Author's Notes: Okay, so I lied. As it turns out, chapter twelve was going to need to be split into two chapters to avoid disgraceful hugeness, and I figured that, as I woldn't be able to get the part that I was working up to posted anyway, I might as well just take a day off for editing. This chapter is the longest I've yet posted, so it took a long time…
Glad you enjoyed that last chapter, more suspense and mysteriousness will be coming shortly. Well, not shortly, actually. This is the last chapter that will be posted, as I'm going away for all of Christmas break and won't be able to throw anything up while I'm gone.
That being said, everyone have a merry Christmas, a happy new year, and a most relaxing and carefree break! See you in January!
Chapter Eleven: An Ally and Enemy Gained
Tobias awoke slowly, the sun already rising towards its noonday apex. Groaning, he reluctantly pushed back his dew-covered blankets. Jinx was nowhere to be seen, apparently having decided to seek breakfast for himself elsewhere in the forest. Chevron yawned and stretched, then irritably began to scratch an itch behind his left ear.
His conscious only barely restored, Tobias began to turn the previous night's events over in his mind, as though the bright sun might illuminate something new. Who had the sergeant been referring to as he complained about being pushed around by? It was a question he hadn't pondered much the night before, but now it began to bother him. Someone with a great deal of authority, obviously, and someone interested in seeing Tobias brought to justice…
The question was driven from his mind as the rumbling of his stomach reminded him that he had more pressing matters to attend to. Tobias rooted around in his pack until he came up with the food that Master Dewshiver had sent along with him. Unwrapping the parcel, he found that it contained some sort of traveling bread, very flat and rocklike in appearance. There were further strips of dried meat and numerous berries, which Tobias eyed with some suspicion. After his experience with the cherifigy soup, he figured that it would be to his advantage to check and make sure that these varieties weren't too spicy before he tried one.
As he was about to set about doling out breakfast to himself and Chevron, Tobias suddenly remembered the mysterious Pokemon that he had caught the previous night. He should let it out and identify it, not to mention heal it and offer it a bit of food as well. Reaching for his belt, he grasped the third bell and unhooked it. "Appear, Pokemon," he commanded, ringing it.
Tobias watched with interest as the billowing white mist solidified into a vaguely humanoid Pokemon. No sooner had it fully emerged, however, than it shut its huge eyes tightly with the nails-on-chalkboard screech that Tobias remembered from the night before. Its mottled brown pelt still bore the cuts and scrapes incurred from the previous night's scuffle, including several odd blackened areas that Tobias guessed must have been caused by Jinx's pursuit attack. Guiltily, he reached into his pack for some healing herbs. He noted that he was running low as he pulled a handful of them out and offered them to the Pokemon, which was still keeping its eyes tightly shut as though the morning sunlight burned.
"You want some of these?" Tobias asked kindly, holding the herbs near the Pokemon so that he assumed it could smell them. Sure enough, it reached out with a delicate paw and snatched them from his hand, chewing them down eagerly. As the stimulated healing process began, Tobias studied the unfamiliar creature with interest. It was now covering its face with its paws from which jutted long, knobbly fingers that ended in small claws. Its large ears occasionally twitched at the snapping of a twig or the rustling in the nearby brush as Chevron cheerfully investigated the area nearby. All in all, it seemed nervous, its lithe body jerking at particularly loud noises as though it desperately wanted to flee. Its thin tail, tufted with an odd lock of blue fur, was in constant, twitching motion. "It's all right, nothing's going to hurt you," Tobias reassured it, concerned by its actions. It merely shook its head, not removing the paws.
Tobias sighed and reached for his guidebook. He slowly flipped through the Pokemon profiles, looking for an illustration that matched the creature standing before him. At last he found it and read carefully.
Tarsix, the six-eye Pokemon. Type: PsychicOne of the few truly nocturnal Pokemon, Tarsix's large eyes are extremely sensitive to light. As treetop dwellers, Tarsix use their small claws and opposable thumbs to carry them swiftly from place to place. Their heads can rotate nearly two hundred and seventy degrees, allowing them to see in almost all directions without reorienting their bodies. The four "eyes" on the Tarsix's body are actually false markings used to scare off predators. At night, the Tarsix uses its psychic energy to cause these patches to glow as do its actual eyes in order to convince opponents that they face three Pokemon rather than one. Very solitary and secretive, Tarsix live deep in forests and generally avoid contact with humans.
"Oh, you don't like the light!" Tobias realized. "I'm sorry. If you move back a little and to your left you should be a bit more in the shade. The Tarsix seemed to consider this proclamation for a moment, then slowly stepped backwards in the direction that Tobias had indicated. Tobias meanwhile studied its coat for the eyespots mentioned by his guide. Sure enough, there they were, four white patches standing out amongst the brownish fur. The Tarsix, having reached the shade, removed its paws and tentatively opened its eyes to slits, wincing as the sunlight struck them. Still squinting, it looked up to Tobias, a critical expression on his face.
"So you're a psychic-type, huh?" Tobias asked uneasily. The Tarsix merely continued to squint up at him. "You should be able to talk to me then, shouldn't you?" Tobias asked. "Telepathically, like most psychics?"
Yes, the Tarsix replied in a resigned tone. So you are the guide of the Murkrow?
"Errr, yes," Tobias replied, surprised by the question. He gasped in surprise as the Tarsix's head suddenly spun back and forth, so far that it was nearly looking directly behind itself as it studied the area, its eyes beginning to open a little wider as it grew used to the light.
Where is the bird now? it asked in an unfriendly tone.
"I don't know where Jinx is right now," Tobias replied. "He's one of your teammates now, you know."
The Tarsix's clawed paws flexed in an unsettling manner, the long, delicate fingers able to exert a surprisingly strong grip. Indeed, it acknowledged.
Tobias regarded the Pokemon with suspicion, looking back down at his guidebook. "It says here that Tarsix 'generally avoid contact with humans.' Why were you following me?"
The Tarsix, whose head had been swiveling unnervingly once more, returned its gaze to Tobias. I take an interest in all humans that trespass in my territory, it informed him.
"Whatever," Tobias sighed, not at all convinced. The words reminded him of something that Master Dewshiver had said. They seem to have taken an unhealthy interest in you… He tried to avoid thinking too hard on the subject as he reached back into his pack and rooted around for the foot packet again. "Want some breakfast?"
Yes, please, the Tarsix replied, holding out a clawed paw imperiously. Fuming, Tobias dumped a few berries into it. He didn't like the Pokemon's attitude at all. He then remembered with horror the psychic-type's ability to look into the minds of humans and know their feelings. How would the Tarsix feel if it knew that he was already suspicious of it? He ought to at least give the Pokemon a chance. And before you start thinking up some woefully cliché nick name for me, the Tarsix said, chewing the berries down one at a time, I should inform you that I am known as Accemenla.
"Err…right. Accemenla," Tobias agreed uncertainly. He was saved from asking any inadvertently rude questions about the Pokemon's name by Chevron, who had smelt the berries that his guide had given to the Tarsix and decided to reappear for breakfast. He spotted the new Pokemon immediately. Tobias watched tensely as he snuffled the Tarsix up and down, relieved that the Pokemon bore the inspection with nothing more than a haughty air. "This is Accemenla," Tobias informed Chevron. "He's your new teammate."
She, the Tarsix interjected in annoyance. It's Accemenla, human.
"Oh. Sorry," Tobias replied. "And my name is Tobias, not 'human.'" Then, realizing his mistake, he added, "But call me Thomas."
Accemenla peered at him quizzically, then seemed to accept the name with a flick of her ears. Thomas it is, then, she agreed.
Chevron lost interest in the Tarsix and sauntered over to Tobias, begging for food. Tobias handed him some berries, which he munched down happily, then disappeared into the surrounding woodlands once more. "Well, I'm pretty much ready to go," Tobias told Accemenla. "Would you like to stay out of your chime?"
In this? she asked in disgust, gesturing at the sun as it shone cheerfully down from the clear sky. I think not.
"Return, then," Tobias said, ringing her chime. As his new Pokemon dissolved into her chime once more, Tobias heaved a sigh. He had a feeling that Accemenla would not be the most genial of companions. Hopefully he would be able to assuage her apparent loathing for Jinx. Otherwise, he could very well end up with a divided team as the two battled it out for supremacy.
Speaking of Jinx, the Murkrow should have returned by now. Tobias stood, shouldering his pack. "Jinx!" he called. "Jinx, where are you?"
At first the woods were silent, save for the usual early-morning noises of Pidgeys chirping on concealed boughs and the distant droning of Beedrill. A "Murrrkrow!" split suddenly through the peaceful ambient noise. A moment later, Jinx appeared in the sky, flying low over the trees before dipping down to land on Tobias's head.
"Where have you been?" Tobias asked with mock severity.
"Krow. Krowwowow," Jinx replied cheerfully, clacking his beak.
"Breakfast?" Tobias asked, but Jinx only shook his head. Tobias guessed that the Murkrow had been out foraging. He didn't like to think what it was that Jinx had found; he was a carrion eater, after all. "Stay close, okay?" Tobias implored his Pokemon, who bobbed his head in acknowledgement.
Tobias set off then on what proved to be a pleasant stroll through the Dakrill forest. The dark, alien landscape of the previous night was gone, replaced by a verdant environment rife with life. Tobias encountered far more Pokemon here than he had on the plains, from the diminutive Caterpies that slowly inched up and down tree trunks to the fearsome Beedrill that valiantly defended their huge hives from intruding humans. Jinx was a constant presence, never straying out of sight for long, though unfortunately he returned with irate Beedrill trailing after him, having caught him trying to tear into one of their hives.
Aside from these encounters, which usually involved running like mad, the walk was far from strenuous or stressful. Tobias found ample opportunities to work on battling with Jinx and Chevron, though he was reluctant to use Accemenla, due to her dislike of sunlight. He was disappointed that he no longer had any empty chimes; he would have liked to have caught a Weedle, the earlier stage of Beedrill.
As the day wore on, however, Tobias noticed that Chevron was beginning to act strangely. He seemed to have developed a sudden, persistent itch that would cause him to stop whatever else he was doing and scratch the affected area vigorously. Tobias was worried that he might have picked up fleas, but he caught Chevron purposefully dragging his feet along the forest floor, as though even his footpads were irritated. Still, the Zigzagoon maintained his sunny disposition, bringing Tobias numerous berries and herbs which the guide gratefully added to his depleted stash.
At midday the group stopped for lunch, Tobias releasing Accemenla to dine with them. At the sight of the Murkorow, however, she bristled angrily. You, she snarled mentally.
The dislike appeared to be mutual. Jinx crowed "Mur! Mur murkrowww!" angrily, red eyes narrowed.
"Come on, you two," Tobias pleaded. "What's the problem? Can't you at least try to get along?" The pair continued to glare at each other for several moments more, before Accemenla turned away from the Murkrow scornfully.
As you wish, she acquiesced in a sarcastic tone that made Tobias bristle as well.
Jinx stared murderously at the Tarsix's back before muttering something to himself and turning away, dismissing her as unimportant. Tobias resignedly doled berries out to his Pokemon, wondering why Accemenla and Jinx couldn't seem to get along. Psychic- and dark-type Pokemon were generally considered to be enemies, but Tobias just couldn't see why the Tarsix and Murkrow had such an enormous problem with one another. After all, they had only just met.
The cheerless luncheon was executed in cold, uncomfortable silence. Only Chevron seemed immune to the chilly atmosphere of distrust, munching his berries happily and occasionally pausing to scratch an itch. I'm done, Accemenla announced finally. Turning back to Tobias, she startled him by abruptly billowing into insubstantial mist, which returned to her chime as though he himself had recalled her. Tobias had never seen a Pokemon send itself back into its chime before, though he knew that they were prone to doing so. Chevron chirped excitedly, bounding back to his feet, clearly eager to be off. Jinx spread his wings, apparently intent on another excursion into the forest, but Tobias stopped him.
"Hang on, Jinx," Tobias said as he picked himself up. "Why don't you stay with me for a while? I want to talk to you." Jinx gave him a look of perplexed annoyance, but reluctantly flapped up to land on his guide's head. He peered down at Tobias from his perch, awaiting the conversation's beginning. "Look, Jinx, I know that you don't like Accemenla," Tobias began. Jinx cawed softly, rolling his eyes. "Come on, Jinx, what's your problem? I know that she doesn't like you, either, but the least you could do is try to get to know her a little better."
"Murrr. Krow mur mur krow," Jinx scoffed.
"Please, won't you at least try to get along with her?" Tobias pleaded.
Jinx was silent for several moments. At last, he nodded slowly. "Krowww," he sighed, then fluttered up into the treetops once more. Tobias took his answer to be a reluctant yes, and hoped that the situation might resolve itself once the pair got to know each other better.
The rest of the day passed in a pleasant enough manner, and as the evening shadows began to creep across the ground, Tobias thought that he might give Accemenla a try in battle. Spotting a likely Caterpie inching its way across the path, Tobias reached for her chime. "Go, Accemenla," he commanded as he rang the chime.
Ah, now this is more like it, Accemenla said in a satisfied tone as she took in the waning light of the forest. The Caterpie, seeing the foe, raised itself up on its rear legs in order to make itself look more threatening.
"Okay, Accemenla, I just want to use this battle as a test of your strength, okay?" Tobias asked. "What attacks do you know?"
Leer, scratch, foresight, and confusion, she replied, glaring down at her worm-like opponent menacingly. Suddenly, her eyes and eyespots began to glow with the same eerie blue light that they had on the previous night. The Caterpie, daunted, backed up slightly. This will be easy, she announced.
"Right, then. Try a scratch," Tobias suggested, praying that the Tarsix wouldn't act as snobby in battle as she did otherwise. Accemenla was no fool, however, and she had no problem with following the human's orders, so long as they would allow her to win the battle. She darted forward nimbly, claws at the ready. The Caterpie recovered and responded by firing a sticky strand at her legs, entangling them and causing her to stumble.
Off balance, she just managed to swipe at the Caterpie before being forced to halt her attack or risk falling. While she recovered, the Caterpie gathered its strength for a lunge. It ran straight at her, suction cup feet moving rapidly across the loamy ground. "Leer, Accemenla," Tobias suggested.
The Tarsix complied. As before, her eyes glowed yellow. The sudden change in color unnerved the Caterpie once more, causing it to halt warily. While it was still vulnerable, Accemenla dealt it another swipe with her claws. The Caterpie was sent sprawling to the ground. It recovered quickly, however, and charged at her enraged. Accemenla tried to dodge the attack, but the sticky string shot hampered her movements. As the Caterpie crashed into her side she tipped over at last, falling to the ground in a disheveled heap.
The Caterpie began its string shot again, apparently with the intent of gluing the psychic-type to the ground. Accemenla struggled to rise, but the strands were beginning to defeat her efforts. "Quick, Accemenla! Finish it off with confusion!" Tobias cried with a thrill of anticipation. He'd never seen the signature psychic-type move before, though he'd heard that it was fairly powerful.
Accemenla made no outwardly obvious gesture, but the Caterpie was suddenly thrown from her person and sent rolling along the ground, propelled by an unseen force. When it skidded to a halt at last, the will to fight had been completely battered out of it. Raising itself painfully back onto its suction cup feet, it undulated away into the underbrush at top speed. Accemenla resumed her attempts to peel herself off of the ground, efforts aided by her psychic powers. Once she had stripped most of the goop from her body, she stood back up and sauntered over to Tobias. "Excellent battle, Accemenla," he told her enthusiastically as she drew near.
Thank you, she replied smugly, her eyes fading back to their normal coloration. She shot a taunting glance at Jinx while Tobias wasn't looking, an act that infuriated the Murkrow. I think I'll stay out for a bit, if you don't mind, she told Tobias. It's dark enough now, I think.
"Sure, that's fine with me," Tobias agreed.
Mind if I ride along? Accemenla asked. Not waiting for an answer, she darted forward and leapt onto his back, scrabbling up it as though Tobias were just another tree. He yelped in surprise as her hooked claws dug into his skin. She finally reached a position that she was satisfied with, latched onto his pack as she surveyed the area, head constantly swiveling back and forth.
"Uh, sure," Tobias replied, though it was a little late for a refusal anyway. Jinx clacked his beak disapprovingly at the Tarsix, which clung onto the heavy-duty backpack like some sort of massive parasite. No one heard him, however, and the party forged through the woods once again.
Tobias put Accemenla through her paces throughout the evening and was pleased with what he saw. Though the Tarsix was still far less experienced than either Chevron or Jinx, she had a great deal of potential, or so the guide thought. Even Jinx grudgingly recognized her skill, though he would surely die before acknowledging it. Tobias was feeling considerably more cheerful at dinner time, despite the fact that he had only a strip of tough meat and a rocklike morsel of bread on which to dine. He had a third Pokemon who would surely make a powerful addition to his team.
Now, if only he could make her get along with Jinx. No open hostility had been displayed as the party members ate their meal in silence, but both Jinx and Accemenla were apparently exerting all of their discipline not to leap for each other's throats. As Tobias unrolled his blankets Accemenla announced, I'm going to stay outside of my chime for the night. See you in the morning.
She was gone almost immediately, leaping onto the trunk of the nearest tree and scrabbling up it rapidly, bounding along an outstretched branch and into the gloom of the forest. Jinx, as though to show how much more responsible he was, stayed perched above Tobias's head, standing guard as he had the night before. Once he was sure the boy was asleep, however, he too slipped quietly away into the night.
Tobias felt refreshed as he awoke on the second day of his journey through the forest. Jinx fluttered down to land beside him as soon as he began to move about, greeting him with a cheery "Krowww! Krowwoww!"
"Good morning to you, too," Tobias replied with a smile. "Already had breakfast?"
Jinx nodded, but Chevron chirped loudly to remind Tobias that he still needed feeding. As Tobias rummaged for the berries in his pack, he wondered aloud, "Where's Accemenla?"
Jinx pointed his beak at Tobias's belt. "Ah, I should have guessed," Tobias said, ringing the chime to call forth the Tarsix. "Breakfast time, he told her," handing her some berries.
Most unfortunately, she replied grouchily, shielding her eyes with one paw while she used the other to stuff berries into her mouth. Apparently, Tobias's cheery attitude wasn't affecting her at all. As soon as she had finished eating, she sent herself back into her chime.
Tobias finished packing up camp and was surprised when, instead of fluttering off into the forest again, Jinx returned to his old perch on his head. Apparently, Jinx was content with riding along today, perhaps jealous of the transportation Accemenla had been provided with the other evening.
The morning passed uneventfully as Tobias battled his way through more of the forest. He noticed worriedly that Chevron's itching seemed to be growing worse, but other than that nothing out of the ordinary happened. Just before lunch, however, an odd noise made Tobias halt and take notice.
It was a distant clanging of bells of many different sizes, a confused jumble of notes punctuated by loud thuds. The sounds drew nearer, crescendoing to a vibrant tintinnabulation that echoed around the trees. Jinx took flight to see if he could spy the source of the noise, which was drawing nearer at a fast pace. With a glad caw, he suddenly dived out of sight into some other part of the forest. "Jinx!" Tobias yelled after him.
The jangling, thudding noises suddenly stopped as a human voice echoed through the air. "What the--hey, leave those alone! Off! Get off!" Realizing that Jinx was probably the reason for the shouts, Tobias hurried forward. Rounding a particularly large oak tree, he was greeted by a very unusual sight.
A rather plump, middle-aged man was sitting astride a large Tauros, yelling and swatting wildly at Jinx, who was darting around him. The items that had apparently attracted Jinx's attention were the countless chimes that hung from the man's vest. Copper, bronze, and silver, they shone and glinted brightly in the sunlight. As Tobias watched, Jinx seized one of the silver ones and began to tug at it. The man responded by dealing him a hefty blow to the midsection, sending him flapping away with indignant squawks.
"No, Jinx!" Tobias yelled desperately. "Leave those alone!" Jinx, hearing his guide's voice, halted in his dive to try to grab a different chime and reluctantly fluttered over to Tobias.
"Krow? Kroww murrkrow?" he asked sulkily.
"Because they're not for taking, that's why," Tobias replied firmly, having a good idea of what the bird had just said. To the man he said, "I'm terribly sorry. My Murkrow just has a thing for shiny stuff, you know, and he sometimes goes after it like that."
The man wiped the sweat from his now slightly pink face and surprised Tobias by guffawing loudly. "The Murkow's got spunk, I like that," he chortled. "Imagine, going after my chimes like that." He looked down at Tobias intently. "You'd be a guide, then?"
"Yeah," Tobias replied. He guessed that the man must be as well, though he was obviously far more experienced than himself. Though traditional rules constrained guides to battling with only six Pokemon in any match, there wasn't any limit on how many they could carry around with them. Though many guides chose to limit themselves to keeping only six Pokemon, others chose to collect more and send them to stay with a master guide until they were needed or, like this man, carried them all around with them at once.
"What would you say to a battle?" the man asked. Seeing the look of horror on Tobias's face as the boy's gaze swept across the intimidating selection of chimes at his disposal, he laughed again. "Oh, don't worry, I'll go easy on you. There's a couple of Pokemon that I just caught that I want to try out anyway." He slid down from the Tauros, landing heavily with a loud peal.
"I guess so," Tobias agreed still reluctant.
"Excellent," chortled the man. "I'm Martin Featherfrond, by the way. I've been in the guiding business for over thirty years now, and still going strong." He offered his hand to Tobias, who shook it dazedly. "Of course, I don't have to go to the trouble of trekking everywhere on foot anymore," Martin continued. "I can ride one of my Pokemon wherever I want to go. I actually specialize in collecting the Pokemon for master guides to give to new recruits."
"Really? I though master guides caught all of the Pokemon that they give out," Tobias said, interest aroused. Jinx, who was anticipating the battle, ruffled his feathers irritably as the two humans engaged each other in conversation, annoyed by the delay.
"Well, some do," Martin replied. "Or they go and get the really rare ones, at least. But others use people like me to collect Pokemon for them, especially the really commonly awarded ones that go fast. So, is a three on three match good with you?"
Tobias was about to agree when he caught sight of Chevron, who was vigorously scratching himself once more. Thinking that it might be best to not overexert the Zigzagoon until he could get him checked out at a Pokemon center, Tobias replied, "Would two on two be all right?"
"Two on two?" Martin asked. "How about a double battle?"
"Double battle?" Tobias said blankly.
"Yes, it's a style of battling where each guide uses two Pokemon at once. Some temples require guides to use that format, so if you've never played a double battle before you might want to get acquainted with the concept."
"Oh, okay," Tobias replied without thinking, reaching for Accemenla's chime.
Martin nodded, selecting two bronze chimes from his large stash. Tobias wondered briefly how he could keep track of which was which, but didn't dwell on it. "Go, Rhyhorn and Oddish" he commanded. A craggy, rhinocerous-like Pokemon and a blue creature with a sprig of green leaves sprouting from its head appeared before him.
"Let's go, Jinx and Accemenla," Tobias commanded, ringing Accemenla's chime.
Jinx flew forward, ready to fight, but when Accemenla appeared on the battlefield and assessed the situation, she rounded on Tobias and announced, I'm not fighting with the Murkrow.
Jinx cawed angrily, impatient with the stubborn Tarsix. "Come on, Accemenla," Tobias pleaded. "You want to win, don't you?"
I refuse to accept him as my partner, Accemenla replied steadfastly.
"The battle's already started," Martin observed. He couldn't hear the mental proclamations of the Tarsix, but he got the gist of the situation from Tobias's responses. "Rhyhorn, hit the Tarsix with horn attack."
"Quick, Accemenla! Use confusion on it!" Accemenla grudgingly obliged, and the charging Rhyhorn was suddenly thrown aside--and straight at Jinx. The Murkrow cawed angrily and darted out of the way. "Accemenla! Quit fooling around!" Tobias reprimanded her, growing angry.
"Oddish, stun spore on the Murkrow and then hit it with fury attack, Rhyhorn," Martin commanded, not giving Tobias time to deal with his Pokemon's feud.
"Jinx, blow that powder away and then attack the Oddish. Accemenla, cover for Jinx with confusion again," Tobias commanded, giving the Tarsix a warning glare. Jinx obliged, flapping his black wings hard to blow the yellowish powder away, trying to propel it in the direction of the Rhyhorn. The great beast blundered into the cloud as it charged in to attack. Jinx then dove at the Oddish, which was preparing to launch another volley of spores into the air.
The Rhyhorn kept on coming despite the fact that its muscles began to lock up, inertia carrying it forward even as it was barely able to lift its feet. Accemenla stepped between it and Jinx, apparently ready to block the Pokemon's attack with another confusion. At the last moment, however, she merely stepped aside and allowed the hulking beast to barrel into Jinx's unprotected back. It slammed into the much smaller black bird, sending him crashing to the ground.
"No! Accemenla, don't do this!" Tobias yelled furiously.
"Oddish, use a poisonpowder on the Tarsix. Rhyhorn, take it easy for a moment," Martin continued, ignoring Tobias's predicament.
"All right, Jinx, blow away that poisonpowder, then use confusion on the Oddish, Accemenla," Tobias commanded, glaring at the Tarsix.
This time, though, it was Jinx who decided to get revenge. He blew the poisonous spores directly at his teammate. Accemenla groaned as the poison began to take effect, shooting a baleful glare at the Murkrow.
"Jinx, don't you start too," threatened Tobias desperately. "Attack the Oddish with peck again. And Accemenla, use confusion on the Rhyhorn."
"Rhynorn, use stomp on the Tarsix and Oddish, use absorb on her as well," Martin commanded. The two Pokemon converged on Accemenla, the Oddish stopping a short distance away as it prepared for its attack, the Rhyhorn jerkily clomping towards the Tarsix.
Accemenla abandoned the plan laid down by Tobias, deciding that the Oddish was more of a threat and aiming her confusion at it instead of the Rhyhorn. The Oddish, rather than being thrown back, was merely wrenched backwards, one of its leaves being torn off by the blast of psychic energy. Apparently, it had sent roots into the ground, anchoring it and, as Accemenla discovered a moment later, to execute its attack.
The roots burst from the ground beneath the Tarsix, winding around her legs and sinking through her skin. She let out a keening screech as they began to absorb energy from her very blood. She furiously began to lash at the roots with her psychic energy in an attempt to pull them out, only to be beset by the Rhyhorn. He raised his foot and brought it down on the Accemenla's shoulder. She fell to the ground, pinned down by his massive bulk, at last giving in to the effects of poison and fatigue and fainting. Tobias recalled her. "Why didn't you help her like I told you to?" he demanded of Jinx angrily. The Murkrow ignored the question.
The fight did not last much longer. "Absorb, Oddish. Stomp, Rhyhorn," Martin commanded.
"Come on, Jinx, finish off that Oddish with peck," Tobias encouraged desperately. Jinx dove for the weed Pokemon only to become hopelessly entangled in the roots that burst from the ground before it and ensnared him as they had Accemenla. With the Murkrow unable to dodge, the Rhyhorn was able to execute its fury attack, ramming Jinx repeatedly with its stubby horn. Jinx fainted as well, and Tobias recalled him angrily. He couldn't believe that Jinx and Accemenla would allow their dislike of each other to interfere with their battling. He might have won if they hadn't been so busy tormenting each other.
"I'd say that you need to work a bit more on teamwork, there," Martin observed. "Still, you did pretty well, considering." Tobias nodded glumly, grabbing half of his funds from his pack and regretfully handing them over to the older man. Martin accepted the stack of money without even really looking at it. "Where are you headed, kid?" he asked.
"Beachwash," Tobias sighed.
"Oh, that's where I'm off to, too," Martin said in surprise. "Say, why don't I give you a ride? There's room for two on Tauros here and you'll get there much faster. Why, we'll probably hit town by this evening."
"That would be great," Tobias answered, relieved. "I'm running out of healing items."
"Understandable. Here, hop right up," Martin said, clambering aboard the Tauros himself. Tobias, accustomed to riding during his farm days, mounted the powerful creature with ease.
"To Beachwash, then, Tauros," Martin commanded, and the Pokemon snorted in affirmation before pounding forward once more. As Tauros barreled forward, Martin engaged Tobias in conversation.
"Just earned your first temple certification, eh?" he asked.
"Yep, I beat the fire temple," Tobias acknowledged.
"Oh, that's a good one to start off on. Your Pokemon look pretty strong. You know, if you want to try to improve their relationship, there's nothing like having them go through a temple challenge together. You just caught that Murkrow in here, right?"
"Err, yeah," Tobias bluffed uncomfortably.
Martin nodded. "As I thought. Trust me, if you use both that Tarsix and Murkrow in your next temple challenge, they'll grow to like one another soon enough. Even those two would recognize the importance of winning a temple challenge, and once they've been forced to work together they'll realize that it really isn't that bad. Trust me."
Martin went on to tell Tobias about his early days as a guide, a journey which he had begun with one very recalcitrant Geodude. "I tell you, the stubborn old rock would up and punch any of my other Pokemon that even came near it. After we tried out for the water temple certification, though, he came 'round."
Tobias listened politely, guiding Martin to talk more about himself so as to avoid any uncomfortable questions that might be directed at him. He didn't quite feel up to spinning an entire false tale of his journey just yet.
True to Martin's prediction, Tauros carried them into Beachwash in the early evening. The bull Pokemon slowed down as it reached the narrow streets of the port town. A salty breeze blew between the densely packed shops, whistling down dark alleys and around the surly characters that walked the streets.
Beachwash was one of the more disreputable ports in Waytar, though it couldn't hold a candle to the legendary Brinehold of the west. Tobias dismounted Tauros and thanked Martin, who wished the young guide well and turned off onto a side street, apparently intent on some other destination than the Pokemon center.
Fortunately for Tobias, the center stood out like a sore thumb amongst the huddled buildings that made up the town. Its wide façade was painstakingly clean, the windows unfogged by salt and neglect. Tobias entered the building with a sense of relief. Though the experience at the last center he had visited had not been good, that had more or less been his own fault. Here he could count on safety and shelter from the elements.
Perhaps he would not have felt thus had he known that someone had taken an interest in his arrival. A shadowed figure watched the boy enter the center from a nearby alley. Turning to the dark form that stood beside him, he announced quietly, "That's him."