Chapter 13 - Crisis in Wellspring Cave
Last time on "Tale of a Legend…"
Volan and Thrin were continuing on their journey after leaving Bianca at the breeding center on Route 3, deciding to stop for lunch and to train. After Oliver unexpectedly defeated Grunge, the Trainer named Hugh appeared, and revealed himself to be Grunge's old Trainer. He realized that the Garbodor had accepted Volan as his new Trainer already, and decided to let the Gurei boy keep him. But when they reached the breeding center with the intention of healing their Pokemon, they found out that Team Plasma had mugged Hugh's little sister for her Purrloin!
-.-.-.-.-.
The Wellspring Cave was two hours west of the breeding center. It certainly didn't look all that large, but Volan knew better than to judge based on appearance alone. He knew that caves could go deep underground, and that they were extremely dangerous places – especially to humans, who were by no means cave-dwelling creatures.
Hugh had gone in there without a second thought, Volan was sure. He had seen the boy's intense anger, and could guess that he wouldn't let anything stop him from getting his sister's Purrloin back.
Even if it meant looking death in the eye.
"Should we go in too?" Thrin asked worriedly by her brother's side. She gazed timidly at the gaping black hole in the rock that served as the cave's mouth, and continued, "I mean, we might need to help Hugh in case he stumbles into danger."
"Of course we're going in," Volan said. "We can't just stand here and do nothing while Team Plasma is possibly getting away with their theft as we speak."
But still, Volan hesitated. One of his Pokemon, Grunge, had once belonged to Hugh. Would the Garbodor be willing to work once more with the Trainer who abandoned him?
It would be worth the delay to ask, Volan mused, taking out Grunge's Poke Ball and staring at it. Through the transparent bottom, the Poison-type stared back at him. Locking eyes with the Garbodor, Volan tapped the button on the Poke Ball and released him.
"Garbo!" he roared when he had materialized. The roar was a rather forced one, as the Poison-type was still feeling a little dazed from his earlier battle with Oliver. He was facing the cave mouth, and looked at it with idle curiosity before turning to Volan. His Trainer faced him with a look of seriousness on his face, and he quieted, silently wondering what the trouble was.
"Grunge," Volan began, "I need to ask you a serious question. There is a Pokemon in that cave, one that has been stolen by Team Plasma, and Thrin and I plan to get it back."
A furious, determined look plastered itself on Grunge's face. "Garbodor, odor gar garbo!" he bellowed. "Then why are we standing here? Let's destroy them!"
"There's only one problem," Volan continued. "Another Trainer is trying to get it back as well. And that Trainer is the same one that abandoned you on Route 2. His name is Hugh."
At the familiarity of the name, Grunge took a step back. He was both shocked and wary. Hugh is here? he thought numbly.
Volan took a deep breath and went on with his speech. "My serious question for you, Grunge, is this – will you be willing to work once more with the Trainer that released you? Are you willing to work together again to stop Team Plasma once more?"
Grunge still looked hesitant. But all in all, Volan did not have to worry. The Poison-type silently pledged to work with anyone, anyone at all, if it meant taking down Team Plasma.
He nodded once. "Gar gar!" he said, stomping each of his feet, ready to rumble.
Volan smiled. "Thank you, Grunge," he said earnestly. "I just wanted to make sure you were willing to do this…"
The Gurei boy then recalled the Garbodor into his Poke Ball and, taking his first step toward the cavern entrance, said strongly, "Let's go."
Thrin nodded, and with their hearts set on retrieving the stolen Purrloin at all costs, the two siblings entered Wellspring Cave, their figures being swallowed by the darkness within.
-.-.-.-.-.
It wasn't as dark as they expected when they journeyed deeper into the cavern. From tiny cracks in the roof, afternoon sunlight streamed down and speckled the damp ground, making it shimmer. Stalactites hung down from the high ceiling, some almost the size of Volan, dripping moisture down onto the floor. It was a dark, dank, and unpleasant place to be, but at least it was wide and relatively easy to navigate. The cave was pretty much all one room from what Volan could see, but rock walls and giant stalagmites turned the chamber into a maze of twists and turns.
"How far in do you think Team Plasma went?" Thrin asked after about five minutes. Volan could tell from his sister's voice that the silence was getting to her. He, on the other hand, found it somehow comforting.
"I can't be sure," he replied. "Who knows how large this cave really is on the inside? Maybe they found a side tunnel to hide in. In any case, Hugh has gone in pursuit of them, so we need to be prepared to help him get that girl's Purrloin back."
Thrin nodded, clutching Oliver's Poke Ball for moral support. We'll get out safely, she assured herself. We're going to beat Team Plasma and save the day again.
They finally knew when they were making some progress about fifteen minutes of walking later. Volan and Thrin were pretty deep into the cave, and visibility was beginning to become more restricted, when they heard the first sounds of a distant fight.
"It sounds like a Pokemon battle's going on somewhere near," Thrin observed.
Volan nodded and replied, "And that means we're getting close. Let's try to walk a little more slowly and see if we can find out where that noise is coming from."
He was the one that found a narrow side tunnel branching off from the main cave, hidden well between two stalagmites. The sound of the distant Pokemon battle echoed up from this tunnel. As he listened, he heard a noise akin to the cry of "Plasmaaaaaa!" the grunts on Route 2 had used when Grunge defeated them.
"They're in there, I'm sure of it," the boy mused. "Let's go, Thrin. Stay close, Bernice. It'll probably get even darker down there."
"Piiii!" warbled Bernice, her grey feathers shining slightly in the very dim light. She clutched her master's shoulder even more tightly with her talons.
The two Trainers squeezed their way between the two stalagmites and entered the tunnel. It was so narrow that they were forced to proceed in single file. Indeed, the already almost nonexistent light began to fade until they couldn't even see their hands in front of their faces. Volan stuck his arm out to the side, feeling the wall as he walked along. Thrin reached out in front of her and grabbed her brother's other arm.
Soon, the light had mysteriously returned. They found themselves out of the claustrophobic tunnel and inside a huge cavern whose walls seemed to pulse with eerie light. Luminous water made up most of the cave, its aquamarine glow reflecting off of the cave walls and allowing them to be dimly lit. There was so much of this water that it felt as if the dry land they stood upon was a mere island in the glowing lake.
Farther on, the siblings could see three Trainers battling ferociously. They recognized Hugh, as well as the amoebic uniforms of two Team Plasma members. The combatants were in the middle of the "island", from which extended a narrow land bridge that joined it to the land upon which Volan and Thrin stood.
"They're ganging up on him," Thrin said, pointing to the grunts.
"I can see that," Volan growled, his blood pressure going up slightly at the sight of them. "Then let's go increase the odds for him."
Volan and Thrin began to run across the land bridge, and they had only made it halfway to the bridge when they noticed the three Pokemon engaged in battle. Momentarily stopping to observe, Volan could see that one of the Plasmas' Pokemon was a Patrat, and the other was one he didn't recognize – a short, blue-and-grey Pokemon with deadly-looking claws.
Hugh's Pokemon was a mystery as well. It was small and yellowish-grey, bipedal, and whose skin seemed to sag around its waist. It leapt over and dove under the repeated attacks of the Plasmas' Pokemon with remarkable skill.
Both of their Pokedexes were out in a flash – Thrin scanned Hugh's Pokemon while Volan scanned the Plasma's.
"Drilbur, the Mole Pokemon," Volan's encyclopedia said. "It can dig through the ground at a speed of 30 miles per hour, making its way swiftly through soil by putting its claws together and rotating at high speed. This drill-like method of burrowing is otherwise unknown in nature, giving Drilbur the ability to outrace automobiles. This specimen is male and knows the attacks Scratch, Dig, Mud-Slap, and Hone Claws. He has the Sand Rush ability."
Thrin's Pokedex had a different story to tell. "Scraggy, the Shedding Pokemon. Its saggy skin has a rubbery elasticity. Scraggy is able to pull the skin up to its neck defensively in order to reduce damage from attacks. Massively thick, its skull is an excellent weapon, but is large and heavy in comparison to the rest of its body. Due to this, it frequently overbalances. This individual is male, having the Moxie ability and knowing the moves Headbutt, Leer, Dragon Dance, and Sand-Attack."
"Let's do this, Bernice," Volan said determinedly, pocketing the digital encyclopedia. She bobbed her head and flapped her wings, more than ready to tangle with the Plasmas again.
The two siblings ran the last few paces and stopped beside a surprised Hugh. "You guys?" he asked, incredulous.
Neither Trainer said anything in response, but both glared heatedly at the two Plasmas. Behind them, they could now see a garbage bag wriggling and struggling behind them. That must be where they're keeping the Purrloin, Volan seethed, hand tightening on Grunge's Poke Ball.
"Oliver, go get them with Body Slam!" Thrin cried, hurling her Poke Ball into the air.
With a flash of light, Oliver appeared and almost instantly jumped on the Patrat, squishing it under his surprising weight. He looked quite proud of himself.
"No faiiiiiir!" wailed one of the Plasmas. "Three against one is cheating!"
Volan's voice was like Arctic ice. "And stealing Pokemon is against the law," he retorted. "Bernice, Air Cutter!"
"Dove dooooove!" the Pidove trilled
Raising her wings, Bernice lofted into the air and started hurling razor-edged blades of wind at both of the opposing Pokemon. Oliver jumped out of the way just in time for Patrat and Drilbur to get slammed by projectiles.
Hugh jumped in with an attack of his own. "Scrooge, get Drilbur with Headbutt!"
"Scrag scrag!" replied the lizard-like Pokemon, dashing across the rocky ground at Drilbur. At the last minute, Scrooge reared his head back and lunged with all of his strength.
"Drilbur, dodge with Dig!" commanded its Trainer – if such a pathetic excuse for a human being could be called a Trainer. Nonetheless, the Mole Pokemon jumped into the ground, clashing his claws together and drilling into the rock. Scrooge's head smashed into the floor a split second later.
"Patrat, get the Tepig with Bite!" the other Plasma ordered. The meerkat-like Pokemon scampered across the ground at Oliver, its large front teeth flashing.
"Oliver, use Ember!" Thrin cried, but just as Oliver was about to launch the flames, Drilbur dug out of the ground and smashed into him, sending him reeling. An instant later, Patrat bit down on his tail and caused him to squeal in pain.
Volan gritted his teeth at their tactics. "Bernice, hit Patrat with Gust!" he commanded.
"Pidooooove!" Bernice shrieked, wings glowing brightly as she furiously flapped them. A gale-force wind blasted through the cave, ripping Patrat off of Oliver and sending Drilbur tumbling head-over-claws.
"Use Dig to avoid it, Drilbur!" the Plasma commanded, and the Ground-type obediently drilled into the ground again, safe from the turbulent wind. He reappeared just below Scrooge, flinging him into the air with a loud cry.
"Go for Drilbur with Quick Attack, Bernice!" Volan cried.
"And use Headbutt on Drilbur as well, Scrooge!" Hugh added.
Bernice shot forth with a flash of white light. Scrooge's ascent gradually stopped, and he aimed himself at Drilbur and used the weight of his head to plunge downwards without any flashy side effects. Still, there was no denying the Scraggy's power when he slammed his hard noggin into Drilbur's relatively softer one. The Ground-type cried out in pain, only to have it cut short when Bernice smashed into his gut, sending him flying.
Thrin was still steaming from the dirty tactics the two crooks had used on her beloved Starter. "Oliver, bash Patrat with Tackle!" she screamed angrily.
"Te-PIIIIIIIG!" screamed Oliver as well, just as mad. He began to rush toward the temporarily fallen Patrat, but then something happened. His feet began to kick up sparks as well as dust. In just a few steps, the sparks ignited, and Oliver burst into flames.
"No way!" exclaimed Hugh. "Your Tepig just learned Flame Charge!"
"PIIIIG!" he cried just as he tackled Patrat. The Normal-type screeched as it was thrown to the ground, fur smoking. It staggered to its feet, surprisingly resilient.
"Scrooge, Dragon Dance, then Headbutt!" Hugh commanded.
"Drilbur, Dig!" cried the second Plasma, who thought Scrooge was still targeting his Pokemon.
Drilbur replied, "Dril!" before tunneling once more into the cave floor.
"Scraggy!" the Dark-and-Fighting-type said determinedly. His body became suffused with a blue aura that looked almost like flames. Before the aura had entirely vanished, Scrooge streaked forward at an impressive speed at Patrat, who couldn't do anything as Scrooge's super-thick skull crashed into it.
"Raaaaaat!" it screeched, skidding across the ground and stopping at the Plasma's feet. It didn't move.
Despite their anger at Team Plasma, both Gurei children felt like cheering at their victory. But the battle was not yet over – Drilbur had yet to surface, and when it did, their three Pokemon would be on it like Carvanha on an injured Wailmer.
Silence pressed down on them as the waiting dragged out. Everyone glanced around, fully expecting Drilbur to pop up suddenly and attack. But it didn't. Even the Plasmas looked bewildered.
"Where did it go?" Volan whispered.
Clenching his teeth, he scanned the rock floor, trying to guess where Drilbur was hiding. Bernice circled in the air while Scrooge and Oliver stood beside each other tensely.
The ground beneath Volan then shook slightly. Behind his glasses, his eyes widened.
Oh no.
With a *pop*, Drilbur jumped out of the ground in front of Volan. He smirked, and then clapped his claws together.
Right on cue, the rock beneath Volan fractured, and then shattered completely. With a horrified noise somewhere between a shout and a shriek, the Gurei boy fell into a dark, yawning chasm with no visible bottom, clearly the work of Drilbur's tunneling.
"VOLAN!" screamed Thrin and Hugh in unison.
"TEPIG!" cried Oliver.
"Scrag?!" squeaked Scrooge.
"PIDOOOOOOOOOOVE!" screeched Bernice, folding her wings and plummeting down after him.
Both boy and bird vanished into the blackness, possibly never to be seen again.
-.-.-.-.-.
The Pokemon first realized that something was off when it heard the sounds of combat rippling through the water. It stopped, puzzled – the cries of the Pokemon that were involved in the apparent clash were unfamiliar.
New Pokemon? the creature thought, curious and a little excited. I've only ever seen Roggenrola and Woobat in this cave. Wait, scratch that – I've seen Swoobat and Boldore too. But these sounds don't sound anything like any of them.
Its curiosity outweighed its instinct to swim away from such frightening, violent sounds. Wiggling its stubby tail, the Pokemon swam swiftly through the dark canals that were so familiar to it. It had lived in Wellspring Cave for its entire (and admittedly short) life so far, and thus could navigate the numerous underground rivers and streams with its eyes and ears closed.
But the Pokemon heard the sounds coming from a tunnel it had never thought to explore before. Not stopping to think of the consequences of swimming blindly into an unfamiliar tunnel, it thrashed its tail even faster and shot into the small gap, just large enough to fit a Pokemon of its size in it. The journey didn't take long – it ended in an unbearably bright cavern filled with luminous water.
Great Arceus, thought the Pokemon, squinting its eyes shut. Who could see in such a bright place? Indeed, it had grown up in the perpetual darkness of Wellspring Cave, and thus was not accustomed to such blinding light.
But eventually, its eyes adjusted, and it was able to see. And boy, was it astounded! It had never seen such a sight! Granted, it had never really needed to use its eyes, and thus had never really seen clearly at all. But now, it was observing the rocky walls and floor of its home in detail for the very first time.
The Pokemon was shaken from its wonder by the sounds of combat, much closer now. It couldn't feel the sounds coming from underwater, so they had to have come from above the surface. Sounds originating from liquid had a very different tone from those originating from air or earth, something only this Pokemon's ears could pick up on.
It poked its tiny head above the surface and watched the scene unfolding before it with awe written all over its little face. Five unfamiliar Pokemon – it assumed they were Pokemon, at least – were in heated battle while another five beings egged them on. They were tall, lanky, and stood on two legs.
The Pokemon's now-fully-functioning eyes widened in surprise. These couldn't possibly be the human creatures it had heard of, could they? Humans were such a rare sight in the caves that everyone from the gossipy Woobat to the shy Roggenrola came to see them when they did visit. But this Pokemon had never seen, or even heard, a human before with its own eyes and ears.
But even as the Pokemon admired them, one disappeared. The Pokemon was confused, until it slowly realized that this human had fallen down a hole.
Carefully listening to the human's fading cries, the Pokemon detected that the hole led all the way down to the bottom of the cave network. At this realization, the Pokemon became worried. Not even a sturdy Roggenrola would be able to survive such a fall.
Something has to be done, thought the Pokemon, diving down beneath the surface once more. And maybe I should be the one to do something.
-.-.-.-.-.
Gasp! Volan is down! Falling down, that is. Will he survive? Will Thrin and Hugh get the Purrloin back without him? And even with the help of Bernice, how will he ever escape Wellspring Cave?
And what of the mysterious watcher in the water? Does it know where Volan is falling, and is it planning to rescue him? What could its motives be?
Find out in Chapter 14! Shower me with reviews in the meantime!
Chapter Question #4: You are approached by Professor Juniper, who offers you the chance to pick any unevolved Pokemon in Unova and to go on a journey with it! Which Pokemon would you pick?
I'd pick the awesome prehistoric bird of doom, Archen! Or sweep my opponents before me with the sheer adorableness of Frillish!
-.-.-.-.-.
Volan's Party:
Bernice (Pidove, female)
Ability: Big Pecks
Attacks: Air Cutter, Gust, Quick Attack, Hypnosis
Grunge (Garbodor, male)
Ability: Weak Armor
Attacks: Pound, Body Slam, Poison Gas, Solarbeam
Thrin's Party:
Oliver (Tepig, male)
Ability: Blaze
Attacks: Flame Charge, Tail Whip, Body Slam, Ember
Luna (Munna, female)
Ability: Synchronize
Attacks: Psywave, Defense Curl, Yawn