Author's Note:I haven't updated since December!? Are you serious!? I sincerely apologize, college and final exams are a killer, but I finished my last one today! Now I'm celebrating with a new chapter of EfTG!
Relax, Read, and Review, because you've been waiting for it!
Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon, as a lot of people wish they did. I wonder if they have a better chance than me?
Chapter 10: (Honor) Among Thieves
Before we started on our rescue mission, Joe, Allison, Xavier and I had each a packed bag or two stuffed with clothes, food, and tents stacked near the door. Right now, Joe was preparing breakfast: scrambled eggs, bacon, croissants, white rice, and ice-cold Moomoo Milk. Meanwhile, Allison and I were outside preparing breakfast for our Pokémon, with Xavier lending a hand (or more like playing around with some food pellets, providing a little entertainment) while they waited.
It was then that Xavier saw someone coming his way. He apparently knew the guy because he waved him over. The figure turned out to be Carlton, the guy who told me about Xavier's predicament in the first place. Once he got to where we were, he stopped to take a good look at me and Allison. He seemed surprised to see the two of us. "So, you guys really are here…"
"Yeah, we are," I said. "If you don't know why, we're here to help Xavier get his parents back."
Carlton looked at us in wonder. "So, I was right. There really are nice people in that organization…"
"You're one of those kids we battled at that restaurant," Allison suddenly recalled. "Wait… where's your friend?"
"Friend?" His face soured instantly when he realized who we were talking about. "Oh, you mean Justin. We're not friends anymore," he said bluntly.
"…Was it because he abandoned you when you guys were running away from me after the battle?" I asked.
"Yeah, I still can't believe he would leave me to die. Granted, I didn't die, but still…"
So, it turns out that I indirectly severed a bond of friendship that day. "Sorry Carlton. I didn't mean to ruin your friendship like that."
"I should be thanking you, really," replied Carlton. "If anything, that experience showed me what kind of friend he truly was. I vow to never follow his example." Looking behind me, he noticed the Pokémon off in their own world. "I see Xavier's Pokémon, so that means the rest are yours?"
"That's right. We use a lot of Bug and Steel-types," explained Allison.
"Don't you guys worry about weaknesses and stuff?"
"Just because a Pokémon has a type advantage over another doesn't mean that it will necessarily win." We all turned around to face Joe, who came out into the yard. "It also takes skill, and trust between the Pokémon and its trainer for them to come out on top."
"I understand." Carlton looked back to Xavier, his face showing a bit of concern while addressing him for the first time since coming over. "So is it true what you told me over the phone last night, Xavier?" he asked. "You're really going back to Veilstone?"
"That's right Carlton. My parents are still there. Or so he says," explained Xavier, casually pointing a thumb towards me.
"Well… I just wanted to wish you luck. And Joe knows what you're doing this time, so you won't have any trouble if you're surrounded. He's good in a tight spot."
"What kind of guardian would I be if I wasn't?" replied Joe matter-of-factly.
"Don't worry, dude. I'll make sure we rescue them," I reassured Carlton, placing a hand on his shoulder. "It's the least I can do to repay him for saving my life."
"How did you… Oh, yeah. Xavier told me about that, too. You and your girlfriend were going to be blasted to bits by the creators of this region until he released those three captured legendaries. You guys are lucky, seeing so many legendaries in one place."
"It almost makes me wish I had a camera on me," said Allison. "But taking a picture when you're about to get attacked isn't such a good idea."
Everyone chuckled. When the laughter calmed down, I took the opportunity to speak. "People shouldn't use legendary Pokémon for their own purposes," I said. "They have such immense power though, and people are sometimes tempted to control that power, usually for evil purposes. That's why I abandoned Team Galactic in the first place. I was all for making the world a better place, or so they claimed, but messing with what should be left alone? I can't… I won't do it. I'd like to make a gradual change to the world we live in, not a sudden overhaul, you know?"
"I understand," replied Carlton. "I should do what I can to make a change, too. I need to get stronger so that I can become a Pokémon Ranger."
"We'll all get stronger," said Xavier. "And we'll set everything right along the way. Right, Joe?"
"Of course we will, X. Breakfast is ready, so we have to get back inside. Do you want anything, Carlton?" Joe offered.
"Nah, that's OK, I already ate some cereal about an hour ago," Carlton replied. "I'll leave you guys to eat, and good luck out there!"
"Thank you," said Allison. "You stay safe as well."
Veering away eastward from the tall grass on Route 219 leads to the (usually) soft rains of Route 220. The sprinkles raining down on the four of us caused us to quicken our pace just a little bit. Xavier, however, felt the need to complain about it, raindrops glistening off the metallic front of his headband. "Why is it that every time I go to Veilstone, it rains? The sky is always crying whenever we come here. Always!"
"This is nothing compared to Route 217," I countered. "When Allison and I were on our way to Mt. Coronet, we left Pastoria City and had to trudge through a swamp in heavy rain. Nothing can be worse than that."
"Oh, I remember that," said Allison with a shudder. "People kept getting left behind because they got stuck in the muck all the time." She was right. That swamp was something like a death trap. You couldn't take three good steps without having one of your feet go in deeper than you expected. Some of the grunts struggled so much they when they finally managed to get free, they fell and managed to get their whole bodies stuck. We were way behind because those of us who weren't stuck (and there weren't many of us) had to help our fellow comrades. No wonder Mars and Jupiter got to Hearthome before us.
Only Cyrus didn't get stuck. Either he had been through the swamp enough to memorize the best way to go by heart, or he had some innate ability to just… know where to step. I wonder: would he have even complained if he got stuck at all?
"Well, Pastoria is practically built on a swamp," acknowledged Joe. "It makes a good habitat for water-type Pokémon. No wonder Wake—I mean, Crasher Wake— the gym leader there, specializes in them. Raising a Pokémon in what could be considered its natural habitat would bring out its natural potential."
"What about Porygon-Z?" Allison asked. "What would be its natural habitat?"
Joe thought about it. After ten seconds, he replied, "Nothing really comes to mind. Porygon- Z is an evolved form of a manmade Pokémon… Perhaps someplace urban, maybe…"
"RAZOR LEAF!" a female trainer with a loud voice shouted nearby, breaking Joe out of his reverie.
"With all the talking we were doing, I never noticed we were near a…"
"Terrence, watch out!" Allison tackled me to the wet, slightly muddy ground.
"Huh?" I blinked in confusion. "Allison, what's going on?"
Xavier spoke in her place. "That Razor Leaf attack was aimed at us!"
One thought immediately entered my mind.
Ambush!
By Team Galactic?
But none of the grunts—or the Commanders, for that matter—uses grass-type Pokemon. Whoever it is has a lot of nerve attacking four people at once.
Allison quickly raised herself off of me and helped me to my feet. To my surprise, there were sharp leaves whirling around the four of us in a circle. This is not a normal Razor Leaf attack. Why are the leaves surrounding us instead of going straight forward?
"Come out, wherever you are!" cried Xavier. "I got sharp leaves and I'm not afraid to use them!"
Oh. Xavier with his telekinesis. Not only did he stop the attack, but he's using the attack to protect us from further assaults.
The kid has smarts. Maybe it comes with the powers…?
"I'll come out," the mysterious woman said in a low voice, "but only if you send the rich guy forward."
She's after Joe? Well, only rich guys wear monocles. This might turn into a hostage situation.
"What exactly do you want from me?" Joe spoke up.
"You guys have heard about me enough to know what I want, so I'm not even going to go into that," she countered. Appearing from behind a bush wearing a black sports bra, black fingerless gloves, a long black skirt with a long cut from ankle to mid thigh, and black boots, she stood with one hand on her hips, the other brushing her soaked, braided ponytail free of any foliage attached to it. With a smile on her face and a mischievous glint in her blue eyes, she proclaimed, "Surely you know of me, the great Robin? The woman who aims to take down aristocracy anywhere she sees it?"
The four of us looked at each other for a good moment before turning back towards her, Xavier dropping the leaves as he did so. "Never head of you," the four of us chorused.
"You really haven't heard of me?" she asked in an incredulous tone. We all shook our heads.
"Seriously?"
Four more head shakes.
Robin face-palmed herself. Quickly regaining her posture, she replied, "You guys must not be from Sinnoh."
"Actually, Joe and I live in Solaceon Town."
"Xavier!" Joe chided.
"So, you are from around here!" she said. "Let's get to the point, though. You," she said, pointing a wet finger at Joe.
"Yes, Robin?"
"Give me your money. All of it," she demanded.
"Why should I?" Joe shot back.
"Because if you don't, I'll take it by force. Even if I have to go through all of your lackeys first."
"Do we really look like lackeys to you?" I asked. "Nobody works for anyone around here. We're on our way to save a couple of people."
"And I'm trying to save myself! And bring down the high and mighty at the same time!" Robin countered. "Every wealthy punk deserves every bit of what's coming to them. Right, Nuzleaf?"
A brown, mid-sized, humanlike Pokémon with a pointy nose and a leaf on the top of its head leaped out of the bushes and somersaulted to a stand next to Robin. "Leaf!"
"A Nuzleaf!" cried Allison. Xavier got out his Pokedex in a flash and scanned it. It said, "Nuzleaf. The Wily Pokémon. Nuzleaf is the evolved form of Seedot. The sound of its grass flute makes its listeners uneasy. It lives deep in forests."
"True, but that doesn't tell you how you can beat it!" Robin proclaimed. "Nuzleaf and I won't lose to any of you!" She appeared to calm down just a bit. "Losing equals hardship and suffering. The same hardship and suffering that I had to deal with years ago!"
Wait. Is she attacking us so she can get a small piece of revenge for something that happened to her in the past? Why target Joe because he is rich?
…Oh yeah, that's why she targeted him. Duh. But still, he doesn't even know her! It's not like he ever did her wrong!
"I swore that I would alleviate my suffering as much as possible while I'm still alive," she spoke in a low voice. "And I also vowed to increase the suffering of the people who did this to me. Like you, rich punk."
"But this the first time I ever met you! I had nothing to do with your suffering, wherever it came from," Joe reasoned.
But Robin continued on as if she didn't hear him. "Just because you're loaded with money, and you live in a big mansion with more servants than Pokémon discovered so far, it doesn't mean you can play dumb and get away with it!"
"But my house isn't that big, and I don't even have ser…"
"Shut up!" Robin bellowed. "I'm sick of talking to you, always thinking you can talk down to people like they're nothing. I'm hungry, and I'm battle weary, but I'll continue on until my dying breath!" She forgot to mention that she was delusional. She's accusing him of all kinds of things.
"I'll give you 5,000 Pokédollars…" Joe blurted out. Is he trying to buy out of the inevitable battle? But he's supposed to be good, right? Any respectful trainer wouldn't just bargain their way out of this situation.
So I walked up to him and let him have a piece of my mind. "Joe," I started. "You don't have to give her anything. There's four of us, and only one of her. She's not showing it, but she knows we can defeat her easily. All we have to do…"
"You didn't let me finish, Terrence." Wait, there was more? Joe took advantage of my momentary stop to my speech to talk back to Robin. "I'll give you the money under one condition."
Her eyes narrowed. So much they almost seemed closed. "It's not all you have, but whatever. Name it."
"All you have to do is win a one-on-one battle against me. My strongest against your strongest. Nobody else will be involved." There you go, Joe. "Listen. Do you hate rich people because of what some bigwigs did to you? If so, I admire your… enthusiasm to get revenge. But don't think ill of me because based on the mere fact that I have more wealth than most people, because I never caused you any harm. I can see you have conviction, but do you and your Pokémon have the skills to back it up?"
"We can back it up 24/7! And I just know you're only making this challenge out of pride. Everyone knows that rich people make the worst battlers around. So, I accept!" Robin smirked.
"Is that what you really think?" Joe wondered out loud. "Just like you think that I suck at this kind of this kind of thing, I believe that you sorely underestimate me." He pulled out one of his Premier Balls and threw it forward. "Go, Porygon-Z!"
PING!
"Rain, rain, go away; come again on Monday…"Porygon-Z chimed.
"No time to sing in the rain, Porygon-Z," began Joe. "We have a battle to win."
Robin set her scrutinizing eyes on Porygon-Z and scoffed. "Just like a rich person to have one of those extremely rare Pokémon. I don't even know what that thing is. It doesn't matter, because Nuzleaf is going to destroy it anyway." On cue, Nuzleaf jumped a good distance in front of her, taking a fighting stance.
"The first move is yours, Robin," Joe offered.
"Humph. Nuzleaf, Quick Attack!" Everyone watched as Nuzleaf briefly crouched down on all fours, and then shot rapidly forward through the sort rains towards Porygon-Z as if it were in a track meet.
"Tri Attack! Now!" commanded Joe. But before Porygon-Z could even begin to build a decent amount of power for its attack…
"Nuz…leaf!"
WHAM!
Nuzleaf slammed into it with its side, knocking Porygon-Z backwards a fair amount.
"Whimps," Robin sneered at her opponents. "Extrasensory!" Nuzleaf began to take on a yellow aura, and pointed towards Porygon-Z, who also began to glow yellow around the edges. But Nuzleaf was in full control, if Porygon-Z's spinning head was any indication. Nuzleaf, as if its opponent was attached to a string, jerked it left, then right, and then slammed it into the ground violently, ending the attack.
"Joe is losing! He's visibly losing! This is a rare moment in Pokémon trainer history," said Xavier out loud.
"I wonder if he's regretting the bet he made with her now," remarked Allison. I'd like to know that myself. Granted, 5,000 Pokédollars is probably nothing to Joe; he could make it back easily. Wait a minute. What if he's losing on purpose? He really wants to help this woman, whoever she is, even though she hates him.
"Time to end this, Nuzleaf. Use Razor Leaf and follow up with Payback!" Robin commanded.
"Porygon-Z, float a little higher and use Ice Beam on those leaves!" cried Joe. As Nuzleaf sent leaves hurtling towards it, the sleek normal-type Pokémon fired an icy cold beam directly on the leaves, freezing them.
Dude! I see what he's trying to do! Nuzleaf is running into a trap!
Nuzleaf, now running, gathered dark energy into its right hand to prepare for the Payback attack, but was caught off guard when it began raining frozen leaves around it. It could do nothing but try to dance its way around all of them.
"You're trapped!" Joe exclaimed. "Tri Attack!" Porygon-Z began gathering energy again. Three balls of alternating red, yellow, and blue colors shone brightly around it, and then launched themselves like miniature rockets at the frantic Nuzleaf, who was almost done dodging the frozen sharp leaves.
BOOM!
"Nuzleaf!" cried Robin.
That was some show of skill coming from Joe. Using Nuzleaf's attack against it, he was then able to land a powerful blow of its own. And Nuzleaf could do nothing but take the attack.
When the smoke cleared, Nuzleaf was on its back in a shallow crater, knocked out cold.
"…No. Nuzleaf!" Robin ran over towards her fallen Pokémon, picked it up, and cradled it. "Damn, we lost. More suffering at the hands of an aristocrat."
"…I'm sorry, Robin. You gave me a great battle, though."
"But I didn't win." She looked back up at Joe, eyes hardened. "So, this is the part where I retreat and swear to defeat you next time, right?"
"Not yet." Joe reached into his pocket and took out the 5,000 he had promised upon winning and handed it to Robin. He really wanted to help her after all.
She didn't notice at first because she put Nuzleaf back in its Pokéball, but when she looked back up at him, she turned her back on it, her long ponytail brushing against Joe's face, leaving a wet mark. "Sorry, I don't do handouts. I want to feel like I accomplished something when I earn money," she explained.
"…Just take it. It's not a handout. Think of it as motivation to defeat me next time," Joe offered.
"Punk. Your defeating me is more than enough motivation for that, don't you think?"
"But didn't you say that you were hungry?"
"Of course I did!" Robin blurted out. "But I'm not going to be treated like a charity case! I refuse. I either get it all on my terms, or nothing at all! Do you really want me to think that you actually care?"
"Yes," replied Joe, "because I do."
"Well, your worry is misplaced, then. You should go back to caring about your own well-being, like everyone else in your position. Because next time, I will defeat you. And maybe, just maybe, our roles will be reversed." As she began to walk away, she turned her head so she could see us one more time. "Joe... right? You know, you're different from all the others I've encountered. Who taught you to battle?"
"Nobody. I read books constantly about battle strategy," Joe replied.
"Ugh. Bookworms," spat Robin. "I honestly hope this isn't the last time I see you again. Well, I know where you live, so maybe I'll come by for a visit." Maybe it was just me, but the corners of her lips seemed to curve upwards into a smile. "See you later, punk." And then she just turned around and took off, almost tripping over the wet ground as she did.
Joe's voice suddenly broke my thoughts when she disappeared. "You know, I never thought I would say something like this, but I hope I get to see her again as well."
Say what!? He wants to get put through that again? "Dude, why?" I asked him.
He stared off in the direction our former assailant had made her exit. "Because I want her to be okay. Maybe I can help her somehow."
"You can't help those who want to hurt you." This came from Xavier. "What you need to do next time is take her captive. Maybe she was putting up a front for one of those Team Galactic people."
"Even though we're close to Veilstone, I doubt that's the case," Allison told him. "She didn't look anything like a normal Grunt. Or a Commander, either."
"Commanders." Xavier's brow bristled with anger for a moment, but disappeared as quickly as it came. "Well, everyone got out of that okay, so let's keep going. The sooner I save my parents—and the sooner I get my hands on Mars—the better."
We continued along the path to Velistone, each of us keeping silent. Our encounter with Robin set us on high alert for anyone else traveling the path, especially Galactic Grunts and others that are… well, rough around the edges.
That Robin chick is not your ordinary thief. Most people would've taken the money without a second thought. And she only targets rich people, not your everyday traveler, and they must be few and far between. She's a Sharpedo looking for the big fish, big time.
It's only two days until we get to Veilstone. And then we rescue Xavier's parents from Galactic HQ. My thoughts began to drift towards the impending encounter.
What will everyone think of me?
How did Cyrus's failed endeavor affect Team Galactic, if at all?
Will Xavier really kill Commander Mars?
Cyrus said that HQ was going to be highly reinforced after my battle with him at the Spear Pillar. He's had a whole week to prepare. Does he expect me to appear again, and so soon at that?
All I can honestly say is this:
I will not allow Team Galactic to hurt my friends or my chances at freedom.
I… we will prevail!