Author's Note: at 3d 7h 37m, the clock randomly jumps back to 3d 5h 31m. That's why this chapter's Start Time appears to be earlier than last chapter's End Time.
[DROWZEE used POUND!]
I slapped Cubone's brittle skull, then watched him retreat into his Poké Ball.
"Good job, Drowzee," said Pidgeotto.
"You did all the work," I replied. "I just delivered the final blow."
"Nonetheless, your help is appreciated. With this victory, I believe I'm finally strong enough to learn Wing Attack."
"Sweet!" said Abby. "Just in time for Erika!"
"Indeed. I admit, I am excited. My first flying-type move… perhaps my most important move. With Wing Attack, I shall finally be able to—"
[Abandon learning WING ATTACK?]
[PIDGEOTTO did not learn WING ATTACK!]
"…Hm."
"DIDN'T NEED WING ATTACK ANYWAY," said Red. "WHIRLWIND OP!"
~·~
Start Time: 3d 5h 33m
~·~
Red fumbled with the Poké Balls on his belt.
"Ugh!" Abby growled. "He just switched my place with Pidgeotto's!"
"So?" asked Jay.
"So, now Pidgeotto is in front. Which means he'll get all the battle experience that I was gonna get."
"Abby…" Pidgeotto began.
"I wouldn't worry," Jay interrupted. "Red is constantly handling our balls; it's not like he'll stop grabbing yours."
"That's sweet of you to say, Jay," said Abby.
"Oy! Abby!" said Dux. "Get your literal tail over here. I can't see a damn thing!"
The flame on Abby's tail was dim, but it was the only light we had. At the very least, it kept us from bumping into each other as we stumbled through the pitch-black Rock Tunnel. Red seemed more aimless than usual—and that's saying something. Still, we were slowly—very, very slowly—making progress.
"Do you think we can do this?" Dux asked me. "Get through this cave, I mean?"
"It will take a few tries," I said, thinking. "We'll likely black out several times. The darkness isn't our main problem—it's the rock-type Pokémon. Our team isn't well-equipped to deal with them."
"Well, we know how to deal with Geodude," Dux said, patting Rattata on the back. "As long as this guy has Dig, we're all set!"
"You want me to dig?" Rattata asked, his eyes large and innocent.
"That's right—just keep digging. Dig early and dig often!"
"So you're saying," said Rattata, "that you want me to use Dig?"
"Yes! Every chance you get, use Dig!"
"Okay!"
[RATTATA used DIG!]
~·~
The stars, the moon, the Pokémon Center—the lights were blinding. It took a moment for my eyes to adjust.
"What the…" I began.
"…Dux just happened?" Dux finished.
"Um, why are we outside the Pokémon Center?" Jay asked.
"Bad rat!" Abby scolded, wagging a claw at Rattata. "No digging outside of battle!"
"I was only doing what Dux told me," Rattata said sweetly.
"I have no idea what you just did," said Dux, "so I strongly doubt that."
Abby sighed. "The move 'Dig' was invented by spelunkers…" she began.
Jay laughed. Everyone looked at him. "What?" he said. "It's a funny word."
"…Invented by cave explorers," Abby continued, "to escape in an emergency. They trained Diglett to tunnel to the last Pokémon Center they visited, and drag their trainer with them. So, if Rattata uses Dig inside a cave, the rest of us will get sent to our Poké Balls, and Rattata will drag Red all the way back here."
"Oh, crap," said Dux. "Rattata, forget what I said earlier. Don't use Dig."
"What did you say earlier?" Rattata asked.
"I told you to use Dig, remember?"
"Oh, yeah! Great idea!"
"No! I literally just said not to dig!"
"Except in battle," I added.
"Right," said Dux, "only use Dig in battle."
"But I have so many other moves," Rattata complained.
"What? No—I mean, don't use Dig unless you're in battle!"
"Can I still use Thunderbolt?"
"Yes, you can—"
"To keep things simple," said Pidgeotto, "perhaps you should refrain from using Dig at all."
~·~
The darkness was maddening.
Every direction looked the same: black. It's the most dizzying sensation. Theoretically, the Rock Tunnel had an entrance and exit—but by all visual evidence, it was infinite.
Danger lurked around every corner. Wild Geodude, Onix, Machop, and Zubat. Sometimes we fought; sometimes we ran; sometimes we fought, then ran; sometimes Pidgeotto blew them away with Whirlwind. Trainers waited in the darkness, looking for a fight. Those battles couldn't be blown away.
Before long, only Abby and Pidgeotto could still fight. And just barely. Each battle left them weaker.
A wild Onix rammed into Abby, defeating her.
"ABBY NO!" Red cried, running away.
[Got away safely!]
"Ugh," said Abby, dusting herself off. "It's all on you now, Pidgeotto."
"Not for long," said Pidgeotto. "I'm still poisoned from my battle with Bulbasaur. With each step, I can feel my health fading."
"The faster you faint, the better," I said. "Then the League Abra can take us back to the Pokémon Center, and we can try again."
"We need to go to the Pokémon Center?" Rattata asked.
"Well, yes. With five Pokémon fainted, we—"
"Okay!"
[RATTATA used DIG!]
~·~
"Dammit, Digrat!" said Dux.
"What did we say about digging?" Abby scolded.
"But I knew a shortcut," Rattata protested.
"You must show restraint," said Pidgeotto. "Do not use Dig, no matter what."
Red wandered into the Pokémon Center.
"Well, at least we can heal now," I said.
Red walked in circles.
"I… can't hold on…" Pidgeotto said, his voice hoarse.
[PIDGEOTTO fainted!]
We looked at each other.
[RED is out of useable POKéMON!]
Jay began cackling maniacally. Rattata imitated him.
[RED blacked out!]
The League Abra appeared. "Okay," he said, "I'm here to take you to… the… Pokémon… Center…" He looked around. "Seriously?"
"Seriously," I said.
"I've been doing this for ten years," said Abra, "and I've never even once seen someone black out inside a Pokémon Center."
"Red ain't your average trainer," said Abby.
"No dispute here." Abra grabbed Red by the shoulder, then teleported him to the entrance.
"By the way," said Abra, "you're still paying for this."
~·~
We approached the Rock Tunnel entrance, dreading the madness that awaited.
"So, how far did we get last time?" Dux asked. "Halfway through?"
Abby and I glanced at each other. "…Not half…" said Abby.
"So, what, like, a quarter?"
"Think smaller," I said.
"An eighth?"
"Getting warmer," said Abby.
"Are you kidding me?" Dux groaned. "All that work, and we barely made any progress?"
We stepped inside. Darkness surrounded us. A sense of dread set in. We had a long way to go—and many failures ahead.
Rattata cackled. "Hey, guys," he said, "you know what would be funny?"
No one responded.
"Wouldn't it be funny if I used Dig right now?"
Again, no response.
"Jay," Rattata said, nudging Jay, "you'd laugh, right?"
"Uh, Zipzap…" said Jay, "…you really shouldn't. We have enough problems already."
"No, I know, but—it'd be funny, right?"
For a while, we marched onward, enduring the danger and darkness.
"Hey, guys," said Rattata, "wouldn't it be funny if I used Dig?"
No response.
"Hey, you know a funny thing I could do right now?"
"Gee, I don't know," Dux said, rolling his eyes. "Use Dig?"
"Okay!"
[RATTATA used DIG!]
~·~
"Oh, you were being sarcastic," Rattata said, unable to hide his mischievous smile. "My mistake."
"'Mistake' my beak!" said Dux. "You did that on purpose!"
We were back in the Pokémon Center. Red was running in circles, muttering "NO! Not Dig… KILL THE RAT…" Dux scolded Rattata; Pidgeotto looked on, disappointed; Abby crossed her arms and sighed. Jay Leno was giggling in a corner. When he noticed my harsh glare, he stopped laughing.
"That's it," said Dux. He pointed to a large computer near the wall. "To the PC!"
"No!" said Pidgeotto.
"Nuh-uh," Jay muttered, his smile disappearing.
"Ixnay on the EC-pay," said Abby, making an X with her fingers.
"But we're already in the Pokémon Center," said Rattata.
"Not Pokémon Center, you dumb rat," said Dux. "Personal Computer. It's where you deposit Pokémon you don't want on your team. And why not? I've seen Elyssa do it; it's perfectly safe."
"Perhaps for a normal trainer," said Pidgeotto, "but not for Red. When his Twitch interacts with Bill's Storage System… strange things occur. I have seen it myself. It is as if some mysterious force is pulling you into the PC. And once you are inside, it keeps pulling you… until you are released."
"Released?" I repeated, stepping closer. "What do you mean?"
"Any Pokémon in the PC can be released," said Abby. "The option was created for the most violent, vicious Pokémon, in order to make them, uh… disappear."
"Disappear?" Dux said, his voice higher-pitched than usual. "Do you mean…" He ominously slid his leek across his neck.
"No one knows what happens to a Pokémon who's released. But that Pokémon is never seen again."
We were all silent—except for Red. He meandered toward the PC, muttering "Box the rat… DON'T USE PC… BOX DIGRAT… Too risky won't work…"
I stared at the PC. Now, with this new context, I detected an ominous aura emanating from it. A strange, evil aura that I couldn't quite comprehend.
"Yeah, okay," said Dux. "Maybe the PC isn't such a great idea."
~·~
We entered the Rock Tunnel.
"Remember to behave yourself, Digrat," said Abby.
"I know, I know," said Rattata. "No digging this time. I promise. My digging days are over. No digging from me. Zero, zilch, nada."
We walked forth.
"Wait, I forgot," said Rattata. "What was I not supposed to do, again?"
"Use Dig!" said Abby.
"Okay!"
[RATTATA used DIG!]
~·~
"Oh, you meant don't use Dig," said Rattata, smiling. "I thought you were giving an order."
"Oh, shut up," Abby snapped. "This was amusing the first time, but it got old real fast."
Jay, laughing in a corner, seemed to disagree. I stomped over to him. "Stop laughing, you idiot," I hissed. "You're the reason he's doing this."
"I'm sorry," Jay whispered back. "It's just…" He stifled a chuckle. "It's pretty funny."
"It won't be funny when that rat gets us all killed. If he keeps us from crossing the Rock Tunnel, Red will have no choice but to use the PC. Who knows what could happen then."
"I said I'm sorry. I'll… I'll try not to laugh next time."
~·~
We got much farther during our next attempt. Jay Leno kept Rattata distracted, exchanging jokes and stories with him.
"You know what I don't get?" Dux asked. He looked over his shoulder, making sure that Rattata (or Digrat, as I now called him) was out of earshot. His voice lowered. "It takes me forever to use Cut—and that's when Red wants me to! But it's like that stupid rat can use Dig whenever he wants. What gives?"
"That rat is less stupid than he pretends," Pidgeotto replied. "He is extremely competent at manipulating Red's will."
"If you're saying what I think," I said, "then there's a part of Red that wants Digrat to sabotage us?"
"There is a part of Red that wants everything. That is who he is—unlimited potential in human form. But that gives him a certain… impulsiveness. He has urges that contradict his own goals."
"Intrusive thoughts," I said, nodding. "A well-known psychological phenomenon. Everyone has them to some degree… I imagine Red has more trouble hiding them than most."
"Indeed," said Pidgeotto. "Rattata is a master of exploiting such urges. He is surprisingly well-synchronized with Red… if he ever puts his talents to good use, he could become a valuable member of our team."
~·~
We re-entered the Rock Tunnel.
"That last try wasn't so bad," said Jay. "We actually kept going until we blacked out."
"Yeah," said Abby, "great job, Digrat!"
"Yay me!" said Digrat. "Wait, what did I do?"
"It's not what you did," I replied, "it's what you didn't do."
"What didn't I do?"
"Dig us out of here—wait, no!"
[RATTATA used DIG!]
~·~
"Oops," said Digrat, covering his smile. "My bad, you guys."
Red was walking to and from the PC, muttering "PC… no PC… BOX THE RAT… Too dangerous…" The rest of us were glaring at Digrat. Well, except for Jay Leno—he was barely stifling a giggle. I cleared my throat, and Jay stifled it better.
"Listen, Zipzap," said Jay. He was trying—badly—to appear serious. "The thing is, this really isn't funny anymore, so—you should really stop."
"You're right, Jay," said Digrat. "It's definitely not funny." He winked. "And I definitely will stop." He winked again.
I sighed. Jay Leno's unrefined sense of humor had doomed us all.
"We can see you winking, moron!" said Dux. "You know, maybe the PC isn't such a bad idea!"
"No!" said Pidgeotto. He walked between us and the PC, then spread his wings. "We will not resort to that."
"Okay, okay," Dux conceded. Then, under his breath: "I'd rather be released than go back in that damn cave."
~·~
We went back in that damn cave.
"I hope you realize," I said to Pidgeotto, "that we will have to use the PC eventually. One of the eight badges is located on an island, Cinnabar. The only way to reach Cinnabar is to surf there on a Pokémon. Right now, Red has a full team—and none of us can learn Surf."
"I know," said Pidgeotto. "I have heard tales of a Lapras who lives in Saffron City. That Lapras, I believe, is destined to surf us across the seas." He paused. "Even so… the PC should not be used unless absolutely necessary. We must not make a habit of it… or it will be our downfall."
~·~
We re-entered the cave, having blacked out on our last attempt.
Outside, the morning sun began to rise, and the black mountains turned green. Inside, there was only black. We all dreaded going back there. The darkness. The brutal Pokémon battles. And, worst of all, the constant fear that Digrat was about to live up to his name.
"Helix save us," said Dux.
"You converted quickly," I quipped.
"Pal, I'd worship a literal pile of garbage if that's what it took to get us out of here."
"So it's true what they say," I said, smiling. "There are no atheists in Rock Tunnels."
"Look!" said Abby. "He's consulting the Helix! Praise Helix!" Indeed, Red was smashing his face against the Helix Fossil.
"Guide us, oh holy Helix Fossil!" said Dux. "Show us the way out of here!"
"Oh, I know a way out!" said Digrat.
[RATTATA used DIG!]
~·~
"Whoopsie," said Digrat, not bothering to hide his stupid smile. "There I go again." He looked at Jay Leno—who, for once, wasn't laughing.
"Seriously, Zipzap," said Jay, his voice apologetic, "it's time to stop. It was fun for a while, but it's gotten old now, and we really need to get through the Rock Tunnel."
Digrat's smile disappeared. He looked at Jay Leno, assessing the situation. Then his smile returned. He seemed to have made a decision. "You're right, Jay," he said. "I definitely won't do it again." He winked.
"I really mean it," Jay insisted. "I really think you should stop."
"I know you do," said Digrat. He winked.
~·~
We entered the cave.
"Gee, it sure would suck if I dug us out," said Digrat.
No one responded.
"I don't know—I really shouldn't."
No response.
"Well, if you insist!"
[RATTATA used DIG!]
~·~
"Ain't I a stinker?" said Digrat. "Ain't I, Jay?"
"Zipzap, please," said Jay. "I'm seriously asking you to stop."
"Of course you are, Jay. Of course you are."
"I'm not even mad anymore," Dux said with a thousand-yard stare. "I'm just losing my mind, that's all."
I, however, was pissed. "What the fuck is wrong with you?" I hissed, barely restraining a punch to Digrat's smug face. "Seriously, what is your problem?"
"Now, Drowzee…" Pidgeotto began.
"I'm sorry," Digrat said, to everyone's surprise. "I just… can't stop digging. Ever since I was little, digging was all I had. My father beat my mother, and my mother beat me, and I dug a little deeper each day—because the only thing that kept me going was the thought that, someday, I could dig myself out of this horror. Then, one day, I finally did it: I dug away from home. I dug all the way to the Diglett Tunnel. There, the Diglett accepted me as one of their own. I spent the next fifty years learning their ways, and eventually, I got so good at digging that the King Dugtrio declared me the greatest digger in all of Kanto. After that, I—"
"Wait a moment," said Abby. "Didn't you learn Dig literally just yesterday?"
"Oh, yeah," said Digrat. "Wow, has it really been that long? Time sure does fly!"
We gawked at him.
"KILL THE RAT!" said Red, summing up how we all felt.
~·~
We traversed the Rock Tunnel, keeping a close eye on Digrat.
"Don't worry, guys," said Digrat, "it's out of my system now."
We traveled onward.
"Just kidding!"
[RATTATA used DIG!]
~·~
"I don't get it," said Jay. "It's like you're not even trying anymore."
"He can't accept that it's gotten old," I told Jay. "He's literally running this joke into the ground."
"I've had enough!" said Dux. "We all know what we have to do." He chanted: "Box! The! Rat! Box! The! Rat!"
"Box! The! Rat!" Digrat chanted.
"Shut up, Digrat! No one cares what you think!"
"Dux is right," I told Pidgeotto, anticipating his objection. "This is worse than the ledge. As long as we have Digrat in our team, we're never getting through that tunnel."
"It is too soon to give up on Rattata," said Pidgeotto. "Remember, it was Rattata who avenged my defeat to Geodude on Route 9."
"Pidgeotto's right," said Abby. "Sure, Digrat might be a jerk who keeps sabotaging us. Sure, he might be kind of an idiot. Sure, he might be weak, and almost useless in battle, and he keeps stealing TMs that other Pokémon could use better, and he's basically a burden dragging the rest of us down…"
"That was beautiful, Abby," Digrat said, sniffling. "I'm so moved."
Abby blinked. "…But," she continued, "even so, he's one of us. He fights with us, and we fight with him. We're a team, and that means we're all in this together. It means that no one gets left behind!"
~·~
[RATTATA used DIG!]
~·~
"Box! The! Rat!" Abby and Dux chanted. "Box! The! Rat!"
"Hooray!" said Digrat. "People are talking about me! I feel so included."
Red approached the PC. "Gotta box Digrat," he said.
"Abby, please reconsider," said Pidgeotto. "We've worked miracles before. We can do it again. Please, let us try one more time."
Abby stared at Digrat, brow furrowed, thinking.
"Fine," she said. "We'll give him one more chance."
~·~
[RATTATA used DIG!]
~·~
"We gave him one more chance. To the PC!"
Red approached the PC. Abby, Dux, and I encouraged him to use it. Pidgeotto just watched, defeat in his eyes. Jay patted Digrat on the back. "Sorry, dude," Jay said. "This is the only choice we have."
"What choice?" Digrat asked. "I haven't really been paying attention."
Finally, Red touched the control panel.
[RED turned on the PC.]
What happened next is rather hard to describe.
When Pokémon retreat into our Poké Balls, we transform into Pokédata—a digital code. However, the material of our bodies still exist, just in a compressed state. Physically, we have one set location: inside the Poké Ball.
Bill's Storage System cannot work like that. Trainers deposit or withdraw Pokémon from any of its PC terminals at any time—regardless of location. Thus, the Pokémon within cannot exist in only one location. They exist in multiple states simultaneously.
A system of infinite possibilities. Red, a boy with infinite potential.
Pidgeotto had understated it. "Strange" did not begin to describe what happened.
In reality, we all became Pokédata and connected to the PC. From our perspective, the room blurred away, becoming nothing. And everything. Like I said, it's hard to describe. It was like a million backgrounds were constantly shifting, blending into each other. Like we were everywhere at once, yet nowhere in particular.
"What the hell?" said Dux. His voice echoed. His image echoed. Everything was blurring, like a long-exposure photograph.
"It's happening again!" Jay squeaked.
Something tugged at me.
Now that my eyes had adjusted, I noticed the black lines. Dozens of them. They were attached to us, pulling us, like the tentacles of some massive beast. I traced the lines, looking for their source—and found it.
A giant black box.
It was the only thing in sight that didn't blur. I couldn't determine its size or distance—it was just a black square, and the background gave no context. Hundreds of black strings emanated from it, most of them unattached. However, they were seeking targets.
They found me. They grabbed. They pulled.
I fell down.
"Drowzee!" Dux cried, panicked.
"Don't give in!" Abby cried. "Fight it!"
I stood up. With great effort, I stepped backwards. Some of the strings detached. It seemed that distancing myself from the box made me less of a target.
We dug our heels in, but the pull grew stronger. Slowly, we were dragged forward.
"Rattata, you must go forth!" said Pidgeotto. "We can leave safely if you alone are deposited!"
"We can what if I what?" said Digrat.
"Dig in, Zipzap!" said Jay.
Digrat looked at him. "Dig in?"
"Yeah, see that black box? Dig into it!"
Digrat hesitated. Then he smiled. "Okay!"
He ran forth. Immediately, I felt the pull weaken. Several strings detached from us, having found a new target. They enveloped Digrat in blackness—but somehow, I could still see him within it.
Digrat jumped into the box.
[RATTATA was stored in Box 1.]
"It is done!" said Pidgeotto. "Now leave!"
Suddenly, we were back in the Pokémon Center. I looked around. Digrat was gone. I looked at the PC. The screen was blank; Red had logged off.
"Helix almighty," said Dux. "That was freaky."
"Not to mention deaky," said Jay.
"Actually, that went surprisingly well," said Abby. "A lot of things could have gone wrong."
"The Helix has rewarded us for our patience," said Pidgeotto. "Now, let us hope that we never have to use the PC again."
~·~
Morning mist covered Route 10. A white-gray veil shrouded the mountains, smelling of the nearby river.
Slowly, we approached the cave.
"I can't believe I'm saying this," said Dux, "but I'm actually kind of excited to get back in there."
"I am, too," I said. "With Digrat gone, we have nothing to fear. It's just a matter of trying again and again until we make it through."
"That's the spirit!" said Abby. "C'mon—let's kick this cave's ass!"
"Ooh, I smell a montage!" said Jay. "Turn on some training music!"
~·~
[DROWZEE used POUND!]
I smacked the Zubat out of the air.
~·~
[PIDGEOTTO used GUST!]
The harsh wind tore pebbles off of Geodude's flesh.
~·~
Geodude threw sharp rocks at Pidgeotto. Pidgeotto fell over, exhausted.
[RED blacked out!]
~·~
[DUX used CUT!]
With a slash of the leek, Machop went down.
~·~
[ABBBBBBK( unleashed energy!]
Abby hacked away at Onix with her claws.
~·~
[Enemy ZUBAT used SUPERSONIC!]
Disoriented, Abby tripped, falling hard.
[RED blacked out!]
~·~
[JLVWNNOOOO used BUBBLEBEAM!]
The Onix roared in pain as a bubbly stream soaked its rocky flesh.
~·~
[PIDGEOTTO used GUST!]
Fierce winds battered Zubat against the cave wall.
[What? PIDGEOTTO is evolving!]
Pidgeotto began to glow white—brighter with each second.
"Holy crap!" said Dux. "This is really happening!"
"Way to go, Pidgeotto!" said Abby. "Or should I say: Pidgeot!"
"At last," said Pidgeotto, whose glowing form grew larger. "Now, I shall finally—"
"Boop," said Red, poking Pidgeotto's beak.
[Huh? PIDGEOTTO stopped evolving!]
Pidgeotto stopped glowing, returning to his normal self. "…Hm."
"DAMMIT NO!" Red cried. The rest of us groaned, disappointed.
"What just happened?" Jay asked.
"If someone touches a Pokémon during evolution," I explained, "that Pokémon stops evolving. Unfortunately, if Red can do something—anything—he has trouble not doing it. Evolution may be a problem… Red's Twitch is much stronger now than when Pidgeotto evolved from a Pidgey."
"If this is what Helix wills," said Pidgeotto, "then so be it."
"You'll get it next time!" said Abby. However, despite this encouragement, I detected some relief within her.
~·~
"Ugh!" Abby cried in pain. Bellsprout's vines squeezed harder.
[RED blacked out!]
~·~
[PIDGEOTTO used GUST!]
[PIDGEOTTO used GUST!]
[PIDGEOTTO used GUST!]
Pidgeotto, leading the team, was always sent out first. Usually, he needed no replacement. Pokémon after Pokémon fell to his mighty Gusts. His list of victories grew longer. His power grew stronger.
When we first entered the Rock Tunnel, Abby had been Red's strongest. Now, with each hour, Pidgeotto left her farther behind.
~·~
[Huh? PIDGEOTTO stopped evolving!]
"Again?" Dux complained. "That's the third time!"
"The Helix rewards patience," said Pidgeotto. "If I am meant to evolve, I will."
Abby and I stood together, slightly apart from the others. Once again, I sensed her relief.
"It's a bit comforting, isn't it?" I said to her, smiling.
She looked at me. "What?"
"At least he's not completely leaving us in the dust."
Now, I was just kidding around. I thought this was obvious. So I was surprised by how vicious Abby's face became. "Fuck you, Drowzee. We should all be rooting for him."
She walked away, joining the others.
I stood there, shocked. I was only repeating her own feelings back to her, trying to put her at ease. It was unlike Abby to lash out like that.
~·~
With a hit from Geodude's rocks, Pidgeotto went down.
[RED blacked out!]
~·~
Machop hit me with a Karate Chop to the head.
[DROWZEE fainted!]
~·~
Geodude's rock hit Dux's wing.
[DUX fainted!]
~·~
Pidgey dashed beak-first into Jay Leno.
[JLVWNNOOOO fainted!]
"Good work, Jay," said Pidgeotto. With a single Gust, he finished Pidgey off. The young trainer withdrew her final Pokémon.
"Look!" Abby said, pointing. "We made it!"
Indeed, a speck of light shone where Abby pointed. As we approached, the speck grew larger and brighter. A light at the end of the tunnel.
"Holy crap, is it over?" Dux said, exasperated. "Step into the light, Red! Step into the light!"
Red ran into a wall.
"The light, Red!"
Red ran into another wall.
"I'M GOING NUTS HERE!" Dux screamed. "JUST LEAVE THE DAMN CAVE!"
Red ran into the light—and left the damn cave.
Cheering, we followed him outside. The light was blinding, but our eyes adjusted. We stood atop a gentle, rocky hill—the southernmost part of Route 10. In the distance was a massive, eerie-looking stone tower. "What is that?" Jay asked.
"That's the Pokémon Tower," said Abby. She pointed toward the bottom of the hill. "Which means that's Lavender Town!"
"Finally," I said, exhausted yet excited. "And it only took eleven hours."
"We really did it," Dux said, misty-eyed. "We can do anything! We're unstoppable!"
"Hello," said a young trainer, meeting Red's eyes.
"WE'RE DOOMED!"
"No," said Pidgeotto, stepping forward. "I won't fail now. Not when we've come so far."
The girl sent out a Pidgey. Red tried to run away.
[No! There's no running from a trainer battle!]
"Wait, Pidgeotto!" said Abby. "I've got this!"
Abby ran forth, and—with two precise Cuts—easily defeated the Pidgey.
[ABBBBBBK( grew to level 33!]
"Yes!" Abby cheered. "I'm strong enough to learn Slash now!"
"Slash?" I repeated, eyes wide. "That's an incredibly powerful move."
"Indeed," said Pidgeotto, smiling. "With this move, Abby shall finally—"
[ABBBBBBK( did not learn SLASH!]
"…Hm."
"DIDN'T NEED SLASH ANYWAY," said Red. "GROWL OP!"
The girl sent out her last Pokémon, a Pidgeotto. "KILL THE IMPOSTOR!" said Red.
Abby glared at the bird, her face full of rage. "Bad timing, bucko," she said.
She brutally hacked away at the Pidgeotto, defeating it in mere seconds.
"Yikes," said Jay. "Abby is… not happy."
Abby walked away. Her fierce gaze met my amused, knowing eyes. "Don't you start," she muttered, rolling her eyes. But, to my relief, there was no hostility in her voice.
Red meandered downhill. "We're almost there," said Pidgeotto. "Just a little—"
"Hey," said a Hiker, meeting Red's eyes. "Battle me!"
"Doomed," Dux muttered.
Pidgeotto stepped forth. The Hiker sent out Geodude.
"Super doomed."
[GEODUDE used SELFDESTRUCT!]
"Super-ultra-mega d… holy crap!"
The dust cleared, and Pidgeotto emerged—almost completely unharmed. "BASED BIRD!" Red shouted.
"Incredible," I breathed. "He took the explosion like it was nothing."
Next, Pidgeotto dueled with Onix. I walked over to Abby; the two of us watched the battle, our arms crossed. Despite his type disadvantage and exhaustion, Pidgeotto was easily winning.
"He's amazing, isn't he?" Abby said quietly. Then she turned to me—and smiled, flexing her claws. "Just wait 'till I evolve," she said. "I'll become every bit as amazing as he is."
I smiled back, and nodded, glad that we were on the same page again.
With the Hiker defeated, Red continued downhill. At the bottom stood another trainer, his back to us. "This is bad," I said. "Abby and Pidgeotto are weak. I don't know if they can—"
Red ran past the trainer.
The purple-gray pavement of Lavender Town was mere feet away.
"C'mon," Dux said. He'd have been sweating profusely if he weren't a bird. "C'mon…"
Red ran into Lavender Town.
We all hollered and cheered. Lavender Town was a drab, morbid-looking place, but at that moment, it looked beautiful. It looked like victory.
"I gotta be honest," said Dux, "there were spots when I thought we'd never make it."
"I was starting to wonder if Lavender Town was a real place," said Jay.
"I'm still amazed that we deposited Digrat without incident," I said.
"I never had doubts," said Pidgeotto. "Red always succeeds eventually—after he's tried everything else."
"Come here, you guys," Abby said, pulling us in for one big group hug. "You're the best team a Starter could ask for. Let's beat the Pokémon League together!"
~·~
End Time: 3d 16h 31m
~·~
Current team:
DROWZEE, lv.16
• Drowzee (Psychic)
• Pound, Hypnosis, Disable
···
PIDGEOTTO, lv.39
• Pidgeotto (Normal/Flying)
• Gust, Sand-Attack, Quick Attack, Whirlwind
···
JLVWNNOOOO, lv.12
• Rattata (Normal)
• Tackle, Tail Whip, Quick Attack, BubbleBeam
···
ABBBBBBK(, lv.33
• Charmeleon (Fire)
• Cut, Bide, Growl, Leer
···
DUX, lv.17
• Farfetch'd (Normal/Flying)
• Cut, Sand-Attack, Leer, Fury Attack