Chapter 3: Urban Landfall

Tal pretended to be asleep even though he was wide awake. Rukia and Jason were already up and were talking about the weather. It was raining down even harder now. Tal knew if they knew he was awake he was in trouble.

He heard Jason first. "Look at this. it's not raining, it's flooding."

Rukia spoke up. "It was so sunny yesterday, why would the weather change so quickly?"

"I have no idea. Maybe Tal-"

"You know what? Fine." Tal abandoned the effort of staying still and sat up. "Sorry I jinxed it, OK?"

Jason just stared at him blankly. "I was going to say if you had any idea where that passage over there goes."

"...Oh. Nope, not really." Tal paused, then wore a skeptical expression. "Wait, you knew I was faking sleep?"

"Yeah, you were kind of obvious."

"Remind me to practice more, then." Tal got up and looked out of the cave. "It really is pouring down oceans, isn't it?"

He glanced at the remains of their campfire. The Zubat that Rukia was thawing out was gone. So was most of their food.

"...Rukia, I think your act of kindness cost us our supplies."

"Yeah, don't remind me." Rukia said. She sounded slightly put out. "That's another reason why the passage thing over there is our best option is we want to go anywhere."

"True, that."

"Before we do anything, let's pack this stuff up first. Then we can go that way." Jason spoke up, already putting away what remained of their food.

Rukia sighed, then all three of them eventually had everything set. Without a word, they went inside the cave's inner depths. It got so dark that they needed Tal's Larvesta to provide a light source.

Seconds passed. Minutes. Hours.

Rukia yawned. "Is there no end to this stupid cave? We've been walking for days!"

"I think I see a light up ahead." Jason said, staring out.

"I think you're seeing Larvesta, Jason." Tal replied.

"No, really. I see a light, and it isn't us. Try returning Larvesta and look again."

Tal returned Larvesta and looked where Jason was talking about. Rukia was watching, too.

Jason spoke the truth; the end of the cave was indeed close enough to be seen.

"Finally! I thought we'd be in here forever!" Rukia exclaimed. "Come on, guys!" She ran toward the exit.

Jason shook his head. "At least one of us is energetic..." He ran off after Rukia.

Tal wordlessly agreed and followed Jason. When they made it to the cave exit, both of them were abruptly stopped by Rukia. "Hold up. There's something in the grass."

Jason slowly crept over to the patch of grass Rukia spoke of and moved the grass over. It was proven to be a sleeping Blitzle.

Rukia eased up almost immediately. "Awwwh, it's so cute!"

"Perfect. Another Pokemon for me." Jason smirked as he got out another Pokeball. Unfortunately for him, the Blitzle woke up. It became so scared it used Shock Wave on Jason. He yelled and fell face-down into the grass and lay there. The Blitzle backed up, preparing another attack.

"No, wait!" Rukia said, taking a slow step at a time toward the Blitzle. "We didn't mean to disturb you! We were just heading-"

The Blitzle used Charge. "...Blit...zle..." Tal had Larvesta's Pokeball in hand and prepared to intervene.

"Uh oh...Well, there's always this." Rukia reached into Jason's pack and pulled out the last of the food. She placed it on the ground and backed off.

The Blitzle was suddenly intrigued. "Blitzle?" It stopped preparing to attack and cautiously made it's way to the food. It sniffed at the contents, then stared to eat it. Rukia slowly made her way toward the Blitzle and knelt down. She slowly reached out a hand to pet it. The Blitzle stopped eating and tensed up, but slowly eased back down. "Blit?" Rukia continued petting it. "See? Not all of us are massive jerks sometimes."

"I heard that." Jason's muffled voice could be heard.

Rukia turned toward him. "Good. You might want to consider other ways to befriend Pokemon next time."

Tal spoke up. "You used the last of our food, though. Something has to be said about that." He went over to Jason and helped him get up.

The Blitzle yawned. Rukia looked back it and considered what to do now. Blitzle backed off, still wary. It considered her for a time, then turned toward Rukia. "Blitzle zle!" He walked over to her slowly then knocked a Pokeball out of her possession. He kicked it slightly and it opened, drawing him into it.

One, two, click! Blitzle was captured. Rukia picked it the Pokeball up skeptically. "Did that really just happen? Huh. Well, that's cool."

Jason and Tal looked at each other. Tal shrugged. "No comment. Let's keep going." The three of them continued through the forest.

It was Tal who spotted the first signs of human settlement, but as they got closer, all three of them saw Floccesy Town in full.

Rukia sighed in relief. "Whew! There it is, guys! Floccesy town!"

"Finally!"

Tal stared at what he could see of the town. "Hey...I think there's a festival or something going on."

"I didn't know they had festivals here, but yeah, I see it." Rukia replied. "Let's go. I can't stand the rain anymore."

Jason looked up, as if checking if it was still raining. "Oh yeah. We'd better hurry."

All three of them rushed down toward the town, but were blocked by a group of three Trainers. One trainer had blue hair, black jacket and jeans. The second one had black hair that went down to his shoulders, a white jacket and white pants. The last one had blond hair, red shirt and black jeans.

The one with the red hair spoke out loud to Tal, Rukia and Jason while the others turned to regard them. "Hey, You three! Are you participating in the tournament?"

Rukia looked quizzical. "The wha?"

"I think he means what the festival thing is." Jason told Rukia.

"Don't try to take us for fools! We know you're also here for that prize! We've sworn to take out any and all competition before it begins, and now that includes you!"

The one that spoke sent out a Woobat. The other two sent out an Aron and a Drilbur.

"Finally, some entertainment!" Jason said, for he seemed genuinely happy. He threw out a Pokeball. "Go, Skarmory!"

"Go, Larvesta!" Tal threw his own Pokeball.

"Blitzle, come on out!" Rukia threw a Pokeball.

Tal looked at the leader of the other group. "Triple Battle, all or nothing. Let's rock. Larvesta, use String Shot on Aron!"

"Skarmory, use Peck on Drilbur!"

"Blitzle, use Shock Wave on Woobat!"

Larvesta shot out silk strands at Aron, completely entangling it, Skarmory lunged for Drilbur, beak extended. Blitzle sent out a pulse of electricity at Woobat, leaving quite a mark.

"We'll show you! Aron, use Tackle attack!" "Drilbur, use Dig!" "Woobat, use Air Cutter!"

Aron squirmed and thrashed, but couldn't get itself free of the sticky silk. Drilbur burrowed underground before Skarmory could reach it. Woobat sent out air waves toward Larvesta, greatly hurting it.

"...You'll pay that that." Tal suddenly had an idea. He looked at Jason. "Wanna try that thing we practiced back in Aspertia?"

"You mean- oh, that...sure. Skarmory, take flight!"

"Larvesta, get on Skarmory!"

Larvesta hopped on Skarmory's back as he flew straight up.

"Blitzle, use Thunder Wave!"

Blitzle sent out an electric pulse at Aron, Paralyzing it.

"Hey! That's not fair! Aron, pull yourself together!" "Woobat, chase that Skarmory!"

Aron couldn't even move. Woobat began going after Skarmory, matching his speed. Drilbur burst out of the ground, striking Blitzle. He fainted.

"Aaah! Blitzle, return!" Rukia recalled Blitzle back into the Pokeball. "Dang it...curse these guys to- Skitty, it's your turn." Rukia's Skitty jumped out of nowhere and entered the battlefield.

"Skarmory, prepare for a bombing run!"

"Larvesta, get ready! Take Down!"

Skarmory pulled a loop and got close to the ground. Larvesta jumped off as soon as Skarmory swerved back up and rammed Drilbur with such force that he fainted. Larvesta suffered from recoil.

"Skitty, Hidden Power!"

Skittly summoned a ball of inner power and threw it at Woobat, striking with a force similar to a homing missile. Woobat fainted.

"Nonononono! This is getting out of hand! What are you idiots doing!?" The leader of the other group was yelling at the other two.

Jason simply shrugged. "Putting it as gently as I can, you guys suck. Skarmory, finish off Aron."

Skarmory complied, turning about and used a full-force Fury Attack. Aron fainted.

The leader recalled Aron. "This can't be happening!" He ran off back into the town.

"Hey, wait up!" The other two recalled their Pokemon and followed him.

Tal punched the air. "Aww yeah! First trainer battle: success!"

Rukia picked up Skitty. "That should teach them a thing or two."

Jason recalled Skarmory with a word of thanks and turned toward his friends. "Before we sent them crying back home, they said something about a tournament. I'm totally pumped for it now!"

Tal also recalled Larvesta. "Let me guess: your birthday came early?"

"You bet! C'mon!" Jason ran into Floccesy town.

"Some things never change." Rukia said. She ran after Jason. Tal followed her.

[UNFINISHED]