Episode 7: Lost in Moonlight!
Gem drew back her worried Pokemon and hopped down to see Cal as he stormed out.
"Did you win?" he growled at her immediately.
"Er…"
"I thought so," he muttered. He healed his Pokemon and began to head out.
"Come on, Cal you nearly won," Gem tried. "I bet you'd crush him if you challenged him tomorrow!"
"Easy for you to say!" Cal snapped. "You've never lost a battle!"
Gem stopped in her tracks; it was true, she'd never lost a Pokemon battle. Not a gym battle, not a battle against the O8, not even a battle against the trainers on the routes. Not yet. After all of her doubts, she'd never failed once so far?
Gem shook herself; that wasn't important now.
"Cal, that doesn't matter," Gem said. "When there are winners, there are losers, too."
"You sound like Cynthia."
"I thought you liked her!"
"Exactly!" Cal shouted, spinning around. "Gem, you're just like her. Don't you get it? You're going to be Champion, you're more powerful than me, even the freaking Organization of Eight knows it! Everything just comes easy to you, doesn't it, you've never lost."
"Nothing comes easy!" Gem shouted, shaking and shocked at her own words. "I have been doubting myself every step of the way! My parents have pressured me since I was born to win the Flower Tournament! I would have never made it this far without you! I've always been awed by you! You're always confident, you never doubt, how do you do it?!"
Both of them stopped, breathing hard.
Cal shook his head and looked down.
"I'm sorry, Gem," he said. Gem sighed; he'd calmed done, he'd gone back to his regular self.
"It's fine," Gem said, letting the tension out of her body. "Everybody gets mad and hurts other people. I'll live." He still looked down. Gem leaned forward and grabbed his chin, pulling it up so he looked at her.
"It's alright," Gem said. "We're a team now, don't you think? When we're strong, we're strong together."
Something passed between them, like electricity.
Gem let go of Cal's chin, feeling awkward.
"Um…" she said. "Do you want me to help you train for tomorrow?"
"Yeah," said Cal, with an almost too easy shrug.
Gem and Cal trained relentlessly. She put her Roselia against his Grovyle, then her Trapinch against his Onix, then her Marshtomp against his Dewgong. They went back and forth from battling to healing and taking breaks at the Pokemon Center. When the two Kirlia refused to fight (as same as before), Gem had Cal order her Kirlia so they could work together, while they fought Gem's Magnimite and Cal's Rufflet (whom Gem commanded).
Magnemite evolved into Magneton, but Gem still didn't tell Cal about the Shiny Stone. Just to be safe in case he was still mad; she didn't need to evolve her Roselia yet.
While training in the forest, Cal came across a Litwick. He quickly caught it and trained with it. It was a rather shy Pokemon, and whenever Gem or Cal told it that it was doing well, it always blushed.
This was Cal's sixth Pokemon. This could be his full team, if he kept it.
Cal practically jumped on Gem's bed to wake her up at the crack of dawn. He then pressured her to finish her breakfast, and pretty much dragged her to the gym. Gem had never seen him so excited.
The gym was actually closed when they got there. Cal paced outside for a few minutes, getting him a strange look from the gym leader when he finally arrived.
The battle began; the gym leader sent out Trevenant first, so Cal sent out his Rufflet.
"Peck!" Cal demanded.
"Astonish!"
The two Pokemon darted at each other, trying to get close. Just a foot away from each other, Cal shouted "Wing Attack!" Rufflet stopped and flapped its wings. Trevenant stopped, digging its root feet into the ground to hold still from the wind, struggling in the super-effective attack.
"Sucker Punch!" Trevenant drew back its leafy fist to punch.
"Aerial Ace!" Rufflet's wings glowed and it dived at Trevenant. The wings and the fist collided, frozen in a moment, power struggling. There was a massive explosion and both Pokemon were blown back. Trevenant took a nasty collide with a wall and cried out.
"Use Peck!" Before Trevenant could get up, Rufflet charged and stabbed with its sword-like beak. The super-effective move was enough to finish it off.
The battle got even better from there. Onix did great against the Haunter, Grovyle destroyed the Sableye, Litwick got Honedge on its last legs, but Dewgong finished it off. Dusknull got a lucky shot on Dewgong, but Kirlia defeated it easily. Cal withdrew every one of his Pokemon after they won; he wanted them all to be a part of the battle.
The gym leader went straight up to Cal the moment the battle was over.
"I have never been more impressed," he said. "I've met stronger trainers, yes, but I've never met anyone who improved so much. Not just in strength, but in attitude and bond with their Pokemon."
"Thank you," Cal said, bowing a little. "That means a lot."
"I'll give you the best I can think of," the gym leader said. "Here is a Dawn Stone for your Kirlia, and a Metal Coat for your Onix."
Gem gasped in the stands and Cal looked shocked. Both these items would evolve his Pokemon.
"I can't accept these," Cal said.
"Please," the gym leader said. "I can't stop myself from giving them to you. I insist."
"Thank…thank you so much."
Gem waited for him, and she was so proud and overwhelmed she hugged him.
"I can't believe it!" Gem said, drawing away. "You did so well! And he gave you two stones!"
"He gave you one, too?"
"Yeah," Gem said, a little worried Cal might be mad at her for keeping it from him. "A Shiny Stone for my Roselia."
"Good, I was going to ask him for a Shiny Stone," Cal said. He healed his Pokemon. "Maybe traded one of mine for it."
"Oh, please, don't even consider that," Gem said. She was glad Cal didn't mention the evolution race. To be honest, she'd lost count. "Come on; let's go evolve our Pokemon to celebrate your victory!"
Outside, they released all their Pokemon. Onix went first, evolving in a beam of light. His rough rocky skin become bright and smoother; he became Steelix.
Gem and Cal petted Steelix's huge head as he hummed happily. Gem took out the Shiny Stone.
"Ready, Roselia?" Gem asked. She held out the stone. Roselia reached out one of her rose hands and touched the stone. She spun away, twirling in the light, and exploded in sparkles.
"Roserade!" she said elegantly. She lifted her new hands, bouquets of roses, tossed back her white head, and held herself like a ballerina.
"Grovyle's rubbed off on you," Gem observed. She remembered little Budew looking up at Grovyle; now, she was around his size. Grovyle seemed to realize this, but for once, he was kind about it. He smiled and playfully punched Roserade's shoulder.
Then he looked down on the other Pokemon as if to say "Grass-types rule."
Steelix growled in disagreement.
"Stop it, guys," Gem said, smiling. She looked over at the two Kirlia, holding hands. Cal's Kirlia stepped up proudly, still keeping a hand on Gem's Kirlia.
"Ready?" Cal asked, holding out the Dawn Stone. Kirlia lightly touched the Dawn Stone.
And both Kirlia began to glow. They grew, sparking and glowing brighter and brighter. The light faded, and Gardevoir and Gallade stood hand in hand. They beamed at each other and Gardevoir leaned in and gave Gallade a small kiss on the cheek.
"Why did they…both evolve?" Cal asked, confused.
"I don't know," Gem said softly, but she had a few ideas.
With their newly evolved Pokemon, Gem and Cal decided to go to Chrysanthemum Town (or, for short, Mum Town). It was where the Legendary Pokemon Research Labs were, a place that studied Legendary Pokemon.
Unfortunately, they'd miscalculated how far it was, and how late it had been when they'd left. Cal's battle had been so intense it had felt like minutes, when in fact it had been over an hour.
Even though it was dark now, Gem and Cal were so full of energy that they couldn't stop walking. The moon was full and bright, so it wasn't quite dangerous. So they just kept going.
Gem was cheerful, watching the nighttime Pokemon hide in the shadows and the moonlight reflex through the forest.
Cal stopped her. Gem paused and looked ahead; there was a wild Tropius standing on the path. The huge Pokemon was stretching its long neck to eat leaves from the trees.
"You want it?" asked Cal. Gem shrugged.
"I already have a grass-type Pokemon," she said. "So do you. I guess we'll catch it for the Pokedex, then."
All of the suddenly, the Tropius snapped off a branch, trying to pick off a leaf. The loud snap disturbed many Pokemon, including a Mankey that sprung out of the tree and used Scratch on the Tropius's face. The Tropius stumbled, alarmed, and beat its massive leafy wings all over the place.
Gem and Cal were blown away by the sheer power, off deep into the forest.
Gem hit against something and groaned, falling to the ground. She pushed herself up and looked around. She didn't see the path anywhere in sight.
"Cal?" she called.
"Here," he said. He came over and helped her up.
"Where are we?" Gem asked. She'd been so blown around, she didn't know where she'd come from.
"We were blown off the path," Cal said. "Don't worry, though; Steelix is supposed to have this magnet in its brain that works as a compass so it never loses d—"
Cal cut off and looked down at his belt.
"My Pokeballs are gone!" he said, alarmed. Gem looked down at her own belt.
"Mine are, too!" she said. She was consumed with worry; where were her Pokemon? Were they safe?
Gardevoir and Gallade pounced out of their Pokeballs. They had hit against something, but their trainers were nowhere to be seen.
Gardevoir glanced from side to side, confused. She seemed to be in a forest, much like her original home. It was nighttime, with a beautiful full moon. What a strange place to wake up.
Gallade looked around, also confused. He bounded around the edge of the trees, and Gardevoir watched him. He finally gave up and returned.
"Do you know where there are?" He asked.
"No," Gardevoir said. "I wonder what happened…do you think they're in trouble?"
"Don't worry," Gallade said. He took her hand. "I'm sure they're fine. Look, the rest of the team is not here." He waved his arm in an arc to show her. "They must be with our trainers."
"You're right," Gardevoir said, nodding and feeling reassured. She smiled and tilted her head at Gallade. "But what do we do?"
Gallade looked around again. There were many wild Pokemon here, wandering through the night. There was no sign of civilization or their trainers.
"I suppose we just try to find them," he said. "Ready?"
He held out his arm to her and Gardevoir took it. Locked together, they strolled through the moonlit forest.
"I think the sun set over there," Cal said. "So we should head this way."
"I don't think so," Gem said. "I thought it set over there." Cal stood thoughtfully for a moment. Gem felt jittery. She was worried for her Pokemon and slightly panicking that she was lost.
"Well, we just need to find some kind of landmark," he said. "Something we'll recognize."
"OK," Gem said. "But we're travelers. Everything's new."
"Right," he said. "Then, um…"
"We find our Pokemon?" Gem suggested. "I mean, we need to find them anyway. And if we find your Steelix, he can lead us." Steelix could tell the direction.
"Right," Cal said. "We should split up." Gem frowned.
"Don't take this the wrong way, but I'd rather be lost with you than be lost alone," Gem said.
"What's that supposed to mean?!"
"I said don't take it wrong way!"
"Well, you sure made it sound the wrong way!"
"What's that supposed to mean!?"
"Forget it!"
"You forget it!"
"Fine!"
"Fine!"
There was a pause.
"OK, so if we split up," Cal said, "there we'll need some sort of signal to find each other. How about WHOOOOOOOOOOOOO?"
"That sounds like a dying Wailord," Gem said dryly.
"Well, there aren't any Wailord around here," Cal said stubbornly.
"Why not we just say "HELLO" really loud, or, better yet, not split up?" Gem said.
"Alright, fine!" Cal said. "We'll go together! Let's just find our Pokemon."
"Fine!"
"Fine!"
Gardevoir was in awe of this beautiful night. Jumpluff slept together in fluffy piles, Skiploom glided overhead, and Taillow and Starly sang softly into the night. Together she and Gallade walked through the scenery.
She gasped up at the beautiful sky, full of stars and the ever-glowing Milky Way. Feeling at peace, she rested her head against Gallade's shoulder, closing her eyes for a moment.
She felt him smile, and he slowly came to a halt. She stopped with him, still with her arm wrapped around his. Gardevoir opened her eyes and looked around.
She let go of Gallade to turn in a full circle to admire her surroundings; they were in a meadow, with flowers of all kind, subtly colorful in the silver moonlight. Trees rustled in the perimeter, and Pokemon gathered to watch her and Gallade.
Lifting their best voices, the Jigglypuff began to sing. Azurill, Cottonee, Whimsicott, Florges, Spritzee, and even a Togekiss joined to make the most beautiful music.
Gardevoir was enchanted as Gallade softly took her hand. He lifted it up and met her eyes, and they spoke without words. Even those precious words they shared that their trainers could not understand. Gardevoir felt Gallade wrap an arm around her.
Together they danced, trailing along the meadow. Their feet moved so lightly that they did not crush the flowers the danced on. The music of the other Pokemon immersed them.
It was the most beautiful night.
"BEEDRILL! YOU IDIOT! THAT WAS A BEEDRILL NEST!"
"HOW WAS I SUPPOSED TO KNOW THAT?!"
"THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!"
Gem ducked as a Beedrill lunged at her with its sharp hand-stingers. She yelped as another one came from the side.
"Get AWAY, you bugs!" shouted Cal.
Gem jumped over a fallen long, grabbed a branch, and swung it at the Beedrill. Still fuming, the insects retreated to their nest. Gem and Cal said nothing, catching their breath.
Well, said a voice inside Gem's head. That was quite amusing.
Author's Notes: *Gasp* Now who could that be?
Hooray! I finally did that part! From the very beginning of this story, I've had a vision of a Gardevoir and a Gallade dancing in the moonlight while their trainers freak out elsewhere. We finally get to see how Gardevoir and Gallade interact with each other and we can actually understand them.
Cal and Gem fight quite a bit in this chapter, but they make up quickly. That's what friends do ;)