Chapter 17:
Sweet Victini
Location: Castelia City
Liberty Pass? Check. Items? Check. Professor Juniper? Couldn't leave her behind!
We walked to Liberty Pier where a man tropical shirt and sunglasses was waiting drinking a smoothie in a well-polished white speedboat bobbing on the green sea. He looked like the most chilled dude ever, evident by the tan he had.
"Yo, Professor Juniper! This who you're talking about?"
I got out my Liberty Ticket, as did she. "Two to Liberty Garden!" we said.
"My name's Skeeter. I originally did transport around the Sevii Islands in Kanto but moved here. I primarily take people to Liberty Garden or Unity Tower. Okay, no time to waste!"
We both got in and heard the speedboat engine start to whir. The boat started moving away from the dock and we sped out to sea.
I looked over my shoulder as Castelia City slowly became a shadow over the horizon. Okay we weren't going that far; it's only a half hour trip after all. But after a while the colour of the buildings and signs could not longer be seen; they turned into a silhouette.
Location: Liberty Garden
The boat slowly pulled up to a small island. The only building on the island was a small lighthouse. A very old lighthouse at that; chunks of concrete had rotten away over the years. There was also a man selling drinks like Lemonade and Moomoo milk at a stand.
"Welcome to Liberty Garden!" Skeeter said as me and Professor Juniper stepped out and onto the brown concrete. "See you this evening!"
"So, Professor" I asked. "Why did you bring me here?"
Juniper looked at the lighthouse. "In there is rumoured to be a Mythical Pokémon, one capable of granting victory to anyone. Many experts deny its existence, so they don't consider a Pokémon to be put in the Pokédex. However, many do believe in it, so they made it entry number 000 as sort of a compromise. We're here to see if the Pokémon in question, Victini, is indeed real."
I found it impossible to think that there could be a Pokémon that has the power to just make you win, but the thought was exciting.
Mythical Pokémon is a recent term to describe Pokémon that are rarer than Legendary. With many legendaries, there are only one of each so there is often a specific place to look for them. Not always the case as there are reports of multiple Legendries like the birds in Kanto, but it's mostly the case. Mythical Pokémon however, there are more than one. But they are very, very rare.
"Uh oh" I said, as I saw a giant, black boat docked on the other side. "Professor Juniper, I don't think we're alone, and I don't mean Drink Stand Guy." On the side of the boat was the familiar looking logo with the shield and P on it. "No!" I said as I hid round the corner.
Professor Juniper walked round calmly. "Bianca told me everything. You did the right thing." She looked at the ship again. "But honestly, neither did they."
I mean, I know that. They stole Bianca's Munna. They're trying to liberate Pokémon. They stole the Dragon Skull. What else could they have done?
"They broke a promise."
What did she mean by that? Then, it hit me.
"They promised Bianca that her Munna was in Narrow Street. It wasn't and you dodged a bullet, so in a sense, that was breaking a promise. How about you get them back, just this one time?"
"WHAT?!" I said. She had a point, but it would still mean breaking the promise. "Well, I'm in a pickle. What should I do? Let me consult to the Angel and Devil on my shoulders, no wait even they would be confused!"
"Sshh!" Juniper said, putting her finger to her lips. "Someone's coming, we should hide."
We went further round the lighthouse and heard an M Grunt talking.
"No sign of it" he said. "But we'll keep looking. If we get our hands on Victini, Team Plasma will be unstoppable!"
Well, that was a scary thought. I breathed, thinking about what would happen if I didn't step in.
"Just this once?" I asked Juniper.
"Just this once" she assured me.
I ran to the other side.
"Hey!" I said. "I heard what you're planning!"
"Oh look!" the Grunt said. "It's the kid who agreed to leave us alone, a deal you made with Lord Ghetsis himself. Go away kid, you promised."
"So did one of your Grunts!" I shouted. "I think we should make things even. Leave this place, leave Victini and… I'll try not to bother with you again."
The Grunt got out a Pokéball. "Fine. Have it your way. Try to stop us, promise breaker!"
Hilbert Vs. Team Plasma Grunt
"I choose Patrat!" the Grunt yelled.
"Go Drilbur!" I replied. "Okay, use Dig!" Drilbur dug underground and dodged a Crunch from Patrat.
"Nice try!" the Grunt said. "Patrat, Detect!"
When Drilbur came up, Patrat swiftly dodged out the way. Well, there went that strategy.
"Okay Drilbur, Rock Smash!" Drilbur punched Patrat for Super Effective damage, almost knocking it out.
"Crunch!" Patrat bit down on Drilbur's nose.
"One more Rock Smash!" Drilbur attacked Patrat one more time, finishing the job.
"PLLLLLLLAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSMAAAAAA!" shouted the Grunt.
"Let me through" I demanded.
The Grunt snarled, before realising that he had no choice. "Fine, but I warn you. Ghetsis will hear all about this!" He stepped to one side and let me in.
It was evident that no one really went into the lighthouse to clean, or at the very least the last blitz must have been years ago; moss covered the walls, and those were the walls that weren't even cracked. The pipes above had been rusted to the point where they had large holes in, rendering them useless. It would take quite the pricey renovation to bring it back to modern standards.
I was in there with some Team Plasma Grunts looking around.
"Victini?" one of them whispered. "Where are you?"
"Come to Team Plasma," another said.
"Hey!" I told them.
They all looked at me. Then, they all started laughing.
"You're kidding me!" a Grunt M shouted. "Does he really think he can take us on again?!"
"He promised Ghetsis! Is he being funny?!"
They could laugh all they want, but each and every one of them would be crying for their mummy.
"I'm balancing out the promise. After this, do what you want; Bianca, Cheren and Iris will kick your butts anyway. They're strong to. So, who's first?"
"Oh, I will!" said a Grunt F. "Yeah, why not. We're going to rub your broken promise over our victory!"
Hilbert Vs. Plasma Grunt F
"I choose Dewott!" I yelled.
"Trubbish, go!" the Grunt replied as the disgusting green Pokémon entered the other side.
"Dewott, Razor Shell!" Dewott sliced Trubbish for an almost knockout.
"Trubbish, Sludge!" Trubbish fired a ball of purple sludge at Dewott. Dewott was understandably disgusted.
"Another Razor Shell!" Dewott sliced Trubbish again, beating it.
"PLLLLLLLLAAAAAAAAASSSSSSMAMMMAAHAHAHAHA!" she started laughing. "He thinks he's so serious?!"
Did I look like I cared?
I had had enough. "Okay, who's next?"
However, they all just got back to work.
I ignored them and made my way to the end of the lighthouse.
So, in the last room was, a bedroom? This place was much nicer than the corridor. I mean, the walls were cracked and mossy and the pipes were rusted, but it had a nice carpet, a well-made bed, some chest of drawers and not an inch of dust on any furniture. It was almost like someone had just left it as is and no one else had visited. Why was it this well looked after? And why was there no bathroom?
I felt a presence behind me. Was it a Team Plasma Grunt? I didn't know. Ghetsis even? What if he had been notified already?
"Show yourself!" I shouted.
It wasn't Team Plasma though. It was a small Pokémon. Its orange ears formed a V shape. Its orange hands formed a V shape. Its tail, feet, even the pattern on its yellow body formed a V shape.
Victini (ビクチニ)
000
Psychic/Fire Type
Victory Pokémon
1'04" (0.4 m)
8.8 lbs (4 kg)
This Pokémon brings victory. It is said that Trainers with Victini always win, regardless of the type of encounter.
Mythical Pokémon
"So, you're the Pokémon that grants victory." Victini started jumping about happily. "Victini, you should hide. There are evil people here who want to use your power for bad. Go, now!"
"There it is!"
A Grunt M ran in.
"We searched this room thoroughly, but it seems Victini won our little game of hide and seek. That's the last victory against Team Plasma today."
Hilbert Vs. Team Plasma Grunt M
"I choose Watchog!" Plasma shouted.
"Tranquill, go!" I shouted back. "Okay, start with Air Cutter!" Tranquill shot streaks of air at Watchog. It was a Critical Hit! Watchog took a lot of damage.
"Hypnosis!" Watchog stared down Tranquill, and it fell asleep.
I decided to recall Tranquill before anything could happen to it. "Audino, go!" I said, as it took a Crunch attack. "Okay, use Secret Power!" Audino took in the environment, and then attacked Watchog. This led to a paralysis that Watchog couldn't move from. "Now use DoubleSlap!" Audino slapped Watchog enough times for it to faint.
"PLAAASSSMMAAAAAA!"
"Nice one Audino!" I said as we hi-fived.
"You… are unbelievable," the Grunt snarled.
"I have one more promise to give to you" I said. "Do NOT tell any Grunts or Sages, especially Ghetsis, about this. Or I will kick the behind of every last one of you.
"Try me" the Grunt said.
I saw Victini's ears start to glow. Then, it charged into the Grunt at full force, leading to an explosion. The impact causes the lighthouse to start to crumble. According to the Dex, it was V-Create.
"We need to get out of here. Victini, thank you." I was about to run out, when I noticed the injured Grunt. "You're coming to!" I sent out the rest of my Pokémon (except Tranquill, who was still fast asleep) and heaved the injured Grunt out of the lighthouse.
The inside of the lighthouse may be badly damaged, but the outside didn't look to bad. Maybe some fallen bricks, but it stood intact.
I came out with the Grunt, covered in debris. The other Grunts ran over.
"You better be thankful I was here to stop you or there could have been worse than an injury."
The Grunts didn't know what to say. Two of them took the Grunt by both arms and took them back to the boat. The F Grunt stayed behind.
"I… suppose we owe you a thanks."
"I save you, now make me this promise. Don't tell anyone else about this. If word gets out, Ghetsis will kill me. Then I'll have to defend myself against all of you."
The Grunt sighed, then held out my hand. I was reluctant, but shook it.
"This is not the end of our rivalry though. Team Plasma will prevail." With that, she let go of her grip and joined the others.
"So" Professor Juniper said. "How was your little adventure?"
"I think it was a victory" I said, as I noticed victory from the window at the top of the lighthouse waving at me. I didn't wave back just in case Team Plasma saw me, but I gave it a nod that meant "thank you."
"Ready to go back to Castelia City?" Skeeter shouted.
"You bet!" I replied.
Location: Castelia City
Cheren, Bianca and Iris were waiting on Liberty Pier for us. I could see that Bianca was jumping on the spot with excitement.
Skeeter pulled up to the Pier and I immediately wanted to know what was up with Bianca. Immediately, she got out her Badge Case to reveal the Insect Badge had now been added to her collection.
"Three down, five to go!" she said, grinning.
"So, what happened over there?" Cheren asked.
I needed to explain everything.
"I see" Cheren said. "Well, Professor Juniper was right. They broke a promise, so you should to. Make this your final chance I say."
In the distance, I could see Liberty Island's silhouette on the horizon.
"Thanks Victini" I said.
I feel guilty about today. I semi-broke a promise after all. But I'd be damned if I said it wasn't for the better. I saved an enemy's life and it feels good, even if we are not on good terms whatsoever. Tomorrow will be my final whole day in Castelia City before I head to Nimbasa City, where the lights are brighter.
