Chapter 17: A Flaming Hot Trial
"Thank you so much!" The rancher shook his hand vigorously, several others corralling the various pokémon. "Is there any way for us to pay you back for what you've done?"
"Ah…" Sapphire's eyes flashed at the thought of money, before shaking his head. "U-Uh, no, it's fine. I don't want anything for doing the right thing."
"Policemen do the right thing and are still paid."
"This is very true," He answered back immediately, before biting his tongue. "No, no, just… how about healing my pokémon? That should be fine." The rancher huffed, before smiling and taking his pokéballs. He looked around as the rancher walked away, before jogging over to help corral several of the Ponyta and Rapidash. "Need some help?"
"Ah, thank you." He grabbed some of the reigns and began leading some of the Pokémon into their pens, the Fire-Types following him calmly as they recognized him as the one who helped rescue them. "Is there—"
"The other guy already offered, and no, I don't want to take advantage of your kindness. Even if I could get mega-rich…"
"What was that?"
"Nothing! A-Anyway, I was really focused on that tough admin, we're any Pokémon stolen?"
"Several, but they were the ones pokénapped before you had even arrived. There was nothing you could have done about that. Luckily, you stopped them from taking any more, and once the police arrive they can arrest the Grunts that your Pokémon captured."
"Still, kinda irks me that some of them got away… wait, where's the Shiny Ponyta? I'm willing to bet that she was one of their targets!"
"Oh don't worry, she's fine." The rancher nodded at said Pokémon, who was watching Sapphire thoughtfully.
"Oh. I was gonna go on a rant about how I'd launch a rescue attempt, but alright." After making sure all the Pokémon were in their pens, Ponyta wandered towards the fence and headbutt him. "Ow! Hey, what gives?"
"Oh?" The rancher smiled and pet Ponyta, who was still staring at him. "Ponyta seems interested in you. Normally she only attacks if someone tries to pet her, she isn't one to go on the offensive first…"
"Am I supposed to be happy about that?" He asked while rolling his eyes. Ponyta headbutt him again for that remark, and he sighed as he began petting her. "Alright, alright, what do you want then?" Ponyta snorted and tilted her head back, flaring the blue flames that were flickering there. "I don't speak horse." Ponyta headbutt him again.
"I think she's asking you to ride her," the rancher hummed. "Some Pokémon do this to test whether a Trainer is worthy of them, rather than have an actual Pokémon battle."
"Worthy?"
"Say…" the rancher smiled, "how about it? If Ponyta deems you worthy, why not capture her for your team? As thanks for saving the ranch."
"Hey, I already told the other guy that healing my Pokémon is enough… but I could always use another Fire-Type…" Ponyta headbutt him a third time. "Agh geez! Fine, fine!"
"Thank you, human, you have done well in healing me." Cobalt crossed his arms and nodded, while the rancher just raised an eyebrow at him.
"I have no idea what you just said but I'll assume you're thanking me." The rancher pat him on the head, causing him to grumble at the childish treatment, before gathering up the rest of Sapphire's pokéballs. "Now then, let's go return these guys." They exited the building and began looking around for his Trainer, only for said by to fly by screaming, holding onto the neck of the shiny Ponyta.
"…What."
"Well that's a sight," the rancher spoke while tipping his hat. They approached the slowing pony Pokémon and watched as Ponyta finally stopped to let Sapphire off. The boy slumped to the ground and lay in the dirt face down, but Ponyta looked smugly pleased and nodded, pressing on his back lightly with her hoof.
"Acceptable. Trainer, you will now add me to your team."
"Whoa, whoa, what's going on now?"
Ponyta tossed her head and snorted. "I have deemed your Trainer worthy. He will now capture me."
"…I don't like you."
"The feeling is mutual." As a rivalry was born Sapphire suddenly shot up, gasping.
"Dear Lord, I'm never doing that again!" He shook his head and dislodged some dust from his bangs, before wobbling to his feet. "Uh, was that fine, or do I do it again? Because I think I just said I was never doing it again."
"No. That was fine." Ponyta proudly headbutt him in the chest, causing him to cough. "Now, use the Pokéball."
"She said no, and that we should leave her here."
"Lies! Lies and deception!" He and Ponyta glared at each other, and Sapphire held his hands up.
"Uh, alright, I guess you don't like each other much… but, Ponyta, you do want to be captured or don't you?" Ponyta nodded, so he grabbed an empty pokéball and clicked the button to enlarge it. "'Kay, sounds good. Now then, a nickname…"
"I need no nickname! I am Ponyta, and proud!"
"She says she wants a really cool one," he smirked. Ponyta glared at him and Sapphire absentmindedly nodded.
"Gotcha, don't worry Ponyta, I'm great with nicknames!"
"I refuse!"
"Hm… how about Spirit? I mean, you're really willful, and your blue flames look really cool, like a spirit's!"
"No!" Ponyta headbutt him and he began coughing.
"Ow… well, the rancher did say you only attacked someone first if you were interested… I guess you like it." Ponya's, or rather, Spirit's eyes widened at her mistake.
"Yep, she loves it. Now capture her and send her back to the Professor's lab."
"No, wai—!"
"Alright, welcome to the team, Spirit!" Sapphire tapped her with the pokéball, and she was quickly pulled inside. After a few erratic wobbles, the ball flashed and teleported away. "Cool, another Fire-Type! And an awesome shiny blue one at that!"
"Indeed…" he cackled softly while his Trainer looked at him strangely.
"Uh-Huh… well, I guess we should wait for the police to arrive to tell them what happened alongside the ranchers, then we can head out to the Trial once again."
"Sounds good to me!"
After spending the night at a nearby Pokémon center, they once again began making their way towards the Fire-Type Trial, though this time with the aid of Tauros making their journey take much less time. Plus, Sapphire and Cobalt were able to actually enjoy the journey, since Tauros wasn't being pushed to his limit, and arrived at the volcano several hours later.
"Thanks, Tauros!" He patted the bull Pokémon, much more comfortable with that one than the demon from Melemele, and began changing out of his riding clothes. "Well, we've got our team sorted out, let's do some last-minute prep before we take it on." He finished changing and grabbed his pokéballs. "Everyone, out!"
With five pops his Pokémon were free and looking up at him, with Wave in a convent puddle for her to swim in. "Alright… everyone ready and know their roles?"
"Yep."
"I'm super duper stoked!"
"Haunter, haire it up, haun!"
"I-I think I'm ready…"
"They won't be able to keep up with me."
"I can seadraever you need!"
"Haha!" He clapped and grinned! "Man, I knew I'd get it to work sometime soon!" At their confused glances, he pressed a hand against his chest. "Even though I can perfectly understand Cobalt, that doesn't mean I should stop there! Cobalt and Rotom may be able to translate for all of you, but that doesn't mean I shouldn't try to understand the rest of you too. Every night before bed I read a bit more of that book Willow got and meditate, plus it seems like using Z-Moves kinda helps, and now I can… eh, I can understand some of you."
"Really, really?!" Chrysant's tail wagged hard, and she barked excitedly. "Can you understand me? Can you?!"
"Yep, I can understand you perfectly! Blast and Inferno too! But the rest of you…" Unfortunately, it worked better the closer you were with a Pokémon, so the rest of them he only partially understood, and wild Pokémon would still need to be translated for him.
Haunter said something that he only partially understood and everyone groaned, besides Chrysant who yipped happily like she was laughing. "Uhh…"
"Yeah, be glad you didn't understand that one," Cobalt muttered.
"Well, in any case, it's time for training. Rotom, you too!" After Rotom zipped out everyone began training, while he tapped on the screen of his now Rotomless Rotomdex, navigating to the call application. He scrolled down to Willow's name and tapped it, causing the screen to begin ringing.
"Calling Willow," the Dex spoke, much more monotonously than when Rotom inhabited it. The screen flickered, before Willow appeared on the other end, in what looked to be a hotel room and not a pokécenter.
"Hello, Sapphir— Sapph. How are you?"
"Hey, you finally remembered." He chuckled before sitting down on the ground. "Pretty good. Finally got back to the Fire Trial, and I'm probably going to attempt it before the end of the day. What about you, what happened in Lush Jungle?"
Willow's gaze hardened and she sighed. "…I'm not quite sure. Team Skull was definitely trying to steal some Pokémon, and even got away with some weaker ones, but we stopped the majority of them. There was one though…"
"An Admin?"
"No, he said so himself, he was more of an enforcer than anything, but… after everything was over, he didn't even seem that upset. He just sighed and returned his Pokémon. He even said something like, 'I don't care much for Team Skull, I only joined to get stronger.'"
"Weirdo. I mean, he could just go around and do the Island Challenge if he wanted to get stronger, not join a criminal team."
"Mm-hm. And there was his main Pokémon too. He called it Null, but then said its full name by accident once or twice, Type: Null."
"Weird name."
"The name makes sense though. When we were battling, it was somehow able to continuously switch between Typings through small discs… I know that some Pokémon have Abilities that allow them to change Typings, but discs?"
"Huh… I've heard about gems that increase a Typing's attack power but…" he scratched his head and hummed.
"Plus, Rotom even said that Null was constantly fluctuating and changing between Typings without the discs, so I assume that somehow Type: Null has the potential for all eighteen Typings, but the discs don't actually change them, but rather bring out one of the Typings! What do you think?"
"Uh… I understood… some of that?"
"Oh." Willow blushed and shook her head. "W-Well, it was just an assumption I made. Don't worry about it. Oh, I'll have Rotom send you a picture of the boy and his Pokémon so that you're ready if you ever fight him."
"Good idea. Hey Rotom, did you happen to take a picture of the Admin we fought?"
Rotom nodded from where he was fluttering, training with Cobalt. "Yep, I'm constantly taking pictures of everything!"
"…everything?"
"Yep! By the way, we may need some more storage space soon…"
"God dang it…" he found the picture of Noct sending out his Pokémon and sent it to Willow's Rotomdex.
She looked it over and raised an eyebrow. "Does everyone on that team have to dress so… bleakly?"
"Right? I feel like they're all characters from P3 or something. I swear if they say something about how 'the Arcana is the means by which all is revealed,' I'm gonna lose it."
"What?"
"Uh, nevermind. Oh, did you retake the Grass-Type Trial?"
"Yes, I did actually. The battle was hard-fought, but Grimer and my newest Pokémon did well in keeping the Totem on the back foot, and Rowlet evolving into Dartrix managed to turn the tide in my favor."
"Alright, nicely done!"
Willow blushed and giggled at the praise, shyly nodding. "Right now I'm heading around the back of the island to reach the Fire-Type Trial, and I'm staying at a hotel for the night. We might cross paths tomorrow if you finish your Trial by then."
"Ha, I'll do my best then!" He grinned at her and looked to his Pokémon before turning back. "Well, I'd better get focused on doing some training, but maybe I'll see you tomorrow!"
"Right. Good night, then."
"Night!" The fall ended, and he clapped his hands. "Alright boys and girls, let's do this! I've got an idea for Wave to be able to help out, even though there isn't any water up there… and it all has to do with this little item I picked up from the Pokémart!"
"I don't like her."
"…?" Storm slowly opened an eye from where he was relaxing next to Claws and looked to where the cat was glaring. Ponyta was strutting around the edge of the ranch, looking down on several other Pokémon. He closed his eyes, but Claws seemed to have gotten the message he was asking, which was isn't that what you normally do?
"Of course! But I'm a great fighter! Ponyta is only strutting around because she's a Shiny! Hmph! I bet if we were to battle I'd totally win."
"Mph…" he shuffled slightly to let the sun hit all of him. Next to him, Eevee and Puffball were also basking in the sun, listening to their conversation. They were slowly learning to interpret his grunts like the rest of the team could.
"Heh, maybe I can antagonize her into a battle by calling her 'Spirit.' The thing that sent her over said that's her registered nickname, but she seems to hate it!"
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Puffball asked. "She might be pretty powerful."
"You think? Maybe… she doesn't seem like a wild Pokémon, so I could probably take her down. Who do you think would win?"
"I… don't think there's really a way to tell without a fight taking place," Eevee answered.
"True… but then, the unique moves me and Sapphire have been working on will be a surprise. Maybe that'll knock out her holier-than-thou attitude."
"Mphll…"
"I do not always act like that! I have respect for most of you! You have great power when you actually fight, Cobalt is a good leader when Sapphire can't be one and is a powerful and speedy fighter, Inferno and Blast are faster than even Cobalt due to their Flying-Type, Spooks is the strongest out of all of us, though he could lessen up on the puns, and Wave is rather tenacious! …For a Water-Type…"
"What about Chrsyant?" Puffball asked, nuzzling into Eevee's side.
"That mangy mutt? I can barely stand her. I don't know why I'm the one that has to take care of her when Sapphire isn't around, Creator knows she can't take care of herself."
He raised a lazy eyebrow at his Fire-Type teammate and snorted, before closing his eye.
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?! You take that back! I am not a tsundere!"
"What's a tsundere?" Eevee asked. Puffball looked interested too.
"…Claws," he answered.
"Oh."
"Ah."
"What are you 'oh'ing and 'ah'ing at?! I am not a tsundere! Storm! Hey, when did Sapphire start teaching you Japanese anyway?! Damnit, wake up!"
Sapphire's shirt was drenched in sweat by the time they reached the top of the volcano. He groaned and removed it, fanning himself and tossing it behind him for Cobalt to catch and throw in his bag. "Ugh… this heat is unbearable… but I have to endure! Fire-Type Masters deal with this heat all the time when training their Pokémon! Maybe I should start going shirtless?"
"Please don't."
"Yeah, I should probably train myself to deal with this kinda heat more easily."
Cobalt just groaned in response. Sapphire wasn't sure why though.
Atop the highest peak awaited a dark-skinned man wearing red and black shorts and no shirt, with hair styled like a flame. The man watched him approach, crossing his arms. "I am Sapphire," he announced, spreading his legs and slamming a fist into his chest. "And my goal is to not only be the best Trainer ever— but the best Fire-Type Master!"
The man's eyes lit up, and he grinned. "I am Kiawe! I like the passion you hold! The Fire-Type requires that very passion! Ah, but I'm getting ahead of myself… you are here for my Trial!" He stomped his foot, and three bipedal Pokémon with thin tails jumped forward. They had dark bodies with white stomachs, paws, and feet, and their heads were armored by bone with a flame marking on the front. In their hands, they wielded bone staffs with ghostly purple flames on the ends. "My Marowak and I are students of the ancient dances that have been passed down in Alola for generations!"
"Rotom?"
"Zzt, Marowak, the Bone Keeper Pokémon! Alolan Variant detected: The skull it wearzz izz no longer just a headpiece but a part of itzz body and itzz mother'zz regretzz have become a vengeful spirit protecting the Pokémon! No amount of water will ever stop the cursed flamezz on itzz bone from burning!"
"Now that's dangerous…" he grinned, slamming his fists together. "And sounds like a good battle!"
"Your spirit shines brightly, fellow walker of the flames!"
"Oh Creator," Cobalt groaned, "there's two of them…"
"Now, the Trial of Kiawe… you will find it is a bit different from the other Trials you have faced up until this point! And yet, you shall attempt it, correct?"
"Bring it on!"
"Hmhmhm! My Trial… shall test your powers of observation! There will be a dance… and then another. Your task will be to find the difference between the two. Now!" Kiawe jumped off the stone stage, and the three Marowak stepped forward. "Begin!"
They began their dance, twirling their bone staffs mesmerizingly, causing the flames to create near-perfect circles as music played from nowhere. Sapphire turned his head to see Kiawe standing in front of a barely hidden speaker system. "Bruh." Once they were finished with their dances they struck a pose, the center Marowak placing one paw on the ground and the side Marowak inclining their heads to the sky.
They then repeated the dance, only this time the center Marowak was looking towards the sky. "Now! What was different from the previous dance?!"
"Uh… is that a trick question? It's obviously the middle one …"
Kiawe gasped. "B-But how?! That was truly spectacular!" Kiawe clenched a fist and closed his eyes. "No… I should have seen this coming from a fellow lover of the Fire-Type… now, Marowak!" The Pokémon leaped forward, twirling its staff.
"Oh, we have to fight, huh? Alright, Spooks, show them fear!" Spooks popped out of his ball with a terrifying cackle, tongue drooling it's paralyzing fluid. Marowak cringed back upon seeing the slobber, and Spooks rolled his eyes. "Get 'em, Spooks!"
Spooks breathed in, before flooding the arena with poison. Marowak winced and covered its mouth, but didn't expect the flames on its staff to ignite the poison. As Marowak was sent reeling back from the explosion, Spooks clasped his hands together and formed a ball of Dark-Type energy, before firing a Dark Pulse forward. Marowak nimbly dodged, doing a side flip and doing what almost seemed to be a dance, dodging several more pulses, before they suddenly stopped. Marowak looked around in confusion before Spooks appeared behind him using Shadow Punch.
Marowak was sent flying, before attempting to stop their momentum by rolling to their feet, until a Dark Pulse impacted and knocked them to the ground. Spooks got ready to attack again, but the Marowak simply held its arms up in surrender. "Spooks, that's enough!" He looked to Kiawe and the man nodded.
"As they are necessary for the Trial's dances, they know their limits and when to stop. Your Haunter is quite powerful you know."
"Yeah, he's my strongest Pokémon, but my others are starting to catch up."
"In any case… Onward to the second dance! Begin, my Marowak!"
The Marowak began dancing again, and Sapphire carefully watched, but not as carefully as the first time since he realized it would be something obvious. Sure enough, the second dance occurred, only this time instead of the Marowak finishing in a different pose, some random hiker was posing alongside the Pokémon. Sapphire, Cobalt, and Spooks all stared at the hiker, before slowly turning to an excited Kiawe. "…Where did he even come from? You know what, whatever, is the difference the hiker?"
"What?! How could you…? Hmph, that was truly spectacular! Hiker, have at him!"
"ALOLA!" The hiker tossed a pokéball out, releasing a red and orange flaming pokémon. It had a round lower body and thick legs, with two arms ending in claws. Sapphire raised an eyebrow at Rotom, who began buzzing.
"Zzt, Magmar, the Spitfire Pokémon! It relaxezz in magma to ease itzz wearinezz and pain, and simply being around the Pokémon can raise an area'zz temperature!" Yeah, Sapphire could already feel the area becoming hotter.
"Alright, Spooks, relax for now, Blast, blow them away!" Blast popped out of her ball and began hovering over the ground. Magmar began the battle by breathing out a spiraling flame, and Blast quickly dodged to the side before firing several blades of Razor Wind at the Fire-Type.
"Hey, what gives?"
They were suddenly deflected by an invisible force, the heat coming off of Magmar messing with the air around it. "Blast, don't use air-based attacks! Supersonic!" Blast screeched and Magmar wobbled drunkenly, holding its head. Magmar attempted to hit Blast with another burst of fire, but instead hit the ground near it and damaged itself from the ensuing blast. Blast swooped in and clipped the Pokémon with her wings, knocking it out.
The hiker laughed and returned his Pokémon, jogging away. Kiawe nodded and crossed his arms, "My hiker friend was so pleased by your right answer that he simply had to battle you. Now, onto the final dance!"
Sapphire rolled his eyes and watched the Pokémon dance, strike a pose, and dance again. During the final pose, a massive lizard Pokémon slunk its way over the side of the volcano and snuck its way behind the Pokémon, also striking a pose. "Now… what is different?!"
"...This isn't much of a Trial."
Blast nodded. "Yeah… it… isn't what I expected."
"Haunt, dance to ter, haunt." Cobalt and Blast groaned at whatever Spooks' pun was, and Sapphire sighed as he turned to Kiawe.
"I'm… guessing that it's the Totem Pokémon."
"Amazing! Now come, my Totem!"
The Pokémon hissed as it slunk forward and the Marowak made their way off the stage, and Sapphire pointed forward. "Blast, Spooks, Cobalt, show 'em our moves! Rotom, analyze!"
"Zzt, Salazzle, the Toxic Lizard Pokémon! Only femalezz exist, and live deep within cavezz! They use the pheromonezz they emit to attract male Salanditzz and force them to serve it!"
"What's a pheromone?"
"Is that really the main focus here?"
"You right… and when you right, you right."
"Stop speaking like that."
Salazzle opened the battle by spewing out toxic gas, which began crawling over the arena floor. Cobalt hopped onto Spooks' back and both Spooks and Blast floated up to avoid the toxins. "Cobalt and Spooks need to touch the poison to ignite it… but not Inferno! Burn them up!" Inferno began circling the arena, before burping several Embers into the poison sea. Instead of going off though, the fire was just swallowed.
"Not all toxins are flammable," Cobalt advised.
"Oh, now you tell me?!" Suddenly, Salazzle leaped out of the poison, snapping her jaws at Spooks and Cobalt. Spooks went intangible, which left Cobalt hovering midair.
"...I hate you." Cobalt then fell, before spinning and kicking away Salazzle's jaws before she could bite down on him. He landed on her back and jumped back as she twisted to try and bite him, backflipping onto her tail. She flicked her tail up and he was thrown into the air before Talonflame used his enhanced speed from evolving to dive down and catch the Fighting-Type. Salazzle dove back down into the poison to hide and began moving around underneath the heavy cloud.
"Blast, Talonflame, use Gust to blow away the cloud!" Blast and Talonflame began flapping their wings, launching powerful waves of wind downwards, only for Salazzle to pop out of the poison and use Flamethrower. The rising heat combated against the Gust attacks, and the wind didn't reach the poison. Salazzle was suddenly launched in the air by an attack from below, as Spooks moved through the ground and used Shadow Punch from below.
"Now's your chance!"
"Take this!"
"Try and keep up!"
"Ghahaha, did I spook you?!"
"I-I'll do my best!"
Cobalt, Inferno, Spooks, and Blast all attacked Salazzle as she was suspended midair. Spooks unleashed two Shadow Balls from his outstretched hands, Blast attacked with an Outrage, Inferno swooped in and used Flare Blitz, and Cobalt unleashed an improvised Close Combat using Force Palms and Blaze Kicks.
Salazzle was battered back and forth before being launched back down to the earth courtesy of a flaming ax kick by Cobalt, and Salazzle hissed angrily from inside the poison. "Alright, nicely done! But we need to get rid of this poison! Wave, let's wash them away!" As he tossed the pokéball forward, there was an additional blue flash from the pokéball before a large amount of water poured from the ball. When Wave formed in the water she commanded the water to surround her in a bubble that she controlled. "Alright, the contest seal worked!"
It had been something he came up when strolling the bargain mart on Royal avenue after the Paniola Ranch incident. He'd seen contests on television before, and he remembered Trainers using special seals on their pokéballs to release smoke, water, and other effects alongside their pokémon. With that information, he searched specifically for a water seal and placed it on Wave's pokéball, so that she could control the water after she appeared as if it were her personal pool.
Wave trilled, before using Water Gun to add even more water, before commanding it to rush forward and wash away the poison. The hot ground steamed as the water moved over it, but sure enough, the dense clouds of poison were swept away and left Salazzle battered by the sudden wave. "And with the poison gone… Chyrsant, rock their worlds!"
"I'm ready to go!" She appeared with a happy bark, and Salazzle hissed before Cobalt landed on her head from behind and launched her forward with a kick. A massive Stone Edge pillar struck Salazzle as she flew forward and drew the air from her lungs, launching her upwards where Spooks threw her back down with a double-fisted Shadow Punch. Talonflame intercepted with a Brave Bird, diving down to the ground where Blast cut her up with another Air Cutter.
Salazzle crashed into the ground, covered in bruises. She hissed as she slowly rose before what looked to be several smaller versions of herself crawled over the volcano's lip. "I'm guessing those are Salandits?"
"Zzt, correct."
"Alright… Chrysant, Cobalt, Wave, take her on! Spooks, Inferno, Blast, provide backup and keep those Salandits back! Rotom, electrify them! Aid the support team!"
"Wave, support me and Chrysant at long range, don't let Salazzle evaporate your water!" Cobalt jumped forward and flipped over a tail swipe from Salazzle, before blocking a claw attack by crossing his arms and Enduring. Chrysant launched several rocks using Rock Throw, which impacted with Salazzle's face who was busy attacking Cobalt. She hissed and barfed out a Venom Drench attack which Chrysant dodged before a blast of Dragon Rage from Wave threw Salazzle back.
"Chrysant, launch me!" While the Poison-Type was stunned, Cobalt used the opportunity to attack, having Chrysant send him up high by creating a pillar to launch him, before using Hell Wheel to fall from above. Salazzle managed to roll away though, and Cobalt winced at the recoil from striking the ground so hard after falling so far. Salazzle hissed, before focusing on Cobalt.
Her body straightened out, before a wave of pheromones leaked from her body as she used Captivate. "Would you really keep hitting a girl?"
Cobalt snorted. "Haven't I been attacking you th…" The pheromones reached him and Cobalt began wobbling, shaking his head. To top it off Salazzle used Attract, and Cobalt was fully lulled. "Uhh…"
Chrysant yelped. "No! Her feminine wiles have taken Cobalt's heart!"
"Uh, what?"
As Cobalt kept swaying in place, Salazzle suddenly rushed forward with surprising speed and attacked Chrysant. In response the Rock-Type Dug underground, popping back up further away. "Give him back, meanie!" She used Rock Tomb, attempting to trap Salazzle, but the lizard melted her way out. A sudden burst of steam blinded her though as Wave struck one of the melting rocks with Brine before her eyes flashed and she used Twister, sweeping up Salazzle.
"You, the Riolu! Your queen is being attacked, protect me!"
"Y-Yeah…" Cobalt turned as if in a daze and dashed towards Chryant, who yelped as he aimed a Force Palm at her face.
"Whoa! Cobalt, what the heck? Chrysant, what happened, I can't understand the Salazzle!"
"The meanie used phero-thingies to turn Cobalt!"
"Dang!"
"You talk so childishly… should you really be on the battlefield?" Salazzle, now that Cobalt was fighting for her, sat back and huffed, raising her head arrogantly.
"Yes, I should!" Chrysant puffed her cheeks out in anger, glaring at the Salazzle. "Sapphy really counts on me, and so does everyone else! And right now, Cobalt really needs my help!"
"I feel like I'm just a side-character right now," Wave muttered, firing a Water Gun at Cobalt. She tried to make sure that he wasn't heavily injured by the attack, but she also didn't want Chrysant suddenly knocked out. Even if she could control her water bubble, she was still relegated to slow movement so that she could control it without worry.
Cobalt suddenly landed a direct hit, causing Chrysant to cry out as she was thrown back. "Cobalt, snap out of it already!" Cobalt didn't and wasted no time as he kept attacking. Using Circle Throw he launched her skyward, before delivering a High-Jump Kick and knocking back down. Chrysant cried out as she skid along the rock, and Sapphire winced. "Alright, Chryasnt, enough! Spooks, switch wi-"
"I can still fight!" As Vital Spirit began kicking in and kept Chrysant in the fight, she growled, hackles raised. "Cobalt is my best friend-!"
Back at the ranch, Claws suddenly felt very offended.
"-And I won't give him up to some meanie like you!" Her eyes flashed and she Howled, the sun highlighting her form. It had not yet set, but with how they were atop a volcano it barely crested the lip of the mountain and bathed her in its light. Suddenly, she began glowing white and grew in size.
When the light died down, Chrysant now came up to Sapphire's thigh, and the rocks within her mane had now grown to be about a foot in length each. Her paws now had sharper claws, her tail was bushier, her muzzle was longer, her eyes sharper, her fangs bigger, and her body, in general, was leaner yet much more powerful when compared to her larger size. "Chrysant! You've evolved!"
Sapphire held up the Pokedex, which began monotonously scanning Chrysant. "Lycanroc, Daytime/Midday form. The sharp rocks in its mane can cut like daggers, so some affectionate Lycanroc may accidentally cut their trainers. Their quick movements combined with their powerful body can confuse and overwhelm foes. Alert, a new Ability has been unlocked alongside Vital Spirit and Keen Eye. Lycanroc now has Sand Rush, Lycanroc will be able to move with heightened speed within Sandstorms."
Salazzle narrowed her eyes and lowered her body, readying herself for battle. "Chrysant, let's do this! Accelerock!" Chrysant blasted forward, completely avoiding Cobalt and reaching Salazzle before the Totem even had a chance to move. Salazzle grunted as she was tossed back before pillars of stone sent her flying even further back. Cobalt began turning before Wave had enough and hit him with a fully powered Water Gun.
"Hwhah?! What?! What happened? Where am I?"
"Cobalt, focus! Salazzle drugged you or something!" Cobalt blinked and turned, watching as Chrysant backflipped away from Salazzle, and snarled when he realized what happened.
"Wave, thanks for snapping me out of it… Hey, Chrysant! Knock her this way!"
"Gotcha, Cobalt!" Chrysant Howled, before dashing forward. She easily dodged a burst of fire, before launching several rocks at Salazzle. As the Totem was sent reeling, Chrysant burst forward and launched Salazzle with Accelerock, causing her to roll across the ground and stop before Cobalt. She slowly looked up to see Cobalt charging up a powerful Force Palm, and weakly smiled.
"…You wouldn't attack a girl… again? Right?"
Cobalt rolled his eyes at the repeated question and attempt to stop him. "As one of my and Sapphire's role models once said… I am an advocate of true gender equality. A Pokémon who has no problem doling out a dropkick to a female opponent. Don't think I'll go easy on you." Salazzle gulped before Cobalt sent them flying with an overcharged Force Palm, letting loose a massive explosion of aura. Salazzle soared into the air, until Stone Edge pillars hovering midair because of Chrysant fell, crushing the Totem. Everything was silent until Salazzle crawled out and scampered away, alongside the Salandits.
"Well, that went well."
"I was literally mind-controlled for the last fourth of that fight."
"AS I SAID. It all went just as planned."
"I… yeah, no, sure. Whatever."
Kiawe stepped forward, nodding. "Spectacular, truly! With your keen observations, you were able to even see fine details in our dances. And your battle with the Totem! Amazing!" Kiawe nodded, stepping forward. "The Totem protected this Firium Z. Now it is yours!"
He stepped forward as well and accepted the red colored Z-Crystal, and grinned as it glinted in the light. All seven members of his current team crowded around him and he grinned as he slammed it into his bracelet and raised his fist into the air while his team cheered. "We've passed the Fire Trial!"
"Alright!"
Niceu, chapter complete. Kiawe's Trial is… yeah, that's a thing, not sure how such obvious differences are a challenge, but might as well make that comedic.
Soon as I saw Salazzle used pheromones to control Salandits I knew I had to make a gag involving Konosuba and the 'gender equality running gag,' and part of the fight about one of the male members of the team being brainwashed. People ask me why I don't just jump from important event to important event and put small things like Sapphire and Cobalt messing around and getting chased by Ekans like in Chap 6, or ranch sections like in this chap and chap 15, but Pokémon is about the interactions between Trainer and Pokémon, at least to me. Sure if there's an overarching plot that should be focused on too, but small things should be focused on too. At least, in my opinion.
In other news, my friend drew Sapphire as Pokémon Trainer from Smash. I asked her if she was okay with me using it as the cover art but she wasn't because she got embarrassed. Understandable, I rarely show anybody my stuff, unless I'm 100% confident in it. And that won't happen anytime soon, especially if I try drawing something myself for my cover art, lol. Anyway, in my doc that contains what pokémon Sapphire gets when, and when they evolve, I had him eventually getting two of Pokémon Trainer's pokémon, not saying who of course, but now I might change it so he does get all three pokémon and do the Squirtle, Ivysaur, Charizard thing. Pokémon Trainer is pretty fun to play in Smash after all, could make an Omake about Sapphire Chaser in Smash…
But, no Omake today. I still have a bunch of ideas for them of course, but I don't want to run out right away. Might do one every other or every few Chapters? Anyway, leave a review on everything you liked in the chapter or just a 'nice.' Both are always great to read.
Sapphire:
-Riolu, Cobalt
-Litten, Claws
-Midday_Lycanroc, Chrysant
-Charjabug, Storm
-Haunter, Spooks
-Noibat, Blast
-Talonflame, Inferno
-Seadra, Wave
-Rotom
-Eevee, Puffball
-Ponyta, Spirit
Willow:
-Espurr, Cream
-Dartrix
-Slowbro
-Grimer
-Murkrow
See y'all next time.
