Disclaimer: I own nothing, except my OCs Sky, Ben, Damon and their families
Okay, so here's the story. I'm in the process of changing it from past to present tense, because I've started writing in present tense and it makes more sense this way. Anyway, here you go. It's the third in a series, but I started this first so I decided to upload it now for some reason. Enjoy, and please review!
I lean against the railings of the huge ferry we're cruising on. The salty ocean breeze blows my short, brown hair into my face, but I don't mind. After a long journey, we are finally arriving in the Hoenn Region. By 'we' I mean me and my friends, Ben Hastings and Sky Tate. Ben's 13 like me, and Sky's a year older at 14. I've recently participated in the Johto League, and I met up with Sky and Ben before the Championships. They had both been back at their homes; Ben in Fiore helping his grandfather, Professor Hastings, with his research; and Sky in a place called Lagoe, but she doesn't mention much else about it. Anyway, we've just spent a week on a ferry on the way to Hoenn, and now the outline of Slateport City is creeping over the horizon as we make our way towards it.
"We're finally here," Sky says, stretching her arms up above her head.
"It's about time," Ben agrees.
As we wonder what Hoenn would be like, unbeknownst to us, an ancient Pokémon is stirring in the waves under our ferry. And it isn't happy.
"Whoa!" I cry, as the boat is rocked by intense waves rising up from the sea.
"Where did these waves come from?" Sky exclaims, as she grabs the railing to try and regain her balance.
"I dunno, but hold on!" Ben shouts, as the ferry shakes violently. We all cling onto the railing as the waves grow increasingly fierce. Anything that isn't fixed down is flung along the deck like paper in the wind. The boat is rocking so much it makes me dizzy just looking at it. As I cling onto the railings, I glance down over the side, and see a huge shape in the water. It's a big oval, with two wing-like things and two tails that split into four, and it has glowing red markings all over its body.
"Look at this you guys!" I shout, hitting Ben to get his attention. "What is it?" The two of them join me in looking over the side.
"How the hell should I know?" Sky cries back.
"Go, Metagross and Cradily! Cradily, Ingrain; Metagross, Psychic!" A voice shouts from behind us. I tear my eyes away from the sea creature and turn around as best I can whilst keeping my grip on the railings. I see a man in a suit with two strange looking Pokémon; one's green, with a long neck and eight pink tentacles coming out from the back of its head, and the other has a steel, circular body with a grey cross in-between its red eyes, with four legs emerging from the body. The green one's eyes glow green, and long roots emerge from its body and burrow into the ship's deck, and the trainer grabs hold of its neck. The other one's eyes glow light blue, and all the objects that had been flying about freeze immediately, radiating an aura of blue light. I begin to feel strange, and as I look down I see that I'm glowing blue too, as are Sky and Ben, along with the rest of the ship. The steel Pokémon cries out, and the ship and everything on it rises up into the air with the steel Pokémon's psychic power.
"Good job, Metagross." The trainer says, and lets go of the green Pokémon's neck. "You too, Cradily,"
"That was amazing," I say, and walk over to the man. "I'm Damon Rhodes, and these are my friends, Sky Tate and Ben Hastings."
"Hi," Sky says, and Ben nods in greeting.
"I'm Steven." He says. "Steven Stone." Steven turns to face his two Pokémon. "Good job, Cradily, return," The green Pokémon glows red, and returns to its poké ball. "Metagross, can you drop us off in the harbour?" Metagross nods, and returns its focus to transporting the ship to shore.
"Those are some powerful Pokémon," Ben compliments.
"Thanks," Steven smiles. "I've been raising Metagross since I was a child, and I got Cradily, then a Lileep, as a present from my father a few years ago."
"You must've trained them really well," Sky says.
"What Pokémon have you got?" Steven inquires.
"Well, I've caught a lot, but I don't have any with me as I've come to start a new journey." I answer.
"Same," Sky and Ben say.
"Cool," Steven says, smiling. "It's never too late for a new beginning."
"Looks like the sea's dying down," I note, as I glance over the side and see the waves receding back under the sea.
"Appears so," Steven says with a frown. "But looks can be deceiving. Metagross, can you continue on our way to the harbour?"
Passengers that had been sheltering below return to the deck to see what had happened, and notice Steven and his Metagross. The captain of the boat walks over, and thanked Steven and his Pokémon. We eventually reach the harbour, and Steven has his Metagross gently deposit the boat in the water beside the pier.
"Thank you, Metagross." Steven says, as he recalls his Pokémon. The crew on the pier raise the stairs up to the boat, and Steven leads the way down the stairs to ground level. "Welcome to Slateport City." Steven says to us, as the rest of the passengers disembark in a nervous hurry.
"So which way do we go now?" Ben asks.
"Beats me." Sky replies, as we look round for a signpost or something similar.
"Where are you headed?" Steven asks
"To Professor Birch's lab, but we don't exactly know where that is, or indeed how to get there," I grinned.
"That's in Littleroot Town. I can take you there if you want," Steven offers.
"Really? You're not too busy?" Ben asks.
"Sure, no problem," Steven replies. "Come on out Claydol!" He throws a poké ball up into the air, and in a flash of white light a tall, black Pokémon appears. It has a round head, with many pink eyes, and two short, cannon-like arms.
"You sure have some cool Pokémon, Steven," Sky compliments, and Steven just grins.
"Thanks, Sky. Claydol, Teleport!" He orders, and the Clay Doll Pokémon begins to glow white. After a few seconds, there's a flash of white and the world around us disappears. Before I could get a proper look at the limbo we were now in, the void was gone and replaced by a small village surrounded by trees. I suddenly extremely dizzy, so I steady myself against the wall of what's easily the biggest building in the town. I look around, and see Sky was sitting down on the dewy grass to regain her balance, but Ben and Steven are standing up just fine, chuckling at us. They're obviously no strangers to teleportation
"Here we are. Littleroot Town," Steven says, as he smiles at mine and Sky's reactions to the teleportation. "Don't worry; the dizziness will wear off eventually. I think. Anyway, that's the professor's lab right there," He points to the building I'm leaning on. "Good luck on your journey. I hope we cross paths again in the future." He nods twice, once to us in farewell and the second time to his Claydol to signal the Teleportation. As Claydol begins to glow again, I wave Steven off, as do Sky and Ben. Steven smiles, then he and Claydol disappear in a flash of light.
"You guys okay?" Ben asks, struggling to keep a straight face after our dizziness.
"Yep," I said, as I straighten up. I offer my hand to Sky, who uses it to pull herself to her feet.
"Thanks Damon," She says.
"No problem," I say. "Shall we?" I lead the way to the lab's door and knock twice.