Chapter 25 – Help
Route 11
It was raining heavily now, several minutes of walking through the route. We couldn't find anywhere where we might find shelter until the rain passes, so we had to walk through it until we could find shelter from the rain or until we reached the Village Bridge. But because we were water types we liked this, it really helped in a sense help us feel energized, relaxed. But we couldn't stay out in this for too long, winter was approaching and it was really cold outside, Aqua shivering as we ran together, we would have to hurry and warm up.
"Zack, should we head back to Opelucid? It's raining really badly. And it's really cold out." I glanced back at the road we came from leading back to Opelucid. I had considered on going back and staying in the city until the rain had passed, but I didn't want to risk going back and running into Purrloin and her gang. They would've left Chargestone Cave not too long ago; we would most likely encounter them sooner than later if we stayed in one place for too long.
"Can't. We gotta keep moving." I then glanced at Aqua, still seeing she was still shivering. "Ten more minutes and we'll make it to the Village Bridge." I told myself. "Once we get to the Village Bridge we'll find a place to lay low and get warm. We won't be able to do that here in this pouring rain, but I don't want to risk running into Purrloin. I wish I brought something along to help keep us warm for the journey, like a blanket or something, especially when it's getting colder in the year."
We had run a little more through route 11; past the waterfall, over the river and making a quick shortcut through the tree's saving us five minutes. We were running really fast through the route eager to get somewhere warm and out of the rain, almost too fast to have almost missed the wild Pokemon staring at us through the trees. Pokemon I was cautious about for how many were watching us. About to slow down and stay off the main path to avoid the eyes of all of the Pokemon watching us, we heard screaming just around the corner of the route. It was a man calling out for help followed the sounds of Pokemon using moves, explosions and growls all which echoed throughout the route if not more.
"Zack, do you hear that?" Aqua asked, the two of us came to a complete stop. Then we heard the man again call out for anyone to help him, so we ran as fast as we could. At the corner of the main path past the trees were an elderly man being attacked by several Pokemon; three Arcanine's an unusual sight to see especially in the rain, two Arbok's, and a Sandslash another unusual sight in this weather, all of them circled around the man pinning him to the ground with their moves, slashing and biting at the man's legs.
We had to help him, so we ran together towards the Pokemon and attacked with our moves; Aqua with Ice Beam at the Arcanine, and I with Scald at the Arbok. The attacks hit, but they weren't enough to defeat them or scare off the group.
"Eh? Who are these Pokemon?" One of the Arcanine's growled as it readied itself to attack us.
"Who cares! They're interfering with us. Let's get 'em!" The other Arbok spat as it had finished preparing its Poison Sting and chose to target us instead, slithering over the man's body leading the rest of the Pokemon towards us.
The Arcanine's rushed at us first, but we quickly dodged to the side finding ourselves feeling energized thanks to the rain. Since Aqua and I were both water types, our moves could take down both Arcanine's and the Sandslash with ease. The Arkbok's however would prove to be a problem since we didn't have many antidotes if hit by their poison based moves. I didn't want a repeat of last time when I was poisoned and Aqua had to search all over for an antidote. So we had to be careful.
The Sandslash jumped up from behind the Arcanine's to attack us with Fury Swipes vertically at us. Aqua quickly used Ice Beam to attack the Pokemon while I fought off the three Arcanine's with Razor Shell, hitting two out of the three successfully, but the other missed and managed to land a direct hit sending it flying back into the trees. Aqua ran up to the Arcanine's, jumping up before a wave of water came from the ground as she used Surf and attacked the two fire types dealing super effective damage against the two, defeating one but leaving the other still standing with barely any health remaining. As soon as the move began to fade after being used, Aqua flipped off backwards and readied her own Razor Shell to attack one of the two Arbok's.
"She's a pretty good fighter I'd have to admit, the training the other day really did help a lot." I thought to myself, impressed at her technique. I used Water Pulse at the last Arcanine standing before focusing on the last two Arbok's.
One of the Arbok's attacked me with a Poison Sting continuously backing me up against trees set on finishing me off. But then one of the Poison Sting's had hit me, but thankfully I wasn't poisoned. But it sure hurt a lot, but not enough to keep me down as I used Scald right into his face defeating it. Looking down at my chest where the Arbok's attack had hit me, I noticed there wasn't any scrape or any injury, and that immediately after defeating the Arbok I felt… stronger.
Aqua quickly used Double Team and surrounded the shocked Arbok and all copies moved in to finish off the Arbok while the real Aqua attacked with an Ice Beam knocking it out and ending the battle once and for all. We weren't however in the all clear; there was still the matter of the old man. He was hurt pretty bad, so we had to find some way to help him.
"Hey, are you alright?" I approached the old man, checking his wounds on his legs. He was elderly man probably in his sixties, thinning gray hair, glasses. He had a short moustache covered in mud from the fall. Wearing a brown jacket, striped red and black buttoned shirt. Jeans with a lot of wear and tear on them look kind of old. And boots… probably older than the jeans he was wearing.
"Uhn… feels like pins 'n needles stabbing me in my legs… thanks for the help…" The man looked up to see Aqua and me, and no other in sight apart from the knocked out Pokemon. "Huh? C-could've sworn I heard a voice nearby… that's odd."
"Uh sir, are you alright?" The man suddenly yelped in surprise after hearing me talk. I shouldn't be surprised, I almost forgot about it.
"The heck? Y-y-y-y-you just talked? Or did I hit my head too hard when I fell?"
"Is he okay?" Aqua asked as she walked up to me after patching his wounds up.
"Ah! Oh. Phew, it's only an Oshawott… speaking normally. Thank goodness, I thought I was losing my mind there for a second. A talking Pokemon… well that Oshawott patching me up was one thing, but a talking Pokemon would've taken the cake." he shook his head. "That would be something."
"Excuse me, but are you okay?" I asked again. He paused for a moment, expecting a scream from him any second now, he instead fainted.
"I'm guessing that would be a 'no' then."
Village Bridge
The man a little sooner regained consciousness, almost fainting once more after hearing me talk. After patching up his wound after reopening them again, jumping at the sight of a Dewott speaking the language of a human, we helped him up and told him that we were passing through the route until we heard him scream, so we helped him against the wild Pokemon.
"I guess it was only natural for me acting like that; me shocked at hearing a Pokemon able to speak the human language is something that ain't common around here." The man limped as we were getting closer to the Village Bridge. "Oh by the way, the names Gerald, I live in Village Bridge with my wife Martha. We run a café together. Since you both saved my hide out here, ya gettin' a free meal. You both look like ya could use a good meal."
"No, you don't have to do that."
"No, no, I insist. Ever since the beginning of the week, many of us village folk were attacked by these wild critters. We were kind of hoping someone would come along, like a trainer or something to help deal with the problem we've been having." Gerald smiled. "But taking out all of them Pokemon like that would surely put a smile on the folks back at home. Can't tell ya how happy we'll be once I give them the news we'll be safe from them."
"It sounds like these Pokemon have been causing a lot of trouble for you guys."
"Oh yes, a lot during the week, more than I can ever count." Gerald nodded, finding a street light to lean against to rest a little. "Burning down a building, attacking villagers, even messing with our crops. But with everything they throw at us we quickly fix up. Probably would've been tough to recover if we didn't have the resources."
After his rest by the street light, Gerald guided us through the last part of the route and into the Village Bridge, a village built on top of a huge bridge. Not sure of the history of this village, but I believe it had something to do with a flood that had washed away the old village built below. Like Gerald said, we saw the crops to the right of the bridge, a little damaged and being tended to by several people. Gerald walked us up at least a quarter up the bridge until we stopped outside a café; 'Lotus Café' a two-story timbered building with stained glass windows with beautiful flowers hanging outside them. And above the wooden door was the sign of the café with a list of meals available today on a sign beside the door.
"Welcome to the Lotus café, passed to me by my father in the sixties. Yep, this café was one of the first buildings built here passed down from generation to generation with one purpose; cooking food and drinks for travellers. It ain't much, it ain't popular worldwide, but we do get a lot of interesting folks here and kind regulars from time to time." The door of the Lotus café opened and out came an elderly woman possibly the same age the Gerald wearing a striped blue dress and white apron. Her hair set up in a neat bun looked to be covered in what appeared to be flour.
"Gerald, now where have you been?" She marched right up to him and quite fast for a woman her age. "You know very well not to be out there with your leg all busted up from those pesky Pokemon. And look at that, you are both injured again and you have two Pokemon following you." She said as she pointed her finger at the both of us.
"I know that already, but I had to find help. The endless attacks from the Pokemon the past week have caused quite the scare amongst us. Long story short, I was attacked by the same Pokemon we saw the other day, but these two saved my life. I would not be standing here if not for them."
The woman I assumed to be Martha looked back down at us. Aqua for a short time, and then at me longer than she did while looking at her. "Why are they following you? Don't tell me you convinced them to help us?"
"Even better!" Gerald chuckled. "They already did the job. These two defeated the Pokemon and I brought them back for a little reward; a free meal on the house!"
She sighed, but then smiled. "I see. I suppose the others would be happy to hear about that." Martha knelt down towards our level, extending her arm out to pet us. "Now then, would you two like to come inside and have a little treat?"
"Yeah!" Aqua cheered something Martha or Gerald could not understand, but obviously knew she said yes.
"Thanks." I smiled something all of them could understand. Not a surprise to Aqua, a little bit shocked and surprised still by Gerald, but Martha completely shocked. It took a while for her to settle down. To sit down and explain the situation without giving her a heart attack.
Village Bridge – Lotus Café
I explained to the old couple about what we were doing and what how dangerous our journey had been thus far. We couldn't tell them how I could talk to humans, why I was a white Dewott with black and red eyes, or how I ended up like this because we didn't know. I woke up with no memory on the beach near Castelia City and brought into a gang of horrible Pokemon.
"I see, so that's your story." Martha nodded slowly. "And these Pokemon, they're dangerous? And they're after you and Aqua?" Aqua and I both nodded. "Are these Pokemon that have been attacking the village be the same Pokemon who are looking for you two?"
"I don't think so. Purrloin and her gang are only focused on trying to find us, not go around and attack humans or their territories." I remembered what Purrloin told me once when we still lived in her hideout. I was on a walk with her around the hideout and she told me about confrontations she has had with humans in the past. She lost most of her crew and during a scavenging run. She also told me about the revenge attack she planned out, but were unsuccessful in that attack and lost even more of her Pokemon. So she then settled on a new rule for the hideout; 'never approach humans' refusing to approach them no matter how risky it was. I just hoped that was the case still and these Pokemon weren't involved with Purrloin.
"Hope these trouble makers ain't following you two too much." Gerald leaned back in his chair next to Martha. "I'm sure they'll give up in no time and head on back to wherever it is they hail from."
"And Nuvema Town is where you are from? Right?" Martha asked. "That's going to take you both about a week or two to travel. Is that where your trainer is?"
"I believe so, yeah. I think my family and friends are there also waiting for us to return home."
"Ah, family is important, and so are friends."
Martha went behind the counter and into the kitchen to fix us up a meal and some supplies for the road plus refill on water. The food Martha got for us were cupcakes, a bowl full of fresh berries, apples, Poke Puffs, and Poffin's with a delicious serving of Oran Berry juice.
I know I said I wanted to keep moving on and not stay in one place for too long. But the Oran Berry juice kind of won me over. After all, we did travel far and we could use the rest before we started going again. The running nonstop and the battle we had with those Pokemon before kind of worn us out a little. Plus we needed to restock on our supplies.
Suddenly we heard a knock on the door, opening up a second later as a man in his mid thirties entered the café. He was really tall, almost had to duck underneath the door frame. He was wearing a gray jacket, cargo pants, and black boots covered in dirt. His skin was dark. Scars on his upper lip and nose. The man's name was Danny; he helped by protecting the village with his friends. Chased after thieves that steal from the shops, tries to keep the peace.
"Hey, have I caught you at a bad time?" Danny said as soon as he saw Gerald's bandaged leg up on display with it resting on a chair.
"Of course not. Come on in." Gerald gestured for him to enter and take a seat next to our table.
"Thanks man. What happened to you?"
"Injured by those wild Pokemon while searching for some help." Gerald kept his smile up while patting his own leg, wincing a little as he did so.
"Ouch. Was it worth it?"
"I can say it was. These Pokemon here, you can thank them. I was down, almost ready to go to the next world. But then they came jumping into battle and took out every last one of 'em faster than they arrived. We won't be seein' those Pokemon anyone, I can tell ya that! Oh and get this," he chuckled, pointing at me "Go on, Zack, talk to Danny here. Tell 'im!"
"Uh, yeah. He's right about that." Danny gasped, almost stood up from his chair.
"W-what the heck? He spoke?" Gerald immediately told him the story that was going on with Aqua and I. His reaction after like Martha's before was one of shock and surprise. "Huh, now how about that. Are you still a water type? Or are you a different type from the blue Dewott's here in Unova?"
I shook my head. "I do know water type moves. I have been attacked by electric type moves before and they do hurt a lot. But I don't know if I am capable of learning other moves as of yet."
"Heh. My nephew would love to have you and Aqua on his team. The boy just loves water types. But since you two are on an important journey to reunite with your loved ones, I'm guessing that'll be a no then."
"Ah!" Martha suddenly yelped as she rushed towards the front window to take a peek outside.
"Darn it! Why'd ya have to yell like for?" Gerald flinched in his seat as his wife's sudden yelp.
"The café! Didn't ya notice when Danny walked in? He's a customer ain't he?"
"Ah, you're right about that? And since it'll be eleven that's when the customers, especially the regulars will all be coming in." Gerald clapped his hands together, before attempting to stand up. But was quickly held down by his wife.
"Oh no you don't. Not until that leg of yours has healed up. Don't want you carrying food in your condition. So you just stay behind the register taking in orders while I prepare the food and drinks, and serve the costumers."
"Are you sure you can do all of that, Martha?" Danny crossed his arms as he raised his eyebrow, unsure if Martha could handle that much work "Because last time you did that much work you almost busted one of your legs. Carrying that much food for seven customers at once and you almost dropped them all. Almost soaked and scalded all of your favorite customers, and would've probably lost a good few."
"Alright, alright. So what should we do? Close down the place for now?"
"Now hold up now! Ya can't do that." Gerald raised his hand up. "Opening up the café now would be a great idea for several reasons!"
"And they are?" Martha asked, leaning her hand on the table in front of Gerald.
"Well for starters we gotta sell more of the food left over before the new batch arrives tomorrow. And also this'll be a good way for us to tell the village that we won't be bothered by those pesky vermin no more. We gotta let 'em know who the heroes are."
"But how are ya gonna open up the café if your leg's busted? Don't tell me you're going to leave everything to Martha?"
"Maybe we could help." I spoke up, everyone in the room turned to me. I'm not sure why I did that. Maybe it was 'The Savior' in me that did that, always willing to help others, or maybe it was the Oran Berry juice doing something to my head… I dunno. "You guys have been through a lot with these Pokemon running amok, so we'll be glad to help out."
"Sure, of course." Aqua agreed. "So, what should we help with?"
Only I could understand her, but the others assumed she only said 'I'm with Zack' or something. But then Martha placed her index finger and thumb beneath her chin. "Hmm… I think I have a job for you two."
Gerald worked behind the register, taking in orders and handling the cash. Martha in the kitchen preparing the food and drinks to the customers. And for Aqua and I came another important job; serving the customers the plate of food and drinks while keeping the place clean. Well, for me it was carrying the plates of food and drink while Aqua made sure the place was spotless.
"Alright, Danny here will be our first customer." Martha pointed at Danny sat at one of the tables near the door as he waved at us. "He has already placed his order, once you see me by the kitchen door to pass down the plate to you, either one of you bring it to the customer. Also, try and keep the place clean. There are litterers from time to time. Try as we may, there is always one or two leaving a candy wrapper or dirt on the floor." Martha handed me a plate of food Danny ordered. It didn't weigh much and was easy to carry. But one thing I had to be careful of was the customers in the store and the path towards the customer, wet floor, someone's foot in the way and I could fall over thus spoiling the food, or knock into a chair or table if I'm not careful. So I carried the plate while watching out for hazards and objects that would cause me to lose my balance and drop the food. "Nice work Zack. You're already a natural. Now once you are done, return back to the counter and carefully watch if customers have an issue or with their order, or they want something more."
My work as a waiter was easy, the practice I mean. But the real work would begin once more customers arrived, and they did… a lot of them. Order after order and I waited nervously for the food to be handed down to me so I could give the customers their order. The first tray I was given was to a couple sitting beside the café window. Lattés I think they were having. But I had to carry the tray with the drinks on top without spilling them, and on my first official try too, and that alone was giving me anxiety. Not wanting to mess this up and anger the customers, and losing customers for Gerald and Martha, I tried to focus on getting to the table.
Thankfully I arrived after what seemed like it had taken me forever. Held up the tray for them to take the cups and took the tray back to the kitchen. Although I spilt a little on the tray, they didn't seem to mind. But I had to get better at it if I wanted to make a good impression.
The next customer, a man wearing a construction uniform entered and walked up to the front counter. He was a regular at the café and good friend to both Gerald and Martha. He was stood at five foot, a little overweight with a long black beard that reached right down his chest. He seemed to get along well with everyone else.
"Clancy how's work on the bridge? Any problems with it this time?"
"The repairs are looking good. Thought we were looking on having this bridge evacuated for a few hours, but it looks as though the bridge will hold. Keeping this bridge still holding up after all these years, boy I tell ya, it sure does take out a lot of ya." Clancy chuckled while stretching out his arms.
"The usual today?"
"Sure. Gotta keep my strength up for the next four hours." After returning the tray back near the kitchen, that was when Clancy noticed me and whispered to Gerald asking about why there were Pokemon working here in the café. So long story short and after the same reaction I had from Gerald, Martha, and Danny, Clancy reacted the same way, took a little time to get used to seeing a Dewott speak human language.
"It takes some time getting used to. But besides that, Zack and Aqua have been a huge help to the village." Gerald wrote down the next order for Martha to prepare in the kitchen.
"So you two helped save the old man here?" Clancy asked me.
"Yeah. We were travelling through route 11 when we heard Gerald cry out for help. We came running and defeated the Pokemon and brought him back to the village."
"Well how about that. See, didn't I tell ya help would come along sometime soon? Wait a minute! Now don't tell me you 'rewarded' them by making you work here, did you?"
"Of course not! I gave them a free meal. They offered to help us in the café."
"Zack, take this to table four." Martha handed me a tray of food for two. I carried the tray over to table four without any problems. I was quickly getting used to this job as a waiter, I was spilling things less, aware of my surroundings, listening and watching out for customers who needed an order checked.
The people in the café spoke to me, wanting to hear me speak their language. They were shocked, surprised, but they quickly got used to it. I saw Aqua with a family and their two children playing with her. Watching her being picked up and played with like that made me feel jealous that her job had most of that, relaxing and carried, while my job only involved staying on my feet all day, carrying trays of food, cautiously watching where I walked and talking to people… on second thought it wasn't that bad. But it would've been nice to have some of that.
When I returned to the counter after placing the tray back near the kitchen that was when I heard Clancy and Gerald talk about Aqua and me. "The two are being chased by some horrible Pokemon. Trying to kill them I think." Gerald said quietly to Clancy as they talked by the counter, but from where I was I could still hear everything they were saying.
"That's terrible. I wish there was some way we could help them."
I listened in to what they were saying for quite some time before another order was placed and I had to give the customers there food. The people here were really nice, and I would hate to see Purrloin come here, having learnt that Aqua and I were here, possibly hurt them if Purrloin decided to abandon the no human approach rule of hers.
But there was only one thing they could do to help.
A few hours into the work and it was decided we would have lunch before closing up for the day. Gerald needed his rest, and the supply of food in the back was almost gone. So this was a good chance for us to rest. Martha was surprised that today saw a boost in sales, twenty percent more than they have had in the past. Either it was the celebration that the Pokemon that had troubled the village were defeated and gone for good, or it was the rare sights of a white Dewott who can speak the human language, with an adorably cute shiny Oshawott who would love to sit on your lap or play with you. Or maybe people just felt like ordering more food today. Whatever reason, take your pick; the café had raised a lot more money.
With everything well stocked for our travels, all we needed to do was rest a little more and prepare for the next area. But then we heard a commotion outside, with people running towards the west side of the bridge. We jumped out of the seat and approached the window to see people gathering.
Village Bridge
Down by the western exit stood were almost all the village folk armed with broomsticks, frying pans, anything that might do some damage against the many Pokemon who stood at the entrance of the village ready to strike at any moment, but they didn't. Aqua and I ran to the crowd to investigate, hearing the crowd trying to scare off the Pokemon, others pleading to leave them alone, while a few planned out loud on their plan of attack.
Five Arcanine's, four Growlithe's, four Arbok's, and three Sandslash's stood with their teeth bared, and claws held high ready to strike. The moment we stood in front of the crowd that was when the Pokemon backed off. Then an Arcanine cried. "T-those are the same P-Pokemon who attacked us earlier! I thought I saw them go towards the village with the old man!"
The Arbok slithered a few feet towards us, but staying far out of range. This one unlike the other three Arbok's had several long scars across its face. I could only assume this Pokemon out of the others was the leader "So you are assisting these foolish humans then? Hmph. No matter. The humans can have Pokemon after Pokemon at their disposal, a trainer or two to fight us off, but we will have what we came here for; food to last us the coming harsh winter."
"Why can't you find your own food out in the wild? We saw a lot of berries and more in route 11. You don't have to hurt these people and steal from them." I stepped forward, paw hovering slightly over my scalchop.
"But we like the food the humans have in this village. The food is fresher, has more variety to it. The food out in that route is controlled by stronger Pokemon than us. We couldn't handle their power, so we fled to try something else. Humans are weak, we are strong. They can't handle our power. " The Arbok's Pokemon agreed with him, hissing and growling at the humans. "So I will give you and the Oshawott a chance and only one chance; stand aside and allow us to take our food. Or you will-" The Arbok didn't finish his sentence. Instead, a familiar voice behind the Pokemon yelled out.
"Whoa, totally outrageous! A reunion with the same two pathetic water types who messed me up bad? Who'd expect that?" And of course the Beedrill we met outside Driftveil City, the same one who poisoned me was back, flying above the Pokemon as he flew closer toward us covered in scars from the past battle.
"Jeez, him again?" Aqua groaned."
"Why do you have to speak like that, you nitwit!?" The Arbok yelled at the Beedril. "Don't you realize how stupid you sound? 'Totally' 'bogus dude' I mean, c'mon, who speaks like that?"
"Whoa dude, don't tell me you are dissin this totally awesome Beedrill right here bro. Cause if ya are, then you and your buddies are totally going to get 'surfed up!'"
"What does 'Surfed up' mean?" questioned one of the Sandslash's, but it was never answered, yet ignored by the others and Beedrill.
"Anyway, like I was sayin' before this totally awesome dude was outrageously interrupted," he said pointing to himself with his pincers. "I'm back, baby. And this time I brought friends to help settle the score. Ya see, when I was blasted off into the horizon, I came up with this cool plan to get revenge on you two. Got myself some uh… so-and-so cool dudes to party it up with. Didn't expect to be runnin' into you two anytime soon. Ya know, set up an actual bond first so we'll be ready to knock the both of ya out like in an instant! But first this cool Beedrill had to give help to get help if ya know what I'm saying-"
"That's just about it!" The Arbok snapped. The sudden yell from the Arbok caused the Beedrill to flinch. "That's all you do every single time; talk. You never stop with it. We only care about getting food for the winter; you promised us it if we helped you by defeating powerful Pokemon you claim they are we would be all set. But ever since you came here to us, it's 'dude this, dude that, whoa, like are ya trippin' dude?' it is annoying! Hearing all of that from you is making all of us want to silence you instead!"
"Whoa, hombre. Relax. Take a chill pill or somethin' to help set your mind at ease, dude."
The Arbok growled, and ordered the rest of the Pokemon. "Screw this! Kill the annoying Beedrill and the two water types! Then this village will be defenseless against us!"
Immediately, Aqua and I stood together and readied our moves as the sixteen Pokemon all charged right at us including the Beedrill still frozen in shock after what he felt 'Betrayal beyond belief' or something.
Like the first time we faced them, we didn't have to worry about types here, our types being it water could handle them. But only this time there were more to battle, more poison types and a bug type might I add trying to kill us.
The Arcanine's were the first ahead of the charge using Tackle and Ember. I was hit by the Tackle while Aqua was hit by the Ember. We quickly separated and managed to draw in at least half each to face. I took down two of them with Razor Shell one after the other surprisingly quick, and so was Aqua. It was possible these Arcanine's and the other Pokemon were the same ones we fought, but they didn't heal in time for the battle.
Two of the Sandslash's, two Arbok's, and the last Arcanine faced the Beedrill, cornering him against a set of trees. Despite the number of Pokemon he was facing, he seemed to laugh at their attempt and fought them off with his moves, quick enough to face us or the Arbok leader. The last two Sandslash's attacked us, one using Sword Dance, the other using Dig and dug deep into the ground. Aqua used Ice Beam on the Sandslash. The move did a lot of damage to it, but not enough to render it defeated. So the two of us ran at it to finish it off. Making it halfway was when the second Sandslash decided to make a comeback and attack us from below, hurting the both of us and pushing us back. The two Sandslash's moved in using Fury Swipes and Slash, but with a quick roll to the side we got them both by using Razor at them and defeating them both at the same time.
"Run the water types over. Cut through the humans and take our food from them!" The Arbok leader hissed, ordering the Growlithes' to attack us. The Growlithes' did so by running at us readying their attacks, but stopped midway. Then quickly they fled back into route 11 where they came.
"That's right! We ain't gonna let you through!" Looking back over my shoulder, I saw most if not all of the people stand their ground armed with their weapons. The other Arbok behind the leader gulped and slithered as fast as it could away and back into route 11.
"What's up… amigo?" Beedrill growled at the Arbok leader. Already the Beedrill had defeated the Pokemon Arbok sent after it. a quick battle, one I would've wanted to see how he did so and what other moves he had before he would face us to give Aqua and I at least some preparation.
"Y-You defeated them already?! How is that possible?"
"I told you that the moment we met, dude; never mess with a Beedrill, even on one of its good or bad days… literally everyday is when you should mess with one." All of us stood several feet away, Beedrill flapped in one corner, the Arbok leader in the other, while Aqua and I stood readying our moves
"Bah! Forget the food! I will just have to feed on your corpses instead! Starting with you, you annoying Beedrill!"
The Arbok attacked first by shooting itself at Beedrill, but missed when Beedrill used Agility to evade the attack. "Hah! Too slow old timer!"
"You! I will kill you for this! And it won't be pretty!" The Arbok tried to attack Beedrill with Poison Sting, but again he quickly evaded the move and only laughed some more until he attacked Arbok with Twineedle once and then twice.
Aqua and I moved in, attacking the two with Scald and Surf damaging the two, but carefully keeping our distances while battling them not wanting to be poisoned.
Expecting the duo to turn to us and attack us instead of each other, only the Beedrill turned. "Don't think I've forgotten about you two. Just gotta deal with the slimy giant purple rope thingy first!" The Arbok bit deep into the head of Beedrill by using Bite, but was quickly knocked off by another Twineedle by Beedrill.
Aqua and I moved in once more, dead set on ending this. Aqua moved to the left and I to the right as we moved in. Aqua and I used Razor Shell and attacked the two continuously, altering our attacks with Scald, and Surf becoming one as a Surf + Scald ball combination until the two were trapped inside the ball of water. And with one final strike by the two of us, we jumped up as high as possible and together we used Razor Shell onto the water ball as it exploded upon impact, sending the two Pokemon flying in opposite directions.
The Arbok leader screamed as he was sent flying south of here further away from Beedrill. The Beedrill was sent flying once again somewhere far north from here, disappearing from over the trees and towards the mountain.
As silence quickly fell onto the Village Bridge as soon as the battle had finished, the people behind us erupted in cheers as the village was safe once more.
It had been some time since the celebration began in the Lotus café, another one since the troubles with the wild Pokemon were no more and the village was finally safe. The celebration began with cheers, free drinks served at the café that were mostly sodas and caffeine, and finally eating with friends and family. A celebration brought a large gathering by the café.
As for Aqua and I, we couldn't stay here any longer. We could draw attention to this village, and Purrloin and her gang would come for us and once again this village wouldn't be safe. We had to leave. So with our supplies packed in the bag, we quietly set off out of the back of the café towards the village exit to the east.
At the café the celebration was nearing its final stage, something the village folk had at the last minute planned to get me and Aqua together to honor us as their heroes for saving the day. Martha searched around the café for us, to let us know that everyone was waiting for them, but she never did. Instead she found something else; something I thought would take them a while to notice after we left.
"A letter?" Martha picked up the letter and began to read. All it said on it was that Aqua and I had to leave and wished them well. Perhaps if I wrote more on the letter it would prevent them from chasing after us, which they did.
We had reached the bottom of the bridge, ready to walk into route 12 until we heard the crowd of people including Gerald and Martha from the café catch up with us, most shouting for us to wait. We did and looked back and the crowd stopped.
"Wait a sec, hold on!" Gerald called after us as he and the rest of the people we had known during our stay stood at the exit of the bridge. "You don't have to leave. You can stay here with us. It's a safe place for you two to live here. You said so yourself, you are being chased by Pokemon who might end up killing you. Please don't go."
I turned around back at them. "This place really is a good place. You, your wife, everyone, you are all good people. Which is why we can't stay. Being here would risk all of your lives. We have to leave, and I need to go back home. I'm sorry. Forget we were ever here. Don't tell anyone about us, because it may mean your lives could be at stake. Thank you for everything. Goodbye."
With one last look at the village folk, Aqua and I waved to them one last time before walking across the rest of the bridge and into the next area.
"Wait-" Gerald tried to run after us, but was stopped by Martha, holding him back. "Uh, Martha?"
"Gerald. Zack and Aqua, they need to return home. Zack has family waiting for him where he belongs. They must be worried sick about him. Purrloin and her gang are searching for them. Keeping them here would only put everyone else here at risk. So not a word by anyone about Zack or Aqua being here can ever leave this village. Don't want word to get around, especially to the Purrloin that they were ever here."
"I reckon they'll be fine." Danny added, placing a hand on his shoulder. "We can't do much against Pokemon. We ain't trainers. Now I don't know much about Pokemon, but I can tell ya one thing; Zack and Aqua, they're a team, a dang strong team if I say so. The way they fought off that many Pokemon at once was incredible. If their teamwork is like that from now until they reach home, they should be alright getting back safely."
"What makes you say that?" Clancy asked.
"Just a hunch I have." He smiled, and the elderly couple, Danny, Clancy and the rest of the village watched and waved at us as walked away from the village and disappear through the bushes leading into Route 12.
To be continued...
Trivia:
Originally this chapter would've been a two part chapter but with an added story of a 'what if' scenario played out. The two would ask themselves the pros and the cons about staying in the village and helping out at the café. But in the end, the two would decide on leaving the village to go back to Nuvema Town, back home.