AN: Hey everyone, I have the next chapter here. Sorry if things are a bit slow as of late, I've been getting a new laptop since my current one is pretty old and not the best for writing. However, I do have some good news. I am working with someone on a special project for this series. I cannot go into details on it, but it is a cool idea. It will take a few months, so please be patient. Hope you enjoy this chapter, leave a review with your comments and questions, and have a nice day.
See the most recent Save State Chapter for Cover Art details.
Chapter 13 – The Path You Choose
In a small town near a mountain, a Corviknight taxi landed on a grassy patch. As the door open, Hilda hopped out, stretching her back with her hands on her hips, "Man, that was a long trip." She said before turning back to Weiss and Blake exiting the taxi, "Still, we finally made it to the Hoenn region."
Weiss turned around to see the Corviknight taxi take off, "Well, I've had worse travel-by-bird experiences."
"What town is this?" Blake said as she looked around the quite residents, noticing a sign nearby, "Verdanturf, it seems."
"Yep," Hilda said as she took around for an empty outdoor table. She walked over to one and pulled out a map and marker from her bag, "Now, here is the plan." She said while Blake and Weiss walked over, "All the gyms are at these places." She said before circling eight towns, "Now, with your starters, you a not that good of a matchup against these. Also, you don't have an advantage against these." She said before crossing out six of them, "Perfect, that leaves us with these two." She then pointed the marker at Blake, "With your Espurr, you can go to the fighting type gym in Dewford Town." She then pointed to Weiss, "And with your Vulpix, you go to the flying gym in Fortree City."
Weiss looked down at the map, having a look of confusion, "But those are on almost completely other ends of the map and we're right in the middle. Why didn't we start at one of the towns?"
"That's simple," Hilda said as she capped the marker, "You two can catch more Pokemon along to the gyms."
"She does have a point," Blake added on, then looked back to Hilda, "From what you said, we can have up to six Pokemon at once. And it is not a good idea to try to put all the pressure of battle on one Pokemon." She said with Hilda nodding with a smile.
"Fine," Weiss said before taking the map, "But I am keeping a hold of this."
"That's okay, I have one on my C-Gear anyways." Hilda said before showing off her high-tech watch, "It's the latest model, a lot more reliable than those Poketch things." She then had her knuckles on her hips. "So, lets head to Dewford first."
"Why that one first?" Blake asked.
"Cuz I want to go Surfing." Hilda said with a smirk, "And since Aloha has no gyms, this is the best time for us to do so." She then turned around and started walking towards the cave, "Now, let's cut through here and see if one of you find someone you want to add to the team."
Weiss and Blake were speechless for a second before turning to each other, "I'm starting to see more of the similarities you're talking about." Weiss said with Blake giggling. The two then followed Hilda into the cave.
The rocks had a whitish tone to them. A slight fog blew through the air, but it was not dense enough to cloud their vision. They turned left while walking down the path, with Hilda grinning, "I can already feel the breeze from the other end, it shouldn't be too long until we reach the exit."
"That's good to hear," Weiss responded, then seeing something in the corner of the eye. A small pink creature with floppy ears that had yellow tips. Its face was like that of someone about to cry, "What is that?"
Blake and Hilde turned around with the hothead trainer taking out her Pokedex, "Whismur, the Whisper Pokemon." The Pokedex spoke, "Normally, Whismur's voice is very quiet. It is barely audible even if one is paying close attention."
"Awe, it's just shy." Weiss said as she walked over to it, extending her hand, "Don't worry, I'm not-"
"WWWWWHHHHHIIIIIISSSSS!" Whismur screeched, its voice echoing throughout the cave.
The trio covered their ears but still recoiled in pain from the loud noises. Still, they could make out the rest of the Pokedex's entry, "However, if this Pokémon senses danger, it starts crying at an earsplitting volume."
"I wasn't trying to hurt you!" Weiss screamed out, "I was trying to-" Suddenly, a dozen more Whismur appeared and focused on the white heiress, each inhaling, "Uh oh."
"Run!" Hilda said before the screeching began.
"WWWWWWWWWHHHHHHHHHHIIIIIIIIIIISSSSSSSSSS!" The Whismur and its friends all screeched, the vibrations running through the cave like the shockwave from a bomb going off.
Suddenly, the rock walls begin to crack. As the trio ran towards the exit, they escaped right before the ceiling collapsed. Rocks that would have crushed them now blocked the path through the cave. While Weiss and Blake were still catching their breath, Hilda sighed, "Well, that was close." She said before dusting herself off, "We can fly back to that town later." She then saw a sign that read route 116, then seeing a slit path, "Okay, time for the both of you to catch some new Pokemon."
"Y-you're just going to brush off that we were almost crushed to death," Weiss responded.
"Oh, I almost forget to give you two extra pokeballs to catch Pokemon?" Hilda said before searching her bag, "Come on, I know I bought a ton of them recently."
Weiss then turned to Blake, "Is she even listening?" The white heiress asked.
"Ah, found them!" Hilda said before handing each five empty pokeballs, "There, that should be enough for you two to get started." She then had her knuckles on her hips, "Now, each of you take a path and make your way towards the town on the other end. I think its call Rustboro." The hotheaded trainer then pointed back to a small house, "I'm gonna let the people of that place know what happened to the cave, then I'll catch up to you."
"…Fine," Weiss said with a sigh, taking the pokeballs.
"Thank you," Blake said as she took her set.
"Good luck," Hilda said with a smile before heading to the house.
After she was a good distance away, Weiss turned to Blake, "So, which side do you want?"
"I can do left; you can go right." Blake responded, but then held her right ear in pain, "I hope we don't run into any more of those things."
"One benefit to having a single set of ears now," Weiss said with a smirk.
"Yeah," Blake said with a giggle, but then had a look of sorrow.
"S-sorry, I didn't mean to bring up th-" Weiss tried to apologize.
"It's okay, I'm still getting used to a lot of things." Blake interrupted, but smiled, "Don't worry, I think I'm adjusting better than a few days ago." The black-haired lady said before walking down her path, "See you on the other end."
Weiss responded with a wave before taking the other road. After a bit of walking, the white heiress began to look around for a potential new Pokemon. In the distance, she saw another Whismur, "I think it's best I stay away from those ones." She said under her breath before seeing another Pokemon.
It appeared like a yellow creature with a brown upper body. It had cat-like ears and the eyes appeared to be closed, "Ab…ra…Ab…ra…" it breathed in slumbers but was also hovering in the air few inches.
"Lucky me, found one resting," Weiss said before taking out a Pokeball Hilda handed her. "If it's like with Vulpix, all I have to do is throw this ball." She said before gripping the ball, "Sorry for the rude awakening, but your mine!" the white heiress said before tossing the ball at the sleeping Pokemon.
"Ab…ra!" the sleeping Pokemon said before vanishing. The Pokeball passed through where the Pokemon was, crashing into a rock before breaking.
"What!?" Weiss responded in shock. She then heard the snoring again from her left, discovering the Pokemon, "So, it can teleport." Weiss commented before taking out a different Pokeball, "Vulpix, come on out!"
The snow fox Pokemon emerged from a ball, "Vul!" she said before glaring at the sleeping Pokemon.
"Ab…" the psi Pokemon spoke, its closed eyes glinting with a slight purple aura, "Ra…"
Meanwhile.
Blake walked down her path but stopped upon seeing a rustling in the grass. Suddenly, a small canine creature emerged. Its fur was grey, but the face and paws were black, "A dog Pokemon!?" Blake thought as her body shuttered in fear. However, she felt something different, "Wait, this feels different." She said before looking at her left hand, "I'm not shaking as much as I do when I see Zwei… maybe." She then clenched her fist, having a slight grin, "Heh, this might be one positive of losing my faunus trait." She said before reaching for her Pokeball with her partner inside, "Espurr, I need your help." The black-haired lady said while tossing out the ball.
"Espurr!" the restraint Pokemon said with emerging from the ball, the bow still tied on his head.
"Okay, if we can catch this one," Blake said with a look of focus at the grey canine Pokemon, "I might be able to fully get over my fear of dogs." She then pointed, "Espurr, use Psyshock!"
"Es," the restraint Pokemon said before his ears opened, causing the bow to glow in a purple aura. Suddenly, bits of psychic energy condensed into rocks over the target, "Purr!" Espurr said before the rocks crashed into the canine Pokemon, creating a small dust cloud.
"That should have been enough damage," Blake said as she took out an empty Pokeball, "Now, I just need to-" she said before her eyes widened. As the dust cleared, the grey canine Pokemon was unharmed, but now took notice of the duo that attacked him, "What!? Not even a scratch." Suddenly, Blake gasped as the wild Pokemon charged towards her partner, "Espurr, Double Team."
"Espurr!" the restraint Pokemon said before splitting into five copies. The grey canine Pokemon ran through one of the clones but, flared his fangs for another attack.
"T-try confusion!" Blake called out with Espurr doing so. The restraint Pokémon's eyes glowing blue as a matching aura encased the wild Pokemon. However, like with Psyshock, this attack did not affect, "What are dogs made out of in this world!?" Blake responded in dread.
Suddenly, the wild Pokemon inhaled, "Ooooowwwwooooo!" the grey canine Pokemon howled in the sky, causing more grass patches to rustle. Suddenly, four more of the same wild Pokemon emerged.
Blake gasped in fear, her body shaking more than before. She then looked down at Espurr, who had a matching look of dread in his eyes as well. The horde of wild Pokemon then attacked, each one ramming into the of the Double Team clones. However, one crashed into the real restraint Pokemon, "Espurr!" Blake called out in fear, before seeing the wild Pokemon flare its fangs.
"Es!" Espurr gasped as he braced himself for the bite, but Blake pushed the grey canine Pokemon off of him. However, the wild Pokemon quickly got up and pounced again. This time, the rest of the horde jumped in as well for the biting.
At that moment, Blake shielded Espurr's body with her own. The horde of the wild Pokemon bit down on the black-haired lady, chomping on whatever, they could wherever, they could get their teeth on, "AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!" Blake screamed in pain but continued to hold Espurr close to her body for his protection.
"Espurr…" the restraint Pokemon said as tears formed in his eyes, "Espurr!" suddenly, the ears opened more as a pink aura gathered in his mouth, "ESPURR!" Suddenly, a vocal shockwave ran through the area, pushing back all the wild Pokemon.
Blake then looked around, discovering each of the grey canine Pokemon had slammed into the ground. She then turned back to her Pokemon, "E-Espurr, you did it." Blake said before hugging the restraint Pokemon close to her chest, "You save me again." She said with a smile and slight tears in her ears.
"Es," Espurr said with a smile, his face slightly red as he hugged her back.
However, Blake and Espurr gasped as the horde began to stand up. All of them started to howl, "OOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOO!" suddenly, the grass rustled again. This time, only one Pokemon appeared. Into was a much larger canine Pokemon, one with thicker fur on its back. It snarled at the restraint Pokemon; the teeth covered in saliva.
"Espurr…" the restraint Pokemon said in fear as Blake held him tighter.
"I won't let you hurt him," Blake responded to the large grey canine Pokemon. However, the wild Pokemon responded with a lunge and flared fangs.
Suddenly, a familiar voice was heard, "Emboar, use Heat Crash!" at that moment, Blake saw a huge ball of fire ram into the large grey canine Pokemon. Its body slammed into a tree as the other wild Pokemon gathered in panic. The black-haired lady looked on in shock as the ball dissipated. Inside was a large bipedal orange boar with massive black arms. Around its neck was a sort of fire beard that grew brighter as while staring at the wild Pokemon. While the grey canine Pokemon all snared, they slowly backed up before fleeing into the woods, "Yikes, that was close." Blake turned to see it was Hilda who was talking, "Good thing I decided to go this way, right?"
"Yeah," Blake responded as Hilda offered her a hand, "Thank you." She said while accepting it, allowing Espurr to jump out of her arms and onto the ground.
"You didn't get too roughed up, did you?" Hilda asked, seeing a few of the bit marks on Black's arms and legs, "Sorry, I forgot there were some dark types on this route. You're Espurr only knows psychic moves." She said before smiling at the restraint Pokemon, "However, it sounded like he learned Disarming Voice." The hotheaded trainer said before looking to Blake, "That's a fairy type move with the bonus of hitting all opponents. And against dark types, it's super effective." She then winked while having her knuckles on her hips, "If you want a Poochyena, I think we could chase them down."
"I think we should let them go," Blake responded, then thinking to herself, "Wait, those things where like Hyenas, not dogs? What are dog Pokemon in this world like then!?"
"Yeah, you do seem more like a cat person to me anyway," Hilda said before seeing some grass rustle in the distance. Suddenly, light orange and pink kitty Pokemon walkout, one with a toy-like tail, "How about a Skitty?"
Blake turned around, slightly smiling at the kitty Pokemon. However, she then felt something hugging her leg. In looking down, she saw it Espurr, who had a look of slight worry in his eyes. Blake then smiled before turning back to Hilda, "Maybe not something cat-like." She said with Espurr smiling, continuing to hug her leg.
"Oh, I get it." Hilda said with a wink, "Someone might get a little jealousy." She then looked around, seeing something catch her eyes. "How about a bug?" She said while pointing at a tree.
Blake turned while Hilda took out a Pokedex. On the tree was a large white bug with green wing and brown claws. The Pokedex began to speak, "Nincada, the Trainee Pokemon. Nincada lives underground for many years in complete darkness. This Pokémon absorbs nutrients from the roots of trees. It stays motionless as it waits for evolution."
"Evolution?" Blake commented.
"It means it's going to be changing its form." Hilda said before patting her mega-fire pig Pokemon on the back, "Take my partner here. He was a little Tepig before turning into a rowdy Pignite and now a powerful Emboar." The hothead trainer said as the mega-fire pig Pokemon flared his burning beard.
"I see," Blake said before looking at the Nincada on the tree, a look of confusion on her face, "But, if that said they live underground, why is up here?"
"Nincada…" the trainee Pokemon sighed in disappointment, "Nincada…"
"Must be having trouble evolving," Hilda inferred, "I think it just needs a little battle experience." She said before patting Blake on the back, "Now, go show it your stuff."
Blake nodded before focusing on Nincada, causing Espurr to move into battle, "Go, use Psyshock."
"Es!" Espurr said before his eyes opened, causing the psychic rocks to form.
"Nin?" the wild Pokemon said before getting petted with the psychic rocks, causing a smoke cloud to form. Suddenly, the trainee Pokemon jumped out of the smoke, "Cada!" it spoke while the brown claws glowed in a white aura.
"Quick, use Double Team!" Blake called out in panic, causing Espurr to slit into five clones. However, both had a look of confusion at what was transpiring.
"Nin! Cada! Nin! Cada!" Nincada said while swiping at the air.
"Uh…." Blake turned to Hilda, "Can it see?"
"Hold on," Hilda said while checking the Pokedex, "Yep, it's nearly blind. They don't like sunlight too much."
"It did say before how they live underground for a long time in complete darkness," Blake said while looking back at Nincada, who was still swiping at thin air. However, as the aura faded, the trainee Pokemon started to dig into the dirt. The black hair lady then gasped, "Oh no, Espurr watch out!"
"Es-" the restraint Pokemon said before and the unground attack launched him into the air, causing the clones to vanish.
"Nincada," the wild Pokemon said with a slight glare in its eyes, "Nincada!" it then used its claws to fling chunks of mud into the air.
"Espurr, Light Screen!" Blake called out as her Pokemon create a wall of pink light, block some of the mud-slaps, "Hit back with a Disarming Voice."
The restraint Pokemon then inhaled, "ESPURR!" suddenly a sonic blast with a pink wave ran through the area, colliding with wild Pokemon. Nincada was pushed through the hole he dug, basting out the other side before landing on the dirt road.
"Now's your chance," Hilda called out, seeing Nincada struggle to get up, "Throw the ball!"
"Right," Blake said as she took out one of the five pokeballs she had, tossing it as fast as she could. The ball bounced off Nincada's body, then ensnaring the Pokemon inside. Blake and Espurr watched with a focused gaze as the Pokeball shock. After the third time, a small click was heard. The black hair lady let out a sigh of relief, having caught her second Pokemon.
Suddenly, Hilda hugged Blake, "Congrats, you caught a Nincada!" she said while Blake said still in shock, "I'm so proud of you!" At that moment, Emboar hugged both girls, lift them into the air with a big smile on his face.
"T-thanks," Blake said as she was losing a lot of air. Causing Emboar, then Hilda, to let go of her. After catching her breath, she looked over to see Espurr walking over with the Pokeball, holding it up to her. "And thank you as well," She said before petting Espurr on the head, causing the restraint Pokemon to smile with eyes closed. However, Espurr opened his eyes in panic as Blake began to wobble, "It's okay, I'm fine."
"I wouldn't push yourself," Hilda said, "All those bite marks, you should at least get yourself checked out in the next town." She said before leading the way, "Come on, you and your Pokemon can get patched up at the Pokemon Center in Rustboro."
"What about Weiss?" Blake asked.
"I think she'll be fine." Hilda responded, "But, just to be safe, I'll double back around to meet her halfway."
"Thank you," Blake said before smiling, "Heh, knowing her, she has probably caught a few Pokemon by now."
Meanwhile.
"Come on already," Weiss said in a rage, seeing multiple broken pokeballs on the ground, "Stay still, I've already used three of these things on you!" She said before pointing, "Vulpix, use Ice Shard."
"Vul!" the snow fox Pokemon said before firing chunks of ice out of her mouth.
However, the psi Pokemon continued to teleport out of the way of the attacks. "Ab…ra…" it spoke while the white heiress gritted her teeth.
"I need to predict its movements," Weiss said before focusing, waiting for the pattern to emerge. Slowly, she pulled out a Pokeball, "…There!" the white heiress said before throwing. While nothing was nothing at first, the psi Pokemon soon spawned in. The ball hit it in the head before ensnaring the wild Pokemon, "Yes, got it!" Weiss cheered as the ball shock, "It took the second last ball, but I finally cau-"
Suddenly, the Pokeball opened with the psi Pokemon emerging, "Ab…ra…" It spoke with a slight glint in its closed eyes.
"What, but how!?" Weiss called out, then gritted her teeth, "No matter, I'm still not losing to someone that is barely awake. I'm gonna catch you!" She then pointed, "Vulpix, use Icy Wi-"
"Ab…ra…" the psi Pokemon spoke with a slight glint in its closed eyes, "Abra," it said before teleporting into between Weiss and Vulpix, making contact with both.
In a sudden flash, Weiss and her Pokemon were temporarily blinded. After opening their eyes, the wild Pokemon was gone, but they were in a different yet familiar area. At that moment, Weiss saw the sign, "Oh no."
Meanwhile.
In the Pokemon Center at Rustboro City, Nurse Joy handed Blake a tray of two pokeballs, "Here you are, all healed up." She said with a smile, "We hope to see you again."
"Thank you," Blake said as she took the pokeballs, her arms and legs were bandaged.
"Oh, by the way," Nurse Joy added on, "I got a call from the Nurse Joy in Verdanturf, asking me to look out for two girls. Both with long hair, one with black and one white brown."
"Verdanturf, that's the town we landed in." Blake said before hearing something else, "Wait, other Nurse Joy?"
"Yes, she said it was from a girl around your age named Weiss." Nurse Joy said with Blake gasping, "She is still on hold at the telephone over there." She said while pointing to a section with computers with phones connected to them.
Blake ran over to one, discover her friend on the screen, "Weiss!?" She said while picking up the phone.
"Blake, you made it." Weiss said before seeing the bandages, "Wait, what happened to you!?"
"Its fine, I'll be okay," Blake responded, "How are you back in Verdanturf?"
"Well, the Pokemon I was trying to catch teleported me back to this town." Weiss said with a groan, "Because of the cave in, I can't get back to your side on foot."
"Hilda and I can just take the Corviknight Taxi to you," Blake offered.
"I know, but…" Weiss responded, "This might be a good chance for us to cover more ground and look for Yang and Ruby."
"You want us to split up," Blake inferred, "I don't think that's a good idea." She said as her mind flashed to the moment all the Poochyena jumped on her and started biting, "They may not have Grimm, but some of these Pokemon can be very dangerous to battle alone."
"I know, which is why we need to find Yang and Ruby as soon as we can." Weiss responded, "They probably weren't transported here together like we were." She said as her mind flashed to the battle against Tyranitar, "If they try to fight one... It might not end well"
"The two of them are stronger than you give them credit for," Blake spoke in a determined voice. "We're going to find them."
"Yes, we will. You stick with Hilda and keep an eye out for the others. After you get your gym badge, then we can meet back up." Weiss responded in kind, taking out the map, "I'll follow this to the town she mentioned. That is where I will win my gym badge. The faster we move up in this league, the more likely Ruby and Yang are to notice us."
"You do have a point," Blake said before a sigh, "And I know I can't change your mind." She then had a look of sorrow in her eyes, "Just, be careful."
"I will," Weiss responded with a smile, "And you too." She said with Blake smiling back. The two then hung up the call, with the white heiress standing up. She then reached into her pocket, pulling out her last empty Pokeball, "I can't make any more mistakes." She said while slightly gripping the Pokeball.
AN: There you go, the HBW trio enters the middle of the Hoenn Region. In it, Blake thinks her fear of dogs had lessened due to losing her feline nature. However, she gained a new trauma after getting chomped by some Poochyena (Also, while Hyenas are not technically related to dogs, they are close enough. In my opinion, they are a lot more terrifying in groups like this). Still, Espurr managed to learn Disarming Voice over Confusion, and Blake catches a Nincada. On the other end, Weiss has the nature trouble of trying to catch an Abra, one that teleports her back to the town she arrived in. For a short time, these two will be separated as they head for their gyms. However, Weiss knows she cannot do it with just Vulpix. Let us hope her luck improves. That is all for now, thanks for reading, and hope to see you in the next chapter.