Key:
* equals thoughts
(...) equals pokemon speech (in Murasaki's mind)
—- —- —- equals scene breaks
* * * * indicates a battle
* * * chapter III * * *
- Ruins, A Cave, and A Shady Person -
Murasaki, Pokemon center (Violet city) —-
I counted my money as I waited for the nurse to heal my pokemon. I'd earned 1560 from defeating Falkner and got to keep 780 of that. Momo was quick; she'd set up the account for saving my money soon after the call ended. I received a message on my Pokegear after every battle notifying me of the transfer.
I was looking forward to hatching the egg Prof. Elm decided to give me. He'd called after the gym battle to tell me he was giving it to me. It was the same one Mr. pokemon found; I was to hatch it for further study. When the nurse handed me my poke balls I went over to the pc to deposit a pokemon to make space for the egg. I ended up putting Rocky in the pc.
Elm's assistant met me at the Violet city Pokemart. I smiled slightly as I held onto the egg for a few minutes before putting it in my pack. Momo knew more about eggs than I did, I'd call her later to ask about the best way to hatch and take care of it.
As it was night time I thought checking the city and surrounding area for 'night' pokemon would be a good idea. After consulting the Pokedex I went back to Sprout tower to catch a Gastly. That didn't take long and I made it back to the 'center to put Wooper in the pc and withdrew Gastly to train.
After leveling everyone up to lv 19 I came back to the 'center. Gastly was particularly hard to level, as its only offensive move was Lick until level 15 when it learned Night shade. I was beginning to like the gaseous pokemon, he enjoyed flowing through walls and playing jokes. If they were on me I would probably be a little annoyed though.
Something strange happened when he tried just that. He'd wrapped himself around me, probably trying to choke me as his little joke. Since I wasn't voluntarily touching him I didn't expect anything from my powers, but I was wrong. A flood of images popped into my head and I cringed, grabbing Klefki's metal ring which made me feel slightly better.
(He connected with you good. I can translate what he says for you. I am guessing you can't make heads or tails out of the images?)
"H-how did you know I saw anything?" I asked the key pokemon.
(You have that face, the same one you did when the 'fish' guy touched you back in Cherrygrove.)
"Right ..."
Silver, a few hours earlier (leaving Violet city) —-
I ran a hand angrily through my hair as I left the city. (I'd taken out the leather strap a few minutes earlier).
* Why did I act like that?! I feel like a teenage girl ... *
I felt a blush creep onto my face at the thought of the other boy.
* Why me! *
I'd acted strangely when I first met him. I wasn't exactly butting heads with him, but I had been rude. I usually tried to stay neutral (expression-wise) and civil with new people. This allowed me to observe them while not having to deal with the reactions people normally gave to my personality. Yeah, I was rude, but I had my reasons. I just didn't tend to like people as a whole most of the time.
* I really like him though ... *
Why couldn't I just forget about the boy? He was odd-looking, had traits I normally hated, (like being nice) and was another trainer.
* An exceptionally good trainer ... *
I had to admit that he was good, really good, and maybe that's what drew me to him.
* So what should I do about it? This is obviously more than just liking him ... *
Did I really like him more than just as a rival?
* Yeah ... *
I had to admit grudgingly to myself.
This was a new experience for me. I'd never been attracted to another boy before. I'd only had one crush, and that was with a girl who worked for my dad named Daysee. I'd been over it for a few years though. I didn't have a problem with gay people, but I never thought I'd be gay myself.
* I'll just have to work with this then. I'm good at playing people ... but for some reason I don't want to do that this time. *
I'd used those skills several times for missions while still with Team R.
* Turn over a new leaf ... maybe manipulating people all the time isn't how someone outside of Team R does things ... *
Murasaki, next morning (Violet city) —-
After taking a shower and putting food in everyone's bellies I went to the Pokemart to buy supplies. As I came in a man sidled up to me. He handed me an item and told me to keep the 'super potion.' I thanked him and made my way to the counter, intending to make my own purchases.
I bought a second Escape rope just in case. I'd picked up the first one right before I left Sprout tower yesterday. Four poke balls and 2 more Super Potions joined the Escape rope in my pack. I'd been buying poke balls steadily throughout the last few days, so still had some left. These were extras in case I found more pokemon and needed them.
After checking on the egg (making sure it was nice and warm and not cracked or damaged) I was ready to continue to the next town. I kept the egg wrapped in a spare set of clothing for now, I didn't have anything else to use.
As I left the city I wondered about the Kimono girl who'd come up to me earlier that day.
* What does 'your destiny approaches' mean anyway? *
That's what she'd told me, along with the fact that she was sure we'd meet again.
* Great, I have a stalker ... or maybe more than one. I got the feeling there were more Kimono girls somewhere ... *
On the way out I ran into a rock.
* Wonder if this can be smashed with Rock smash? *
I taught the hm to Mareep and had him smash the rock. An item fell to the floor and I picked it up.
(That's a Revive.)
"Thanks, I coulda figured that out myself eventually." was my response.
(That would have taken a while. I thought you wanted to leave this place ...)
"I do. Ash let's go."
(He ran off somewhere while Mareep was smashing the rock.)
"Great ..."
A few minutes later footsteps could be heard. I tensed up, an involuntary reaction, gripping Klefki's key-ring tightly.
(It's Ash. It looks like he has something for you.)
I blinked and reached out a hand to touch the fire pokemon.
"What did you bring me Ash?"
He nudged my leg and dropped something on the ground. I picked it up, immediately able to tell what it was since the impressions were so fresh. When people or pokemon touched things they left impressions or "imprints" on them. It was similar to finger prints I supposed.
"Huh, didn't think I'd get a Hyper potion so fast. Thanks buddy,"
And then I left the city.
—- —- —-
I had to steady myself against the wall I ran into so I could try and focus. I'd been here only a few minutes (a place the map called the Ruins of Alph) and was already feeling uneasy. Dizziness was there as well.
* What the hell's up with this place? *
I checked the map and went toward a wall, touching it and finding out there was writing on it. The letters (or at least the impressions I got from the wall) were odd. They weren't from any language I was familiar with.
"What the fuck?"
As my powers worked I got the sense that there was something behind the wall. Maybe someone had hidden something behind it. It was also possible that whatever was back there had been there a very long time. This place seemed very old to me. I pushed my pack off my shoulders to get a drink of water when my fingers touched the Escape rope I'd bought earlier.
* I wonder where I'll end up if I use this? There are a lot of buildings around here according to the map. *
Shrugging, I used it. Instead of ending up somewhere else, the wall disappeared. As I went to touch it once more I figured this out.
"Okaaay wasn't expectin' that."
(Neither was I. It was fun to watch it go though.)
"You are a very strange pokemon ..." I mumbled, sure he'd still hear it.
(Thank you, I would hate to be 'normal' and boring.)
A stash of items was behind the wall. A Heal powder, an Energy powder, a Pecha berry, and an Oran berry were all stuffed into my pack.
* Well that was interesting ... *
After making sure I'd gathered everything useful there I walked back to the main room.
(There's some sort of stone puzzle here.)
"Alright, let's see if I can solve it."
He directed me to said puzzle and I placed my hands over the stone, hoping to either get an impression of the last person who'd touched it or figure out the puzzle itself. What I didn't expect was the dizziness and nausea that came over me at the slightest touch to the stone surface.
* There's old energy here ... it's like my powers are being blocked ... *
I had to swallow furiously to keep from throwing up.
(Can I help?)
"Maybe ... do you know what the puzzle is supposed to be when it's finished?"
I gave him some time to contemplate the puzzle, taking several steps back and drinking the water I'd meant to earlier. I left the chain and the pokemon near the stone so he could get a better look.
When I came back he had an answer for me.
(I have no idea ...)
* I was afraid of that ... *
I grit my teeth and placed my hands on the stone, hoping I could keep from vomiting. Since I wasn't actively trying anything with my powers things were a little better. I gently nudged the steel-type aside so I could check the puzzle out myself.
After a few minutes of feeling the stone tiles I started playing around with the order they were in. Sometimes doing something with my hands helped me think. Arceus knew I needed it since I hadn't used my powers as much as I normally did recently. Not using them actually made me feel crazy, my skin and brain (and do not ask me how the second works it just does) itching like fuckin' crazy.
A while later I sighed and moved another tile. A loud rumbling came from the stone and I quickly scooped up Klefki and put the chain on as the rumbling got louder. The floor was also shaking almost as if it had a mind of its own.
* Freaky ... *
The last thing I remember was the sound of shattering stone before I fell unconscious ...
—- —- —-
I woke slowly, becoming aware of two things almost immediately. The first was that I was on a hard floor and the second revelation came in the form of a splitting headache.
* What the fuck happened? *
"You're awake good. I was getting worried about you." an unfamiliar male voice said.
(This man has been staring at you for a while now. I am tempted to hit him in the face with a Fairy wind.)
"Why don't you?" I asked, not caring that the man was there to hear me.
(It is wrong, pokemon aren't supposed to harm humans ...)
"Suit yourself then,"
"Who are you talking to?" the man asked.
I shrugged, choosing not to explain.
* He probably thinks there's something wrong with me anyway ... with me passing out and all ... *
(You fell down a hole.)
"What?"
(The stone the puzzle was attached to collapsed and you fell through a hole to end up here ... where ever here is ...)
"Why does trouble always find me?"
"Huh?" the man asked.
"Never mind. Can you tell me what this place is?"
"Oh! You're still in the Ruins, this is just a lower level. Take this, I think you'll find it useful."
A small electronic card was handed to me.
"... and after you put that into a slot on your Pokegear it will tell you what Unown you have caught ..."
I obviously hadn't caught most of that, but something did stick out in my mind.
* Unknown? *
"Back up there man, what's unknown?"
"Not unknown, Unown. Unown are a mysterious psychic pokemon that can be found here ..."
And then I tuned him out again.
Finally he walked off, probably bored.
* I don't think that guy would notice if I was paying attention or not even if I told him. *
I captured an Unown shaped like the letter m and then left this part of the Ruins. Klefki was eager to tell me the letter the Unown represented, so I let him talk.
Outside once more I consulted the map. I started off toward a gate that was supposed to lead to Route 36.
(There are rocks to break here.)
"Alright Bolt it's up to you then,"
The Mareep came out of his ball and bleated at me.
"Smash the rocks."
Ash ran off after the sheep and I wondered why.
(I think he is going to find stuff for you again.)
"I hope they don't get lost, this place is really big."
While I waited I pulled out my notebook and a pencil to draw. I didn't have any images to 'purge' from my mind, but I didn't need them to draw. Despite being blind I was very good with detail, but that was probably because Momo took it upon herself to teach me what things looked like. I also had personal experience with feeling objects and occasionally pokemon as well. I put pencil to paper and started drawing, my mind wandering as I did. Drawing had almost always been calming for me and I usually wasn't sure what I'd draw until whatever it was was completed.
Several minutes later I heard footsteps approaching. I put the pencil down and ran my fingers over the page, the familiar lines of Momo's physique greeting my finger tips. I always made sure to trace the lines over and over again with whatever writing utensil I used so I could feel them better. Before I could trace the lines (with fingers) to see how much detail I'd put into the drawing something tugged on my pant leg.
"Ash?" I asked, hoping he'd come back.
(He says you must come quick, he and the sheep found lots of items.)
"Ok let's go," I said, shoving pencil and notebook into the pack before slinging it over my shoulders. Ash started walking and I followed, listening to his footsteps. As excited as he was they were louder than usual to my ears.
* Y'know, if I didn't need that to get there I'd be running the other direction by now ... *
When he stopped I nearly ran into him.
"Ash, what is it?"
(We're here,)
"What did you guys find?"
Ash nudged my leg.
(He wants you to kneel down and look. There are too many to carry.)
So that's what I did, my fingers running over several objects.
There were two Revives, 2 shards, (which Klefki told me were red) and a fossil.
(I saw something like that back when I was captured, it resembles the puzzle now that I think about it ... once it was put together properly ...)
"What do ya mean?"
(The men said the fossil they had was from an ancient pokemon. The one you have here doesn't look the same, but I heard them mention going to somewhere called 'kanto' to get the pokemon 'revived.')
* Reviving fossils, what will someone come up with next? *
All the items went into the pack and I recalled Mareep.
"Did you find anything else interesting around here Ash?"
He pulled on my pant leg again.
"Lead the way,"
He led me to a Hyper potion which I stowed.
"That everything?"
(He says he found a strange rock you should look at.)
He led me there and I touched it, but nothing happened.
(Use your powers, there is something here, I just can't see it ...)
I tried that and an item fell to the ground.
(That's a Rare candy I believe ...)
I smiled as I picked it up.
"I've read about these, but I thought they'd be bigger than this."
I put the item away and rubbed Ash's back.
"Maybe you should be working with a policeman instead of me," I joked.
There was more to explore, so I let the Quilava lead me around. At one point he ran off, coming back with a Great ball. The smell of water drifted into my nostrils and I sighed as I leaned against a rock near its edge. I could hear the water gently sloshing, that's how I knew how close to it I was. Ash left again and brought me something called a Tiny Mushroom.
"What do I do with this Ash?"
He rubbed up against my arm in answer.
* It smells horrible, so that rules out eating it. *
I let Ash and Mareep run off to find more items after going into an empty building. When I came out the fire type was ready for me. He tugged on my hand and I followed with a chuckle.
(He says the sheep battled a Geodude and won and that they found more items. They collected them for you.)
In the pile they assembled I found 2 Blue shards, a Max revive, and another Rare candy.
"Think we should get going now. We've been here a couple hours ..."
A press of a button on my Pokegear proclaimed the time was 12:30 p. m. I'd left the watch at home.
—- —- —-
Half an hour later found me continuing along Route 32. A guy stopped me and refused to move unless I heard what he had to say. I sighed, but let him talk. After his little tirade he gave me a Miracle seed, an item to be held by a pokemon that would boost the power of grass-type moves it used. I thanked him and kept going.
I gathered a Repel, tm 09 Bullet seed, and a Great ball on the route. There were several trainers as well, which I battled. All five of the pokemon with me were now either level 19 or 20. Ash brought me a Great ball and I smiled at him as he tugged my pant leg.
(He says there is a building with a ball on it he wants to show you.)
—- —- —-
At the Pokemon center (yes there was one on Route 32) I healed everyone and was about to leave when a man came up to me. After talking for a few moments he gave me an Old rod. He said I could use it to catch pokemon with. I put it away and left the 'center.
There was one more thing to do before crossing the bridge (where I'd battled some trainers earlier). Bolt smashed a rock and brought me a unique item. It was a Shell bell, an item that healed a pokemon when they attacked an opponent. It needed to be held by a pokemon in order to work. I put it away and crossed over the bridge to continue traveling. I'd go through my items later and give pokemon new moves and hold items as well.
—- —- —-
The next area was a cave - the map said it was Union cave. I got a weird feeling when I entered, almost as if people were afraid of something.
* What, is there a 'monster' in here? *
There wasn't much to do on the first floor near the entrance, so I descended some stairs to the second floor. There I caught a Zubat and a Sandshrew.
I heard running water down there so I followed the noise and almost fell into a small lake.
* That was close ... *
I took out the Old rod and did some fishing. I captured a Magikarp (useless but had a good evolved form) and a Goldeen. I had no idea what I'd do with the second fish, but it was a water pokemon, which I had very little of.
* Maybe Momo will trade me something for it. *
I ran back to the pokemon center and placed Hoothoot in the pc, switching it with the newly gained Sandshrew. I took a few minutes to feel the pokemon, making sure that I gave off a calming manner. I couldn't actually put thoughts into people's heads like Lyra, or push emotions on people like Empaths could, but when I wanted people to be calm they usually were. Except of course if they were normally hyper-active, up-tight, or perpetually angry. Once I was done I scratched the ground type's ears and sent him back into his ball.
Back in the cave I trained him to level 13 (an improvement from the lv 8 he was when I caught him) and searched for items. I got an X attack, tm 39 Rock tomb, an X defend, a Great ball, and a Potion. Ash wandered off and picked up items for me as I trained Sandshrew (who I'd decided to name Shane). He brought me an X speed, a Great ball, and a Paralyze heal.
There were five trainers to fight in the cave. Shane took care of most of their pokemon, Joker (my Gastly) filling in when he got too beat up. I kept training Shane till he reached level 15 then used the map to locate the exit. There was an Awakening near it (which I stowed) and then left through the exit.
Route 33 was the next area. There weren't any new pokemon, but I finally caught a Rattata. The Pokedex required pokemon be captured in order to fill all the information on them in. It had something to do with the database in the device, and even I hadn't figured out how it worked yet. I trained Shane until he was lv 19 before battling the only trainer on the route. I also knocked some Blu apricorns out of a tree as well.
Shane evolved into Sandslash at lv 22 - which I helped him achieve. He had strong moves now - Swift, Fury swipes, and Rollout to name a few. He looked different after evolving, having gained spines on his back and growing bigger. He also had claws that were longer and sharper than his pre-evolved form. All in all, I was pleased with the progress he'd made.
—- —- —-
As I entered the city I shivered and clutched at my head. There was someone here with a seriously dark motive. My guess was they wanted to kill or hurt someone - or maybe multiple someones.
(There is a man in black attacking a woman.)
"What the ..." I muttered, trying to get a fix on the person.
I started toward where I could feel (and hear) the two people, hoping to either stop the 'man in black' or at least find out who he was.
(He stopped and left the woman there. He is standing in front of a strange-looking building now, glaring at people on the street.)
"Blocking the building ..." I mused, using the map.
* That's Slowpoke well ... *
I shrugged and went to the Pokemon center, Klefki reminding me this was Azalea town as I walked. After healing everyone I put Gastly in the pc and withdrew Hoothoot. I planned to evolve him and possibly Bolt on Route 33. With the low-level wild pokemon it might be a little while before their change in forms.
—- —- —-
By the time I was done training, it was almost 21:45. I now had a Flaafy (the evolved form of Mareep) and a Noctowl (Hoothoot's evolved form). I nicknamed the newly evolved psychic type Radar. The Pokemon center was my destination when I re-entered Azalea town.