Ah, I'm on a Quest for Knowledge spree. This is fun!! Especially since I had a week in Florida to plan everything! ^_^ Anyway, Pokémon isn't mine. However, many of the Pokémon you don't recognize most likely are. That includes the Panmaro and the Vampireon and the Pokémon you're gonna meet in this chapter that does a lot of damage…I'm not saying any more. The characters, Trina, Professor Hemlock, and the new person in this chapter are, of course, mine. So don't use them without permission! *wags a finger at the readers* Thanks! R&R please!
The path from Lily Valley to Rose Town is truly called Route 47. Yet very few people call it by that name. Most prefer to call the flower-lined path Sunflower Alley. Towering sunflowers line each side of the path, stretching for nearly a quarter of a mile to each side, stopping only when they hit the canyon walls. A beautiful, scenic area of Fehto, it was also the perfect place to begin capturing Pokémon.
Trina hummed happily as she strolled along the beautiful Sunflower Alley. Panda stared in awe at the enormous flowers that seemed to tickle the bellies of the clouds as they floated by. The length of the stalks surpassed even his trainer's height! Carefully he stretched out one little paw, grabbing a single sunflower petal as they passed close to one of the gigantic flowers. It easily came off in his grasp, leaving him with a single saffron treat. Humming happily, the Panmaro began to nibble on the petal.
"This place is just the most wonderful spots," Trina sighed, smelling the sweet fragrance of the flowers. But it was more the flower Pokémon inside the mass of stalks that made the refreshing aroma. Trina stopped abruptly as a Chikorita hopped out onto the path.
"Panma?" the Panmaro mumbled through his snack as he peered around the girl's head. He had never seen anything like the odd little creature in front of them. It was a pale, sunny yellow in color with large red eyes, four legs ending with single white toes, and a short, stubby tail. Atop its head was a large green leaf, releasing a very pleasing scent.
"Ready for our first challenge, Panda?" Trina laughed. The little creature gave a quiet hum as though thinking, then scurried down the girl's back and onto the ground. From there it playfully bounced over to the Chikorita. The opponent crouched in a defensive position, not about to let its guard down.
"Panma pan!" the Panmaro exclaimed, a little evil smirk coming onto his face. He crouched down in an attack posture, wagging his little black tail excitedly.
"Let's start with a Tackle!" Trina instructed. Panda raced forward, bashing the Chikorita with his shoulder. The opponent was knocked about two feet, then rolled along the ground another foot before getting up. Again the Panmaro charged in, hitting the adversary with a Tackle. This time the creature was ready, bracing itself for the oncoming attack. It slid along the ground a few inches as it was hit, but even the Panmaro was ready for that. Slowly he pushed the Chikorita backward, toward the sunflowers lining the path. In seconds the two had disappeared into the mass of stems.
"Panda!?" Trina called worriedly. The sounds of a battle were still coming from within the tangle of stalks…then the little Panmaro emerged, unscathed, patting his paws together as though brushing dust off. The girl chuckled. "You're one amazing Pokémon, Panda," she said, petting the creature's head. He smiled and jumped up, attaching himself to her lower leg. Laughing as his soft fur tickled her leg, the new trainer began to walk down the path again.
After a few more battles with assorted Pokémon, mainly Grass types like the Chikorita and Sunkern, Trina decided that they were ready to take on another trainer. After all, she told herself, Panda was around the level nine range already. Another trainer would be good practice. As she continued up along the path, the Panmaro hugging her leg tightly, she kept a sharp eye out for any trainers.
It didn't take long for her to find one.
As she came over a slight rise she saw the other girl. Easily half a foot taller than Trina, the teenager was standing nonchalantly beside the sunflowers, her unruly dusky yellow hair reaching just below her shoulders. A loose tank top and a pair of tight leggings, not to mention the soft boots on her feet, seemed to be the only things she carried…except for a belt around her waist, a few Pokéballs hooked to it. Trina smiled broadly.
"HELLO!!" Trina called, sprinting down the hill. The other girl turned and looked at her with unconcerned blue-green eyes, her right hand moving up and covering an area on her upper left arm. Her nails were unusually long, seeming to resemble claws rather than normal fingernails.
"Is there something you need?" the girl asked as Trina came to a halt in front of her. The child's eyes immediately fixed on her hand, tightly grasping her upper left arm.
"Did something happen?" Trina asked worriedly.
"Just a scratch," the other girl replied coolly. "Chikorita's Razor Leaf hit me."
"Oh, you should wrap that up," Trina chided, pulling her pack off and digging through it to find her First Aid kit. Panda was staring up at this new person. She had a very strange scent…like something that wasn't quite human, but not really a Pokémon either. It was very confusing.
"Ah, here we are!" the new trainer exclaimed, pulling a white box out of the backpack, the red cross on it standing out against the bland background. Quickly she opened it and pulled out a roll of gauze, offering it to the older girl. "By the way, my name's Trina. Who're you?"
"Shandra," the older girl replied, taking her right hand off of her arm and taking the gauze in hand. Quickly she unrolled some of it, deftly wrapping the white material around her upper arm. With a quick slice of one nail the light fabric was cut from the roll, then end quickly tucked into the rest of the bandage. Nodding her thanks, Shandra handed the roll back to Trina.
"I see you're a trainer," the younger girl stated as she packed her bag again. "I was wondering if you'd like to battle."
"You wouldn't stand a chance," Shandra told her, turning her gaze back down the path.
"Whaddya mean!?" Trina cried, indignant. "I stand a chance! You're Pokémon can't be higher leveled than Panda!" The Panmaro just stared at the two girls. Shandra's hard green-blue eyes focused on the little creature attached to Trina's leg, then she smirked.
"All right, if you insist," she said, shrugging as though Trina was a hopeless case. "And if you win I'll give you a Pokémon to add to your party." With that she unhooked a single red and white orb from her waist, displaying it for the new trainer.
"Deal!!" Trina exclaimed. "Go, Panda!" she cried happily. The little creature detached itself from her, strutting proudly into the battleground as his trainer gave him some room for the fight. Shandra merely smirked.
"I choose BladeDeath!!" she called. Out of the stand of sunflowers an enormous creature emerged, something unlike anything Trina had ever seen before. It resembled an ancient raptor, only much bigger, nearly seven and a half feet tall. Its legs bulged with muscles, as did its smaller arms, each equipped with two-foot long claws. Each of its feet had two large claws, extending upward nearly a foot before turning off at a ninety degree angle. It's red-gold eyes glittered in anticipation of the battle as its firm tail moved back and forth, keeping the creature's balance.
"Wha-what is that!?" Trina yelped. Panda was staring wide eyed at the opponent.
"I see you've never heard of the Caytaptor," Shandra said easily as her Pokémon came around behind her. Casually she leaned back against it, the creature placing one clawed hand on her shoulder. "It's an extinct species. Mine was resurrected from a fossil. They're Grass/Steel types, meaning that unless your little Panmaro has some very good fire moves he doesn't stand a chance." This sparked a flame of resistance within Trina.
"That's what you think," she growled. "Panda, your call!" The Caytaptor grinned a raptor-like grin and stepped into the battlefield, leaving his trainer on the sidelines. The little Panmaro took a very deep breath…then spat five large embers at the opponent. Each hit their mark, but left little damage.
"My turn," Shandra purred. "BladeDeath, Slash Swipe!" For a Grass type, the Caytaptor was fast. For a Steel type, Caytaptor was a rocket. For both put together, it was like seeing a Pokémon move at light speed. Before Trina could open her mouth to tell Panda to dodge he was already lying curled on the ground, paws around his midsection.
Red was already beginning to stain the earth.
"Now do you see why I told you it was hopeless?" Shandra said as her Caytaptor clicked his claws together, drops of the Panmaro's blood falling to the ground at his feet. Gasping for air Panda stood up, one paw still holding his stomach while the other helped to support him.
"Enough, Panda," Trina said, moving slowly toward her companion. He looked over at her, shaking his head no. A cloud passed over the sun, leaving them all in half darkness. The Panmaro's trainer looked up, noticing for the first time the deep black storm clouds that had filled the sky.
Panda's cry was what brought her back to reality. He was lying by her feet, moaning as a deep slash in his side spilled more of his life back into the earth.
"Now, BladeDeath, we finish it," Shandra muttered. The Caytaptor hissed his agreement, slowly sneaking toward the downed Panmaro. With a harsh cry and a single strike, Panda ceased moving. His wailing, too, was instantly quieted.
All was silent as the first drops of rain began to fall.
Mweh heh. I be evil. *enormous wicked devilish evil grin* Next chapter coming soon!! *cackles*
