Chapter 8: Violet Blues Part II
"Pidgeot, use Hyper Beam!"
"NO! RIVER!"
Rio's eyes snapped open as he bolted upright. His pupils were dilated as he panted. Wh-what was that? Is River really… Rio looked around, but saw that it was the crack of dawn everyone was still asleep back on Route 31 save for Zero, who was just waking up. Was it really just a nightmare? It felt so real… Rio thought as he calmed himself down.
"Ah, Rio, already awake? Good," Zero said. He took a deep breath. "Alright everyone, wake up! We're going to eat breakfast and then get in some last minute training!" he shouted.
"Ugh… what's with the wakeup call?" Zephyr groaned.
"I had a rude awakening last night, which was ironic since I wasn't asleep yet," Zero told him. "Jack called me last night and according to him, the Violet Gym Leader is a Mega Evolution user. After our last encounter with one of those, I know we need the training, even you Zephyr." At the mere mentioning of the gym leader, Rio could see the yellow lines faintly appear again.
"Speaking of training, I have something I wanted to ask…" Rio stated. "Can other Riolu jump this high?" He jumped from the ground and on top of one of the trees.
"I don't think anyone here knows a Riolu besides you, so we would be the wrong ones to ask, but the Pokédex did say you can 'crest three mountains and cross two canyons in one night'," Zero pointed out as Rio jumped down. Zero pulled out the food bowls from his backpack and filled them with Pokémon food before handing them out. He then pulled an apple out for himself. "Alright, Rio, since I want to see if your injuries had anything to do with your evolution, you'll be up against Zephyr while Leifa faces off with Equinox."
"Again, I have no idea what evolution you're talking about," Rio responded before reluctantly eating a piece of his food. "But if we really have a secret weapon, I'm game."
"Someone sure seems confident," Leifa commented.
"And it's something we could use. From the sound of it, we'll have to bring our A-game to win this badge," Zero stated.
Of course I'm scared, and I think Zero is too. Atlas got pretty banged up from the sound of that loss, and if my nightmare was anything to go by, we'll have our hands full, Rio thought.
The morning had been far from quiet as Rio trained hard by battling against Zephyr and Leifa battle against Equinox with Nova occasionally making suggestions. An explosion sounded from behind Rio as he managed to avoid a Shadow Ball. He dashed forward at high speed and jumped with Quick Attack, but Zephyr flew out of his path.
Meanwhile, Leifa jumped over Equinox as she came in with Peck. She then wrapped her vines around Equinox's wings as she landed on the Noctowl's back, but Equinox pivoted her head around and used Uproar in Leifa's face, causing her to let go and fall off. She landed in Zero's waiting arms. Rio landed on one knee from his missed Quick Attack.
"Are you even trying?" Rio asked as he stood up.
"Well I'm trying to give you a fighting chance, not kill you," Zephyr answered.
"Fair enough." Rio, Shade, and Zephyr's ears perked up as the bushes began to rustle. Out came River, who walked over to Zero.
"Good morning, River. Feeling better already?" Zero asked as he set Leifa down.
"Much better," River answered. "Actually, I came to ask you if you would let me be on your team."
"Er, time out, Zephyr," Rio told the winged Umbreon. "Zero, can I talk to you real quick?" he asked as he turned to his trainer.
"Uh… sure. What about?" Zero responded. Rio walked over and turned Zero away from River before pulling him down to his level.
"I'm not going to keep you from letting him join, but I don't think you should use him against Falkner," he whispered.
"One, who's Falkner, and two, why?" Zero asked.
"I saw him die fighting Falkner's Mega Pidgeot last night," Rio warned.
"Did you have a nightmare? Is that why you were up so early?" Zero asked skeptically. He sighed. "Fine, if it makes you feel any better, I'll just switch Pokémon when he sends it out if River's out," he conceded before standing up. He turned back to River.
"Can I join? I want to go see the world, and you've been so kind yesterday," River asked again.
"Sure, but you're going to have to help me collect eight badges so my parents will let me stay a trainer," Zero answered.
"Yes!" River said with a fist pump.
"Welcome to the team," Rio told River.
The Pokémon Center door slid open as Zero walked in, jacket draped over his shoulder and Shade right behind him. He was aware of the odd looks he and Shade were getting and chose to ignore them as he strode over to the Nurse Joy.
"I need my Pokémon restored," he told her as he pulled his Pokéballs (and a Heal Ball and Premier Ball) from his pockets and placed them on the counter.
"Alright, it will take just a few minutes," Nurse Joy responded as she smiled warmly. She took the Pokéballs before arranging them on the healing machine behind her.
"Didn't I see you at Cherrygrove the other day?" Zero asked.
"Hm? Oh, that Nurse Joy is my older sister," Joy responded.
They all look alike… Zero groaned mentally. "Oh, is there a Shinx trainer named Jack?" he asked.
"Oh, he's right in there," Nurse Joy answered, pointing to a pair of doors.
"Thanks," Zero replied as he ran over to the doors. He pushed them open as he and Shade ran through. He ran down the hall until he passed a window with Atlas and Jack behind it.
He saw Jack sitting at Atlas's bedside, and Atlas was wrapped in bandages with a few machines hooked to him. Zero opened the door and walked in with Shade behind him. Jack didn't even acknowledge Zero's presence. Zero clenched his fist as he walked over to Jack.
"I was afraid of this," Zero muttered. "Jack, show me how this happened." Silently, Jack pulled his VS Recorder out of his bag and handed to Zero. Zero turned on the VS Recorder and started the playback.
"Alright, we beat Falkner!" Jack exclaimed as a blue haired man recalled a fallen Pidgeotto.
"Don't celebrate yet, runt. I still have one more Pokémon," he stated. He threw a Pokéball, which released a large cream-colored bird with a pendant around his neck.
"What?!" Jack shouted.
"(I thought you said he only had two Pokémon,)" Atlas pointed out.
"I know I said that," Jack shot back. "Be careful, we don't know how strong they really are."
"There's no being careful about it!" Falkner said as he raised his arm, revealing a Key Stone on his wrist band. "Pidgeot, Mega Evolve!" Falkner tapped the Key Stone. Tendrils of light shot out from his Mega Wrist Band and Pidgeot's pendant.
The tendrils then collided as Pidgeot became engulfed in an orb of light that seemed to solidify. It broke away, revealing a larger body shape. "Oh great. Atlas, use Charge!" Jack ordered. The electricity already arcing around Atlas grew more intense.
"Not good enough! Pidgeot, use Twister!" Falkner ordered. Pidgeot flapped his wings, creating a twister, which sucked Atlas in and tossed him into the air. The Shinx hit the floor with a thud.
"Atlas, use Spark!" Jack ordered as Atlas got his feet. Atlas could only cringe.
"You're lucky you only have one Pokémon for me to mop the floor with! Pidgeot, use Air Cutter!" Falkner ordered. Pidgeot swooped down before flapping his wings, producing blades of wind, which bombarded Atlas at point blank. Atlas picked himself up off the ground again.
"Atlas, use Spark!" This time, Atlas was no longer cringing. He was cloaked in electricity as he rammed Pidgeot.
"Not bad, but not good either! Pidgeot, use Hyper Beam!" Falkner ordered. Pidgeot fired a beam of energy from his mouth, which created an explosion as it struck Atlas.
"Atlas!"
That look in Pidgeot's eyes. I've seen it before with the Shinx pack, Zero thought as he handed the VS Recorder back to Jack. I wasn't able to draw out Rio's true power simply through damage earlier. I wonder if it only happens around certain enemies.
"…So, how's the Buizel?" Jack asked.
"Him? He's feeling much better," Zero answered. "What about you?"
"I don't know. If Atlas gets better, I'll train him some more and catch more Pokémon before I think about taking on Falkner again," Jack responded.
"Well after my Pokémon are restored, I'm going to go take on the Gym Leader. I've got a secret weapon that nobody would see coming," Zero said.
"Whatever happens to your Pokémon, just don't say I didn't warn you," Jack told Zero.
"Oh, don't worry about me. You should be worried about Falkner now that I have almost a full team with an Ice user," Zero replied.
"Unless Falkner has a fourth Pokémon that he's hiding," Jack shot back.
"I'll worry about that later," Zero responded. "I hope Atlas gets better," he said as he turned to the door.
"Me too," Jack said after he heard the door shut behind him.
As Zero walked into the gym, he couldn't help but notice the S-shaped pattern in the floor. Zero stepped onto the S with Rio and Shade right behind him.
"Stop!" Zero turned to see the speaker was a male trainer dressed in a blue suit and wearing a leather arm guard. "I won't let you face Falkner. Go Spearow!" The trainer threw a Pokéball, which released a bird with a brown head and red wings.
"That's what you think," Zero said as he pulled a Premier Ball out of his pocket. "River, use Ice Beam!" he tossed the Premier Ball, which released River, who shot an Ice Beam from his mouth at pointblank. Spearow was shot out of the air as River landed on his feet.
"Gr… Looks like it's up to Rod to stop you," the trainer said as he recalled his fainted Spearow.
"As if he could. Unless his Pokémon are much stronger, they wouldn't even be able to stand up to River's Ice Beam," Zero pointed out as he walked away. Soon, he came across another trainer.
"Well, well, it looks like you've beaten Abe," another trainer, presumably Rod, said. Looking at the trainer, Zero could see he was dressed in overalls in a yellow shirt. He also had a spiky green mohawk.
"Yeah, and now I'm going to take you down so I can take on the Gym Leader," Zero said.
"Don't get cocky, kid. Go Pidgey!" Rod tossed a Pokéball, and out came a familiar brown bird. River however shot another Ice Beam, shooting down the Pidgey before a command could be issued.
"Nice one, River," Zero complimented. He then grabbed River's Premier Ball. "Get some rest for the Gym Leader," he said before both the fainted Pidgey and River were both recalled. Rod however sent out a second Pidgey, causing Zero to roll his eyes as he pulled a Pokéball out of his pocket. "Go Leifa!" he said as he released the Chikorita.
"A Grass type? Are you nuts?" Rod asked.
"A second Pidgey? Are you nuts?" Zero mimicked.
"Touché," Rod responded. "Pidgey, use Tackle!" The Pidgey swooped down in an attempt to ram Leifa.
"Use Vine Whip just like you practiced!" Zero ordered. Leifa launched herself into the air with her vines, causing her to sail over the Pidgey. "Now Razor Leaf!" As Leifa flipped through the air, she swung her leaf send a flurry of razor sharp leaves flying after Pidgey.
Just as the bird was turning around, he found himself bombarded with leaves. "Not bad! Pidgey, use Sand Attack!" Pidgey dove after Leifa again, but changed his angle so that his wing scrapped the floor, flinging sand into Leifa's eyes. "Now Tackle!" Pidgey circled around and swooped at Leifa.
"Use Reflect, then meet him head on with your own Tackle!" Leifa, having mastered Reflect from her practice the previous day, projected a cubic barrier. She then charged head on at the Pidgey. As they collided, she was stopped cold in her tracks while Pidgey fell to the floor. "Let's wrap this up! Use Vine Whip hold him still and finish with Razor Leaf!"
Leifa's vines snaked around the fallen Pidgey's wings, constricting their movement. Next, she sent out another barrage of leaves, rendering the Pidgey unconscious. Leifa then gently set the fainted Pidgey on the ground before they were both recalled.
"Looks like you win," Rod sighed. "Word of warning, the Gym Leader hasn't been himself lately, so be careful."
"Being careful didn't get Jack anywhere against Falkner's Mega Pidgeot," Zero pointed out.
"Good point," Rod agreed. "Anyway, if you can, try and knock some sense into him for us. Abe and I are both worried about him."
"Oh I plan to," Zero replied. "If I lose, contact Viridian Gym. There's someone there that might help," he told Rod as an afterthought. He then continued forward. Soon, he came to a blue haired man in a blue gi. "Falkner! I challenge you to Gym Battle!"
"So another mouse has come along for my birds of prey? Fine!" the man responded. "I, Falkner, the Violet Gym Leader accept your challenge!" He pulled a Pokéball from his sleeve. "Go Pidgey!" He hurled the Pokéball, releasing yet another Pidgey. Zero grabbed River's Premier Ball.
"(I'm still not sure about this…)" Rio mentioned, eyeing the Premier Ball.
"Rio, you said Pidgeot, and this isn't even a Pidgeotto," Zero reminded him. "Go River!" As he tossed the Premier Ball, it released the Buizel. "Use Ice Beam!" River fired an Ice Beam from his mouth, but Pidgey dove under it.
"Not good enough! Pidgey, use Tackle!" Pidgey flew after River.
"(I can feel something coming from that Pidgey,)"Rio stated, attracting Zero's attention. River acted on his own and stopped Pidgey's Tackle cold with a well-timed Head-butt.
"(Zero, pay attention!)" River told Zero.
"Right, sorry River. Use Slash!" Zero responded. Now that Rio mentioned it, I can feel it too, he thought as glowing white claws extend from River's front paws.
"Sand Attack!" Falkner ordered. Pidgey used his talons to kick the floor and throw some sand in River's eyes as the Buizel swiped at the Pidgey. This distraction caused River to miss. Before another command could be issued, Zero recalled River before pointing his Pokédex at Pidgey.
So this one doesn't even know Gust yet either, he thought as he grabbed a Pokéball. "Leifa, use Razor Leaf!" As Zero released the Chikorita, she sent a flurry of leaves raining down on Pidgey before landing.
"Pidgey, Tackle!" Falkner ordered. Pidgey pushed himself back into the air before diving after Leifa.
"Use Vine Whip!" Zero ordered. Time seemed to slow down as Leifa jumped over Pidgey as her vines snaked out of her neck.
As she summersaulted overhead, her vines shot under Pidgey's wings before wrapping around them. Time seemed to go back to normal as she completed her flip, swinging Pidgey over her head and slamming him into the ground as she landed.
"(I've wanted to try that all morning,)" she said.
"Lucky shot," Falkner said as he recalled his fallen Pidgey.
"Maybe," Zero responded as he recalled Leifa. Since I returned River to his Pokéball, his Accuracy should be back to normal, he thought as he grabbed River's Premier Ball.
"Go Pidgeotto!" Falkner tossed a Pokéball, releasing a larger bird.
This feeling I'm getting from Pidgeotto is just like the Pidgey… Zero tightened his grip on the Premier Ball. "Time for Round 2! Go River!" Zero tossed River's Premier Ball, which released the Buizel.
"Blow him away with Gust!" Falkner ordered. Pidgeotto began flapping his wings, creating a miniature tonado, which sucked River in. "Now use Tackle!" Pidgeotto swooped in aiming to strike River before he could hi hit the ground.
"Use your tails stay in the air!" Zero ordered. Before Pidgeotto could land a strike, River began spinning his tails like a propeller much like a certain two-tailed fox, which stopped him just short of falling into Pidgeotto's attack. "Now Ice Beam!" River shot an Ice Beam from his mouth, which struck Pidgeotto in the back. It then encased the Pidgeotto in ice, causing it to crash into the floor. As the ice encasing it shattered, River landed. "Finish it with Slash!" River ran forward before lunging with his glowing claws, striking Pidgeotto just as he recovered.
The Pidgeotto collapsed forcing Falkner to recall it. "I hate to admit it, but you're not bad," he admitted before noticing Zero wasn't even paying attention. "Hey! I'm talking to you, brat!" Zero recalled River.
"I finally placed that feeling I was getting. The sorrow, the fear I feel from them…" Zero muttered. He shook his head. "Your Pokémon are suffering. They're worried about you just like your gym trainers!" he told Falkner.
"Enough of your stupid yammering!" Falkner grabbed another Pokéball. "The real battle starts now! Go Pidgeot!" Falkner tossed the Pokéball, releasing the large familiar bird. Just as Zero was about to reach for Zephyr's Pokéball, Rio let out a loud grunt as he doubled over, gripping his head.
