Krom moved on, Bastiodon carrying the full weight of Krom and his Pokemon. Krom and Saria sat on the bench set of a car Underwarf propped up on Bastiodon's head, between his rampart like protrusions. They camped at an abandoned construction site on Route 4, as the sandstorm that raged there was too much for Saria, who shook sand from her hair. Krom had seen maps of Unova before, and he didn't remember a construction site left abandoned on any of the maps. He sighed, unable to believe he got lost.
Underwarf wandered the desert, grunting at the sand in his beard. He didn't really mind the desert, but the sandstorm was annoying. Castle Face and Twiggy walked beside him, as he searched the desert. The older Pokemon sighed. "What are you looking for?" Castle Face asked, irritated. Underwarf kept silent, moving forward. "It's gotta be here somewhere." Underwarf mused, scratching sand from his beard. Castle Face looked from side to side, his immense head coated in sand. "What?" He asked, watching the smaller Pokemon. Underwarf ran forward, seeming happy. Castle Face sighed, following the dwarf with Twiggy asleep on his back.
The dwarf stumbled upon a construction dump. Raw materials for buildings and other infrastructures were scattered about. He laughed, running into the sand coated debris. Castle Face looked about, grunting. "Explain to me what you're looking for?" He asked. The dwarf laughed, sifting through everything. "Something interesting to forge. Why else would I…" he said, trailing off. He looked across the dump, finding a mobile home, laughing as he ran over.
Underwarf found another Pokemon healing machine, similar to the first one. He laughed, hammer slamming away.
Krom grunted, rolling over. The building had no floor, the trainer forced to lie in the sand. Sand covered his face, irritating his skin. He sat up, glancing at the rest of his Pokemon. Nibbles laid on Golett, who was comfortably buried in sand. Twiggy, Castle Face and Underwarf were all gone, likely out forging something. Leavanny laid on a bed of sandy leaves, Emolga on her chest. Spots laid curled up, eyes open. The leopard was not amused, as sand was in his fur. Foxy had transformed into a Golett, the transformation making her comfortable in the sand. Rocky sat unmoving, the sand comforting the sleeping Boldore. He looked to Saria, who held her Munna close while she slept.
The Pokemon didn't get a lot of time to show it's face, especially now. With Plasma, Shira, Kyouhei and Hyuu, and the Church seemingly after them, Munna was almost useless. She did manage to use Hypnosis during the battle in Pinwheel Forest. He was proud of the little Dream eating Pokemon. She was growing up to be just as strong as Saria's sleeping Golett, or her meditating Packer. The dragon sat with his hands on his knees, deep in meditation. Krom blinked, shrugging before falling back to sleep.
Underwarf panted heavily, his muscles strained. He could barely feel his arms with all the work he did. Hopefully it was all worth it. Castle Face grunted. 'What am I, a toy?" He asked, angered. The dwarf shook his head. "No. You're a huge Bastiodon. Those country breakfasts worked wonders." He said, rubbing his chin. Bastiodon glared. "What is THAT supposed to mean?" He asked. The dwarf shrugged. "When was the last time you saw a ten foot tall, eight foot wide, half ton Bastiodon?" He asked, and the Pokemon grunted.
Krom woke up, walking out of the unfinished building. His Pokemon were up, most unsatisfied with the amount of sand on them. Krom turned, seeing Twiggy sleeping. He smiled at the Pokemon, turning to see Underwarf. The dwarf was coated in sand and sweat, waving to Krom. He whistled, and Castle Face appeared from the sand. Krom's jaw dropped. The Bastiodon had a mobile home on his back. The camper was placed on the metal frame, and Underwarf opened the door, gesturing the trainer to come inside,
Krom walked in, shocked at the inside. The basket was moved to a corner, holding Krom and Saria's things. The bench was moved up to the sleeper, which jutted out over the Pokemon's head. Krom laughed, seeing the two healing machines. They were hooked into the camper, which was solar powered. The Pokemon started to flood in. Emolga sat on the head of Golett, who watched his pink counterpart. Nibbles managed to sit down, sniffing the air. Clera and Foxy walked in, Foxy having transformed into the insect. Saria and Munna came onboard, followed by Packer. Underwarf stopped the dragon, pulling a helmet from his beard.
The helmet was spiked on the left, protecting his blind spot. The right has one horn that curved outward and then down towards the dragon's face. Packer placed it on his head, securing it with a thick leather strap. Packer smiled, nodding to the dwarf. Krom smiled. Then he remembered something. "Underwarf, how is this supposed to come off incase he needs to battle?" He asked, not wanting to lose one of his strongest Pokemon. Underwarf chuckled.
They left the camper, Underwarf pulling a level on the side. Six mechanical legs popped out, propping themselves on the ground. Underwarf slid underneath the Pokemon, undoing the four seat belts that held it on his back. Finally, the hinges on the Pokemon's face snapped off, and the Pokemon walked from underneath, irritated. Krom smiled, allowing the Pokemon to rest. The sun was high in the sky when they set off, barreling through the desert.
Two days went by before they made it to Nimbasa City. Krom decided to wait; detaching the camper from the Bastiodon's back, leaving it in a junkyard on the outskirts of the city.
Krom entered the Gym, watching Elesa stand at the end of the runway. He walked up the runway, hundreds of cross bearers in the audience. Krom looked to Underwarf, who simply flexed his muscles. The leader smiled to him, and Krom frowned. His eyes kept darting to the audience, wondering what she had planned.
Cheren stood on the outskirts of Nimbasa City, smiling smugly. He had found Krom's hideout. Now all he needed to do was make a phone call.
Elesa had sent out her Emolga, the squirrel flying about. Underwarf watched it's movements. Loud music thumped through speakers in the wall, breaking Krom's concentration. The bright lights also bothered his eyes, and he growled. Emolga closed in, hitting the dwarf with Quick Attack before spinning away, avoiding a Rock Throw. The dwarf watched closely, following the movements with his sharp eyes. It closed in, and Underwarf spun to face it.
The dwarven Pokemon swung his hammer at the ground, causing a large chunk of the arena to fly into the air. He swung again, smashing the chunk into pieces, the debris slicing into the Emolga. The mouse fell defeated, and Elesa called upon a second Emolga. Krom watched, unable to control his Pokemon. He couldn't focus, the crowd and arena too much. He began to wonder if this was a coincidence.
Underwarf jumped at the Emolga, throwing his hammer. As expected, the squirrel glided to the left, as the first one moved to the right. He propelled himself into the air, grabbing the Pokemon. He slammed it down, lifting his foot. He used Stomp, defeating the Emolga. Elesa grit her teeth, sending out a Joltik. The little electric spider elicited laughter from the dwarf.
The dwarf chased the little spider around, swinging his hammer. Elesa called for String Shot, and the spider spun. It was too late. The dwarf's foot came down, defeating the bug Pokemon. Elesa flung out another Pokeball, sending out a Flaffy. Underwarf watched the sheep, which appeared to sway with the music that played. Elesa shouted commands to the Pokemon, who danced about to attack. Underwarf dodged a Tackle, hoping the sheep didn't mind some dirty dancing.
Underwarf mocked the sheep, spinning clumsily like a dancer. The sheep growled, charging him again. The dwarf smiled, and clutched the sheep by the throat. He hoisted the Pokemon in the air. He slammed his hammer into the face of the Pokemon, not letting go. He rammed the Pokemon into the ground. He swung down, his body glowing brightly. Krom felt his jaw go slack, and silence rung out, even the Dj stopped the music.
Underwarf grew, his body morphing. His beard became larger and thicker, his moustache braiding itself. His hammer changed, becoming granite. His hair became less wild, making his arms and legs visible. The stout muscular Pokemon had evolved into Granitwarf mid swing, crashing down into the Flaffy with renewed vigor. The sheep lay in a bloody heap, breathing shallow. She switched it out for her Zebstrika, who roared. At least he tried to. Granitwarf uppercutted the horse, silencing it. He stuck his middle finger in the air as the zebra flew through the roof, landing atop the Ferris Wheel, defeated. Elesa was in shock, and Krom cheered.
He left the gym, badge in hand. He walked toward the Poke-Center, wondering what to do next. He turned, hearing his name called. He saw Aspertia Gym Leader Cheren glaring at him, hate in his eyes. Krom glared back, noticing how elaborate the cross he wore was. "Can I fucking help you? Or are you just gonna burn me at the stake while you dance around the fire like the savages you think we are?" He spat venomously. The leader glared at him, trying to keep calm. " I'm here to challenge you to a battle, nothing more." He said, but his tone said otherwise.
They heard a laugh, and turned to see an old woman standing there, Seviper staff in hand. "Now now Cheren, you can't do it like that. Follow me." She said, leading them to the Small Stadium of Nimbasa City. Krom looked on, standing at the battlefield. The bleachers were dark, so Krom didn't know that every Gym Leader, Elite Four Member, and Champion from Kanto to Unova sat watching.
The old woman stood smiling, on the battlefield with them. "Now you both know the rules. Six Pokemon only, no more. First one to have no Pokemon in battling condition wins." She said walking over to Krom. She pulled a book from the pack she carried, handing it to him. "I believe you need this more than my collection." She said, smiling. Krom thanked hr, introducing himself. "There's no need. I know exactly who you are." she said, walking off. Krom looked at the book. "The Last Honor: A History of the Hitoawa Clan." The title read. Krom was in shock. He placed the book down carefully, making sure not to damage it. Cheren flung out a Pokeball, a Liepard glaring at Krom. Krom sent out Twiggy, feeling the Grotle could use the work.
The Liepard charged forward, responding to a call for Aerial Ace. Krom called for Leech Seed, the seeds flinging from the bushes on the Pokemon's back, wrapping around the chest of the Pokemon, sapping it's power. The Liepard struck, causing Twiggy to grunt as he slid back. Krom called for Energy Ball, Twiggy launching the ball at the leopard. Cheren gave swift, stern commands, using years as a Pokemon trainer to his advantage.
The other leaders and Elites, along with the champions watched. Drake, Lance, Clair, Drayden and Iris cared not, wanting to see Cheren's Haxorus. The trainer had used the Pokemon to single handedly defeat iris and Drayden before Iris was champion. Drake was immensely impressed, and was eager to see the beast in action. Clair was honestly frightened; having never seen a dragon take out six more of it's kind without breaking a sweat.
Twiggy panted, Cheren's Liepard smirking smugly. Krom growled, wondering what he could do. He gave a command for Energy Ball, but Cheren switched out his Pokemon. He sent out a Simisear, who shrugged upon release. Krom growled, giving a command for Rock Climb. Twiggy slammed his hands down, causing the monkey to rise up on a mountain. Cheren gave a command for Brick Break, the monkey's hand glowing. It chopping at the charging Grotle. An explosion followed, and the mountain crumbled. Simisear landed, smiling. Twiggy was nowhere to be seen, having not fallen from the sky. A bright light shone from the sky, causing the Simisear to turn. A shining blur flew down, landing on him. The Simisear lay defeated, having been Body Slammed by Twiggy, who had evolved.
Everyone looked at Twiggy in shock. The anvil fused with his body, coating him in metal. The Torterra was silver all around, even the leaves of his tree silver. Cheren growled, sending out his Unfezant. The old woman smiled, watching intently.