Chapter 9
I'm so sorry for not updating for so long! I haven't been in a mood to write at all and I don't like it! x.x
It's a short chapter but I hope you'll like it!
Reviews:
Sai Og Sus - Lol. Roxanne just want everyone to have a perfect accent XD And I never had my phone broke before so don't really know how that feel but... lucky me?
Sparro McGraw - I'm glad you like the last chapter but I'm iffy about this one. I hope you do enjoy this chapter though.
tagiru akashi - Thanks and I'll update whenever I can!
Ky. raven - Thank you~ And I support Ruby and Sapphire so there's going to be that in here XD
Ryuuben - Yeah I know... I didn't mean to make them so idiotic but hey, those are just a few grunts and whatnot, I'll make it better next time - I hope.
sapphire53 - Thanks! I will try my best to make the future chapters enjoyable as well!
Shidake - Yep, Aron just want to fight already... or does he want to be caught?
Drag0nshr1ne - I'm glad you think so so far but I feel like I'm losing my touch... I hope you won't be too disappointed with this chapter.
May845 - Hohoho, you'll see what happens to them the next chapter. And thank you, I appreciate the encouragement!
Thank you all for review and hope to see more in the future! Now, onto the chapter!
Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon.
The interior of Granite Cave was filled with rich minerals of all kinds but that was not what it was famous for. Passing the millions of colorful crystal minerals laid the true beauty of the cave - or should we say carved? On the either side of walls, deeper into the tunnels, were carved with art created by the ancients. Each one different from the other, each one depicting one separate story. Some depicted of a chain of Beldum while others of the symbols of Rock, Steel, and Ice. But all of the carvings led up to a large carving that took up the entire front wall of the deeper part of the cave.
It was of two different monsters facing each other off, one side was oversaw by the sun, with the monster breathing out what seemed to be fire while volcanoes bellowed in response.
On the other side, thin carved lines raced down on the fish-like titian, depicting of a heavy rainstorm. Water followed the flow of the fish-like as it was shown to be in an airborne position, slightly above the monster on land.
In the middle, right above the two titans, flew a large chunk of what appeared to be a rock in an arc as if overseeing the battle as it passes through.
A man with short silvery-blue hair stood in front of the mural, in deep thought as he gazed at the ancient carvings. This was the stone collector, Steven Stone, as well as the Champion of the Hoenn Region. He stood still, his hand went up to rub his chin as the other rested on his waist.
"... The two monsters that my ancestors witnessed will battle again with new found danger and they wrote down our legacy for when the day will come." finished a mysterious tone from on top of a boulder nearby.
"I'm still wrapping around the concept of how they were able to foresee so far in." Steven mused. "It seemed..."
"Impossible?" The figure finished and hopped off of the rock, her worn out cloak floating behind he and a Whismur clinging on her shoulder. Underneath her cloak, she wore a black and white horizontally striped shirt and blue pants. She landed gracefully on the ground and swiped off her blue bandanna as she approached Steven. Her roughly cut hair was finally loose from its confinement and fell to all over her scalp and face.
"It may seem so to outsiders, but to my people..." The girl trailed, stopping by his side and looked at the ceiling high mural. "It is how we regulate peace and protect our home."
Steven frowned, facing the ruby - eyed young woman. "We have much to learn from this new discovery and of what we're going to do."
He then walked forward, to where there was a small scripture at the bottom of the wall. He traced his finger through the foreign words and furrowed his brows. "Do you know how to read these, Zinnia?"
Said girl shook her head sadly and approached the mural as well, placing a hand of the wall and closed her eyes. "They were in the forgotten codes of our language, only those who are gifted are able to decipher it. I was - no, we - were only informed of our roles as protectors, I have not found anyone with the same gift as the ancients."
"I see..." Steven mused. "We will have to keep working on it. But how are things on your side?"
Zinnia sighed again in disappointment. "No luck, they haven't disclose their next motives yet so I don't know what they're going to hit next."
Steven huffed with a wary smile. "We'll just have to hope that we would be able to solve this puzzle before the day comes. You must be tiring yourself out doing three things at a time. You should rest sometime soon before you exhaust yourself."
The young woman gave Steven a dull gaze and turned her head to the other murals. "I was tasked to fulfill the legacy of my people and I won't rest until I do. You should know that by now, seeing that I revealed my people's duty to you after asking for your help two years ago."
Steven held her gaze for a minute before turning to the pokeball he took out. "I know, and you gave me him in return."
"... He chose you when you stumble onto their grounds," Zinna replied. "I can't change the path that they want to go on, even if it was to leave their distant home. Just like the other one."
Zinnia stared off into space for a moment before speaking again. "Steven, have you and your group found anything?"
"A few stones," The man replied. "but they were the ones we have already. We have not located the other thing either."
"Hm..." She mused and then took out something from her cloak - a red and a blue bracelet to be exact. "Take these and give them according to your judgement."
"Aren't these..."
"Key Stones," Zinnia confirmed. "I have seen and now trust your judgement of others. You will be the one to chose who will qualify for the Trial of the Ancients."
The silver haired man nodded and took the bracelets before looking around the part of the cave they were in. "I wonder how this will all turn out..."
They suddenly heard a scream, followed by a distant vibration and the sound of something crubmle. Zinnia and Steven exchanged looks before racing off to the source with Steven calling on a white Metagross and Zinnia moving at an abnormal speed.
"Tch," Brendan lean back as a large jaw aimed for his head. He took a few steps back as more Mawile appears in the cave. How exactly did he get into this again? Oh yeah, that one hiker roped him in to helping him find some gemstones that was supposed to be in here but he disappeared halfway through!
He hated those kind of people that force him into doing something he doesn't want to do.
Not only was he lost, but his clothes were getting dirty from the very earthy surroundings - especially his white hat. It's going to take forever to clean that thoroughly!
And then he just had to run across a bad-tempered Mawile that snapped at him when she saw him on the path. He would have thought of the Deceiver Pokemon as in the mid range of the cute category... if he hadn't saw the horrendous mouth that he thought was the Pokemon's hair at first.
He really didn't want to do this but they seem to leave him no choice. He un-clip a pokeball from his belt and threw it up.
"Nana, Take Down! Coco, Double Slap!"
The Poochyena bounce towards the Mawile head first while Brendan's Skitty used her tail to slap the enemy multiple times. But however many that they take down, more of them appear. Brendan and his team was outnumbered even if he used all of his Pokemon. Why are they attacking him anyways? It's not like he did anything to upset them by.
He was distracted by the Mawile in font of him that he didn't realize that there are others behind him, readying a jump of attack. Brendan suddenly got pushed to the ground with a weight on top of him - and he was mentally shouting out a long chain of curses that would shame a sailor. Whatever or whoever that was on top of him was going to get it for ruining his clothes.
"Aster, Uproar!"
The weight on Brendan lifted itself from him and he was able to get up and process what was going on. There was a woman wearing a cloak that looked like a dirty old rag.
In mere seconds, the room was filled with a shrill screech that threatened to make his ears burst. He grimaced at the horrible sound and covers his eardrums in an attempt to drown it out, but it didn't. He also saw the woman giving a roundhouse kick to one of that Mawile that dared to attack her, prompting Brendan to be reminded of Sapphire.
He then suddenly felt himself being lifted up from the ground and placed on something white. He realized that he was on a white colored Metagross, which he found strange but beautiful. He could only assume that this Pokemon was a shiny from the color.
"Metagross, Psychic!" The man that have placed Brendan on top of the Metagross commanded. The Iron Leg Pokemon's red eyes glowed blue, outlining some of the Mawile's body and lifting them up into the air.
The ruby eyed trainer looked elsewhere to find a Mawile behind them with its hair like jaw wide open, ready to chomp down on whatever it sinks its teeth into.
"Coco, Assist!" Brendan commanded. His Skitty jumped up on the Metagross and blast the Mawile with a dose of water, courtesy of the Mudkip that he has.
Steven noted that this boy has a fast reaction time and the focus point of the Assist was aimed at one point, sending the Mawile flying further back than the usual water gun.
"This part of the cave is dangerous for the Mawile that lives here." Steven informs. "What were you thinking by wandering this deep?"
"I was mislead by a hiker and ended up getting lost." Brendan replied caustically. "And who are you? And who is that?" He pointed at Zinnia, whom to him, looked as unrefined as Sapphire.
"My name is -" Steven was cut off when Coco took interest in something that was hidden in his pocket.
"Coco!" Brendan scolded. "Don't do... that?"
He ended with a confused tone as the Skitty began to glow brightly. What was followed suit was the Poochyena that was fighting against two Mawile. Steven and Brendan watch on astonishment as the two Pokemon evolve at a simultaneously pace.
In Poochyena's and Skitty's place stood a Mightyena with a shiny fur coat and a Delcatty gracing with charm.
"Wha..."
"Interesting," Steven mused. "The Moonstone in my pocket triggered your Skitty's evolution while your Poochyena already have the experience to evolve. But to see two Pokemon evolve at the same time is..."
"... Absolutely amazing!" Brendan beamed at the new forms that his Pokemon took. He was satisfied by their new appearances for that will help them in contests. He made a frame with his hands as he locked on on his newly evolved Pokemon and imagined them on stage.
The tough intimidate look on Nana's face combined with the slim and sleek coat was giving off an air of coolness. The cute charm that Coco has in her eyes could charm any male in the vicinity just by a wink.
"Now is not the time to admire your Pokemon," Steven called, snapping the boy out of his reverie. Brendan rolled his eyes for the man sounded like any other trainer he met. But Steven was right, he needed to get out of here before his Pokemon's new forms are stained with dirt and scratches.
"Coco, Double-Edge! Nana, Roar!"
...
Brendan slide down from the shiny Metagross and clapped his hands to get rid of invisible dust. He wiped his forehead but twisted his face in disgust. Great, now he's reek in sweat... He's going to need a thorough bath once he gets back to the Pokemon Center.
"Anyways, thanks for the help uh..." He never really got the names of the two trainers that helped him.
"Steven Stone and the one next to me is Zinnia." The silver haired man introduced. Zinnia remained silent as she observed the boy, but she didn't make him uncomfortable. Brendan was too distracted by the way she looked to be uncomfortable under her gaze.
Her hair wasn't even cut evenly, seeing that it's jagged in several places and tied roughly in a small ponytail at the back. The clothes that she wear didn't match her and that... rag that draped over her body needs to be replaced or cleaned thoroughly. He has a feeling that the woman hasn't wash that thing for quiet a while now and the smell is bothering him.
"Riiight... Name's Brendan and how long has it been since you took a bath?" He asked bluntly of Zinnia. Steven stared at the boy blankly while Zinnia's eye twitched in agitation.
"... What?" She said slowly. Steven coughed as he tried to stifle a snicker.
"And you look as wild as a girl I met when you battle." Brendan added. "As much as I can see, you're both barbarians! Are you two related?"
Zinnia was becoming less and less fond of the ruby-eyed boy by the second and had to resist the urge to punch him the the guts, lest she wanted to knock him out for a few days - that does sound tempting though. Brendan seemed to be too oblivious to the dark aura that he had caused and looked at the setting sun instead.
"Err... I'll be going now since it's getting dark." He said before sprinting out of sight.
"... That insolent boy." Zinnia spat, causing Steven to chuckle nervously.
"He's... unique." He then looked to be deep in thought until Zinnia snapped him out, knowing exactly what he was thinking.
"I don't like him." She merely pointed out of her disapproval.
"I can tell..." Steven sighed, running a hand through his hair. "But he has potential, though he's too young to be involved in this."
Zinnia turns to the shore and release one of the Pokemon she has. "As I have said before, I will leave the choice up to you. It does not matter to me if the ones you chose are of young age - that boy might be an exception. As long as they succeed, there is hope."
She pulled on her hood and hopped onto her Salamence, telling him to fly. A ring came from her back pocket and she took out an ear bud communicator.
"Astral reporting, what do you need Miss Courtney?" Zinnia spoke professionally and without fail. She nodded at whatever command the other end was giving her. "Yes m'am, I'll head over right away."
She turned off the communicator and put it away before she could crush it in anger. She must maintain her emotions in front of her enemies so that they wouldn't suspect her. But she couldn't forget what happened in the past.
The ravenette looked at the back of her hand as bitterness overcame her.
"I won't let them have their way again." Zinnia muttered, holding the Whismur tightly, but gently in her arms as Salamence took flight. "I won't let my people down. I won't let his sacrifice be in vain."
I feel like I rushed this one for a bit but it's mostly explanations and such... not much going on. I'll try to write better chapters later on!
I don't think I'll be updating this story as much, seeing that I need to take priority over some of the old ones that I haven't yet to finish so please bear with me!
