Ch 8
The group sat around the campfire by the shore of Slateport in boredom as Brendan continued to argue with his father over the phone. Wallace had demanded that they leave the city until the 'incident' had blown over, though not before Silver dragged Red into the Cave of Origin in search of Spheals that decided to lay low for the time being. She was currently fuming as the phone fight went on.
"How can fire not be effective against them? They're Ice-types, right? They should act like it!" Silver raged, waving her fist at no one in particular. May shrugged and sighed, resting her face on her hands as Rui stirred the stew pot and watched them.
"I told you already. Pokémon have recently evolved to use new, innate abilities to help them in battles and in life. Spheals have learned to utilize their blubber in an ability known as Thick Fat that reduces the damage from fire and electric attacks." she muttered dryly, "Get over it."
"All right! Bye!" Brendan finally declared as Red fiddled with the keys of the MasterDex. The remainder of the group glanced over at the professor's son. He scowled back at them. "Dad's still not buying the whole idea of The Beginning, but he says there's no data anywhere here of a place that could be called that." he griped, "On top of that, he's going on about some old story he heard about as a kid that nearly wiped out the tradition of Pokémon journeys. Like that has anything to do with what we're doing."
"Old tales have a tendency to hold a great deal of information that pertain to the present and future. It's all in how you choose to interpret them." Red remarked as he frowned at the device in his hand and slipped it into his breast pocket. "So that leaves us with two likely places left to search. Where to next?"
"Johto. The Day Care Center might be the place. Seth got Jupiter and Pluto there and through them he began to rediscover himself and rebel against Snagem and Cipher." Rui remarked and pulled the pot from the fire. "But first, we should have something to eat. It's going to be quite a trip from here to Johto."
"Twin Eevees are a rarity among the species. Wouldn't the Center have records of the Pokémon's family tree and possibly let us know from it who originally owned those two?" Red pressed, "And I still think that locating Evice's son will lead us to Seth's location much more quickly than just running around following half-formed leads."
"Well, we could do that, Mr. Kanto Champion, but we don't know who Evice's brat is." Brendan grumbled. Red shrugged. "Fine, be that way. Let's try to get to Prof. Elm's lab first so we can catch up on what's happened in Johto."
"Yeah, but let's also do our best to avoid my sister. She might not be too happy with the return of 'outsiders' and my cross-dressing tush." Silver pointed out and stamped her foot again. "Thick Fat, my butt! I want that Pokémon!"
Nascour focused on the chess pieces before him, the silver and gold metals gleaming beneath the light of the small office. Evice smiled as he carefully moved the queen piece and cornered Nascour's king. The Admin sat back and groaned. He had been playing the game for the past two hours and still no clues came from his boss as to where the next location for The Beginning could be.
"Patience. I taught him that." Evice remarked as he collected the silver figure that represented the king, a copy of the Seth figurine in an entirely different uniform, styled to resemble the Wesley that had died nearly thirty years before. "Wesley didn't practice it as much as I did, though. Have you decided who to bring to the party for the contest?"
"Contest, sir?" Nascour echoed blankly. Evice nodded. "I don't quite follow, sir."
"Nascour, you know that I'm getting older and that I wish to have my son stand beside me as we prepare the final assault on this wretched world. If he is to rule in my stead should I fall in the battle, he will undoubtedly need a queen to stand beside him." the rotund Cipher Head replied gravely and spread his hands out to call attention to the pawns. Each one was a tiny bride of various appearances. "Every guest invited to the celebration is required to bring a suitable young woman that may have the honor of being chosen as my Wesley's new bride." He smiled then. "I do so love a wedding. My own wife had been chosen for me, and it's up to me to continue that tradition."
"Sir, the Beginning wasn't in Hoenn. Can you think of any other place that might be considered such?" Nascour seemed to plead. Evice picked up the twin pieces, studying the replications of both Seth and Wesley.
"The eyes have changed, haven't they?" he mused, "Wes always had such an excited gleam to his eyes, always hungry to learn more about the world. So innocent and full of optimism. Why did they change, I wonder?"
"We still have two regions left, Sir Evice. Can't you give me a small lead? I can deduce the rest from that." Nascour encouraged. The portly little man set the two pieces down and looked right at him.
"The Beginning is where it ended, Nascour. It's rather well known for that. I'm sure that if you just poke around where you need to, you'll find it. You'll find The Beginning." he told him sharply and stood up. The table shook from the sudden movement and the Seth and Wes pieces fell from the chessboard. Both men looked down at them oddly. The golden figures had collapsed one on top of the other, both staring up at the ceiling.
"I'll get on it." Nascour murmured and left the room, hurrying towards the information lab. Evice only cocked his head as he studied the fallen figurines.
"That seems so profound for some odd reason." he muttered and shrugged, smiling happily as he wandered off, "Now where did I put that dusty old tuxedo...?"
In a far off city-
Anca swept out the shop and looked over her shoulder at her new guest. Since arriving at the city, Wesley had spent much of his time racing around and getting things ready for the date. His Pokémon had been dropped off at the local center for rest and restoration. Wes had run himself ragged making reservations at a restaurant down the street from the shop, locating the best vantage point for the parade, and generally loading Anca's arms with gifts of all kinds.
"I think you should take a break now. You don't want to burn yourself out before tonight, do you?" the red-head pointed out as he ran by with a box full of knick-knacks from an antique store several blocks over.
"Nah, I'm completely in the cool about this! Need any help? I can close up the shop for you!" Wes called back excitedly, "This is gonna be great! I can't wait for our first date!"
"Yes, you can. Go take a nap." Anca ordered and chased him into the guest room with her broom, "Sleep, Wes! You're gonna get tired out if you don't sleep!" After much running about and attempts to wheedle out of it, Wes finally plopped down on a couch and sighed in defeat.
"Okay, okay. I give." he remarked and yawned, "Wake me in ten minutes so we can get ready. We have dinner reservations at the Flaming Chiko." Anca blinked and stared at him.
"That place is expensive! How'd you manage to pay the deposit on that?!" she blurted out in surprise. Wes shrugged as he folded his arms behind his head.
"You'd be surprised what a name can get you access to." he mumbled as he drifted off to sleep.
-------
Celebi and Jirachi peered through the small window at the two teens. The Steel-Psychic was still unsure about the dream he had sent and pointedly said so to his partner.
"You worry too much. So, what's the dream got inside? Any cool references to the future or the near present?" Celebi gushed excitedly. Jirachi scratched his head and frowned.
"I didn't have much time to put together something like what I gave Rui and Seth back then. Basically, it's just a load of crap with the words, 'Leave your journal with the girl' running in the background." he answered. Celebi yelped and grabbed him by the neck, shaking him furiously.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN IT'S JUST A BUNCH OF CRUD?!" she screamed, "How are we supposed to make an imprint in his head to leave behind information if all you have running in his brain are a bunch of neon lights and whooshing winds?!"
"Making dreams and wishes come true ain't easy, y'know!" Jirachi stammered, "And we really can't mess with him too much or we'll change history!" The other psychic let him go and sighed.
"Yeah, you're right. I just hope his journal is enough to help Seth fill in the blanks and get that last Time Flute in Orre." she muttered.
HeartSong and Charizard coasted over the trees and hills of Johto as the heroes made their way towards New Bark Town. From overhead, they could see the gyms and towns being repaired after the damage that was taken during the sieges of Team Samba and the super-storm that had been unleashed in the Indigo Plateau. Silver chatted happily about the various attractions and events that took place all over the region as the two Pokémon set down by Prof. Elm's lab.
"Professor Elm! We're back! How's the reconstruction of Johto doing?!" she called out as the group climbed down and headed for the building. The door flew open and Crystal glared out at them as she stomped out. "Crystal?! What are you doing here?!"
"What's it look like, 'Brother'?! I'm going around the region to gather names on a petition to denounce you as Johto Champion!" Crystal hissed, "The title should be mine! The only reason you have it is 'cause everyone's too stupid to do a background check on the Summers family!"
"Ah, heck, not this again." Brendan groaned as Rui scowled at the girl who had caused the gash that still remained stitched along her temple. Silver folded her arms over her chest and sniffed disdainfully.
"That's low, Crystal. First you try to let me get killed by Team Samba, now you're pestering the Johto League Officials into running a DNA test on me." she growled, "Is there no line you won't cross in this stupid quest to steal my title?"
"And you've even brought back the foreigners! Hey, you little red-headed moron! You want me to give you another rock to the head so you have a matching set of stitches?!" the other trainer sneered. May brought forth a pair of PokéBalls and stepped forward threateningly.
"Do I have to beat the snot out of you again before you'll leave us alone?!" she declared but Rui walked forward and unleashed Neptune and Saturn onto the field. Crystal snorted and laughed derisively as she held out two of the spheres of her own.
"I see your man's not anywhere here. That'll make it easier to kick you around. Who knows? Maybe after I whup your leather self, I'll go and track him down for a victory dance." she declared, "Won't that be fun? I'll score one on each of you!"
"Shut up and battle me already! Unless you're still afraid of two-on-two fights!" Rui snapped, mind racing through all of the tactics Seth had used in these kinds of battles before. Crystal merely laughed again.
"Sure, right! I've been doing some extra training of my own, little girl! Give me all you got, I'll knock you out and prove my strength!" she declared, "Ready for your beating?!" Rui looked down at the twin Eons and swallowed hard as Crystal threw out her own Pokémon. "Go! Scizor and Houndoom!"
"Ah! Type match!" Silver cried in shock, "Two-on-two type match against Rui's team?!" Red threw up an arm and called out to the two girls.
"I will referee this match! We'll battle on the rules of the visitor's home region! First to have all Pokémon faint loses!" he declared. Crystal snorted derisively.
"Fine by me! I've studied the Hoenn rules long and hard! I know your weaknesses!" she shot back, "Scizor! Pin Missile on the Umbreon! Houndoom! Crunch that Espeon!"
"Neptune! Avoid that hit and use Psybeam!" Rui cried desperately and cried louder as the Psychic darted aside from the Dark attack. The dog-like Pokémon adjusted its forward momentum and brought the full force of its jaws onto the Espeon's neck. Neptune shrieked, then fell limp as the Scizor took advantage of Saturn's sudden dash for retaliation to spray the field with needles. The Umbreon writhed painfully and darted beside the Houndoom for cover, allowing it to take a portion of the damage as well.
"Ha! One down, one to go!" Crystal sneered, ignoring the pained yelp of her Houndoom as it dropped the Espeon and raced back to her side of the field. Rui called back Neptune and held the ball close to her, seeking the aura of the injured creature for signs of life. It flickered within her mind weakly, but it was enough to assure her that the female would live.
"You did your best, Neptune. Don't feel bad." she murmured and selected the Blaziken's ball hesitantly. Would it obey her? "Blaziken! You're next!" Rui yelled and unleashed the Fire/Fighting type.
"Hey! What the hell are you doing?! Rules stated that two-on-two battles are just two Pokémon each!" Crystal shrieked in a fury. Red looked disapprovingly at her.
"We are battling under Rui's native rules. Orre calls for a full team of six Pokémon, two on the field at any time." he remarked coldly. The trainer paled and looked at her opponent, who glared determinedly back at her. "It's your own fault for not taking all regions into accord. Johto is not the center of the Pokémon world."
"Hey, what's going on?" the Blaziken asked Saturn, who winced in pain as she stood on all fours.
"Damn Houndoom took down my sister. The Scizor hit my back legs pretty hard." she replied under her breath. "Rui has no idea what your attacks are, so try to help her out as much as you can."
"Not quite what I had in mind for my first battle since being under the Shadow influence, but eh, beggars can't be choosers." it remarked with as much a grin as its beak would allow.
"Rui! In the pouch! Use the hold items!" Silver declared.
"Don't forget the Abilities of the Pokémon! Blaziken's Blaze and Umbreon's Synchronize! They'll help you!" May and Brendan both called out. Rui nodded and ground her teeth as Crystal scrambled for a potion to give to her Houndoom.
"Blaziken! Saturn! Here!" she cried and grabbed a pair of items from the pack she wore. She had seen Pluto grow stronger from wearing Black Glasses, so it would work for Saturn. She tossed them out and the Umbreon leaped to have them fall onto her face, glowing faintly with the additional strength to her Dark abilities. The second item seemed strange for a Pokémon to have. But, hey, it was worth a shot, right? Rui threw the Black Belt towards the Blaziken, who snatched at it, stared at it, then lit up so brightly Rui knew she had given it an item that fit.
"Ah, here and here!" Crystal exclaimed, throwing out a mess of berries as well as a pair of her own Black Glasses and a small satchel of Silver Powder, "Now get them! Crunch that bird thing! Scizor! Metal Claw! On anybody! Pick one yourself!" The duo snatched at berries, then the items, then stared incredulously at her.
"Is she losing it?" the Scizor asked its partner.
"I'm assuming she never had it to begin with. And you shot me!" it accused after a moment. They turned back to attack again as the Blaziken swiftly tied on the Black Belt and prepared for its first order.
"Okay, Blaziken! Let's have you dish out a Fighting attack to make that Houndoom pay for what it did to poor Neptune!" Rui declared, "Saturn, you can go and Bite that mean Scizor!" The two Pokémon dashed forward as Scizor blinked in confusion as to which target to take, like the Flareon before it had once done during an initial battle against Seth weeks earlier. The moment of indecision was just long enough for Saturn to clamp her jaws onto its leg. The Bug screeched and toppled onto its back, flailing and kicking to get free as she continued to gnaw angrily on it, ignoring the pain in her legs.
Houndoom raced in and set to attacking the Blaziken viciously with its teeth. It merely held his ground, gritting its beak as it took the pain, then grinned as it thrust one fist up under the creature's chin and sent it flying in a Sky Uppercut.
"All right! That's one out of there!" Rui cheered as her friends whooped encouragement for her. "Saturn! Pull back! Blaziken! Finish that Scizor with a good Fire-type move! Like Flamethrower!" she called out as Crystal called the dog back and set to searching frantically for a Revive. The Blaziken closed its eyes as the pain from the injuries it allowed itself to take fed into its innate ability. Rui watched in awe as the Hoenn native Pokémon took on a red-orange aura, then unleashed the Flamethrower attack, a twisting beam of fire on fire that was more powerful than any standard Flamethrower. Saturn raced out of the path of destruction, mouth turned up in a fierce grin of satisfaction as Crystal shrieked upon seeing the Bug/Steel type become enveloped by the flames. She called it back and howled in a mix of rage, frustration, and despair. Red shook his head, watching her.
"Just as I figured. She only brought two Pokémon." he remarked as the others stared at Crystal in shock, then looked at him in confusion. "Crystal was prepared for the Eon team only, not a full team, as per the rules of the Hoenn region. So she lost."
Rui called back the two Pokémon and watched the other girl kneeling on the ground and staring at the earth with a now blank expression. A feeling of sympathy came over her and she walked up to her, holding out a hand.
"It was a good battle, but Red is right. You really should explore the world more and take everything in with an open mind and heart. Then you'll truly be a master in all you do." Rui told her gently. Crystal gazed up at her dazedly, then took on an angry expression.
"Says you! The cheater of the Orre region!" she snapped and scrambled to her feet, slapping her hand away, "I don't need your pity! I'll get more powerful and then I'll take on you AND your boyfriend at the same time! And I'll win, too!" Rui stepped back, startled. "That's right! Be afraid!" Crystal shrieked and laughed crazily, a strange light in her eyes, "Learn to fear the day I come to you and that golden-eyed freak job!" Before anyone else could speak, she dashed off, running for the forests that circled the town.
"Your sister's crazy." May remarked to Silver, unable to pull her eyes from the scene. Silver shrugged.
"It was just a matter of time. But I thought that my title would be the reason why she would snap." she remarked and scratched her head, "So, uh, anyone ready to go talk to Prof. Elm now?" Rui looked at the three PokéBalls in her hands worriedly. "He can take care of them. He's got the same kind of equipment for restoring and healing Pokémon the Centers do." Silver added reassuringly and herded the group into the lab.
