the feel of battle. I still could hardly get enthusiastic about any of this, especially after what happened to Lamar, but it would turn out that the surprise Colress mentioned would be the least of my worries. The lights in the room suddenly shut off, and the television screens turned to static before turning completely dark. In the darkness, I couldn't even see.

"W-what's going on!?"

"Huh!? Who turned the lights off!?"

"Is it a power outage!? What rotten--!"

"Waaaah! Mira's scared of the dark! Mira thinks it's like Wayward Cave!"

The room was in total panic. Even in the stadium, I could hear panicked cries. So it seemed that the whole building had lost power! I contemplated finding Clay and getting him to turn the back-up generators on, when the voice of an elderly man suddenly boomed over the loudspeakers.

"This...is a takeover. A takeover...by Team Plasma!"

Before I had time to react, the floor under us suddenly began to cave in. I realized that my feel of being off-balance was not in my head; the ground was literally caving in from under us! The tiles fell apart, and I began to feel the sensation of literally sinking. The trainers around me panicked, especially Wally, and the whole movement made the sinking feeling come on faster.

A different, more familiar voice of an elderly man resonated next. "Team Plasma has this stadium under their control now! We will not have you Trainers have your way! This is a strike for justice!"

I recognized it as Gorm's voice. It was true; Team Plasma was here!

"But how!?" I thought, out loud. "I thought...! Looker, Rosa, and the others...didn't they not see any sign of Team Plasma!? How could they have--!?"

Before I could finish the thought, the entire ground collapsed, and all of us began to fall. In total darkness, I couldn't tell where I was falling, and how far I was falling, but all I remember is hitting something on the way down, things that seemed like a wall. I would hit other "walls," until I landed with a loud thud, tiles from the floor we stood on falling on top of me. One would land on my head, which knocked me out on the spot. For a while, there was nothing but darkness...

To be continued in Part 3...

Last edited by GrassPokemonFTW; August 5, 2013 at 09:20:12 AM.
  #16  
Old August 12, 2013, 10:56:54 PM
GrassPokemonFTW's Avatar
GrassPokemonFTW GrassPokemonFTW is offline
Kyurem
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: [INSERT GENERIC LOCATION HERE]
Posts: 2,222
Default

Chapter 12, Part 3: A History of Team Plasma

When I hit the ground, I was stuck in a bad situation; I was in grievous pain, which signified to me that I was still alive and well, but the excruciating pain alone made me feel like I was going to die. Soon enough, I was carried off somewhere by who-knows-who, and as I was in this person's arms, I felt myself drift off to some distant land.

I could tell I wasn't conscious, based on the strangeness of this place. I ended up there after descending from the sky, and the whole place was nothing more than a field of flowers, along with a fountain, and not much else. There were bridges leading to either side of the field, but they only led to foggy passages and I couldn't see what was beyond them. There was also an entrance to an expansive forest.

When I landed, I wasn't sure what to make of the place. I was almost certain I had died and gone to the afterlife, but seeing as I still felt a numbing pain in my head, so clearly I was still alive. In pain, but alive. I looked on either side of the field, and there was nothing but clouds, which made me really think I had gone on to the afterlife. But there was no one else here, or even any other living being here. Even my bag was gone; I was literally there, alone, with nothing to do and no idea where to go.

"Hello!? Is anyone here!?" I shouted desperately. "Anyone!? Where is this!? HELLOOOO!?"

"Ack, not so loud!"

I spun around, hearing a voice from somewhere. I couldn't tell where it was, though, and the voice was so unfamiliar that I had no idea where to begin looking. From the bridge that emerged from the fog, I saw a lone person, a man wearing very casual clothes and a very ordinary hat, just like a regular pedestrian Trainer. I couldn't tell from where, or from when, but the figure seemed familiar. He approached me, a very stoic expression on his face, and his hands in his own pockets.

"It's a pleasure to meet you...Grass."

"H-how do you know my name!? And where is this!? And who are you!?"

The man held his hand up to my mouth and shushed me, his voice oddly soothing and calm. His big blue eyes were full of serious intent, and at the same time, were full of some sort of calming aura. He seemed very pale, and yet, also very strong. In all, he was a very interesting-looking person.

"Shhh...all will be answered in due time. But by your confusion, I can tell that you've never seen this before. This is the Entralink, a place where souls connect, where minds meet. In essence, it's the physical representation of your subconscious. I've been waiting a long time to meet you here, and the perfect opportunity to do so arrived."

I looked around. For a place where souls could connect, there sure wasn't a lot of people. The man noticed that I was looking for other people, and gave a little boyish chuckle.

"Yes, cross-Entralink travel isn't used very often nowadays. But believe it or not, each and every person has their own Entralink, but it's just a matter of accessing it. It is a difficult concept to grasp, but just accept it for now. That's the least important of matters right now."

"Yes...yeah, last I remember, I was falling...and something about Team Plasma came up on the loudspeaker...and I don't know what happened after that. It's all really confusing...it makes my head hurt just thinking about it..." I held my head, the pain not dissipating at all. The man giggled his boyish giggle again, and wiped a tear from his eye.

"Well, you aren't dead, I'll grant you that. Well, it may not seem like it to you, but in the real world, I've rescued you. You would've died if I had been any later in finding you, but I guess you were lucky. No need to thank me, I was glad to do it."

I started up, now beginning to remember all the details. "Wait, so how about everyone else!? How about Wally, and Riley, and Mira!? Are they all...!?"

The man once again held his hand up to mine, signalling me to calm down and take a few deep breaths. Internally, my mind was ravished with worry, but I began to slowly calm down as I tried to remain optimistic. Once I had calmed down, the man began to speak.

"I don't know everyone who was involved...but unless I miscounted, everyone is accounted for. The police are investigating the matter, but Team Plasma escaped in their ship. As I'm sure you've already suspected by now, Team Plasma is behind all of this. But there is far more they've been involved in that you've yet to learn." I saw the boyishness in his eyes suddenly disappear and become replaced with a sort of enigmatic worry.

"There's no denying that they're a bunch of crooks," I said, remembering all the things they've done. "But why do they do what they do? I know they say it's all for Pokémon liberation, but I think something's fishy."

The man nodded, his arms folded sternly. "You are correct. In the past, Team Plasma was strictly about Pokémon liberation from Trainers, however. Now, they have lost that vision. What they seek now is nothing more than total destruction and enslavement of the entire Unova region. It's totally the opposite of what they wanted to do originally."

"W-what!? Enslavement!? Isn't that...!?"

"It's true. No one in their right mind wants to become a slave to Team Plasma's desires. However, they are seeking ways to make it so people cannot evade them. When Team Plasma was focused on liberating the Pokémon of foolish Trainers, they had their leader control the Dragon-type Pokémon of legend, Zekrom, the Dragon-type Legendary Pokémon who sought ideals. Team Plasma hoped that possession of the Unova mythic hero's Pokémon would be enough to convince that their cause was ideal. However, there would be a Trainer who stood up against them with Reshiram, the Dragon-type Legendary Pokémon who sought the truth. In a battle between truth and ideals, the Trainer successfully defeated the leader of Team Plasma, and the relationship between Pokémon and Trainer grew even more powerful."

"So...what happened to Team Plasma then?"

"Their defeat hit them hard. Their leader had disappeared against Team Plasma's will to a faraway region, along with the legendary Pokémon. The team knew not what to do, and it began to slowly collapse. All of the executives of Team Plasma, called the Seven Sages, were taken into custody and questioned about the whereabouts of their leader and the other sages. Six of them were caught, while the seventh remained at large, hiding in some unknown place."

"The Seven Sages...you mean, people like Gorm, and Ryoku?"

"Correct. They were two of the Seven Sages of the original Team Plasma. After they were questioned, they returned to the organization to deal with what remained of the organization. There were still members dedicated to Team Plasma's cause, but some were only there for the thrill. That's ultimately what Team Plasma has degraded to. And now, they're hoping to enslave the Unova region under their organization. And that's where you come in."

"Me?"

"Yes. There is a reason I've been waiting to communicate with you for so long, but your mind hasn't been to the Entralink until now. This is the only place where I can meet you. Anyways, the reason I wanted to meet you; you share similar traits to the one who destroyed Team Plasma two years ago. It's difficult to explain...but there's something about you that seems similar to that boy. It's got to do with your aura...erm, never mind."

"What? Aura? I'm not sure I..."

"You do not need to understand just yet. All you need to know is that I need your help to free Unova from Team Plasma's tyranny. If anyone can do it...it's you. You have the power to stop Team Plasma by your own hands...you just don't realize it just yet. But you'll understand in due time."

"I'm willing to give you my help..." I began, though still confused about this whole situation. "After all, Team Plasma has been causing nothing but trouble for me...for Hugh...for everyone. I will help you out, if that's what it takes to bring them down."

The man smiled. "That's all I ask of you." His body suddenly began to fade. "Now I must leave this place for now...you will soon awaken in the old Team Plasma's Driftveil HQ, with Hugh and your friends at your side. Rood, one of the ex-sages of Team Plasma, will fill in some information regarding what you have missed while in your comatose state. Thank you for your support, Grass...may you free Pokémon...and people...from Team Plasma's...iron...wrath..."

The man's form turned transparent and eventually disappeared from sight. As I pondered over what he had told me, and what I had to do, the Entralink began to fade from view. I then saw that my own body was disappearing from the Entralink. I must be waking up soon, I thought, so I closed my eyes and let the conscious world take me home...

When my eyes opened, I was in a house, that by the looks of it, was by all means ordinary. The man had told me I was in the HQ that Rood had invited me to before my Gym match with Clay, but by mere looks, it didn't seem at all like it. I was in an ordinary household bed, and my head was aching just like it was when I first arrived at the Entralink. Surely, I was back in the real world, but how had I ended up here, and when, was a total mystery to me.

At one side of my bed, I saw Hugh, standing on his feet and shouting to the others that I was awake. Admittedly, I wanted to get up and hit him for being too loud, but I was in no physical condition to do that. On the other side, I saw Looker, Yancy, and Rosa, all ecstatic that I had awoken; even Yancy was in tears as she buried her face in Rosa's arms.

My Pokémon, along with Hugh's and Rosa's, were huddled in the corner, chatting. I suppose my Pokémon weren't too worried about me; did they really have that much faith in me? Or, they were tired of waiting for me to wake up, and had to do something else to take their minds off me for a while. Looking in the huddle of Pokémon, I saw Firehog and Sir Ivy, along with Rosa's Dewott, all talking together. Broccoli and Rosa's Simisear were listening to Lamar's story. I was relieved to see that Lamar was okay, though he was covered with bandages all over his body. After all the worry I went through as a result of it; I was glad that Lamar ended up all right in the end.

Fassad was sleeping in the corner, under the care of what I assumed to be Rosa's Sawk, who was standing watch right next to him. Ms. Pokey and Latifole were arguing as usual, and Sunshine was...well, being Sunshine, with a big grin on his face and wandering around with no aim whatsoever. Peter was following him around, trying to tell him something, but it didn't look like Sunshine was even being part of the real world right now.

"Oh! You're awake! I'm relieved!"

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Rood, along with two girls considerably older than I was, approaching my bedside, carrying a warm towel. He wiped my forehead with it, which felt oddly soothing, but at the same time, it amplified the pain I felt in my head. So I ended up reacting with a soothed expression, combined with a cringe.

"Are you all right, Grass? Your forehead still hurts?"

I nodded, my voice too hoarse to speak.

"All right, I'll go prepare some herbs for you. Oh..." Rood motioned to the two girls who had accompanied them. They both were very elegant and beautiful-looking, their eyes full of compassion and kindness, peace and love. One, with long, straight pink har, was carrying a basket full of berries, while the other, with blonde hair tied up in a ponytail, held a Zorua in her hands.

"These two are Anthea and Concordia. They used to be members of Team Plasma as well, but now they are clerics who help us in our new mission to find lost Pokémon who cannot find their Trainers. While I go prepare the medicine, they will watch over you. Excuse me..." Rood stood up, his old age apparent in how he couldn't move very quickly, and how he hobbled side to side as he walked to the other room.

Concordia let the Zorua go, who quickly pranced over to the kitchen where Rood was and began to squeal in delight at the prospect of scraps. Concordia gave a little laugh and knelt down to my bedside and tend to my injuries. Something about the whole experience was pretty calming, though I can see, out of the corner of my eye, that Yancy was getting a little jealous, as her face flared a scarlet red and she folded her arms. It was a little funny seeing the normally meek Yancy get so fired up.

"...you seem to be fine. I am a little concerned with any head trauma you might have sustained. But rest should clear that right up," Concordia reassured, picking herself up. I thanked her for her help, and lay back in my bed, comforted by the softness of the pillow against the back of my head. Concordia smiled and giggled slightly.

"Hmhm...there's no need to act like a stranger. After all...we've already met before."

I searched my memory banks to try to remember someone like Concordia, but I came up with nothing. I shook my head, adding meekly, "N-no...I don't think we've met before...unless I'm mistaken..."

Concordia smiled her calming smile again. "Oh, I suppose you've forgotten, then. We met in the Pokémon Center in Flocessy Town, remember? At the berry stand?"

I thought back to way back when, when it was just me, Sir Ivy, and Tropicana, still innocent to the ways of the world. I remembered, we picked our berries, began to talk to each other, and then...a girl approached us! I hadn't thought of it before, but she looked remarkably like Concordia now, except she wasn't wearing sunglasses now. She saw that the memory had returned to me, and smiled.

"Looks like you remember. On the other hand, you've never met my sister, Anthea, before. Anthea isn't much of a speaker, though; she doesn't really talk much to strangers, but she really is a sweet girl. You can see it when she's talking to our lord...I mean...er..."

Hugh raised an eyebrow. "Your lord? What are you..."

Concordia flushed a deep red. "I mean, just...uh..."

Rood returned from the kitchen with an herbal tea, and looked over to Concordia, who kept fumbling with her words. Rood frowned and put a hand on her shoulder to calm her down. "Concordia, you'd better tell him. If Team Plasma is up to what we think they're up to, then these children, who claim to be after Team Plasma for their heinous crimes, may be the people we must trust to move forward."

Concordia sighed a little, but she conceded that Rood was correct. She looked to me, then to everyone else, and she took a deep breath, sitting next to Anthea, who seemed so dormant that I almost thought she was sleeping.

"Let me...start from the beginning. Team Plasma was an organization founded some odd 19 years ago, when Anthea and I were still very young and unclear of how the world worked. Anthea and I were orphaned at a young age as well, and eventually, we were taken in by a man named Ghetsis, a man we would learn to be our true father. Ghetsis was a kind, simple soul who had a heart that bled for Pokémon. He was ultimately the one who became the leader of Team Plasma."

"Ghetsis was a pacifist by all means, and a loving father to match. We grew up with him, and we were loved as if we truly were his own children. We continued to live our peaceful lifestyle in his mansion, until one day, everything changed. It started off strangely, when Ghetsis brought in a young boy he said he found among Pokémon. The boy was by any means strange. Despite being 3 years old at the time, he did not know how to speak at all, not even the gibberish that babies tend to speak. He was completely mute. Ghetsis set us with the task of raising him, teaching him, and above else, loving him like a little brother. And so we did. But his intentions were full of malice and deceitfulness..."

"Hold that thought," Hugh interrupted. "Didn't you originally say that Ghetsis was a nice guy? Now, I don't know how I can wrap my head around such a thing...but if Ghetsis turned sour, then...well, what drove him to the path of evil?"

Concordia nodded. "It is true; the change came suddenly, and I don't think Anthea or I noticed it much at the time. I don't think we really even noticed any change in him until several years later, but Ghetsis worked in a way that made him...well, difficult to figure out. After all, even after he found the boy with Pokémon, he continued about his normal daily routine; studies with the sages, which, yes, would eventually become the other six sages, ran every morning. He would always return from his daily walks with a number of injured Pokémon that he alone took care of. To answer your question, neither of us really knew why he suddenly diverted to this evil and dark path. But something different began to happen soon enough."

"...the Pokémon..." Anthea murmured slightly. I was a little surprised to see Anthea suddenly talk, but Concordia took it normally, and nodded.

"Yes, while we were taking care of the boy, whom we named N, short for his whole name Natural Harmonia Gropius, Ghetsis would occasionally come into his room with injured Pokémon. He presented them as friends for N, and with his ability to speak to Pokémon, he realized that they were Pokémon that were distraught and abandoned by selfish Trainers."

"Hold on, he could talk to Pokémon?" I inquired. "Just like...?"

Concordia nodded solemnly. "Yes...you see, when I first encountered you in Flocessy Town, I didn't take much notice of you because you were just an ordinary greenhorn Trainer. But when I heard you speaking with your Snivy and Tropius, I began to realize that you had the same capabilities as N. That intrigued me, because I've never seen anyone else with that sort of power."

"In any case...N's heart became much like Ghetsis's. I could sense it, even in this mute child; his heart was bleeding for the sake of these injured, abandoned Pokémon. He didn't know any better, being an innocent child; all he had ever known were Pokémon who were treated badly by their Trainers, and that's what he came to believe in his innocent heart. Meanwhile, we were simply nurturing him as older sisters would, and eventually we were able to teach him to communicate with humans. He learned to speak, and we taught him all there was that we could teach him about society. He was a very awkward child, but at least he was someone who could be integrated to society."

"...the Shadow Triad..." Anthea interrupted.

"Oh, yes," Concordia said, realizing that she had missed a step. "Not long after N had turned 6 years old, Ghetsis was caught up in an accident while on his daily walks, searching for injured Pokémon to present to N. He met up with a trio of strangers, all clad in dark cloaks and masks that hid their identity. It was from them that he learned the legend of the three dragons of the Unova region."

"Three?" I blurted out. When I was talking to the man in the Entralink, he had only mentioned two, Reshiram and Zekrom...but what was this third dragon? I quickly shut my mouth before I said anything else, because I didn't want to tell them about my experience at the Entralink. They might think I had gone crazy, like I got brain damage from my fall. So I said nothing more.

"Yes, three. The first is Reshiram, the white dragon who seeks people with truthful hearts. The second, Zekrom, is a black dragon who searches the land for people with indomitable ideals. The final dragon, Kyurem, is a dragon who makes his home in the Giant Chasm in the northern Unova region. It's a Pokémon that seeks nothing more than self-preservation, and bares its fangs at all who dare approach it."

"When the three of them told Ghetsis about these dragons, he immediately set forth to capture one of them, as their power alone would be enough to set his plan of Unova's domination into motion. When he heard of the three dragons from the trio, who would later be known as the Shadow Triad, he set out with them to capture Kyurem, the cold-hearted beast. He knew that with his wickedness, he would have no chance to unlock the way to Reshiram and Zekrom's heart, so he would have to rely on Kyurem's bitter heart to obtain the power he needed to rule the Unova region. However, he met with a terrible fate; you see, in order to access Kyurem's chamber in a cave in the face of a cliff, Ghetsis enlisted the help of the Shadow Triad to build a bridge to the chamber. Before long, I believe Kyurem sensed his presence, and to protect himself, the area underwent a sudden change, as a blizzard appeared out of nowhere, destroying the bridge and causing them to all fall into the Giant Chasm. Ghetsis saved the Shadow Triad from certain death, however; and ever since, the three are loyal servants to Ghetsis, for he saved them when Kyurem's power could have killed them."

"Eventually, rescue teams saved them from the onslaught of snow, but it had its permanent damage. The Shadow Triad themselves were saved from any injuries, as Ghetsis took the full brunt of the attack. I'm not entirely sure why Ghetsis would save them...but..."

"...no...Kyurem..." Anthea interrupted again.

"Oh, I see...yes, Anthea has another theory on this. She believes that Kyurem could sense the wickedness of Ghetsis's heart...and in order to keep himself away from Ghetsis's evil power, he focused the entirety of the attack on him, while the Shadow Triad were merely caught up in the attack. Anyways, Ghetsis, as a result, suffered much more serious injuries. His right eye was scarred while his right arm was terribly frostbitten. After days in the hospital, he returned to the mansion, with the use of his right eye and arm lost."

"As his "children," we continued to support him. Ever since, he seemed to be entirely dedicated to bringing up N to be the one who could do what Ghetsis couldn't. With his injuries incredibly debilitating, I think he knew that he wouldn't be able to conquer the Unova region alone. He needed the help of someone totally innocent, someone foolhardy enough to join him...and that's when his manipulation of N began. N would undergo strict training with Ghetsis and the other sages, all centered around how Trainers and Pokémon were unfairly bound together by Pokéballs, and how they are meant to live separate from each other, not with Pokémon always serving the whims of Trainers. In our hearts, Anthea and I never believed it, but no matter how much we protested, N believed that Ghetsis and the sages were right. Before we knew it, N was the perfect puppet for Ghetsis, and he began to treat him like so."

"About 5 years ago, once N had become Ghetsis's model leader for Unova's enslavement, Ghetsis once again enlisted the help of the Shadow Triad to find one of the other legendary dragons. Ultimately, Ghetsis set the entirety of Team Plasma, which had remained dormant until now, on this mission to seek one of the legendary dragons. Which you should know by now, unless you have not lived here in Unova before...?"

I thought about it a moment. I had only lived in Aspertia City for a year, as we moved in from Orre, just for a change of pace. My father had left Orre to be a Trainer as well, and I wanted to be a Trainer myself, so I convinced my mom to move to the Unova region. So by the time I came to Unova, the crisis with Team Plasma must have already ended.

"I see..." Concordia said, after I told her about what happened. "Well, to summarize, Team Plasma acted variously among its members; some acted passively because they truly believed in the cause, while others acted wickedly because of their rebelliousness and wont for total chaos. Meanwhile, Anthea and I were continuing to support N and his studies as his mission became more clear; he was to defeat Alder, the champion at the time, and become the single most powerful person in Unova, so that when the time came, all of Unova would bend to Ghetsis's will, translated through N."

"The Shadow Triad became incredibly useful in supplying weapons to the members of Team Plasma. And by weapons, I mean Pokémon. The Shadow Triad were the single leading cause of Pokémon theft during those years. Few Trainers were capable of fending off the Shadow Triad's Pokémon, much less the actual Shadow Triad themselves. With their superhuman strength, and Pokémon of equal strength, they were able to steal Pokémon around the region, and the police force had nothing they could do about it."

Hugh suddenly tensed up. "The Shadow Triad...they must be...!"

Concordia turned to Hugh, concern in her otherwise serene eyes. "Did you perhaps...have a Pokémon that was stolen by them?"

I realized that this was probably what I had been waiting to hear from Hugh. Rosa had told me something about this back in Nimbasa, about a traumatic experience he had with Team Plasma, 5 years ago. I remember she said that it had something to do with a Purrloin, but I didn't think that it was something that he bore as a grudge against Team Plasma.

Hugh nodded in response to Concordia's question. "Yes...five years ago, my grandfather wanted to catch my sister a Pokémon for her birthday. But my grandfather was a frail old man, and was already more or less bedridden because of an illness he was fighting. Even my parents forbid him from going out to catch a Pokémon himself, because it would risk his health. Well, being stubborn as he was, he went out into the cold, risking his own life, and caught a Purrloin for her. While my parents were angry at first, when we saw how happy my sister was...well, we couldn't stay mad."

"After a few months, my sister had really bonded with her Purrloin, which she named Kitty. Now that I had Firehog, and my sister had Kitty, we began to look into lives as Pokémon Trainers. But more importantly was what my sister's new-found joy did for my grandfather. You see, my grandfather's health suddenly improved tenfold, with the doctors astounded by his progress. They said that it's a medical mystery that he was as healthy as he was, and that it could only be explained that it was a miracle. And that's what I had begun to believe."

"One day, though, when my sister and I were walking home with Kitty and Firehog, a strange masked man with ninja-like clothing and sleek white hair jumped out at us and swiped at us. Firehog fended him off for me, but we were pushed aside as he assaulted my sister. I tried to stop him, but he literally yanked Kitty out of my sister's arms, and disappeared. It all happened so fast, but it became clear to me that my sister had just been mugged of her best friend in the world. We looked high and low for her...but in the end, it was late at night, and we had to return home."

"I couldn't sleep that night, because my sister spent the entire night sobbing into her pillow on the bed next to mine. I wanted to cry too...because I couldn't do anything to protect her, or Kitty. But what topped it all off for me was what happened the next morning...as you might guess...my grandfather had died in his sleep during that night. The doctors came and didn't understand what had happened; he had been steadily improving his health until now, when he had suddenly declined all the way to death's door. But given the circumstances, and what had happened the previous night...I remember clearly what the doctors told us. 'This sort of thing...we've never seen anything like this in all our careers as medical professionals. But if I had to say the cause of death...it would have to be...that he died of a broken heart.'"

Concordia bowed her head in solemnity, while I was shocked that such a thing had happened, but Hugh never told me. Rosa had probably heard the story before, but she seemed just as sad as Concordia was, while I saw tears streaming down Yancy's face. Clearly Firehog could hear Hugh tell the story, as his face turned glum while Sir Ivy and Dewott tried to comfort him.

"Yes, these things happened..." Concordia said. "And to think, Anthea and I were foolish enough to believe in Ghetsis and Team Plasma's cause...in retrospect, I wish I had seen it sooner, so that I could dissuade N from doing what he did. But try as we might, the past cannot be changed." Though everything she said was as truthful and compassionate as I thought she could possibly make it, Hugh still seethed with unquenchable rage.

"...Concordia..." Anthea spoke. "...Team Plasma...their fall..."

"Right...to continue, Team Plasma worked until two years ago, when a boy by the name of Hilbert rose up to challenge N and his ideals with the truth about the relationship between humans and Pokémon. N began to see the merits behind being a Pokémon Trainer, as he was the first exposition of a Trainer whose Pokémon were truly happy with him, and someone who could truly one-up everything N tried to do, every single time. N would usually pour out his frustrations to us, and we comforted him and told him he was doing the right thing, because at the time, that's what we truly believed. But Hilbert kept coming strong."

"Ghetsis soon came to fear him, along with Hilbert's friends, whom you may know as Cheren and Bianca. Ghetsis knew that if he was going to stop Hilbert's advance, he would need to find one of the remaining dragons as quickly as possible. Eventually, Ghetsis located the Dark Stone in Dragonspiral Tower, near Icirrus City, which Team Plasma promptly raided. N befriended Zekrom, who emerged from the Dark Stone, meeting the Trainer with ideals that it had been seeking."

"With Zekrom in tow, Ghetsis believed that there was nothing that could get in his way of his conquering of Unova. But he underestimated Hilbert's resourcefulness; he would find the White Stone, who would emerge as Reshiram, and side with him. Finally, at N's Castle, where we met Hilbert for the first time, we could only stand back and watch as the two of them clashed dragon-to-dragon, truth against ideals. In the end, Hilbert was victorious over N, officially ruining Ghetsis's plan. In fury, Ghetsis attacked Hilbert, but he too was defeated by Hilbert. With his defeat, Team Plasma should have been finished, but while the six sages of Team Plasma who helped him with their plotting were captured by the police, Ghetsis managed to flee to plot another day. The Shadow Triad disappeared along with him, while N and Hilbert went their separate ways, both now comrades in arms, their friendship realized in battle."

"And so ends the story of the original Team Plasma. Anthea and I joined Rood to atone for our many sins by trying to reunite lost Pokémon with their Trainers...unfortunately, as you can see by the number of Pokémon running around, we haven't been entirely successful. But there also remains the fact that some Pokémon are being used by the new Team Plasma. As for Ghetsis and the Shadow Triad, I'm not sure where they are now...but wherever they are, I doubt they've given up. If Team Plasma is still running, then they both must be out there somewhere..."

Rood nodded. "I doubt they've given up either. Somewhere, they're doing their plotting, forming some nefarious plot to once again attempt to realize Ghetsis's dream..."

The door of the house began to knock. Rood, taking notice, left the herbal tea at my bedside and went to get the door. When he opened up, he backed away, as if in horror. He fell backwards as three men walked in, the ones on the sides in robes while the one in the center in a large, billowy jacket. I quickly recognized the ones on the sides to be Gorm and Ryoku, but the center one I had never met.

"Ah, Rood. Long time no see," the center man said, holding his hand out. "I trust you are doing well?"

Rood stood up and slapped the man's hand away. "Don't you make small talk with me, Zinzolin! Don't you dare talk to me like I'm your friend. Since you decided to pursue Ghetsis's dream, after he deceived all of us...why would you go on like this, knowing what he's up to!?"

Zinzolin rubbed his hand, as if hurt, all the while wearing a very fake look on his face. "I'm surprised you still don't realize it. It doesn't matter the model, it's still ultimately liberating Pokémon from Trainers. We took such a pacifist turn last time, but now we've realized that it only gets you so far. Now that we've resorted to brute force...Trainers have no choice but to surrender their Pokémon to us."

Hugh got up from my bedside and stared Zinzolin down, prepared to hurl a punch at him. He was quickly stopped by Gorm and Ryoku, who sensed the danger and restrained him. Zinzolin gave him a look of mock pity, and then turned back to Rood.

"Rood, I suggest you get your affairs in order. Team Plasma has a hold of mass technology that the old Team Plasma could only dream of having. And if you doubt what I say, then I suggest you take a step outside and see what I mean." He motioned for Ryoku and Gorm to follow, and they did. The rest of us followed him out, even I, who had ignored the pain I was feeling to get any information out of Team Plasma that I could. As we all stepped outside, we saw a giant sailboat-like fortress floating in the sky, full to the brim with Team Plasma grunts all over. It was a mechanical marvel, as much as I loathed to admit it. Zinzolin made a smug smile and chuckled.

"Impressed, Rood? You couldn't hope to have technology like this!"

Rood seethed with anger. "Why, you...what do you plan to do with that thing!?"

Zinzolin motioned for the grunts to send down a ladder, to which the grunts replied by scrambling around the ship to get one. He then turned back to us and grinned. "Oh, we shall save the questions for last. The fun has only just begun, Rood! May you realize your own foolishness before it comes back to destroy you."

"Yer foolishness has already destroyed yer brain, I reckon!"

Clay had appeared from where the PWT was, with Riley, Mira, Wally, and Bianca in close pursuit behind him. They ran up the hill to try and catch Zinzolin and the others before they could make their escape, but the three of them quickly scrambled onto the ladder the grunts sent down, just avoiding Clay's grasp. Clay threw his hat onto the ground and grumbled in anger at the disappointment.

"Dangit! And I thought I had 'em too...man, those Team Plasma prawn are a piece o' work, I'll tell ye that," Clay growled, picking his hat back up. Riley and Mira both saw me and seemed relieved that I was fine.

"Grass! It's good to see you've recovered!" Riley said, genuinely in the happiest way I've ever seen him talk. Mira cheered for my health too, which was very heart-warming. Wally was there too, smiling and glad to see me in chipper condition.

"Yeah...I made it, though my head still hurts...I had that terrible fall, and...what happened to you guys?"

"We fell, but not nearly as hard or in as bad a position as you were, Grass," Riley said, adjusting his hat. "We never lost consciousness, but when we heard Team Plasma was behind this, we began helping the police investigate the ruined basement of the PWT. It seems Team Plasma was behind the whole thing."

"Really?" I said, feigning ignorance. "I guess it makes sense..."

"The situation is getting worse..." Concordia murmured as she stared at the ship flying away into the cloudy sky. "If this keeps up, I can forsee...peril, and destruction, and despair. Zinzolin's plan must be stopped, and Team Plasma must be brought down, no matter the means. Unfortunately, I have no idea where Team Plasma might strike next, and I still have yet to understand where they had acquired all this technology..."

"Well, wondering isn't going to solve anything..." Hugh said, his fists clenched. "I'm going to give chase! Oh, and Clay," Hugh quickly turned to Clay, meeting his stern gaze with his own. "Give Grass the badge, will ya? He beat me fair and square in our battle." Hugh then dashed off towards Route 6, and before I knew it, he was out of sight.

"He sure is fast..." Rosa remarked. "Anyways, I know that I can't help you guys out much here, and I need to go back and get the Badge from Elesa still, so I have to head back to Nimbasa City. How about we meet up again sometime, Grass? I think Undella Town would be a good place to meet again."

"S-sure, I suppose," I said, not very enthused. Sure, I wanted to meet up with Rosa again for old time's sake, but I had too much on my mind at the time. I then turned to Clay, who was fumbling through his pocket, which I assumed was for the badge. I guess he caught me staring at his pocket, and he suddenly pulled his hand out, nothing in it at all.

"What, kid, were ye actually expectin' the badge? You ain't proved to me yer capable enough fer bein' a Trainer. But since the PWT is outta commission in the meantime, I'll just issue ye another challenge. I want ye to get through Chargestone Cave past Route 6 to Mistralton City. But yer not allowed any food or drinkin' while yer gettin' through the cave. No slackin' here! I wanna see if you can handle yerself in a tough situation like that." I was honestly really disappointed that Clay still didn't think I was capable, but I hoped that I could prove him wrong.

"Well, if the PWT isn't happening..." Wally murmured. "Riley, Mira, what are we going to do now? We can't just hang around here, and all the hotels here are fully booked. So...where does that leave us?"

Riley pondered the situation for a moment. "Well, since we can't really stick around here, I guess we can travel as our own group for old time's sake. After all, we ARE Trainers, and we gotta keep improving for our next big challenge. So why don't we three make a mock travel group? I'm sure we'll get to learn more about Unova that way."

"Mira likes that idea!" Mira squealed. Riley smiled and put a hand on my shoulder.

"Well, Grass, I suppose this is good-bye for now. I think that we'll meet up again somewhere. No...I'm sure of it. And hopefully, undisturbed by the turmoil of Team Plasma."

"Yes...I surely hope so."

"Well then," Wally said. "Shall we get going?" The three of them, three veteran Trainers from different lands, walked down in the same direction as Rosa had left, and they soon disappeared from sight as they crossed onto the Driftveil Drawbridge. Clay followed behind them, only to divert paths and back to the wrecked PWT dome, where I assumed he was continuing to work with police to find out specific details.

That left me, Yancy, Bianca, Anthea, Concordia, and Rood by ourselves. In my haste, I remembered that I still had to escort Yancy to Mistralton City, and that I had probably fallen way behind schedule on that, though Yancy assured me that we were fine on the matter of time. Rood and Bianca walked up to me.

"Grass..." Rood murmured. "I must apologize for the bad experience you experienced at the hands of my former comrades, and for having Anthea and Concordia give you a whirlwind history of Team Plasma. I'm sure you have a lot of questions pertaining to the matter, but unfortunately, despite being called a sage, I know very little about what is currently happening with the new Team Plasma. I immediately cast it off as something that wouldn't last a month, but I was wrong. But perhaps my current comrades will. In Lentimas Town, my fellow sages Bronius and Giallo take residence in a Team Plasma HQ, much like this. They may provide answers that I am unable to provide."

Concordia followed. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Grass. I am assuming you're going to give chase to Hugh, who went after Team Plasma? Do be careful. Chargestone Cave is up ahead, and it's a difficult place to tread. And since you will be taking Clay's challenge...you need to be careful about hydration." I nodded, knowing that it wouldn't be easy, but I needed to do it to earn my badge and continue forward.

Lastly, there was Bianca. "Hey, Grass, if you're going to Chargestone Cave, could I join you? Professor Juniper asked me if I could get some research done with regards to the stones in the area. So could you let me join you? Pleeeeease?"

I giggled at her earnestness. "Of course you can, Bianca."

Bianca squealed in delight. "Yes! Thanks, Grass! So, what are we waiting for? Let's go!"

"Hold up," I said, looking around. "I feel like I'm forgetting someone..."

"Me, it would probably be!"

Out from the inside of the house, Looker popped out with a large camera in his hand. "To my brilliant disguise, I owe many thanks! I was dressed up as a Team Plasma member, and took videos of the confrontation between you and Zinzolin, I did! The International Police HQ, they will be pleased with my findings!" He then quickly shook my hand. "It has been a pleasure working with you. May we meet again, someday!" Looker dashed down the steps, his makeup flying around and making a dust cloud. Looker, much like Hugh, sure did skedaddle fast.

"Well, I guess that's our cue, then," I said. "Let's go. To Chargestone Cave!"

The Crew    
  • Sir Ivy - Serperior - ♂ // Level 40
  • Met 7/3/2013, at Aspertia City, at Level 5
  • Moves: Leech Seed // Coil // Leaf Blade // Return
  • Stats: 127 / 76 / 88 / 69 / 89 / 108
  • Held Item: Scope Lens
  • Ability: Overgrow
  • Nature: Quirky (neutral)
  • Characteristic: Likes to relax.
  • Changes in this Part: Gained 2 Levels
  • Ms. Pokey - Cacturne - ♀ // Level 38
  • Met 7/4/2013, at Floccesy Ranch, at Level 5
  • Moves: Venoshock // Seed Bomb // Faint Attack // Sand-Attack
  • Stats: 112 / 101 / 56 / 98 / 54 / 58
  • Held Item: None
  • Ability: Sand Veil
  • Nature: Naive (+Spd, -SpD)
  • Characteristic: Strongly defiant.
  • Changes in this Part: Gained 1 Level, learned Seed Bomb
  • Fassad - Foongus - ♂ // Level 37
  • Met 7/6/2013, at Virbank Complex, at Level 11
  • Moves: Giga Drain // Synthesis // Toxic // Venoshock
  • Stats: 109 / 48 / 45 / 50 / 50 / 18
  • Held Item: Eviolite
  • Ability: Effect Spore
  • Nature: Timid (+Spd, -Atk)
  • Characteristic: Likes to fight.
  • Changes in this Part: Gained 2 Levels
  • Sunshine - Sunflora - ♂ // Level 38
  • Met 7/16/2013, at Route 16, at Level 21
  • Moves: Giga Drain // Leech Seed // Double-Edge // Petal Dance
  • Stats: 119 / 66 / 53 / 87 / 81 / 38
  • Held Item: Miracle Seed
  • Ability: Solar Power
  • Nature: Bashful (neutral)
  • Characteristic: Strong willed.
  • Changes in this Part: Gained 2 Levels, learned Double-Edge
  • Broccoli - Simisage - ♂ // Level 39
  • Met 7/16/2013, at Lostlorn Forest, at Level 21
  • Moves: Seed Bomb // Acrobatics // Low Kick // Bite
  • Stats: 123 / 102 / 64 / 72 / 56 / 92
  • Held Item: Expert Belt
  • Ability: Gluttony
  • Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
  • Characteristic: A little quick tempered.
  • Changes in this Part: Gained 2 Levels, equipped the Expert Belt
  • Latifole - Leafeon - ♂ // Level 39
  • Met 7/26/2013, at Route 6, at Level 25
  • Moves: Strength // Swords Dance // Dig // Giga Drain
  • Stats: 108 / 102 / 113 / 63 / 52 / 81
  • Held Item: Shell Bell
  • Ability: Leaf Guard
  • Nature: Naughty (+Atk, -SpD)
  • Characteristic: Mischievous.
  • Changes in this Part: Gained 3 Levels, equipped the Shell Bell

The Reserves    
None

The Fallen    

  • Tropicana - Tropius - ♀
  • Met 7/3/2013, at Route 19, at Level 4
  • Died 7/15/2013, at Relic Castle, at Level 26
  • Moves: Strength // Gust // Growth // Razor Leaf
  • Stats (at time of death): 98 / 48 / 44 / 50 / 56 / 39
  • Ability: Solar Power
  • Nature: Gentle (+SpD, -Def)
  • Characteristic: Impetuous and silly.
  • Lilly - Lilligant - ♀
  • Met 7/8/2013, at Castelia City, at Level 15
  • Died 7/16/2013, at Route 5, at Level 27
  • Moves: Growth // Leech Seed // Sleep Powder // Giga Drain
  • Stats (at time of death): 81 / 41 / 48 / 69 / 47 / 59
  • Ability: Own Tempo
  • Nature: Hardy (neutral)
  • Characteristic: Alert to sounds.
  • Cirrus - Cottonee - ♀
  • Met 7/16/2013, at Route 5, at Level 23
  • Died 7/18/2013, at Nimbasa City, at Level 28
  • Moves: Giga Drain // Charm // Razor Leaf // PoisonPowder
  • Stats (at time of death): 63 / 20 / 38 / 30 / 36 / 44
  • Ability: Prankster
  • Nature: Quiet (+SpA, -Spd)
  • Characteristic: Alert to sounds.
  

Current Location: Driftveil City
  #17  
Old September 8, 2013, 10:36:25 PM
GrassPokemonFTW's Avatar
GrassPokemonFTW GrassPokemonFTW is offline
Kyurem
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: [INSERT GENERIC LOCATION HERE]
Posts: 2,222
Default Q_Q I'm so tired...

Chapter 13: The Spark of Love
BTW if you want to leave a critique or suggestion you should leave it here: http://victoryroad.net/showthread.ph...046#post283046

Walking through Route 6 towards Chargestone Cave gave me a little time to reflect, though I found it very difficult to do so. I noticed that the winter was in full swing; when I had left, autumn was upon Aspertia City, with the light, crispy autumn wind blew multitudes of the vibrant fall leaves along the sky. Now, the time for beauty was over, as the grass turned brown with age and was covered with a thin layer of snow. Never being much of a snow person myself, I wasn't particularly fond of the incredible cold, and even the great, billowy coat that I took with me for situations like these couldn't protect me from the cold.

Bianca was holding her arms together tightly, making little "brrr..." noises every now and then, occasionally placing her hands in her pockets to warm them up. I was doing the same, but I found the struggle to keep warm utterly futile. Yancy, on the other hand, was doing the worst out of all of us. I don't think she planned on it being so incredibly cold, as she was wearing a generic shirt and a knee-length skirt. Her pale skin seemed almost as white as the snow that surrounded us. I felt a little guilty; after all, I was her guide so that she could get to Mistralton City for her next performance. I offered her my coat, at least until we got to the cave, but she declined, her face turning a rosy red.

"Oh...is that it?" Bianca said as we reached an opening in the stone wall. The very entrance to the cave seemed to crackle with electricity, made more powerful by the cold wind. I imagined that the whole place was going to be full of static electricity, which would be quite the nuisance. Both Bianca and Yancy cringed at the prospect of going in a cave full of nothing but static. Perhaps because it would mess up their hair, but I'd probably be chastised for saying such a thing, so I shut my mouth.

"I guess so...so, he said we were to meet him at the end of the cave. I guess we've no choice but to head forward..." I shivered a little bit as a light breeze passed by, kicking up some of the flurries of snow on the ground. Yancy did likewise. I offered my coat again, but the offer was once again met with a denial and an incredibly scarlet face. Bianca tapped on my shoulder as if to say something, but she was interrupted as a huge shock of static electricity burst forth from the cave. I couldn't believe it; it must have been unbelievably cold and dry in there for there to be such a surge of static.

"A-are you sure it's safe in there!?" Yancy shrieked, as the surge died down. I myself was beginning to question Clay's motives in sending me on such a dangerous path, but what else could I do? The only other path in sight was a cave that existed on the other side of the river that flowed through Route 6, but the current was far too strong, and the water likely far too cold, to even be remotely passable. We had no choice.

"Bianca, Yancy, we've got no choice. Bianca, you said Professor Juniper needs research on this cave, right? And also, Yancy, we need to get through here so that we can get to Mistralton City for your performance, right? We've no other options. Although I wish it didn't come to this..." The sparks were finally settling, making the cave entrance look at least remotely passable. "I don't know how long it'll keep calm like this. We'd better hurry." Bianca nodded and motioned for Yancy to follow, but her fear seized her and kept her in place. With no time to look back, or any time to stop, Bianca and I forced ourselves forward, entering the cave just before another blast of static electricity burst forth from the ground, enveloping the cave entrance in its luminescent, yet powerful, glow.

The inside of the cave was eerily beautiful. Luminescent blue stones floated in the air, held up by magnetism. They all sparked a little, small little spark floating across the air and becoming sucked in and absorbed by the floating stones. Turning back to the entrance, I saw Yancy standing outside the cave, utterly paralyzed with fear. I beckoned for her to follow, but she simply fell down and began to quiver. The static began to die down again.

"Come on, Yancy!" I called out. "Now's your chance!"

Still nothing. She even began to clutch onto her hat and seemed to turn into a statue, she was so fearful. Something in the way she resisted, the way she refused to face her fears and follow, didn't seem right. At the same time, I felt like she was reaching out towards me, though we were blocked by this barrier of static electricity. But there was nothing I could do; if I ran out now, the cave might become alight with static once again, and leave me unable to re-enter. Yancy expressed a longing to be with me, to be by my side, but at the same time, her fears kept her stoutly in place.

I decided to be incredibly bold, leaping out of the cave and taking Yancy by the hand, pulling her along. My sudden motion shocked her, but her body still refused to move as I pulled her along. The cave entrance was still crackling with static; I prayed that it wouldn't have another surge like it did before. Much to my fortune, the two of us managed to get into the cave before another surge of static engulfed the cave's entrance. Panting, I collapsed on the ground, sending a static shock through my body.

Yancy seemed petrified. Her face had become even more pale, and her eyes literally seemed dead. I shook her to try to get her to respond, but she didn't move.

"I...I think she fainted..." Bianca shrugged, tugging at Yancy's shirt sleeve. Yancy failed to respond at all. She must have fainted out of fear; I really didn't give her much warning when I pulled her into the cave, as I was acting totally out of impulse and irrationality. Why would Clay want me to go through such a treacherous obstacle? Chargestone Cave couldn't possibly have been this dangerous before, could it?

"Well, we can only wait here until Yancy comes to," Bianca said, setting her supplies down and stretching her arms. "And besides, Grass, I've been...well, I've been wanting to talk to you in private."

Bianca's eyes were serious and focused. I'd never seen such a scatterbrain like Bianca become so focused.

Bianca clasped her hands together. "Well, you see...it's about this girl, Yancy...who is she, exactly? She seems...really familiar, somehow, but I can't put my finger on it."

"Yancy? She's a friend of mine. I can't say why she looks so familiar to you, though," I lied. I remembered the promise I made to Yancy and Curtis and I wasn't about to turn back on it now, not for Bianca. Bianca seemed skeptical, but she seemed to take what I said into account.

"Well, I don't know about you...but don't you think she's acting a little odd to you?"

"Well, I can't blame her for being scared of the static, but--"

"N-no, that's not what I meant. I meant towards you. Isn't she acting a little awkwardly towards you? I mean, like, by other standards, she seems to act normally at any other time. Just...around you, she acts a little strange. Doesn't that disturb you a bit?"

I couldn't really get a grasp on what Bianca was saying. At any other time? Acting strangely? "Bianca, I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean, still...I, well...no, I don't get what you're trying to say. She hasn't acted any differently during our time together, she's always been like this."

Bianca flushed a bit and sighed. "Grass, I...er, well, how do I put this...like, don't you see her blushing a lot? Or...you know, worrying about you? Or the like?"

"I don't see how that makes her weird!" I shouted, getting frustrated. "Bianca, just tell me what you want to say, and stop beating around the bush!"

Bianca recoiled, shocked at my sudden outburst. I quickly pulled back, realizing that I had gone too far. I rubbed my arm, embarrassed, as a cold chill swept over me. I took a quick glance at Yancy; she was still unconscious on the ground. The cave entrance was still enveloped by the static electricity. Somehow, I felt trapped, but why did I feel that way...?

"Well...G-grass, this is pretty serious..." Bianca stammered, not making eye contact with me. "W-what I'm trying to say, is...well, I think Yancy...erm...likes you, or something."

I stood there silently for a moment. Bianca was unreasonably red in the face. "Um...Bianca, you okay? You don't seem too well. Did you catch a cold...?"

Bianca, flabbergasted, stepped away, nearly tripping on a rock. "G-Grass! D-do you have any idea what--!?"

I was getting incredibly frustrated now. "Bianca! I told you to stop beating around the bush! I'm getting really sick and tired of your subtlety!"

I knew I went too far again, but my frustration was far too great for me to even care anymore. Bianca wasn't nearly as submissive this time, as she retaliated with some shouting of her own, some strong resolve that I'd never seen out of her since we met.

"Grass, I can't be any less subtle! Yancy...Yancy likes you! HOW CAN'T YOU REALIZE THAT YANCY'S IN LOVE WITH YOU!?"

Bianca's face was flushed with red, her embarrassment apparent. I stole a quick glance at Yancy, who still lay there unconscious. I could even begin to feel myself getting flushed. But why? What about me was there to like? Since we set off from Nimbasa, I've caused nothing but trouble for her. Latifole stealing her hat, the whole fiasco with Charles, and the Team Plasma situation...why would she even want anything to do with me?

"H-hey, I don't...why would she...?" I began to speak, but my own embarrassment kept my voice from coming out. "W-wait, Bianca, how can you be so sure? D-don't tell me...!"

Bianca folded her arms, as if attempting to look stern, though it just made her look silly. "T-to be honest, Grass, I'm surprised you couldn't tell. She acts so nervous around you, and she's always blushing...how could you not tell?"

"I-I realize that, but...!" I shook my head, trying to shake off my surprise. "It's...well, Yancy...I don't know what to think about this..."

"Well, it's simple, really..." Bianca said, flustered again. She kept her arms folded, however. "W-well? D-do you like Yancy or not?"

"H-huh!? W-what do you mean!? Y-yancy and I..." I knew the answer. I had never really thought of Yancy that way, but for some reason I was ashamed to admit it. It was like one of those taboo things, where you're not supposed to talk about people behind their backs...or maybe not. The whole situation was simply torturous for me, as I didn't know how I should respond. I'd never been placed in such a situation, and my inability to even respond to the situation made me all the more frustrated with myself, and with everything.

"Well?" Bianca asked, after I fumbled with my words for some time. "Do you like her back? Or do you not feel that way about her?"

"I..." I stammered, ashamed. "I...I just...I don't know!" I don't know why, but I was crying. It was like I had suddenly lost control of my emotions and was now nothing more than a sputtering child, lost in his own emotions that he couldn't understand. I lost myself in my tears, crouched down and knelt, submissive to my own confusing thoughts, running through my head. Yancy? Who was she? Was she my friend...or was there something more deep to it?

"I...see..."

I thought Bianca had said that, but when I turned my head up to look at her, she was staring behind me. I stood and spun around, coming eye-to-eye with a fully conscious Yancy, whose face was full of horror and despair. Had she been listening to our whole conversation? That's what I was beginning to believe, and now I was more horrified than before.

"S-so...y-y-you don't..."

"W-wait! Yancy, please, you don't understand..."

"I understand clearly! You...you don't...care...I'm just a burden to you..."

I went into panic mode. "Wait, Yancy, please! I didn't say that, nor did I mean it...!"

"If I'm that much of a burden to you..." Yancy wept, pulling her hat down to cover her tear-stained face, "Then I'll just disappear!" Yancy blew past us, running off into the deeper reaches of the cave. I called for her, and tried to pursue her, but my legs wouldn't move. I fell to the ground and slammed my fist into the earth.

"Dang it...just...damn it all!" I screamed, not caring anymore if anyone heard the commotion. "Why did it have to turn out like this...why did she have to...leave me like this..."

Bianca gave me a sympathetic glance and looked over towards the deeper reaches of the cave. "Grass...I guess you've never experienced emotions like this, and it's frustrating. I too have experienced love before...erm, but, you know, it didn't work out. But enough of that; we need to find Yancy before she gets too deep in. Don't forget, Chargestone Cave seems to have become more dangerous since I was last here."

I nodded in affirmative, though I could hardly stand up under the crushing weight of my own despair. At length, I was finally able to pick my sorry self up and we were thus on our way. Like Bianca had described, the entire cave walls were crackling with incredible amounts of static, some giving me a little jolt as I walked. But not even the strongest jolts through my body distracted me from finding Yancy. In retrospect, I don’t even know why I had been so determined. I had always cast my actions off as an instinctive measure, and as a matter of pride, I knew I had to safely escort Yancy to Mistralton. But at that point I didn't even think of those things...and yet, at the same time, my heart was racing with utter hopelessness and a need to find her. Not because I needed to complete my role...but so that she could be with me.

I may not have even been conscious then. I just sped through the cave in the hopes of finding her, lying near some rock, waiting for me to protect her. It wasn't until we reached the depths of the cave that I finally became conscious of my surroundings; for one thing, it was incredibly, obscenely cold. It was colder in the depths of this cave than it was outside, and as such, the static from the stones was amplified.

"Yikes..." Bianca commented, looking at the sparking stones. "The cold is making the electricity even stronger! I hope Yancy's okay..."

I didn't respond, too focused in my own effort. Disregarding the lack of safety, I trekked further in. I couldn't possibly fathom was came over me; the Grass who left Aspertia City seemed so distant from who I had become. I was no longer afraid of anything, and had actual determination. And most of all...

"I am...alive..."

As I made my way through the cave, that one phrase echoed through the cave and in my mind. I am alive...I...am...alive...

At length I finally heard voices of people up ahead. But the voices I heard was not from Yancy...no, the voice was gruff, cold, shivering...but still had a strange sense of warmth in it. I tread carefully, careful not to cause a ruckus. Carefully hiding myself behind a rock, I peered over the edge to see Zinzolin with two grunts beside him. He began to snicker, though a glint in his eye gave away his discomfort with the cold, and he demanded the grunts hand him his gloves. The grunts produced a thick pair of wool mitts, and he put them on, sighing a breath of relief. His sigh produced a cloud, which ascended into the cave ceiling and dispersed.

"Ah...this cloud...so full of life, in such a desolate cold...yes, I'm shivering from the cold...but I am...still...alive...!"

"Zinzolin, sir..." one of the grunts said, worryingly. "Is this...the beast's work?"

"Yes it is, my child...the beast's bitter heart...creates a bitter, cold wind...which will in turn freeze the hearts of Unova...and then...the time will come..."

"Sir, shall we leave this place?"

"I cannot stand this cold...we shall take leave of here, but soon all of Unova will know of this bitter frigidness..."

"Zinzolin, sir, what about the girl?"

Zinzolin smirked, motioning to his two grunts. "She will rightfully pay for attempting to intervene in our affairs. And if this...Grass, was it? If he chooses to intervene...then he will know the true terror of Team Plasma...but enough chatter. I fear this cave will begin to spark up again..."

Almost as if on cue, the rock I hid behind began to glow a radiant blue and zapped me, knocking me backwards and sending a painful tingling sensation through my entire body. I began to scream uncontrollably from the pain. But, as I later regretted, my screaming gave away my position, alerting Zinzolin to my presence. From behind him, I caught a glimpse of Yancy, who was tied up and muzzled. She gave a shocked look, and tried to speak through her muzzle, but to no avail. Eventually the rock stopped zapping me and I was free to move, though I was in considerable pain.

"Well, speak of the devil..." Zinzolin commented, looking at my spastic movements. "You don't know when to give up, do you? I must admit, you're gutsy to pursue us even here, especially when there was a much more safe route to Mistralton that you could have taken...but enough chatter." He turned to the grunts, who were awaiting his orders. "Get out of here; you won't be able to stand the cold for very long with what you two are waiting. I'll handle this child myself."

The grunts complied and made their way up towards the exit. Zinzolin had the path blocked, though I admit that with my strength I couldn't have hoped to get past Zinzolin by brute force, even if I had tried. Zinzolin produced a Pokéball from one of his many coat pockets, and smirked in an ominous, creepy sort of way. I could only foresee a great deal of pain from battling him, but I had no other options.

"Zinzolin, I haven't the faintest idea what you or Team Plasma is up to...but you're not going to get away with it!"

"We shall see. Go, Weavile!" Zinzolin threw his Pokéball, revealing a menacing devil of a Pokémon, his sharp claws and teeth adding to the factor. He seemed very agile as well, and his death glare, very similar to that of Gorm's Cofagrigus and Ryoku's Volcarona.

"An Ice-type...and a Dark-type...so I'll need to combat it with a Fighting-type move...which means..." I systematically reached into my bag for the one Pokémon who I believed would get the job done in no time.

"Broccoli, come on out!" I called, sending my Pokéball into the air, releasing Broccoli, ready to fight.

"Alright, Grass, this better be important, I was having a nap...and why the hell is it so cold in here!?" Broccoli groaned, annoyed that he was disturbed so suddenly.

"Broccoli, no time for complaints! We got Team Plasma to deal with again..."

"Again!? These freaks don't know when to quit, eh?" Broccoli smirked. "Oh, and a Weavile? So...that'll be a Low Kick, right?"

I smiled. "You got it, Broccoli. Now go take him out!" Broccoli quickly responded, getting in close to Weavile and sweeping his feet low to try and trip Weavile. Zinzolin wasn't at all worried, though.

"Dodge, and use Ice Punch." Weavile, with all his agility, adeptly avoided Broccoli's attack and quickly retaliated by pulling close in and slamming Broccoli in the face with an ice-cold punch. The punch was backed with devastating power, as it flung Broccoli backwards and crashing into the cave wall, knocking him senseless.

"B-Broccoli!? What the--!?" I was shocked at the Weavile's immense power. To think that Broccoli was taken out so easily...

"You're going to need more than move advantage if you're to defeat me..." Zinzolin murmured, grinning in self-satisfaction. "So, tell me, little mouse...what other futile attempts will you make to defy me?" I wanted to stay strong to make him eat his words, but Broccoli had already been slammed into the cave wall and knocked out in one hit, so I wasn't even sure what to do...

"We...we're just getting warmed up, Zinzolin! Sir Ivy, it's all you!" I hoped that Sir Ivy would be able to take Weavile on, speed-on-speed. In reality, though, I had no idea how the matchup would turn, and that my courage to send out another Pokémon was merely a facade, deceptively made to make myself seem like I knew what I was doing. As Sir Ivy popped out his Pokéball and gave me a reassuring look, I knew that I had no time to second-guess myself.

"Grass, this is no time to flee! If there has ever been an important decision since the dawn of mankind, it is the decision to fight or flee. But there is no fleeing here!"

"Right...alright, Sir Ivy, let's show this guy what it means to mess with us!"

"Well, well..." Zinzolin muttered. "You don't know when to call quits. Let's try this again...Weavile, Ice Punch!" Weavile did as commanded, once again getting in close, his claws cloaked in a frigid haze. Sir Ivy took a defensive stance, but all for naught, as I had made a terrible oversight in choosing Sir Ivy to battle. Weavile suddenly jumped out of the way, to Sir Ivy's left - the same side as Sir Ivy's eye patch! Sir Ivy looked around, trying to see Weavile, but because of his eye patch, Weavile was cloaked from view. Next thing I knew, Sir Ivy was clocked in the head by Weavile's attack, sending him flying into a rock, which promptly broke into pieces upon impact.

"Let's follow that up with Night Slash, shall we?" Zinzolin said, smirking at Sir Ivy's feebleness. Weavile acted quickly, his claws becoming sharper and cloaked in shadows. He sliced at Sir Ivy repeatedly, cutting through his eye patch and cutting open a steady stream of blood from his left eye. Sir Ivy screamed in pain, writhing, and all I could do was watch in horror as Sir Ivy was being hacked at.

As if feeling my horror, and Sir Ivy's pain, Ms. Pokey forcibly made her way out of her Pokéball and struck at Weavile with Faint Attack. While it didn't appear to do much damage, she did enough to catch Weavile off guard and stop his assault on Sir Ivy. Weavile's eyes grew an even deeper red; he was clearly angry that his prey had been stolen from him.

"Don't you...don't you lay another finger on him..." Ms. Pokey growled, standing firmly in front of Sir Ivy's decrepit body. I ran to him, praying that he was okay, but a sharp glance from Ms. Pokey stopped me in my tracks. She clearly did not want anyone but her near him. I trembled; Ms. Pokey really did care a lot for Sir Ivy, despite the way she acts around him usually. I cast a look towards Sir Ivy, who raised his head slightly and winced in pain. His left eye, fully exposed, was still bleeding, and a huge gash made its mark on top of his eye.

"Hmph. Very well. Weavile, use Ice Shard," Zinzolin commanded, mercilessly attempting to smite the rest of my team. Weavile began to form a giant ice crystal between his hands, which he then broke into tiny fragments which he shot towards Ms. Pokey.

"Ms. Pokey! GET AWAY FROM THERE!" I shouted, the shards coming fast. Despite my protestations, Ms. Pokey stood there like a mighty rock, and took the full brunt of the attack. The consequences were brutal; shards of ice sliced past her supple skin, leaving various cuts on her body, and some which made unfortunate contact stuck in her skin, like tiny knives, and hung out, small traces of blood dripping from the ends. Ms. Pokey winced in pain, but she stood strong, though the mere sight of her made me shiver in horror. Sir Ivy, hardly able to move, inched his way closer, a glint of terror in his eyes.

"W-wretched girl..." Sir Ivy groaned, still in pain from Weavile's assault. "Why do you...put yourself...in harm's way...for me!?"

Ms. Pokey's legs began to shake, as the pain from the number of Ice Shard stab wounds began to take their toll on her. "You...idiot! Haven't...haven't I already told you!? You're the core...the core of my...I mean, the core of this team...! If we lose you...urk...! We need to be...strong for you! And you...n-need to be...s-strong f-for---!" Ms. Pokey took a knee, and began to breathe heavily. Sir Ivy, frenzied by Ms. Pokey's sudden deterioration, hobbled towards her and wrapped his tail around her, trying to protect her from another possible attack.

"Hmph. Such foolishness. Such stubborn behavior is not the product of bravery, but of idiocy. That Cacturne puts herself in harms way for what might as well have already been lost. And you, young boy...you put yourself in harm's way, in my way, to protect what has already been taken from you. What you fools shall realize...is that what is lost is not worth fighting for. But such is the hardheadedness of humanity that people refuse to give up on anything. Faith...trust...there is no such need for these things in this world."

"Then...then what about you, Zinzolin!?" I shouted, my hate building with every word he spoke. "If you say to give up on what is lost...then why didn't you quit on Team Plasma when they fell!? Why do you still persist towards Pokémon liberation!?"

Zinzolin laughed. "Pokémon liberation? Oh, no, I could care less about that. But it does pose an interesting case to see...what will humanity do? When they've lost Pokémon, and the entire world in engulfed in Team Plasma's cold influence...what will they do? Will the masses grovel at our feet? Will they rise up against us? Or will humanity collapse under Team Plasma's mighty rule? I...dream of a world of chaos. I dream of a world where I, Team Plasma, and my fellow sages...where we can reign as the absolutely supreme overlords."

"You...you're insane! What could you possibly get out of that!?" I shouted. Zinzolin truly was one of those people that Concordia described: the type of people who resided among Team Plasma's ranks for the thrill.

"...I'm nothing but a cold, empty shell of a man. My desires are innumerable and immeasurable. But when Team Plasma conquers Unova...no, the world! When we become the monarchs of the world...I'll finally receive all that I desire! Everyone will concede to my every whim...or die, trying to defy me! And that is the dystopia I will command over, the land where I will have all I desire!"

"You fiend..." I seethed, figuring that I couldn't reason with him. "You evil, evil fiend...I can't...I won't let you win!"

"Hmph. You're gutsy to say that. My Weavile alone has decimated three of your Pokémon. How could you possibly be so courageous?"

It was true; three of my fiercest battlers, in quick and powerful strikes, were felled by Weavile alone. But I couldn't give up now, nor could I lose, not when it was so important for me to defeat him.

"Zinzolin...like I could possibly lose to a fiend such as you! I won't give in...I won't let you have your way, because justice always wins!"

"Hm...so I was wrong. What you posses is not courage...but impudence." He sniffed, the coldness in the air becoming noticeably stronger. "I have nothing more to say to you, child. I will end you here and now. Weavile, Ice Shard, once more!"

Weavile once again formed a huge block of ice in his hands, intending to crush it into tiny, spearlike shards, and send them to pierce through Ms. Pokey and Sir Ivy again. While I stayed gutsy on the exterior, my heart was pounding, trying to find a solution in this almost winless situation.

"Muahaha..." Zinzolin laughed, the wretched raspiness in his laugh taunting me. "Prepare to die!"

"Hahaha! I don't think so~!"
"Trying to take our lives? With that move? Show a little class, will you?"

Weavile seemed stunned by the sudden intrusion. His hesitation was perfect; the ground beneath him bulged up, and eventually ruptured brilliantly as Latifole made a successful surprise attack on Weavile. Weavile was hurled into the air, dropping the block of ice on the floor as it shattered in a million glittering pieces. Then, vines began to erupt from the ground as well, wrapping themselves around Weavile and fixing him in place on the cave ceiling.

"Impossible! What kind of intrusion is this!?" Zinzolin screeched, surprised to see Weavile suddenly immobilized. I was just about as shocked as he was, but I came to realize that Latifole and Sunshine couldn't have intervened at a better time. Weavile struggled to escape the grasp of Sunshine's vine's grasp, but to no avail.

"Watch, Zinzolin! This is the power of teamwork!" I declared, finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Perhaps it was due to the first turn of good events since the battle began, but I reveled in this moment, in this situation where I had the upper hand. But it was merely a fleeting dream.

"Hah! If you believe you have the upper hand, you're just dreaming! Weavile, break free with Night Slash!" As soon as I believed that I had an advantage, an upper edge, Zinzolin swept it from me. His Weavile, struggling, was able to sharpen his claws and slice through the vines, freeing him from Sunshine's restraint. Lust for revenge overtaking him, Weavile dived towards Sunshine, who countered with Petal Dance, but to no avail, as the onslaught of petals failed to harm him at all. Weavile continued to dive, and eventually landed right in front of Sunshine. Sunshine attempted a retaliation, but Weavile was too fast, his claws quickly digging into Sunshine's throat. With one hand on his throat and another slashing Sunshine across the cheek, the attack left Sunshine on the floor, gasping for air as his throat was immersed in its own blood.

Latifole was next. Weavile made a quick turn towards him after Sunshine was dealt with, and made a quick charge, this time preparing for Ice Punch. Latifole, not being one to back away from a challenge, charged back. Latifole made a crafty move to jump away from Weavile so that Latifole could strike at Weavile from behind, but Weavile saw the move coming, and quickly spun and clocked Latifole's chin with the Ice Punch. Latifole seemed dazed from the attack, but not down just yet. Seeing this, the Weavile snickered as he once again sharpened his claws for Night Slash, and sliced at Latifole, leaving a giant scar on his side. Latifole screeched in pain and anger, before he fell over, exhaustion and pain getting the better of him.

At last I felt the final nail had been thrust into the coffin. My team lay about me, crushed at the hands of a single crazed, maddened Pokémon. I could no longer stand tall. This single Pokémon had just single-handedly ruined me. And now Clay's suspicions were confirmed; I truly was nothing without my Pokémon. I was nothing. I was helpless without my allies. And Zinzolin seemed to revel in my helplessness.

"Grass...don't...give in!"

I looked behind Zinzolin to see Yancy, who had somehow undid her muzzle, despite her hands being tied together behind her. Zinzolin turned around nonchalantly, not at all concerned that Yancy undid the muzzle. Tears were streaming from her eyes; was it fear, or was it horror that graced her eyes? Regardless of the answer, she was pining to me, telling me not to give in...and for what? I had all but lost, my Pokémon sprawled about the cold cave floor, either unconscious from fearsome blows or bleeding out from Weavile's fierce cutting attacks.

"Grass...don't give up!" Yancy shouted. "If not for me...for your Pokémon! They need you...and you need them...so you've...got to protect them!"

"Silence, girl!" Zinzolin shouted, pushing her down. I instinctively bolted towards him, my fists clenched in fury. I lost control, my logic circuits rerouted not to think but to fuel the fire of my unmanageable rage. As I charged, I tripped over a rock and fell flat on my face, and though I tried to pick myself up again, I once again slipped and fell. At the mercy of Zinzolin, I cursed profusely as I slammed my fist into the ground.

"Grass..." Yancy whispered, horrified at my outrage. Behind me, I could feel Sir Ivy and Ms. Pokey, holding each other, staring at me in all my wrath and pitifulness. Beside me, Sunshine lay bleeding out, though his face was still marked with the classic smile that he always had. To have such an expression at a time like this...

"Hrm. Pitiful, absolutely pitiful," Zinzolin said, both with disappointment and mockery. "That's why I've given up emotion. All I feel is the coldness of the earth, and the coldness of the wind. Emotions only get in the way, and cloud the truly important things. That is the only reason why our lord...no, N, he is no longer our lord, for he let his own emotions, his own misguided sympathy, take over and steer him away from the path he was meant to be. And so we have discarded emotion...for it is only for the weak, and the pitiful, such as you."

"N-no..." Yancy squeaked, still recoiling from Zinzolin pushing her down. "It's not like that...if there is friendship...companionship...and...most of all...love..." She shuddered a bit. "If there is...true compassion...then nothing is impossible!"

"Ha. Say what you will. I won't let your words sway me. But if you need more proof...look at Weavile. He has now become an emotionless form of his former self. And look, look how his power grows! You cannot deny it; his ferocity...comes from a lack of emotion! And from that, absolute power is derived!"

"G-gah..." I groaned, my face still buried in the earth, my tears wetting my face. I was once again beginning to have serious doubts. However, I knew that I had to do something...but what could I do?

"Ack...k-k-ugh...Grass..."

Beside me, Sunshine began to speak, though he was coughing up blood.

"Sunshine! D-don't--!"

"Grass...agh...y-you're not...ggghh...going to take that from him...hhhgggg...are you!? You're going to...rrrmmm...let him beat you...with such a lack of class!?"

"N-no way...but what can I do...!?"

Sunshine grinned, though blood trickled from the sides of his mouth. "Th-that Weavile...urrgghhh...isn't invincible...! If there's a will...hurk-ggggh...! Urf...there's a way! Grass...gggcck...you have the will...d-don't you? *cough* Then...sh-show him...ggggh...what you're made of!"

"But Sunshine, how can I fight when you're--!?"

"D-don't concern yourself...urrrgh...with me! This is merely...ack...a wound upon my person...! I can't quite...urrrrff...get up...so get him back for me!"

"Sunshine..." I turned to Zinzolin, whose old, wrinkled face was distorted with a sense of madness and impatience. I stood up, Sunshine behind me. Sunshine had me thinking clearly again...and I quickly realized that things were far from over.

"Zinzolin...you'll pay for what you've done...for everything that Team Plasma has done to me so far...you're about to feel it all come crashing down!" I pulled out my final Pokéball, almost forgetting I even had a sixth team member in my despair. I thought of everything Team Plasma did...how they were directly responsible for Cirrus's death, and how they hurt Hugh...everything was fueling my hatred for Team Plasma, and would help me concentrate. It was time for action, and the time was now.

"It's all up to you, Fassad!" I called out, tossing my final Pokéball in the air. Fassad popped out, the tiny thing, and he was immediately intimidated by Weavile's menacing features. I turned to Sunshine, who gave a little cheeky grin, as if knowing that this wasn't going to end well, unless I focused and made sure Fassad wouldn't freak out due to fear.

It seemed too late for that from the beginning, as one look at Weavile sent him running for the hills. I caught him, though, and pulled him back into the scene of battle. Struggle as Fassad might, he couldn't break free of my grasp. Albeit begrudgingly, Fassad eventually ceased his struggle, finding that he wouldn't be able to break my hold on him.

"Fassad, p-please! I know you're not used to battling...but this is important! I know the Weavile's intimidating...but you've got to be brave now, for me, for all your friends! Fassad!"

Fassad, in my hands, began to look around and get a good look at the carnage. I almost wanted to turn his head away from such gruesome images, but I didn't have the heart to hide it from him. He saw Sir Ivy and Ms. Pokey interlocked, in mutual protection, though both were about to fall from exhaustion. He turned to see Broccoli, face-down on the cold cave floor. Sunshine, who lay bleeding from his throat, right next to us. And there was Latifole, on his side and cut badly. The images of pain, the grotesque figures of bleeding Pokémon that were his friends...Fassad couldn't take it, pulled himself into my chest, and began to wail, screaming so horrifically that I, too, almost began to weep.

But then I remembered what Alder told me, way back when I went to his home in Flocessy Town. He told me that I had to connect with my Pokémon, to get to know them, to sympathize in their fears and to share in their successes. I realized in all that I've done with my other Pokémon, I've thoroughly neglected with Fassad, as he never showed his true face around me. His name...all the more fitting, I guess.

"Fassad...please, stop crying..." I said, trying to cease his screams, a mixture of both despair and horror. "Please...Fassad, don't worry, they'll be fine..."

Fassad whispered for the first time in ages.

"Sir Ivy...Ms. Pokey...and the others..."

Fassad jumped out of my hands and turned to Zinzolin.

"Why...why would you do this..."

The Weavile grinned sadistically. He responded, but much like with Gorm's Cofagrigus and Ryoku's Volcarona, I couldn't understand what he said. It was drowned out by some maddening, suffering cry of pain. Fassad, however, understood, and he began to quiver. Initially, I thought it was from fear. But it wasn't.

It was pure, unadulterated rage.

"Why would you do this!? Why!? WHY!? W-W-WHY!? G...GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!"

Fassad began to shake as his body became cloaked in a familiar light. His tiny frame began to expand, and his once fragile body was replaced with that of a much more bulky, powerful being. Within the light, his tiny little voice, that I had associated with his timidity, became lost within the cries of despair and hopelessness, and was thus replaced with the roars of hatred. The light dissipated at length, and in place of the tiny, fragile little Foongus I knew was a sorrowful, angered Amoonguss, his eyes fiery and red with pure wrath.

"You dare hurt my friends..." Fassad growled, his voice far deeper than before. "And for that...there will be no salvation for you. You will pay...you will pay...you will p↕►┼}éR%Σ♫v˙+$!!!"

Fassad's voice was drowned out, blocked once again by the sounds of tormented cries, of pained voices. The sudden loss of comprehension frightened me; never before had I been completely unable to understand anything my Pokémon were saying. In a sense, it was a very similar situation to trying to comprehend Ryoku's Volcarona. But why was my Pokémon acting like this? The whole uncertainty of it all made me fear for Fassad, and for myself; what did this all mean, and how could I stop it?

In the meantime, Fassad had suddenly begun to attack Weavile. Acting totally out of my control, Fassad hurled a mass of toxic poison towards Weavile, who dodged expertly and came towards him, Night Slash at the ready. Zinzolin hadn't even issued a command; as far as I could tell, it was a one-on-one fight between Fassad and Weavile, no holds barred. Fassad didn't bother attempting to dodge; he would be steadfast, taking Weavile's slashes, and though his body became covered in bloody scars, Fassad didn't even so much as flinch. At this point, I gave up attempting to understand; all I could tell, however, was that it wasn't Fassad who was fighting, but something malevolent deep within him, overriding all his instincts...

At length, Fassad retaliated by grabbing him and holding him close, absorbing his health through the mushroom caps at the tips of his hands. Weavile screamed in agony, and made desperate efforts to break free of Fassad's grip. Even when Weavile became too exhausted to fight back, Fassad continued to strike at him with close-range Venoshocks. Even when Weavile's body went limp and lifeless, Fassad continued his assault. He had turned into a merciless avenger.

"Grrr...Weavile, return!" Zinzolin called, pulling out his Pokéball and recalling him, finally releasing him from Fassad's grasp. Fassad would not have this, and charged at Zinzolin, roaring as he approached him. Zinzolin, reaching in his pocket, pulled out a strange-looking device and pressed one of the buttons. As soon as he pressed it, Fassad suddenly collapsed from where he was charging, his body going limp and his tormenting scream coming to a sudden halt.

"W-what...Fassad!? Zinzolin, what did you do!?" I demanded. Zinzolin, with a self-satisfied smirk, brushed his hair off to the side.

"One would naturally defend themselves from harm. All that one should protect is one's self. Trying to protect others is meaningless and pointless. As for myself, I only recalled Weavile as I need him for my own defense. And yet you come here, hoping to save others, and your Pokémon foolishly sacrifice themselves to protect you...how pitiful."

Zinzolin sighed. "But enough chatter. It's far too cold here. I want out. You're free to pursue me...but with your weakened Pokémon, how far can you go? How far before the static of this cave takes you down? I'm intrigued to see what you can do. And because I'm so generous..." Zinzolin grabbed Yancy and pushed her towards me. "You can have the girl back, if she means so much to you. Now, Grass, I must depart. If you make it out alive, I would most surely enjoy a rematch from you..." With those parting taunts, Zinzolin turned his back from me and walked to the exit, placing the device back within his pocket.

I was silent at a length, my spirit wavering. Here I stood, my team in shambles, my partners in pain, and I couldn't do anything. I felt so helpless and lost where I was. But I had to concentrate, for the sake of everyone I loved...

"Yancy--!" I said, approaching her. "A-are you okay? I'm so sorry..."

Yancy waved her hand in front of me. "I'm fine...but...you..." She began to cry. "Why'd you..."

"W-what? Yancy...is this about..."

"Why would you sacrifice so much just for me? Why would you go through all this trouble...why would you and your Pokémon mutually go through so much pain and suffering for my sake? Your Pokémon are so hurt...and...you've been..."

"Y-yancy, please!"

Yancy looked into my eyes, her own glistening with tears. In a spur-of-the-moment reaction, I pulled Yancy close and hugged her tight, in a desperate attempt to be rid of my feelings of loneliness. Yancy returned the embrace, her tears flowing down her cheek and onto my shoulders. And all around us, the bodies of bleeding Pokémon lay, their pain seemingly endless and eternal.

"Yancy...I'm sorry I didn't realize it before..." I began to weep myself. "Yancy, I'm nothing by myself...even with my dear friends...my Pokémon...even with them, I felt so lonesome and lost. My Pokémon fought for me, and they fell for me, and yet I'm such a weak and impudent person...and when you ran off...I felt...even more weak than before..."

Yancy blushed heavily. "Grass...you're...important to me, too..."

The two of us remained there for quite some time. I didn't even care anymore that Zinzolin was getting away...but more importantly than anything, I needed my Pokémon healed...and I needed my relationship with Yancy reconciled.

"Grass! Are you alright!?"

From where I first entered the cave, Bianca, Hugh, and Cheren were grouped together, climbing over the rocks and to where Zinzolin and I did combat. Hugh and the others all gasped at the sight of my Pokémon, sprawled out across the cave floor. Firehog stood beside Hugh, now a fully-grown Emboar, while Bianca and Cheren were mounted on the latter's Stoutland.

"Grass!? What happened!? Was this Team Plasma's doing!?"

I made a slow nod. "Zinzolin...his Weavile practically swept my team. I couldn't do anything...I was...too weak for him..."

Hugh slapped me, and grabbed me by the shirt collar. "Are you an idiot!? Why would you go up against a super-powered Pokémon!?"

"W-what? I don't understand..."

Cheren remounted his Stoutland, while Bianca followed behind him. "Follow me to the Mistralton Pokémon Center. We can talk more there. What's more important is getting your Pokémon out of here; who know what might come up.

"R-right..." With that, the five of us cooperated together to get my Pokémon to the center. I didn't want them back in their Pokéballs, so that we could at least monitor their conditions as we made our way there, unlike when they're in Pokéballs, and I have no way of assessing their condition. Cheren took Fassad while Bianca carried Latifole, Hugh held Broccoli on his back, while Yancy and I held Sunshine, who seemed to be in the worst condition of all of them. Sir Ivy was the only one on my team well enough to carry on, and with what little strength he had to spare, he supported Ms. Pokey as we walked towards the exit. The exit of the cave was literally a light of salvation...and considering what Hugh and Cheren had said, it would be the light of knowledge as well...


The Crew    
  • Sir Ivy - Serperior - ♂ // Level 44
  • Met 7/3/2013, at Aspertia City, at Level 5
  • Moves: Leech Seed // Coil // Leaf Blade // Return
  • Stats: 140 / 84 / 96 / 75 / 98 / 118
  • Held Item: Scope Lens
  • Ability: Overgrow
  • Nature: Quirky (neutral)
  • Characteristic: Likes to relax.
  • Changes in this Part: Gained 4 Levels
  • Ms. Pokey - Cacturne - ♀ // Level 41
  • Met 7/4/2013, at Floccesy Ranch, at Level 5
  • Moves: Sucker Punch // Seed Bomb // Faint Attack // Sand-Attack
  • Stats: 122 / 109 / 61 / 105 / 58 / 62
  • Held Item: None
  • Ability: Sand Veil
  • Nature: Naive (+Spd, -SpD)
  • Characteristic: Strongly defiant.
  • Changes in this Part: Gained 3 Levels, learned Sucker Punch
  • Fassad - Amoonguss - ♂ // Level 40
  • Met 7/6/2013, at Virbank Complex, at Level 11
  • Moves: Giga Drain // Synthesis // Toxic // Venoshock
  • Stats: 153 / 74 / 70 / 79 / 75 / 34
  • Held Item: Rocky Helmet
  • Ability: Effect Spore
  • Nature: Timid (+Spd, -Atk)
  • Characteristic: Likes to fight.
  • Changes in this Part: Gained 3 Levels, evolved, equipped Rocky Helmet
  • Sunshine - Sunflora - ♂ // Level 42
  • Met 7/16/2013, at Route 16, at Level 21
  • Moves: Giga Drain // Sunny Day // Double-Edge // Petal Dance
  • Stats: 133 / 74 / 58 / 96 / 89 / 41
  • Held Item: Miracle Seed
  • Ability: Solar Power
  • Nature: Bashful (neutral)
  • Characteristic: Strong willed.
  • Changes in this Part: Gained 4 Levels, learned Sunny Day
  • Broccoli - Simisage - ♂ // Level 43
  • Met 7/16/2013, at Lostlorn Forest, at Level 21
  • Moves: Seed Bomb // Acrobatics // Low Kick // Bite
  • Stats: 136 / 114 / 71 / 80 / 62 / 103
  • Held Item: Expert Belt
  • Ability: Gluttony
  • Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
  • Characteristic: A little quick tempered.
  • Changes in this Part: Gained 4 Levels
  • Latifole - Leafeon - ♂ // Level 43
  • Met 7/26/2013, at Route 6, at Level 25
  • Moves: Strength // X-Scissor // Dig // Giga Drain
  • Stats: 119 / 112 / 124 / 70 / 56 / 90
  • Held Item: Shell Bell
  • Ability: Leaf Guard
  • Nature: Naughty (+Atk, -SpD)
  • Characteristic: Mischievous.
  • Changes in this Part: Gained 4 Levels, learned X-Scissor

The Reserves    
  • Cucaracha - Maractus - ♀
  • Met 7/13/2013, at Route 7, at Level 30
  • Moves: Cotton Spore // Needle Arm // Giga Drain // Accupressure
  • Stats: 87 / 65 / 52 / 69 / 51 / 53
  • Ability: Chlorophyll
  • Nature: Jolly (+Spd, -SpA)
  • Characteristic: Mischievous.

The Fallen    

  • Tropicana - Tropius - ♀
  • Met 7/3/2013, at Route 19, at Level 4
  • Died 7/15/2013, at Relic Castle, at Level 26
  • Moves: Strength // Gust // Growth // Razor Leaf
  • Stats (at time of death): 98 / 48 / 44 / 50 / 56 / 39
  • Ability: Solar Power
  • Nature: Gentle (+SpD, -Def)
  • Characteristic: Impetuous and silly.
  • Lilly - Lilligant - ♀
  • Met 7/8/2013, at Castelia City, at Level 15
  • Died 7/16/2013, at Route 5, at Level 27
  • Moves: Growth // Leech Seed // Sleep Powder // Giga Drain
  • Stats (at time of death): 81 / 41 / 48 / 69 / 47 / 59
  • Ability: Own Tempo
  • Nature: Hardy (neutral)
  • Characteristic: Alert to sounds.
  • Cirrus - Cottonee - ♀
  • Met 7/16/2013, at Route 5, at Level 23
  • Died 7/18/2013, at Nimbasa City, at Level 28
  • Moves: Giga Drain // Charm // Razor Leaf // PoisonPowder
  • Stats (at time of death): 63 / 20 / 38 / 30 / 36 / 44
  • Ability: Prankster
  • Nature: Quiet (+SpA, -Spd)
  • Characteristic: Alert to sounds.
  

Current Location: Mistralton City

Last edited by GrassPokemonFTW; September 8, 2013 at 10:39:14 PM.
  #18  
Old September 19, 2013, 09:21:13 PM
GrassPokemonFTW's Avatar
GrassPokemonFTW GrassPokemonFTW is offline
Kyurem
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: [INSERT GENERIC LOCATION HERE]
Posts: 2,222
Default

Chapter 14, Part 1: The World Beyond
[SYSTEMATIC PART COMING SOON TO A THEATER NEAR YOU]

We sat there a long time.

Not because we were unsure what to do, but more that if any of us said anything, the serenity of silence would be broken and we'd need to face harsh reality. After what had happened, everyone else, much more so myself, were too tired and scared to talk about the horrific scenes from before. It was late night already, but the incessant pitter-patter of the falling rain and the frantic footsteps of the nurses were our only companions in this moment.

Hugh stood at the window, watching the rain. His Pokémon were out, talking. Firehog was talking to a now fully-recovered Lamar, while Peter, now an Unfezant, fluttered about to keep himself busy. The three of them were Hugh's sole companions, but it got me thinking - did Hugh face such losses as I have? Granted, the loss of his sister's Purrloin has been pretty tough on him, as if the Purrloin had been his own...but did he ever have to face the utter despair of losing a friend that walked by his side? When I thought about things like that, it began to strain the threads of my relationship with Hugh. As if to feign perfection, he never told me these things. But it was something he wasn't willing to accept...he wasn't willing to realize his own fallibility, even when I've beaten him in battle time and time again.

Bianca was fast asleep, her head resting on Cheren's shoulder. Cheren didn't seem to mind much, as his eyes gave the expression that he was deep in restless thought, as if contemplating what was the correct course of action, and how he should bring it up. He pushed his finger up the bridge of his nose, as if adjusting a set of glasses that weren't there. As for Yancy, she sat silently, pulling her hat over her forehead, hiding her eyes. She was very clearly upset, though.

Through the window looking into the rooms, I saw Audino carrying my Pokémon on stretchers, back and forth. First Sunshine, who had fallen completely unconscious by the time we left Chargestone Cave, then Sir Ivy, who's eye was still bleeding profusely. Lastly I saw Ms. Pokey, her body heavily bandaged and decrepit, paining me just to look at it. The door, after several minutes of waiting, opened as Broccoli walked out, relatively uninjured.

"Broccoli? Are you...?" I spoke up, standing and rushing over to him. Broccoli held his hand up towards me, stopping me in my place.

"I'm fine, Grass. No need for concern. I do worry for the others, though. Things aren't looking good."

"H-how so?"

"Are you blind!?" Broccoli growled, his calm composure quickly making a turnaround. "Sunshine's so close to death that they don't know if they can save him! Ms. Pokey is so heavily bandaged that she may never move! Has the extent of their injuries never crossed your mind!?"

In a fit of passion I knocked Broccoli over and screamed in anguish. Cheren started as Bianca groggily awoke, while Hugh spun around to see the commotion. Yancy made no motion, which I ultimately found made the situation a whole lot less awkward. Broccoli fell, but he quickly jumped back up and prepared to retaliate.

"What the hell is wrong with you, Grass!?" Broccoli shouted.

"Shut UP!" I screamed, tears streaming down my face. "Shut up...shut up...shut up..."

"Grass, stop your groveling!" Hugh shouted, trying to bring me back to my senses. "Tears won't help! We've got to move on!"

"Hugh, don't talk to me about moving on!" I barked back. "You can't even move on from something that happened 5 years ago; don't give me a lecture on moving on!"

Hugh grimaced, his fists clenched. "Grass...why you, little...graaah!" Hugh stormed off, heading towards the bathrooms. Still kneeling on the ground, I let despair take over me. I remembered when Sunshine told me that no one truly desired solitude...but I never thought those words were any more false than when I felt this way.

Cheren stood up. "Grass, you've got to put a cap on your emotions. We've very important matters to discuss...especially when it comes to Team Plasma."

That alone was enough to shut me up. I was still steaming from my battle with Zinzolin, how he desired nothing more than to plunge the world into chaos, while he stands by and watches it happen. I sensed no soul in him. He was a heartless monster in every sense of the word. If I could find any way to bring him down, I would. Team Plasma had to be stopped.

Cheren straightened his tie. "Now then. I think we've discovered the exact origin of the powers of these Pokémon. That Weavile of Zinzolin's was obscenely powerful, far more so than it should have been. As much as I hate to admit it...this trend is becoming more common. Wild Pokémon are becoming affected by the growing range of its power. And other trainers are observing similar symptoms. As things stand, it looks like Team Plasma has gotten more done that we have realized."

"What...?" I murmured. I knew of Zinzolin's Weavile, and Ryoku's Volcarona, being much like this...but more Pokémon are becoming more affected? Including wild, and Trainers' Pokémon? Affected by what, and how? The details of the situation eluded me.

"That is correct," Cheren continued. "Before Zinzolin fled, you saw that device he used on your Amoonguss? I don't know how, or where from, Team Plasma obtained such technology, but that same device is being used by Team Plasma. It is able to amplify the power of Pokémon tenfold, but at the same time it appears to reinforce negative emotions and an excess in anger. Furthermore, the waves the device produce disturb the Pokémon, causing them a great deal of pain, but as it stands, the waves mess up their psyches so much that they can't rebel, and they only think of killing. You have witnessed the power of that technology first-hand...and even so, there is evidence that the device they are using is, more or less, a prototype."

Cheren pulled a machine out of his pocket, very similar to the one that Zinzolin had. "This is a model that I managed to swipe from a Team Plasma grunt. That such fools would be allowed by Team Plasma officials to possess such dangerous technology is baffling...but something more suspicious is at hand. Grass, when I came in to Chargestone Cave, it was the intent of doing research. I was supposed to meet up with Bianca in the cave, but the entrance was blocked by a whole platoon of grunts. Which leads me to ask...Grass, how did you get into Chargestone Cave in the first place, especially if so many grunts were guarding the entrance?"

"Guards?" I asked, baffled. "There were no guards when we entered. Well, we did face difficulty entering because of the excess static...but there wasn't any Team Plasma members until I ran into Zinzolin. I guess Bianca stayed behind then..."

"I thought so...Grass, don't you see? This was all a trap. Team Plasma knew that in these frigid conditions, Chargestone Cave would be excessively dangerous...so somehow, you must have been deceived."

"But that's impossible!" I retorted. "If that were true...Clay told us to go there in the first place! Why would he tell us to do that if it was a trap?"

Cheren rubbed his chin in deep thought. "That is rather vexing...but perhaps Team Plasma knew of his plan all along? It isn't like Clay to send you into danger on a whim. Especially since he built a tunnel from Driftveil City to Twist Mountain, slightly north of here, very recently. Something doesn't add up..."

"Tunnel?" Bianca inquired. "I never heard about any tunnel..."

"Oh, yeah, Clay talked about it a lot. He was, of course, quick to call it the Clay Tunnel...and it was supposed to be a means of getting to Mistralton City without the danger. Of course, I was fine, I had my Pokémon with me...but Clay Tunnel was more of a pedestrian route. Though it does have its fair share of Pokémon. Still, it's not like Clay at all to send you into trouble like that."

With what I knew about Clay, I figured that it was all part of the test to see if I was worthy of his badge. Still, Cheren probably knew better than I did, seeing as they were two Gym Leaders of the same league...

"In any case..." Cheren said, looking down at the device. "This machine is dangerous in the wrong hands. It may amplify the power of Pokémon, but it ultimately hurts them. But why would Team Plasma want this power? What do they have to gain from it? I've yet to see what their motives are. But I do worry that Team Plasma may be up to their old tricks again...and this time, they have absurd technology..."

I remembered the giant flying sailboat that Team Plasma used to make their getaway back in Driftveil City. There was no doubt they used incredibly machinery to meet their ends. But where from?

"Anyways, Grass, I'm sure that the battle with that super-powered Weavile was a rather...erm, traumatic experience for you. But your Pokémon are still alive. I'm told by Bianca that you've already lost 3 Pokémon up until now...which brings me to yet another topic. Grass, if you can recall, could you tell me where and when each of your Pokémon died?"

"Well, I...my first death was Tropicana...my Tropius...who died at the Desert Resort when an attack from a trainer's Sigilyph caused a shock wave to bury her in the ruins. The second was my Lilligant...Lilly...who also died when a Sigilyph suddenly attacked her and sliced her with an Air Cutter. Then the last was Cirrus, my Cottonee, who died in a fire at the Pokémon Center..."

Cheren nodded. "Yes, that confirms it. Aside from your Cottonee, your other two deaths were caused by Sigilyph. And if I recall, the fire was started by Team Plasma extremists, correct? If that is indeed the case, then at that point, the influence of their presence in Nimbasa was instrumental in causing disturbances among the Sigilyph, its influence reaching places surrounding Nimbasa City. Sigilyph are indeed highly sensitive Pokémon, and are among the most affected by the waves the device produces. The reason your two Pokémon died was because of the amplified power...and you were in places close to Nimbasa City, where Team Plasma was operating. So ultimately, much as you probably don't want to hear it...Team Plasma is responsible for the deaths of your Pokémon."

I said nothing. What could I say? Cheren and Bianca, and even Yancy, were staring at me, as if I should say something. But what could I do? To learn that Team Plasma was the ones responsible...it filled me with such animosity that I could only contain my rage with silence. Memories of Tropicana, Lilly, and Cirrus came to mind, and my tears began to flow again. I'd like to think that I finally began to understand why Hugh hated Team Plasma so much, but while he held on to his rage, I suppressed it. I tried to see everything in a logical light. But at a time like this, remaining calm and placid seemed to no longer be one of my options.

Broccoli, being his usual assertive self, would not have me despair over my dead Pokémon again. "Grass, quit your blubbering! They've died, and we've told you a million times to move on! So get it in gear! You've gotta be strong for them, and for us! If you aren't strong, then how do you expect us to--"

"SHUT UP, BROCCOLI!" I screamed, no longer able to hold my rage any more. Everyone around me leaped and tried to inch away from me, my body quivering as if it were going to explode in a flash of anger and revenge. Even out of the corner of my eye, I could see Hugh watching from a distance, but I didn't call him out.

"What do you know!? You weren't there for any of their deaths! You don't understand what it's like! I was there, I had to protect them, and I failed in that duty! How can you expect me to not feel grief over being reminded of their deaths, which I could have prevented!? YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND ME!"

"Hah, I don't understand you!?" Broccoli retorted, equally enraged. "I've lived in Lostlorn Forest all my life, and I've watched as friends and relatives succumb to the energy waves of that cursed device! My friends, in pain from the waves, literally DROWNED themselves in the river! My own father scratched his own throat at and killed himself to ease himself from the torment, and my mother, unable to take the grief from his death, went and drowned herself as well! You think I don't understand a thing or two about death!? But I moved on, because if I didn't have the strength to believe in myself, I would have succumbed to the waves and killed myself along with the others! SO HOW DARE YOU SAY I DON'T UNDERSTAND!?"

"But you couldn't have prevented those! Those were out of your control, you couldn't have saved them!"

Broccoli snapped. "I COULDN'T HAVE SAVED THEM!? ARE YOU MAD!? If I weren't so timid and shy as a child, I would have kept all my friends from drowning themselves! I had everything in my power to do it, but I was too afraid! I'll admit, I was an impudent idiot back then, but not only did I have to move on after realizing my own flaws, I fixed myself! I promised myself that I wouldn't let anyone hurt my allies, and that I would protect them even if it costed my life! WHY CAN'T YOU DO THE SAME!? You're a human, right!? AREN'T HUMANS SUPPOSED TO UNDERSTAND THESE THINGS!? YOU'RE THE ONE WHO DOESN'T UNDERSTAND!"

"Broccoli, I...! I...I don't...w-wait..."

"...Grass, there's no faking that I have very little faith in you as a Trainer. But you are my only Trainer, and I must therefore walk by your side. You've allowed me to accompany you so that I may find a new home where I can live in peace once more. To be honest, I never intended to stay with you this long. But with the development of the issues with Team Plasma, I feel like I'm obligated to help you out. But I'm becoming tired of your incompetence as a Trainer. What Clay said about you...I believe he is correct."

Broccoli then went silent and hung his head, turning away from me, as if to keep his gaze away from my pitiful self. A long silence ensued, where I processed everything he said. I began to feel that he was right. I was a terrible Trainer. I only got this far because my Pokémon were by my side. But I had no strength of my own.

I got up and headed for the exit. Cheren stood up and walked after me.

"Wait, Grass, where are you going?"

"...I need a moment to think, Cheren. Broccoli's given me a lot to think about. Sorry for making a scene, by the way." With that, I walked out into the pouring rain. I began to sense Yancy heading after me, but when she didn't appear, I figured that one of them must have stopped her. Good thing too; if she caught a cold, or something to that effect, I would have had more guilt on my plate. I headed north of Mistralton City, not particularly looking for anything, not heading for any place in particular. But as if by some sort of providential intervention, my feet lead me to a tall tower that stood in front of the cliff face of Twist Mountain. Looking at it was like staring into sadness, darkness, solemnity. The sign read, "Celestial Tower - The resting place of Pokémon."

I walked in, and what I saw was something I would never forget. There were trainers just like me, sitting at the graves of Pokémon and crying their hearts out. Their sobs, and their screams; every bit of emotion was expressed in their mourning, and my heart was wrenched with its own inner despair when I watched the endless torrent of tears coming down their faces.

"Are you here to pay your respects to the dead?"

Turning around, I saw a woman dressed in mostly blue. She had her red hair tied up in a little knot at the top. Her deep blue eyes almost mesmerized me, though I was a little offset by the fact that she kept such a cheery countenance in such a solemn place.

"I...to be honest, I sort of just wandered here...but this place is..."

"Yup! This is Celestial Tower, the burial ground for deceased Pokémon! Of course, not all Pokémon are buried here...but you can make your way to the top of the tower, and ring the bell! They say that one can see the spirits of the deceased, though you have to be extra perceptive to see them!"

The ability to see the deceased...it caught my interest. "At the top of the tower, huh...I guess I should pay a visit...to some old friends."

"Here, I'll lead the way! But since it's at the top of the tower, it'll be raining and...don't you have an umbrella?"

"Er..." I felt a little embarrassed that I had walked all the way out here without an umbrella, but I guess despair sort of does that to people.

"Heehee, that's pretty silly of you. But since you managed to walk all the way out here, there's no stopping now, huh? All right, I'll bring you up!"

I had gotten more than I bargained for; getting to the top of the tower was no easy walk in the park. The stairs looped around the outer edges of the tower, making it a staircase that seemed to never end. The woman seemed to have no trouble getting up, as if she were used to these kinds of things, but I was beat by the time we made it to the top. Like she had warned me, the rain was still pouring hard, but the sheer height of the tower made the whole place incredibly foggy, but I could see the altar with the bell. The bell was rusty and old, but in its age, there was a certain sentiment to it.

"Well, here we are! I know it was a rather long walk, but you'll get used to it. So, go on! Ring the bell!"

I quickly made my way to the bell, my quivering hands taking a hold of the rope. I pulled down, making the bell sway and resonate in the cold, damp wind. The bell rang loud and clear for one of such rustiness, and with each ring, I felt the noises around me get softer and softer. I became less conscious of what was around me, and I focused on the bell. The ringing continued, its sound reverberating through the air, and into my heart. I clasped my hands together, hoping to see my old friends.

The bell stopped. And then...they arrived.

To be continued in Part 2...
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -8.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Victory Road ©2006 - 2024, Scott Cat333Pokémon Cheney
Theme by A'bom and Cat333Pokémon