AN: Welcome back! I hope you're all enjoying the fanfiction. Just to let you know I changed one tiny fact about Chapter 6 which is Prometheus didn't learn Confusion. It works better for this. If you're reading later then never mind. Anyway, here is chapter 7!
To Pokefan87: Sorry I didn't answer your question from your review until now. Anyway, I gave her a Burmy because the Pokémon doesn't seem like an obvious choice and I like Mothim so I'm kind of biased. Hope that answers your question!
Disclaimer: I'm too tired to think of anything original…I don't own anything except Zack.
Chapter 7
Zack made hast after her double battle. She was excited. She finally had a win against Calem and Serena. Not only that, Prometheus had evolved into Mothim. He was beautiful and so much stronger than before. Azar was getting stronger. He proved himself against two evolved Pokémon. He was incredible. Zack wondered if Azar knew how proud she was of him, of both of them. She would have to tell them. Zack then looked up from her thoughts to see she had reached Ambrette Town. She figured she'd stop by and see the Fossil Research Lab and see if they knew anything or at least had any exciting news.
"I actually told two trainers about my assistant out in Glittering Cave. If you leave now I bet you can catch up with them," The main research told Zack.
"Thank you." Zack replied before taking her leave to Glittering Cave.
Route 9 was a rocky cliff side path. Not the most inviting place to go unless you liked danger. Well, Zack liked danger and there were some Pokémon there so why check it out anyway. She borrowed a Rhyhorn for the trip and it was kind. However, she did heard some people talking about a trainer who had borrowed one and rode off in total control. The trainer tamed Rhyhorn and the one taken was the meanest one. Luckily Zack's was nice and loved riders.
The sounds of Rhyhorn's feet against the ground was the only sounds Zack could hear. Well, the volume of the steps that was what Zack thought. A voice echoed through the rocks. It sounded like crying or a singing that sounded like crying.
"Ah!"
Zack clamped her hands over her ears. The sound was painful.
"Ry!" the Rhyhorn she was riding cried out also being effected by the same sound. All he knew was to get away no matter the cost. He instantly began to shake hoping it would go away, but was unsuccessful. Rhyhorn then threw Zack off his back and she landed on all the tough rocky terrain. Zack grunted as the rocks dug and buried into her backside. She then looked to see Rhyhorn running away from the area.
The sound was still there and now it was even louder. Covering her ears didn't help. Zack knew she had to find the source of the sound. She wouldn't be the only one effected. Other people and Pokémon would be effected by the sound. She needed to stop the sound before it did anymore damage.
Zack trudged forward on the path as best as she could. Her hands were covering her ears as she attempted to jump from rock to rock. This was the reason why people rode Rhyhorn out here. The route was rocky and tore up for human feet while Rhyhorn thought it was like a freshly paved road.
As she got closer to the edge Zack found herself crying at the pain the sound caused. She swore her ears were bleeding. She fell over at the side and looked down. Down about ten feet was a small yellow Pokémon. Its frills were open and green, red, and blue rings were coming out. They weren't rings. Well, they were shaped as rings, but they were sound waves. The little guy was using a move. It was a Helioptile using Round.
"STOP!" Zack shouted down to it. She knew she had to save it, but she needed to quiet the electric and normal type first.
The Round stopped. The pain subsiding. She heard sniffling and looked down to see Helioptile had stopped. Helioptile was looking up at her with tears in his eyes.
"T…t…tile?"
"It's alright," Zack said softly. She said her words in a soft tone to make sure he wouldn't be frighten and also to be sure she wasn't yelling. She could swear she had hearing loss. "I'm going to get you. Go Prometheus!"
"Thim!" Prometheus cried coming out his Poké Ball.
"I need you to fly down and get Helioptile." Zack explained and pointed down.
Prometheus looked down and nodded. Quickly he dove down. As he got closer he slowed down. He looked upon the Pokémon he was trying to save. The Helioptile was small. Almost like a baby. He was hurtled into the rock and ledge he was on shaking. Prometheus felt sorry for the little guy. He was so frightened.
"Mothim thim moth thim!" Prometheus said to the Helioptile.
"Tile!" Helioptile screamed and shook his head. He wasn't moving. He then opened his frills again and released a Thunder Shock.
Prometheus quickly flew out of the way of the attack and back up to where Zack was waiting. There was no way he was going to be able to get close to him if he was going to attack. Prometheus would be shot down no matter how little the dual type was.
"Alright then. Azar go!" Zack said calling out her other Pokémon.
"Char!" Azar shouted.
Azar looked to see Zack getting into her bag. She pulled out a rope and wondered what she could use that for. He looked over the edge and saw Helioptile. He smiled that she was going to save him, but couldn't Prometheus do that?! Zack didn't need to endanger herself. Apparently not and Zack had to at least try.
Zack tied the rope off on a solid rock and pulled on it to make sure it would hold. She placed a towel on the edge so the rope would degrade as she climbed down. Everything seemed alright.
"Alright. I need you guys to be look outs. Got it?" Zack said to her Pokémon.
"Char!"
"Thim!"
"Wish me luck." Zack said before she began to scale down the side the cliff side. "I'm coming little guy."
Helioptile looked up from his place and saw the one who he saw coming toward him. He didn't want that other Pokémon despite that he seemed alright. He wanted someone he knew he could be safe with. This trainer was safe. Safer than where he was.
"Heliop…"
"Hi there. Are you alright?" Zack asked as she now level with him.
"Tile." He nodded.
"Why don't you come with me and get you up to a more stable and larger ground?" Zack asked with a smile. She tried to make a small joke with him to help calm him, but he didn't seem to get it.
Zack slowly reached out her arms and Helioptile cautiously attempted to let go. As his little hands left the rock he immediately clamped back on afraid he would fall. He began to sniffle again as he was about to cry.
"Tile…tile…"
"No, no, no," Zack shushed, "You're fine. I'm going to grab you and I'll have a grip. There is no reason to be scared. You're a brave Pokémon and smart too. You knew someone would come investigate and find you. That's a smart Pokémon."
As Zack talked she wrapped her hands around and him. She slowly lifted him off the rocks and into her arms. She smiled as she got him. He was so cute too. Helioptile opened his eyes and didn't realized she got him until then. He started to freak out. Not that she had him, but fear they were going to fall.
From the above her Pokémon looked on. Both tensed seeing their trainer trying to calm the Pokémon. She was having very little luck in that department. Prometheus had the best view to see as he could fly while Azar had trouble. He didn't want to join them. He lifted his back end up to get a better look. His tail had another idea as it brushed against the rope. The rope started to burn just from the little contact of the flame on the tip of Azar's tail. Both Pokémon sniffed. Something was burning? They looked to see rope burning though.
"CHARMANDER!"
"MOTHIM!"
Both Pokémon cried out to their trainer as they attempted to save the rope. Good thing Zack got the heavy duty one. Zack looked up confused at what they were doing. She then saw a smoke. As Azar's claw went on the rope to quell the flame it snapped.
Zack felt nothing holding her up. Her feet slipped and she slid further down. Helioptile screamed and released another Round. Zack couldn't cover her ears as one hand was holding the cliff while the other holding Helioptile. Zack screams to get him to stop were pointless as he couldn't hear her. She had to get him to stop. She could move with him screaming.
"Helioptile!" Zack screamed.
Helioptile heard Zack and stopped. She sounded urgent and desperate. Why was he crying? She called him a brave and smart Pokémon. Brave and smart Pokémon didn't cry in times such as these. He looked up at her and saw her smile at him.
"Tile?"
"You'll be fine, I promise." Zack said. "I need you trust me. Will you trust me?"
"Tile." He nodded.
"I need you to grab a hold of me. I need both of my hands if we want back up. Alright? Can you do that?" Zack asked.
Helioptile nodded and slowly moved out from Zack's arm. He moved to her shoulder where he put his hands into the vest part of her shirt. Zack thought she really needed different clothes for this side of Kalos. She was used to Snowbelle weather, not Cyllage weather. That wasn't the time to think about it.
"Tile!"
"Good? Let's go." Zack said she began to climb up the side.
Zack kept looking up. That was all she needed to do. Keep looking up. Stay focused. She had to get to the top. For Helioptile. For Prometheus. And for Azar. They were all counting on her.
Crack.
The rock under her hand broke off and so did the one underneath her foot. She didn't have anything to keep herself up. She began to slide down the side of mountain trying to grab onto anything as a little Helioptile screamed in her ear.
"Charmander!"
"Mothim!"
Prometheus got a blue in eyes as he watch his trainer fall. It was time to show her again that he was one who backed up others. His eyes glowed blue and Zack found herself stopped in mid-air. She looked around to make sure wasn't dreaming and she was very much awake…and alive. Helioptile shared the same looked. She looked up to see Prometheus's eyes. \
"Prometheus! You're using Confusion!" Zack exclaimed excitingly.
Azar could feel his fire burning. Not the fire that fueled his life, his tail, or his attacks, but a different fire. A jealous fire. Prometheus was getting stronger and learning new moves. He saved Zack. Sure he couldn't have, but he wanted to. He wanted to swoop down in and save her. He was the starter, her best Pokémon, and she hoped her best Pokémon friend. Azar let out a low volume growl. However, it disappeared as soon as Zack's feet hit the ground.
"Char!" Azar said running to her.
Zack lifted Helioptile off her shoulder and placed him down on the rocks. He was still shaking a little, but seemed calm. At least he was safe.
"You okay bud?" Zack asked Helioptile.
"Tile!"
"That's good." Zack said before turning to her Pokémon. "What happened?"
"Charmander char…" Azar said owning up to his mistake. She would have found out either way. Whether Azar told her the truth or she saw the charred rope.
"It's alright bud, you just got to be careful with your tail. It's like a walking match that never goes out. You want to know why it doesn't go out. Because it signifies out flame. It never goes out until we do."
Azar jumped into Zack's arms and cuddled her. He knew he meant something to her, but never this much. It made him feel a little better, but he still felt inferior to Prometheus. He needed to show Zack that he could be a great battler too.
"Tile!"
The nice moment between Zack and Azar was interrupted by Helioptile who jumped into Zack's arms too. Azar gave him an offend look that said 'excuse me'. What did he think he was doing? This was his moment. Prometheus then landed on Zack's shoulder and chirped.
"Helioptile? Do you want to come with me?" Zack asked. She hoped so.
"Tile!" He cheered and smiled.
"Awesome! I got a Helioptile. I think I'll call you…Echo!"
"Tile?"
"Because you're loud and your voice tends to echo. Especially your Round." Zack explained. She wasn't joking. She was dead serious. Echo was loud and certainly left an echoing effect. The name seemed fitting enough for her.
However, Zack couldn't help but smile at Echo joining her team. He would be a nice addition. He might need some work, but they all do. She couldn't wait to see what he'd bring to the table in the battles.
A handler for Rhyhorns came by about thirty minutes later looking for her. When one of them returned without a trainer then they figured there must be a problem. Zack explained everything to the man and was relieved to hear it was just Echo and not Team Flare.
"Team Flare?"
"Yes, a group of people who want to create a "beautiful and better" world. No one really understands, but the typically don't bring their ideal."
"Oh…"
Zack figured she'd have to be careful. This might be what the Professor was talking about. When was the right time to make choices to infer or not to infer? In time she'd figure it out. Right now, instead of thinking about the future, Zack knew she needed to focus on the present before it slipped away.
AN: Here is Chapter 7! Hope you liked it and Echo! Come back for 8 when I have it up! I'm going to bed to help my cold so night! See you later and please review!
