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Sinnoh Bound
Chapter Eleven: Nothing Ventured
By the following morning the capture of Pokémon Hunter K was the talk of the town. Upon being questioned by Officer Jenny, however, Heather and Mouse both understated their involvement and let the credit pass to Fantina.
Jack was baffled by this sudden turnabout by the normally extroverted girls. "You deserve some recognition!" he protested after they all sat down for breakfast in a relatively quiet corner of the Pokémon Centre. "What's wrong?"
His sister regarded him calmly. "We're here on a journey and to support you, not to look for fame. We just don't want the fuss."
"Besides," said Mouse around a mouthful of scrambled eggs, "I would rather be known for getting a high rank in the Sinnoh League, wouldn't you?"
"I suppose you're right," he said reluctantly. But after all, it was their decision and there was no point in his arguing with them. "So what do we do now?"
"Before or after I challenge Fantina?" Mouse asked, grinning.
Heather poked him. "Aren't you going to challenge her too?"
Jack considered for a few seconds. "I don't think so. I saw how she battled against Hunter K yesterday, and I don't think my Pokémon are strong enough to beat her."
"That's a smart decision," Heather complimented. "You're getting a better grasp of the limitations of your Pokémon."
He was about to say something else when sounds of breaking objects suddenly emanated from the Pokémon examination room. In unison they stood up, just as a Gible catapulted through the swinging double doors and landed in the middle of the lobby. Nurse Joy ran in with a PokéBall in her outstretched hand, but it refused to return and fled. The automatic sliding entrance to the Centre opened just enough to allow the Pokémon to run outside, and it dug a hole in the street and disappeared underground.
Concerned, Jack ran up to Nurse Joy with the two girls behind him. "Are you all right?"
"Yes," she said dejectedly as she miniaturized the PokéBall and stuffed it into a pocket, "but I'm afraid one of my diagnostic machines will need to be repaired." Then her eyes widened in recognition. "Aren't you the kids who brought in some rescued Pokémon yesterday? I would like to thank you on the behalf of their trainers; they were all very glad that the Pokémon were safe." She sighed and gestured toward the door. "But that Gible hasn't been claimed yet so I think it might be wild. Does it happen to belong to any of you?"
"No, it doesn't," Jack replied with regret. "It didn't let me catch it either."
"Sometimes Pokémon just don't want to be caught," Nurse Joy said with a compassionate smile. "Dragon types in particular can be quite stubborn about that. If you're lucky enough to see it again, be prepared for a difficult battle."
He already had an idea of what he needed to do. "You bet."
Nurse Joy nodded to him in encouragement and went away to survey the damage that the Gible had caused.
"So!" Mouse said as she clapped her hands with glee. "What do you say we head over to the Gym? You two can watch me win!"
Heather laughed. "Don't count your Psyducks before they're hatched, my friend."
"Have a little faith, will you?" Mouse said with a snort. "Anyway, I don't see you rushing to claim the honour. And..." She drawled the word to stop Heather's protest, and became somber. "I know what you said about helping your bro and all, but you haven't been working with your Pokémon as much as I've seen you do in the past. You're getting soft. How about this: if I win," she jerked a thumb at her chest, "you have to go back and challenge Roark and Gardenia."
Jack's jaw dropped. "Mouse, you can't be serious!"
Heather was just as dumbfounded. She stared at her friend for a moment, and then her brows furrowed briefly as she made some mental calculations. "Even flying most of the way, that would take at least a fortnight! I couldn't leave you two waiting here that long."
"I didn't say anything about waiting," Mouse said implacably. "Jack and I can continue on and leave messages at the Pokémon Centres that we pass so you'll know where we are."
"But..." For a moment Jack struggled to find words, and then faced Mouse indignantly with his fists clenched. It didn't matter to him how long she and Heather had been friends; Mouse had no right to do this! "But this was supposed to be our journey. Mine and Heather's! How can you even suggest that we split up?"
"Jack," his sister said before he could continue with his rant. "Please calm down. I hate to say so, but she's right." She sighed. "I have been neglecting my training."
"But..." He shook his head at her in disbelief.
"This is your journey, and your Pokémon need you."
"And I need YOU!" he shouted. "While you were away in Houenn, I wished that I could have gone with you! Every day! You don't know what it was like to not be able talk about anything related to Pokémon while Papa was around." Tears began to gather in his eyes. "These past few weeks have been so totally amazing..." Speech suddenly became impossible as his throat spasmed from anger and frustration.
"Jack." Heather hugged him tightly until he relaxed a bit, and then stepped back to regard him affectionately. "I'm not leaving yet. Mouse still has to keep her end of the deal."
He wiped his eyes on his sleeve and turned to glare at the other girl, resentment plainly showing on his face. "It seems that I have no choice. Fine. If you win, I won't say any more about it. But if you lose, you keep any more bright ideas about separating to yourself, do you understand?"
Mouse was impressed by his vehemence and his loyalty to his sister. "Kid, you're on." She turned and began to walk toward the exit, but tossed one last remark over her shoulder, "But I'll have you know, I do my best under pressure."
The interior of the Gym was dimly lit, giving Jack and Heather some trouble to find seats in the observation gallery. But as soon as they sat down, a spotlight clicked on at one end of the battlefield and illuminated a square platform that rose up from below. The occupant was Fantina, who pirouetted gracefully.
"Finally, you have arrived! Since I came to this country, always I try to learn new things. So I study Pokémon very much, and I have come to be Gym Leader. To the Hearthome Gym, bienvenue!" Cheers erupted from the sizeable audience in the stands.
The lights above the field brightened, and Jack was finally able to see Mouse standing at the opposite end. She was holding a PokéBall in her hand and looking relaxed.
Another platform rose at the side of the field, bearing a green-haired girl who wore an orange and brown jumpsuit. "This match is between Christina Souris of New Bark Town and Gym Leader Fantina. Each side will use three Pokémon, and the battle ends whenever all three Pokémon are unable to continue. Only the challenger may make substitutions. Begin!"
"Time for your entrance, ma chère Duskull!" Fantina's first Pokémon emerged from its ball; it looked little more than a child-sized grey hooded shirt that had a skull where a face would have been.
Jack grimaced and reached for his Pokédex. "Ugh, what in the world is that?"
The Pokédex trilled, "Duskull, the Requiem Pokémon. Duskull will pursue its prey wherever it goes. It also startles bad children and makes them cry."
"Stripes, it's action time!" Mouse called out her Zigzagoon, and many of the observers tittered or laughed outright. She ignored them.
"I don't get it," Jack said. "Why is she using him? He's a normal type and normal moves won't affect a ghost type."
Heather crossed her arms with a pensive expression. "Yes, but ghost moves don't affect a normal type Pokémon either. She must have something up her sleeve."
Fantina assumed a retiré position, bending one leg at the knee. "Duskull, let us start with Mean Look!" A large ghostly pair of eyes wafted above the field, and Stripes was unable to look away despite Mouse's orders to the contrary. He became rooted to the spot in fear.
"Interesting," Heather commented. "She can't switch him out now, so I wonder how she'll deal with that."
Jack turned to her and snapped, "Whose side are you on?" He hadn't thought he'd need to remind her so soon of the stakes!
Down below, Mouse still appeared confident. "No switching, no problem. Stripes, Pin Missile, go!" Her Pokémon shook himself, rearranging his fur into sharp spikes, and he flung out dozens of tiny projectiles. However, at a gesture from Fantina the Duskull floated upward out of harm's way. "Roundabout!" Mouse ordered next, and Stripes balanced on his hind legs and began to spin, sending the pins in every direction. The Duskull couldn't dodge them all and was hit multiple times, but it took very little damage.
"No way!" Jack gasped in spite of himself.
Heather sighed in disappointment. "Ghost types are also tough against bug moves. What does Mouse think she's doing? This isn't her usual style."
"Now it is our turn!" Fantina singsonged. She twirled and called "Duskull, Disable!" The Duskull glowed an eerie blue colour, and in the next instant Stripes glowed blue as well. He glanced at himself and made a startled noise as his fur settled back down onto his body.
"So you're going to play dirty by disabling my moves, huh?" Mouse goaded. "Try this out. Odor Sleuth!" Her Pokémon's nose and mouth were surrounded by white static for a moment, and then he opened his mouth to let loose a bubble of energy that enveloped the Duskull, which began to glow faintly yellow. "No matter what your Duskull does now, Stripes will be able to find it!"
Jack could see that although Fantina was still smiling her composure seemed to be weakening, and he wondered if her Duskull knew any offensive moves that were not ghost type.
"Alors, we will continue even so! Will-o-Wisp!" A series of ghostly red and blue flames appeared and floated through the air.
Mouse waved one hand and went on the offensive. "Dodge that and use Headbutt!" Stripes raced forward, zigzagged in between the motes of flame and launched himself at the Duskull, landing a solid hit! Astonished gasps and mutters emanated from the audience.
"Nice!" exclaimed Heather. "Odor Sleuth causes a ghost type to become vulnerable to normal type attacks! Mouse must have planned that all along."
With the Duskull disoriented from the unexpected hit, Mouse pressed her advantage. "Stripes, Shadow Claw!" Purple shadows extended from her Pokémon's claws and slashed the Duskull, dealing heavy damage and bringing it down.
"Duskull is unable to battle. Zigzagoon wins!" the referee said.
Jack took a deep breath and wrapped his arms around his body as he tried to control his conflicting emotions. On one hand he was happy that Mouse had the advantage in the battle so far. But he was also terrified of what was going to happen if she did win. Heather would leave and he would be traveling in an unfamiliar region with a person who he had known for only a short time. Could he cope?
Celebratory shouts and whistles around him drew his attention back to the battle: Fantina had released her Mismagius. "Time to show your grace, chèrie! Magical Leaf!" Her Pokémon spun in place and a shower of glowing green leaves whirled throughout the battlefield. There were too many for Stripes to dodge and he was pummelled to the ground by the force of the attack. "Finish with Dark Pulse!" The gems on Mismagius' body flared and a ball of intertwining black and purple circles materialized.
"Stripes, get up! You can do this!" Mouse hollered. "Use Iron Tail to intercept!" The Zigzagoon struggled to his feet and his tail transformed into a steel-coloured version of itself. As the dark orb lengthened into a beam that arced toward him, he leaped up and struck its leading edge with his tail. It was a valiant effort; had he been stronger, he would have succeeded. His tail sliced the beam partly in half, but he could only hold it for a few seconds before the energy overwhelmed him and he crashed down in a faint.
"Zigzagoon is unable to battle. Mismagius wins!" As the spectators cheered, Fantina pirouetted again and blew a kiss to her admirers.
Mouse recalled Stripes to his PokéBall. "Thank you, that was terrific." She selected another ball and addressed Fantina. "Don't start thinking that I'm a pushover. Here's some real power! Donar, it's action time!" She threw out the PokéBall and her Raichu emerged.
The remainder of the battle was difficult for Jack to watch, considering how predictable the outcome would be. Although Fantina's Pokémon were evenly matched with those of Hunter K, he in turn had been completely overwhelmed by Heather and Mouse's sheer force.
"Mismagius, Trick Room!" An eerie grid-like pattern covered the battlefield for a moment, and then it faded away. "Now I shall be able to move first. Confuse Ray!"
"Counter with Thunder Wave!" called Mouse, but Donar was already surrounded by a series of tiny gold orbs. His eyes glazed over and he stumbled unsteadily around, sweeping his tail as if to trip an unseen foe. "Come on, focus! Thunder Wave!" Donar didn't respond.
"What is it you say, you are a sitting Psyduck?" Fantina asked. "Ma chère Mismagius, Psybeam!" Its eyes began to glow red.
"Donar, return!" The Raichu disappeared into his ball just in time, as Mismagius released a multicoloured beam at the spot where Donar had been. "Just the kind of thing I'd expect from a Gym Leader, but I'm not done yet. Tysen, it's action time!" She had saved her best Pokémon, Typhlosion, for last. "Use Smokescreen!" Thick grey smoke gushed from Tysen's mouth, blanketing the field and obscuring everything, including himself. "All right, let's play hide and seek!"
Mismagius floated above the smoke, searching for its opponent. "That was smart, but your Pokémon cannot hide from us!" Fantina flung her arms wide. "Mismagius, use Magical Leaf on the field!"
"Go underground!" Mouse called. The swirling leaves dispersed the smoke quickly, but Tysen was nowhere to be seen.
"Mismagius, wait for it to come out and then use Confuse Ray! It cannot escape."
"That's what you think! Smokescreen!" A cloud of smoke erupted from the hole that Tysen had dug, covering the battlefield again. "Now, Swift!"
"Confuse Ray!" Although the Trick Room was still active and enabled Mismagius to attack first, the golden orbs of its Confuse Ray meandered all around the arena as if unable to find a target. In the next instant a stream of star-shaped motes of energy appeared from one side and unerringly struck the Mismagius... passing through it without any effect. Fantina clenched a fist in triumph. "Aha! Aim for that spot and use Dark Pulse!" The bizarre dual-coloured beam lanced out and hit the ground, blowing away the smoke in the vicinity and creating a small crater. However there was still no sign of the Typhlosion.
Mouse grinned and snapped her fingers. "Flamethrower, now!" Tysen burst out of the ground behind Mismagius and flames roared from his mouth, engulfing the Magical Pokémon and knocking it out.
"Mismagius is unable to battle, Typhlosion wins!"
Fantina recalled her Pokémon amid gasps of awe and disappointment from the audience. "Merci, chèrie." She drew herself up and addressed Mouse, "Oh, heavens! It seems I am down to my last Pokémon."
"And it looks like I have the upper hand," Mouse said with a grin. "I figured out your strategy. Since your moves would happen first, I had to lure you into hitting the wrong place so that I could attack from behind."
"Well done," the Gym Leader admitted with a rueful smile. "But I never surrender! Behold my master of shadows!" She tossed a PokéBall and her Gengar appeared.
By this time the rest of the smoke had dissipated, and a subtle flare over the field indicated that the Trick Room effect had also worn off. "Perfect timing!" Mouse enthused. "Tysen, Flamethrower!"
Fantina punched the air in front of her. "Vite, Sucker Punch!" As Tysen opened his mouth, Gengar raised an arm. A shadowy projection extended across the field and belted the Typhlosion across the jaw, knocking him backward and spoiling his attack. It didn't cause any serious damage though, and Tysen immediately regained his footing.
Quickly Mouse shifted her strategy. "Tysen, Quick Attack!" Her Pokémon dashed toward the Gengar at an amazing speed.
Fantina laughed, incredulous at such brashness. "That will not affect Gengar. Shadow Punch!" Her Gengar drew back one fist, which became encased in purple sparks. Then it aimed its fist toward Tysen and sent an elongated black arm toward him.
Mouse's eyes narrowed. "I've got you now. Eruption!" Just before the Shadow Punch hit, Tysen ignited the flames on his neck and released a geyser of red-orange fire at the Gengar. The Typhlosion was once again knocked back but he rolled to a crouch. When the flames burned out, the Gengar toppled over.
"Gengar is unable to battle. Typhlosion wins, therefore the winner of this battle is Christina!" There was a moment of stunned silence from the audience, followed by clapping and whistles. As Fantina consoled her Pokémon, Mouse turned to face where Jack and Heather were sitting and flashed a victory sign with her fingers.
Jack groaned morosely and leaned over to bury his face in his arms.
After Fantina officially presented Mouse with the Relic Badge, the three of them exited the Gym and Heather released Eagle, her Pidgeot.
"Can't you wait until tomorrow?" Jack pleaded. "What's the hurry?" One more evening would at least allow him to come to terms with today's bewildering events, and he needed to talk.
Heather secured her backpack. "The faster I get going, the sooner I'll be able to challenge the Gyms and catch up to you." She noticed her brother's distraught look and hugged him once more. "You have shown bravery, compassion, and wisdom in the short time that we've been in Sinnoh. I'm confident that you'll be able to grow on your own for a while. Mouse will steer you right, you'll see." Turning to Mouse she said, with a slight smile, "You take care of him, or else."
"Count on it," Mouse responded, giving a thumbs-up.
Unable to speak, Jack watched as Heather positioned herself on Eagle's back and the Pidgeot took off, ascending into the clear sky and heading in a westerly direction. When this journey had begun, he never would have thought he and Heather would go separate ways. Now he realized that he couldn't hold onto her forever, and it was time for him to find his own way instead of hiding in the safety of his sister's shadow. When she returned, he would be a whole new trainer. Taking a deep breath, he blew it out sharply and smiled to himself.
Mouse clapped her arm around his shoulders. "Ready to go?"
He waited until Heather was out of sight and then cleared his throat before facing east, toward Veilstone City. "Yeah!"
THE END
Sailor Chronos
February 2013
I would like to thank the following people:
My husband, as always, for his support.
"DarthMittens" my beta-reader, for help with the editing.
The creator of Pokémon, Satochi Tajiri, for providing such a rich world to inspire the imagination.