Pokemon Delta Sun and Theta Moon
Written by SkittleBoxx
Episode 4: Return of a Rival!
For the first time in her fifteen year long life, Cindy didn't sleep in the comfort of a bed in a nicely heated home. She never got the message of camping, how it was am open doorway to the grand adventure known as nature. All she saw was an itchy trip fully of poisonous Berries, poisonous ivy leaves, and bug bites- sometimes poisonous. However, being about halfway between the nearest Pokemon Centers which meant being about halfway between soft beds meant that rushing to Hou'omaka Town was out of the equation and they had no other alternatives. They had to camp outside.
Upon her first time camping, Cindy learned a few things. First, Alola cooled off considerably in the nighttime hours. The girl half regretted not bringing a light jacket, but she had the next best alternative: Litten. It may have taken a few hours of setting up camp due to Cindy's discomfort with going into the bordering forest to collect some dry brush and twigs, which she had complained would get in her hair and she would have to do it all over again, but the goal was accomplished eventually. The fire was set up, pretty much everything owed to the Fire Cat Pokemon for its Ember.
Second thing she had learned, there weren't that many bugs as she had thought. There were a few here and there, and when there were, Cindy was thankful for Litten once again. While she covered her head with her sleeping bag, Litten was up and chasing the tiny invaders. Once the bug seemed to be gone, Litten would curl up right on top of Cindy again. It was slightly annoying with a Pokemon standing up, curling up and repeating the process over and over again, but she told herself it was worth it- she would rather have that than a bug biting her.
Third thing- camp was not only hard to set up, but pack up as well. Especially when the person who was better at managing things had lost his glasses in the morning and spent an hour looking for them while his companion did most of the heavy lifting. Cindy was thinking that it would be easier with two people, so she was already making mental plans on how to prevent Allen from losing those silver frames that seemed like they were never attached to his face at any given movement, taking his constant glasses-nudging into play.
Despite the experiences, good or bad, Cindy felt even more like a true Pokemon Coordinator. You sometimes have to get your hands dirty to achieve a goal, right? That's what Cindy told herself as she tried to pick out every leaf in her long hair in the morning. After they were all packed (and Cindy's hair at what she called a presentable level), the two teenagers found the worn dirt path again and continued to Hou'omaka Town.
"Ugh, when are we gonna get to Hou'omaka Town? My feet are terribly sore..."
"Cindy, we've been walking for twenty minutes."
"Twenty?!"
Allen sighed and facepalmed. "Yes, twenty. Now, I'm not what you'd consider smart-"
"But you're wearing glasses," she interrupted. "Don't all smart kids wear glasses?"
"...no." He quietly nudged the silver frames as he continued, "so, I'm not smart compared to Pokemon Professors, but I know for a fact that if you keep whining, it'll feel like we're taking longer. You know that phrase 'time flies when you're having fun?'"
Cindy merely shrugged in response. "So, you're saying that even with my sore feet, I should be having fun?"
"Yes."
This time, it was Cindy's turn to facepalm. "But my feet hurt! How am I supposed to think about becoming Top Coordinator when I can't focus on anything but my sore feet? It's like you're asking a Magikarp to suddenly learn Hyper Beam and defeat a Legendary Pokemon while it simultaneously evolves into a Gyarados!"
Allen shifted his green backpack to a more comfortable position on his shoulders. "I'm not asking the impossible. Just don't complain about it." He eyed Cindy's watermelon-like bag. "Say, where are we according to your PokeTab?"
The girl stopped to reach into her bag. She fished her PokeTab out and tapped the icon that redirected her to the positioning locator. On the screen was a small dot and an almost straight line path. They were somewhat between the settlements labeled Celestiluna City and Hou'omaka Town. They were closer to the latter, the dot displaying that they were about three-fifths the way there.
"...well, if we need to take a break, we can." Allen rounded over to a tree and propped his bag against it. "Besides, I do have to admit, but I could use a little time to unwind. So, feel free to relax. We seem to be making an even pace, we could even reach Hou'omaka Town sometime next afternoon or evening."
Cindy set her bag next to Allen's and connected her back to the rough bark of a tree. She slowly slid down and exhaled a sigh of relief. "Oh, thank you, my feet thank you..." Without warning, she snapped away from her state of bliss and was thrust back into the real world. "Wait... do we have to camp again?! Aww, no fair! My hair doesn't like camping!"
While sitting against a tree, Allen nudged his glasses so that they reflected a pure white glare that made his forest green eyes disappear. "Listen, we're only stopping because you were complaining, and if you keep complaining we're starting back up again."
"Um... I'll be quiet for a while."
Allen took his glasses off and laughed as he started to clean the lenses with his short sleeved jacket. "Nah, you don't need to play the quiet game with me. Besides, talking to you is really fun, anyway." He held them up and inspected them (Cindy didn't get why, Allen was practically blind and couldn't see anything without them) before nudging them back on the bridge of his nose. "So, what are we even planning to do when we get to Hou'omaka Town?"
Cindy took her PokeTab out again and mindlessly tapped the screen. "We're just passing through to get to Hau'oli City. That's where the closest Contest Hall is around Celestiluna City."
"Huh. Could've sworn they were building a Contest Hall in Celestiluna City," the boy mused. "But I don't think it's done yet. Maybe we'll stop back over if you're absolutely terrible at contest and need another Ribbon or something."
Cindy continued to play around with the PokeTab. She pulled up an internet page (where she was getting service out here was beyond even Arceus) and looked at the tourism guide to Alola and various Alolan cities. She found Hou'omaka Town and decided to take a gander at things she could do without a Contest Hall.
Hou'omaka Town seemed to offer a variety of services. There was a Pokemon Center for weary travelers, and also various restaurants for those who would reject the blessing of free food. A town square littered with practice battlefields near a big fountain was also present. The page boasted that the small town had a nice shopping complex, something that got Cindy's blue eyes to sparkle to life. Anything about shopping was up her ally. Ignoring her love of buying things, Hou'omaka Town seemed like not only a small town that one would forget, but rather one that would make some great memories.
"I was thinking that we could spend a day or so in Hou'omaka Town. Then, it seems that we'll be passing though Iki Town, which is just a hop and skip away from Hau'oli." She closed the internet browser and slipped the tablet device bag into her fruit-themed bag laying next to her sore feet. "It seems that Hou'omaka has some fun things to do, like shopping!"
Allen gave a small laugh. "It seems that you like shopping. When we get to Hou'omaka Town, I'm heading straight towards the Pokemon Center to sign up for the Alola League!"
Cindy turned her attention to her friend and quirked an eyebrow. "Alola League?"
"Yep! It's actually kinda different than what we had three years ago... three years ago, that was when Alola first introduced Pokemon Contest from the Sinnoh region. Before that, there was no League."
"But..." She was failing to connect the dots. "How did Pokemon Contest affect its opposite, the Pokemon League?"
Allen nudged his glasses before going on. "It all had to do with Alola's previous system, Island Trials. Now, Trainers who went on the Island Trial challenge were granted access to other islands in Alola by beating what's known as the Island Kahuna. When we introduced contest, the League officials stated that Coordinators weren't skilled enough to beat Island Kahunas, given that they didn't even do Island Trials. So, with that in mind, Alola adopted a League system while still retaining some of what made Alola's Island Trials unique."
Cindy shrugged, Litten hopping off of her shoulder and on her lap. "Then what's the system?"
"The system now... we still have what we call Trial Captains, but unlike years ago, we only battle the Captains now. There are eight Trial Captains, like other regions have eight Gym Leaders. Here in Alola, we collect these little mementos called Charm Pieces like other regions would collect Gym Badges. We get a Piece each time we win a battle against a Trial Captain. But we also need to collect the four Charm Pieces given by the Kahunas of the islands." Allen stopped to take a huge breath. "Anyway... in order to be applicable to enter the Alola League Conference, one needs to have a wooden pendant called a Charm filled out. Eight Pieces have to be set into one side, four on the other." He smiled at his friend. "It's my goal to get that Charm filled out and become Alola Champion!"
The girl stood up and dusted her red shirt off. "Well, since we both have some kind of goal in Hou'omaka Town, should we get started again?"
Allen nodded and hauled himself to his feet. "Yeah, we should get going again. I gotta sign up for the Alola League-"
"And why bother? You're just wasting your time," a different voice interrupted.
The two teens turned to face the person who had spoken. Behind them was a boy, no older that them. His deep purple eyes were narrowed towards them, more specifically Allen. Even a barrage of light black hair making home in front of his face did not stop his quest to stare Allen down.
"I said," the boy reiterated, "you're wasting your time. Go home, Allen."
Cindy scooted a little closer to Allen. "Allen, he knows your name!"
With an equal glare, Allen didn't make an effort to turn his eyes towards Cindy. "I know. It's only natural that I would know this boy." He took a step forward. "And so we meet again, Ryan."
"Um... do you two know each other?" Cindy asked quietly.
Allen finally shifted his eyes back, but he really couldn't see Cindy as she was behind him. "We do. Pretty much everyone our ago knows us as Celestiluna City's ultimate rivals." He pounded a foot forward. "And what do you mean by 'go home'?"
The boy known as Ryan never ceased his glaring either. "I mean what I said. You're not going to sign up for the Alola League. When you ask to sign up, they'll take one look at your nerdy face and laugh. I've told you again and again. Don't dream so high that they're impossible to reach. Now, for me, I can reach the dream of simply signing up. You, however, can't."
"Excuse me?!"
Ryan laughed and took a Pokeball off of his belt. "Then prove it. Battle me. I doubt you're gonna win, but just try and see if you even have the skills to sign up for the League." He shifted the capsule device between his hands and drew his hand back. "C'mon, Al-loser."
Allen's hands shook with rage as he took his own Pokeball off of his belt and nudged his glasses. "You don't know what you're getting yourself into, let alone talking about. I'm signing up for that League."
Before Ryan threw his Pokeball out, he grabbed Cindy's shoulders and situated her between the two on the sidelines. He walked back and shook his head to get some hair out of his face. "This is gonna be one-on-one. First Pokemon to concede defeat wins."
"And that's gonna be your Pokemon!" Allen threw his Pokeball into the open air. "Rockruff, come on out!"
Ryan smirked and threw his Pokeball out as well. "Let's go, Axew!"
It seemed the two Pokeballs met in the middle of the field with a clash before they popped open. On one side, a Rock Type Pokemon. On the other, a small green Pokemon that seemed dangerous yet somewhat adorable.
"Who's that Pokemon?" Cindy asked herself as she took her PokeDex out and pointed it to the foreign Pokemon.
Axew, the Tusk Pokemon. Axew has strong tusks that provide a variety of uses, like marking territory and crushing hard Berries. The tusks can break, but they always grow back. The new tusks are said to be stronger than the lost tusk.
Allen nudged his glasses and cocked his head to one side. "Where'd you get that Pokemon?"
Ryan crossed his arms. "I'm from Unova, so it's only natural that my family would take a pet Axew with us. Years later, I get permission to take Axew with me." He uncrossed his arms and pointed outwards. "No holdups! Use a Scratch attack!"
Axew, like its Trainer, stared Rockruff down and started a wild charge. Its short claws extended and glowed a blinding white color. It jumped up and prepared the slash to Rockruff.
On the other side of the field, Allen found himself jittering around and shaking. He felt a bead of sweat run down his face as he shouted, "um... Sand Attack!"
Rockruff prepared to kick up a cloud of dust in front of it, but the command was given too late. Axew managed to get a firm attack in. Rockruff went flying backwards, almost flying back into its Trainer.
"C'mon, Allen! You can beat Ryan!" Cindy cheered from the sidelines.
Allen looked back at Ryan, then at his Pokemon. He nervously pointed outwards. "O-okay... Rockruff, use Tackle!"
What one would expect to happen would be Rockruff charging at Axew and attacking. However, none of that happened as Rockruff simply lied down.
"W-what?! Rockruff, get up, we don't have time to relax-"
"Dragon Rage, Axew!"
On the other side of the field, Axew open its mouth and started gathering some blue-colored energy. Who knew what that energy would be used for later and how powerful of an attack it would make.
Allen knelled down near Rockruff and started shaking his Pokemon around. "Get up, get up, get up! C'mon, we're in the middle of a battle!" He continued to try and get Rockruff to stand up, but the Puppy Pokemon simply refused to get up.
While the frantic shaking and requests to stand up continued, a snap from the other side of the field was heard. Both Allen and Rockruff looked to the Tusk Pokemon firing a beam of blue energy straight towards them both. In a split second, Allen grabbed Rockruff and managed to get out of the way, sliding near Cindy's feet.
Cindy noted Allen at her feet, then glared at Ryan. "Hey! You almost hurt my friend! That should disqualify you from the battle!"
"It's not my fault he's such a horrible Trainer he can't get his Pokemon to obey him," Ryan rudely commented.
Allen stood up and placed Rockruff back on the field, then fisted his hands. "Please, Rockruff, just listen to me! Use Bite!"
Finally, Rockruff listened, but it rolled its eyes as it took a leisurely stroll towards Axew and put the Tusk Pokemon's arm in its mouth with no effort whatsoever. Hardly a Bite attack if you would ask anyone.
"Um... are you even trying?" Ryan snapped his fingers together. "Use Dragon Rage, get this terrible battle over with."
With Rockruff's effortless attack still in effect, Axew opened its mouth again and fired another powerful beam of Dragon Type energy. Because of how close the two Pokemon were, Rockruff went flying into a tree on the way far side of the makeshift battlefield. When Rockruff fell from the tree, it was still glaring at Axew as it stood up and started its own charge towards the opposing Pokemon.
Allen gasped. "Rockruff, wait until I give a command! I'm your Trainer, you should be listening to me!"
Ryan surpressed a laugh either mocking the display of Pokemon or mocking Allen. "Really? This is gonna be your star Pokemon that'll become Champion of Alola alongside your lofty dream image of yourself?" He smirked. "That's so funny. Axew, just use an Assurance attack."
As Rockruff continued its anger filled charge, Axew prepared when it was practically face-to-face. It moved its hand back and watched as the out of control Puppy Pokemon pounded its paws to get closer and closer.
"Now use Leer and fire that Assurance attack!"
Before Rockruff could make contact, Axew glared at Rockruff with red glowing eyes. The Puppy Pokemon stopped dead in its tracks and whined quietly due to the intimidating look on its opposition's face. When Rockruff was perfectly still, Axew thrust its hand forward and off went Rockruff like a rocket. It flew back into the tree it had flown into minutes ago, perhaps a stray Berry falling. However, unlike last time, Rockruff didn't get up as quickly.
Allen seethed a breath in through gritted teeth. "C'mon, you can keep going!"
Despite Allen's feeble attempts to get Rockruff to stay standing, nothing worked. The Puppy Pokemon fell to its side and didn't get back up.
Cindy sighed and pointed to Axew. "Rockruff is unable to battle, so Axew is the winner. Which means that the winner of this one-on-one Pokemon battle is... Ryan."
Ryan smirked and withdrew his Pokemon back into its Pokeball. Shortly after, he approached Allen and glared. "And look who won." He laughed for a short while. "You know where Celestiluna City is. Just go back and cry to your Mommy."
"Stop that!" Cindy demanded, "you're being unnecessarily rude towards my friend! At least apologize!"
Ryan shifted the glare to Cindy, but them looked at Allen. "Hey, Al-loser. Sorry that you're such a failure Pokemon Trainer. See ya never in the Alola League Conference," he crudely said as he walked off past them.
Cindy turned to Allen, who was looking down. "Hey, don't listen to him. He's just trying to get a reaction outta you." She offered a smile. "If you ask me, I think that if you can get Rockruff to obey you, you'd become Alola Champion in a heartbeat."
Finally, Allen looked up and nudged his glasses a bit. "Really? Because I don't really think so..."
"Of course." Cindy grabbed his wrist and started walking on the path again. "Beside, this battle's now in the past. All you can do is learn from it and get better, and when you get your Pokemon's trust, you'll be great."
Allen caught Cindy's contagious smile and gave it back to her. "Thanks. You know what to say when I need it."
The two made sure to grab their bags and Cindy to make sure she hadn't lost Litten. After they were ready, they started walking on the faded dirt path again. The sun was still high in the sky, so they had plenty of time to make it to Hou'omaka Town, either to shop, play, or try and fulfill a quest to get a Pokemon to trust him, Allen's next big step on the path to becoming Alola Champion.
In only a day of traveling, many surprising things have happened! Allen's childhood rival, Ryan, showed up and challenged Allen to a battle. However, due to Ryan's strong bond with his Pokemon and Rockruff's disobedience, Ryan swept the battle quickly and claimed a victory! Although Allen felt a little down on himself after the rude comments exchanged by his rival, the quest to Hou'omaka Town still remains strong. There, Allen hopes to make some sort of amends with Rockruff so the quest to becoming Alola Champion is easier. And with a battle to learn from, more exciting battles await Allen in the future as the journey continues!
A/N: Hello! After days of debating what Ryan's perfect Pokemon would be, here's the next chapter! Not much to say here, but reviews are greatly encouraged! With that, I sure hope everyone is having fun playing Pokemon Sun and Moon and that you stayed tuned for more!
