Chapter 6- Ancient Ruin Rundown

Location: Midna Town- Route 2

Time: 07:30

The sun was rising in the east as Joseph got onto the route heading towards Suntouched City. He stretched out his body in preparation for the journey to the next town. He had stocked up on potions, pokeballs, and status healing items. "Alright time to head out." He left the Pokémon Center while Damian was still asleep, as per Joseph wanted to train and catch some new Pokémon to try to complete the Pokedex. In the time he walked around finding some new Pokémon, most of which had no sense of excitement in Joseph's eye. "Ugh is there any Pokémon on this route that have a battle spirit like Ichigo or Rogue?". And the answer to that was no. He continued down the trail until he hit a fork in the road where he found a sign stating.

|Ancient ruins -|

|- Cyan Caverns|

"Ancient ruins sound interesting… but to get to the next town is the other way. What do you guys think" Joseph asked his Pokémon. Ichigo and Rogue didn't like the idea of entering the cave so early in the morning. "Alright so Ruins hoe!" but before he took a step he heard someone calling to him.

"HEY! Joseph wait up!" A girl's voice was calling for him. Where Joseph turned to see Nora running towards him.

"Hey, how are you?" Joseph asked when she got close.

"Almost out of breath, you?" Nora responded

"Just decided that I want to visit some Ancient Ruins before going into the cave over there." Joseph stated, "Want to come with?"

"Sure, sounds interesting, maybe we will unlock some ancient Curse." Nora jokes

"Hopefully if there is a curse it is only some wild Pokémon's move." Joseph returned Nora's joke. When they got to entrance of the ruins they heard a cry of a wild Pokémon.

"Riolu" it had a cry of pain.

"What was that!" Nora was surprised.

"A Pokémon is in trouble. We got to go help it." Joseph ran into the ruins

"But what if someone is just trying Catch it?!" Nora's question didn't catch Joseph as he got too far ahead. "Wait up for me!"

When Joseph got to the Main hall he could see three Abyssal cultists abusing a young Riolu. "Come on we've been here all night trying to find one of these fuckers. Make sure it can't get away!" the Commander yelled.

"HEY! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING TO THAT POKÉMON!" Joseph's anger flared.

"Great a spectator now we have to kill him." The commander was annoyed at Joseph's arrival.
"AHH! Cultists?" Nora caught up to see them preparing for battle, "You idiot! This is the last this we need!" the words didn't even phase through Joseph's anger,

"Another pest! Well we still out number them anyway." The commander laughed,

"I wouldn't be so sure about that." Joseph smiled, "You were pretty mean to the Riolu cub, but now you have angered the mama!"

"LUCARRRR" a wild Lucario appeared from the shadows, and wasn't looking happy

"New Pokémon Detected," Joseph's Pokedex identified the Lucario. "LUCARIO. By reading the auras of all things, it can tell how others are feeling from over half a mile away."

"HEHEHE, this is the Pokémon that we wanted all along! You Grunts go deal with the kids, while I try to acquire our target!"

"You heard the boss I'll get the purple boy, you get the other one. GO HORSEA! SKRELP! CORPHISH GANG UP ON HIM"

"Well I at least got one Pokémon to deal with you, Go Ichigo. Out speed and use Discharge." Joseph commanded, "Make Sure it doesn't hurt the Riolu!" Ichigo lowered the of the attack and knocked out all of them in one hit!

"WHAT the?! Beaten bey acid" The grunt charged at Joseph as a last-ditch effort to take him down

"Ichigo thunder wave on the cultist!" Joseph wasn't falling now. "Now then what's happening!" Joseph looked over to see Nora was about to win her battle, while the Abyssal Cult Commander was losing to the Lucario. The Riolu was off to hide curled defenseless. Damn them I need to help the Riolu.

"Hmmm. I need to turn this battle to my favor so I can Catch this Lucario." Joseph over heard the commander Talking to himself. "Oh! I know Skrelp Use Water Pulse on the Riolu!"

"What if you hit it, it won't survive!" Joseph yelled! The Lucario turned to run to the Riolu but was hit with a hammer arm from the commanders Corphish. Joseph Knew that the Lucario would be captured if it took the water pulse so he did the only thing he could think of. As the Water Pulse neared the injured Riolu, Joseph jumped in its path. Nora who had just Defeated her opponent was barely able to scrim in response. The fact that Joseph nobly took the attack to keep Riolu safe made the Lucario even angrier at the Cultists. Not too long there was a beeping from Joseph's Pokedex.

"POKÉMON FORM CHANGING!" Joseph's Pokedex had shouted. "MEGA LUCARIO LOCATED. Bathed in explosive energy, its combative instincts have awakened. For its enemies, it has no mercy whatsoever."

"What the?!" Nora shouted It was never heard that a Pokémon could mega evolve without a trainer.

"Damn it all we were so close too!" the Abyssal Cult commander cursed.

"LUCARRR!" the menacing Lucario inched closer with a bone rush in hand

"Hey you grunt help me attack it." The Commander yelled

"No way you heard what that kid's device said." The Grunts were ready to run. "I may have joined the cult, but I'd rather be killed by Audrey than a Lucario!"

The grunts ran, and the commander followed soon after. The Lucario still mega evolved had turned to where the unconscious Riolu, Joseph, and the conscious Nora were. "Stay away from us w—we were trying to help." Nora barely got out through her fear.

"Nora it's alright…" Joseph was barely able to get out. "It recognizes us as friends…" Joseph passed out again.

"Lucario." The Pokémon kneeled onto the floor between the Riolu and Joseph and used its aura it flowed into both of them. The Lucario soon reverted into its regular form, after that Joseph and the Riolu awoke.

"Thank you!" Joseph bowed before the Lucario.

"rio... Riolu…" the Riolu was talking with the Lucario

"Lucre Lucario" It seemed the Lucario was scolding the Riolu

"Umm…. What are they doing?" Nora whispered to Joseph.

"They are talking to each other." Joseph answered.

"wow the Lucario looks totally different from a second ago." Nora continued at a whisper. "Also, how did The Lucario heal you? They have no means of any healing moves."

"The Lucario gave me some of its aura. It can sometimes help with healing wounds, there is more than one-way Pokémon can do." Joseph explained. "It looks like they are done."

"Rio?" the Riolu looked at the Lucario curiously.

"Lucario." The Lucario was calm about what it was doing. The Riolu then walked over to Joseph.

"Wait. Are sure?" Joseph was confused, Nora even more confused. And the Lucario nodded. "Alright I'll do it." Joseph took out one of his pokeballs and taped it on the Riolu's head. The Riolu was captured by Joseph. "I'll give you a name later." The Lucario then went on its way.

"Can you please clear up what just happened?" Nora confusion had just reached her limits.

"Okay I could partially understand what Lucario and Riolu were conversing about, from both intuition and I think the Aura they gave me." Joseph started, "Basically the Lucario was first scolding the Riolu as it almost always runs off on its own. Then after that they were talking how Riolu owes me its life as I saved it and as it likes to go off on its own it is now joining my team."

"Alright makes sense. Now that that's over…." Nora proceeds to slap Joseph. SMACK

"OWW!" Joseph groaned in pain, "Why would you do that!"

"YOU ARE ONE OF THE POSSIBLE CHOSEN ONES FROM THE PROHECY!" Nora yelled at Joseph, "WHY THE HELL WOULD YOU DO SOMETHING SO RECKLESS LIKE THAT! CHALLENGING A CULT WHILE WE HAVENT EVEN HAVE ONE GYM BADGE. ITS LIKE YOU HAVE A DEATH WISH!"
"To be honest I'm not really sure if I actually was Chosen or not." Joseph gloomily stated

"Of course, you are!" Nora was still angry. "Mew just keeps itself hidden and not on your team for moments like this!" Nora started to calm down. "Look Mew probably just wants you to be safe as why it isn't around you at all times. Hence why it isn't here now, there are some people and Pokémon who can sense who, or what is there. When you get stronger it may eventually join your team."

"I think you may a bit right," Joseph needed someone to talk to about what he has been through, and Nora is probably in the closest mind set. "I think there may have been a time where Mew was a part of my team."

"You Think?" Nora questioned

"Well I think I should tell you what I've been through…." And so, Joseph goes onto explain to Nora of how he awoke in the Darkrai Cult Base with no memory, how he escaped, how he met Damian, how partly he had just been reacting on instinct of his past self, and how Mew had helped him so far.

"Joseph…" Nora was saddened, and a bit distrustful of his story, "You say that you awoke in the Darkrai Cult base with no memories and that they were going to kill you."

"Yes." Joseph Nodded, "I know this means that there is at least one cult out there that knows my face and was able to capture me. It may be dangerous if you are seen with me, but you and Damian are the only people I trust for now."

"I understand that, but this is a lot to take in." Nora seemed to be stress from what Joseph told her, "I need some time… I'll see you in Suntouched City." She walked off on her own.

"…. Well that went better than expected with her…." Joseph tried to cheer himself up, "I guess…. Damian is the only other one who doesn't know about it…. Guess I'll explore the ruins" Joseph spent the rest of the day exploring the children, he found some potions, a TM, pokeballs, Spell Tag, and a Charcoal.

Chapter 7- The First Gym

Location: Suntouched City

Time: 10:00

Trainer Journal: Hello this the journal of Joseph, Last name unknown.

Day 4 since losing my memories.

I have decided to try to place down notes of my journey in case I ever get captured again. I have been doing some things since last telling Nora about my awakening in the Darkrai base. I know I can trust her but from the look of her I don't know if she will remain my friend. more of my fear is what Damian will think of what happened to me, I already lied and told him the truth of my name what will he react of happened to me before this. I just hope he'll keep his trust in me. In other news I took a look at my recent capture of Riolu and decided that he be named JoJo. Here's a list of what my Pokémon are like.

Rogue: Delta Charmeleon, level 30, Nature Mild. Moveset Shadow Sneak, Twister, Dragon Breath, and Confuse Ray. Item Spell tag

Ichigo: Rotom, level 26, Nature Rash. Moveset Discharge, Uproar, thunder wave, and double team. Item Magnet

JoJo: Riolu, Level 24, Nature Adamant. Moveset Force Palm, Feint, Screech, and Return. Item strange stone

I have bought some new clothes, and some more Items. I have a gym battle scheduled with the Leader Orion later today. That's all I'm writing for today.

"Huh…." Joseph sighed "I guess I'll walk around and see if I can get some information on Orion." Joseph walked out of the Pokémon center and started to walk to the Pokémon Gym.

When he arrived at the gym he found a statistical board in front of the gym, "Those who challenge this gym need an average of two attempts before acquiring the gym Badge."

"Well I'm going to be above average trainer who challenges this Gym and get the badge in one go." Joseph was confident in his Pokémon's abilities, as he entered the gym he shouted. "I'm here to challenge the gym! Where's Orion at?"

"Oh! A challenger, nice to meet you. I'm Orion" A young orange haired boy, came to greet Joseph, "If you want to battle with me you have to make it through the field of trainers first."

"Okay then I'll see you in a few minutes then." Joseph was annoyed at that and he felt his Pokémon were too.

Location: Suntouched City Gym

Time: 12:00

"Wow you beat all five of my trainer students in two hours!" Orion was surprised, "You are definitely a fearsome trainer."

"Thanks Now are you ready to battle." Joseph and his Pokémon were ready to fight. And JoJo gained three levels, and Ichigo gained two levels

"Not so fast." Orion stopped Joseph. "You have defeated all of trainers below with the best record. So, I'm assuming your Pokémon are needing of some rest. Here as protocol of being a Gym Leader we have a healing station so we can fight on equal terms in battle. Though it may take a few minutes for it to work."

"It sounds like a plan to me." Joseph liked the sound of that plan, "You guys agree right?" he looked down to his Pokémon, where they nodded their balls in agreement. Joseph then placed it on the recovery station

"Ah I can see why you have done so well you have complete faith in your Pokémon." Orion was glad to have Joseph as an opponent.

"They are strong in their own terms and personalities. As long as I have them I'm confident in my abilities."

"I'm feeling generous so I'll give you a hint to ponder on before the battle starts. As I'm good with Fire-types, all of my Pokémon work together under the light the sun." Orion tried to give out that hint to help him. "But for that Hint and how strong you seem, I will use five Pokémon for this battle and each one will be holding an Item."

"Thanks. I think?" Joseph was happy that he was seen as a strong opponent, "I'm guessing your strategy has to do with weather effect Sunlight, and probably a counter for rock, ground, and water types most of you Pokémon know Grass type moves."

"WOW! First time someone got the answer that fast." Orion was surprised. Ding! "Oh, looks like your Pokémon are healed. Time to battle!"

"Right! With my friends by my side I'll win for sure." Joseph said confidently

Orion turned to look behind him "Wish me luck! With you by my side, there's no way I'd lose!" Joseph looked curious, "…. What? Oh…. The rock everyone wants to know about it. It gets lonely, being a Gym Leader I have to make friends where I can. Everyone in the city Mocks me for it, but it is alive! I know it."

"I believe that it's alive." Joseph stated, "not too long ago I was saved by a Lucario giving me part of its aura, and from that I can sense other living creatures. So, from this I can at least tell that the rock is some type of Pokémon."

"I knew it was alive, thank you for telling me that," Orion smiled "Alright were ready, go Vulpix!" Vulpix's Drought ability makes the sunlight strong.

"Alright then let's start off with JoJo!" Joseph screamed, Joseph checked his Pokedex /Vulpix: Inside Vulpix's body burns a flame that never goes out. During the daytime, when the temperatures rise, this Pokémon releases flames from its mouth to prevent its body from growing too hot. / "JoJo use your aura to sense its attacks"

"Cool! You said you were given aura by a Lucario, and it's even more amazing that you have a Riolu." Orion was amazed.

"The only way I got this guy was because saved it from another Pokémon's attack while it was weak." Joseph was already gaining a great bond with his Riolu. "Now JoJo start off with Return!" JoJo had zipped across the field with little effort

"Wow that's fast, Vulpix after it's attack use Hypnosis!" Orion tried to counter. JoJo's attack knocked the Vulpix upward forcing it to miss its attack and knocking it's HP just below half. "No! try again!"

"Not so fast! JoJo Force Palm Quick!" Joseph commanded, and with no hesitation JoJo followed through with its attack, Knocking Vulpix down for the count.

"No! You barely got to attack. I'm sorry for that," Orion apologized to his Vulpix before returning it to its ball, "didn't think I had to use you so early but go Fletchinder!"

"A Fire Flying type eh." As he checked his Pokedex, /Its speed right after takeoff already puts it in the top speed class of all bird Pokémon. / Joseph wasn't letting JoJo go yet, and unlike the tournament this is a Switch battle, "Return JoJo, Go Ichigo!"

"Tch... Making sure you don't have the disadvantage." Orion was upset by this, "Fletchinder! Use Acrobatics!" The Fletchinder moved faster than Ichigo did, surprised it took forty percent of Ichigo's HP.

"Damn that thing is fast, but let's go with Discharge!" Joseph shouted, Ichigo was fast and zapped the bird's HP down to Zero. "Now This match is three-three."

"I knew I should have tried Overheat," Orion complained then apologized to his Pokémon again, "Go Ivysaur!"

"Thought you had a grass type!" Joseph was worried the most about it, the sunlight was still strong and it was most likely that the Ivysaur had Solar Beam. Joseph pulled up the info on Ivysaur on his Pokedex, /There is a bud on this Pokémon's back. To support its weight, Ivysaur's legs and trunk grow thick and strong. If it starts spending more time lying in the sunlight, it's a sign that the bud will bloom into a large flower soon. / "I'm staying with Ichigo for now. Use thunder wave on it."

"Well I know I can count on you! Use sludge bomb" Orion commanded. The attacks of the two Pokémon both hit resulting that Ivysaur was paralyzed. While Ichigo had lost seventeen percent of its health and was poisoned, which brought Ichigo to sixty four percent.

"Damn we need you to finish this quick." Joseph quickly thought what to do, "Ichigo use Uproar!"

"What why use a loud noise like that!" Orion cried, while his Ivysaur's HP was brought to sixty percent, "We only have four more turns of sunlight quick use solar beam," But the Ivysaur was Paralyzed for that turn. While Ichigo took another amount of poison damage Brining its HP to fifty five percent. "Ivysaur if first you don't succeed try again, SOLAR BEAM!" Orion tried to support his Pokémon as it fired off its solar beam as Ichigo's uproar Critical damage knocking both out!

"You did good out there Ichigo, have a great rest." Joseph thanked Ichigo for enduring the poison for so long. "Return to action JoJo!"

"Ah, back to Riolu huh!" Orion smirked, "Well I choose Larvesta!"

"JoJo quick go with Force palm!" Joseph's JoJo quickly forced the Larvesta back, Removing twenty two percent of the enemy Pokémon's health. "Yes! you did!"

"Don't cheer so soon, look at your Pokémon" Orion called out, that JoJo was burned. Meaning JoJo's attack was cut in half and lost 1/16 of his health points, "Now use Flamethrower, while we still have the sun!"

"Look at your own Pokémon too!" Joseph had a devilish smile

"What?! Larvesta your paralyzed, thought I rid of your Rotom? So how?" Orion questioned

"Force palm has a chance of Paralyzing the intended target, that's how." Joseph exclaimed! Orion gasped at that. "Now you only have one turn before you run out of sunlight, so... JOJO! Use Screech and be wary of Larvesta's next attack!"

"Larvesta! Regain your HP with Giga Drain!" Orion's command Failed as Larvesta was once again paralyzed! Riolu's Screech lowered Larvesta's defense by two, Riolu had now lost another 1/16 of its max HP. Then the Sunlight ended.

"JoJo While it's still recovering from your last attack use return quick!" Joseph yelled. The return hit before Orion could call out is move, resulting with a Critical. Leaving Larvesta at twelve percent of its HP bar. While only lost less than twenty five percent of it heal, and the damage sustained was only from its burns.

"Larvesta regain some of your speed with Flame Charge." Orion commanded, as it gained its speed, the Riolu resting for a second was hit, leaving it at thirty five percent of his max health. "Now that's what I'm Talking About!"

"JoJo feint it." Joseph asked after it got up, and with its speed it took down the enemy Larvesta, while JoJo only had a quarter of its HP remaining.

"WOW! Amazing!" Orion was amazed a Joseph's strength, this made Joseph uneasy, "Since becoming Gym leader here no one has pushed me to use my final Pokémon. You did well Larvesta. Now go my Ace in the Hole CHARMELEON!"

"Well, now that's surprising," Joseph muttered to himself as he checks the Chameleon's info /Without pity, its sharp claws destroy foes. If it encounters a strong enemy, it becomes agitated, and the flame on its tail flares with a bluish white color. / "JoJo you still good to go?" Joseph asked as JoJo nodded its head with a smile. "Alright go with Screech! (I don't know if you'll be able to beat it, so Let's make sure Rogue can!)"

"Charmeleon Ancient power!" Orion commanded. JoJo barely survived the flying rocks and fainted from its burned status. But it at least lowered the Chameleon's defense.

"JoJo! Thank you. You helped out so much." Joseph caught his Riolu as it fell over. "Now for my ace in the hole, Go ROGUE!"

"Wait… That's a Charmeleon right?" Orion was curios, as his Charmeleon was more pumped than usual. "Cause my Charmeleon only ever gets this excited when fighting another Charmeleon."

"Rogue is a Charmeleon." Joseph was ready, "A Delta Charmeleon!"

"Wow this is the second time I've seen a Delta Pokémon, in battle!" Orion was pumped, "And cause of that Charmeleon, no need to hold back." After those words let Orion's mouth, Orion's Charmeleon had its tail change color. A second of panic took over Joseph as he saw the level of Orion's Charmeleon change from twenty-five, to the exact same level thirty as Rogue and the screech that JoJo did earlier was reset.

"Alright Rogue Start with Dragon Breath!" Joseph commanded!

"Charmeleon cancel it out with Flame Thrower!" Orion canceled, the attacks were even in terms of power so they canceled each other out. The shadows of the two Pokémon were thrown around, by the flames.

"Damn it. Twister Now!" Joseph tried

"Weigh it down with Ancient power." Orion canceled out the attacks again!

"Rogue try shadow sneak! Fast!" Joseph was hopeful that it could reach the opposing Charmeleon before it could react

"What?!" Orion shouted as his Charmeleon was thrown into two bushes of flowers, lighting them when it stood up, "Crud. Guess I'm getting using the fire extinguisher for the first time. Well Charmeleon attack back with Ancient Power." The attacks hit decreasing twenty-five percent of Rogue's max health and a flaring aura indication its stats rose. While Rogue was able to deal the same amount to the opposing Charmeleon

"Nice going!" Joseph thought of a plan. "(Those raised stats will give me trouble, but those bushes may help.) Now Rogue! Get behind Charmeleon and use Shadow Sneak again!"

"You think the same tricks will help you." Orion shouted. "Charmeleon Flamethrower!" the opposing Charmeleon attack was swiftly dodged and hit by two more Flowers. Where the fire had aligned the shadows of four

"Wow, don't you know anything about shadows! The more light there is in different places the more shadows will appear. So, we got Shadow Sneak times four!" Joseph was smiling as Rogue's shadows had defeated the opposing Charmeleon.

"I- I Lost…." Orion was genially surprised, "Well this was a good battle." Orion walked over to give a hand shake, "That was a Great battle! Here you are, Congratulations! You have obtained the Thermal Badge. As well as the TM43 Flame Charge! It will boost the speed of your Pokémon each time you use it."

"Thank you for such a great battle." Joseph thanked, "I'm sure they are thinking the same thing." Joseph looked at the Pokémon they used in battle.

"Well if your facing all types of gyms you're not going to want to thank me." Orion joked, "But, anyways your next gym Vipik City, to the south of here. Leader Xavier has his themed around a forest, specialized in Poison and Bug types."

"The only thing that I dislike from what you said is the Idea of another pollen filled place," Joseph said as he sniffed his nose. And they both laughed before someone came and disrupted them. Nora was a few steps behind and wasn't excited to see Joseph

"Harmony, what are you doing here?" Orion recognized the person, "I'm in the middle of my work shift…. I'm accepting challenges right now."

"Orion, we need to get out of here!" the girl Harmony warned. "I saw cultists entering the city, and they were talking about YOU! I don't know what they're playing, but we need to get you out of here while we still can!"

"Are you serious?" Joseph questioned

"Fine. You're right." Orion admitted, "Can you help my carry this. My friend is pretty heavy" as he pointed to the rock.

"Are you serious! We don't have time for this again!" Harmony yelled. While Joseph struggled to help Orion lift it. "There are cultists coming to attack you! Or worse! Not the time to be worried about an imaginary rock friend!"

"Joseph, you of all people should know that we should get out of here now!" Nora tried to help Harmony.

"I can sense life from this rock, so it's a Pokémon of some type! And I'm not leaving any Pokémon to fend for itself!" Joseph held his and Orion's ground. He then looked down at his Pokémon. "JoJo knows this more than anything."

"Fine." Harmony finally snapped, "We just need to get out of here."

"Too late." A person said as they stepped down from another Pokémon