"FUCK this route eight times over!" Castle Face bellowed, hating the swampy Route Eight. They had left Icirrus City, Brycen bidding them a sorrowful farewell. He had appreciated Krom's funerary pyre, the wood burning into the night. The Bastiodon spewed obscenities, hating the swamp route with a passion. "Your fat asses get to sit in a fucking camper all fucking day! Around half a ton of fat asses and camper on my back, and I'm the one going through a FUCKING SWAMP!" he bellowed, causing the Oozaru to roll his eyes. "Fucking twelve hundred pound Mamoswine could do this shit, but I get stuck with it! No, that's just Fucking Peachy!" He continued, causing Kooky to laugh.
The Bastiodon felt his foot dip down, and he panicked. "OH Shit! I'm gonna fucking die! Mother fuckin' quick sand! Fuck!" he bellowed, and Granitwarf rolled his eyes, grumbling under his breath. The Bastiodon didn't sink, and continued on, grumbling. "Fucking swamp! Tryin' to make me look like an idiot! I'll show you!" he screamed, Hyper Beaming the water in front of him. The water exploded into the air, filled with sand and underwater plants. The muddy water hit the Pokemon in the face, causing him to grunt. "Just fuck you all! I think I got seaweed in my fuckin' ear! I got sand between my teeth! Shitfaced Tauros balls!" he roared, shaking his head. Granitwarf grumbled, sketching a muzzle for the Pokemon. Due to his unusual face, the dwarf had to improvise, and had yet to agree on a style of muzzle for the complaining Pokemon.
They stumbled upon an eatery in the swamp, called The Swamphole. It was for weary trainer's to dry off from the swamp, and fill their bellies. Castle Face saw the building and screamed bloody murder. He burst toward it, running up the sand hill and wooden stairs, roaring to his trainer. Krom swung out, followed by Saria and Kyouhei. Krom returned the beast, heading up the rest of the stairs. Once they walked in, Krom looked about their new surroundings.
There were five tables, each with four chairs, a bar in the back, and a stage to the side, where a purple Swampert stood behind a desk, playing music. Krom laughed, walking in with his friends. An elderly woman walked up to them, smiling. "Well, you're the first visitors we've had all Autumn. I take it that means you defeated the Samurott on Route Seven?" she asked, watching them sit down. Krom nodded, showing her Jack's Pokeball. "I caught him. He's an amazing Pokemon." he said, and the woman laughed. She walked away, likely to a kitchen. The three decided to let their Pokemon out, the Golurks having to tuck their legs in. Krom chuckled at the sight, and smiled.
Bruce enjoyed music, but his Poke-pod was dead, and he lost his charger. Likely when Krom caught him, but he didn't care. That's what electric moves were for. He walked u to the Swampert, who turned and smiled. "Hey, what's up? Haven't seen many people around these days." he said, rocking to the music. Bruce laughed. "A Samurott stood in everyone's way, until my trainer caught him. After that, he managed to catch me, and we were thrust into a battle almost right after." he said, watching the Swampert change the music. He laughed. "That's cool. Can't say I've battled much the past few years. Living in a swamp, you don't find many travelers." he said, his arms swaying with the music.
Bruce tilted his head. "Do you not live here? Aren't you the elder's Pokemon?" he asked, confused. The Swampert chuckled. Back in the dining area, Krom, Saria and Kyouhei laughed, eating a stew the woman brought out. She smiled at the young ones, noticing Krom's interest in the Swampert, who spoke to Bruce. "What's his story?" he asked, and the woman smiled.
"Ol' DJ Swamp has been coming here since I was a little girl. I assume his trainer died a long time ago, as Swampert is a Hoenn native. He comes here every once in a while and plays music, and everyone enjoys it." she said. Krom tilted his head. "He's not your Pokemon?" he asked. The old woman shook her head. "If I am right, and his trainer brought him here and then died, then he's a wild Pokemon." she said. Krom turned to the mud fish Pokemon, looking him over. "No one's caught him?" he asked. She smiled. "He lives deep in the swamp, and when he comes here, everyone assumes he belongs to me." she said. Krom looked to Bruce, who spoke to the Pokemon.
Bruce nodded. "Interesting tale. However, do you think of the future?" He asked, and the Swampert shook his head, changing the music again. Bruce rocked to the music, the almost mystical sound soothing him. "Very well. What will you do once the elder passes on? Will you stay regardless of what happens to this establishment?" he asked, and the Swampert shrugged. "I go with the flow. Whatever happens, happens. That's all I can say." he said, watching the other Pokemon enjoy themselves. Bruce smiled. "I see. What about moving on and joining a trainer on their journey?" he asked. The Swampert turned. "I guess that sounds cool. I'd go, but I need to keep my laptop." he said, gesturing to the computer that played the music. Bruce laughed.
"My trainer would have no issue with that. Our friend Castle Face would complain about it though, as he does with everything else." he said, pointing a stare at the Bastiodon, who was currently complaining. Bruce grunted, irked. If he heard one more "I'm too fucking tall for this shit!" he was going to Aura Sphere the Pokemon. The Swampert chuckled. "I'm in. You own a pair of headphones? Cause I think I'd need them even in my Pokeball." he said, laughing. Bruce chuckled. "Very well, allow us to speak to my trainer." he said, leading the Swampert to Krom.
Krom sat laughing with the other two, thanking the woman for the stew, which was fabulous. The woman offered to let them stay the night, long as he kept that 'vulgar Bastiodon' in his Pokeball. Krom looked to Bruce, who led the Swampert up to him. Saria tilted her had, and Kyouhei giggled. Bruce spoke to Krom, the trainer getting the gist of what he said. He turned to Saria, who translated, being half Pokemon, and a psychic. "Bruce says that Dj Swamp wants to come with us. Although, he wants headphones to plug his ears while Castle Face talks." she said, laughing. Krom smiled, nodding and pulling out a Pokeball. He blinked. Where did he keep getting these things? He shrugged, putting it off as Kooky stealing them from a Poke-mart somewhere. He caught the Swampert, loosing it right after.
Kooky smiled, pulling his knives from the belly of a young trainer. He opened the trainer's bag by slicing it open, using his wrists and the side of his blades to move the Pokeballs from his bag to another one. He laughed, wiping the blood off on the trainer's face.
The league met again, Simba continuing to stare at Gary Oak. The subject of Kooky came up, and Simba changed his focus. "This Pawniard needs to be dealt with. We've already found a trail of bodies with stab wounds leading up to Icirrus City. Each trainer has been stabbed, had their Pokeballs stolen, and then bled out." Eterna City Sinnoh Leader Gardenia stated. Simba laughed. "Nothing should be done about it. Your cross bearing nurses and sneaky ass contractors put all Poke-marts inside Poke-Centers. So, how do you get Pokeballs and heal your Pokemon when Poke-marts, and Poke-Centers won't help you do anything but dig a grave for yourself?" he asked, head tilted.
Gardenia growled. "So we let him kill innocent children!?" she roared. Simba laughed. "Do you know how many people I've killed since I was born? Some of them were innocent, but I had to kill them. So I could eat, drink, survive. That child? Could have been the next Giovanni, or Cyrus. Gods forbid, the next Ghestis. Or, even worse, the next Gary Oak." he said, catching the leader's attention. The Halfling smiled. "I mean, Gary's life is hard enough, with the health department telling him to stop killing people with the size of his ego." he said, and the leader frowned. Gardenia shot to her feet, angered. "You're lucky you're not from Sinnoh! You'd be nothing but a rug in Sinnoh!" she roared.
The next thing she felt was her back hit the wall, and a hand around her throat. Simba's claws grew, unable to retract. He tilted his head, which became more felid. "You sure? Some of us Halflings are different. We don't listen to anyone but other Halflings. I raised Alder, and look what became of him. That speaks volumes about Halflings. Unlike humans, we don't shun what is different. We accept it, as we are half human." he said, dropping her to the ground. He snarled, his lips peeled back. He sat back down, looking more like a Luxray than normal. His claws didn't retract, and his face seemed to jut out. "You all can go home and wish death upon me and my kind, but know this. We don't wish death on anyone that doesn't deserve it. And that Pawniard doesn't deserve it, isn't that right Grimsley?" he said, turning to the Unovan.
Grimsley nodded. "No harm shall come to that Pawniard. He doesn't deserve to die, as it isn't his fault he is this way. If I didn't abandon him after losing to Kurai he wouldn't be there, he'd be a Pawniard or Bisharp under my command." he said, his pale complexion ghostly in the light. Simba laughed. "Thank you. Now, what do we discuss next? Oh, I know. How about we tell each other secrets and relive our youth. I'll go first." he said, smiling. "I hate all of you and want to tear each of you limb from limb." he said. He turned to Gary. "Gary, you wanna go next?" he asked, tilting his head and narrowing his even more felid pupils. Gary froze, as he knew what that stare meant. He knew.
Gary Oak exploded into the lab, seeing the Mewtwo almost fully grown. Fuji and Colress worked endlessly, dark rings under their eyes. Gary looked at the tube smiling. "Will someone explain to me how Simba Lionheart knows what we're doing?" he asked. Everyone froze. Fuji frowned. "Lionheart? Isn't that Mufasa's boy?" he asked. Gary nodded. Fuji grunted. "One man can learn many things if he listens. Maybe it was your ego that gave it away." he said. Gary roared at him. "He is not human! That Halfling wretch nearly killed Gardenia today!" he screamed. Fuji lowered his head, smiling. "Halfling? I assume he's a Luxray Halfling then?" he asked.
Oak nodded. Fuji smiled. "Luxray can see everything. If he has the abilities I assume he has, then he could stare a hole through you. Your attitude gave it away." he said. Gary frowned. "What're you saying?" he asked. Fuji rolled his eyes. "You children are idiots. I'm saying I'm lucky I'm not pressed against the wall choking on your ego." he said. Gary gaped. Colress laughed. "I concur. You've always carried yourself highly, but showing up late at a meeting even more arrogant than normal? He had to know something was up. Curiosity might have killed the cat, but it just gives the lion something to do." he said, glasses gleaming in the dim light.
Simba had meditated, his claws retracting and face flattening. He had nearly lost it, and he growled. He might have taken Gardenia out of the picture for a while, but he can't just wipe them all out. Then how would Krom beat them? He laughed, watching his children play. Sarabi played with Spots, the Liepard back to full health. Scar slept against Big Bertha, and Sanatika giggled at Lizardon, who made faces at her. Sher-Khan was walking already, and he kicked a rock. His eyes glued to the rock, and his pupils narrowed. Simba laughed, watching tiny claws erupt from his fingertips.
The crew made it to Bullet Bridge, as Tubeline had collapsed in an earthquake and had to be rebuilt. The bridge was just as long, and almost twice as wide. At the west end of the bridge, Krom saw many trainers with heavily injured Pokemon. A one armed Sawk, one legged Throh, wingless Swellow, and severely burned Bayleef to name but a few. The injuries were all similar, some Pokemon missing body parts, and others looking like they were missing chunks. Krom yelled aloud, urging everyone to return their Pokemon. Granitwarf and Castle Face went to work with Twiggy, forging new parts for the injured Pokemon. They healed each Pokemon and trainer, three at a time, working their way slowly through everyone. One girl was especially distraught, and Krom tried to comfort her. "What happened?" he asked, hoping to get an idea of what was at the other end of the bridge. She looked to him, blood and tears coating her face.
"She killed him! Her Pokemon are monsters!" she wailed, clutching onto Krom's shirt and sobbing. He looked to Saria, who nodded. Once he managed to calm her slightly, he got a more in depth tale. "She killed my poor Emboar. She was at the end of the bridge. She has fifteen Pokemon, all out and insane." she said. Krom gaped. Fifteen heavily powered Pokemon? Was that even legal? "Did you get her name?" he asked, finding this mysterious female to be intriguing. She shook her head. Krom smiled, trying to cheer her up. Her Emboar was snapped in half, which unnerved Krom. He'd never seen a Pokemon like Emboar defeated so, easily.
Once they finished healing everyone's Pokemon, and Granitwarf forged them all new parts, the trainers thanked Krom whole heartily before heading back to Route eight. The dwarf wiped his brow, panting from all the work. He forged twenty arms, ranging from Oshawott arms to Machamp arms. He forged legs ranging from Tepig to Hitmonlee, and other such parts. Krom's Pokemon were all out, as the incoming battle was dangerous. They walked to the end of the bridge, hearing Pokemon scream and roar insanely.
Krom looked to the bridge, which was silver. Two bullet trains ran underneath it, stopped from traversing the bridge due to the fifteen Pokemon. Saria held her bow, and Krom kept alert. Kyouhei clapped at the sight of the shiny bridge, but would change once it got serious. They made it to the end of the bridge, and saw fifteen Pokemon rampaging and trashing everything from Pokemon to the bridge itself. But, standing in the center of the chaos in a billowing white coat with a smirk on her face, was none other than Shira Moyasu.