The
Birth of Glaceon
Houndour darted across the space that separated him and Dragonair with
lightning speed and slammed it with his shoulder. The
Dragonair tucked into a wheel to break its fall. It got up dizzily and fired a volley of blue flames, a dragon rage attack. They struck in
the
centre of the silver skull that decorated Apollo's broad black forehead.
"Return Apollo," I called as he disappeared into his Pokeball.
Moon, Philip, Suma, Cal and I had been training all morning. I'd exchanged
Mystic and Bolt for Apollo, my new Houndour, and my
Eevee, Artemis. Gail was at Professor Elm's laboratory getting some TLC. She was in good hands and I'm sure Professor Elm was
delighted
with the chance of some more research.
I caught some of the locals; Ledyba, Hoppit and Joust, a steel type Pokemon
that resembled a knight of old except it's movement
were
fluid and graceful. Suma had caught a Hoppit too, but focused on evolving her
Pokemon. Nidoran was now a
Nidorina, Sentret was a Furret and Fireline wasn't far behind. Cal was way
ahead of her though. A Quagsire and Typhoon, evolved
Monsoon,
and Azumarill were now his, and he was helping Lapras learn ice beam. Bu I
noticed he eyed Moon's Dragonair jealously.
I'd learnt much about Moon and Phil. Much to my surprise, Moons parents weren't
hippies, just your average parents that don't let
you stay up late or eat lollies before dinner. Moon had won some regional championships in Kanto so she was pretty experienced.
Phil was a normal type trainer and got on with Cal perfectly. If the two weren't arguing, which was better, water or normal, they were
discussing the advantages of training one type.
After battling the wild Pokemon, I got bored and challenged Moon to a six on six battle. I chose Fury for my first Pokemon and she
took out Moons Raichu with ease, but was beaten by her Ivysaur. After a scuffle between Ivysaur and Artemis, Artemis came out
on top. Moon's Arcanine was amazing. It defeated both Artemis and Aqua. Then I released the big guns and Talorn conquered
Arcanine.
That's when things got interesting and Articuno came into play. That's right,
Articuno, a bird of the fabled Wings of Council, except
this one was only a baby, no bigger than my Aquatro.
I drooled shamelessly.
But being small didn't make it any less powerful. After a stunning battle and a massive blast of energy, sending us running for cover,
they were both left unconscious. We recalled them and chose our next Dragonair and Apollo. With Apollo down, I was left to
my last, Chilun. After an Ice Beam, Dragonair was down for the count. We both had only one Pokemon left.
"Eevee go!" she yelled with determination. Her Eevee was ready to rumble and growled, though it sounded more like a Meowth
purring.
"Chilun! Beat Rush!" I roared, meeting the challenge. Chilun stampeded after the tiny Eevee. She panicked and ran but was no
match for the Artico's superior speed. Eevee froze, like a Nidoran caught in the spotlight. Chilun reared up to leave an immense hoof
imprinted on Eevee's face.
"Agility," Moon commanded her petrified Eevee. Something must have gotten through because she weaved in and out of the
pounding hooves, nipping at the ankles. Suddenly she made a wrong move and Chilun crushed her fluffy tail. Eevee screeched and
dug it's teeth into the flesh of Chilun's forefoot. He squealed, frantically pawing the air hoping to loosen his attacker. Her jaw gave
way and was tossed into the air. She landed at her owners feet groaning.
"All right. Ready Eevee!" Moon said with a furtive grin. Eevee's eyes brightened and straitened herself, no longer in pain. Chilun
watched warily. He'd learnt the first time and was still regaining his breath. Something big was going to happen and I hand to act
now.
"Tundra Eruption!" I yelled, naming the attack he'd used yesterday. We'd been practicing, trying to make it a swifter and more
powerful. The attack was strong and if done properly, would wipe Eevee out before she had a chance.
The air immediately grew cooler. Chilun pounded his hooves against the dirt and, like the dominos effect; a wave of ice swept it's
way to Eevee, always picking up speed.
Eevee stood strong, waiting for her trainers commands. Now Moon chose to unleash the Eevee's power.
"Hyper Beam!" Eevee inhaled a swirl of golden energy storing in the back of her throat. She then breathed it out, the beam with it.
Chilun danced nimbly aside and the attack hit a near by tree, He snickered, but was cut short when a fairly large branch broke from
above and brushed his rear end a little too closely. Meanwhile the Tundra Eruption had overwhelmed Eevee and encased her in ice.
Chilun escaped from beneath the branch and whinnied with triumph. His coat shimmered in the morning light. I suddenly realized
that it wasn't just the rainbow light that usually reflected through his frosty pelt, he was evolving. His shape twisted and turned
beneath the layer of light that now completely covered his body. When the light faded he was full grown Articolt.
Chilun screamed again and pranced up to me neck extended. I reached out and kissed his velvety nose.
"You legend!" I said exaggerating my Australian accent. "I've definitely got to get riding lessons now! But, for now, we gotta free
Eevee."
Moon was leaning over the icy prison, pounding it with her fists. You couldn't even see Eevee beneath the frosted surface. If you
even got close to it your breath misted in the air and if Moon didn't watch out she'd probably get frostbite.
"Allow me to offer Chilun's assistance," I said grinning, a tiny bit of a I beat you, I beat you! tone of voice. Moon gratefully accepted
and he took up position beside the Eevee ice cube, ready to smash his harder than diamond hooves onto it. Chilun lined up his
aim and just a he was about to bring his full weight down, it started to melt.
Well not really melt, but the ice folded outwards and a Pokemon that wasn't Eevee stepped out.It was beautiful. It's lustrous white
coat had a white sheen that flickered silver with every flowing step. On each of it's slim ankles were three silver rings banded
together. The silver pigment continued up the fine hairs of the back of it's legs and painted the breast and stomach. It's sleek snowy
muzzle nosed the air and it's rabbit like ears twisted with each new sound. Tendrils of ice curled from the tips and refracted the
light.
"What is it?" Moon breathed. We both pulled out our Pokedex's and each answered simultaneously, "Unknown subject."
"Come on," I said recalling Chilun and replacing his ball back to his clip. "We can ask Professor Elm. He knows practically every
thing about Pokemon evolution.
Moon shook her head. "Professor Oak a friend of my families, I'd more comfortable talking to him."
"We'll show both!" Suma exclaimed exasperated. She'd taken an instant dislike to Moon and was probably doing her best to sound
civil.
"Are you going to recall it?" Phil asked, gazing at the Eevee evolution.
"Her,"
Moon said pointedly. "And no, I think I'll get to know her."
"How? She doesn't have a translator," I asked sceptically. It was a
beautiful Pokemon and if I duplicated the feat I could have one
too.
"With this. It allows me to understand what their saying." She held
up a gold chain necklace, dangling from it was a crystal that
shone
with the same intensity as the ice Eevee.
"So that's why you were arguing with Raichu," I said.
"And we thought you were just schizophrenic," Suma replied snidely.
"Let's go."
Maverick squawked his approval and ran ahead. I think he remembered the almost
eternal darkness of Union Cave and wanted get
as far
away from it as possible Moon glared stonily at Suma and started of in the
direction of Azalea, the ice Pokemon
trailing behind her obediently behind her.
We arrived at Azalea a little later. Moon and I gave our fainted Pokemon to Nurse Joy and Moon insisted on calling Professor Oak.
He greeted us warmly and made comments on my journey so far and what he'd heard on the news. I was rather flattered when he
compared my adventures to those of Ash Ketchem. I told him of my goal to capture the Wings of Council. He gave and amused
chuckle and upgraded my Pokedex to include more information.
Professor Oak observed Moon standing beside me and became remarkably animated.
"Ahh Moon, your parents told me of your situation. Now, how are you doing in the Johto League. Any new Pokemon?"
When she nodded his smile widened. "Topaz and I were battling. Her Artico used an attack that froze my Eevee solid. After her
Artico evolved we were going to free Eevee, but before we had a chance, the ice melted and she stepped out." Moon walked back
so he could see the Pokemon.
"Another Eevee evolution?" Professor Oak exclaimed. "It's genetic composition is much more unstable then I realized. Do you know
how many evolutions there are now? About a week ago a girl from Pallet traded her Eevee with a Leaf stone into what she called
Vineon. Originally if it came into contact with a Leaf stone nothing would happen and yet when it was traded it turned into the
stunning creature it is now."
"In Lavender, when you first started your journey, Topaz, a boy and his Eevee were trying to capture a ghost Pokemon. A
Kunundrum materialized behind them and scared the Eevee out of it's wits. It evolved into a Spectreon, a creature with an imposing
personality. I couldn't look at it for more then a few minutes with out shuddering. That made researching it very difficult."
"A normal type was even discovered, Evareon, evolving for some unknown reason. It's so much like Eevee that I'm surprised it
evolved at all. Now your ice type, obviously a reaction to the cold. That leaves me to another point. What do you propose to call it?"
Professor Oak looked worn out. His gestures had been large and energetic and that was probably as much exercise as he'd had all
day.
"I've no idea" Moon admitted with a shrug. I didn't know about her but my mind was spinning, crammed with all that new information.
Maybe if I were lucky it would push out all that useless geography and history that was taking up space in my skull. Ms Lera
always said, "Those who didn't study history were doomed to repeat it." In her class she was usually right. 6th time lucky is all I
can say.
"Wait!" the Professor interrupted before she could hang up. "May I study it for the time being. I'd like to examine her elemental
configuration."
She nodded. "I'll swap her for Rapidash and teach Topaz how to ride her Articolt." Moon recalled the Ice Eevee and placed it
carefully in the transporters beside the Vidphone. A flash of light and a Pokeball identical to the one that held Eevee replaced it.
She turned back to the Vidphone. "Thanks Professor. I hope you find what ever your looking for."
She nodded goodbye and turned off the monitor. "Have you got Articolt? Good, we've got get your equipment."
"My equipment?" I bleated.
"Yes." Moon confirmed. You've got an Articolt and you obviously don't know how to ride it. If you want to pass the distance quicker,
you'll need to be able to sit on him with out falling off every two meters, and if you want to ride, you'll need a whole heap of stuff."
She glanced at my uniform. "And something that doesn't have so much stitching that you can't see the original material."
"But!"
"No time for it."
"But!"
"No time for that either. Come on."
I did end up getting a new uniform, exactly the same as my old one despite the girl's complaints. I trekked back to the PokeCenter
and signed my Pokemon out to meet my friends in the field east of Azalea.
I fixed Chilun with his new blue, jewel-studded bridle. It gave hem a regal and princely appearance. I didn't bother with the saddle. It
would have been to hard to materialize into the Pokeball and Chilun was having enough trouble dealing with the bridle. He still
refused the translator, I think it was so I couldn't here him swear at me.
Moon started with the basics, getting on. Now keep in mind I'm pretty short for my age. When an Artico, I had enough trouble trying
to clamber my way onto Chilun's back, now that he was an Articolt, and at least a span taller then a Rapidash, it was goddamned
near impossible.
While this was going on, Suma, Cal, Philip, Fury and my other Pokemon were in hysterics. Fury cackled like a Solcian, a jester
like ghost type, and rolled over the grass. Talorn chortled from the air above us, often remarking about how I should stick to flying.
Apollo bayed and howled while Artemis tittered at his feet. She would call out unhelpful comments every unsuccessful try. Aqua
smiled, her musical laughter drifting down from the trees.
Suma had tears streaming down her cheeks and was clutching her hides, obviously trying to keep them from splitting. Cal slapped
Phil across the back, practically giving him a heart attack. But if he didn't die of a heart attack, he almost certainly did of a
collapsed lung when I tried vainly to drop from a branch onto Chilun's back. It was at that moment he decided to sample the
sumptuous grass a few meters away. I landed flat on my ass and dirtied my uniform.
"YOU'RE
ALL GOING TO BE LAUGHING FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF YOUR FACE IF YOU DON'T SHUT
UP!"
Moon and Rapidash, however, were not impressed. As I got up off the ground she
had fixed him with a glare that could melt steel
and had Chilun on his knees. With an unstable grip on his shoulder, I hoisted myself onto his back and straddled my legs on either
side.
Thank god I wasn't male.
She then instructed me in holding the reins and how each movement was crucial
in Chilun understanding exactly what I wanted.
There were so many I'm sure she would have had us doing the Can Can, or Can't Can't depending on how you look at it, sooner or
later. But it was easy for her to say. Rapidash moved effortlessly across the ground, almost as if she were floating, while Chilun
stepped in every pothole. A few more bruises on my ass later, I had the gist of it and it was time to learn how to trot.
Damnit!
My elbows flapped like a Pidgey learning how to fly and my behind thumped against Chilun's bare, bony, back. He, at any rate, was
having the time of his life. His English must have been getting worse too because when Moon said slow down, I complied, using the
correct signal mind you, and he took off at terminal velocity.
But by the end of the day I was riding better. I had mastered most of the commands and Chilun had relearnt his English, the hard
way when he ran through the trees and I was clotheslined by a low hanging branch.
He was a good little Articolt after that lesson.
I flew home on Talorns back with the others trailing behind. We zipped across the thermals and soared above the clouds, working
out the stress of the day. Aqua glided around us, her river like crest and tail trailing behind her, glittering in the twilight. She sang a
beautiful lullaby making me even more relaxed.
When we got back to the PokeCenter, I saw everyone else was unwinding. Moon had retrieved the Eevee, which she later named
Glaceon, was talking to her with Phil in the lengthening shadow of a blue gum, it's sweet smelling blossoms wafting up into the air,
smelling like incense. They would make some comments and Glaceon would twitch her ears or occasionally yap her new name in a
husky voice.
Fury, Artemis, Apollo, Fireline, Typhoon and Maverick frolicked in the evening air.
Maverick spun wildly in a circle and tried to chase after them. He lunged at Fireline but she dodged nimbly aside. Typhoon cracked
his whip like tail behind Maverick, taunting him with his deep echoing voice. Fury danced out of his reach, her collar flames licking
the air in excitement. Maverick took a wobbly step forward, and tripped over his tail.
"Tototototo!"
he squawked as he fell on top of Fury's fire. He leapt back immediately and
Typhoon doused the flames.
Talorn laughed her laugh, like a duchess jeering a jester and I laughed softly
along with her.
Cal was training his two new Pokemon, Vaporeon and Politoed. I'd given him the
water stone from Union Cave, in exchange for the
use of his Waterfall and Whirlpool HM's I'd taught to Aqua. His Eevee had ardently accepted the evolution stimulant and now barked
a challenge in her bubbly voice to Politoed. Politoed croaked back. Cal evolved his Poliwhirl when he'd found a Kings Rock while I
was learning to ride. We traded Poliwhirl holding the rock and it evolved into a frog with a yellow spiral across it's stomach. We
traded
back. Now he was almost definitely going to earn that badge.
Sumalee was now training Shahman. Now that I had seen it for myself, I
regretted passing up the chance for such a glorious bird
Pokemon. A snowy white bird with silky soft feathers, ruffled by the slight breeze. Razor sharp tail feathers looking more like knives
gleamed
in the setting sun. It's head was crowned with a diamond tiara, which pulsed a
bright inner light.
I had used my Pokedex on it earlier and had replied mechanical voice.
"Shahman, the mage Pokemon. Known for it's ability to manipulate the
weather, it is highly sought after by gardeners. The heart of
it's
powers are said to reside in the crystals that adorn it's tiara."
As I watched the fight unfolding between him and Nidorina. Nidorina fired a
Horndrill at the hovering Shaman. It brush his wing tips
and tumbled towards the earth. Sumalee rapped an order and Nidorina snapped down on the extended pinion. Shahman shrill shriek
cut
through the air and Nidorina released him.
"Hang on!" Talorn barked and veered sharply. Aqua sheered aside as
well. Where we had been moments before, lightning rent the
air and enveloped Nidorina in a blaze of dazzling light. The Pokemon stopped their playing to watch the special effects Shahman
was
providing.
When the spots cleared from my eyes, I peered downwards and Nidorina was way
past well done. Suma withdrew her, praising her
effort and called Shahman down from the sky. He whistled through the air to land on her shoulder, careful so not to cut her with his
tail
blades. He screeched in his severing voice an exultant cry.
"Come on," I said to Talorn as I watched the sun sink further into
the tree lined horizon.
"We'd better land, it's getting la....."
Before I could finish the sentence, a beautiful, deep resonating voice drifted
from the Ilex forest. It's voice rose and fell like the
ocean waves as it sang. Each syllable melted into the next. Each note penetrated the air so all could hear, but each note was
pierced with anxiety. It was looking for something, someone, and time was growing short. As the last ray of sunlight faded, so did
the
song. It evaporated into the night air, as if it had never been.
I balanced on Talorn's back totally entranced, it was impossible not to.
"Follow it!" I cried in a high-pitched voice. There was no way I was
going to let the Pokemon go, even if I only glimpsed it.
"It's no use, my dear. It's gone. It is best we go inside or you'll catch
a chill." I let Talorn set down, but I still watched the horizon,
the source of the melody. As recalled Talorn and my other Pokemon and turned into the PokeCenter, I saw it so fleeting, I wasn't
even sure it was there, but a shadow crossed the moon. So tiny it was, so fragile. It paused, and then disappeared beneath the
treetops.