Alright! I have another chapter out! I'd like to thank my two new reviewers, Fierystreak, and Obsidian Blade, for reading and reviewing my story. I hope everyone continues to like it!

Disclaimer: see previous chapters

Chapter 18

Robin's Journey

I waved to Nurse Joy as we left the center. We were heading to Onix Cave, then from there to Mahogany Town, where I'd get my next badge. Hopefully. 

"So how far exactly is Onix cave?" I asked Raven as we walked. Beowulf perked up his ears to listen too.

"Well, from what I picked up from the map" Raven replied as he repositioned his backpack on his shoulder, "it shouldn't be that far. Maybe, a half an hour?" I nodded. That wasn't too bad time wise.  I chewed my lower lip and glanced at Raven sidelong.

"And this is supposed to be a short cut right?" I asked him, the Midnight Forest clear in my mind. He chuckled nervously, and Murkrow fidgeted a bit.

"Well, from what I read from the map, it should get us there in half the time. In less something-"

"Don't say it!" I interrupted, bringing up my hand to cut him off. "If you say it, something will!"

Raven looked at me in confusion. "What, say 'in less something unexpected happens'?" I sighed and shook my head, then looked down at Beowulf walking besides me.

"Didn't I tell him not to say that? Now something's gonna happen for sure" Beowulf rolled his eyes and Raven laughed.

"Come on now, what could possibly-" Beowulf barked and Murkrow flapped her wings in his face, and we both laughed.

"Okay okay, THAT I won't say" he said as he pushed Murkrow's wings away from his face. Murkrow grumbled at him. We walked along until I thought I heard a rustling in the bushes to our right. I glanced down at Beowulf to see if he heard it too. He had his ears perked up in the direction on the noise, and was frowning at the bushes. We lagged behind Raven and Murkrow a bit and I thought I saw a flash of something.

I was about to send Beowulf over to investigate when Raven called, "Shortcuts don't work if you take twice the time getting there!" I shrugged, and whistled for Beowulf, and we went on.

Raven was right about one thing. It didn't take us long to get to Onix cave. In about a half an hour's time we were standing in front of the cave entrance.

"I'm guessing there are Onix in Onix cave huh?" I asked as I watched Beowulf cautiously look into the entrance. 

"I'd say that's a valid assumption" Raven replied nodding.  I put my hand down and fingered Fang's pokeball as we followed Beowulf into the cave. Fang should be able to keep off any wild Onix that might attack. As we went into the cave, I was expecting it to be really dark inside, and was prepared to send out Bo. But to my surprise, there were lamps hung on the walls of the cave, lighting the way. Raven saw me looking at the lamps and smiled.

"The Onix caves are used fairly often" he explained to me as we walked. "So lights were put in to make it more convenient for the travelers."

"very helpful" I agreed. I was hoping that with the lights and the map, we might find a way to NOT get lost. It would also make it easier to see any wild pokemon I might be able to catch.

"There's a legend about this cave" Raven murmured absently as he trailed his hands on the smooth cave wall.

"What's it about?" I asked glancing up at him. I was fairly curious but mostly just wanted something to pass the time. 

"I have a more detailed version of it in my journal" Raven told me, "But I think I can remember the gist of it." Beowulf dropped back from the front to walk besides Raven, ears cocked toward him in interest and Murkrow fluttered to his shoulder. Raven cleared his throat and began the tale.

"It is said that deep within this cave, deeper than any human has dared explore, there are some of the strongest wild pokemon ever living. For only the strong dare reside so close to where it is said one of the most powerful Psychic Pokemon and her trainer reside. It is said that the trainer lived for more then one hundred years, and was a wizard of most powerful holy magic. It is said that even though he was powerful enough to control the earth, he was a kind and gentle soul, who lived to help others. He and his pokemon would travel the world helping those in need."

"It is also said that he would go to places no other human had ever seen. For this wizard never stayed in one place for very long. Many think he had a great task that he was trying to complete, for he always seemed restless and distant."

"Now, like most people, this wizard had an enemy. A sorcerer of the dark arts. He had two very powerful dark pokemon. It is said that he lived to destroy the holy wizard and everything he stood for. The only thing stopping him was the fact that his powers were weaker then the holy wizard's. And the wizard's single pokemon was strong enough to take on both of the dark wizard's."

"It is said, that in one final battle, the dark sorcerer locked away the holy wizard in these very caves. However, the wizard's single pokemon escaped the dark sorcerer powers. Some say that she watches over her trainer's sleep, others say she searches for a successor, a Chosen One that could take over the wizard's power and complete whatever task he was trying to finish. The people, angered by their wizard's entrapment, banded together and destroyed the dark sorcerer. The sorcerer's two pokemon, much like the wizard's, escaped their trainer's fate. The people, having after burned the dark sorcerer for his evil ways, still thirsted for the revenge of their beloved wizard. So they searched for the sorcerer's pokemon, but never found them. To this day no one knows where the dark pokemon are, or even if they, like their magic bearing trainers, ever truly existed."

I stared at Raven, caught up in the story. The way he told it was so gripping that I found myself captivated by it, but something about the tale didn't seem quite right. Even though I couldn't place what it was. Raven blushed slightly and cleared his throat again.

"What?" he asked gruffly, seeing me stare. I quickly looked away.

"oh um, nothing! I just liked the story is all. You told it very well. Where did you learn it?"

Raven winked at me. "As a pokemon writer, I travel and write down all sorts of legends and myths about pokemon and stuff. I- what's wrong with Beowulf?" Raven broke off and I turned to stare at my pokemon. He was bouncing around and shaking his head and growling softly while Murkrow clucked at him. I knelt down and frowned at the dog.

"Beowulf what's the matter?" So it was because I was trying to figure out what was wrong with him, that neither Raven, the pokemon, nor I saw the Onix that was rising before us until it roared.

I looked up and my eyes widened. The cave we were in was very wide and the top of the cave was very high up. Because of this, the Onix had risen to its full height and was staring down at us; half of it covered in shadow. I heard Raven say from behind me, "we are in deep shi-" but he didn't get to finish before the Onix rushed down at us.

 "Move!" I shouted and grabbed Beowulf, rolling out of the way as I did. Raven, with Murkrow clutched to his chest leaped the other way. I felt the ground shake as the Onix came down on the spot we were just in. Getting to my knees I took out a pokeball. With my other hand I restrained Beowulf from going after the Onix.

"Let Fang handle this!" I told him sharply. I knew that fire pokemon were weak against rock and earth attacks, and I had no wish to see my Houndour get hurt.

"Fang GO!" I shouted throwing the pokeball.

"Toto DIIiile" Fang exclaimed dancing.

"Use water gun!" I told my pokemon. Fang shot out a stream of water that hit the Onix square in the face. Enraged, the Onix started to thrash around, banging the walls and causing a large stalactite to come crashing down from the ceiling, straight towards Beowulf and me! I gave a shout of fright and pushed Beowulf out of the way. Before I could get myself out of the way, a pain shot through my head. For a moment time stopped for me, as I put my hand to my forehead and looked down at my pokeballs. I felt fear and sadness, and saw…and saw…..

I saw the sharp end of the stalactite coming straight toward me! I heard dimly Raven shout and Beowulf howl.  I screamed, but before it could crush me, two streams of water hit the rock, pushing it away from me to crash into the wall. I saw Raven with Dragonair, and Fang spewing out water guns to save me.  Now that the Onix wasn't being sprayed however, it went back to attacking, trying to tackle my Fang. 

"Fang look out!" I exclaimed.

"Toto!" Fang shouted leaping over the Onix's head to land on its long neck. Beowulf came up to me and I wrapped my arms around him, using him as a prop to help me up. The Onix tried to bat Fang off his head with his tail, while tying to dodge Dragonair's water guns.

"Dance Fang!' I shouted. Fang started to leap and run up and around the Onix's tail, cause the Onix to hit himself numerous times.  "Now use scratch attack on his eyes!" I yelled at my brave little totodile. Fang leaped down onto the Onix's nose and scratched furiously.  The Onix, to tired to keep attacking, collapsed, making the ground shake from impact. Fang jumped just before the Onix fell, and I caught him in my arms. I kissed his nose and told him what a wonderful pokemon he was. Fang looked very smug. Beowulf nudged my arm and I petted him also. Raven, Murkrow and Dragonair ran up.

"Are you alright?" we both asked each other at the same time. Raven sighed and ran his hand through his hair. Then he gestured to the Onix.

"Aren't you going to catch him?" he asked. I looked at him in surprise, then I chewed my bottom lip.

"Do you want to?" I offered "You helped to defeat him…." Raven shook his head.

"No thank you! I've got enough pokemon to worry about. Besides, I'd feel safer if he was in a pokeball, instead of laying here, ready to wake up and follow us at anytime" he replied with a wiry smile. I put Fang down and took out an empty pokeball and hesitated, then made up my mind. I threw the ball at the Onix, and he was sucked inside. It rocked, rocked then…. was still. Picking up the ball, I grinned.

"I caught an Onix!" I shouted happily! Fang danced happily while the rest cheered. Raven recalled Dragonair and I recalled Fang, who really needed a good rest. 

The rest of the way through the cave was peaceful. Raven and I talked about pokemon and things. Beowulf kept distracting me however, by sniffing the walls, digging little holes here and there, running far ahead of us, and then dropping back. Murkrow would cluck at him, but otherwise she stayed on Raven's shoulder.  We could see the exit of the cave, with sunlight shinning through. Blinking rapidly I brought up my hand to hold off the bright light. When my eyes had adjusted I looked around. There was a dirt road leading away from the cave, on either side of the road, rolling fields of grass lay. A few trees were scattered in the fields and I could see mountains in the distance. A lake was a little while away from us, maybe a 10-minute walk. Fluffy white clouds ambled along in the sky and a breeze cooled my face. It was a perfect place to train. 

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