Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon
Although compared to my other chapters in different fanfictions this one is short it took me all day just to finish it. The next chapter won't be done as fast but at least won't take a few more years to get back to. Thank you for your support and have a great day.
After giving llima a good handshake thanking him for guiding him to the trial in Verdant Cave he and Haru trekked back to the PokéCenter. It was when they were at the halfway point in the shade from the clouds obscuring the sun Haru mentioned new information to him.
"I think we should go on our separate ways now. I want to challenge that trial too after a bit of training and challenge the PokéLeague but I can only do that if I am trying to beat my rival instead of travelling with him. It's not that I haven't had fun with you...it's just it's time we go our separate ways. What do you think?"
"I think this Pokémon journey is testing how I overcome different obstacles. I'm happy for you making your own decision...I just wished we could've finished this together. Take care and try not to throttle into any big, scary Pokémon. Smiling isn't an apology."
He smiled with his eyes closed and his teeth sparkling white. "Thanks."
Logan made it to the PokéCenter where he saw the same old man from the buffet at the front desk, receiving a tray of six PokéBalls he took one by one and putting in a gray satchel he didn't have in the buffet.
"Your Pokémon didn't receive any substantial damage." Nurse Joy said.
"However?" Aidy asked leaning closer to Nurse Joy.
"Nothing. It seems you didn't use your Pokémon against any strong wild ones, but you depleted the PP in all their moves."
He scoffed. "Just the non-damaging ones. After the wild ones were good and vulnerable, I had the one I captured in that grass finish them off. Thank you for healing my Pokémon, but I don't think I'll be coming back anytime soon."
"That's okay. Trainers come in and out here all the time, I hardly remember their faces."
After that small burn from Nurse Joy, Ardy turned around, zipping up his satchel, flinched in ecstatic shock seeing Logan behind him. He had a smile of someone's grandfather.
"Hello again. How did that trial of yours ago?" He asked.
"It was pretty brutal. Litten my strongest Pokémon didn't stand a chance against the Totem Pokémon and I only one by sheer luck with my other Pokémon Rattata. At least they gave me this:"
He held out a clenched fist before opening it to show a white prism with a brown rectangle embedded in it.
Ardy leaned in closer to examine the crystal. He stroked his chin trying to avoid his jagged hair strand while he pondered a way Logan could use it.
"You have a Rattata on you? Why don't you try giving that Normalium-Z to it and test it outside in the wild grass."
Logan thought about that for a fleeting second before he smiled at the idea.
"Okay; let me just heal my Pokémon first and then Rattata will be battling all kinds of Pokémon."
Ardy smiled one last time before walking out of the PokéCenter.
It was taking a lot longer for Litten and Rattata to recover. Being a young boy Logan wasn't blessed with a lot of patience, but he found a good sweat to take a nap in; right beside an elderly woman with tan mostly wrinkly skin, a white dress, and white hair that shellacked the right side of her face but didn't hide her gray eyes. Logan was asleep not really dreaming about anything because he felt more tranquil and serene when sleeping around someone he knew, such as his parents or his cousins, but he did feel a little better even if he was still going to have to wait awhile.
"I see you talking to Ardy earlier." The old woman said. Logan's eyes were still shut trying to sleep instead of chatting with a stranger. "He once tried to complete all sixteen trials against all sixteen Totem Pokémon like me but he's never finished it. I made it to the PokéLeague before him, but I lost on my first try which was my only try. Now, it seems kids are finding out how to complete it in ways that get easier and easier for them. Ardy could try again but he's a stalwart nurse-hunter to be doing that. Anyways, good luck with him training you, kid."
Logan was beginning to feel that crackling in his head that was pleasant when he was awoken by Nurse Joy calling his name. He had to tilt his body back and forth before jumping to his feet.
He approached the desk where like Ardy he was handed a tray with PokéBalls except he was only handed two. Before he could touch the PokéBalls they clicked open with Litten and Rattata materializing from white light. They stared, they stuck out their tongues as if giving their trainer a raspberry, but both Pokémon jumped on Logan giving his cheeks a nice sandwich-hug, and his shoulders a nice tickling feeling from them swaying their tails.
"I know, I'm happy to see you too; both of you. I'm sorry to have to ask this of you so soon, Rattata, but could you come outside for some training?"
Logan reached into his pocket pulling out the Normalium Z. According to llima he needed a Z-Ring in order to use a Z-Crystal and it had to be held by a Pokémon. Logan got his ring, a sort of digital green watch with red plastic strap. Now that Rattata was holding a Normalium Z...he dashed out the door, Rattata following close behind him with Litten still perched on his trainers' shoulder.
The elderly woman had a glint of her barely open eyes before she chuckled to herself.
"Just wait until you see Breakneck Blitz for the first time, trainer. It's spectacular."