Pokémon 1600s
By BlastSage
Chapter 3: Cinnabar Island - Flames of Passion
Captain Rayford's hand clamped down on Theo's shoulder, startling him from his day dreaming. The captain leaned on the railing on the top deck, next to Theo. "I just hired a new crew member this afternoon that will be working for us from now on. I want you to come and meet him. He is bringing along someone else with him."
"I want to stay here for a few minutes more. But I will meet them in like, five minutes. Is that okay?"
"Fine by me, I guess, lad. Theo continued back to what he was doing as his uncle left, and let his mind wander back to the past few hours of his stay...
The ship had just arrived at Cinnabar Island after a slow day and a half at sea. It was a huge island surrounded by a wonderful beach. After he beach came the forests, which were closer to the center of the island. The seas surrounding Cinnabar were dotted with coral reefs that could be seen underwater; in it surged hundreds of aquatic animal species of all different colors, shapes, and sizes. But the most impressive thing about the island that caught Theo's eye was the huge volcano that inhabited the south portion of the island. It was a steep coned volcano that was still said to be active. But he didn't let that bother him one bit. A volcano was a volcano, and Cinnabar Island was just another island. Of course, he had know idea that visiting Cinnabar Island would not only affect the rest of his life, but the lives of all trainers to come.
Theo had to unload some cargo off the ship before he could do anything else, and thanks to Hypno's psychic abilities and Bellsprout's Wrap attacks, it had been done very quickly. Theo had been training Hypno and Bellsprout ever since they left Port Vermillion by permitting them battle occassionally. He had also been catching up on the book that Tass had given him before he left. He still had a few chapters to go, but he learned some of the basics of training. Anyway, Theo took his allowed his pokémon out of their Pokéballs as they did their usuall exploring by walking around.
"Man, this place is fantastic," Theo said in awe as he observed the people of the island gather around booths for games and entertainment. Singers, dancers, actors, aerialists, tumblers, clowns, and more entertainers of around the world lined the streets. Loud noises of children's laughter filled the air leaving a feeling of enjoyment. "We must have came in the middle of a festival." remarked Theo.
"No, Hyp hypno," Hypno agreed.
"Bell, bell bell sprout, bellsprout," Bellsprout added in, using a vine to point to an area at the farthest side of the street near the base of the volcano. Most of the attention of the people went to a Pokémon Battle tournament that was scheduled to begin in an hour. A scrawny guy was offering the sign-up sheets.
"Calling all trainers! If you want to prove that you are the best at training your Pokémon, than prove it at the Cinnabar Flame Festival Tournament to begin in one hour. Prizes offered at each advancing level. Sign up here!" Many people went up for it.
Theo knew he wasn't probably as advanced as some of the other trainers, or would hardly get far in the tournament, but he decided to give it a try anyway. But first he wanted to know if his Pokémon wanted to go for it. "Hey guys, do you want to enter that tournament? We can test your new abilities that you developed on ship. And my new knowledge from the guide." They both replied what he could translate as a yes, so he strode up to the sign up guy. "I would like to sign up for the tournament." he informed.
"Ok. I will need your name and your three Pokémon you will battle with."
"Three? You need three to enter?" Theo asked. His face fell as he turned toward his Pokémon. "It seems that we can't battle unless I capture another Pokémon."
"Bellsprout, sprout sprout, bellllsprout." Bellprout suggested. Bellsprout really wanted to battle with other Pokémon.
"Your right. Let's go get another member for the team." He turned backed to the man with the sign ups. "Sign me up. I'll be back in one hour. But first, do you know any locations on this island where I can catch a wild Pokémon, but not too strong, such as for beggining trainers?" The man gave Theo and his companions numerous locations of wild Pokémon sightings, and not long after, they headed straight for Cinnabar Island's lava pools.
Theo slowly trudged along the narrow trail that led through a dozen active lava pools, sweating and exhausted from the heat. Hypno and Bellsprout were in their Pokéballs, but Theo felt that the heat was so intense that it could probably permeate into the units. He was trying to be careful as to prevent himself from falling, with several minor "mishaps" of nearly falling in due to slight waves of fatigue from the heat. He had already wasted fifteen minutes of his limited time walking, and yet he still didn't see one single Pokémon. He wasn't getting the hang of this training stuff.
Theo checked the pocket watch that was given to him by his father years earlier. "Jeez, I only have forty-five minutes until showtime, and I still can't find a third Pokémon." he said to himself, lowering his head, cursing himself for doing something so foolish. He was about to give up and go back to the ship, forgetting about the tournament, when he heard a noise ahead of him. He looked at the direction that the sound had originated from, but nothing was there. "It must be the heat," he guessed. "I must be tired." He was about to leave when he heard it again. He looked again. Up ahead, a reddish-orange figure ablaze with flames galloped through the lava pools, leaving behind a trail of embers of light. It looked spectacular, almost running as if it were flying. It was the perfect pokémon to use in the match, Theo thought. He plucked one of his Pokéballs from his sack he carried. He knew which pokémon was which because he had marked them. "Bellsprout, attack that... Pokémon!"
"Bellsprout," Bellsprout said in a high-pitched voice as it immediately began to feel weak from the heat. It wavered a bit as it stumbled toward the Pokémon, which Theo had found out later was Growlithe.
Meanwhile, Growlithe quickly turned her head toward the sudden noise, and as soon as she saw the little Bellsprout coming, he gave a little snort and kicked the Bellsprout high into the air. Theo caught him just before he fell into a pool of molten rock. "You must get weak by the fire," he managed to figure out. He hadn't known that Pokémon had stregnths and weaknesses too. He made a mental note to himself to research it. "Get back in your Pokéball before you get in a worse situation." But Bellsprout didn't go back in. He jumped out of his trainer's hands and wobbled over to the Growlithe once again. Growlithe was annoyed by this as he started to prepare for another kick. But as Growlithe's paws smashed into Bellsprout, Bellsprout hit back by releasing a cloud of green dust to befall Growlithe. Theo called back Bellsprout just before he hit the ground.
Growlithe began to cough and stumbled; he began to look sick as Bellsprout's Poison Powder took effect. He glared at Theo for doing him harm as he reared his head back and spit out ember's of fire at the attacker. Theo started jumping around to dodge the flames. Growlithe began to laugh, but ceased it when he began to become dizzy and disoriented.
"Don't worry, I'll..." Theo began to feel light-headed and dizzy, just like Growlithe, even though he wasn't hit by Bellsprout's attack. "...get you back to health as soon as I capture you. Hypno, go!" Hypno appeared, and as soon as it saw his friend in trouble, he rushed right over to help. But Theo ignored this action and gave orders to his Pokémon. "Hypno, Headbutt and..." Theo sighed as he thought hard about another attack. "...and then use your Pound attack." Hypno had his doubts on whether to stay or go and fight, but after a harsh look from Theo, he began to advance toward Growlithe.
Growlithe tried to Ember the charging Hypno, but failed miserably with puffs of smoke. The poison coursing through his veins took effect fast, and he was about to fall when Hypno smashed into him, causing him to fall to the other side. Hypno then jumped onto his back and rebounded into the air, slamming his pendulum onto his opponent's head. Growlithe's HP started to fall to zero rapidly.
"Pokéball, go..." Theo put in alot of energy to throw the Pokéball, just before he fell to his knees, the heat of lava getting him to the near point of passing out. He watched in dreary eyes as a race developed between the Pokéball and the falling HP. At 5 feet away, the HP was at 10. At 4 feet...7 HP...3 feet...5 HP...2 feet...2 HP...1 foot...1 HP...
The Pokéball hit and imprisoned the Growlithe into the ball. It didn't even shake, just sounded the ping of a capture. "I caught another Pokémon..." Theo said slowly as the liquid fire finally took his toll on him. He passed out, not even bothering to recall his Hypno or his Growlithe's Pokéball.
"Hey, he's moving. I think he's coming around. Ponyta, get some water, quick!"
"Wha-where am I? Why am I here?" Theo managed to say as he woke up to the blurry world around him. He tried to get up, but failed when his head began to throb. Headache.
"Don't move," a voice, a female voice, requested. "Try to get some more rest. You'll need it for what happened to you. You're lucky you didn't die of a heat stroke or dehydration. That area works quite well and quickly to kill."
"Who are you?" Theo whispered as his vision cleared. In front of him, he saw a a girl, not much older than he was, with hair as red as fire that curled past her shoulders. She had sapphire blue eyes that had a saddened look in them. She had a soft complexion, almost glowing.
"My name is Cyndai. Cyndai Trouleway. You're just outside tha village, at my home. As for why you are here, well, your Hypno brought me to help you. I discovered you lying there next to a lava pool. A few inches closer and you wouldn't be here." She stopped just as her Ponyta had trotted in with a bucket of water without fear of its weakness. She took a pewter cup and filled it with water. She then handed it to Theo. "Here, drink the water. It will make you feel better."
Theo took it blandly and drank all of it with one gulp. It really did make him feel better. "Thanks." He said as he put down the cup. That was when he remembered about why he was there at the lava pools in the first place. "Oh god, the tournament! How long was I unconscious? It couldn't of been that much time. I still have time to enter."
"The Flame Festival tournament? That ended hours ago. If you signed up for it, you missed it now."
Ponyta's ears suddenly stiffened as if it had heard a noise outside. She started to signal Cyndai, as if telling her of danger.
"Oh no," Cyndai gasped. "My father is coming! Quick, uh-what's your name anyway?"
"Theo Rayford."
"Well then, Theo, hide under these sheets. Otherwise you'll regret you didn't." She took a handful of old blankets covered with dust and put them over Theo until he was hidden from Cyndai's father. Then she went outside to meet her father. Theo listened closely to the conversation.
"Father! I didn't expect you home so soon! I was-"
Cyndai's father cut her off. "Get your things," he demanded in a loud voice, almost yelling. "We're leaving this island immediately for a new job I just obtained." He set his eyes down upon the pony Pokémon that stood behind Cyndai. "And set that Ponyta free, too. You won't be bringing her with you."
"But Ponyta is my friend! I have t-" Cyndai defended.
"LISTEN AND OBEY TO WHAT I SAY!" screamed her father. "THAT PONYTA IS NOT COMING! DO YOU UNDERSTAND!"
"But-" Cyndai never got to finish her sentence as Theo could here skin meeting skin. Her father had just smacked his daughter. He couldn't stand for that type of behavior.
"Leave her alone!" Theo commanded as he ran out of the house and stood between Cyndai and her father. He glanced over at Cyndai, who was rubbing a red mark on her cheek. Ponyta nudged her trainer, trying to comfort her, and gave Theo a concerned look.
Mr. Trouleway had an enraged look on his narrow shaped face, so angry that his face turned beet red. "Cyndai, who is this?" he said in a low,silky voice, trying to keep his anger under control in the presence of a third person, even though his voice was quaking. Theo noticed him clenching his shaking fists to prevent from hitting him. Yet.
"I'm Theo Rayford, and I won't permit you to treat your daughter like this." Sure, he acted brave on the outside, but on the inside he thought "I know I'm dead. I am definetly dead." Instead, Mr. Trouleway just glared at the two teenagers, then walked away, steaming mad.
"That was close," exhaled Theo as he turned to help Cyndai. "Excuse me for saying this, but your father has a temperamental problem."
Cyndai's eyes briefly teared at the question, but blinked them away. She didn't accept his help, but responded to his comment. "He wasn't always like that. He used to be the kindest man on the island. Used to be. He changed after my mother passed away a few years ago. He takes all the anger and frustration and grief all out on me." She reached beside her and petted her Pokémon on the head. "I think it might be best if you leave, Theo." she deliberated.
"I think you're right," he agreed as he got his stuff collected. Five minutes later, he was ready to get back to the ship, with more than enough light to find his way. He began to walk down the hill toward the sea, not turning around to see Cyndai waving goodbye.
And that was his day on Cinnabar Island. And all he had to show for it was his new Ponyta. No prizes, no tournament, and as he thought it strange of just thinking about it: no Cyndai. And as he thought about it some more, he realized that he was going to miss Cyndai, even though he spent such little time with her.
"Time to stop daydreaming and get on with your life," he said to himself. He got up and followed his uncle's voice toward his location. The vioce led up the stairs to the highest part of the ship, where it was joined by another vioce. A familiar voice. "Mr. Trouleway's?" he thought as he climbed the stairs. No, otherwise Cyndai would be there, too-"
Cyndai looked straight at the dark-hairedboy who appeared just then. She gasped. "Theo?"
"Cyndai?"
Mr. Trouleway just sneered at Theo secretly, while Captain Rayford looked surprised. "You know eachother?"
"Yes, just this afternoon," responed Cyndai. So since there were no needs for introductions, Captain Rayford began to show Mr. Trouleway the ship, while Cyndai talked with Theo. She looked down at the ground, and then into his face. She slightly blushed, and even in the dark, Theo noticed it. "Thanks for helping me to keep Growlithe," she said in a low voice as she brung out a Pokéball that Theo had left there for her.
"It was no problem." He replied, also beginning to blush. "Anyway, since you will be staying for quite a while, how about I show you around the ship, too."
"I would like that, thanks," she replied as the two headed below deck.