Summary: They have moved from Jotho to Hoenn to meet with a distant relative and decided it was better for their youngest member to start her journey there… only chaperoned by their cousin.
"Everybody hop on board! We're going frugal here so we're not going to be spending money on a boat and or plane ticket from Jotho to Hoenn!" The patriarch of the family, Oda Suzuki, barked out as he stood in front of his Wailord.
Oda was a graying man with a dignified look on him but was slightly ruined by his slouched figure and constantly shaking cane. However that didn't stop the old man from catching a passing Wailmer on a Wednesday holiday and raising it to become a tough Wailord.
"Can we not?!" The matriarch cried out as she sat on her Pidgeot. "Hoenn is three days by boat!"
Noi Suzuki was a elderly woman with long grey hair and a similarly slouching figure. She was with the Pidgey she had raised since she was a child. Now a Pidgeot, she glared down at her husband who was standing gallantly on his Wailord.
"Bah! And Wa here can out speed those suckers with his eyes closed, can't ya Wa?!" Wa the Wailord gave out a confident cry, "That's mah boy!"
"Can Wa carry us all the way to Hoenn Gramps?" Mio Suzuki was their granddaughter and was twelve years old, just a year younger than the required age for any up-coming trainer.
She was short for her age, with long black hair reaching the back of her feet. Her eyes were the color of a sunset, a strong yet calming and beautiful shade of vermillion. She, like her grandparents, wore the traditional garb of Jotho, that is a kimono.
"You bet he can!" Oda laughed, "Now enough chit chat! If we wanna get to Hoenn in time for yah birthday let's get moving!"
Mio wanted to argue some more but sighed in surrender instead. She knew how stubborn her gramps could be when he wanted to, there was no changing his mind. "Fine… but I'm haunting you if I die!"
"I'm gonna die before all y'all dear!" Oda laughed. "Now shut up and sit on my Wa. You too hag! Get down from that birdie and sit on my Wa!"
"I ain't a hag nor am I sitting on Wa!" Pidgeot chirped, "You're not sitting on Wa either Pi!"
"Akane~! Why don't you help out with the preparation?" A portly man around the age of forty called from across the lake. "Stop looking into the horizon! Your cousin will be fine."
"...She's traveling with our grandparents, that's enough reason to feel concern." They might've been together for the majority of their lives but Oda and Noi each have a screw loose. "I can probably fly over and be back in two days…"
"You really worry too much Akane," Akane Suzuki was a young man with raven black hair and clear and intense red eyes. Though for the time being he wasn't pleased with having his worries pointed out.
"My worries are valid… for all I know Grampa is crossing the ocean with his Wailord! That's dangerous for a multitude of reasons!" The portly man chuckled. "What?"
"You need something to take your mind off things I know!" The portly man looked around and leaned forward, "Why don't you go looking for a pokemon to give to her? I hear you don't have a gift prepared yet!"
Normally kids would got to the region's professor to get their starter pokemon, after a lengthy capability and personality test. However, it was also possible for their family to start their journey as well.
Either by catching a pokemon with someone who already starter their journey, or buying one.
Akane had been a trainer for a few years now, though unlike normal trainers, he didn't go to Gyms and had no interest in the seat of the Champion. Why bother with the position when it only means you have to deal with the region's issues?
Akane walked over and grabbed a small yellow and black pokemon with an extra set of jaws protruding from the back of its head. Mawile trashed wildly in his arms as he dragged her away from her obsession, which was looking at cartography.
"Tell my sister I'm going to Route 114." He jumped on top of Altaria, which woke up the fluffy dragon. "...Stop biting me, both of you."
Mawile huffed and looked back longingly at her maps and sighed.
The portly man watched them go up and them disappear from sight. He whistled, appreciating how speedy Altaria was. In just a few moments they were already gone from sight.
"Hey! Hey! Hey! Where is that guy going?!" He looked over and found a young redhead girl running over with panic on her face. "Akane! Wait!"
"He said Route 114 lass, I didn't know you were around!" Flannery slowed to a walk and frowned, "Was Akane your ride?"
"That jerk said he'd wait! I'm telling Akame!" She stomped off towards a black haired woman directing the constructions.
Altaria was out after a few hours of travel, Akane knew it didn't take that much out of her, the dragon was just lazy. Well, she was forgiven for being fast.
"Altaria's out." Akane turned to Mawile. "Look around and bring me what you find. We're knocking everything out until we find something."
…
They'd spent a few more hours and he hasn't found anything that called to him yet. Akane frowned as Mawile took out yet another Zangoose, which called a Seviper, who was snapped in half immediately. "There's nothing impressive around here."
He wasn't looking for anything special, just something that catches his eye.
"You reckon we can swing by Dewford and catch another Mawile?"
"Ku! Ku!" Mawile was not pleased. "Chea!"
It was a good idea! They were fairly docile, and tame, and easy to work with. He should know because his starter was a Mawile. But, he can't see Mio liking that. "Let's move onto another route, Altaria! Wake up!"
The desert part of Hoenn was home to some powerful pokemon, though rare, it was worth looking into. He put on some spare goggles to protect his eyes from the sand as they made their way to there.
"I'm telling ya! We only got Wa and Pi and mah granddaughter and hag of a wife here!" Oda shouted to the pirates who dare get in their way. He hid his granddaughter behind him as Wa blew water from his hole. "So get out of our way yah pedophiles!"
They got ambushed by pirates, thieves who opted to steal from traveling ships and cruise liners. Thankfully Wa's size intimidated them from attacking, coupled with Pi threateningly circling them, they were reluctant to just attack.
"And we said, give us everything ya got!" The captain's crew cheered behind his back, "...We ain't pedophiles either!"
"Took ya long enough to deny that!" Oda lowered his head to whisper in Mio's ear. "Darn bastard's definitely a pedophile, don't you get caught yah hear me?!"
Mio fearfully nodded.
"Tch! Negotiations ain't working!" The old man clicked his tongue, "Wa! Hydro Pump those brats! I don't care if they drown, get us out of here! Close your eyes Mio."
He was a veteran of war, he will not die from some brats who thinks just because he was old meant he was an easy target!
Wa roared and let out a humongous tidal wave sized beam tore through the pirate ship without mercy. Mio could hear them screaming as they fell to the sea. Wa let out a deep rumble, signifying that he just laughed.
"Now Bounce!" Wa slapped its tail on the water and created yet another tidal wave, and also launched itself into the air, past Mio's grandmother who was berating Oda for using such a risky move. "Yahooooo!"
"After them Pi! I'm gonna rip that man a new own for putting Mio in danger! Agility!" Pi's eyes flashed with killing intent as he broke the sound barrier. "ODA YOU OLD BASTARD JUST WAIT FOR ME!"
The poor pirates didn't even get a chance to let out their own Pokemon. The captain of the ship clung onto a large piece of wood and glared at the retreating blots in the sky.
"Is anyone still alive?!" Lesson number one in naval combat. Never fight a pissed off a Wailord. That was just a recipe for a quick death. The captain bit his cheeks when none of his mates responded. "Damn you old man!"
He swore he would get his revenge for this humiliation.
For his mates!
Meanwhile Oda was cleaning his ear as his wife shouted like a banshee into it. He found something, and blew it in her direction. She twitched. "You old fart!"
"Bah! We got out of there in one piece didn't we?! What's the damn problem!" Mio was busy calming her rapidly beating heart as Pi gently rubbed her back with his wing. "I don't want no pedophiles touching mah Mio!"
"...She's riding with me from now on. Come now dearie, let's leave this old man in the dust." Mio nodded numbly as she was wretched from her spot and onto Pidgeot's back.
"Hey! Whaddya doin you old hag?! We agreed Mio'd ride with me!" Oda shouted. "Come back here Noi!"
"Ignore him Pi! Agility!" They were gone in the blink of an eye, Oda closed his mouth and clicked his tongue.
"If that's how yah wanna play then fine!" He crouched down and grabbed the tip of Wa's hole. "After them Wa! Bounce!"
"...I'm not sure I'd feel safe letting Mio handle this thing." Akane frowned to himself as he looked at the pokeball in his hands as Altaria leisurely flew through the air. "I mean, I'd have trouble with this thing myself... but it was the only one I could find…"
"Ku."
"I'm worrying too much?" Mawile nodded, "Maybe, but the family loves Mio. If I gave her something undervalue then I'd have to deal with them."
The yellow pokemon shrugged and shook her head in a 'what can you do' fashion. Akane sighed and went back to looking at the pokemon struggling inside the ball.
Sandile, once exclusive to Unova. They've recently begun to pop up in other regions, one of them being Hoenn. The first stage isn't hard, however their final evolution, Krokodile… only experienced trainers should have any business dealing with those.
…
"...Maybe I should see Professor Birch before handing you over." Maybe he could find an easier starter on the way too. Littleroot Town was a few days away but if he rushed it then maybe he would get there on time.
"Altaria! Agility!" The dragon/flying type began to hum as they broke the sound barrier. "Set course for Littleroot Town!"
Meanwhile thanks to their race, Noi and Oda had reached Slateport City under two days at the expense of their exhausted pokemon. Wa and Pi practically collapsed onto themselves the moment their trainers touched down.
"I was here first!"
"No, I was first!"
"No, I was!"
"No, I was!"
It was honestly hard to not be embarrassed to be in the middle of two elders acting like they were children. Mio shrunk and tried to hide behind Pi's collapsed form but she already knew people knew her face.
'Dammit Grams! Gramps! Act like yer damn age!' The twelve year old cries in her heart. 'Ah, I wish Akane was here. He'd know what to do.'
"...Sing, Ataria." Mio perked up, "What the hell are you two doing…"
She looked up over Pi's body and found Akame getting down from the fluffiest thing she had ever seen in her life and looked down on the suddenly sleeping pair. She had never seen somebody so blatantly disappointed.
"Akane!" Her cousin almost got knocked over when she tackled him. "You're here! Why?"
"That's my line! I thought you wouldn't be in Hoenn for two more days!" His eyes drifted to the exhausted whale and giant bird. "Right, I think that answers it..."
Akane sighed as he took out another ball from his belt. She gasped when a Flygon popped out. "You have two dragons?!"
"Sort of?" He'd still have to give back Drake's Salamence. The man was off on an expedition to evolve his Shelgon so who knows when he'd have that chance. "Anyways. Hop on, I'll take Gramps."
He snatched them balls and recalled Wa and Pi, stupid names, but who was he to judge? Mio was uncomfortable sitting on Flygon alone so he had Mawile, who was experienced, help her. Although he now had to deal with two pouting females, they were safe so who cares.
"With Altaria and Flygon's speed we'll be back in Vendarturf town in a couple hours!" Akane shouted over the wind, "Make sure she's holding tight Mawile!"
"Ku!" Ah, looks like she got offended.
As promised, with a few uses of Agility, they got back in Vendarturd Town in little over three hours. However it was already night time and people were already starting to head home from work.
Akane pointedly ignored a raging red head coming after them and helped Mio get down.
"Why'd ya have to leave like that all of a sudden!" Flannery shouted in his ear as she grabbed his cheeks. "Wait, is that this cousin you folks' been talking about?"
"We have a lot of relatives, so a lot of cousins across the regions but for now yeah, this is Mio." The small girl wobbled after getting down. "Don't piss her off, she has a hidden mean streak thirty miles wide."
"I do not!" Mio blushed. "A-Anyways who is this woman Akane?!"
"Flannery? She's the Gym Leader in Lavaridge." The red head waved with a small blush, "She'd just been appointed that position last month though. So she doesn't have anything stronger than a third badge fight."
"You still haven't beat my full power though!" Akane twitched at her jab. It was true he'd lost every single time they'd had an all out match, but if she bothered to actually match his number then she'd find herself beat.
Thoroughly beat.
"Wanna have a three on three match later then?" Mio edged away from him, Flannery broke into a sweat when she saw how sharp his smirk was. "...It'd be a good way to show Mio what to expect anyways."
His eyes drifted down to his waist where he had Sandile stored. He'd have to condition the thing later before handing it over in two days. He never did get the chance to meet with Professor Birch.
"S-Sure! I'll take you on! Winner has to treat the loser to a meal of their choosing though!" Akane rolled his eyes and nodded. "By the way, why did you go to Route 114?"
"Ah… stuff." His eyes quickly shifted to where Mio was crouching, poking their sleeping elders, Flannery got the message and nodded. "...Ah, right, you don't have anything to carry you back."
He grabbed Oda's leg and yanked him off Altaria and climbed on. "Well what are you waiting for? Altaria's getting tired so we'd have to take it slow, but she can make it to Lavaridge, can't you girl?"
Altaria glared at him, offended, but spread her wings and cried out a hymn. "Atta girl, though I think I'd have to spend the night there. Flygon's scared of the dark after all."
"I thought we were going to fight?" Flannery voiced her confusion as she hopped on behind him. "...Winona's softe-eeeeeeek!"
Altaria didn't take kindly to that comment as she suddenly flapped her wings and took to the skies. The sudden change from stationary to fucking soaring was too much for the red headed gym leader.
"Tell Akame I'm spending the night at Flannery's, Mio! Altaria, just a few more hours, Agility!" He recalled Flygon while Mawile tried in vain to catch up. Mawile gave up a few minutes later and dejectedly carried the still sleeping couple back to their lodge.
"O-Okay… what just happened?" Mio pouted at being left out before giving a sigh. Their family did stuff at their own pace, it was practically a rule! If somebody couldn't keep up, that was their fault. "Let's go home, Mawile."
"Kuu..."
"Maybe a little more spice…" Akame Suzuki was a young woman around the age of twenty with really long and lustrous black hair and deep amber eyes. She was currently wearing a kimono top and a hakama. "Yup! Definitely tastes better with a little bit more spice."
Along with an apron, since she was cooking.
"Crab soup is harder than I thought it would be." She admitted to herself, "No regrets though, this tastes great!"
She glanced at the clock and wondered when Akane would come back, it was starting to reach seven. Akame perked up when she heard the door open.
"Big Sis Akame?" A pleasant surprise, Akame turned off the heat and went to greet their sudden guest. "Oh, uhm, I wasn't interrupting was I?"
The older woman shook her head, "No, I just got done cooking actually! Where's Akane… oh, yes, dump those idiots on the couch. I'll deal with them later."
Oda and Noi were sitting on the couch leaning against each other, their heads lodged onto the crooks of their necks. If one didn't know them personally they would say that they were a really close elderly couple.
"Akane went to drop off Flannery… are they close by the way?" Mio asked, "I mean we send letters to each other regularly and I've never heard of a Flannery before!"
"Akame knows some people, and those people know a few more people but at the end of the day. Flannery's grandfather used to visit for some reason and he brought along Flannery here in Vendanturf Town before he died." Akame said with a sigh. "They were fairly close."
"Oh… but how close though?" Mio relaxed against the couch and sighed, exhausted from the trip. "Sorry for this but… you know how Grams and Gramps are."
'They definitely raced.' The older woman sighed. "Its fine… but for how close well… they're good friends. Neither of them see each other like that so don't worry."
"P-Pft! Pah! W-Who said I was worried! Nope! Not me, definitely not me! I didn't say I was worr-did I say I was worried? No, I don't think I did!" Mio suddenly flushed. "...I'm heading to sleep!"
"Ah, eat something before you do. Knowing those two they probably made you skip breakfast and lunch." The short girl blushed when her stomach rumbled. "See? We'll be having Kingler soup tonight. So wash up and take a bath, Mawile, show her there."
"Ku!"
"Wa! Where are you Wa! Wa! Somebody darn stole mah Wa! Dammit, where are yah Wa!" Oda shouted at the top of his lungs. Akame popped her hand from the kitchen and shut him up with a well aimed pan to the head. "Waaa…!"
"I had Mio put them by the river!" It was the only place they could let a Wailord loose anyways. "Pi's over there too."
"Thank you dearie." Noi smiled and began to help with breakfast. "That damn old man wouldn't shut up about his Wa otherwise. You'll make a great wife someday with that throwing hand of yours!"
Mio shuffled awkwardly as Oda crawled to the seat beside her and began sulking. The old man wanted to eat with Wa and was determined to go out but after a few choice words from his wife and granddaughter, just stayed put, and cried.
"Waaa…" Without any context, this would be funny.
As his granddaughter, this was just sad.
Mio felt uncomfortable sitting on the same table and doing nothing, and it was a nice day out. Akame and Noi were just starting to make dinner so she should have time. "I-I want to walk around the town for a bit!"
"That's fine but take Mawile so you don't get lost, it's been four years since you last visited right… oh, this fits perfectly. I have something to ask you too." Akame walked out of the kitchen and walked up the stairs.
She came back down with a pokeball in her hands, "Akane agreed to teach something to the neighbor's kid, Wally's Pokemon. He mentioned yesterday that they were past the agreed date, so would you mind running over and giving this to him?"
Mio glanced down at the ball and saw Kirlia looking back at her.
"Now then! Mawile is probably engrossed in her obsession upstairs, so would you mind getting her down?"
…
Mawile was stronger than she looked.
"Ku! Ku! Ku!" The small and yellow pokemon grabbed on the desk with both hands as Mio wrapped her arms around her stomach and pulled. "Chea~!"
"I want to walk around!" Mio shouted, "And I need you with me!"
"Kuuu!"
On some occasions Mawile reminded them of Oda.
And that was terrifying.
At the end of the day Mawile parted with her beloved maps and left the house with her. She'd have to come back in a few hours when breakfast was ready but other than that she was free to roam around.
Verdanturf Town was beautiful in the sense that it was peaceful and calming. The air was way cleaner than it was in Ecruteak City. The water was so clear too.
"My, what a pleasant surprise I find myself witnessing this fine day!" Mio turned and found someone she didn't expect to see. "Were you too excited to wait an additional day?"
"Miss Valerie." Mio would say that the older woman was weird but really nice. She had met Valerie before in Jotho, when the model was taking a break from well… modeling. Ecruteak City was buzzing with activity during those few months.
Mio was extremely surprised to discover that she was actually their cousin, only twice removed.
"You know, if Akane hadn't bothered to invite me, I wouldn't have known you were having your birthday in Hoenn!" Valerie placed a dainty palm against her cheek and sighed. "Do you hate me Mio?"
"N-No, I'm sorry but… I thought you'd be too busy." Mio winced when Valerie flicked her nose.
"Well, I do so hope you're ready to have me as your first pokemon battle then!" The younger girl froze. "I'll be sure to make both of us shine beautifully on the stage~"
Mawile walked over and tugged on Valerie's dress, bringing the Kalos Gym Leader's attention downward. Her eyes lit up and scooped her up in her arms. "Are you Mio's escort? My, what a good girl you've become, Mawile, ku~"
"Ku!"
"Ku? Chea, che, ku!" Valerie giggled and suddenly nuzzled her nose against Mawile's. "Well I must be going, it was nice to chat with you Mio."
"Ah… likewise," She was still processing the words of the first fight. "W-Wait, what do you mean with being my first fight?"
"Akane came up with the idea, and I do find myself attracted to it. After all, why wouldn't I want to be my dear cousin's first battle?" Valerie giggled. "Well, I really must be on my way. Say hello to Akane for me~"
'Akame keeps in contact with a lot of people doesn't he…' Mio mused as she approached the house next door, it was identical to the Suzuki household, if not for the red roof as opposed to their black.
She took a step back when a boy with pastel green hair rushed out, almost knocking her over. "I'm so sorry!"
"O-Oh, no, it's fine. Are you Wally?"
"Yes?" Mio was pleased with how quick she found him. "Is that…!"
"Akame asked me to hand it over," Wally snatched the ball and let out the pokemon inside. Kirlia crossed its arms the moment it got out, as if expecting a sudden attack.
"What did Akane teach him? Please, you have to tell me!" Kirlia looked over and shivered instinctively when he saw Mawile standing, bored out of her mind. "Ow!"
A portly man rubbed his fist after he smacked down on Wally's head, "I'm sorry for our Wally, he's been excited all week after Akane agreed to his request."
"B-But I want those moves!" Wally whined, "And a Dawn Stone too! I know he found one lying around a few months ago!"
"Shut up! No one finds such a rare stone just lying around! The lad must've bought it somewhere." The portly man glowered before taking a good look at her, "Wait, aren't you Mio?! What're you doing here? I thought you'd still be at sea!"
"O-Oh, Grampa and Gramma raced and well… they didn't let up for a minute and since Wa and Pi has this rivalry…" The portly man laughed at her story. "A-Anyways! What's this about moves?"
"Ku!" Kirlia began trembling when Mawile walked over. His fear was evident in his eyes and it only got worse when she crossed her arms and smirked smugly.
He immediately took a stance and encased his fist in electricity before trying to hit Mawile. She just turned around and batted it aside with her maw.
"Thunder Punch!" Wally sounded excited. "Wait… i-is that Ice Punch too!"
Snowflakes began to appear as Kirlia slid into another stance. He threw the punch with precision, however it was knocked aside by a disappointed Mawile.
"I-I didn't know Kirlia could even learn those moves…" Mawile appeared to be both smug and yet disappointed. In fact the Deceiver pokemon walked up and demonstrated her own Ice Punch and Thunder Punch.
"Kirlia!"
Kirlia cried out in pain when it got paralyzed and frozen. The small pokemon's smug smirk took on a whole new light as she looked upon her creation.
...Mio can't say she doesn't fear the small thing anymore after such a display.
"What was that for?!" Wally cried out in worry. He rummaged in his pack and drew out some potions and thawed him out. Kirlia wasn't knocked out but he was close.
Mawile huffed and glared down at Kirlia. She snapped her fingers and created a green barrier. Kirlia trembled but tried to mimic her, just to please his teacher, but at the end failed to maintain the barrier for more than a split second.
Mawile sighed.
The Steel/Fairy type was showing its junior's trainer what it needed to work on. Kirlia needed to work on it heavily, evident with how much he struggled to form even a single barrier while Mawile could do so with her eyes closed. She started a lesson here and now. Kirlia turned to his trainer with tears in his eyes, begging to be recalled.
Mawile was a strict, and harsh teacher… albeit an effective one if it taught Kirlia two new moves in under a week. Mio pulled the Steel/Fairy type and waved awkwardly as she tried and failed to keep Mawile still.
It was nice to walk around without worry, and she even met with a few more relatives too! However they weren't big shots like Valerie though. Which was nice. It felt weird when she was stared at when they talked earlier.
Breakfast was loud and lively, courtesy of Noi and Oda arguing with each other over the simplest things. Mio and Akane were used to them so they completely ignored the couple.
Afterwards Oda grabbed Mio before she could sneak off and explore some more with Mawile. "Bring me to Wa!"
"O-Okay," The forest near Vendaturf was home to a few pokemon, but nothing Mawile couldn't handle by her lonesome. There were advantages to being Steel and Fairy. "Wa should be around here… ah, I see Pi."
"Wa! Did'ya miss me?!" The Wailord cried happily upon seeing its trainer. The lake's bed was barely deep enough to fit him, and was severely lacking in moving space. "Mio! Why did yah put him in such a cramped space!"
"T-There's literally nowhere else I can put him! I don't know this area!"
"Pah! Then you should've explored! Aren't you turning thirteen? You're about to become a trainer soon anyways so why not start now! Come on, let's have a little fight!"
Mio suddenly paled. "U-Uhm, I-I don't have a pokemon!"
"Maw-"
"Akane promised to fight someone and I think Mawile should conserve her strength!" Said Mawile was offended Mio even assumed she would be tired from taking out the fat excuse of a water-type! "A-And you need Wa to be fit to go back to Jotho!"
"Go back? Bah! Why should we go back? Wa and I would love to relax at Slateport! Wa loves the beach, don't ya Wa?" Wailord agreed by blowing water through his hole. "There yah have it! We'll be staying here for a while!"
"Ku!" Mawile's fists crackled with latent electricity as she sneered down towards Wa. "Ku! Ku!"
"Bahahahaha! Akane's Mawile's a bloodthirsty one! How about we do one move each, eh? Wa can't dodge so if you knock him out then points to ya girl!" Mawile grinned widely the moment he gave permission. "Wa! Give the lass a full powered Hydro Pump!"
Wa opened his mouth and began forming a massive sphere of condensed water. Mawile scoffed at how slowly he formed it and that appeared to be enough to tick him off. She gave Mio a look and nudged her head towards her fists coated in electricity.
"O-Okay, I can do this. I can do this…" Akane's pokemon were strong, he said so himself. Even if she gave subpar orders Mawile should pick up the slack. "T-Thunder Punch!"
Mawile was far faster than she thought and she was already in front of Wa. Mio's eyes widened when a dark aura formed around Mawile's rightmost fist, before being replaced with the ordered Thunder Punch.
'I think that was Sucker Punch, which was immediately transitioned into a Thunder Punch!' She didn't want for Wa to finish his Hydro Pump before pushing her electrified fist at it.
"Wa!" The following lightshow was gorgeous to witness, and horrifying to think about. Wa's Hydro Pump never got launched because of Mawile's interference, although she only ordered once Mawile kept going and knocked him out with a swift follow up.
"Ku~!" The small pokemon stood atop her humongous foe with a raised fist, and a mile wide smirk. Oda wasn't pleased by the look on his face. "Chea?"
"Good job?" Mio said, unsure. "...She didn't listen, it was her fault, not mine, please anything but the belt!"
Oda wasn't listening and Mio had half a mind to scoop up Mawile and hightail it back to the house. At least there Akame would handle stuff for her. Yes, she liked that plan. Mio slowly began to sneak towards her.
"Atta girl! Akane raised yah well!" Oda wasn't pleased, he was fucking exhilirated. "Whaddya doin down there Mio?! Let's get moving! I need ta put Wa in a Center after what you did Mawile!"
"Ku!"
...Mio was so confused. Oda wasn't pissed, but he was happy? How does that work? If it was her, she'd be beyond livid. They laid out clear rules, yet Mawile violated them… and received praise for it?
Were all trained Pokemon like that?
Either ways they quickly headed towards the Pokemon Center to have Wa healed. On the way Akane arrived on the back of Flygon alongside Flannery.
She looked incensed, so the teen probably did something at her house. Mio decided to hold off her thoughts to watch the upcoming fight.
They ran into Valerie and she was pushed into the role of referee.
They were at the large park beside a Pokemon Center, it was designed to be used by Trainers specifically while maintaining the scenery one would normally see in a park. There were even bleachers they could sit on.
Somebody spotted them from the fences and spread the word, soon enough a large crowd formed. Apparently it was normal to see Akane and Flannery fight it out, so normal in fact that some people were placing bets on who would win.
It was a good way to make a quick buck, or so they said.
It was also apparent that Flannery was a normal face around here.
"Akane would cheese her! I mean, they have an even number!"
"Flannery would totally win, Akane's only advantage is Flygon and his strongest has a weakness to fire types! Plus, Gym Leaders real teams are strong enough to equal an Elite Four!"
"I'm betting on Akane. He's fought Flannery's whole team before and took out five! He can definitely take out three!"
"But Flannery's older so she should be more experienced as a trainer in general…"
"But Akane has that weird evolution!"
"So does Flannery!"
Words were exchanged. Although her attention was attracted to a few choice words. What was this about them having a weird evolution…? Mio decided to put her thoughts on the corner in favour of watching.
They said it would benefit her if she studied them before she becomes a trainer.
...She can't say she wasn't opposed to the idea.
"This match is between Akane Suzuki of Vendanturf Town and Flannery of Lavaridge Town! It will be a three on three match and there will be no switching Pokemon! Akane, as the challenger, you will show your hand first." Valerie stood in the middle besides Noi's Pidgeot for protection. "Begin!"
…
"Let's start easy, Flygon, to battle." The green insect-like dragon chirped happily as it flew down on the fresh patch of grass. Its wings made a weird, but attractive sound.
"How is that starting easy?!" Someone in the stands shouted.
"Alright! I'll show you the skills I got from my grandfather! Houndoom!" Sleek, black and intimidating. That was the impression Mio got from the canine-like Pokemon Flannery let out. "Start this with Will-o-Wisp!"
Houndoom howled and manifested eight blue wisp like flames.
"Intercept and counter with Stone Edge." Flygon slapped his tail on the ground and jutted out a large piece of rock. The Will-o-Wisp was intercepted by the sudden obstacle and blocked. The ground began to tremble. "Now Sandstorm."
Flygon's wings buzzed and suddenly the sand that were being let out began whipping up, forming a sandstorm. He directed it to fly towards Houndoom.
"Run around with Inferno!" Houndoom jumped and barely avoided being skewered by a stone spire, it followed up with a sweltering flame. It was too wide to dodge, and too hot to be contained by Sandstorm which melted.
"Dig." It hardly took a second for Flygon to stab his tail on the ground and fall backwards and into the sudden hole behind him. The flames sailed over the hole harmlessly. "Try not to do any widespread attacks, we don't have any barriers and we got people watching."
"Sure! You improved by the way, but we aren't done just yet. Houndoom, get close to the hole and use Smog!" Flannery missed Akane's smirk. "Follow it up with an Overhe-"
"Hyper Beam!" It was a point blank hit. Houndoom sailed in the air with black cloud flickering around the edges of its mouth. Flygon didn't go deep with its dig, just deep enough to show the fact he was underground at all.
When Houndoom moved to smoke Flygon out, he took that as his chance to let loose a beam of pure concentrated energy… the sneak attack was strong enough to knock him out instantly.
"Houndoom is unable to battle!" Pidgeot caught the canine before it could hit the ground. "A splendid trap, Akane."
Akane saw her confusion and decided to explain while Flannery recalled her pokemon and pondered. "Usually people use Dig to move around the field and attack their opponent from under them."
He then pointed to the Houndoom being wheeled towards the center. "However, if the opponent is fast enough, or has something like a Flamethrower, they can score a guaranteed hit if they blow into the hole. This time, however, I took advantage of that tactic and decided to lay my trap."
Hyper Beam was an extremely powerful move that often led the user to exhaustion than using a more cost effective move. Flygon crawled out of his hole and it showed on his body that he was tired.
"Flygon's young, and we don't have a lot of practice with Hyper Beam thanks to it being Hyper Beam." Flannery seemed to have chosen her next pokemon. "Usually you'd switch out here so Flygon can rest a bit, but since there's no switching he'll have to stay in."
"Should've used Sucker Punch when I had the chance," Flannery pouted, "Don't think I'll let you off easily after that! Come out, Blaziken!"
Mio blinked at the sight of a bipedal red and orange martial artist looking chicken. It looked tough, really tough. She could compare it to a Typlosion she saw a few months back in Jotho and it wouldn't fall short.
"Flygon's going to fall to Blaziken, definitely… but we're not going down without a fight. Aren't we, Flygon?" For some reason Mio could see Mawile's smug smirk on Flygon's face. "Blaziken gets faster by the second! I got a plan, so hang in there!"
"Bulk up!" Blaziken flexed his body, a strange orange aura surrounded its body. Akane felt wary at the unnatural glow on his eyes. Speed Boost was terrifying, that he could attest. "Bul-!"
"Not a chance! Stone Edge!" Blaziken grunted but easily avoided the jutted rock, "After him!"
Flygon flapped his mighty wings and gave chase, however, Flannery had no intention of letting her advantage end so quickly. "Keep out of his reach! Bulk up!"
Akane clicked his tongue, at this rate he was screwed. Bulk up raises its attack and speed, which combined with Speed Boost, makes for a dangerous combination. Flygon can't catch up with it and Blaziken was free to buff himself for as long as he liked.
"Seal him in, Stone Edge!" Flygon tried to limit his maneuverability, timing his Stone Edge with Blaziken's Bulk Up so he wouldn't move. Stone spires jutted from all sides, including the top.
Blaziken could only move forward, towards Flygon.
"...I guess that's enough, Blaziken!" The Fire type's eyes flashed, "Quick Attack and transition into Flare Blitz!"
"Toxic!" It was too late to stop now that it was in motion. Flygon collapsed from the accumulated damage but not without a parting shot. "Well done."
"You…!" Blaziken was poisoned, slapped with the ends of Flygon's tail. It didn't evaporate in time before Flare Blitz kicked in. "Fine, guess I was wrong to be reckless..."
"Flygon is unable to battle, point goes to Flannery!" Valerie announced, Pidgeot dragging the poor insectoid off the stage. "However it looked like Flygon's Toxic hit its mark!"
"If the opponent is too fast, make it so their speed is worthless. Blaziken's ability is Speed Boost, which is rare for its breed, it periodically boosts its speed the longer a battle goes so this tactic is a must." Mio took the advice to heart. "Now then, Altaria, report."
The fluffy draconic bird flapped its cloud-like wings and hummed. "...We're outmatched, so listen closely! This is what you do to secure a knock out on a guaranteed loss! Perish Song!"
"Oh come on!" Perish Song was a guaranteed knock out in a battle with no substitutions. However it also means you'd be sacrificing your own pokemon, but it was an effective way to get rid of a threat.
And Blaziken was a humongous one.
Altaria opened her beak and cried a tear jerking song. Blaziken was coated with an additional aura, however, this one seemed to weigh it down and envelop it with a coat of malicious black.
"Fly up!" Altaria hummed and flapped its wings, "Agility!"
She vanished, hiding within the cloud and leaving Flannery with a poisoned and weakening Blaziken. It could chase after Altaria but… what was the point?
"That was not beautiful in the slightest Akane!" Valerie chastised. "However, it is a tactic… be sure to consider all options when you fight, Mio."
"Yeah! I lost respect man! I thought you were a gentleman not a coward!" Akane rolled his eyes and ignored the boo's and jeers from the peanut gallery.
Mio wasn't sure if she liked the tactic either. It was dirty, cowardly… but also smart.
"Blaziken! Destroy the rocks around you!" Flannery's only option was to make everything easier on her last pokemon. Mawile was guaranteed to come out, and she was terrifying, the rocks would only serve as her footstools and cover against her last choice.
Blaziken fainted from the effects of Perish Song after he demolished the last spire of rock. Akane pointed up with a ball and recalled the white fluff that was slowly gliding down, even when unconscious. "Recall."
Altaria was sucked into her ball and rested.
"This is the last match, are you learning something Mio?" Akane nodded at her smile. "Good, now then, Mawile! It's time for a slaughter!"
…
"What is that… stone?" Mio voiced her confusion. "It's pretty."
On the part that connects the huge jaw behind her head was something that wasn't there before. Did Akane put it on when they weren't looking? It was a pretty stone with a pink helix inside.
"It's what gives Mawile that weird evolution she has!" Somebody behind her answered, "I don't know what it is but its like Mawile evolves but after the fight she turns back! Flannery has one too!"
"Flannery's stone was provided by the government, while Akane just found his lying on the ground." Another one supplied. "Well, basically, it's a game-changer."
Mio nodded numbly.
For now, she'd watch and see.
"Let's go all out! Camerupt!" The evolution of Numel, the pokemon said to be a living volcano and designated with the title of The Eruption Pokemon. Mio could see why it has that name. However her eyes were drawn towards the brace on its front leg. It has a gem similar to Mawile's. "We aren't holding anything back! Mega Evolve!"
Flannery tapped the bracelet Mio swore she didn't have a second ago. It created something that resembled a threat and connected with the gem on Camerupt's brace.
From there the large pokemon was enveloped in a cocoon of pure energy, similar to evolution. When it faded she almost fell out of her seat from how forward she was leaning!
"Amazing…!" Camerupt grew a few feet larger and the two volcanoes became one, however this one constantly leaked magma and looked to be very active. Mio could hear a deep grumbling as it tapped the ground.
"Mega Evolution." Akane said, "It's a mysterious evolution that was discovered a few years ago. Not a lot of people can use them but it's starting to get more common among Gym Leaders, though in Flannery's case, it's a hand me down."
"I got a recommendation too you know!" Winona liked her win-lose ratio. So the elder Gym Leader spoke highly of her when they were in a meeting. That's where she got the Cameruptite and the authority to Mega Evolve on sixth to eight badge fights.
"Regardless! You need three things for it to happen," Akane reached into his pocket and took out a necklace with a rainbow gem and a helix in the middle. "This is a Key Stone, it lets us connect with our Pokemon."
Mawile walked over and emphasized her own gem. "This is a Mega Stone, a Mawilite to be exact, it resonates with Mawile and lets her have a temporary evolution. Like the one you saw with Camerupt."
"And finally… you need a deep, profound and sincere bond with your Pokemon to connect the Key Stone and Mega Stone." He touched the necklace and the two gems began to shine. "And that's how Mega Evolution works."
As with Camerupt, Mawile was encased in a shell of pure energy and when she broke out the Steel/Fairy type gained some height, and another jaw behind her head. The tip of her sleeves and hakama pants were tinted magenta.
"Ku!" Mawile didn't turn around to make use of her jaws, rather she stepped forward with a cocky smirk as she faced down the much larger foe. "Chea?"
"Baaa…!" Camerupt nodded, while Mawile's smirk widened.
"You can take the first move." Akane offered, hiding a smile with a poker face. "We can wait."
"I know how you work! But fine! It's your funeral! Eruption!" The magma bubbled before it rose up and fell down like meteors.
"Break them as they come with Power-Up Punch! Don't stop until there's nothing more than rubble!" Mawile jumped and used the meteors as footstools, her fists glowing orange as she smashed and smashed and smashed some more. "Three boosts… it'll do."
Mawile knew how to maneuver so as to not get hit directly. Every time she smashed a rock however she winces from the heat. "Hang in there!"
"Yawn!" Camerupt opened his mouth and released a thick, white cloud that covered the area. Mawile clicked her teeth and began backing up.
"Fairy Wind!" She lowered her jaws and began spinning in place, summoning a small tornado with sparkles dotting the wind. It blew away Camerupt's yawn. "Get close!"
"Not happening! Earthqua-"
"Sucker Punch!" Mawile vanished and reappeared above the rising front of Camerupt. Her fists glowed a murky black as she slammed it down on his face. "Follow up with Ice Punch!"
Unlike that time at Wally's Mawile's Ice Punch didn't leak snowflakes, no, it erupted with ice as it gravitated down on Camerupt's face. "Get out of there with Fairy Wind!"
The force from Sucker Punch made her float in the air, which allowed her to follow it up with Ice Punch, from there she flipped onto her back and began to spin and used the winds to push her away.
Cameupt grunted as it endured three powerful attacks. It looked worn out.
"Don't let her get away!" Flannery shouted, "Take Down!"
Camerupt shook off its concussion and tried to meet Mawile while she was stuck in the air. Mawile flipped over and smugly smirked in his face. Flannery tried to make the call to back off, but Akane was faster.
"Sucker Punch!" Mawile vanished once again and popped up behind Camerupt's head, a flash of fear crossed his eyes before Mawile slammed her fist from atop his head.
"...Might want to get that checked for a concussion." Akane recommended. "Mawile's strength is no joke when she goes Mega."
"...I thought I had you that time!" Flannery whined. "However, we're not done yet! Lava Plum-"
"Sucker Punch followed with a Power-up Punch! Don't let him spit that lava!" Camerupt's mouth slammed shut from Mawile's punches. Magma leaked from his lips but despite his best efforts to shake her off, it wasn't enough.
"I give! I give! Stop before you crack his skull open!" Flannery recalled Camerupt with a frown. "...I thought I was aggressive, you were relentless!"
"Camerupt is unable to battle, the winner is Mawile! The winner of this bout is Akane Suzuki of Verdanturf Town!" Valerie announced with a serene smile, "For anyone who placed their bets on Akame, please head to your usual spot to claim your reward."
Oda arrived first even after he laughed on his wife's face.
Mio jumped from the bleachers and met up with Flannery and Akane as they shook hands. She had a couple questions she wanted answered.
"Is Mawile that strong?" Mawile already reverted from her Mega State and looked tired, but still fresh enough to take on another challenger. Her smug smirk was more pronounced with her most recent win. "I mean, Camerupt looked so sturdy and…"
"Huge Power." Akane interrupted. "Mawile gets that ability. Well, it basically doubles her attack. Power-Up Punch boosts it even further with a limit of six boosts, add that with Sucker Punch and well… just pray that you don't get a concussion."
"If I had my whole team the fight would've been mine," The red headed Gym Leader pouted. "I should've saved Blaziken for last…!"
"Blaziken's Speed Boost would've rendered Mawile's heightened Attack null and void if it could just avoid them." His admittance made Flannery sulk even further, "Did you learn something with that fight?"
Mio nodded.
"Akane's dirty."
"Urk," It hurts more when a twelve years old says it.
Paper Cuts Rule#1
A Pokemon can know more than 4 mores, however, when they enter a fight they are only allowed to use 4 moves and anymore would be a violation to the law. Only on special occasions would this limiter be lifted.
AN: Decided to try a Pokemon fix… again, might stick to it this time, anyways. Paper Cuts will be a second priority.
Brief Character Summary:
Akane Suzuki
He is a 17 year old male living in Vendanturf Town with his sister, Akame Suzuki, and three pokemon which he raised since he gained his trainer license at the age of 13.
Unlike most trainers however, he opted to stay at home and train with passing tourists and travelers. He is uninterested with Gyms as they only bring unwanted attention.
His starter is Mawile, which he received as a gifted egg from Valerie who at the time, just started her career as a Gym Leader. He obtained Altaria from Drake who he saved from choking as a Swablu, and Flygon as a Trapinch for his first legit catch.
Mawile prefers to use her fists rather than the jaws behind her head. Her favorite move is Sucker Punch.
Altaria is lazy and unmotivated, but powerful when pissed off. Her favorite move is Perish Song.
Flygon is eager to please, but is a weak specimen of its race. His favorite move is Dig.