Chapter 88:
Villa in the Blanks
The circus wouldn't be ready until tonight, but I was set. Because I was now at the Resort Area.
This place is a competitor to the Valor Lakefront Resort, but if you ask me, this was better. There were a few houses which looked like a great holiday destination and it was complete with a pool in each. There was a large mansion like building to with a ribbon symbol on it, and there was also another large house that looked like it hadn't been used for years. Finally, there was a small pond with a bridge going across it. There was a surprising amount of Fisherman doing their stuff there. The weird thing about this place though was that there was no Pokémart.
I went out of the Pokémon Center to see that the giant multicoloured tent was poking over the trees of the surrounding rainforest. Children all around were begging their parents to buy tickets, completely ignoring the fact that Sinnoh's own Champion (and one of the acts!) was eavesdropping sort of.
I wanted to check out the abandoned building. I wasn't going on another ghost hunt, rather I just wanted to see why the place was abandoned.
Walking up to it, I realised that the door had been used VERY recently. Maybe someone else had the same idea? Oh man, there goes my original idea.
Before I could push open the door, it opened inwards. Greeting me was a man in a black coat with two purple zigzags going down it. He had black trousers, a red scarf and silver spiky hair.
"Oh hello" he said.
During those two words, I scanned his face.
I was in the presence of a celebrity.
"Steven Stone?" I stuttered. "Former Champion of the Hoenn region?"
"The one. The only! Steven!" he said, as if he were a stage performer. "This place use to be me my father's, who's the head of the Devon corporation. Of course, we both got a bit too caught up with work so the place became abandoned. It's about to be… torn down. Tomorrow in fact." His face turned to sadness as he said this.
I walked in and had a look around. It was incredibly dusty and altogether, empty.
"You must have so many memories of this place" I assumed. "Many childhood."
"Well, what can you do?" he asked. "We didn't really use this place anymore after we had another Resort Area in Hoenn itself. Sinnoh isn't really the number one vacation spot in the world due to having a colder climate than other regions."
I could see where he was coming from. It's not uncommon for it to snow in Twinleaf Town as early as October.
"How much is this going for?" I asked. "Maybe you could give it away."
Steven scratched his chin. "Now, how could I do that?"
I wiped some dust of the window to see the Fisherman, having not moved a budge.
"Why are they all there?" I asked.
"Oh" he said, beaming up slightly. "The Resort Area has become famous for its Magikarp. Not just any Magikarp, but a Lv 100 Magikarp."
"No!" I shouted. I never knew a Pokémon could be that higher level in the wild. Did it raid the Rare Candy shop or something?"
"We don't know" Steven replied. I knew that wasn't on his mind, however. He was more concerned about his Villa. "No one wants this, it's too old."
I suggested maybe fishing would take our mind off of things.
"We could come up with a good idea whilst we do it!" I suggested.
Steven smiled slightly. Whilst I can tell he was deep in thought, he also seemed down with that.
We both went to the small pond, otherwise called 'Magikarp Fen.'
"This might help" Steven said, giving me a golden rod with a high-quality bobber. "This is a Super Rod. I found it whilst clearing stuff out, but I have one, so you have it."
"Thanks!" I said, politely taking it from him. I then sat down by the bank and led the bobber fly into the water.
Within 5 minutes I questioned why I even suggested doing this. Like the many times beforehand, I was bored out of my mind. I couldn't even think of any ways to save the Villa. But I kept thinking.
"Any luck Steven?" I asked, to which he shook his head. It was evident that he didn't do much fishing either.
Suddenly, one of the Fisherman, one in an orange coat and with a big brown beard, perked up.
"Guys, I've found something!" he said. He pulled up his Rod and out came a Magikarp. Except, was it? Because this one wasn't red. It was shining gold.
"Goodness gracious!" Steven shouted. "That's a rare type of Magikarp!"
The Fisherman were strangling to get to this one, completely forgetting that the one who lured the Magikarp has the right to catch it.
"Alright hold on" Steven said. "Metagross, come on out!" Steven sent out a large four-legged Pokémon that was dark blue in colouring and had a large grey X on its face.
Metagross
376
Steel/Psychic Type
Iron Leg Pokémon
Region of origin: Hoenn
5'03" (1.6 m)
1212.5 lbs (550 kg)
Metang combined to form it. With four brains, it has the intelligence of a supercomputer.
Beldum -Lv 20- Metang -Lv 45- Metagross
"Metagross, use Zen Headbutt!" Metagross's head started to glow, then it bashed the Magikarp into the air. "I saw who caught it" he said, then pointed to the same angler who did so. "Everyone else clear off. When the Magikarp comes back down, he has the right to catch it."
The Magikarp landed about 30 seconds after Steven said this. "I'll take it somewhere else to battle" the Fisherman said.
After that, we decided that we had had enough of fishing.
"So" Steven said. "What are you planning on doing?"
I told him about my plan to take on the Battle Tower.
"Ah, interesting. I've heard about Palmer. Could she beat Anabel? Honestly, who knows." Steven wove his right hand through his hair. "You know what?" He went into his right pocket and took out a key. "These are yours Lucas. They're to the Villa."
Well, this was unexpected, but of course I took it.
"What am I to do with it?"
"Whatever you want!" Steven said. "It's not mine anymore, I don't decide what goes on!"
I couldn't thank him enough.
Just then, Butler came running over.
"Ah, Luca- oh my goodness Steven Stone. Sorry, no time to delay. You might want to get ready. The show starts in a couple hours. You're the finishing act!"
I nodded, then shook Steven's hand.
"I'll be watching the act tonight" he assured me.
The Circus went ahead that night. They had everything. Cirque de Solrock, a Rapidash jumping through a hoop, Will doing Psychic Type tricks and much more.
"This isn't good" I thought to myself. "I haven't even decided my final act!"
What was I to do? I can't be a clown because my jokes are dreadful. I can't do the tightrope because I'm afraid of heights if I don't have something with me like Staraptor. And there's no way you'll ever get me on a unicycle.
"You're on!" Diane said.
Nervously, I walked out into the big top.
"Ladies and Gentlemen!" Butler said. "Time for our final act!"
Everyone cheered. I mean at the sight of the Champion, who wouldn't? But standing in the middle of the Circus wasn't what people paid to watch.
"Our final act; a battle!"
Ah, now that's what I'm good at.
"I will be your opponent!" Butler said. "3 on 3!"
I tilted my hat and got ready. "Let's give them a show stopping battle!" I shouted.
"Start the show, Mightyena!" Butler shouted, sending out a 4 legged grey and black furry Pokémon with sharp teeth.
Mightyena
262
Dark Type
Bite Pokémon
Region of origin: Hoenn
3'03" (1 m)
81.6 lbs (37 kg)
It chases down prey in a pack. It will never disobey the commands of a skilled Trainer.
Poochyena -Lv 18- Mightyena
"You're up Mamoswine!" I yelled, as the giant brown Ice Type entered the ring.
"Mightyena, start with Sucker Punch!" Mightyena attacked Mamoswine before it could get any move in.
"Now Mamoswine, use Rock Climb!" Mamoswine ran up the tent of the circus, then jumped into Mightyena. It did a fair amount.
"Mightyena, use Natural Gift!" I saw that Mightyena had a Sitrus Berry on it. The Sitrus Berry started to glow, then it fired a pink beam at Mamoswine. It took it.
"Earthquake!" Mamoswine made the entire tent shake and took down Mightyena as well.
"Good job" Butler said. "Now let's see you take on Dusclops!" He sent out the spooky grey Ghost Type.
I recalled Mamoswine in favour of Empoleon. "Empoleon, use Hydro Pump!" Empoleon shot a deluge of water at Dusclops. It has high Sp. Defense, so it was able to sponge most of it.
"Dusclops, Thunder Punch!" Dusclops's fist began to spark, then it punched Empoleon. Oh come on, that was unfair.
"Another Hydro Pump!" Empoleon shot more water at Dusclops. It needed one more hit.
"Another Thunder Punch!" Dusclops once again punched Empoleon. It was doing alright.
"Empoleon, Hydro Pump!" This one washed away Dusclops.
"The one to end the night, Salamence!" Darach shouted, as his clear ace was sent out. "Salamence, use Heat Wave!" Salamence flapped its wings at shot hot air at Empoleon. That was what finished it.
"Drifblim, I choose you!" I said. Hopefully Aftermath would work here.
"Salamence, Crunch!" Salamence bit down on Drifblim. That almost finished it in one blow.
"Drifblim, Payback!" Drifblim tackled Salamence. A lot was dealt to it.
"Use Steel Wing Salamence!" Salamence's wings turned to metal, then it bashed Drifblim with them. Drifblim finished, but Aftermath did a bit to Salamence.
"It's over" I said. "Mamoswine, Ice Shard!" Mamoswine was sent out and fired a chunk of ice at Salamence. Salamence fell out of the sky, fainting.
The crowd cheered for me as I waved.
"You are a talented young man" Butler said. He then held up my hand. "Everyone, give a round of applause to Sinnoh's very own Champion, Lucas Pratt! Let's also wish him luck in the Battle Tower!"
With one more cheer, they let me exit the tent.
At night, the Valor Lakefront seemed to glow a warm blue colour. Especially the pool, lit up even more by the full moon that night.
Tomorrow I would make my way back to the Fight Area.
"Battle Tower, look out!"
