opaltiger: *pants* I think I lost him...
Arcy: The cub? He's in that cave over there *points*
opaltiger: *runs into cave*
Cue strange screams.
Arcy: Oh dear.
opaltiger: *runs out of cave, pursued by very angry tiger mother*
opaltiger: *sees Angry Reviewers of Doom* Aaaaah!
Angry Reviewers of Doom: Update!
opaltiger: Okay, okay! I'm updating, I'm updating... jeez...
ARD: *pull out sharp poky thingies*
opaltiger: Arcy! Quick, the homemade shield generator!
Arcy: *gives generator one final tweak with tools* Here!
opaltiger: I am safe! Hahahahaha! *shield generator brakes* ha...ha...ha?
Arcy: Okay, here's Opy's reason for not updating in the last four months: extreme case of writer's block, huge family emergency, chaos. Oh, and I'm just the messenger...
***
It was muddy. It always seemed to be muddy in the forest. Dain sighed, and scolded himself yet again for choosing this God forsaken forest path.
Looking around, all he could see were trees, and mud. Endless and endless mud. Hoisting his pack onto his shoulders, Dain heaved another sigh and continued down the forest path. About one hundred metres later, he came upon a small rock, which, for a change, was not covered in mud.
He sat down to rest, and to check his PokeNavs map. He was about one kilometre away from the edge. Fun, he thought, more mud.
One last sigh, and he continued on the path through the forest.
***
Unbeknownst to Dain, about five hundred metres away from him a huge battle was taking place.
Alan sighed. They weren't getting anywhere like this. Magma had obviously brought hundreds of Pokemon, much more than regulations stated. They were trying to overwhelm him with sheer numbers. And it would work, too. His only chance now was to hope someone came along to help. But who… There was no one around he could rely on. He had called his last trainers in hours ago, and still the Magma numbers didn't lessen. They needed reinforcements, and quickly.
***
If you've seen one forest, you've seen 'em all. At least in Dain's opinion. There was one key component to a forest, it seemed: mud. He needed some company.
Taking the PokeBall from his belt, Dain released Bagon.
The little dragon took one look at the mud, and instantly jumped onto his trainer's backpack.
Dain grinned evilly. 'If I'm being tortured, so are you,' he said, and laid the Pokemon on the ground.
'Ba Bagon Ba…' Bagon grumbled.
And so they walked on. Suddenly, Dain heard sounds of battle ahead. Hurrying on, he walked into the biggest fight he had ever seen. One side consisted of trainers dressed in the colours of Magma, the other consisted of five trainers battling with all their Pokemon. It was a wild, unpredictable battle.
And in that second, Dain got an amazing idea: RUN!!!!! But, alas, there were no gaps in the fighting, and even if there were, he was talking around fifty Pokemon. All attacking at the same time. 'Nuff said. He had two choices: fight, or go back. Through mud. Strangely enough, surprising even himself, Dain opted to fight.
Tapping the nearest trainer on the shoulder, he pulled out his remaining Poke Balls.
***
'Can I help?'
Alan turned around in surprise to find a young, dark haired, blue-eyed teenager with a Bagon at his feet looking at him. In his hands were three Poke Balls. For a moment Alan just stared stupidly. If this were a trick… No. He needed all the help he could get. 'I appreciate the offer, but it could be dangerous…' he finally said.
The boy nodded. 'I know. Unfortunately, it's also blocking my only way out.'
This was exactly what Alan had wanted from the start. 'OK, if you're sure,' he said. 'Just one thing: what's your name?'
'Dain,' was the curt reply, already in the process of throwing his Poke Balls. In a flash, a Slakoth, Seadra, and Swablu appeared, turning to face the horde of Pokemon before him.
***
Blaze looked around helplessly, watching the crowd of Numels and Poochyenas close in on his Pokemon. He, being in the middle of the fight, had no other Pokemon other than his to help. His Pokemon were strong, but they couldn't keep this up forever. He knew trouble when he saw it. There was no way out. The Numels were within attacking distance now, and one of them opened its mouth to attack – and was hit by a blast of water, coming from somewhere in the vicinity of Alan.
Another icy-cold blast erupted, sending another miniature camel of its feet. Turning, Blaze spotted a Seadra, blasting away at the Pokemon around him. He frowned. No one in their group had a Seadra… Then he saw the small, twelve year old shouting orders to his Pokemon. Blaze frowned again. Who was he?
***
Ten minutes later, it was all over. Team Magma had been thrown into confusion by Dain's arrival, and even now Bagon was attacking their last Pokemon with his newly learnt Dragonbreath attack.
Alan walked over to Dain, his brow wet with sweat. 'We owe you, Dain,' he said. 'If you hadn't come when you did we wouldn't have stood a chance… I wish there was some way to reward you… Ah! Here, take this. He is a Pokemon I caught recently, but I think he would be much better off with you.*' Alan handed Dain a Poke Ball, gasping for breath. He had said all that without pause.
Dain accepted the Poke Ball, wondering what was inside, when he abruptly fainted.
***
Dain woke up to find himself in darkness, only a small circle of light where he was lying. Ryukon, a voice seemed to whisper. I have brought the one with the Soul before you. And suddenly Dain could feel a strange sensation, like a thousand ants crawling up his body-
***
Dain opened his eyes again to find he was alone, outside the forest, with what seemed like hard wood beneath him. And staring down at him was a kind-looking old man, with clothes Dain had begun to associate with sailors.
'Are you all right, lad?' he asked. 'I found you here when I was about to set sail.' He indicated something outside Dain's field of vision, and the young trainer turned his head to see a rather large boat anchored nearby.
'Yes,' Dain mumbled looking around. 'I suppose I must have fallen asleep in the sun.' He knew how ridiculous it sounded, but the old man just smiled.
'Well that's good then! And, if I my ask, where are you bound?'
Dain thought trying to remember the details of his PokeNav. 'Dewford Town, I think.'
'Then you're in luck! I'm about to set sail to Dewford. You see, I transfer trainers from here to Dewford and onwards. It's what I do. So, how about it?'
Dain looked again at the large boat. It was as good an idea as any. 'Sure,' he replied.
'Call me Mr. Briney,' said the man, and moments later he Dain, and a few other trainers were on the ship, headed for Dewford.
To be continued…*I know, I know, typical Pokemon-game-reward-sentence, but I couldn't come with any better. Shows how creative I am.
Phew. Finally got around to finishing that. Sorry people, but I truly have had a bad time since October…
Anyway, I'm evil!!! I didn't tell you what Pokemon he got! A clue: it's not a dragon!
Also, no more new Pokemon for Dain for ages!
Just out of curiosity, anyone have a favourite character yet? Mine's actually the new Pokemon, plus a Dragonair that shall make an appearance in about Chapter Ten. I gave that away since all good Dragon Trainers need Dragonair's. So that's it, until next time-
opaltiger