Author's Notes
Hallo! Here's Chapter 10. Thanks to all those who've reached reading this chappy. Cookies for all of you! :D
I had to revise Chapter 10, because the previous version was a little unrealistic for me. Between a trainer who's had his pokémon for quite a while and one who just got them, who usually wins? Though I'm not saying that the former should; it's just more logical that way.
I don't own pokémon, okay? Wade, Skye, Guido, Shore Island… they're all mine, though. :D
- x x x -
CHAPTER 10
"Wake up!"
"… Huh…?"
"Get up, Featherbrain!"
Skye blinked sluggishly at him. Wade growled something nasty before jabbing him hard in the ribs.
"There's no sun yet," Skye whined. He glanced at the digital clock; a red four-thirty a.m. glared back at him.
"Whose fault was it for sleeping at two?" Wade snapped.
"Okay, okay, I'm up…"
Wade rolled his eyes. He clicked the light open then acquired a khaki vest and a pair of denim shorts with ragged edges from his drawers. Afterwards he brought out Horsea, which immediately pogo-bounced on Skye's bed.
"If he isn't up by the time I'm done showering," Wade told the Water pokémon, "splat a Smokescreen on him." The Water pokémon seemed irrepressibly thrilled at this. Skye burbled an incomprehensible protest.
Once Wade was in the bathroom, he stripped and turned the shower on. Two hours of sleep could drive any one to a tired tetchiness, but for some peculiar reason he felt full of verve. And that was even before the cold shower. It was as if there was something to look forward to this day, but he just couldn't pinpoint what. Not for the first time, he wondered what heavenly force had suddenly decided to bequeath him an optimistic disposition.
[You're so cute when you're like this,] Gyarados barbed at him. Wade could picture the Atrocious pokémon's toothy grin all too clearly in his mind.
[I have no idea what you're talking about.]
[Hurry up so you can kick Skye awake. But after Horsea Smokescreens him, of course.]
[I like your vicious sense of humor.]
Wade walked out the bathroom wearing the pair of ragged denim shorts. He smirked. Skye was sitting on the bed and was so groggy he didn't notice that his shoulder-length hair was sticking out in weird angles. On his lap sat his clothes: a sky blue shirt and a pair of jeans. Wade raised his palm and focused a little mental power into Skye's garments, which suddenly flew into his hand.
"What the—!"
"Horsea, changed my mind. Bubble."
Squealing like a lunatic, Horsea fired a volley of bubbles at the long-haired youth. Skye balked.
"You awake now?"
His answer was a glower. Skye stood up, yanked his clothes from Wade's hand, and stomped into the bathroom.
"Nice one, Horsea!"
A few minutes later found the both of them putting on accessories and footwear. Wade was fiddling with his Eevee anklet and tying the shoelaces of his white walking shoes, while Skye had just fastened his wavy bracelet to his wrist and was slipping into his sandals. Grabbing their backpacks that were propped against the side of their cabinet, the two tossed Potions, Antidotes, Paralyz Heals, Revives, and a few berries inside. Wade then placed his hand on the other's shoulder, closed his eyes, and concentrated.
When he blinked them open, the familiar ceiling and walls of their bedroom had been replaced by the sky, a cobalt expanse covered thinly in dark clouds and strewn with stars. The wind carried a hint of wildflowers, a heady perfume from the south, and it rustled the ankle-high grass that surrounded them. A wall of towering trees loomed as if to block vagrants from progressing any further, and in the darkness the branches seemed to reach for them like ghostly arms.
"This is the reason why I never train in the dark…" Skye mumbled.
"I usually did my training at night," Wade said as he looked around.
"I guess that's how you got Umbreon."
Wade strode away from the trees. "We can start here. Once we're done, we'll take the woods."
Skye perked up at the thought of staying out of the forest until the sun rose. Eager to get their training on the road, he hurled a pokéball high into the air and released a black shape that blended well with shadows of the night. The pokémon sported a fedora-like top that suited a greedy nature bordering on kleptomania. It cawed rambunctiously.
[Well, hello there!]
Wade started. He eyed the suspicious Murkrow. [Did… did you just talk to me?]
[No, it's your conscience speaking.] Wade could have sworn that the scruffy bird had rolled its eyes. [You look like a smart, scrappy lad. Why don't you act like it?]
"Skye… your bird's talking to me." More like, insulting.
"Really? What's it saying? Oh…" Suddenly, a wide grin split Skye's face into two. Wade had a feeling that the two featherheads were having a private conversation. One that he most likely wouldn't want to hear. "Yes," Skye continued, "he can be like that…"
"Like what?"
[Never mind,] the Murkrow answered. [So how have you been, Eevee-boy? The world treating you better than it did all those years ago?]
[Go talk to a Slowpoke,] Wade growled mentally. The Dark-Flying pokémon simply cackled.
Wade had initially planned to train his own Murkrow first, but if he was going to deal with this kind of tomfoolery then he might never touch it at all. Unfortunately, his curiosity got the better of him. He wondered if he'd be able to communicate with his Murkrow in the same manner as Skye's. Against his better judgment, Wade brought out the Dark-Flying pokémon. The bird cocked its head at him.
[One insult out of that beak and I'm pulling all your feathers out,] Wade flatly told it. Murkrow replied with a sincerely befuddled expression.
An orange tint crept into the sky from behind the horizon and invaded the dark blue. Wild pokémon answered the morning's beckon. The resident Pidgey, Hoppip and Ledyba launched themselves into the air in search of food, a mate, or a trainer to pester, and when they spotted the two teenagers they promptly fluttered around them. Joining them were a few Rattata, their heads popping out from the grass to scrutinize the intruders.
[Murkrow, Peck. Go for the Hoppip; they won't do anything to you.]
[Really, now?]
Wade nearly sighed. Did all Murkrow have to be mulish?
The two black birds turned into twin projectiles as they showered the native pokémon with Pecks and Pursuits. Surprised screeches and squawks flew into the air as Hoppip, their red round bodies falling like deflated balloons, and Ledyba, their six appendages floundering, lost to the Dark-Flying onslaught. The Pidgey and Rattata, not having a type disadvantage, lasted longer, but defeat remained inevitable as the two Murkrow grew more formidable.
"How were you able to make your pokémon so strong, Wade?" Skye asked, his eyes still at the massacre before him.
Wade shrugged. "I had to, or I'd go crazy. Training was the only thing I could run to every time I felt… I felt helpless." A twisted smile formed on his face. "Besides, you'd have powerful pokémon too if you'd been training for seven whole years."
Skye edged farther from the forest. Wade trailed behind, leaving a stream of unconscious meadow pokémon in their wake. A few minutes later, Skye brought out his Swablu. Wade followed suit and released Horsea. What Horsea drenched with its Water Gun attacks, Swablu finished with relentless Pecks. A knocked out Rattata hurtled towards Wade's position; a quick leap to the side prevented the forthcoming collision.
"Hey Wade," said Skye as he pointed in the distance. "Trainers!"
Wade's eyes followed Skye's finger. Looks like the two of them weren't the only idiots with the intention of training at such unholy hours. A hasty ocular inspection revealed around eight to ten individuals sporting pokéballs attached to various parts of their person: belts, vests, handbags, bracelets, even a choker for one of the teenage girls. Being the extrovert that he was, Skye rushed toward the newcomers to greet them and perhaps hook himself up with a battle. As for Wade, he did what he usually did around strangers: ignored them all.
Except that one of the guys, a teenager with a tangle of indigo hair and wide glasses that didn't look like a good combination with his muscular arms, abruptly confronted him and declared, "Let's battle now! Marshtomp, it's clobbering time!"
Wade was faced with a blue creature with fins on its head and legs, as well as orange gills on its cheeks. It clapped and skipped, keen for a win.
Not good… my pokémon aren't that strong yet, and it wouldn't be fair to use any of my level fifties…
[Why not?] asked Gyarados impishly.
"The name's Iram," the beefy boy said. "Think you can beat my Marshtomp?"
"It's a Water type…" Wade said, the words out of his mouth before he could stop them. He had never seen or heard of one before.
"Yup," Iram said. "I'm from Hoenn. You can pick its pre-evolution as one of the starters there. So, we gonna battle? Though I'm sure Marshtomp doesn't mind all the attention."
Barely stifling a scowl, Wade made a few quick calculations. Only one pokémon, huh? Maybe… just maybe…
"Alright Horsea, you're up." [This is going to be a tough battle.]
The blue squirt took its position in front of Wade and shot a glare at its finned foe.
"Marshtomp, let's go! Mud Shot!"
The bulky pokémon aimed its opened mouth towards Horsea and fired a blob of mud. Was it a Ground type, as well? That would certainly make Horsea's attacks more functional. Wade commanded a Smokescreen, which his Water pokémon jovially executed since the accuracy-reducing move seemed to be a favorite. Marshtomp batted at its eyes in a futile attempt to clear its vision, but Iram wasn't daunted. He ordered another Mud Shot, and when Horsea was struck it struggled to move as the muck hindered its motions.
What's wrong with it? "Let's go on the offensive, Horsea!" Wade called. "Water Gun!"
Horsea sprayed its opponent. The attack forced Marshtomp backward, but the finned pokémon maintained its balance. Another Mud Shot blasted into the air, and Horsea was down. Wade quickly ran to its side and gently brought the poor pokémon into his arms.
"You'll get 'em next time," he cooed. "Rest up; you did great." After returning the Water pokémon, he brought out Sneasel. The feisty feline slashed the air as if fighting an imaginary enemy.
[Horsea has set the stage for your win, Sneasel,] Wade told it. [We better not waste its efforts.] "Screech!"
"Let's switch attacks," Iram said. "Water Gun!"
Sneasel released an ear-shattering battle shriek. Dazed, Marshtomp tottered and nearly fell, but that didn't stop it from letting loose a jet of water from its mouth. It was then that Horsea's Smokescreen kicked in; the Water technique went way off target. Wade had Sneasel retaliate with an Ice Punch, which was much more potent after the Screech attack. The Sharp Claw pokémon lunged with its claws extended, and when the Ice attack struck a frosty fog accompanied by ice splinters emerged for a brief moment. Marshtomp shuddered and looked ready to fall but kept its ground.
"Not good, not good," Wade muttered.
"Fire another Mud Shot, Marshtomp!"
The Water-Ground pokémon released another blob of mud, which shattered on impact and slowed down Sneasel's movements. Taking advantage of this, Iram ordered another Mud Shot, and that was it. Sneasel plopped down, unconscious. Wade jogged to his fallen pokémon and brought it into his arms.
"Let's get on with your next pokémon, then—"
"That's enough from me," Wade declared. Iram's forehead furrowed in puzzlement. He opened his mouth to point out that he still had some unused pokémon, but Wade rode over his words. "Murkrow's not ready to take on your Marshtomp. It'll get creamed like Horsea and Sneasel."
[But what about us?] Gyarados growled. [The Slow-twins, Umbreon and I could totally destroy that finned freak. Bring us out!]
[No. It wouldn't be fair.]
[And I suppose having Horsea and Sneasel battle Marshtomp was.]
[Let it go, Gyarados. This was my fault in the first place.] The Atrocious pokémon's answer was a rebellious silence.
Iram regarded him for a moment but finally nodded. Donning a sportsmanly smile, he took Wade's forfeit and clapped him on the shoulder. Wade flinched before he could stop himself. Without bothering with awkward apologies he recalled his two revived pokémon and mentally told them how sorry he was for miscalculating the situation.
"Hey Skye!" Wade called as he passed a baffled Iram and approached said blonde. "You ready to go to Coast Woods?"
Like him, Skye had just finished a battle. His Swablu had won with a combination of Sing, Peck, and Fury Attack, a barrage that the opponent, a bouncy gray Spoink, had failed to counter effectively. The Psychic pokémon was down on the ground with dizzy eyes and a twitching spring, and its pearl, a lackluster sphere that was almost the size of its head, had rolled off a few feet away.
Collecting his forfeit and waving a jaunty goodbye to his opponent, Skye trotted off after Wade, who hastily made his way towards the woods. A few minutes later found the two of them surrounded by dense foliage, stout tree trunks with small hollows hiding an occasional sleepy Venonat, prickly shrubs, and an almost overwhelming odor of wet grass and fresh soil. Faint beams of sunlight shot from the canopy of leaves above them, rays that made the shadows and shade dance like tribesmen around a bonfire. All around them leaves crunched, branches creaked, and footfalls lurked, all indications of pokémon moving about.
Skye heard a distinct quack. He immediately flittered about in search of the source.
"Farfetch'd!" he whispered excitedly. He brought out Swablu to help hunt for it. The blue pear-shape took to the trees for a better view.
While Skye was busy looking for the Normal-Flying pokémon, Wade occupied himself with reviving his fainted Horsea and Sneasel. He had just finished spraying the Revives on the two pokémon when a gale from behind nearly made him fall flat on his face, almost squishing Horsea and Sneasel in the process.
Wade turned around, his expression a death glare. Only to be left speechless as the spectacle before him played like a scene from an old movie: Skye running for his life as an angry gaggle of squawking Farfetch'd that had been blown by his churlish winds chased him.
"Have fun!" Wade called as the long-haired blonde ran screaming—and Wade had no idea if that scream was out of indisputable fear or imbecilic enjoyment—and disappeared into a thicket. Focusing his attention on Horsea, he directed the blue pokémon to bring down any pokémon that came into view, whether it be cute Teddiursa, hypnotic Drowzee, furry Venonat, or truculent Mankey. As for Farfetch'd, well, all the birds seemed to having the time of their lives pursuing his idiotic companion.
"Stay clear of Oddish," he cautioned his Water type. "I'll have Murkrow or Sneasel take care of those."
Several fainted Teddiursa later, Skye came back, still running like a madman with a nutty grin on his face and with the gaggle of annoyed Farfetch'd in hot pursuit. He then suddenly whirled around, released all new his acquisitions, and dived into the billowing mass of smoke, leaves, grass, and dust.
"Swablu, Peck! Yanma, Quick Attack! Murkrow, Pursuit!"
Afterwards, he flung another pokéball, which revealed his newly caught Farfetch'd. It sighted the scuffle and quacked in alarm.
"You can do it, Farfetch'd!" Skye cried. "Aerial Ace!"
Clutching its reed like a sword, it flapped its brown wings and charged into the fray with imperceptible speed. A flurry of indignant squawks burst into the air as the wild Farfetch'd fell one by one. After a few minutes of flat observation, Wade sighed and directed his own new team members to join the fracas.
[Horsea, Water Gun. Sneasel, Ice Punch. Murkrow, Pursuit. Clean up whatever Skye misses.]
The tussle went on. Wade saw Skye circle the skirmish, shout energetic orders to his pokémon, then afterwards shower them with effusive praise. The fight didn't take long. After the smoke had cleared and the leaves and blades of grass had fallen back to the ground, all the wild Farfetch'd were down. There were a couple of casualties on their side, though. Skye's Yanma was buried under a trio of unconscious Farfetch'd, its wings sticking out in odd angles, while Wade's Murkrow had its beak buried in the mud, its pristine black feathers caked with the disgusting brown substance.
"You've just wiped out the entire Farfetch'd population of Coast Woods," Wade wryly remarked as he approached the tangled heap of feathers and beaks.
"You mean, 'we,'" Skye corrected. He pumped his fist up and down. "Wade and Skye, one million points! The Furious Farfetch'd Fleet, two points!"
"Make that three," said Wade, rolling his eyes. "I don't see your Farfetch'd strutting around."
"Farfetch'd! Farfetch'd! No!" His arms flailing, Skye dashed around and peered under the piles of unconscious pokémon. "Where are you, buddy?"
Amused, Wade watched Skye flap his arms in a frenetic search for his new pokémon. He then extracted his fainted Murkrow from underneath a stack of reeds and cradled it into his arms.
[You did well. Rest up, now.]
[Wade,] Sneasel called in his mind. The brown-haired youth glanced at the Dark-Ice pokémon. His gut clenched. Sneasel seemed on edge. It peered at its surroundings as if expecting an ambush. Wade immediately returned Murkrow to his pokéball and heightened his own senses, scanning or listening for the slightest thing that was out-of-place.
"The woods are suddenly quiet," Skye softly observed.
The ground rumbled. It was a low-pitched hum that was indiscernible at first. The sound grew louder. Then the earth shook. Wade swallowed as he noticed that the trees were swaying, ready to crush them if their roots gave way.
"Sneasel, Horsea, return." Skye did the same with his pokémon.
The quake had startled the wild Farfetch'd out of their stupor; the birds quacked and scurried off in a panic. Wade roughly shoved the Teddiursa into wakefulness and snapped at them to find shelter. Terrified screeches and grunts filled the forest.
"We should go—" Skye began.
It was over so suddenly. Wade could swear that the rumble was still there, but when he listened for it he realized that it was gone. His nerves still sizzling, he watched the trees and the fallen leaves as if they could answer the sole question occupying his mind right now.
What just happened?
Earthquakes never occurred on this island. Never. There were no nearby volcanoes, be they on remote islands or underwater, that could erupt to cause such tremors. Also, no wild pokémon on Shore Island was capable of using the Ground attack; they were just too young to execute such a powerful technique. It was why everyone didn't have to worry about the Ground types in Ochre Desert or in Coast Woods.
"I wonder if they felt that all the way in Ebony?" Skye muttered.
Wade shrugged. "Either way, we better get going." He placed a hand on Skye's shoulder and teleported them to the town Pokecenter—particularly the restroom so they wouldn't have to deal with dumbfounded tourists—to heal their pokémon, then back to their room.
And just in time. Because that was when the next earthquake rumbled through the woods.