Rosecove City, with a sizable population of ten thousand, was the largest coastal town in Roria. Aside from being the home of the Water-type Gym, it also had a far-reaching history, once being the ancient Logarian port of Taurlonde, the southernmost settlement of the old empire, during the Days of Conquest. It was the site of the final battle of the Terramist Wars, a bloody conflict that Bronze's parents remembered well.
But neither of those were the most interesting features of Rosecove. Whispers in the night told of Kyogre, the Lord of Many Waters, who, after aiding in the destruction of Grand Meteor Delta, had travelled to a great undersea rift, off the coast of Rosecove. The city had certainly gotten more rain since Kyogre made its place of habitation nearby, a sign that some older inhabitants saw as the washing away of the scars of the Terramist Wars.
Through a sand-swept archway, Bronze and Jake entered the seaside port like a pair of lonely wanderers, passing through a inhospitable land, armed with nothing but their wits and Pokémon. When Bronze's Pokedex started to vibrate, it took him a few seconds to notice it.
Cypress was calling. "Bronze, I believe that you were at the site of the Brimber Volcano three days ago, and I would like to discuss any...incident that may have occurred. Tell me, if you were inside the volcano, what did you see?"
Bronze told Cypress the whole tale, from finding Sebastian to running into Henry, disguised as a Team Rocket executive. He told Cypress about Groudon, and the Red Orb, and the narrow escape from the Lord of the Earth.
"Unfortunate." Cypress said, sounding rather dispassionate. "If you are unharmed, then there is no reason for concern. I will relay all relevant details to the Association, along with Sebastian. You are just as much of a witness in this fight as he is, though. Oak needs to hear about this..."
"Wait," Jake exclaimed. "Has Team Eclipse tried to capture any other Legendary Pokémon, or is this a purely isolated incident?"
"There have been some other...troubling occurrences." Cypress said. "I'm sure you've heard about Kyurem's disappearance. The Pokedex Holder and Champion of Unova, Black, said that Team Eclipse captured it, a trustworthy individual if there ever was once. Also, a incredibly strong trainer stole Cresselia from Palmer, the Sinnoh Tower Tycoon. If we take the failed attempt to capture Groudon, we can assume that Heatran's disappearance was also Team Eclipse's work. Anyway, boys, bonne chance! So they say in Kalos."
"Weird..." Jake said, as Bronze put away his Pokedex. "Doesn't this mean that Cypress is tracking our movements? How else would he know we were in Brimber?"
"He probably uses some sort of tracking software in the Pokedexes to keep tabs on us," Bronze replied. "Frankly, I don't blame him. These are valuable pieces of technology, and if one got lost or stolen, then he would still be able to find it. Anyone unlawfully obtaining a Pokedex surely will have negative consequences."
Jake looked back at the city. "Well, first, you need to take on the Gym in the meantime. I will take on the Battle Boardwalk in the meantime, and you can study for your political cause while you wait. You are going have to think unconventionally if you are going to use the position of Champion to rally for a Arcean-based, Classical-Hisuian ideological platform..."
Holding out a Poke Ball, Jake held up his recently evolved Leafeon. "You should trade for it, just for this Gym Battle. A Grass-type will help you in this battle just as much as your Electabuzz."
Both trainers readied their Pokedexes, activating the Trade function. Leafeon was registered to Bronze in a throb of energy, and the matter was settled.
"Treat it well. It seems to like you, anyway, so you should be able to control it without to many problems. Stil, don't try anything risky with it, you can't be sure that it will listen to you! Either way, with an Electric-type and a Grass-type, you'll destroy this Gym Leader!"
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"Worthless baggage! Disgusting creature! You have failed! Failed! Failed!"
"Master, o glorious one!" The Hood wailed. "When have I ever failed you? Have I never been your loyal bondservant? Cease this torment! End it!"
For a terrible minute, the agony continued, constricting and pulsing, forcing him to merge with other souls but not reconciling, a twisting heart of darkness in his mind, the golem veins of the illusion bonding with his nerves in a madhouse of psychic torment.
Then, it stopped.
The Hood was on the steelweave floor. He was bleeding. He must have hit his head on his desk, that was all. Everything had gone. His master was pleased.
Weakness still was present, but not the agonizing torment. The Great Djinn was present in the room, a malignant tumor in the fabric of reality, yet still only a shell of its former strength.
"Very well, thrall." His master's voice said, demonic, basso tones ringing in the Hood's mind. "I am sure you know of my displeasure at your own slaves failing to capture the Beast of the Earth. I saw it necessary to elect to you the way of pain. To humiliate the Rearer of Mountains is something that I wished to delight in, and my opportunity for a respite of black pleasure was denied. Grovel."
The Hood fell on his knees and wept. "Forgive me, my lord, forgive me! I worship you above all. You are the true master of creation, above the mocker Arceus."
"Wise you are, servant, in my ways. All of this I have accomplished with but a minute wisp of my essence escaping from my most abhorred prison. The ancients were so foolish, and afraid, instead of worshipping me, they worshipped Arceus, the simple god, the kind god, the fake god. I am old, and strong, strong, strong! I shall not waver on my promise to indwell your body. You will also share my limitless taproot of power. Now, ask me a question, loyal thrall. Delight my heart with your simple words."
His master would do this often. The Hood felt no humiliation in it, as it was a source of information for him, as well as amusement for the Great Djinn.
"My question is this, Great Evening Star. Since you persecuted the ancients for so long, why do you believe that they should have worshipped you, instead of the False One?"
"Insightful. You must understand, that the False One Arceus works just as precisely and strenuously as I to prevent souls from falling into my hands. I suppose he 'loves' you little vermin, a fact that I am sorry to say is not just mere propaganda. Emrett, an indispensable propagandist on our side, is well versed in my mind, and much that he has told you is also my Will. Enamorus has taught him much. The False One wants his creations to come to him, yet still be retain a sense of uniqueness. I wish for absorption. I wish for a universe where all is, at last, me, or wholly under my dominion."
"Now for your question, my dear servent. Yes, the Logarians and Hisuians were my most terrible foes, and I face none now so fell and terrible as them in the days of their greatest might. My persecution of them was driven by necessity. They were fingers upon the hand of the False One Arceus, and I fought them with the utmost severity. They had so long been entrenched in the teachings of the False One that they were to me, the Master of the Fates of Earth, wholly irredeemable, unlike many other races of Men and Pokémon that I brought under my dominion."
"Any observer may see that I, the Elder King, who shaped the world and everything in it, is alone worshipful, along with the Spirit-Force which I would also revere if I paid homage to anything but myself. The shadow of my splendour and purpose lies upon all the lands like a cloud. All who oppose me are to eventually be brought down into darkness and despair. All bends to my Will, for in the Deeps of Time I poured out my spirit into the land and sea. The entire World is my dominion. And that is why none have any excuse to not revere only me, and me alone. Be ready, my servant, for the Day of Reckoning. Leave."
And that was it. The Hood's strength returned.
The Hood sincerely hoped that he would be able to capture the other Pokémon his master desired. If not, he dreaded what punishments would await him...
It was about time for the Hood to get down to his own matters, as well.
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Bronze watched from the bleachers, as another contender fought Gym Leader Quentin. After this battle, it would be Bronze's turn to fight with the Water-type expert.
In a writing app on his Pokedex, Bronze was inserting notes and charts, trying to put together his plans for the Championship. Literary masterpieces such as Adaman's The Art of War, Tar-Castamir's Kinstrife, and Senecus Octavius's Meditations on the Ordering of Kalos all had their places in the endless inspiration for a more passive-anarchist, pro-classicality platform.
"Hey, boy, these battles are sure something! The only shame is that no one can use Rain Dance, the arena being inside."
A burly man in a stylistic swimsuit had been sitting next to Bronze, roaring his approval for the battle. Bronze hastily put away the Pokedex, cursing himself for being so careless.
The big man laughed. "Ha! Looks like you got a Pokedex, there. Don't worry, most people are more focused on the battle than you. Anyway, I am Crasher Wake, Sinnoh Gym Leader! I'm in Roria to watch Quentin beat all the contestants for this Championship...the guy is a mentor to me, I'll have you know."
"Crasher Wake?" Bronze said. "Eh. Maybe you would look better in a wetsuit, instead. Maybe you should shake up your comfort zone, you know."
"Well boy, I stick to my image. Speaking of a Pokedex, my buddy Palmer's son, Pearl, has one of those. I wish you luck on your journey, since Pokedex Holders always seem to be going on those. Something bad happened to Palmer recently, I'm pretty concerned. Something about a nameless trainer stealing Cresselia from him. He is the Sinnoh Tower Tycoon, after all, so it is always troubling when something happens to him, of all people. Want to have a spirited discussion about surfing-"
A roar erupted from the crowd. While talking to Wake, Bronze had not noticed that the Gym Leader had defeated his opponent. Victorious, Quentin stepped into the center of the arena, as his Pokémon were healed by attendants.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you! Thank absolutely everyone who came here tonight! In five minutes, the final battle of tonight will take place! It seems unlikely that this next contestant will break my fourteen-battle winning streak, eh?"
That was Bronzes cue, and he was almost thankful to escape a conversation about surfing, a subject which he did not enjoy to converse about. "Sorry," Bronze said to Wake. "I've got to go." Wake waved him off, and Bronze rushed to the arena entrance.
In a bit, Bronze heard Quentin give the opening reel for the final challenge of the night.
"Ladies and germs, girls and lads, Rorians and Alolans, western and eastern, Terramist and Anti-Terramist, it is time that I present to all our final challenger of tonight...BRONZE! Give this young master a big hand, he certainly deserves it. Two Gym Badges, folks, count 'em! I foresee that his quest will be crushed as soundly as the surf in the oncoming tide!
Bronze stepped into the arena with much applause. Thankfully, Quentin hadn't mentioned that Bronze was a Pokedex Holder, although, being a Rorian Gym leader and a high-ranking member of the Pokémon Association, he would almost have certainly known.
Quentin was dressed in tightly-wrapped muslin robes, with a shawl covering his face and a wide brimmed wicker hat, making him look like a Nurian scarecrow. Still, he voice boomed, as if completely unobstructed.
"Well, challenger, it is time for the puzzle challenge of Rosecove City Gym."
The space in front of Bronze turned over, as he expected, and revealed a set of pipes and wires with blocks of iron on them. "You must drag the iron blocks along the wires to the other side of the puzzle, but they cannot pass through the pipes. You can move the red pipes, but not the black ones. Best of luck, challenger."
Bronze saw that this one was randomized to prevent cheating, as all the others were. However, Bronze had a general idea of the mechanics needed to complete the test, as he had been watching the other contestants closely, before he became engrossed in his planning.
After getting all the iron blocks in a less scattered order, Bronze began to switch the red pipes and gradually narrow down the possible moves and places for the iron blocks. Interestingly, it was merely a test of patience, as many things had to be done over again and rethinked, and several previous contestants had simply given up, unable to go through with the puzzle.
As he got the final block in, Bronze assumed that Quentin was grinning under his robes. "Very fast, Bronze! Now, it is time for the real challenge. Viva la Aqua! Bring on the flow!"
Quentin assumed a fighting stance, and sent out Whalmar. Bronze sent out Electabuzz, expecting this from Quentin's previous strategies. Whalmar bobbed around the arena, sizing up the opposing Pokémon one that it had a Type disadvantage with.
After a bit of thinking, Quentin gestured, and Whalmar started rolling around a breakneck speed. Electabuzz was forced to dodge repeatedly, preventing it from attacking with anything more serious than a grazing blow.
"Electabuzz, use your charged energy!" Bronze commanded. "The accumulated friction has energized you, put that power to use! Thunder Punch! Full force!"
Jam-packed with energy, Electabuzz jumped into air above the arena, and locked onto a tiring Whalmar. With a mighty, electrical swing, Electabuzz caused knots of electricity to run all over the hapless Whalmar, knocking it out.
After recalling his fallen Pokémon, Quentin sent out Jellicent. "Good job, boy. Perhaps the tides of fate will change with this new fighter..."
Electabuzz reared for another punch, but failed to gather electricity. Confused, Electabuzz tried again, with the same result.
"I assume you are wondering why your Pokémon can no longer use Thunder Punch," Quentin said. "In fact, my Jellicent's ability is Cursed Body, which may prevent a Pokémon from using a chosen move. I guess I just got lucky, since sometimes it does not take effect."
Jellicent rushed forward like a mighty kraken, and wrapped Electabuzz in its tentacles. Electabuzz's form seemed to blur as trails of energy flowed from the Pokémon to Jellicent, causing it to faint. Bronze grimaced, and called back Electabuzz.
That was some draining attack. It's large, and if I get a good hit on it, I can take it out. So I need a move with a large range in case it dodges, as it has already demonstrated its ability to move at high velocities.
"Leafeon, go!" Bronze said. "Razor Leaf!"
Suddenly, dozens of sharp leaves materialized around Leafeon, rocketing at the flying octopus. Jellicent flew right, but not quickly enough to avoid being hit by the devastating Grass-type attack. The opposing Pokémon stunned, Bronze ordered Leafeon to use Hidden Power, a move that Jake specialized in teaching Pokémon. The beam of energy was turned to a Grass-type move, one of Hidden Power's unique characteristics. Jellicent fell unconscious.
Quentin recalled Jellicent, chuckling. "What powerful attacks! I have one, and you have two. But...I am afraid it all ends now. Go, Huntail!"
Bronze knew that this Pokémon was Quentin's trump card, from it's previous victories. The snakelike beast rushed out of Quentin's Poke Ball, and launched itself at Leafeon, fangs dripping with saliva and acrid venom. Leafeon dodged, but Bronze could see that it was having a hard time staying ahead of the Pokémon's devastating strikes. If it was his from the start, and not a rental, it might be able to win this fight, but...
"Leafeon, come back. Go, Charmeleon!"
Charmeleon stepped forward, earning a derisive snort from the Huntail. Still, Quentin appeared deep in thought.
"Odd...you chose a Pokémon with a obvious Type disadvantage? I assume you are up to something. Huntail, Bubble Beam."
Shooting a condensed spray of water out of its mouth, Huntail was posed to destroy Charmander.
But Charmander wasn't in the path of the water jet when Huntail's attack collided with the arena edge.
In fact, it had appeared on top of the enemy Pokemons head, biting it, fangs chomping. Trying to shake Charmeleon off, the Huntail flinched, the stress of the bites overwhelming it. While the Huntail was distracted, Bronze recalled Charmeleon and quickly sent out Leafeon.
Leafeon gave a massive Wood Hammer to the stunned Huntail, knocking it out, the body skidding to Quentin's feet.
At first, there was silence in the bleachers. Then a massive roar of applause broke out, with Wake's cheer being the loudest of all.
"How?" Quentin said, in abject disbelief. "No Pokémon could have moved as fast as your Charmeleon did, unaided! What happened?!
Bronze smiled, ready to reveal his secret. "I used a Speed X Module. In this Gym, it is allowed, at least that is what I read of the rules, eh? That's how Charmeleon moved so fast, I gave it one before the battle. I knew that Leafeon hadn't bonded enough with me to endure your Pokémon's attacks, and I assumed that Electabuzz would eventually tire. Having Charmeleon be fast enough to dodge attacks and stun enemy Pokémon was absolutely necessary."
Quentin shook Bronze's hand. "Well done, young master Bronze! For your successful victory over me, Gym Leader Quentin, I give you...the Float Badge!"
Bronze pinned the badge to his bag, the DNA-reading flowmetal registering his genetic profile to the Badge, preventing it from being used if stolen. It was his second one won in battle, and his third in total.
Beaming, Bronze walked amid applause back to the bleachers, where Jake had been watching. Apparently, he had finished his own quest to take on the Battle Boardwalk.
"Great, Bronze! You got another badge. One step closer, right?" He said, with appropriate enthusiasm. "You know, a lot of your victories seem to be won with the use of some sort of item, before or after battle. You haven't displayed this behavior before, not until this journey."
Bronze had his answer ready. "I really don't know why, other than their utility. Using items just comes naturally to me, to be honest. I seems like you would know that, already. Also, I think that a lot of Trainers have a prejudice against using items, likely because they believe that they are a sneaky trick used to tip the odds of battle. Pride is a terrible vice, and not one that I wish to have. I think they are a way for underdogs to beat foes more powerful than themselves. By the way, how did the Battle Boardwalk go?"
Jake groaned. "I realized that I shouldn't have tried to take it on while you had my Leafeon. I got beat around the third fighter, out of five. Pretty far, but my team needs work. Also, Bronze, you need to catch more Pokémon, and soon. And don't always be so gloomy, you are supposed to be enjoying yourself, for Arceus's sake!"
"Enjoy myself?" Bronze spat. "Yes, I should just enjoy myself, while the world is going to the pits, while Roria becomes more unstable, while Team Eclipse grows in strength, while my parents go off, supposedly, joining bloodthirsty organizations. I saw a man get his head chopped off three days ago, Jake! I am not in this for fun. This is a war for the future of Earth, and more seriously I take it, the more likely I am to succeed in saving the future of Roria, no, all regions!"
"Slow down!" Jake said. "Perhaps we are getting to heated with this. We both went out for seperate reasons. I thought I wanted to be the 'Champion,' but now I know that it would be too stressful of a job. You want to become the Champion so you can use the influence of the position to form a political platform in order to bring lasting peace and virtue to the world. You know, having a third person in this debate wouldn't be that bad..."
Bronze nodded. "A third person? Oh, definitely. Especially if it was a girl, about our age. Our merry duo is lacking in a feminine element, or common sense. We need a responsible girl to be apart of this journey, although I don't think we should just go around asking. I've already gotten into a life or death situation, and the entire trek is just beginning. In for some food? I'm getting hungry."
"Food? How about malasadas?!"
"No!"
"Come on!"
"No!"