The Crystal Adventure
Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon.
Manabu: Happy New Year! I resolve to tell Amelia how I feel finally, and man up!
Yusei: I resolve to taking longer naps!
Chapter 11: The Diamond Rainbow
The morning sun rises up on the horizon over the Johto Region. Pokemon trainer, and Sinnoh Champion, Lucas wakes up to the light shining in his eyes. Prying his eyes opens as best as he could, he looks up to see it's morning. In front of him lies his green haired girlfriend Cheryl. Smiling he lays a kiss on her lips to get her awake. To his surprise she kisses him back, being as loving as she could. Eventually they end the kiss and she opens her eyes, seeing Lucas in front of her. He says to her with a blush on his face, "Morning."
"Morning," Replies Cheryl as she rises up from bed. This gives the boy a clear view of her green nightgown, though he got a good look at it last night. He quickly turns around and falls out of bed, causing her to chuckle. "So, where to today?"
"I'm thinking we could head for Goldenrod like I suggested. I want to see what's going on there." He says as he searches for his clothes. He's also trying to avoid seeing Cheryl until she's properly dressed so he could control his urges.
"Lucas, don't be so nervous seeing me like this." Cheryl says as she dresses herself in her green clothes. Lucas does so as she does, and soon they both are completely dressed. She looks back at him to see her boyfriend clothed, and Lucas peeks at her with a sigh. "Like I said, I won't mind."
"Yeah," Replies the young boy. "Anyway, let's go."
The two leave the center and set their sights on their path ahead; Goldenrod City. Lucas sends out Pidgeotto and hands it a Rare Candy. It eats it and begins to shine brightly. The shiny bird grows in size and soon the light fades, turning it into Pidgeot."Alright!"
"When did you get a Rare Candy?" Cheryl asks him.
"I've had it for a while. I was just waiting for the perfect time to use it; a Pokemon that levels up with Rare Candy doesn't always receive the stat increase it needs." Lucas explains.
"So, why use it on Pidgeotto?" She asks him.
"Because the fastest way to reach Goldenrod is by flight, and Pidgeotto is too small to carry both of us." He explains, sighing as he boards Pidgeot's back. "Ready?"
"Of course." She says, sitting on the bird Pokemon's back. Pidgeot then takes to the sky, easily even though it's carrying two people. Mid flight, Cheryl wraps her arms around his back, finding comfort at having his back so close to her chest. "Lucas, you don't have to hold back."
"Eh?" - Lucas
"If you can't control your urges then I'll catch them. I have full intention of waiting until we're married to make love, but if you want to give in before then that's okay." She whispers in his ears. A blush appears on both of their faces. "As long as it's with you."
"Cheryl..." Lucas whispers to himself as they head further across the skies.
The couple and Pidgeot make it to Goldenrod City, landing before the Pokemon Center. Lucas recalls his Pokemon and looks ahead of him at the destroyed Radio Tower. Lucas walks up to the tower, where a group of construction workers are already working on it. "Ah, it's you!"
"Me?" Lucas looks around to see who called him, and finds the Director. At that moment Cheryl catches up to him.
"Lucas, quit leaving me behind!" - Cheryl
"I'm so glad you two are okay! I was worried since I never saw you from yesterday, but now my fears are relieved." He says with a sigh. "Thank you for saving us, even though you couldn't save that."
"Yeah, I'm sorry about that. It was all I could do to just stop them." Lucas says, a sad look in his eyes present as he tries to smile. The Director then hands Lucas an item. "What's this?"
"It's the Rainbow Wing. You see, there use to be another tower here before this one. When we were remodeling it this feather here was found in the process." The Director explains. "It is said that having that feather will allow you to climb the Tin Tower in Ecruteak, but there's one more item that's needed."
"Tin Tower... Ecruteak..." Lucas turns to Cheryl as he tries to piece this all together. 'Hey, does this have to do with those Kimono girls?' "Thank you, Director. I'll take care of it."
"Thank you, for all you've done. You saved Pokemon worldwide from Team Rocket's grasp, and you got nothing out of it." Lucas scratches his head sheepishly, embarrassed from all the praise.
"Well, I'll be going. I still have to travel to Blackthorn." Lucas says to him. He looks to Cheryl, who smiles back. "Nah?"
"Ah." Cheryl says with a nod. "Let's go."
Lucas sends out Pidgeot again, and together they fly towards Mahogany Town. After landing he recalls his Pokemon and they head east to the correspondent route. Along the way they spot a trainer running and shouting in fear. The two look questionably at the trainer, wondering what's his damage, until a Spiritomb comes flying out of nowhere firing a Shadow Ball at him.
"Spiritomb, return!" He says, trying to call back his Pokemon. Spiritomb skillfully avoids the red beam and fires a second Shadow Ball, blowing his trainer into a tree.
Lucas charges forward and stands to defend the guy. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, thanks." He says, holding his arms as he tries to recover from the damage."That's my Pokemon. I caught it two days ago, but ever since then it's been causing me trouble! I tried training it, but it keeps attacking me."
"It does?" Lucas takes out his Pokedex and scans Spiritomb, who prepares to fire a second one. He counters using Dragon Pulse, shocking the trainer he's protecting. The Pokedex reads, "Spiritomb, the Forbidden Pokemon; it is a Pokemon comprised of the souls of 108 souls. They are malevolent Pokemon that enjoy mischief and destruction. Catching Spiritomb and raising them to be proper Pokemon are two different things, involving the trainer to connect with the Pokemon as best as they can. Spiritomb have mostly been sealed away into Keystones, an aura guardian managed to seal a great number of them away."
"Wait, if that's true then how did Cheryl and Cynthia connect with theirs?" Lucas asks himself as he reads the information over.
"I just got mine when some weird dude gave me this odd stone." The trainer tells him.
"Cheryl!" Lucas lifts his head up to ask his girlfriend for help, but he finds she's already speaking with Spiritomb. Somehow she managed to calm it down.
"It's okay now, Lucas. I talked with Spiritomb and it's calm now. I just wants its trainer to give it a more luxurious Pokeball." Cheryl explains with a smile.
"Eh?" - Lucas/Trainer
"Here. You can use this." Cheryl hands the kid a Luxury Ball from her bag.
"Wow, thanks ma'am!" He says. The kid then holds his new ball up to Spiritomb, who seems much calmer seeing it.
Lucas and Cheryl walk further east, heading towards their destination that is Blackthorn. Although, a yard's worth of walking has Lucas cutting the silence by asking, "How did you know what Spiritomb wanted?"
"Oh that?" Cheryl instinctively clenches her fingers tightly, her heart slowly pounding.
"If Spiritomb was truly a hostile Pokemon then you must have had trouble with yours, right? How did you do it?" He asks her.
Cheryl grits her teeth and looks at her boyfriend, feeling in her heart she may regret saying these next words. "Lucas, I have a secret to tell you. It's something I never told anyone. I didn't want you to find out because I thought you might think I was crazy."
"Why would I think that? You probably don't know this, but I've been caught in all kinds of trouble. How can what you're hiding be any weirder?" - Lucas
Cheryl couldn't help but chuckle a little at that. Things have been getting weird for her life ever since she came into Lucas' life. "I guess... Lucas, I have the ability to talk to Pokemon."
"...Eh? You mean like, hear their minds?" She shakes her head.
"No, I mean actually talk to them. I can communicate with Pokemon." She confesses, looking away with shame in her eyes. "I never wanted to tell anyway this because allot of people would try to make money off of my ability. Not even Gardenia knows about this."
"Why are you making a big deal about this? I don't mind if you can talk to Pokemon! I'm an Aura Guardian, so we should understand eachother!" Lucas says in a tone she would understand.
"...I guess. It's just that, I don't want anyone to take advantage of my ability. I like being a normal girl." - Cheryl
"You don't have to worry about that. I like you just as you are." Lucas says with a smile. "You could have told me that earlier."
"I wanted to. I was about to when we were about to split up, when you were going to Johto alone... I was just so overwhelmed by your gift I completely forgot to tell you." She confesses, a huge blush on her face. Her heart also calms down now that she knows Lucas is okay with it. "Thank you, Lucas."
"You don't have to thank me. I love you, remember? I promised to be with you for as long as I can." He tells her, placing an arm around her to make a half hug.
Cheryl blushes even more as she feels contact from him, and then leans in to kiss him. "Let's keep moving."
The couple head towards the Ice Path, ready to finish the last gym. By the time they enter inside they see on the Pokegear it's past noon. Lucas and Cheryl go inside the cave, and find it's as cold as the name gives.
Two Hours Later...
"I can see the exit!" Lucas tells Cheryl as they reach the nearby exit. It took a while for them to make it to the end; the main obstacle included a puzzle with rocks and skating to progress further. While traveling though Lucas manages to capture Sneasel.
"Thank goodness." Cheryl mutters with glee.
"Excuse me," Says a voice. Lucas and Cheryl look up ahead to find a Kimono girl standing on ice.
"Another Kimono girl?" Lucas mutters as he looks at her.
"Another?" Cheryl grumbles, quickly growing mad at the thought of another girl getting to know Lucas behind her back. "You know her?"
"Of course he doesn't. This is the first time we've met, although this won't be the last." She says with a smile. "Could you give me a little push? I can't seem to move," Lucas sighs, guessing this must be another one of their tests, and skates over to her to give the woman a push. She slides on the ice over to the exit, walking on her two feet now. "Thank you Lucas."
"Eh? How do you know my name? Did the others tell you?" He asks her, which sends a red flag up in Cheryl's mind.
"There are more?" - Cheryl
"Good day." She says, walking out the cave.
Lucas is then grabbed by Cheryl, who aggressively shouts, "What do you mean by 'others'?"
"Cheryl, calm down. Ever since I came to Johto I've run into these ladies dressed in kimonos, that one being the fifth. I helped some out with certain tasks, guiding them out of the Ilex Forest, protecting one from Team Rocket, and one spoke with me in the Goldenrod underground." He explains, hoping this will calm her down.
"Why are you so popular with girls?" Cheryl cries.
After that funny fiasco, Lucas and Cheryl exit the cave. Cheryl quickly forgives Lucas, for something he didn't even do, when she remembers how dedicated he is to her. After that they head for the Pokemon center south of their position and book a room for the night. This leaves Lucas with one thing to do; challenge the gym.
Lucas heads for the gym and prepares to challenge the leader, but sees a sea of lava before him. At the sight of this Cheryl latches onto Lucas and they back far away from it as possible. Looking to the side they see a sign, which says, "Blackthorn City Pokemon Gym, Leader: Clair, the Blessed User of Dragon Pokemon."
"Dragon Pokemon?" Cheryl repeats in amazement.
"This won't be as easy as I thought." Lucas says as he and Cheryl exit the gym quickly. "I'll need to adjust my team and train them."
"Will you need some help?" She asks him as they walk further away from the gym.
"Yeah, thanks!" Thus begins Lucas' training. He would need it; His training mostly focuses on Plue, Wani, Atlas, Sneasel and Pidgeot. Atlas is a bug/fighting type, so its physical strength will be enough for the gym. Pidgeot is fast and knows Twister, so he still has that to fall back on. Plue is a fire type so it won't be of much help, but the Thunder Punch it's learning is still perfect for it incase of water types. Sneasel is an ice type, so that's enough. Wani is a water type but Ice Fang is a great break for him.
At the end of his training Lucas and Cheryl head back to the Pokemon Center since it's dark out. They eat with their Pokemon and soon go to bed, sleeping peacefully. The next morning things go by normally; Lucas freaks out seeing Cheryl in her nightgown again, Cheryl laughing at his supposed innocence, and breakfast.
Unfortunately, this would be the last normal morning they would ever have for a while. The Pokegear rings, catching Lucas' attention. "Are?"
Cheryl picks his Pokegear up, answering the call. "Moshimoshi?"
"Hello? This is Professor Elm. Is Lucas there?" Professor Elm asks on the other end.
She hands Lucas the phone, saying, "It's Elm."
"Ah." Lucas takes the Pokegear and answers, "Yes?"
"Ah! Lucas! I've found something interesting I want you to have! Can you come over as soon as you can?" - elm
"Well, I guess. I was just about to... You know what, that can wait." Lucas says as he ties his shoes.
"Okay then, thanks. See you soon." He speaks on the other line, before hanging up.
"Lucas, what was that about?" - Cheryl
"Professor Elm wanted to ask me to come by and pick something up." He says to her. "Wanna come with me?"
"Of course. I'll go with you anywhere." She says as she ties her boots on. After grabbing their stuff they head outside the Pokemon Center and fly towards New Bark Town onboard Pidgeot. The trip takes only an hour seeing as New Bark Town is near south of Blackthorn.
Lucas recalls back Pidgeot and heads inside the lab, seeing Lyra inside with her Marill. "Ah, Lucas and Cheryl!"
"Hi, Lyra." Cheryl says.
"Lucas, that was fast." Lucas looks up ahead and sees the professor walking towards him. He hands him a Master Ball. "This is for you, a ball given to Pokemon Researchers. I got it last night, but I figured you would make better use of it. It has the ability to catch any Pokemon without fail."
"Wow, thanks!" Lucas says as he receives the ball. 'So Cyrus must have gotten his by stealing it.' "I could use this on any Pokemon I search for!"
"Yeah... Wait, search..." Elm cups his chin as he begins to think. He then flinches remembering something. "That reminds me; a lady came here today searching for you."
"A lady?" Lucas asks. The word Lady set off Cheryl's jealousy switch and she glares at Elm.
"Apparently you've been helping out Kimono girls all over. One of them came over asking for you to visit Ecruteak as soon as you can." He explains to him. Lucas gains a confused look in his eyes as he looks at him, and Cheryl grows more enraged. Lyra chuckles at Cheryl's attitude.
"What do they want with me?" Lucas asks himself.
Cheryl grabs his ear and growls."You're not going!"
"I should atleast find out what they want!" He speaks through shouts of there's no stopping his curiosity she sighs and releases his ear.
"Fine." Cheryl grabs his arm and pulls him out the building angrily. Elm and Lyra could only watch questionably as they leave, knowing this is a couple's squabble.
After leaving the lab things take their natural course, with Lucas calling out Pidgeot and them flying to Ecruteak City. They then head to the Dance Theatre, and upon entering they see all five Kimono girls standing on stage, as if waiting for them. The middle one says, "We've been waiting for you."
"You're waiting for me? What do you all want?" - Lucas
"The Pokemon Ho-oh is planning to make its return. It was secretly foretold and passed on through our family that if the day comes that it would, Ho-Oh would choose a single human and judge humanity on his actions." The second one says. "I am Zuki. I was in Violet City when you received the Pokemon Egg from Professor Elm's assistant. Only true positive emotions can hatch the egg."
"That's why you gave it to Mr. Pokemon? So it would reach someone like me?" Lucas asks.
"We were hoping it would reach someone who would be a great candidate for Ho-Oh to choose." The third Kimono girl states. "My name is Naoko, the Kimono girl you met in Ilex Forest. Thank you for your help there."
"Uh, sure." - Lucas
"Why do you think Lucas would make a perfect candidate? Why is Ho-Oh judging humanity?" Cheryl asks.
"I am Miki, the girl you protected here from Team Rocket." The fourth one says. "A long time ago, Ho-Oh and Lugia lived together here in the Burnt Tower and the Tin tower, but the Burnt Tower didn't use to be like that. Humans eventually wanted Ho-Oh's powers, so they went to war. In the midst of their war lightning struck Lugia's tower, and it was forced to flee. The lightning caused a fire that burnt the tower down, and then rain poured. Unfortunately, three Pokemon were caught in the fire and died."
"Oh no." Cheryl gasps. Lucas is appalled as well.
"The Rainbow Pokemon Ho-Oh was sickened with humanity so it fled, resurrecting the three Pokemon inside as Raikou, Entei and Suicune." The fifth Kimono Girl says, the one Lucas and Cheryl remember from recently. "I am Sayo, the girl you helped in the Ice Path."
"Oh yeah." - Cheryl
"All three Pokemon have that relation to Ho-Oh?" - Lucas
"It was confirmed that Lucas would be the candidate for Ho-Oh's judgment when he met them in the Burnt Tower. Ever since then they've been watching you, giving reports to the Rainbow Pokemon. The Dragon Trio from Sinnoh even recognized you as the proper choice and resolved to protect you; it was a choice preordained ever since you picked up the Griseous Orb." The first one from before says. "I am Kuni, the one you met in Goldenrod Tunnel during Team Rocket's takeover."
"So then, that's why... That's why he wanted me to get those orbs. But why me? I only came to Goldenrod because I wanted to challenge Jasmine properly. I'm not sure if I can take this much pressure." Lucas says as he looks back and forth between each Kimono Girl.
"Those three are as old as time gets. There's no way they would make the mistake of choosing you. Besides, you'll be fine. Just be your natural self, and you'll gain approval in Ho-Oh's eyes." Kuni tells him. She then points to the side to a bell. "We'll travel to the top of Tin Tower; there you can call Ho-Oh to the tower with the Clear Bell."
"How do you know all this stuff? Who are you five?" Cheryl asks them.
The Kimono Girls go silent. Not answering her question, Naoko picks up the Clear Bell and they prepare to leave. Miki says, "Let's go. It's almost time."
"Eh?" Lucas couldn't get his answer as he was pushed outside by the Kimono Girls as they head for the tower. Cheryl sighs and tries to stay calm, despite the fact that five beautiful girls are huddled by her boyfriend. Still, she follows them and ignores this fact, and the fact that someone was watching them from the shadows.
The seven of them climb the Tin Tower, with Lucas using the Fog Badge and the Rainbow Wing to get acceptance from the two wisemen guarding the tower. Lucas then travels to the top of the tower, taking note of how strong the Pokemon inside his way are. He manages to reach the top after the perilous journey, one he never wants to go through with again.
Lucas and the six girls with him are now finally on top of the Tin Tower. He then asks, "What next?"
"We will use the Clear Bell to call forth Ho-Oh." Naoko holds up the bell and hands it to Lucas.
"How will you call Ho-Oh? Do I ring it?" He asks questionably.
Zuki chuckles. "No, silly."
"We dance." Kuni says as the other four step to the four corners of the roof. Lucas and Cheryl move to the steps and the five Kimono Girls begin to dance. Lucas could only look in shock and amazement as the women danced elegantly and beautifully. As they dance, the Clear Bell rings in Lucas' hands.
As that one rings, the bells outside the Tin Tower ring in response. After several seconds, a noise similar to a bird call resounds from the skies. From the distance the group could see the phoenix of legend coming their way. Ho-Oh lands on top of the Tin Tower, looking down on the people before them.
"Wow. So, this is Ho-Oh..." Lucas says as he looks at the phoenix.
"It is up to you now, Lucas. We have fulfilled our duty." Kuni says to him. She then walks closer to him and gives Lucas a kiss on the cheek. Lucas fights back a blush, but enough is shown for Cheryl to see. The green girl grows enraged and pulls Lucas closer to her, but that rage goes away when she sees that the Kimono girls are fading away. "Bye."
"Eh? Hold on a sec!" Lucas reaches out for Kuni, but she vanishes quickly. The others have as well. Lucas turns to Cheryl and asks, "What was that?"
"They were ghosts, spirits of the past I brought to life for this purpose." A voice speaks. Lucas and Cheryl turn to face the source, and spot a beautiful young woman. She has a lovely silk kimono dress that runs down to the floor, colored red and white like the feathers of Ho-Oh. Her hair is scarlet red and flows longer than Cheryl's; it's even braided the same way. Her haori is colored just like a morning rainbow, and she has three folds of hair hanging in front of her eyes. "It's so nice to meet you in person for once, Lucas Kongoseki."
"Who are you?" Lucas asks in shock.
"It's me, Ho-Oh. I have simply taken a human form to speak to you properly." She says, smiling as she looks at the boy. Ho-Oh slowly approaches Lucas and Cheryl, who are still amazed at her appearance. Cheryl herself is in awe at how beautiful she is, much more than herself.
Lucas manages to snap himself out of his stupor and look at Ho-Oh, while holding a blush back as best as he can, and asks, "Why did you go through so much just to meet with me?"
"Because you are the candidate for humanity's future. You've recently met with Giratina and his brothers, and they told you they were planning to summon Arceus when Cyrus and Giovanni ruined things, right?" - Houou
"Uh, yeah... But how do you know that? Red stopped Giovanni and prevented that from happening." - Lucas
"Even though time has changed, the memory of what never happened will always live in my mind. Those trio are also unaffected by the changes of time. Anyway, with those two out of the way they will continue with their goal of bringing Arceus back to this dimension. When that happens, she will erase humanity." Houou explains.
"Eh? Why?" Lucas asks in shock. Cheryl is also scarred with surprise.
"Humans have made too many mistakes. They have killed Pokemon and eachother for their selfish greed, they have made groups to misuse Pokemon for desires gone wild, and they don't care." Lucas looks down in shame as she explains to the couple the downfalls of man. She then smiles and approaches Lucas with a hug, much to Cheryl's hateful glares, and says, "But you have a chance to show Arceus the good sides of humanity. She only sees things as black and white, so all you have to do is make her see gray. Trust me; you're the perfect choice, a human and an Aura Guardian who loves Pokemon and humans."
"Arceus is a girl?" - Cheryl
"He's isn't an old man?" Lucas says, quoting what Dialga told him after getting the three orbs.
"Arceus is the creator of the universe, so he can be whatever he wants to be. He's mostly a girl though." Houou tells him before she removes herself from Lucas. "Arceus also trusts my judgment over every other Pokemon, even her most mature child Giratina, so before she went to sleep she told me to look after the world and search for the perfect human; it didn't help that me and Lugia were attacked by humans for their terrible desires. I had no interest in looking for a candidate at first, but I decided to gives humans one last chance, and that when I met the Aura Guardians."
"...You met the Aura Guardians?" Lucas asks with the most confused expression on his face.
"The candidate for humanity's defense, I decided upon a human who was young, could connect with Pokemon the way they do, and at the same time didn't hate humans. I looked into them, but no one fit the bill. So, I waited until the right choice came along. When Giratina told me you were the human who found the orbs I took an interest in you." She finishes.
"So what happens now? Will you continue to follow Lucas no matter what?" Cheryl asks the Rainbow Pokemon.
"Of course! As long as I stay with him, he will be on constant watch. And what better way than inside a Pokeball?" Houou sneaks into Lucas' bag and steals a Premier Ball. "You'll have to take good care of me from now to seven days later."
"That's all I have left?" Lucas sighs and looks away. "Fine."
"Oh cheer up. A cute boy like you should be more positive." Houou teases, lighting another flare in Cheryl's jealousy fire. This fire goes into a full explosion when Houou leans in and places a kiss on Lucas' lips. After removing she chuckles seeing Lucas blushing so much he can't make a response.
"WHY YOU LITTLE!" Cheryl screams, prepared to knock Houou's lights out. At that moment though Houou releases flames that consume the humans and herself. These flames shoot up into the air, and land right behind the Burnt Tower. The fires release Cheryl and Lucas before retreating to the phoenix. She then kisses the Pokeball and enters inside it.
"What just happened?" Lucas asks, referring to the last few seconds from the kiss to now. Cheryl nabs the Premier Ball and begins to rapidly shake it. "Cheryl, wait!"
"I don't care if you are judging Lucas to save humanity! NO ONE SEDUCES THE MAN I LOVE!" Cheryl screams, shaking the ball as hard as she could. Lucas takes the ball away from her and sighs. "WHATEVER FORCE OUT THERE IS MAKING MY BOYFRIEND ATTRACTIVE TO WOMEN, KNOCK IT THE FUCK OFF!"
After screaming those words to the heavens, Ten Commandments can be seen sitting in his chair, adjusting his glasses while laughing his ass off. He then commences typing on the laptop, whispering, "Messing with Cheryl is fun."
Kenshin: And that ends this chapter. Next time, Lucas goes to Blackthorn and battles Ibuki, I mean, Clair. He then meets up with Lance and begins for Kanto.