AN: This was a tough chapter to write, but I hope you guys enjoy it. I appreciate the reviews, however, no one has guessed right yet about what Pokémon the egg is going to hatch into ;)
Things are going to pick up in terms of plot soon. Leave your thoughts in a review please!
The path to Veilstone City was a ways away from my current position in the dense forest of route 210. Training off and on with Torterra was something that kept the goal in sight, to get stronger.
"Torterra, make sure to polish up those rocks nicely."
In a strange turn of events, I figured why not learn rock polish by polishing rocks? It can help Torterra to conceptualize what being polished means and it can then be easier to do himself while putting his vines to work, helping out with swords dance.
"Torrrrr…" Torterra groaned. While he was a hard worker, polishing rocks is not a fun action. Having only a cloth I gave him, Torterra was surrounded by pebbles from a boulder that I had Nidoking break up. Picking up a rock he had just completed, I checked his work. The rock itself was more jagged than most, but its texture was noticeably smooth, giving off a shiny glint in the sunlight. Not bad.
After sessions of polishing rocks, we would check how Torterra has been improving with the moves, simulating a mock battle with Nidoking.
"Torterra, use rock polish!" Torterra concentrated, managing to cover his entire body with a shiny glint, however…
"King!" Nidoking's fire blast hit Torterra directly as Torterra's rock polish was done too slow for it to be used in combat.
"That was some nice dynamic motion you put into fire blast, Nidoking. Keep it up with your other moves." I got a grunt in response. Turning to Torterra, I said, "Guess that means more rocks are going to be getting polished, huh?"
"Tera." Torterra said, downtrodden.
And so in between all the traveling, many rocks were polished to perfection, almost scaringly perfect in some cases.
"Uh, Torterra?"
He ignored me as he focused on polishing one particular rock.
"Torterra!"
He grunted in my direction asking what I wanted.
"We're going for another mock battle. You can take a break from the polishing."
He nodded and walked away, leaving behind his polished rock. I checked what he was polishing, and it almost hurt to look at it because of the shine it gave off. It was polished to an extreme that I didn't anticipate…
Nidoking readied his fire blast as I gave out my command. "Torterra, use swords dance!" With a quicker pace than his old rock polish was, the figure of swords surrounding Torterra showed the attack increase. "Now use razor leaf!" A high-powered assault of leaves cut through and neutralized the powerful fire blast entirely. But…
I looked to Torterra who struggled with the new attack boost move and was in a deep sweat.
It wasn't enough.
(-)
After a few more training sessions, I came to the conclusion that it'd be better for Torterra to engage in a mock battle all on his own.
So, I set Nidoking and Torterra to do just that.
Nidoking fired off a dragon pulse, leaning into it making it faster and stronger, but it was countered by a rockslide. Torterra decided to take the lead and charge Nidoking with the help of a weak rock polish. Nidoking prepared his claws with focus punch as Torterra charged. Torterra stopped his charge after spitting out a few leech seeds that Nidoking neutralized as they shot at him. Torterra continued the barrage of attacks by firing up a sneaky sunny day, followed by a practiced solar beam.
Nidoking took the blast straight on with mega horn, running at Torterra through the blast. Torterra let up the solar beam and instead anticipated the mega horn with a crunch, biting Nidoking's horn.
I was so engrossed in the fight that when I heard a mutter of, "Oh, these are sure to sell." I could only slowly turn before trouble struck.
"Gah!" I couldn't help but gasp out in pain at getting launched at a nearby tree trapped in some sort of webbing. Struggling to breath, I looked up to see who attacked me and my eyes widened when I saw the culprit.
Hunter J.
"Salamence, use hyper beam!" Hunter J said when throwing out her pokeball.
I wanted to tell Torterra and Nidoking on how to act, but I was struggling to even breath, let alone yell out commands.
I could only watch as J's Salamence used hyper beam and the two tried to dodge, only to get hit by a beam of J's, a beam that turned them to stone. They were defeated in just seconds. Hunter J hooked the two petrified Pokémon into nets that were attached to Salamence.
Damn it! She's going to take them away!
Hunter J just smirked at her handiwork and walked over to my bag which was laying to the side on the ground.
"Let's see what you have here. Ooh an egg! It must be my birthday," she said in a cruel tone.
I managed to spit out, "You won't get away with this. I'll make sure of it."
She simply laughed and said, "As if you can do just about anything right now. Well, warn me when you do 'make sure of it.'" With those taunts, she got on Salamence and with the Salamence's giant wings and huge body, it flew away, carrying Torterra, Nidoking, and my egg.
I immediately went to work to get free. While I was tied up, my right hand was close to my waist. I could get Monferno from his pokeball.
Struggling to get any sort of room in the webbing, I shifted my arms around, snaking them to the pokeball. Holding my weak breath, I managed to take hold of my pokeball. Now to make room to expand it. Holding a big breath, I angled the pokeball to release Monferno and I clicked the button.
"Mon?" Monferno appeared before me, confused at the situation.
"Torterra, Nidoking, and the Pokémon egg have been stolen by a Pokémon bounty hunter. I was useless as I was trapped in this webbing. Can you free me with fire punch?"
Monferno seemed freaked out by the barrage of dire circumstances but calmed himself and got to work. With a weak fire punch, the webbing burned away, and I was free.
First, I pressed the distress signal on my pokedex. It was made for these sorts of circumstances. An officer Jenny or a local Pokémon ranger would be notified that a Trainer was in some sort of danger and would come to provide aid. I won't be standing by as Hunter J captured my friends no, my family. I was going to go after her.
"Monferno, I'm going to need you later, so be ready when that time comes." With a "Mon" as the response, I recalled him and took out another pokeball. "Go, Staravia!"
I explained the circumstances to him and named his role. "You're going to scout ahead in the skies while I go on foot to catch up to Hunter J. Don't battle Hunter J because she'd capture you too. Wait for me to catch up."
"Star!"
I forgot the Pokémon world could be so terrifying. Honestly, I'm more rattled by Hunter J than I act. I mean, my two strongest were taken out so easily. How am I supposed to combat such a foe?
(-)
Deep in the off roads of the Sinnoh wilderness.
"Hmmm, a Trainer distress signal. I'd better check it out. I just hope it's not a false alarm."
Getting up from the tree that this trainer was leaning on, this person stretched before muttering, "I'd better call in that I'll take care of it."
With an outstretched hand, the trainer through a pokeball and said, "Rapidash, fire up a path!"
(-)
This is too slow. I feel like I'm barely making any progress running on foot through the deep forest of what I assume is still route 210.
Staravia was within sight above the trees looking out but wasn't having much more luck than me. Damn it! This cannot be how my journey continues! I won't allow it! I ran harder through the dense woods.
The amount of traveling a trainer does condition a trainer to be more fit than others, but I am getting winded from this. I wasn't in tiptop shape after getting the wind knocked out of me. But… I can't let my family get sold off to some shady organization or some rich kid trainer.
I had to plan on the run or else I might run out there after Hunter J in anger without some sort of plan. I wouldn't get them back that way.
What do I know about Hunter J? Uhhh only that she's pretty much one of the only pure evil people of Pokémon and that she had multiple instances where she clashed with Ash. If I remember correctly, she had henchman, so I'll have to somehow deal with them. Maybe have Ninjask quickly take them out? I don't know. How do I avoid the petrification beam of hers? Maybe Croagunk's mud bomb and poison sting? I'll have to send everyone out to deal with her Pokémon. I know she has an Ariados and a Drapion on top of that Salamence of hers. She's strong though, stronger than me.
Given the circumstances, any rational person should go to the police and have them deal with it. Unfortunately for myself, I am no such person.
My resolve won't waver. Not now.
(-)
"Do it Monferno." Monferno attempted to dig at the outer shell of the ship and while dig didn't make a hole, it damaged it heavily in a concentrated area.
No one was around the backside of the ship, but we had to be quick.
"Croagunk, mud bomb!" On the exact spot, the mud bomb shook the entirety of the ship as it hit, making a clear hole in the ship, big enough for me.
"Good job, now to continue going in." Looking left and right and seeing no one, I entered behind Monferno and Electabuzz while Croagunk watched my back.
Stepping into what looks to be the bathroom of the ship, we tried to evaluate where to go.
"Alright, let's go gu-" I stopped myself from talking when I heard a toilet flush.
Motioning to Ninjask, I signaled to stay on the alert to attack when the door opened. We were going to get the jump on this guy. Maybe he would have knowledge on where Torterra and Nidoking are kept.
The door swung open and that's when Ninjask struck, using a weak x-scissor to the head, knocking him out.
If we're going to get anywhere in this place, then we're going to need to know where to go. Dragging the body to the side of the bathroom, I checked out the features of this guy.
He seemed surprisingly young, not even a full-grown adult yet, but he's a part of this bounty-hunting business. I wonder why. Well time to wake him up.
"Electabuzz, give him a little shock."
Electabuzz pointed a finger at the grunt and shot out a small shock, making the guy's eyes pulse out in pain as he woke up. I covered his mouth up and had Monferno and Electabuzz hold his arms down while Croagunk and Ninjask stood by to make sure nothing funny happened.
"You're going to tell me where my Torterra and Nidoking are being held or you're going to be feeling another shock. Got it?"
The grunt merely glared at me and didn't say anything. He was probably gauging if I was lying or not. In a quick motion, he swung his legs out, getting Monferno off his arm. He tried to hit his belt with his hand, but with a wave of my arm, Ninjask knocked him out again before he could do anything.
Hmm I could work with this. Maybe if I take his uniform, I'll blend in?
Undressing the guy to his underwear was awkward and his uniform was too big on me, but I'll manage.
"Stay frosty guys. Things are going to get hairy."
We had to leave the knocked-out grunt alone even if I wanted to sick Electabuzz on him. My threats were empty. I just wished that he hadn't seen through that, but it works out if I now have a way to get around without getting bothered.
Exiting the bathroom, it looked like security wasn't too tight. This shouldn't be too hard.
From what little I saw of the ship, the top front of it would be where J would be. I was in the very back of the ship, so I only had one way to go, back through the front of the ship.
Running through the long corridor, I saw down the hallway a lot of grunts just standing around doing nothing. If I was going to blend in, I was going to have to return my Pokémon until needed. I think I can get away with Croagunk out though. "Return guys. You'll be back out soon. Croagunk, you're with me still."
With a gulp, I shut off my self-preservation instincts as I walked over to the other corridor.
This was the central room of the ship with it leading to 3 ways. Left which from what I remember would lead to the front of the ship, right which would probably lead to the 2nd floor of the ship, and straight, which from what my gut is telling me, it'd lead around to the other side of the back of the ship.
A loud grunt shook the entire ship. I recognized that grunt. It was Torterra! It was coming from the corridor straight ahead, so I was on the right track.
"Hey you!" I heard from behind me. I turn my head to address the grunt. "You're new here right? Can you tell Jeff over in the lab to shut up that big hunk of crap?"
Biting my tongue to retort back for insulting Torterra, I nodded my head.
"Great! Maybe we'll get some peace and quiet around here finally. J pulled in some good haul, so come pay day we'll be happy!"
I ignored him as I continued down the hallways, my feet moving faster on their own in excitement. In my haste, I saw Croagunk shoot out a mud bomb at a security camera, destroying it.
"Good job." He must've been destroying the others without my notice.
The grunting kept on going which helped lead me to a room that held what appeared to be a reinforced jail cell.
"Hey, what are you doing here?" a grunt asked.
"I'm just taking over, Jeff." I signal Croagunk.
"Taking over wh-" he went out easily thanks to Croagunk's poison jab.
I now looked over to the source of the grunting, what I knew was-
"Torterra, Nidoking, we're here to save you."
They both gave a happy cry as they were delighted to see me. Now to get them out of the cell… They were completely blocked off from doing anything, but there seemed to be a place to swipe a card to perhaps free them.
Checking the pockets of the grunt, I found exactly the card that would fit with this machine. With one swipe, they were free.
Torterra and Nidoking were ecstatic but gave a grunt at me which informed me of a problem that I had been suspecting when I looked around in this room.
The egg wasn't here. If the egg is not here, then it must be with Hunter J.
I would have to fight Hunter J. There was no doubt in my mind that Hunter J's Salamence was stronger individually than any Pokémon I had. So, if I wanted to beat it, I would have to use our numbers to our advantage.
"Nidoking, Torterra, you'll be needed later, but for now, return." They wouldn't be able to travel as fast given their size.
I was anxious at the number of problems that could occur, especially given how smooth things have been going for now, but I had to keep moving.
I came to the central room once again and I walked calmly over to the room to my left which I knew to be the way to Hunter J.
"Thanks for shutting up that Pokémon!" I heard from behind me. I acted casual and waved an arm in response. Good. No one was bothered by my presence. I should be able to catch Hunter J by surprise.
I came upon the elevator that led up to the 2nd floor of the ship. With an anxious step, I entered the elevator.
The real thing starts here. I let out Monferno, Electabuzz, and Ninjask and told them of what's happened thus far.
"You guys are going to have to be ready to fight J's Pokémon. They're stronger than us, but I believe with our combined strength we can pull through if we work together.
"Mon/Buzz/Nin/Croa!"
Alright guys get ready.
Soon the doors were open, and I stepped out to the top floor. Keeping my calm, I led the others into the main room.
With reflexes that I could only attribute to their battle instincts, Monferno and Electabuzz fired off an attack in front of me for some reason.
"Hoh, so your Pokémon blocked the beam. What a pity. You could've been a nice statue."
She was expecting me? She certainly wouldn't point a beam at her ally, would she?
"Did you really think I wouldn't notice you sneaking through my ship?" A sarcastic drawl permeated the room. "Great job following me though," Hunter J shrugged, saying, "I didn't expect you to be able to get through my security but hey, I guess the only one I can rely on is myself." She threw out three pokeballs, revealing her signature Salamence, followed by her Drapion on Ariados.
"This is where your little adventure ends trainer," she snarled.
My eyes wandered around, looking for the egg, only to find it right behind Hunter J encased in a glass casing. Sigh Time to get serious.
"Torterra, Nidoking, stand by for battle!" My two faithful Pokémon appeared, ready to battle.
Hunter J was first to issue a command, calling out, "Salamence, use hyper beam! Ariados, Drapion, use pin missile!"
I had to be fast with my orders. "Nidoking, use mega horn through the hyper beam. Monferno, cover his left side with flamethrower and Electabuzz cover his other side with thunderbolt!"
The two pin missiles were blocked by Monferno and Electabuzz. Salamence's hyper beam hit Nidoking straight on. Nidoking though, began moving through it with his mega horn active.
I wanted to watch how Nidoking would push through the hyper beam, but I had to keep my focus on other things. My eyes widened as I saw Hunter J raise her arm to use her stone-turning cannon.
Time seemed to slow as I yelled out, "NOW Ninjask!" Alarmed by my command, Hunter J wasn't ready to react in time to shield her arm cannon from Ninjask. An explosion on her arm showed Ninjask's handiwork. Now we didn't have to worry about that.
"King!" I heard a loud thud next to me to find Nidoking knocked out. Salamence's hyper beam was too much for him.
A soft "return" was all that I said as I readied myself for another exchange.
"You dirty little brat! You broke my cannon! You're going to pay for that."
"I told you that you weren't going to get away with stealing my Pokémon. I'm just upholding my end of the agreement."
With a wave of my hand, I signaled my Pokémon to attack. Monferno rolled into a flame wheel and launched himself at Ariados. Croagunk fired a mud bomb at Drapion. Torterra, Electabuzz, and Ninjask fired off a leaf storm/thunder/giga drain combined attack.
Hunter J issued out her commands quickly and the resulting clash made an explosion, kicking a lot of dust making it hard to see what happened.
Now was my chance.
I ran into the battle, around where I knew Drapion was to be and behind where Hunter J was. I was going to get my egg! I heard Hunter J say something, but I wasn't paying attention to it as I saw the casing and immediately swiped it and tried to run back to the other side.
"Gah!" Something had its claws on me and that something was Drapion.
"How pathetic that you thought that running up to the egg was a good idea. Oh, and look! It looks like most of your Pokémon are out for the count. Perfect! I can sell them without their disturbance."
I looked over to my Pokémon. Monferno and Electabuzz looked ready to collapse while Ninjask and Croagunk had already collapsed. Only Torterra was left.
"Now to get rid of you. Drapion, use Cross Poison." As Drapion held me with his tail, he prepared his arms for his attack.
My life, past and present, flashed before my eyes. I know that I've been reckless, but is this really my ending?
I heard the sound of glass breaking and then a voice saying, "Infernape, use overheat!"