It was Bianca's idea. She'd invited Kenya and me to eat.
She'd brought us to a restaurant stand. It wasn't much of a restaurant. It was made up of several tables and a kitchen set up in a big tent.
Bianca, Kenya, and I sat at one of the tables. Kenya and Bianca sat together, I sat across from them.
Bianca was talking away. The waiter approached us. Bianca told him we were waiting on some people.
"I think Larvesta might be close to evolving, but Mary says it can't evolve for a long time." She tapped her fingers on the table, thinking.
"What does Larvesta evolve into again?" Kenya asked.
"Volcarona," Bianca said. "It's crazy strong."
"Hey guys," Mary said, sitting on the other side of Bianca. "How's everyone?"
"Hey, Mary," Bianca said.
"I brought her," Mary said.
Cerea sat down beside Kenya, pursing her lips.
"My names Cerea," Cerea said. Kenya inched away from her.
"Now we're just waiting on…" Bianca trailed off. "What was that guy's name again?"
"Who?" I asked.
"I'm Ron," A guy sat down beside me. I'd never seen him before in my life.
"What kind of party is this?" Cheren asked, sitting on my other side.
"Everyone's here!" Bianca called out to the nearby waiter. "We're ready to order!"
The waiter sighed and meandered over to our table.
By the time everyone ordered, I was pretty sure the waiter gave up on writing our orders down. The guy looked tired. He walked away, disappearing into the tent.
"I'm glad I got everyone here," Bianca said, standing up. "I have a suggestion." She let us hang on her words. "I think everyone is ready to leave Mistralton City, right?"
The table murmured general agreement.
"I suggest we all travel through Twist Mountain together," Bianca said.
"I'd rather travel alone," Cheren piped in.
"Don't be a wet blanket," Kenya perked up.
Cheren and Kenya shared a sharp look.
"Twist Mountain can be pretty dangerous," The guy named Ron said. "I think it's a great idea."
"Sure, why not," Cerea said. "I get to spend time with Bianca again!" She reached past Kenya, grabbing Bianca's hand.
Kenya scowled at the girl, leaning back. She smacked Cerea's arm earning a grunt and an annoyed complaint.
"I was planning on leaving tonight," Cheren said. "Is that okay with all of you?"
"I guess," Mary groaned.
Bianca sat down, beaming. Her eyes met mine.
"What do you think, Andrew?"
"I think it's a good idea," I said.
Almost an hour later, the waiter brought us our food. The sun had already disappeared under the horizon.
X
I had to hurry to get prepared. I didn't have much stuff to pack but Cheren wasted no time and didn't plan on waiting for anyone.
Kenya and I left the pokemon center at the same time. We dashed through the city, already behind.
Ron joined up with us as we reached Route 7. Cheren and the others were just reaching the tall grass.
It was a dark night away from the lights of Mistralton. The moon was covered by thick clouds.
"Wait up!" Kenya called out.
Bianca turned and waved at us as we joined the group.
"It's cold tonight," Cerea complained. "Does anyone have a spare jacket?"
"Let's get moving, Cheren said.
The seven of us headed out onto Route 7. Cheren walked in front, striding quickly through the grass.
Bianca, Cerea, and Mary walked a few paces behind him.
Kenya and I walked together. Kenya was fidgeting with a Pokeball.
Ron was in the back, walking by himself.
"You want to battle Drayden, right?" Kenya asked. I nodded. Kenya wasn't looking at me, though.
"Yeah," I said after a moment. "I've wanted to for a while."
"I'm thinking," Kenya said. "About what I want."
"Yeah?" I slipped my hands into my pockets, watching Kenya in the corner of my eyes.
"What can I do?"
"Whatever you want," I said. "You can be whatever you want."
"Can I, though?" Kenya turned the Pokeball in her hand. Her dark eyes met mine.
"Why not?"
Kenya didn't speak for a few minutes. We passed Celestial tower. I thought I saw the old woman from before sitting by the entrance. It was difficult to make her out in the darkness.
I listened to Bianca chatting with Mary about her Audino. Cerea would chime in every so often with a remark.
"The entrance shouldn't be too far ahead," Cheren said. Bianca repeated it, a bit louder for 'those in the back.'
"Why do you want to battle Drayden?" Kenya asked all of a sudden. I blinked, hesitant.
"It's complicated," I said.
"How complicated can it be?" Kenya asked.
"I just think you'd find it silly," I admitted. I felt a bit of heat rushing to my face, thinking about how Kenya would react. She'd probably laugh.
I hadn't even told Cheren or Bianca why I really wanted to defeat Drayden.
I scratched my cheek, thinking.
"Do you have a crush on him or something?" Kenya asked.
"What?"
"Throwing ideas at the wall here," She said, smacking my arm.
I cracked a smile, even if Kenya probably couldn't see it.
I could see the outline of Twist Mountain growing up ahead. It was difficult to tell the difference between the mountainside and the dark sky behind it.
I thought I spotted something blue moving in the distance.
Kenya gasped.
Cobalion appeared in front of Cheren, growling.
"Cobalion!" Kenya called out. "What are you doing here?" She took a step forward.
"I think it's mad," Bianca said.
"Stay back," Cheren warned. He took out a Pokeball.
"Oh great," Kenya said. "Your idiot friends gonna try to catch it." She jabbed me in the arm.
I met Cobalion's gaze, it was watching me. I shrunk under the pressure of its eyes.
"Cheren, wait!" Bianca shouted, catching my attention.
Cheren threw a pokeball at Cobalion.
Cobalion darted forward, knocking Cheren's pokeball aside with its horns. It pushed past Cheren, Bianca, and Mary knocking all three of them onto their backs.
"Run!" Kenya yelled. She was knocked off her feet.
Cobalion skidded to a halt in front of me.
"What?" I stared at Cobalion. Bianca and Cheren got to their feet.
I knew I smelled that thing on you.
It was an unfamiliar voice. Cobalion's eyes seemed to flash.
"Druddigon!" Kenya sent out Druddigon. It charged at Cobalion.
Cobalion's head dropped, its mouth closing around my bag.
"Wait!"
Suddenly the world was a blur. Wind rushed by me, washing over my face and body. Cobalion was pulling me, we were in the air. I got a glimpse of the mountainside as we flew towards it.
Cobalion and I landed on a trail on the side of the mountain. The trail extended down towards the ground, several openings leading inside were spread throughout. I landed on my back.
Cobalion let go of my bag and stomped away.
My entire body was sore.
I sat up, taking in the view. The entirety of the Route below was veiled by the darkness of the night. I heard distant voices calling out far below.
"What are you doing?" I turned to Cobalion.
I'm going to destroy you.
Cobalion's stern voice shook my mind. It turned to face me.
"What?" I took a step back.
Cobalion's eyes flashed, cutting through the darkness. Then its horns started to glow.
"Wait!" I raised a hand. "Listen to—" Cobalion lunged, slashing its horns at me.
I fell backwards, right off the edge of the trail. I was falling.
I grabbed for my pokeballs. I sent out Musharna.
Musharna and I glowed, both of us floating in the air.
I took deep breaths, trying to calm down.
He's coming. Musharna's voice caught my attention. I looked up, catching a glimpse of Cobalion's glowing horns far above.
Suddenly, Cobalion's glow turned into a streak as it dashed down the mountainside.
"We have to move," I said. "Where can we go?" I looked around, trying to find somewhere to hide.
This way.
Musharna and I darted into a nearby cave entrance. We picked up speed, flying through the corridor.
Behind us, I heard Cobalion roar.
"We need to go faster!" I called out as we blurred past a fork in the corridor.
Cobalion erupted from the wall ahead of us, horns glowing.
"Musharna!"
Musharna fired a psybeam at Cobalion. I landed on the floor with a grunt.
Cobalion tilted its head, effortlessly deflecting Musharna's attack.
I heard a sound behind me. I glanced over my shoulder, spotting a figure.
A large brown creature was behind me. Terrakion.
You can't escape from us.