Author's Note: For the Drake Smith cameo I made last chapter, I did not pay attention to the Drake Smith timeline. It was just a friendly cameo mentioning. Without further ado, here is chapter 9.
[Outside of Pewter City Gym-4:05 PM]
With the winter seasons coming in and the year coming to a close, the sun set to rest early in the afternoon. Now, the sun was fading across the horizon painted by rugged mountains, leaving an orange aura in the sky. There was Alaina, lying in the grass and remembering every move she made in the battle and wondering where her rock-hard strategy failed.
Aadon slowly approached Alaina, feeling a slight pang of guilt for whatever reason. It was just there, like Smokescreen in his chest.
"You okay, Alaina?" Aadon asked, sitting next to Alaina.
"Never been better," Alaina tried to utter with optimism, though Aadon could hear the cracks in her frail voice.
"No, you're not," Aadon deduced. Slowly, as more of his fears washed away, his calm and intelligent demeanor was seeping through the chords of his voice. The gym battle had certainly leveled his confidence which he had long before lost along with his father. But that fear clung onto his heart-he would have to face Cloak one day.
"So now you think you're a philosopher and wise Pokemon master just because you beat me in a battle?" Alaina questioned while looking up. Her cheeks were reddish and wet with tears.
"No, but I know when somebody is sad for a reason," Aadon sighed. "What's the story behind your power-hungry attitude?"
"What's the story behind the lame bucket hat?" Alaina spat.
Aadon took a deep breath and let out a deep sigh, removing the hat and letting his scruffy black hair be touched by the rays of the orange aura. "This hat is the last thing I have to remember my father by."
"I'm sorry," Alaina said dejectedly.
"No-not dead-but-" Aadon stopped.
"But what?" Alaina asked, now looking into his guilt-ridden eyes.
"He was kidnapped by Cloak around a week ago," Aadon forced out. "I've been on a endless goose chase fighting an enemy I don't even think I can handle."
Alaina stood up, wiping the tears off of her face. "If you can take down somebody who's been putting work into training for more than 5 years with just a week's worth of training, who's to say you can't take down those petty thieves?"
Aadon forced a smile. "I-I don't know, Alaina, but that's my problem, and you have to promise me the same thing your dad has."
Alaina looked at him with wide eyes. "What?"
"Do not tell Professor Oak, Gary, and Birch about my whereabouts. He's my father and I don't want anyone else to get hurt for my expenses."
"You-you're really serious about this, aren't you, bucket boy?"
The two glared into each other's eyes in silence, until Aadon broke the silence. "What's your story?"
"What?"
"Your story."
"I haven't seen my mom ever since my parents divorced when I was 5. I guess-I didn't-I love her, okay-I can't discuss this."
"Why not?" Aadon asked. "It's not like she's abandoned you."
"Shut up, bucket boy!" Alaina's voice became fragile once more, and she broke into tears once more, running back inside the gym.
"Alaina, I-" suddenly, a rugged hand was waving near Aadon's face.
"Cut the nice guy act," Warner chastised. "Remember why you're on this quest in the first place and forget her as well as Brock."
Aadon hesitantly went for nod, finishing it with confidence in Warner's words.
[Pewter City Gym-The Next Morning]
"So Aadon didn't pass this way?" Professor Oak asked Brock once more.
"No-I still can't believe he's missing," Brock lied. "One of us has to find him. I certainly don't expect the police to do anything."
"The Police force has become corrupt in the last 15 years," Oak sighed. "
"What about Squirtle?" Birch reminded Oak.
"He's in good hands," Oak reassured Birch, to which Birch agreed.
"We should probably give the news we have to his mother in Lavender Town," Gary stated.
"It'd be better if we went down there and gave the news personally," Birch said immediately, something the other two had not expected of him.
"Are you sure, Birch?" Oak asked, to which Birch nodded.
"I'll go do it myself. I have catching up to do with the Mrs," Birch said with a forced smile upon his face.
"And what about us?" Oak questioned.
"Resume your normal duties," Birch assured. "We shouldn't inform the gym leaders and the elite four of this predicament just yet. We have to gather more evidence and make more observations."
"Then it's settled. We tell only our closest acquaintances," Oak stated, to which the others nodded.
[Mt Moon Path-11:03 AM]
"Beedrill!" said Aadon's Bug type.
"That's the 5th battle we've had already, Beedrill," Aadon sighed. "Can we give it a rest?"
"Drill!" Beedrill whined, pumping it's pincers in the air.
"I think you've got a Pokemon that is the complete opposite of your personality there," Warner smirked. "Normally, opposites attract, but you're a pretty odd city boy as it is."
"Will you stop calling me city boy?" Aadon groaned. "I'm not that spoiled."
"Don't look now, but you've got another challenger coming," Warner grinned, pointing to a red-haired boy in a grey t shirt and dark jeans running towards the group. Next to him was a Pokemon following sluggishly. It had glowing red skin, two eyes, spores on its back, and moderately-sharp pincers.
"Paras!" Paras panted.
"Come on, Paras!"
Aadon had been fighting for at least an hour, in short battles that didn't seem to impress Warner the least bit. However, Beedrill was still itching for more.
"Err, I think your Paras-"
"That's a mighty fine Beedrill you got there!" the boy said, now standing beside Aadon and Warner. "Give it some of my Pokemon food, I will here.."
"Well, I don't-"
"Oh, nonsense!" the boy took out food from the large grey backpack he was carrying. The bites he poured into a napkin looked like chocolate coated malties, but Aadon knew his mouth would not tell him the same thing. "My Paras doesn't seem to like the food, so I'll see if your Beedrill does!"
"So, did you want to battle the city boy here, kid?" Warner asked, making Aadon groan. Beedrill nodded frantically, clearly in approval of the food, although Aadon could have guessed it was approval for the battle as well.
"Well, we're about a mile from itself, so why don't we get to the foot of Mt. Moon since it looks like we're both headed that way?"
"Yeah, but isn't Mt. Moon closed?" Aadon said, remembering Brock's warning of federal damage.
"We could always get a head start. They said Mt. Moon was closed, not the trail itself!" the boy said excitedly.
"I think the trail is closed off too," Aadon said weakly.
"Oh, don't worry your bollocks off, mate! We're just getting a head start on the journey."
"But Mt. Moon doesn't reopen until tomorrow at noon," Warner said slowly, hoping the boy could process the information.
"Never too early to be early, I always say!" the boy grinned.
And so, after wrapping up their respective materials, the group (including Warner) After a few moments of silence, Aadon broke the awkward moment of the silent walk. "What's your name?"
"Eric at your service, mate!" the boy replied.
"I'm Aadon, and this is my stalker-uh-friend, Warner," Aadon said purposely, making Warner cringe.
"Getting a little moody, are we?" Warner said sarcastically.
"Speak for yourself," Aadon smiled. "So what are you doing out here, Eric?"
"I've been camping out along the path before the trail for almost a week now!" Eric responded optimistically. "I collect rocks among other things from places for the sheer enjoyment of it. Of course, I'm also interning for the Cinnabar Island fossil laboratory."
"Sounds like a snore," Warner thought.
"I enjoy a little ancient history myself," Aadon insisted, although he was more of a science man.
"You don't look like your average teen. How old are you?"
"14," Aadon replied.
"Well, I'm 16," Eric stated almost proudly.
"And I'm now a babysitter," Warner deemed in his mind. "What made me return the backpack to Aadon? I wanted to steal items, not kids."
[Outside of Mt. Moon-1:53 PM]
The heat had began to waver down as the Sun fell behind the rugged rocks covering the high plateaus of Mt. Moon. They had passed the Pokemon Center and left it at least a few miles behind. The trio were leaning on boulder formations that covered the flat and rocky ground below the plateaus. The entrance to Mt. Moon, about a few hundred meters in sight, was fenced off with warnings of unstable paths.
"Man, you sure know how to make a meal," Aadon complimented, to which Eric grinned.
"Sure I do, mate! My gramps was a cruise chef!" Eric stated. "It's too bad Paras isn't eating anything though."
Aadon scratched his chin with his left hand, rummaging through his backpack and looking for something with his other hand. He took out several different kinds of berries. "I found these at Viridian Forest. Maybe Paras will like them?"
Placing the berries next to Paras, he took a step backwards. The Bug type began eating the berries happily, looking up at Aadon and then looking back down and chewing merrily.
"Paras!"
"Well, you seem to know my Paras as well as I know your Beedrill!" Eric laughed.
"That seems to be the case," Aadon agreed. "Opposites don't always attract. That's only science!"
"So-which cruise did your grandpa work on?" Warner inquired while leaning back onto the hard and rocky floor, which didn't seem to bother him. "The food had a elegant zest to it that seems familiar."
"The S.S Anne, but nevermind that, mates! How about that battle?"
"Hm?" was all Aadon could say in response to the change of subject.
"Beedrill!" said the Bug type, having finished another bowl. Clefairy and Squirtle, who were sharing a bowl of Pokemon food, nodded frantically, hoping Beedrill wouldn't eat all of their food as well.
"You're Beedrill versus my Paras-or I have a better idea!" Eric quickly spat out. "Why don't you use Paras and why don't I use Beedrill?"
"Sounds like a good change, but our Pokemon have to agree to it," Aadon said, looking at Beedrill. Beedrill nodded, looking excited at the change of plans.
"And you Paras?" Eric asked. Paras nodded slowly, walking over to Aadon.
"This might be somewhat interesting," Warner yawned, watching the sky while laying on his boulder.
"You're not even watching," Aadon sighed. "Ready to go, Paras?"
"Paras," the Pokemon nodded at Aadon, who shook the sting-like pincers of Paras without touching the tips.
"After you," Eric told Aadon.
"Uh-what moves does Paras know," Aadon said to himself quietly.
"Ahem-URG-SCRATCH," Warner coughed out.
"That's a start," Aadon mumbled. "Scratch!"
Paras began charging towards Beedrill, stingers raised and glowing white from the energy of the attack.
"Retaliate with Poison Sting!" Eric ordered. Beedrill met the attack head on, the collision pushing both Pokemon slightly back. "Now Fury Attack!"
"Dodge!" Aadon ordered frantically as Paras began pacing backwards, feinting left to right. The spore Pokemon began to waver shakily.
"Move to the right and use Leech Life!" Aadon commanded without much thought, his memory of Paras' moves slowly returning. Paras jumped onto Beedrill, biting its head and sucking.
"Hit it with Fury Attack!" Eric shouted, but Beedrill could not raised its arms and hit Paras. "Shake it off by slamming into the ground!" Beedrill flew upwards and began gliding down with its back turned to the ground. The collision with the ground forced Paras off.
"Stun Spore, Paras!" Aadon said to Eric's Pokemon. Paras rolled back upwards as Beedrill came gliding down, releasing a yellow glitter into the air.
"Dodge to the right, Beedrill!" Eric commanded. Beedrill feinted successfully to the left, avoiding the glittery mist that eventually faded away. Making a circle in the air, Beedrill began gliding downwards at a rapid velocity.
"Move out of the way, Paras!" Aadon shouted. Paras made a hasty attempt to move to the right, falling over on its right flank and falling into a small pothole.
"We have you now!" Eric shouted. "Move in faster Beedrill!" Beedrill made a turn in the air and began flying down faster from its position.
Almost as if time had slowed down, Aadon rapidly began circling through his thoughts, wandering what he could do. "There's gotta be something-I wonder-no! What do I do!" By this time, Aadon was in panic mode and speechless.
Warner himself had began to watch the battle, leaning up from his rock with his arms behind his head in a lax but slightly tense position.
Moving his eyes slowly from left to right, Aadon's scanning eyes made contact with a slightly shaken Paras. As if by intuition, the Pokemon suddenly came to its senses and moved to the right as Aadon shouted the order. "Move!"
Within a split second, Paras had just barely rolled out of the radius of Beedrill's Fury Attack, making the Bug type Pokemon slam into the ground. As the dust cleared, Beedrill laid on the floor, defeated.
Even the clouds had seemed to come to a stop as everybody stood still for a split second. Even Warner had unknowingly gotten out of his seat.
Beedrill shook it's pincers slightly, going for a rising motion. Ultimately, the Poison Bug fell back down, now defeated for sure.
"Paras!"
"Oh, gosh darn it!" Eric yelled.
"Yes!" Aadon jumped. He hadn't been this happy in so long. He had won a short but difficult battle using his wit and using a Pokemon he had never used. Aadon walked over to Paras, giving credit where it was due. "If it wasn't for you, Paras, I couldn't have won this."
"You did good, Beedrill!" Eric complimented. "If only you were my own Pokemon!"
"Guys," Warner said as he walked over to the two trainers, who had gathered next to each other with their respective Pokemon. "This is leading somewhere. I think city boy here has taken a liking to Paras while you have taken a liking to Eric. There's only one thing you two can do now."
"What's that?" Aadon asked while holding Paras.
"Trade," Warner answered, making Aadon stiff.
"That sounds like a mighty fine idea!" Eric added, getting a excited response from Beedrill.
As Aadon looked down to Paras, he got a soft nod from the shy and introvert Pokemon. "I don't know, guys. I need some time to think this through."
"Well, we are traveling through Mt. Moon together, aren't we?" Eric suggested openly, to which Aadon nodded slowly. "So take some time. I still think-"
"TRESPASSERS!"
The trio turned around to find Police officers moving towards them.
"No, you guys, we're just waiting for-AGH!" One of the five officers tackled Eric down, followed by Aadon, and then Warner fell.
"What are you guys doing? We're not on federal property!"
"You are now," the officer stated. "This whole area is off limits."
"That's not what the sign said," Warner stated roughly.
"Don't argue with the police!" one of the officers said. Aadon noticed a very similar and suspicious look on the officer's face, although the force had gotten corrupt over the last few years. The expression was similar to something he had seen before. The face looked drained of colorful emotion, pale, and dangerously smug.
"You're coming with us," another officer stated.
"And where's this place we're going to in the middle of nowhere? The Pokemon Center?"
"Right behind you," the officer said, pointing to the off-limits Mt. Moon caverns at least a quarter mile behind them.
Update [8/2/2014]: New readers, ignore this update. Old readers, know that for the chapters this update note is in, certain things have been fixed, and conversations have been changed. Thanks for reading!
