Chapter 98: Onsen Onset
"So what's your plan Naomi?"
"Well," She stops brushing her little, magical fire pony, and pulls out her trusty tablet, "We've been rescheduled back a day."
Jane sighs while feeding berries to a baby Numel, "The girls in juvi never shut up about that Torch guy."
Watts returns to brushing at Ponyta's insistence, "Kurt and I will go first in a 4v2 team match the day after tomorrow. Citro is up the next morning with a 3v3 singles match. Then Jane will have an official 3v1 Boss Battle that evening."
Jane hops in between Naomi and I, "I'm getting an official Gym Boss Battle?!"
"You can have team battles in gyms?" That's new.
"Oh yes. In fact," Naomi passes the brush to Jane and opens up a file of a poster draft, "We're all fighting for our 8th badge together."
Like an 80's movie poster, our team is arrayed opposite Electra. The Sootopolis Gymleader is sporting a feral grin while the rocky spires of the gym stadium set the backdrop. At the top, in red neon letters, 'Red Rebels VS. Electra!'
Jane and I both, ""Badass."
I flick her ear, "language."
"Oh piss off hypocrite." she's practically hopping, "When was this decided?!"
That's not exactly important right now, "Back to Lavaridge. I don't think this changes much for me, although I guess that means we're just using two pokemon a piece?"
Watts nods, "We'll have to come up with a strategy tomorrow. We'll be busy tonight."
Amber, the girl with the goat, speaks up from the stall across from us with Citro and his Salazzle, "I heard you guys are staying at the Litwick Inn?"
The boy carefully helps the vain lizard polish her scales, "Please tell me the inn isn't haunted with a name like that. I had enough of ghosts back home."
I don't blame him.
Naomi at least looks apologetic, "I can get you a different hotel or a room at the center." turning to look at Jane and I, "Gabby set this up for more content. We just have to stay overnight at this spooky hotel and record anything we find on our phones."
The local girl giggles, "That sounds fun. I won't spoil the experience for you but you can relax knowing people stay there all the time. It's not an abandoned building or anything. Agnis' family lives there."
Ah, tourist attraction, haunted house meets Ghost Hunters, "This could be entertaining. I take it her family runs the place?"
Ponyta huffs a bit of smoke and nudges the tablet away from Naomi. She smiles and takes the brush back from Jane. When she sets down the tablet I catch a glimpse of a second poster draft featuring Watts and Grace Ketchum. With the headline 'One Night Only!,' just before the screen flicks off.
Distraction Scraggy escapes from his ball only to be immediately returned by a flick of Salazzle's tail to the button. She's enjoying her scale oil treatment too much to humor the pesky sand lizard.
Citro chuckles and answers Naomi's offer, "If it's not that serious then I can definitely give it a go. We're a team right?"
While Naomi perks up, Amber cuts in, "Can I join you? I've never personally checked out the tourist experience of the Inn."
Watt's right eye does a bit of a twitch, "Maybe. The website put the tour max at four people."
"Oh don't worry," Amber starts picking up the grooming sets, "Agnis will let me in on it for sure."
The heiress clicks her tongue, "Are your social media contracts set for the season? I won't have you crying foul when all of Hoenn see's you squeal from a haunter prank."
Amber hesitates, "They wouldn't do that to me… no, they totally would focus on me." She sighs, but then turns to the boy, "How about lunch tomorrow then?"
Lemon Head is oblivious, "Sure I guess. Do we need to dry her off at all?"
Salazzle steps between him and Amber, shaking her head but pointing to the girl's painted fingernails.
He gives Salazzle an apologetic smile, "Sorry, I don't think we have time for painting your claws. You can ask her at lunch tomorrow."
The boy and the local with a crush, nail down the one sided date and Naomi finishes brushing the mini fire horse. Ever prepared, she takes out a pokeball that looks like a pearlescent swirl of blue and grey smoke. Then she stops.
Looking at her new partner, "Do you want to stay here with the other ranch pokemon one more night?"
The waist high Ponyta gives a happy neigh and licks her on the face. Naomi gently scratches the back of its neck, her hands combing through blue flames without the slightest hint of discomfort.
We left the ranch hours later with nothing new in our inventories except a shopping list for some of the care items we learned about. I had asked about any new contracts. Apparently the Ranch has little interest in the areas on the north side of the Mt. Chimney, save for a long standing bounty for any Volcarona sightings.
Lavaridge is an uphill maze of ash brick roads. At the base of the town rests the pokemon center shaped like a squat, four story pagoda. I can see outdoor dining on the second floor complete with on brand, fire pits. Various flying pokemon from all corners of the pokemon world join in the social atmosphere from the roof.
Past the scents of barbecue, the main drive snakes up the mountain side, lined with dozens of food carts, shops, cafes, and inns. The traditional architecture is lined with gentle orange, white, and red lanterns along their sloping, tile roofs. Each switch back allows a side street of residential homes of locals or renters.
I happen to spot one such road blocked by a Snorlax taking an afternoon snooze while a ranger's Poliwrath pounds on its side like a jammed door. Maybe he ate himself into a food coma at the nearby teppanyaki restaurant.
While fire is an abundant theme, tropical plants peek out from courtyard and balcony gardens. Every few yards is a flowering tree. Some being tended to by all manner of pokemon, from Azumaril and Bellossoms to Zangoose with a watering can.
Naomi points out the rooflines, "Every night, besides the lanterns, most of the buildings along the main road have neon lighting."
Jane is looking up the hotel we're headed to, "It's so you Mauville folks don't feel lost… So, I've found it. 'The Litwick Inn is a highly rated, Escape Challenge. Each participant is allowed one, small sized pokemon, excluding ghost, and psychic types.'"
"What counts as Small?" oh boy, "I already know Jane doesn't have one."
Said redhead freezes in her seat.
Watts grimaces, "You can borrow my Mienfoo Jane. Kurt, I think your Sandslash is pushing the upper limit with Blue being disqualified."
Rusty it is, "Are you gonna use your new Scraggy, Citro?"
He shudders, "I think my Noibat is under the size limit."
Watts rains on his hopes, "I can't recommend picking a flier for an indoor event like this."
"Then my Salazzle." the boy taps his head against the window, "I need a lot more time with Scraggy before I use him for anything official."
Her tablet dings, "Turn off here Kurt. I'll register our pokemon choices. I'm using my Whimsicott myself."
Citro's haunted Rotom phone pipes up, "Does that mean I can't come?"
Right, nearly forgot about her, "Actually, I have an important task for you, Kona, and Blue. Maybe even Naomi's Florges, and Gardevoir. Let's add Jane's Marowak and Citro's Noibat for good measure." Seeing their expectant looks. "If this hotel is full of resident ghosts and tricksters, I don't want them messing with our stuff. So they're all on guard duty together."
Glados squeaks, "Like a Slumber Party!"
Let's pray Marowak and Florges can keep things in control, "Sure, protect the room, and don't trash it while you're at it."
"It's the last building at the end of the street," Naomi points ahead, "Oh, it's bigger than I expected!"
The road ends in a roundabout featuring a giant, stone lantern, doubling as the driveway for a three story mansion. The traditional asian aesthetic takes on a very intentional, menacing vibe. Most of the building is painted dark with the only light coming from the roundabout lantern and the small, blue sconces by the main entry. Shadows play across the overgrown, front planters.
Yet, it's not decrepit, in fact, "This would fit right in at an amusement park."
Jane's white knuckles ease off the side of my seat, "I've always wanted to visit Nimbasa Park in Unova."
Naomi makes a gagging noise, "If only I could live the rest of my life without being called 'The next Elesa,' once a month."
"What's an amusement park?" askes the lime haired tragedy in the back.
I spot Gabby and Ty walking our way from their van and nudge Naomi to hop out with me while Jane starts showing Citro and Glados the wonder of theme parks on her phone.
"You cut it close here Miss Wattson." Starts our producer, "We only have twenty minutes before the sun passes over the mountain and we lose the best lighting."
Ty quickly sets up the camera while Gabby slips into full director mode. "Hop back in the van and pull around the drive. I want you guys to pull up slowly, park, then get out together as normal. Look up at the Inn and take out your pokeballs."
Oh boy, we're in a Scooby Doo movie, "Sounds like a nice promo clip."
Frankly, it took a couple tries to nail the whole, getting out of the van in serious mode, without something going wrong. Jane kept peeking at the camera, Citro tripped twice, Glados tried to get in the shot, traffic made us wait. A Taillow perched on the camera to watch while its tail feathers blocked the lens. The little thing thought Ty was trying to play when shooing it away.
As the sun slips past the mountain we finally pass between the two Litwick watching from the entry sconces. I glance at one causing it to shrink back a bit with a flicker.
Ty follows us in as we step on creaking floor boards. The rustic lobby desk stands empty facing a narrow waiting area. Against the back wall is a wooden statue framed by burning incense. I think it's some variant of an Arcanine, this one looks considerably more ferocious than the ones I've seen in the police yard back in Rustboro.
A classic paper, sliding wall is slightly ajar allowing me to peek in on a perfectly modern lounge area complete with bar. One team of guests are having a lively meal with their pokemon. A playful Monferno hints at their home region.
The wall slides open and a frizzy haired young woman in a purple kimono scurries out and around to the desk, "Hello! I'm Agnis and Welcome to the Litwick Inn… No Aria! Get back upstairs!"
Jane shrieks as a wolf sized, red spider scurries back up its thread into the rafters.
Agnis blushes a bit, "Sorry, my Ariados is still learning when the haunting game starts."
Glancing over at Ty, he taps the camera on his shoulders and gives me a thumbs up. He got Jane's yelp.
"Nice," Turning to Naomi, "Well, let's get checked in Watts."
Naomi's mouth is twitching to hold in a laugh, "Hi Agnis, it's good to see you again! We spoke about filming here tonight?"
"Right!" She's very cheerful for the heiress to a haunted hotel, "I have you all registered for a stay in the west wing. I see you've registered your participating pokemon. Here are your room keys. Go ahead and get settled in, you'll know when the game starts!"
She releases two pokeballs, a Golduck and some fox pokemon appear, "My Golduck will lead the ladies to their room. If you'll please follow my Thievul Mr. Kurt. I believe your crew's room is in the south wing."
The fox with a cartoon villain look takes me down a hall ahead of the girls. Wooden floors flex under my steps and I'm surprised I can't hear the girls with all the walls made of thin wood or paper. My room has traditional grass mat floors and a small closet.
Across the room is a half open slider revealing a small hot spring lined with bamboo. A black and red peacock treating it as his private bird bath squawks in surprise upon sighting me and vanishes in a poof of black ash.
I look down at the Thievul, "Uh, do you know what pokemon that was?"
He cackles with a weird hissing laugh before turning to leave.
Chapter 99: Meddling Kurt
As the fox exits the room, Citro walks in, "What's up Kurt?"
"Ah, I just saw a bird pokemon I didn't recognise." hmm, guess I'll ask the girl at the front desk about it later, "Are we starting soon?"
The boy nods, "Naomi said we're going to meet them in the courtyard in five minutes."
A sound draws our attention back to the doorway as a crew of pokemon enter. Gardevoir, Marowak, and Florges march in and look around the room with curiosity. Citro lets out his Noibat while my ghosts and Glados, the Rotom, join the little party.
Citro looks at all of the pokemon filling the room, which is thankfully plenty large enough. Florges and Gardevoir immediately move towards the hot spring pool. The ghosts start to examine every inch of décor and the appliances.
"Are you sure they'll be fine here alone, Kurt?"
Well, I was hoping the fairy pokemon would help rein in the chaos a bit… actually, that's a dumb plan. Sighing I take stock again, "Maybe I should find another option."
While Citro rushes to catch a lamp tipping over from Noibats wing I hear a creepy laugh that doesn't quite match Blue's or Kona's. In the upper corner of the room I spot a black ball of fog swirling just behind a ceiling beam.
Is that a Gastly? I bet most of this whole setup is run by local Ghost Types… Oh.
Schooling my expression, "Hey kid, head for the courtyard without me. Tell the ladies I'll catch up after I've got all these guys settled. Laying down some ground rules ya know."
"Um, Okay." He looks at all of the pokemon again, "Good luck."
Citro's POV!
Shivers crawl up my spine with how all the ruckus in the room goes silent with the door shutting. Not a single sound enters the hallway.
*Creak*
Except for my steps on the old wooden floors boards.
"Alright," Standing a little taller, "Man up… as if it was that easy."
Shoulders slump as I head back towards the courtyard entrance Naomi pointed out. Taking out Salazzle's ball and spinning it in my hand a bit.
"Kurt's just weird, but I don't think the girls understand." The ball shakes a bit, "He seems excited about all of this spooky stuff. He's been holding back a stupid grin since we pulled into town."
Pausing at a window into the courtyard, I can see Miss Gabby and her Husband Ty going over the camera plans with Naomi and Jane.
"My whole town spent years being tortured with nightmares of being hunted in the night. A parody in real life doesn't exactly sound like a good time."
Salazzle lets herself out of her ball and takes my hand, gently patting it like some doting granny.
"Thanks," Despite the gloom a chuckle escapes my lips, "the light is really catching your black scales now that we got them all polished up."
The lizard bashfully bats her eyes and waves me off.
"Hey did you pick one of the names off the list Kurt gave us?"
She nods excitedly and holds up two fingers.
I pull the paper from my pocket and check it.
Helen
Mephiti
Akhlys
Lampa
Hecate
Averna
"Well, then let's go with Mephi." She does a little happy dance, "I'm glad you didn't pick the third one. I've no idea how to say it. Kurt's home has weird myths."
She hisses in agreement.
"Well, let's do this Mephi." her claws pump in a cackling cheer as I return her to the ball and step out the door.
The girls immediately notice that I'm alone. Jane huffs, "The old man taking his time or what?"
"He said he'd catch up." Looking round the yard, the faintest bit of sunlight still lights up the stone lamps and bonsai trees creating a web of shifting shadows. A few lights glow behind the walls on the floors of the south wing. I notice Ty is making sure to keep the normal half of the building to his back so as not to catch it on camera.
Gabby shrugs, "The man has a good flair for drama, we should be fine to start. Let's get you all in the center. After Ty gives you the signal, just shout the key phrase Naomi."
"Over here Citro," Watts does a final check of her hair and plucks a stray leaf from Jane's shoulder, then gives me a critical look that always reminds me of my Aunt Lillie. "Alright I think we're set…"
"Wait!" Glados bursts out into the yard and zips over to Ty, "Boss said I need to help out the camera team."
Ty shrugs, "That's actually a great idea, thanks."
Some cheers come down from a lounge on the south side, second floor, "Go Rebels! You can do it!"
A team of older trainers raise their drinks to us.
Naomi gives them her practiced smile and wave before turning to us, "Let's do this!"
Jane shouts, "Drifblim!"
At first nothing happens, then mist starts to rise from the garden grounds.
The doors back into the hotel burst open with an explosion of glittering black mist!
"Shit!" Shouts Jane while sending out Mienfoo who takes a defensive stance and is joined by Whimsicott and Salazzle letting herself out.
Black clouds form into a giant dragon face that chomps down around us before anyone can do something. Darkness swirls around us, I can barely see the girls. Gabby and Ty are gone!
Naomi shouts "Argo, try to blow it away with Fairy Wind!"
Before the little sheep can do anything I feel myself floating up from the ground! Salazzle grabs onto my leg and I manage to snag Naomi, "Hold on! Jane, grab on!"
Gravity loses all hold as we clutch onto each other and get sucked into the doors like a maw swallowing us whole!
Back to Kurt!
"Oh, don't look at me like that."
Gothitelle, belonging to Agnis' Mom, continues to scowl while breathing heavily from he overuse of Gravity and Telekinesis while Agnis' Hattrem is sending out a fuzzy pink Heal Pulse to sooth the Musharna that passed out after his Misty Explosion.
A pair of Haunters and a Ghastly are chuckling like mad in the corner of the room.
"See, they loved it."
Looking out the now open window as Gabby and Ty give me a thumbs up while racing in after the kids.
Turning to one of the other pokemon with an oversized hat, "Your turn Maggy."
Mismagius giggles and flies in a circle around Agnis before dashing right through the wall.
Agnis and her mom, Morticia, are watching a laptop with the cameras pulled up. "I think we'll really have to step up our game after this mom."
The older blonde woman nods, "We may need to hit up your Uncle Morty for ideas."
I watch on the screen as the black mist slowly clears in the hallway. "I kind of feel bad for what's next."
Naomi's POV!
"This was not on the online page!"
Jane grabs my hand and pulls me to my feet, "It's just starting Princess, look!"
Citro and his Salazzle are blocking one direction with Jane on my other side. Either way the hall is barely lit around us by a dim lamp. In both directions the wood floors and paper frame walls extend into darkness. Except the hallways twist on themselves like a spiral.
Fuck.
Citro asks the burning question, "Well what now, we're supposed to 'find the ghost responsible' right?"
Okay, "Yes." time to focus, "We need to find the stairs first, I doubt it's on the first floor."
A door on Citro's side flies open! That skank Amber, stumbles out looking terrified, her clothes half shredded!
She turns this way, now we can see half of her face is covered in blood. Now we'll have to get her to sign a disclosure damn it!
"Citro? Citro Help!" She screams. There's a strange echo to her voice.
The girl runs towards us only to trip half way and fall. Citro dashes forward despite Salazzle trying to hold him back.
"NOoooo!" Something starts to pull the girl back into the darkness. "Help me!"
Citro dives to grab onto her hand!
As soon as he gets to her, the screams turn to laughs as her mouth opens unnaturally wide in a manic grin. A sudden yank rips Citro and Salazzle into the darkness while the whole hallway shakes. Booming laughter comes from somewhere above us.
Jane is white as a sheet, "What the fuck was that?!"
That?
"Arceus damn it Kurt." I grab Jane's hand and move towards the opposite direction, "Froosh, Argo, lead the way. Light up the darkness with Dazzling Gleam!"
While he hasn't got the move ready for battles yet, my little Whimsicott can at least light up a room.
Tiny glowing stars spiral down the hallway, the wooden walls fixing themselves back to normal as they go.
"Come on, let's solve this farce."
Back to Kurt!
The boy plops down in a chair while warily eyeing the number of ghost pokemon in the room.
Morticia brings in a tray of mini sandwiches, "Hungry dear?"
"No," he turns his glare to me, "Can't say I've much of an appetite."
Agnis snorts, along with her cackling pokemon, "That was great! I can't wait to show Amber the clip of her dashing hero!"
While the lad's face turns red I look back to the cameras, "They're almost at the stairs, we'll let this set stay normal." I turn to a crowd of smaller pokemon, "Okay guys, you're up! Remember, the tall red head girl is the jumpy one."
Ditto, Mimikyu, Polteageist, Smeargle, Banette, an Alolan Rattata, and a Zorua all give me salutes and race out of the room. Well, Ditto turns into a Rattata, then runs out.
"I'm a little bummed Naomi caught on immediately but, I can't say I'm surprised either."
Citro sighs, "Whatever man, I'm just glad I'm out of it already… You're an ass by the way."
Jane's POV!
Stepping slowly forward, testing the next stair. Firmly holding the railing.
Naomi sighs, "It's just stairs, let's move."
Right, just normal stairs.
Only a few more to the top.
Three shadows dash across the top of the landing! "Eeeh!"
My foot slips, "Fuck!"
The fall is cut short by Naomi, Whimsicott and Meinfoo all holding my back.
"It was just some Rattata Jane!"
Right, "Just some normal Rattata."
"Well, they were Alolan."
I glare back at Naomi, "I don't feel like this is the time for being a smarty jerk."
Her brow quirks, "I didn't say anything!"
"No, you definitely just corrected me!"
Rich girl actually rolls her eyes then glares past me, "Froosh, Detect."
The little 'Ninja Weasel,' as Kurt calls him, pauses for a second and then just points up the stairs.
Coming out onto the second floor we find a lounge. Shredded couches, stained rugs, broken lamps, oh, "Something's written on the wall."
I turn my flashlight to see dripping red letters, 'Your soul is Mine forever!'
"Lovely," Naomi dryly comments.
While I haven't moved the light I can see the red liquid continue to drip down the wall… like blood.
Crash!
I whip around to see a fallen tea set shattered across the floor, a familiar red liquid spilling out.
Slowly backing up.
"Don't be such a baby!"
I whip my head over to Naomi, "Not Cool!"
"It wasn't me!" She scowls, "Froosh!"
Mienfoo points over towards a pair of dolls on a mantle. A blond rag doll in a red dress holding a knife over the severed head of a red head doll. More of the red liquid spilling out as the head drops to the floor.
A girlish giggle echoes in the room, "We're waiting for you!"
"Nope, Nope, Nope!" Scrambling backward suddenly everything goes dark, I'm trapped in a fabric! I feel the floor disappear beneath me. "Nooo!"
Naomi's POV!
Jane just vanished from backing into a curtain. Like she was there, and then she was gone.
"And now I'm alone, not cool Kurt."
At least the curtain falling revealed a ladder to the attic.
Climbing one rung at a time I can hear skittering above.
Poking my head up, I immediately notice the webs covering everything.
Froosh growls and points, turning my flashlight I spot the webbed up forms of Jane, Citro, and Kurt.
"Oh, ha ha, playing like you were caught the whole time."
"Whiiim!"
Spinning around at Argo's warning, I see half a dozen Spinarak skittering my way! I also see the largest Shedinja of my life held up in the webs!
A bass voice rumbles in the room, "Now I'll take the whole set! Grab her!"
Ducking a volley of string shots and spinning away from a tackle, "Dance class coming in clutch, Froosh take out those bugs! Stick to Pound and Fury Swipes! Argo, Sunny Day then Gusts everywhere, no time like the present to work on Hurricane!"
I know the trick to Shedinja… even if this one is twice the normal size.
Froosh kicks one spider at the Ghost pokemon. It smashes through the shed exoskeleton like paper only for it to reform rapidly.
"Keep that up Froosh. Argo, aim to stop it from reforming!"
I dive to the side to evade a few String Shots, "Would be nice to have Salazzle about now!"
Winds whip about the attic rafters making it hard to keep my footing. Argo's Sunny Day is keeping the most annoying Spinarak move, Shadow Sneak, off the table. Same for any shadow moves of Shedinja. My Whimsicott laughs at the fumbling bugs.
That angry voice fills the room again, "No! I will not be mocked in my own domain!"
The one big Shedinja reforms into four normal sized ones.
Is it really several combined or one big one using Double Team?
"Froosh, Detect. Argo, Nature Power!"
All four charge towards us, low to the floor, claws gleaming with metal energy!
Timing my highest backflip, Froosh uses Quick Guard to block the combined assault. Argo unleashes a blast of hot air that throws me even higher and sends the Shedinja flying against the rafters.
The webs around the room are shredded. Some even get in my face as I actually stick the landing.
Citro is helping Jane up, Gabby is excitedly reviewing the camera with Ty over to the side in a spot that was hidden by the webs before. Kurt starts a slow clap.
"Oh fuck you old man! I know this was your idea! Froosh, Pound him!"
He stops clapping to laugh and hop out of the way of my furious pokemon.
Chapter 100: 100: Zooming Out
—-
Naomi
—-
At least this tourist trap hotel has Arceus blessed coffee. I haven't had a cup this good in months.
Another alert pops up on my tablet from Gabby. It's a local broadcast plan.
Citro is next to me on the couch, getting his quiet time in while watching the travel channel. Every day since we left Alola he's opened up a bit more. It's been nice having someone my age around, and it's so wild how his life feels like a weird mirror of mine.
When he finishes his bite of ramen I tap his shoulder, "Can you turn the channel to the Rookie Highlights? They're showing us."
Giving a thumbs up rather than talking with a mouthful, he swaps the station.
Lisia's annoying voice grates my ears, "of the team was out early. Last year's top contenders were out in force to give the Rebels an ego check."
This bitch.
Scene shifting from each of our knock outs to Kurt's smirk, "That tricky bodyguard wasn't so quick to fall back down the canyon however."
A flash montage of Sandslash's Drill Run, his Shiny Galvantula exploding with Pin Missile, black sand in the shape of a dragon skull crashing into a Nidoqueen, that monster Carracosta absolutely thrashing a poor Talonflame, then Blue's fire dance.
"The storm hit fast, but that just brought us to a fantastic final match in the canyon. Kurt versus everyone's bet to take it all this year, Alloy Stone!"
A flash screen of her team, Metang, Mawile, Skarmory, Aggron, Magneton, Scizor. The slice with Scizor enlarges showing her square off against Kurt's monster bat. Shak's howl is scary no matter how many times I've heard it.
The camera barely catches Scizor deflecting the blitz. Next is a shot of the arial back and forth along the canyon walls. Then ending with a flash of red as that Psycho Cut lights up the canyon walls.
"Monsters truly collide this year on the rookie circuit! Miss Stone is already set to face the skies of the Fortree Gym tonight!
As it shows the iconic tower over the trees I poke Citro, "That's enough."
He turns it off and looks over at my tablet, "So, how long before everyone has something to say about us back in the canyon?"
"Do you want the nice stuff or the Mankeys?" Well, maybe he can ignore the mean junk.
Shrugging, "I wouldn't mind any legit criticism out there."
Huh, "Okay, one sec."
Most of the posts about the Canyon King tourney are just nobodies trying to stand on hills for their favorite pro… Aside from my own, that girl Blake has a lot of fans.
"Here we go," Finding the first bit of intelligent thought, "That green haired kid should try teaching his Whiscash Stockpile and Spit up, to power up a Mud Shot combination.' and below that another comment says, 'why stop there, go for Jaw Lock and Fishious Rend!'"
Citro raises a brow, "Can she really learn those?"
"No idea dude, I train fairies, not fish." Reading some more crap, "Here's one for Jane I see all the time, "Doesn't this B* have any other pokemon? It's that Onix and croc every time!' Jane gets called a one trick pretty often."
He scowls, "Rude, can I see?"
Well, not like he couldn't look it up himself, "I guess."
Taking my tablet, its barely ten seconds before I see the rare anger in his expression, "These people are disgusting!"
He probably saw one of the many posts suggesting inappropriate things about our team. "I've learned to ignore most of it. Kind of knew what would happen when I hired Kurt, my father and grandpa warned me. Just hit the report button."
Seeing that gloomy face, "Hey, hand it back let me show you something."
Good old, /Hoenn.
Oh man, "Look, someone caught a clip of when jane ate it getting out the jeep yesterday."
He smirks and points to the next post, "Wait, that can actually happen?!"
The photo is a boy strung up a tree by a swarm of wurmples. A dozen of the bugs are in the back of the image while a familiar gym trainer from Petalburg cuts him down.
Links go to more Petalburg incidents, including those Fallarbor jerks getting wrecked by Max.
Citro points, "Hey there's one of Kurt! Wow, that's a lot of views."
It's dated before the season officially started. While the page loads, "Where is he this morning anyway?"
"He said he was going to give Professor Oak a call."
"Gary!?"
I stop as the clip starts to play with the words, "I think I heard something!"
A shaky cam is pointed towards a dark forest lit up by a campfire. Thunderous sounds of breaking wood shatter the peaceful night.
Some woman's voice, "Why are you recording?!"
"It could be a rare Pokémon!" I think that was one of the Petalburg gym trainers.
There's a pause in sound while a pair of zigzagoon escape the brush and actually hide behind the woman… who really needs to zip her jacket more or find a shirt. Does she know this made it online?!
Another earth shaking boom, this time closer, much closer.
Both trainers send out pokemon, a Zangoose and a Delcatty.
"Shit," The male voice shouts, "I can see someone running!"
"It's a raging Trevenant!" She turns and shoos along the scared wild Zigzagoon, "Head for town little ones!"
You can just make out a red glow pursuing a man desperately hopping over bushes and roots.
"Goon, use Shadow Claw!"
"Delca, use Shadow Ball!"
While the two pokemon harass the large tree pokemon, the camera follows a fairly beat up man in a familiar outfit as he slides to the ground between the gym trainers. The video ends with Kurt highlighted with a link to bring up his trainer profile. There's another link about warning trainers from wandering the Petalburg woods unprepared.
Citro sits back in his chair, "I guess that was when he caught his Phantump"
"Just another day for the old man." Jane scoffs from behind me, making me hop in my seat a little.
—-
The Pike Queen
—-
"Janie, what are you looking at?" My niece is leaning over the back of her couch commenting on something the Wattson girl is watching.
She plops back down in front of the camera, she's looking so much like Lina now that it hurts. I wish my sister could see her little girl growing up.
"Kurt angered a big Trevenant when he caught his Phantump." Fiddling with her stubborn red hair, "Is that happening more often? When we stopped in Petalburg there was a team that got pretty roughed up."
Ya, that problem is a bit too open of a secret at this point. The suspected culprit, Leader Ourboro, is trying to bully Max in a Hoenn league video meeting I have muted.
I can't believe I used to think Ourboro was cute. Every once of charm that man has is just a lie.
"Fallarbor is not happy about that." I can't help smirking as Max just holds a stare so level you'd think his camera froze.
Jane snorts, "Ya, they got beat down pretty quick."
Max pushes up his glasses and I catch that ghost of a smirk.
Yup I need to focus, "Gottago Go Janie Super Important leagestuff love you bye!"
My niece just waves with a smile before hanging up, knowing I wasn't supposed to be talking to her right now. I unmute the League meeting.
Ourboro scowls, "What are you smiling about Brat?"
"Well," Max's glasses reflect the screen of all the Gym Leaders and Tower Masters, "I'm just considering that this means you'll back my push to raise the minimum age for rookies next year."
Red eyes behind white bangs narrow, "... Assuming we can raise the difficulty across the entire circuit."
Chairman Stone speaks up, "A fine compromise. Cast your votes."
While the Fallarbor Gym Leader looks livid about his entire rant being ignored, a poll pops into the message channel. Clicking my answer in favor, the votes are tallied live.
While no one has voted against, a few still haven't voted.
Wallace lays down his view as Contest Chairmen, "I'm not changing anything for Contests. However, we will strongly advise chaperones for our younger participants."
Roxy boulders in with the bigger picture, "And what are we to tell next years would be rookies? What are we going to do with dozens of children no longer able to set off next spring? What about my graduates this year? What do we do with the reserved eggs from the breeders that Will hatch regardless of us changing the schedule?"
Norman speaks up, rare since he joined the elite four, "Travel Restrictions, during this transition year. Let them receive their starters as scheduled. Limit their range to the local wilds, allow them to challenge the local gyms."
One of the Wattson twins calls out from their couch, "This won't work for Mauville's Mosh. We account for a significant portion of the increased revenue our city and region has gained since we started. No one is going to tune in for a full year of the same rookies banging their heads against the electric wall and the few regional challengers."
Shauna, no longer our newest leader, "I'm pretty sure that goes the same for Dewford. Those casino owners will knock down the door if they hear how much less visitors we can expect for a full year."
Torch hasn't felt like he has any right to speak yet but I can see the sudden nervousness in his eyes, realizing Lavaridge is in the same boat.
It's becoming clear that the larger cities cannot afford to take a slow year.
Liza of Mossdeep sighs into her mic, "Then we put this off another year so we can figure out the disparity. Maybe do it one town at a time."
Winona agrees, "One town at a time and promote more regional challengers to visit Hoenn."
A thought strikes me, "Let's double down on the Mentorship idea. That will boost the local participants to fill in the numbers."
Wattson Senior chimes in from the board members, "Like the lad Kurt, and Norman's girl. I'm in favor!"
His grandsons don't hesitate, "Absolutely! Stronger locals are great for the mosh."
Brendan looks slightly embarrassed over his wife's impulsive idea being used politically.
Wally finally speaks, sitting up in his wheelchair, "Then we agree on that direction. What is with that Kurt fellow anyway?"
The familiar voice of Anabel, once one of our Tower Masters, now an Interpol agent, interrupts despite not having a camera on screen, "Subject Kurt is Code UW."
Jane told me, but I still try to act surprised like the majority of the league.
Mt. Pyre's young Gym Leader, Nohime, gives a loud squeal as she tumbles away from her camera in a flurry of black priestess robes. Dawn of Sinnoh shifts the camera to herself, "Are you fucking kidding me?!"
Well that's a security breach.
—-
Edgar Wikstrom
—-
Miss Dawn totally just shoved Gym Leader Nohime away from her laptop and started yelling at the screen. I didn't catch what it was about but that was still extremely rude. The other Hoenn league officials seemed to cut her from the call anyway.
Offering a hand to Miss Nohime, her pure white fingers gently take mine.
She brushes her dark hair from her captivatingly purple eyes. I catch the scent of some floral shrine incense.
"Thank you Edgar… um, you can let go now."
Ah!
"Sorry!" Taking a step back and turning away, "Right, you said our challenge was to collect a weed?"
Glancing back I catch her lips pout, "No, Reeds! Small, black, bamboo reeds that grow on the mountain. You'll find them just past the base so no need to wander beyond the sight of the village. Seriously, Do Not head up into the fog." She looks over to make sure Tommy is listening while packing snacks in his bag, "Keep the lanterns of the gym in sight."
Recalling each home on the floating village having black windchimes at their front door. Out the window, light from the village only goes a short ways up the mountain before the perpetual fog shrouds everything.
I get her warning, I do, but this is why I came to Hoenn! I Know the mountain holds secrets to raising powerful ghost pokemon.