In the center of the grassland area, Rolf and Rain walked about under the heated glare of the sun. Rolf held his hand parallel to the ground to his forehead, in order to block out the glare of the sun, and squinted for any Wild Pokémon that would be a worthy opponent, or potential new ally.
Rain and Sunny trailed slightly behind him. She secretly dreaded being alone with him, fearing that they'd have nothing to talk about, as well as his unusual quirks.
The grass rustled and from within, a new Pokémon flew out at them.
"What foe is this?" Rolf asked, glancing up at the large robin-like creature. It had a red-feathered head and wings, with a grey colored underbelly with black wings tipped with yellow streaks.
"Fletchinder, the Ember Pokémon. It is extremely territorial, and squabbles with others of it's kind over feeding grounds."
Rolf, Freya already out and by his side muttered something quietly before pocketing his Pokedex, and raising his head to the bird. "Rolf already has a firebird, thank you no. Return to your hunting!"
"Fletch-etch! Fletchinder!" The avian Pokémon squawked defiantly, diving at the youths. Rain took a step back as his body ignited in flame.
"Rolf-!" She shouted frantically.
"Freya?" Rolf asked. "The Shock of Thunder."
"Fla-ffy!" Freya cried, balling her paws and shooting Thunder Shock at the diving Fletchinder, electrifying him and causing him to fall into another patch of grass. She fluffed her fleece a bit. "(Tooooo easy.)"
Rolf patted her on the head. "Well done."
"Soooo, Rolf." Rain said as she walked a bit to the side. "You're always calling yourself a shepherd's son. That mean you're a farmer?"
"Ja." The blue haired boy replied, looking to her, and appreciating that she asked a question about his personal life. "Rolf raises many beasts, aside from the pocket monsters. Several chickens, rabbits, cows, goats, sheep and pigs. Would you like to see?" He pulled out a fur wallet, and opened it, a photo reel rolling out. Rain sweatdropped and backed away.
"Maybe some other time, Rolf." She giggled before feeling something brush her back. "What in the-!?"
She scooted back at the sight of the small black and yellow seed-like Pokémon in shock. It had a twin-leaved stem atop it's body.
"Sun? Sun?"
"Hello? Just what are you?" Rain asked as she held up her Pokedex.
"Sunkern. The Seed Pokémon. The weakest of all Pokémon, it tries to move as little as possible to conserve it's energy for evolution. If attacked, it will shake its leaves at the offender in an attempt to drive it away."
"What a precious little thing." Rain knelt. Sunkern curiously hopped up to her, somewhat belying the entry.
"Sun?" Sunkern smiled at her softly and fluttered its leaves.
"Aww!" Rain fawned as she knelt down and brushed the kernel-like Pokémon with her hand. It chimed again and twirled about happily.
"Ho ho! A worthy challenger has presented himself to the son of a shepherd!" Rolf mused. Rain looked up to see what he was talking about and saw a large tan bull approach, with what looked like three tails whipping around it.
"Rolf, that looks kind of dangerous." She said. "I wouldn't-" Rolf removed his shirt and she got an eyeful of his bountiful backhair. She retched and turned away.
"Nonsense, she who is still new to the art of creature mastery. Bull wrestling is a time honored tradition in the old country! Noble bull! Indulge Rolf in a scuffle that he may include you into his ranks!"
The Tauros lowered his head. (If it's a wrestlin' bout you want, young-in, you'll get it!)"
Rolf gave a shout and Tauros charged, locking his hands and arms around his horns.
He dug in his heels and the two literally began to wrestle as Rain looked on in a confused stupor before deciding to ignore it. The girl observed the content Sunkern in her lap and decided it might make for another nice companion. She pulled a Poké Ball from her skirt pocket and enlarged it. With a light tap, Sunkern was drawn inside and the ball shook in her hand for a moment and clicked.
She let Sunkern back out. "I'll call you Juno. How about that?"
"Sun! Sunkern!" The Seed Pokémon yipped in her arms.
"Good-" Rain began before Rolf let out a cry and gave Tauros a spinning hurl. The Wild Bull Pokémon shook himself off and charged again.
0
Sarah took to the stage next, wearing a pink ball gown, and her Snubbull, Dixie by her side.
"Okay, Dixie! Use Covet!"
The Snubbull marched out in front of her and clutched her paws, launching punches that manifested glimmering pink hearts.
"Now use Play Rough!" Dixie rolled over and tackled the air, romped around on stage.
Sarah looked over to to the judges, who seemed less than impressed. "Dixie...use Charm!"
The Fairy Pokémon turned to the judges, and gave them a dose of puppy-dog eyes, which glowed a reddish pink.
The judges looked back and forth between themselves and gave their ruling. Zoey motioned for Sarah to leave the stage and she smiled widely and left, feigning confidence. Truth be told, even she was unnerved.
After leaving, another contestant took to the field.
She had long blue and yellow hair, and wore a circus ringleader-esque costume. She pulled out her Ball. "Go, Ninetales!"
An elegant whitish yellow fox appeared on the contest stage, with crimson eyes, and nine, beautifully flowing tails.
"Ninnne!" Ninetales cried, letting out an ember from her mouth.
"It's beautiful…" Nazz said, marvelling at the fox, who proceeded to use create mystical orbs of light, before igniting them with Will-O-Wisps to make rings.
"You got that right!" Jimmy noted as he took a seat next to her. "What I wouldn't give to have a Pokémon as amazing as that!"
Ninetales scattered and dispersed the flaming rings with a big flash of light from her eyes.
The audience applauded them for their performance, and they stepped off stage. Zoey stood back in the center, holding the mike to her lips. "The judges will now convene to deliberate who will advance to the next round. Until then, feel free to move about the lobby."
Nazz got the chance to meet the Ninetales owner. "Hiya! Your performance was good! I love your Pokémon! Ninetales is it?"
"Thank you." The young woman replied. "Ninetales is a great partner. Though if you want one, I'd suggest you find a Vulpix if you can. Ninetales evolve from using an elemental stone, so you're very unlikely to find one in the wild."
"Thanks for letting me know that." Nazz commented. "I'm Nazz. What's your name?"
"Leona." She replied. "Nice to meet you, Nazz. Your perfomance was quite dazzling too. Good to know I have such a gifted rival!"
"R-rival?" Nazz stammered.
Leona pulled a blue ribbon held together by a gold medal from the bag at her hip. "I won this in my hometown back before I was lost in that crazy light flash."
"Light...flash?"
"Whatever caused our worlds to start spilling into each other of course."
"Ohh…" Nazz realized. "Well then. Here's hoping to the both of us!" She held out her hand, but Leona bowed instead.
"Here here! I'm looking forward to our match tomorrow!" Nazz watched her leave. The blond sighed, nervous of the coming confrontation.
"Yeah...me too."
0
The battle between the Eds and Kankers was quite literally heating up once Lee's giant Salazzle took the the battlefield. Snappy barely managed to dodge a Flame Burst from the titanic lizard.
"(This one's going to be quite a challenge for me…)" The Grass Tortoise declared, stepping back.
Cinder advanced, Blaze Aura still flaring. "(Then lemme show this lizard how hot I burn!"
Double D grit his teeth. Cinder was definitely running low. Fire wouldn't be good against this foe. "Cinder...if you really want to. Then use Flamethrower!"
"Quiiiiilaaaah!" The Quilava roared, spewing intense flames from the spots on his back at Sizzle.
"We can play that game too, Double Dweeb!" Lee barked. "Sizzle, use your Flamethrower!"
"Salaaaa!!" Sizzle lurched in and breathed her own flame of stream, matching Quilava evenly before the both of them gave up.
"Wotter, you wanna try-" Eddy began, but snapped his fingers. "Rats! Forgot he can't use Razor Shell. Try Ice Beam!"
"Woooott!!" The Oshawott howled, shooting the chilling ray from his mouth. Sizzle held her arm up to block, and her arm froze up, but the ice quickly dispelled as steam as quickly as it froze.
"Well that didn't work…" Edd began, holding up his Poké Ball. "I suggest a shift in tactics! Cinder, come back, please!" The Quilava turned into red light and was drawn into the Ball before Edd clipped it into his belt and drew another. "Come out, Galileo!" The Noctowl took to the sky, cooing aggressively.
"Why the bird?" Eddy asked.
"Because he knows Extrasensory. A Psychic move. Now I suggest you two bring out your Sandile and Onix. Capone will especially have a great type advantage."
"Oh yeah! I see!" Eddy smirked. "Go, Capone!" He threw his Quick Ball, and the small brown and black crocodile Pokémon manifested. "Sandile!!"
"Roll out, Rocky!!" Ed screamed as he threw his own Ball and his Onix appeared.
"Erroooaah!!" The Rock-Snake Pokémon rumbled out onto the battlefield, towering over Sizzle and his comrades.
Lee, catching onto the situation grabbed her sisters by the arm. "Send in our backup!"
"Geez, Lee, you don't have to strong-arm us! Go, Lil' Marie!" Marie cried, throwing her Ball. The Eevee burst onto the battlefield.
"Eev-wee-vwee!" She barked, flattening her ears at the sight of Edd's Noctowl.
"Go, Bonette!" May called, letting her Mandibuzz take to the air against Rocky.
'Good. A bad matchup there.' Edd thought. He waved his arm. "Galileo! Attack Sizzle with Extrasensory!"
The Noctowl's eyes glowed as he hit the Salazzle with a telekinetic shock. She doubled over, before rising back up, annoyedly.
"Hey! I'm your opponent, Double D!" Marie shouted. "Don't ignore me! Lil' Marie, use Double-Edge!"
"Evwee!" The brown-furred Pokémon charged in, glowing green as she slammed into his Noctowl, knocking him down, vut undeterring him.
"(Upstart!)" Galileo hooted as he leapt higher in the air, shifting focus to her.
"Drat...I guess it can't be avoided." Edd bit his lip. "Use Air Slash!"
"Hoo-hooo!" Galileo flapped his wings, sending blades of air at the Evolution Pokémon, knocking her down.
"Rocky, use Slam!" Ed called. His Onix reared back, smacking his Mandibuzz opponent down with his tail. The condor-like Pokémon grimaced, recollecting herself.
"Bonette!" May grimaced. "Give 'im a Dark Pulse!"
"Mandiiii-buzz!!" Bonette reared her head back, firing a warbling stream of dark energy that hit Rocky, and sent him reeling back in pain.
"Errrrroooahh!" He groaned.
"Ed! Onix' special defense stat is low compared to physical defense! Focus more on a Rock attack!"
"Ohhh yeah!" Ed's brain came online, as he thrust his thumb up. "Rocky, use Rock Slide!"
"Errrrroooooaaahhh!!" Rocky smashed the ground with his tail, sending a wave of rubble at Bonette, causing her to screech and shield herself with her wings.
The giant Salazzle's snaggled maw twisted in a grin, pleased that she might not have to do most of the fighting. Then the Sandile approached.
Capone grinned himself, intoxicated by the Poison/Fire-Type's presence. "(Hello there, beautiful! What's a babe like you doing hanging out with those chumps?)" Sizzle's maw contorted into a frown. She didn't recognize the Sandile, but didn't like him already. "(Whaddya say we have a chit chat, huh?)" He continued, only for the Salazzle to place her foot on his face and shove him down into the dirt.
"(You. Aren't. Worthy.)" She said.
"Sizzle! Use Smog!" Lee called. Sizzle reared her head back, and let out a cloud of poisonous smoke, causing Capone to cough, gag, and recoil.
"Capone!" Eddy grimaced. "Give 'em a really good Bite!"
"Saaandile!" Capone launched himself forward, biting the big lizard on the arm. She hissed, waving him around, and literally throwing him into Rocky. The Onix was unharmed, but the smaller Sandile was a bit aggravated. The Salazzle shot forward, spitting a Flamethrower attack, hitting them both, and making both Ground-Types double over.
"Hey!" Ed began. "You leave Rocky alone! Rock Slide again!"
The Onix reared up and sent another cascade of rocks crashing down on Sizzle. The Salazzle managed to dodge most of them, before being hit by four. She shook her head in anger, before autonomously firing Dragon Rage without a command, knocking the Onix down.
"Capone, use Sand Tomb!" Eddy called. His Sandile gave a cry of his name, prompting their foe to look down, seeing the sand beneath her feet churning. She sank a little bit, but hissed, and fired a Flame Burst at him. "Oh no!"
Capone grimaced before standing up. "(I ain't...goin' down...so easily!)"
Eddy bit his lip, as Marie's Eevee shot a Shadow Ball that passed through Double D's Noctowl. 'Man...that big lizard is tough...Capone doesn't stand a chance! Unless…' He sat their bag on the ground, and rummaged through it. "Ha-ha!" He laughed aloud, pulling the orange Crystal from it.
"What's that supposed to be?" Lee asked.
"Figures you wouldn't be payin' attention. So here's a refresher!" Eddy replaced the Waterium-Z on his Z-Power Ring with the Groundium-Z and twisted it clockwise, prompting it to glow.
Eddy crossed his arms, and spun around, placing a hand on the ground. "Full power! Z-Move! Tectonic Rage!!"
An orange aura flowed around his form, which channeled into his Sandile.
Capone licked his jaws, eager to unleash the attack. "(Let's rumble, baby!!)" He charged at Sizzle, aiming to slam her into the ground, but by happenstance, Lil' Marie cut into his path, aiming to try and hit Galileo again, only to be mowed down by him.
"Not that one, Capone!" Eddy blanched, gripping the sides of his head.
"(Eh! You'll work!)" Capone slammed the Eevee underground, tunneling deep down, and hitting a core-like construct of Z-Power already prepared. It exploded, sending the two of them back to the surface, Sandile unharmed, but Lil' Marie fainting. The Sandile let out a triumphant hiss of his name as Marie fumed.
"What the heck!!" Marie spat. "I was trying to fight Double D!"
Eddy smirked, straightening his vizor cap. "Guess that's just the way things go. Now there's just the overgrown gecko, and the stupid bird!"
Edd's Noctowl gave a few indignant hoots, before his owner consoled him. "Calm down, Galileo, I'm sure he means May's Mandibuzz."
"I call shenanigans!" May threw her fists down. "None of us have those fancy rings!"
"Oh, put a sock in it! It's not something creeps like you would be able to use anyway!" The shortstack stuck his tongue out.
May flared her nostrils and waved her arm. "Bonette, use Bone Rush!"
"Maahaanda!" The Mandibuzz flew in, whacking Capone multiple times with the bone in her head plumage, knocking him down. The Sandile struggled to rise back up, only for Rocky to coil in front of him.
"Rocky, use Bind!" Ed called.
"Errrohhh!" The Onix lunged, and wrapped himself around the bird Pokémon, squeezing it.
"Bonette! Use Dark Pulse on him!" Bonette reared her head back and spewed another stream of corrupted energy at Rocky's face, but not enough to force him to release her.
"Rocky, use Slam!" Ed commanded.
"Errroaah!" Rocky roared again, using his tail to throw Bonette into the ground and, and struck her with it. The Mandibuzz struggled to get up, but relented, fainting in the sand.
"B...Bonette…" May whimpered, recalling her Pokémon.
"Now do you see it? No matter how many Pokémon you accumulate, if you don't train them properly, they won't get any more powerful! Even against the three of us, whose Pokémon don't battle as often as those owned by trainers in the other worlds!"
"Hah! Who needs training when you got a big girl like this?" Lee spat. "Sizzle, use Flamethrower again!"
"Lllazzle!" Sizzle spewed another jet of flames from her mouth, hitting Galileo, and pushing him back. When the Totem finally deigned to let him go, the Owl Pokémon was burned, health deteriorating.
"Nice shot, but let's see if we can't do you one better!" Eddy began. "Capone, try Dig!"
"Sand!!" Capone burrowed underground. Their foe got into a wary stance, but still remained vigilant against her perceived threats.
"Rocky, use Screech!" Ed shouted. The Rock Snake Pokémon lurched forward, loosing intense sound waves from his mouth, and causing the Toxic Lizard to wince.
"And now Galileo, use Extrasensory once more!" The Noctowl furrowed its brow, and concentrated, loosing the telekinetic shock. Sizzle doubled over, but managed to rise up and spit a Flame Burst, scorching both him and Rocky.
The ground rumbled beneath her feet, with Capone erupting from below, slamming into her, as well as hitting her with a good portion of earth.
"Sizzle!? Not you too!" Lee grimaced as the Totem Pokémon hit the ground groaning. She grit her teeth and called her back. Now all that remained was Jerry, and she didn't honestly care to have him fight.
"I can't believe we lost again!" Marie cursed under her breath. "We'll get you one of these days!"
"Yeah! Big Ed will be mine, no doubt!" May added.
"Next time. We'll beat you then! Come on, girls!" Lee lead the other two Kankers away, with the Eds breathing a sigh of relief that they were leaving peacefully.
Capone panted heavily. This battle had taken much out of him. Suddenly, his body froze up.
"Huh? Capone? What's-woah!" Eddy said with delight as the small crocodile's body took on the whitish blue glow. His body started to change, transitioning to a taller, stockier, and upright form. The light died down to reveal he now had black stripes across his stomach, as well as his tail, with spikes sprouting from his tail.
"Krokoooh!" He bellowed proudly.
"Woah! Eddy, your alligator stood up!" Ed boasted.
"It's a crocodile, stupid." Eddy groaned, scanning him with his Pokédex.
"Krokorok, the Desert Croc Pokémon. It has specialized eyes that allow it to see in the dark. This allows Krokorok to hunt in the dead of night without getting lost."
"Way to go, Capone! Another Evolution under my belt!" Eddy smirked, patting the croc's head. Capone crossed his arms.
"(I'd like to see that big loser try and mess with me now.)"
"Well...if we're all done here, we should be heading out, and regrouping with the others." Double D suggested.
"Good idea. Come on, Ed!" The three of them and their Pokémon marched across the sand, toward the grassland area.
0
The results of the contest were in, and Nazz had her fingers crossed, hoping to advance to the next stage while she sat in the locker room.
Zoey took the stage, microphone in hand. "The results are in! Here are the contestants moving to the battle round!"
A tournament bracket appeared on screen, and Nazz saw her image being setup to face Jimmy.
"Oh wow...we both placed." She uttered.
"Why do I have to fight the mime guy?!" Sarah's voice rang out behind her.
Nazz sighed, stroking Denny's head. The Emolga chittered happily. "Good job out there, dude. Now you can sit back and let Kenzie handle the battling." She slipped him a Matcha Poképuff, which he happily devoured.
Jonny, still in costume turned to Leona, who smiled confidently at him. "So it seems we'll be fighting first. I hope you're ready to taste my wrath!" He said, still doing his Gourd character.
Leona chuckled to herself. "I hope you can take the heat."
0
Rolf panted, having finally wrestled the Tauros into submission.
"(Yer alright, partner.)" The Tauros mooed in defeat. "(I'm smart enough to know when I'm beat.)"
"Noble bull." Rolf produced a Poké Ball. "Rolf wishes to add you to his party of creatures. Do you yield?"
"(I reckon it wouldn't be do bad. Go on ahead.)" Tauros nodded his head, as Rolf couldn't understand his bellowing.
"I name you Greer. Inside the sphere of containment with you!" He tapped the Ball to his head, drawing him inside. It clicked as soon as he was in. "Victory."
He produced his Dex, which opened up. "Tauros, the Wild Bull Pokémon. Although it is known as a fierce Pokémon, those in Alola have a notably calmer disposition."
Rolf didn't know what "Alola" meant, so he put the device back into his pocket as Rain approached with Juno. "Great job, Rolf!"
He grinned. "Thank you, Rain-girl. It appears that you too have attained a new creature." He said, observing the Sunkern.
"Well. I thought she was cute." She ruffled the leaf at the top of its head.
"Kern! Sun-kern!" Juno beamed happily, but caught sight of something big flying, and turned away. "Sunn!!"
Kevin and his Charizard landed, with the boy jumping down from his back. "You guys find anything nice?"
"Indeed, Rolf has acquired a most worthy creature." The farm boy said, pulling his Pokédex back out to show him Greer's image.
"A bull? Heh. Kinda expected that. Whaddya think of this?" He showed him an image of his new Galarian Farfetch'd.
"Ho-ho. A warrior duck. Most impressive."
"Yeah. I saw the Eds coming from a while away. Wonder if they found anything worthwhile."
The Eds came walking in, with the three others silently remarking on Capone's new appearance, as well as the walking cactus-like Pokémon trailing by Edd.
"I would say I managed to find a suitable new partner. Say hello, Pip."
"Marr-marramarra!" The Maractus waved her hands, happy to meet her new friends.
"So cute!" Rain leaned down to get a better look. "We both got a Grass-Type!"
Juno and Pip seemed to start a conversation, as Edd yawned. "Well, she's a nice condition, seeing as though I owned a normal cactus at home."
"Really?"
"Oh yes. Jim. Though Ed took a bite out of him once." The big lug started sweating nervously. "Anyway, we should get some rest, and take tomorrow to train. We had another battle against the Kankers, and that wore us out."
"I can see that." Kevin said as Buck and Capone shared a glance. "All right then. Rolf, you me, and Eddy should start on the tent."
"I will prepare something to eat." Double D said, taking his and Eddy's shared backpack and pulling out a few pans. "Im anxious to see how our new Pokémon handle themselves.
As he pulled a few more things out, the Wild Pancham from earlier stared silently from a few bushes, watching him with intent.
0
Sorry this has taken so long, everybody. I'd really like to get back to my old schedule of uploading at least one chapter a month, but with all my other stories, and a few other projects, as well as irl stuff, and lessening motivation and drive, it's getting difficult. These last three chapters have been stressful for me to write. If I have the Eds and Kankers battle again, im gonna have them go one at a time instead of this clustermess I've got. I honestly think my writing is suffering.
Nevertheless, I hope you enjoyed.
0
New Acquisitions:
Rolf: Greer the Tauros. Ability: Anger Point. Moves: Horn Attack, Tail Whip, Zen Headbutt, Thrash.
Rain: Juno the Sunkern. Ability: Solar Power. Female. Moves: Grass Whistle, Razor Leaf, Endeavor, Giga Drain.