Chapter 62:
Retracing Steps
Location: Opelucid Pokémon Center
"Ya told me he would be here!" I heard from downstairs. The voice sounded familiar.
Not knowing if it was about me, I went downstairs. He probably woke everyone up to be fair. Thankfully, it was about me! And I was greeted with a friendly face…
"Clay!" I shouted.
"Howdy!" he yelled, bringing his pickaxe down to my nose. (I dread to think how the practices doing that went). "Nice to meet you again!"
By the sounds of it, I asked Clay if he was looking for me.
"That's the truth! Come outside; I feel mentioning it here might get everyone in a panic."
Location: Opelucid City
We walked through the cyberpunk city. Clay was clearly eager to tell me something, and I wasn't sure what. But whatever it was, I wasn't sure if it was good. Whilst it technically wasn't, it could be considered good news.
"I was doing some work in Chargestone Cave, when I think I saw one of those Sages."
"Really?!" I asked, remembering that I should be quiet. "Thanks for telling me."
"I told Looker first, and he said to contact you. So, I asked all the Pokémon Centers in Unova where you were, and after hearing you were here, Skyla flew me over on her plane. You may go when ready."
I said I would, but I needed to visit an old friend first.
After Clay left, I went to Drayden's house. Even if I couldn't see his smile through his bushy-white beard, I could tell he was pleased to see me.
"So, how's Iris' journey going?" I asked Drayden.
"She's doing well," Drayden simply said. "Her Axew, Deino and Druddigon are strong forces to contend with. I promised I will battle her before the League for the final Badge. She's apparently gone the same way you've just come, probably because she doesen't want to fight Brycen and his Ice Types, which is valid."
I looked at a picture of Iris and Drayden by his television. She had her Axew with her. "How long have you mentored her?" I asked.
"I was the one who gave Iris her Axew. She has since become a great Trainer. Maybe you will battle her one day."
I nodded. "Okay, I gotta get to Chargestone Cave. Clay told me there is, business that needs taking care of."
Drayden understood. "Good luck Hilbert. And thank you for saving Unova. Here is something I can do to say thank you." He went into a drawer and pulled out a colourful heart-shaped object. "This is a Heart Scale. Give it to the Move Reminder at Mistralton City and you can remember a move, or even learn a new one depending on the Pokémon."
"Thanks!" I replied. "I'll put it to good use!"
Location: Mistralton City
After arriving in Mistralton City on Unfezant (and putting it back in the PC), I wanted to go to the Move Reminder. She lived in one of the small houses.
Four people lived there. They were all having a game of what I could make out to be Pokémon Pursuit, which is a quiz game. Except they were all about moves. An elderly woman was reading the cards two a family consisting of two parents and a son by the looks of it.
"Okay, here's a good one. Name a move with the word "Dance" in it."
Three people put up their hand.
"Swords Dance!"
"Quiver Dance!"
"Petal Dance!"
"I'd say you won that, Lauren."
Lauren took the card off the old woman. "Thanks Mum." She saw me. "Well well, you want to play a game with us?"
I took out my Heart Scale. "Anyone know the Move Reminder?"
Lauren ran over to me. "Well, it isn't every day that this happens! I'd be happy to! What would you like to remember?" She brought over a book. "This has all the move sets of all the Pokémon in Unova. Have a flick through."
I looked through the lot. Excadrill, Scrafty, Zekrom, Chandelure, Gothitelle and Samurott. Interestingly, Samurott could learn a move it hadn't ever known; Megahorn. A Bug Type move.
"This one please," I said.
"Okay dokie. Please send out your Samurott."
I did just that. Lauren grabbed Samurott's horn and started yelling. "Samurott, you will relearn Megahorn! Ha!"
I backed away a bit awkwardly. "That's how she does things?" I asked.
"Well?" Lauren said. "Give it a try."
I shrugged. "Okay. Samurott, Megahorn!" Samurott's horn started to glow green. Then, it lunged forward. "That looks strong! Well done Samurott and thanks Lauren!"
With the new move in tow, I headed for Chargestone Cave.
Location: Chargestone Cave
I had forgot how bad of an experience I had had in this cave (aside from Drilbur evolving of course). Getting bit on the arm by an Archen, getting shocked by a Joltik and getting a lot of pins stuck in my back from a Ferroseed. But I had to find the next Sage.
"I know," I said. "I'll go to the bottom floor."
And that I did. (I won't bore you with the details; I only really fought things like Klink and Joltik). But as it stood, the place was as electrified as any of the other floors.
"Let's not waste any more time." I took out a Max Repel and sprayed it all over me. Now I could look for the Sage without much getting in the way.
I wandered around and found him. The Sage this time was Bronius.
"I did not care for your existence," he said.
"What's that supposed to mean?" I replied back. For some reason, I was more insulted that I would usually be.
"But after seeing your performance in Chargestone Cave all that time ago, I could see your capabilities. And I would like to see it again. Plasma, come out!"
Suddenly, two Team Plasma grunts appeared from round the back of one of the electrified rocks.
"You took us down the first time here, but not today!" the male one shouted.
Hilbert Vs. Plasma Grunt M
"Scrafty, I choose you!" I shouted.
"Go Watchog!" replied the Grunt.
"High Jump Kick!" Scrafty kicked Watchog in the face, dealing with it in one blow.
"I expected that anyway. Scrafty, go!" he replied.
"Another High Jump Kick!" Scrafty went in for another one, but it missed.
"Now use your High Jump Kick!" Scrafty kicked my Scrafty in the face. Even worse, it was a Critical Hit. Scrafty was down.
"Chandelure, go!" I said. "Use Flame Burst!" Chandelure fired a flame at Scrafty, knocking it out.
"PLAAASSMAAA!" yelled the Grunt.
One down, one to go.
"Give all your Pokémon to us!"
Hilbert Vs. Plasma Grunt F
"You're up Samurott!" I shouted.
"Go Liepard!" replied the Grunt. "Use Night Slash!" Liepard swiped at Samurott with its dark claws.
"Use Megahorn!" Samurott jabbed Liepard hard with its horn. It was a strong Super Effective hit and Liepard went down.
"Garbodor, come out!" the Grunt yelled.
I recalled Samurott for Excadrill, "Use Earthquake!" Excadrill made the entire earth shake, and Garbodor was almost finished.
"Urgh. I have no counters. Fine. You win. Garbodor, Explosion!" Garbodor went boom! Excadrill took damage and Garbodor was finished. "PLAAAASSMAAA!"
"I won again," I said.
Just then, we heard a bit of shaking from the ground. I knew who it was. From out the ground came Clay and his Excadrill. Looker leapt out with him.
"In the name of the International Police, I shall arrest you!" Looker shouted.
Bronius sighed. "Those who do not understand Pokémon, never forgive them please!"
We had no idea what he said. Looker threw me an Escape Rope. "I'll take it from here. We have one more to find, and I think I have an idea of where he is. I want you to meet me at Nuvema Town."
I didn't know what he was talking about, but I decided to listen to him. Using the Escape Rope, I left Chargestone Cave and headed home.
Location: Nuvema Town
In my own hometown, Looker joined me at about 8pm. Making an arrest, especially someone as big as a Team Plasma Sage, makes any member of the Police busy.
"Is it true?" Looker asked. "About Rood? Apparently, the other Sages I took in said that you two are friends."
"Sort of," I said. "He's still Team Plasma, but he appears to be on my side. I think he might just be against them. I don't know how to feel, but I'm not sure if he should be arrested."
Looker sighed; he was as conflicted as I was. "Well, we believe to have found him. A drone spotted him on Route 18. We will take him in for questioning at the very least."
I nodded. "Okay."
I have one more Sage to find; the one I am friends with. After that, I guess it's time to take on the League.
