As standard with all fanfictions, I do not own Pokémon. Nor will I ever own pokémon, nor anything else I reference in this fanfiction.

Greyscale

Chapter Four

"Decretum"


Hilbert waved to Professor Juniper as she headed back down Route One. He dropped his hand and faced Touko. He jumped back and rubbed his head. "Touko! I wasn't expecting you there! Are you going to go back to Nuvema?"

Touko shook her head. "No, I will be also going on a journey."

Hilbert grinned at her. "That's awesome!" he declared, raising his hand up. Touko looked at it and faced Hilbert, raising an eyebrow. Hilbert lowered his hand and coughed softly. "So… anyway, did you want to tag along with me?"

Touko nodded. "Yes, there is safety in numbers," she offered a short smile before glancing at the pokecenter, missing Hilbert's smile back. She rubbed her arm and glanced around the town. "Shall we be leaving?" she asked.

Hilbert nodded and turned around. "To Route Two!" he cried. Touko adjusted the strap on her bag and followed after her active cousin. On her hip, Kaze's pokéball shook and Touko laid the tips of her fingers on it. She glanced around at the route gate, and excitement welled up in her chest. She was going on another journey.

Hilbert glanced over at Touko and grinned at her and she rolled her eyes at him. "Did you sign up for the league?"

Touko shook her head. "No, I was planning on doing so when we hit the next town over," she replied, looking around the route gate. The attendant waved them passed and Touko fell behind Hilbert, blinking once or twice as she scanned the unfamiliar scenery.

"Hilbert! Touko!"

Touko whirled around, her hand hovering around Kaze's pokéball. She relaxed her posture as she saw Helen jogging towards them.

"There you two are!" She called out, slowing to a fast walk as she grew closer.

"Mom? What are you doing here?" Hilbert asked, he blinked in surprise as Helen Black stopped a couple feet away from them.

"Can't a mother see her child off?" she asked with a smile which Hilbert returned. "Besides, I heard from Professor Juniper that Touko was going on a journey," she looked over to Touko, who nodded. Helen beamed at her. "I suppose you'll want me to sign you up for the league then."

Touko shook her head. "No, I'll take care of it," she tacked on a smile and Helen nodded before looking back at Hilbert. "I found something that would be useful for you," she said, digging through her bag for a moment before pulling out a pair of Running Shoes.

Hilbert accepted them. "Wow! Thanks Mom!" he cheered, immediately changing shoes. He stood back up and gave an experimental jump. Touko watched and rolled her eyes before turning back to Helen.

"Would you like me to talk with Professor Juniper about you signing up for the Pokedex project?" Helen asked, studying Touko.

Touko shook her head. "No, thank you." She touched the bulge in her right jean pocket. "My old one still works, just waiting for the patch to finish installing."

Helen nodded before addressing both of them. "Don't forget to call me often and try your best!"

"I will," Hilbert promised as Touko mumbled something unintelligible. Helen hugged them both before heading back towards Accumula. Touko turned around, her heart clenching in her chest and she squeezed her eyes shut. She felt Hilbert's hand on her shoulder and she recoiled from it.

"Come on," he said, removing her head and Touko opened her eyes.

"Yeah," she agreed, cursing her shaking tone. Touko pressed her lips together, forcing herself to still and not think about anything.

"Onward!" Hilbert declared, throwing his arms out. He grinned stupidly, throwing an arm around Touko's shoulder. She glared at him and Hilbert just turned his stupid grin towards her. Touko snorted, but made no motion to move his arm. They started, stepping into the tall grass and it brushed their calves. Kaze's pokéball shook with excitement and Touko untangled herself from Hilbert's grasp to let out the Staraptor. Kaze glided above her before divebombing the tall grass.

A flock of pidove emerged from the tall grass, squawking in fright as they flew away from Kaze.

She repeated this a few times, sending pokémon running everywhere. Touko rolled her eyes as Kaze circled again and Hilbert protested as a sewaddle scurried passed him.

"Kaze is scaring off all the pokémon!"

Kaze swooped low, passing inches from Hilbert and he ducked instinctively as the Staraptor plucked the Sewaddle off the ground and perched on a tree branch. Touko directed Hilbert away, all but pushing him into the tall grass.

"The best way to attract pokémon is to make a lot of movement, but be easy on the noise - that scares away a good portion of pokémon," Touko instructed, pushing Hilbert. He yelped and stumbled forward, barely catching his balance. Hilbert glanced back at Touko, who made a shooing motion. Hilbert sighed and began to shuffle around in a circle, nearly jumping back in surprise when a pidove flew into his face.

"Tepig!" Hilbert called, stumbling with the pokéball. He managed to call out his starter as the pidove flew away, trying to catch up with the flock.

Staraptor let out an impressive craw and the pidove's speed doubled and Hilbert sighed, his head falling forward.

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Bianca twisted her hands, rubbing them as she inevitably popped her knuckles and wrists. She stepped out of the tall grass, taking another gulp of the fresh air. She could barely see Cheren as he plowed through the trainers, heading towards Stration. Bianca exhaled, letting her eyes close as she breathed in the air and let her mind go blank, just listening to the sounds of nature… and trainer battles. Bianca opened her eyes and walked down the short hill towards the tall grass, letting out Snivy as she did so.

"Sniv," he hissed, turning his nose up as Bianca stepped foot the tall grass.

"Pup! Pup!" A lillipup barked, running through the grass towards Bianca. Snivy hissed discontentedly as he lashed out with a vine whip, smacking the lillipup's nose.

"Tackle!" Bianca called out, digging through her bag for a pokéball. Snivy glanced towards her, receiving a tackle for his troubles.

"Sni," Snivy let out, tackling the lillipup as she came around. He jumped back after sending the lillipup skidding.

"Lilli…" the lillipup growled and charged towards Snivy.

"Vine whip!" Bianca yelled and Snivy nodded, lashing out as the lillipup charged towards him. His vines shot out and Snivy turned ever so slightly, the vines whipping against the lillipup.

"Lilli…" she whimpered, dazed and Bianca threw out a pokéball. She whispered a victorious yes as it hit the lillipup and activated.

The pokéball shook, once, twice and thrice before settling down with a click. Bianca threw her arms up, cheering. Snivy rolled his eyes, glaring pointedly at Bianca. She quickly picked up the pokéball and weighed it in her palm and smiled. She tossed it up and down.

"Come on out!" Bianca called, pressing the button and it clicked opened and the lillipup materialized in front of her.

"Pup! Pup! Pup!" Lillipup barked. She stared at Bianca before looking towards Snivy and yelping. "Pup!"

Bianca crouched down. "I'm Bianca and I'm your trainer," she said and lillipup sniffed her offered hand.

"Lilli!" she barked, her tail wagging as she licked Bianca's hand. Bianca giggled, pulling away her hand and Snivy let out a longsuffering sigh.

"Snivy," he drawled out, tapping his foot, gaining Bianca's attention She glanced down at him and pulled out his pokéball, silently returning him. Lillipup ran around her feet, barking and wagging her tail. Bianca smiled as she straightened up, stretching her arms up.

"Come on, let's go," she told Lillipup, who simply wagged her tail, bounding into the tall grass. Bianca stepped forward, smiling as she dodged a patrat, who Lillipup was happily chasing. A youngster waved at her before turning back to his battle.

As Bianca stepped onto the path, a large flock of pidove flew overhead, squawking and chirping loudly. She stared at them as they flew towards Stration, growing smaller by the moment.

"Hiya Bianca!" she heard Hilbert holler. She turned around and waved at the approaching Hilbert and Touko.

Bianca waved back, undaunted by Touko's indifferent expression. "Hi Hilbert!" she called back, meeting his volume and Touko glared at the both of them.

"...we're right here," she was huffing as they drew closer to Bianca. "Must you two scream?"

Hilbert ignored Touko, raising his hand and Bianca smacked it her own. "You wanna battle?" he asked as Touko crossed her arms, looking elsewhere.

"Sure!" Bianca agreed and Hilbert pulled out a pokéball.

"I'll referee," Touko offered suddenly and winced at Hilbert's and Bianca's stares.

"Alright," Bianca relented, taking several steps away from Hilbert and Touko moved off to the side, between Hilbert and Bianca.

"The battle between Bianca of Nuvema and Hilbert of Nuvema is underway; each side may use up to two pokémon. The battle is over when either side's pokémon are unable to battle. Bianca has the first move, Battle begin!" Touko dropped her arms and took a step back, watching them.

"Oh right, Lillipup!" Bianca called, pulling out her pokéball while Hilbert mirrored her action, calling out his tepig.

Lillipup wagged her tail, yipping happily while Tepig snorted, embers scorching the grass.

"Use tackle Lillipup!" Bianca called out and Lillipup rushed towards Tepig, looking focused.

"Ember!" Hilbert called and Tepig blew some embers out of his mouth, but they didn't stop Lillipup as she rammed into him.

"Pig!" Tepig cried out, skidding backwards on the grass. He shook her head and glared at Lillipup. He snorted and ran towards the normal type, ignoring Hilbert's call to stop.

"Tackle!" Bianca called and Lillipup nodded, racing towards Tepig. They collided and skidded backwards, wincing in pain.

"Why do I even bother?" Touko muttered as she watched them before raising her voice. "Hilbert! Rein in your pokémon!"

"What?" Hilbert called back. He bit his lip and looked at the battle. "Tepig! Use ember!"

Tepig snorted, blowing a stream of embers towards Lillipup, who whined as they hit her fur.

"Use leer!" Bianca called back and Lillipup glared at Tepig who squealed.

"Tackle once more!" Hilbert called and Tepig shook off his fear before charging at Lillipup, colliding with her as Bianca began to speak.

"Lilli…" Lillipup whined, collapsing on the grass. Touko raised her arms.

"Lillipup is unable to battle," she declared before dropping her arms and taking a step back as Bianca recalled her pokémon. "Trainer Bianca, choose your final pokémon!"

"You fought well," Bianca praised to the pokéball before she put it into her bag. She looked back up to see Hilbert gushing over Tepig. "Snivy!" she called and Tepig snorted as Snivy appeared and sneered at the fire type.

"Use Ember!" Hilbert called and Snivy recoiled, hissing indigently at Tepig.

"Vine whip!" Bianca called back and Snivy shot out two vines, slapping Tepig on the nose with them. Tepig snorted, charging forward as Hilbert shouted

"Tackle!"

"Use Vine whip! No! Tackle!" Bianca scrambled to say and Snivy gave her a look, moments before Tepig plowed into him.

"SNIV!" Snivy cried out, rolling to a stop. He hissed at Tepig as he got to his feet, his vines shooting out to smack Tepig again.

Tepig blew embers out and Snivy recoiled at the heat, retracting his vines.

"Um, use tackle!" Bianca called out and Snivy huffed, but ran forwards.

"Ember!" Hilbert cheered as Tepig dug his feet into the ground and let out an impressive ember as soon as Snivy was in range.

"SNIVY!" Snivy abandoned his attack in favor of trying to get away from the flames; he glared at the fire type as he stayed a careful distance away. Tepig snorted and stomped the ground, rushing forward before Hilbert could call out another attack.

"Tackle?" Hilbert suggested as Tepig charged towards Snivy who readied his vines.

"Vine Whip!" Bianca barked, watching as Snivy shot out one of his vine, wrapping it around a nearby rock just seconds before Tepig reached him.

"PIG!" Tepig squealed as he tripped on the vine and Snivy began a barrage of whips against his back, he leapt back as Tepig regained his footing and shot embers at Snivy. Snivy sneered, smacking Tepig once more on the nose before the fire type fainted.

"Not the cleanest attack," Touko muttered before raising her voice. "Tepig is unable to battle! Trainer Hilbert, choose your final pokémon!"

Hilbert recalled Tepig, mumbling a good job before pulling another pokéball off his belt. "Pidove, Come on out!" he called as a pidove materialized in the air.

"Pidove!" Pidove exclaimed, flapping his wings. He landed in front of Hilbert and cocked his head, staring at Snivy.

"Use gust!" Hilbert ordered as Bianca called out:

"Tackle Snivy!"

Snivy ran forward as Pidove began to furiously flap his wings. Already tired from his previous battles, Snivy flipped backwards as the gust hit. "Sn…" her groaned as Bianca recalled him.

"Snivy is unable to battle!" Touko was saying. She dropped her arms. "Hilbert of Nuvema is the victor!"

Bianca paid Touko no heed as she tucked the pokéballs into her bag as Hilbert wandered over. "Great battle!" Hilbert exclaimed as he approached her, holding out his hand. Bianca took it and winced as he sook it virously. "You want to join Touko and I to Straiton?" he asked and Bianca shook her head.

"No thank you, I should double back to Acculmula to heal my pokémon," Bianca explained and Hilbert nodded.

"Alright," he agreed, before glancing over his shoulder. "Hey, where did Touko go?" he wondered, staring at where she had been just a moment before.


Please review!

A fun fact, Decretum is latin for Decreed.