As always... Please read and enjoy~ Scriffignano
Chapter 52: Road to the Festival
The sun rose over the hillside, sharing it's golden light over the countryside as a new day dawned in Pallet. Arc was sleeping soundly in his bed after the long ordeal that he had been through. Every so often his leg would twitch as he traveled through his wakeless dreams. Neeko was on the floor beside his bed, sleeping on a fire proof pad Arc's parents got specially for him.
"Ready?" Snow Storm peaked inside the room while sitting on Lily's shoulder.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" She questioned him. "He's been through a rough time the past few days."
"I know. I was with him remember." Snow Storm snickered. "But I know sleepyhead over there will want to restart his journey with you as soon as possible."
With that statement in mind, both Lily and Snow Storm snuck into his room and maneuvered themselves on the other side of his bed. Fitting her fingers under the mattress, Lily along with the help of Snow Storm's psychic power lifted the bed and rolled Arc off the mattress and on top of Neeko causing a brief moment of panicked confusion as the two struggled to untangle themselves while trying to figure out what was going on.
"What on earth?" Arc jumped up and saw both Lily and Snow Storm. "Oh… I should have known it was you."
"Good… you're awake now."Lily tossed him his coat. "Go get ready."
"You know…. You could have let me sleep for awhile longer!" Arc shouted as she left.
"Yeah… but where is the fun in that" Snow Storm snickered. "Besides… don't you want to get back on your journey Mr. I have eight badges now?"
That fact resonated in Arc's mind and a bright smile formed on his face. After almost a year of working himself to his very limits, Arc had finally got the badges he needed to qualify for the Pokemon League. Excited to get back on the road, Arc scrambled to get ready and raced down the stairs like he had done so many times before. Surprisingly, this time he made it all the way down the flight of stairs without tumbling like he usually did.
"Well… that will never happen again." Arc smiled as he looked back up the stairs feeling rather accomplished.
Breakfast was rather monotonous for the two of them since both Arc's parents along with Thorton and Beau were already out for the day. Because of what Snow Storm did before his rescue, his parents and their twin helpers had no recollection of them being kidnapped and went to work only thinking that they both freed Rayquaza from Team Rocket's grasp. While he still resented that she did it, Arc could only sigh with relief that his parents were not tormented with any extra worry about his well being.
After breakfast, both Arc and Lily gathered up their things and headed for the back door. All of their Pokemon were out back either relaxing or waiting nearby in anticipation of heading back out on their journey together.
"Alright… Who are you bringing with you?" Arc asked Lily as he scratched Earthshaker's back.
Everyone except Dusty. She's getting a break for now." Lily scratched the dark canine's head while she slept. "What about you?"
Arc pondered it for a long while. He didnt want to leave anyone behind, but knew the standing rule of only having six Pokemon on him at any point in time. Looking amongst his team, Arc then broke down their strengths and weaknesses accordingly and started weighing his options accordingly. Halfway through his mental war Arc scrapped what he was doing and then started freeballing it.
"What the heck am I doing?" He thought to himself. "I dont think like this when making decisions."
After slapping himself mentally, Arc decided that he was going to leave both Amarga and Dino at home for this leg of their journey. Dino is quite a handful by himself, but he also noticed that their food bill was starting to get increasingly bigger with the increase in their Pokemon's size. He also wanted to give them a chance to rest before he got to the Pokemon League. He planned on rotating them out regularly for the remainder of their journey in hopes of keeping everyone well rested until it was time to face the league head on.
"Alright… you three please behave yourself." Arc and Lily waved their Pokemon off as they left the yard and headed west down the road towards the Indigo Plateau where both the Grand Festival and the Poke'mon league were scheduled to be held. They had a good month and a half before the Grand Festival was to begin, but Lily said she wanted to get an early start because she was excited to participate in the competition.
"You got any new combinations that you want to try for the Grand Festival?"
"You must have a few now that Banana Neck is on your team." Snow Storm was curious to know as well. "I could look for myself, but Arc told me doing that was rude." she rolled her eyes at him.
"Are you kidding? My mind is buzzing with new ideas!" Lily skipped up the road and turned around. "It's like being smacked with the inspiration stick!" She threw her arms out.
Arc chuckled at her enthusiasm and caught up to her. They soon left the city limits of Pallet Town behind them and made their way towards the foothills that would lead to the Indigo Plateau. The landscape gradually changed from thick forest to rolling hills dotted by small bunches of trees and bushes that housed a variety of Pokemon.
Every so often Arc and Lily would spot a small family group of Pokemon either grazing or sleeping under the shade of a tree. Their favorite one to watch was a family of Pyroar and Litleo who sleeping under the shade of a massive oak tree while the little ones played.
"Do you know how long it will take to get there?" Arc questioned Lily.
"I don't know, but I know we have plenty of time to get there." She smiled.
"I agree. Why not enjoy our time out here." Snow Storm did loops in the air and chased after Neeko who was flying high above them. "This Place is amazing!"
Arc chuckled at Snow Storm and took his backpack off before sitting down on a boulder that jutted from the earth. He stretched once and readjusted his bandana before pulling out a bottle of water.
"Why don't we take a break here for a bit?" he took several long draughs of water before putting the bottle back in his bag.
Lily smiled and sat next to him. She then inched closer to him and rested her head on his shoulder. Its been a long time since they spent any real quality time alone together due to criminal organizations, Arc's parents, and busy schedules getting ready for events and everything that the two of them almost forgot what it was like. He leaned his head back on her and they sat like that for a few moments just enjoying each other's company.
"I love you." Lily whispered to him before wrapping her arms around him.
"Love you too." He whispered back and put an arm around her as well.
They continued to enjoy the moment together, thinking about whatever happened to cross their mind until a loud gurgling noise broke the silence. Lily looked down at Arc's waist before looking up to see him blushing a little bit. He smiled and scratched the back of his head, embarrassed by the fact his stomach growled.
"I guess it's lunch time." Lily laughed and grabbed some things out of her own bag.
The two started making lunch together when they were suddenly and very rudely interrupted by a passing trainer.
"Hey!" the trainer was a young male of medium height and sported a plain blue t-shirt and some jeans. "Either of you scrubs know which way it is to the Pokemon League?"
"Scrubs?" Lily's voice got dangerously cold. "Did he just call us scrubs?"
"Uh-oh..." Arc rolled his eyes knowing what was coming next.
They both turned around and met the trainer's gaze and saw he was nothing more than an upstart kid about their age. Lily grit her teeth and glared at the trainer for a long moment.
"What do you want?" Arc interceded before Lily could snap at him.
"Don't make me ask twice…" The kid sighed. "Do either of you know which way it is to the Pokemon League?"
"Yeah… we're headed there now." Arc answered. "And I would appreciate it if you would lose the cocky attitude."
The kid merely snickered and eyed them both up. "You are going to the Pokemon League?... I thought spectators didn't start leaving for the Indigo Plateau for several more weeks."
At that snide little remark, Lily snapped and pulled a Pokeball out of her purse. "And I thought trainers were people that had brains and character… not a bunch of daft little punks that can't tell which side of a Pokeball is up."
The kid pulled a Pokeball off his belt. "Please…. I could beat both of you with the greatest of ease. Especially the girl… they are terrible trainers."
After that there were no holds barred between Lily and the younger trainer.
Lily initiated the battle and tossed her Pokeball, releasing her new Tropius, Banana Neck.
"Fine! You asked for it! Malamar prepare for battle!" The kid tossed a Pokeball, releasing a slim aquatic like Pokemon covered in tentacles.
"Banana Neck, use Leaf Tornado!"
"Malamar, use Psychic!"
The swirling vortex of leaves and foliage stopped just before they hit the malicious looking Pokemon and doubled back at Banana Neck with twice the force. He dodged quickly by flying high up and nosediving back down at the Malamar.
"Now use Leaf Storm!"
Banana Neck fired a storm of sharpened leaves from the air that chewed away at the Malamar's health, making the Pokemon double over in pain.
The younger trainer growled at her. "No fair! You can't do that!"
"Yes she can and you know it. You shouldn't of challenged us to a battle if you couldn't deal with the possibility of losing Whelp."
"My name is Dewy!" The kid sneered. "Malamer, use Dark Pulse!"
Dewy's Malamar started to levitate and fly around just as easily as Banana Neck. Getting as close as it could, the Malamar fired rings of dark energy at Banana Neck which he dodged by spiraling around him. He then flew past the Malamar and doubled back up while firing a Dragon Pulse attack.
"Dodge it, and use Foul Play!" Dewy shouted to his Pokemon.
Malamar dodged the pulse of draconic energy and then grabbed ahold of Banana Neck's wing. Whipping itself around, the Malamar slammed Lily's Tropius into the field creating a crater in the soil.
"Game, set, and match." Dewy looked triumphant.
"Don't count on it." Lily smirked as her Tropius arose from the crater and shook the dust from his body. "Now Banana Neck, use Leaf Tornado!"
Banana Neck ascended towards the clouds and fired a swirling vortex of sharpened leaves at the Malamar, buffeting it relentlessly until it ran out of strength. Unable to battle anymore, Dewy's Malamar fell back and landed in the dirt unconscious.
"What was that you said?... Girls are terrible trainers?" Snow Storm voiced her opinion from the air.
Dewy looked around wondering where that noise came from, but couldnt find anyone except Lily and Arc. "Who is that?"
"Um… your conscious. We don't speak very often." Snow Storm kept up the ruse. "Tell me human… Why do you think females of your species are lesser than the males?"
Dewy failed to answer her and kept glaring at both Arc and Lily alike. He was really getting perturbed by their calm demeanor despite his arrogant stance on how good of a trainer he was. Deciding that he was going to squash the two like a bug, he plucked not one, but two pokeballs off his belt and tossed them both.
"Magmortar, Rhyperior… Take care of them!"
Arc jumped to Lily's side and whistled loudly. From above, both Neeko and Snow Storm descended to the earth and landed with a loud crash. Snow Storm then fluttered up to Arc's shoulder and settled there quietly.
"I'll take on Magmortar if you get Rhyperior."
Lily nodded and ordered the first attack. "Banana Neck, use Nature Power!"
"Neeko, use Thunder Punch!"
Neeko charged forward and struck Magmortar in the gut with a powerful attack, pushing it back several yards. Banana Neck on the other hand drew power from the ground and fired a green pulse of energy much like an Energy Ball attack.
The pulse crashed into Rhyperior, putting a great deal of pressure on Dewy and his two Pokemon.
"Magmortar, use Fire Blast and Rhyperior, use Rock Wrecker!"
Both Pokemon loaded up the cannons in their arms and simultaneously fired their attacks. Lily moved first and ordered her Tropius to counter with Leaf Storm. He responded on command and sliced through the giant boulder of Rock Wrecker like a knife through butter.
"Now Neeko, use your own Fire Blast!"
Neeko was quick to respond as well and fired his attack which collided with Magmortar's. The flames swallowed each other up, leaving a charred hole in the ground where the attacks met their end.
"Respond to our bond! Mega Evolve!" Arc tapped the stone in his bracer, causing Neeko to change into Mega Charizard. "Now Use Thunder Punch!"
Neeko flew swift and low, clobbering Magmortar with a powerful Thunder Punch attack and sending the magma Pokemon flying across the field.
"Banana Neck, use Leaf Tornado!"
Lily's Tropius conjured up a massive vortex of sharpened leaves that chewed its way across the field towards Dewy's Rhyperior.
"Power it up Neeko and use Solar Beam!"
Neeko charged up the Grass type attack and fired it at the swirling votex of leaves. The Leaf Tornado absorbed the power of Solar Beam and started to glow with a heavenly golden hue. Unable to do anything to stop the sheer power of the attack, Rhyperior was sent flying as well and landed on top of Magmortar, knocking them both out of the fight.
"Game, set, and match!" Snow Storm called the battle from Arc's shoulder. "I call that a total victory for the team of Arc and Lily!"
Dewy merely snorted at returned both of his Pokemon. "Just stay out of my way once we get to the Pokemon League. I am here to win it."
"Aren't we all?" Arc laughed getting another angry glare out of Dewy.
Without another backwards glance, the younger trainer strode over the hillside and out of Arc and Lily's field of vision. Once he was gone, Lily breathed a sigh of relief and sat back down on the rock they were using earlier.
"Man… and I thought Thorn was a nightmare."
"Makes you appreciate the kid doesnt it?" Arc laughed. "Luckily I didn't make friends with him as well."
"Arc… I think Lily would have left you if you had done that." Snow Storm pointed out. "But enough about that human. I think it's time for some lunch as you humans call the afternoon meal."
With everyone in agreement, the group went back to the task at hand all while lost in their own thoughts. One thing that their thoughts had in common was that there journey was only starting to reach a peak and there was a lot more to come in the future.
A small filler chapter before we get into the meat and potatoes that is the Grand Festival!
Just a friendly reminder... The closing chapter/epilogue of this book is going to be an interview style chapter where you the readers can ask any questions you want to the characters of my story. I know this is going to break the fourth wall in so many ways, but I think it would be fun and give you a chance to get to know the characters better.
This chapter is heavily dependent on you and IF you think that is not a good idea/we don't get enough participation that's fine... I'll just end the story like a normal book and call it a day. Please post your questions for my characters as a review so I don't get a bunch of the same questions over and over again. The story ending is still a long way off I assure you, but I wanted to let you know what was going on.
***As always, Please REVIEW. Any feedback is very helpful, appreciated, and valuable.
***Seriously! The only way that I can improve or hear your thoughts on my story is if you tell me as a community. LET ME KNOW!
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