Ch. 11- To Verdant Cavern


Pokemon © Nintendo, Game Freak

Kaya, her team, and Kaulu © Me


"What?!" Kaya questioned in surprise. "Kaulu escaped?!"

"That's right," Nurse Joy answered. "He just woke up, all of a sudden, pulled off the cords and the IV we hooked him up to and then ran off. I tried to go after him, but he was too fast."

"...I see," Kaya said before she sighed. "Well...maybe it was for the best. I found out why he got injured in the first place."

"Really?" Nurse Joy queried. "Why?"

"Turns out that Team Skull was trying to capture his brothers and sisters," said Kaya. "I don't know why they were after them...but I think Kaulu will be happy to know that they're okay, thanks to me."

"...I suppose so," said Nurse Joy, smiling warmly.

XXX

Out on the street, Kaulu walked down the sidewalk, but not before he sat on the ground and pulled the cone collar around his neck off. Then, he glanced back at the Pokemon Center, as if in a knowing manner, before he sauntered off.

XXX

"Thanks for everything, Nurse Joy," Kaya said as she and Goldie turned to leave. "I'll be back, later!"

"Good luck on your trial!" Nurse Joy replied.

Soon, Kaya and Goldie left the Pokemon Center and rounded the corner, heading off for their first trial, when suddenly...

"Kaya! Kaya, wait for me!"

Kaya turned to see Lillie run up to her.

"Oh, Lillie!" Kaya exclaimed. "There you are! Where'd you go?"

"I tried to go after Kaulu for you," Lillie began, "but I lost him...and then I ended up getting lost, myself. It's so hard to remember which road goes where, and I can't even buy my own clothes."

"Aww, it's okay, Lillie," Kaya assured. "I'm sure you'll get the hang of it."

"Thank you," Lillie replied. "So, I guess you and Goldie are heading to Verdant Cavern for your first trial, huh?"

"That's right," Kaya answered as she picked Goldie up and held her in her arms. "We're just gonna do the best we can. Right, Goldie?"

"Lu-lu!" Goldie barked in response.

"You know, I read something about the trials in an old book, once," Lillie began, "it said that the island challenges were once a journey made to prove yourself and gain the strength to battle against the guardian deities of Alola, like Tapu Koko. The people of Iki Town said that Tapu Koko loves battles, didn't they?"

"That's right," Kaya answered.

"If we ever met up with Tapu Koko again," said Lillie, "do you think that maybe we'll find the answer to why it saved you and Nebby that day, Kaya?"

"Who knows?" shrugged Kaya.

"Pew~!" Nebby trilled as he struggled to get out of the bag, again.

"Nebby, no!" Lillie scolded as she pat the bag's side. "Be good and stay in the bag!"

Kaya giggled at this, as did Goldie.

"Anyway," Lillie began, "good luck on your trial, Kaya. I hope everything goes well for you."

"Thanks," Kaya replied. "Oh, by the way, random question, I know, but...where's Hau?"

"After you left to take care of Team Skull," Lillie began, "he went to go play at the beach. I think he'll be joining you, soon, though."

"Good enough for me," Kaya said. "Let's go, Goldie."

"Lu!" Goldie yipped as she followed after her trainer. However, they didn't really get too far, for they soon ran into Hala and the same Tauros from earlier, the latter snorting and huffing as he stood in the road.

"Not again," Kaya bemoaned.

"Oh, don't worry, Kaya," Hala assured. "I got this fella calmed down, now. Why don't you go ahead and pet him, again? It's the only way he'll get used to it."

"If you're sure," Kaya muttered as she approached Tauros, who seemed to smile and wag his three tails as she approached, causing her to smile as she pet the Wild Bull Pokemon on the head. "Aww...good boy."

"Moooooo~!" Tauros bellowed, jovially.

"Hoho!" laughed Hala. "I think Tauros senses you have a great affinity for Pokemon, Kaya. No wonder he always seems to perk up when you're around. However, I think the reason Tauros keeps getting out of his paddock is because he wants to have an island challenge of his own! Hahaha!"

Kaya giggled while Tauros licked her cheek, then he turned and galloped off, to Hala's surprise.

"Oh, playing tag, are we?" asked Hala. "Fine by me! The Kahuna of Melemele Island never loses, my friend!" He then began to chase after the loose bull. "Get back here, Tauros!"

"...Well...that was something," Kaya muttered.

"Tell me about it," said Rotom as it floated next to Kaya. "You'd think he'd slow down a little at his age."

"Well, we better get going," said Kaya. "Let's go, Goldie!"

"Rio!" Goldie nodded in agreement before she and her trainer began to follow the path to Route 2.

XXX

"Well, I should've known. Right into a Pokemon Battle I go."

No sooner had Kaya entered Route 2 that she had run into a Beauty class Trainer named Krystal, who immediately challenge her on sight. Naturally, Kaya couldn't back out of it, so she agreed.

"Come on out, my sweet little Gastly!" Krystal called as she tossed the Poke Ball, causing a Gastly to come out.

"Gas-Gastly!" it cried.

"Gastly, huh?" Kaya asked as she held up another Poke Ball. "Well...I guess now's the time to see if that malasada works. Waiwai, you're up!"

On that, she tossed the Poke Ball, and Waiwai emerged.

"Meowth~!" the Alolan Meowth exclaimed.

"Gastly, use Mean Look!" Krystal ordered, causing it to glare at Waiwai, angrily, which caused the feline to shrink back in slight fright.

"Use Fury Swipes, Waiwai!" Kaya shouted, causing Waiwai to glance back at her...but then she glared at Gastly before she extended her claws and swiped them in an X-formation, which landed about 2 times, and since it was a Normal-type attack, it proved to be super effective, for the Ghost/Poison-type fell to the ground, dazed and defeated.

"Huh?!" Krystal questioned in shock, while Kaya cheered happily.

"Yes!" she cheered. "You did it, Waiwai! And you actually listened to me!"

Waiwai only rolled her eyes before she began to lick her paws and groom her whiskers with her usual stoic pride.

"Well...at least you're starting to listen," Kaya said before she summoned the Alolan Meowth back into her Poke Ball.

"Nice job," said Krystal as she handed the dark brown-haired girl as she handed Kaya 288 Poke Dollars. "I bet you can beat any trial with a team like yours!"

"Ah, shucks," Kaya said as she took the money. "Thanks. Anyway, I'm off. Thanks for the battle!"

"No problem," Krystal smiled. "See ya around!"

With that, Kaya and Goldie continued onward up the path. As they did, Goldie stopped as she spotted a house up ahead, on the other side of the street. Curiously, the shiny Riolu approached the house and pawed at the door...which instantly creaked open, showing it was unlocked.

"Goldie!" Kaya exclaimed as she went after her partner. "Wait, come back! You can't just enter other people's houses!"

But Goldie didn't listen, opting to just walk right in while Kaya ran in after her...but as she entered the house, she gasped as she saw that it was empty. The only thing she found were some golf clubs, a flat-screen TV, some furniture, and some pictures, framed and hung up on the wall. As she approached the frames, she saw pictures of a rather tall boy, holding the island challenge amulet in his hands with a proud grin on his face. The glass was a bit dusty, but she could see it, plain as day.

"A trial-goer?" Kaya muttered before she remembered why she entered the house. "G-Goldie? Goldie, where are you?"

She then noticed that the door next to her had opened, as well, and she saw little paw prints going inside, causing Kaya to go in after her, and sure enough, there was Goldie, sitting on an empty bed, and next to that was a shelf with trophies on top: mostly bronze ones and a single silver trophy.

"Huh?" Kaya asked as she entered the room. "Goldie, why would you come in here?"

"Lu-lu..." Goldie murmured as she slanted her ears down, as if sadly, causing her trainer to look at her in concern.

"...You sensed...sadness?" Kaya repeated, causing Goldie to nod her head. "Coming from this very room? But why?"

Goldie only blinked at her, unable to answer, while Kaya took a look at the trophies.

"Whoever used to stay in this room," she started, "they sure did accomplish a lot...at least, that's how I see it. They're not gold trophies, but it counts for something."

"Hey! Who's in here?!"

Kaya gasped as she turned and saw a middle-aged man with a bit of a potbelly on him walk in, wearing a pink shirt and blue trousers. He glared at the young girl and her Riolu with bitter eyes.

"What are you doing in my house?" he asked. "And in my son's room, no less?!"

"I-I'm sorry, sir," Kaya apologized. "It's just...my Riolu wandered in here, and I-"

"Hey," the man started as he noticed Kaya's amulet. "You wouldn't happen to be...a trial-goer, would you?"

"Uh...yes, sir," Kaya replied.

"...I see," the man muttered. "Just like my boy."

"Sir, if you don't mind my asking," Kaya began, "is your son a trial-goer, too?"

"Well, he was," the man replied, "but...I dunno...something happened, one day. It was...my fault, I suppose."

"What do you mean?" Kaya queried.

"I mean...don't get me wrong," the man started, "it's natural for a kid to have a sense of adventure! But...my son? He just left without a single word...I tried to beat some sense into the boy, but in the end, I guess I was the one who got beat. I haven't seen him for a long time, now...and I can only wonder what he's doing, now."

"...I'm sure your son is out there, somewhere," said Kaya.

"Ah, don't try and fill me up with false hope," the man said. "It just makes it worse for me. Look...don't let what you saw here stop you, all right? You get outta here and get to your trial. Go on, get going!"

"Y-yes, sir!" Kaya replied as she rushed out, holding Goldie in her arms. "I'm sorry again, sir!"

The man only sighed and shook his head.

"...I hope she doesn't give up as easily as my boy did," he muttered.

XXX

"Well, that was uplifting," Kaya murmured as she and Goldie continued to walk along the path of Route 2.

"Lu-lu..." Goldie groaned in agreement.

"...I think that man is lucky, Goldie," said Kaya. "His son might still be out there..."

Her mind momentarily flashed back to a couple, driving around in a car...when suddenly, there was a flash of light, which caused the couple to scream. However, Kaya quickly shook her head as she dismissed the thought.

"No, Kaya," she muttered. "Don't think back on that...they're gone now...you have to move on."

"Lu-lu-lu!" Goldie piped up.

"What is it, Goldie?" Kaya asked as the Riolu jumped out of her arms, causing her trainer to look up and gasp as she realized that she saw that, in her absentmindedness, she had somehow wandered into what looked like a cemetery, and she found several people already there, some kneeling before the tombstones with tears in their eyes, others just standing silently with flowers in their hands. Kaya felt her body tense up as she moved to walk away, but Goldie quickly pulled herself out of her trainer's arms and ran into the cemetery, causing Kaya to gasp.

"Wait, Goldie!" she called as she ran after her. "Come back here!"

It didn't take Kaya long to find her companion, for soon, she spotted her, sitting in front of a tombstone...next to an elderly woman, who chuckled warmly as she pet the pup on the head.

"Well, hello there, little one," the woman said. "Where did you come from?"

"Excuse me," Kaya said as she approached the woman. "That's my Riolu."

"I see," said the woman. "Your little friend was just keeping me company."

Kaya smiled a bit before she glanced at the tombstone, which read "R.I.P Rodrick Horace. Loving husband, father, brother, and friend to both human and Pokemon alike. Died in car accident". Then Kaya noticed the smaller tombstone that read "R.I.P Tickles. Pikachu. Loving companion and family friend. Died of old age".

"...These graves belong to my husband and my Pikachu," the old woman said, somberly. "My husband were married for almost 30 years when the accident took him away from me. Then Tickles died, sometime last month...poor little thing."

"...Your husband," Kaya began, "he died in...an accident."

"Oh, yes," the old woman replied. "He was on his way home from work. He was on a late-night shift to earn a little extra money...but he never arrived. I stayed up all night, waiting...when a policeman came to my door and told me what happened. He was so tired from working...he ended up falling asleep at the wheel and...he veered right off the road...!" She then sniffled as she covered her eyes. "I...I was heartbroken...!"

"...I'm so sorry," Kaya whispered, sadly as she got down on her knees, as well. "I know how that feels...my parents died in a car accident, too."

"Oh, dear," the old woman said as she put her hand on the girl's shoulder. "You poor thing."

"...I was only only about 9 when it happened," Kaya said. "We were on our way home from Thanksgiving dinner with my Grandma...Goldie and I were asleep in the back seat."

"Rio..." Goldie muttered, sadly.

"But then...I woke up...and I was in the hospital," Kaya continued. "My right arm was in a cast and my forehead was wrapped in bandages...and I had an IV attached to my wrist. I didn't seen Goldie anywhere, but I could hear her, screaming and yowling. Then...my Grandma arrived, but she was talking to some man. I don't remember his name, but I do know where he was wearing some kind of trench coat...but through it all, I kept asking...'Where are Mommy and Daddy?'" She then sniffled as tears formed in her eyes. "I kept asking, over and over, but nobody would answer me...! Then, finally...my Grandma walked up to me and she said 'Kaya, sweetie...your parents are gone'! I was told they never found their bodies...all they found was the wrecked car on the side of the road and...and...!" She then broke down, sobbing, which prompted the old woman to gently rub her back.

"I'm so sorry, dearie," the elderly woman said. "It must've been so hard for you."

Kaya sniffled and nodded her head while Goldie nuzzled her face in consolation, causing her to sigh before she smiled and look at her partner.

"Thank you, Goldie," she whispered as she pet the shiny Riolu on the head.

"I see your Riolu loves you, very much," the old woman smiled.

"I love Goldie, too," Kaya replied as she pulled Goldie into an embrace. "In fact...I wouldn't have gotten over Mom and Dad dying if it weren't for her."

"Pokemon have that effect on people, dear," said the old woman. "My Tickles actually helped me get through my husband's death...and though I was sad when he passed, as well, I take solace in knowing that they are both at peace. That's good enough for me."

Kaya smiled at her newfound friend, as did Goldie, who wagged her tail.

"Oh, but what's this?" asked the old woman as she noticed Kaya's amulet. "Are you a trial-goer, dear?"

"Yes, ma'am, I am," Kaya nodded. "Oh! That reminds me! I have to go to Verdant Cavern! I've wasted enough time as it is! Let's go, Goldie!"

"Lu!" Goldie barked in agreement before she followed after her trainer.

"Good luck to you, dear!" called the old woman.

"Thank you, ma'am!" Kaya called back as she and Goldie ran out of the cemetery.

'Mom...Dad...' Kaya thought.'It's sad what happened to you...but I hope you'll continue to watch over me...now and forever more.'


Review, please!