~{Author's Pre-Notes}~
(Mimikyu sitting alone on a comfy couch, staring out the window to watch the falling snow.)
So... Here we are, nearing the end of the year... It's been pretty fun, hasn't it?
...
Two years ago... Over two years ago I never would've guessed that I would be writing two fics that have so many people enjoy, especially since I hated writing in general. Heh, how times have changed...
(Gets up and jumps to the floor, moving to the lit-up fireplace.)
Now, if you were to ask me what I enjoy doing the most, then I guess it would have to be writing these fics. They just make me feel happy, they make me feel... important. It just brings so much satisfaction writing these and then watching people comment on them, letting me know that there are people both reading and enjoying them... But now, here is the chapter I said I was nearly done writing previously. I finished the edits on it a while ago, but decided to wait to post this as my Christmas gift for all of you. Not only that, but my other fic has also been updated along with this one. Such great presents, right?
(Turns to tall, decorated Christmas tree next to him.)
So... Like I also said in the previous chapter, now that I've posted this one, from now on, I'll be focusing on my other fic, To Be A Hero. I wonder how long it'll take me to get caught up to my writing for that fic... I don't know, but know that I'll be doing my best to write and post those chapters, I promise you guys that.
(Walks to one of the presents underneath the tree.)
But for now...
(Unwraps present)
Appreciate this gift from me, alright?
Answered Comments (oldest to most recent):
Perseus D. Uzumaki: It's alright, I'm just glad you chose to comment at some point. But yeah, after this chapter, now it's full steam ahead on working on my other fic.
Madko Ota Sanchez V2: I've got no idea what would've given that idea, heh.
KingPlotBunny: There's nothing wrong with an anime bringing you to tears, it's happened to me a few times. Just the emotion that anime, and even just a song like 'Acacia' could bring me to tears. Sorry to hear you didn't have anyone to trade with, it does suck, but there's always chances to make friends.
FanFictionReaderIne: I'm glad I'm becoming a part of your life! :D I'm glad this fic means a lot to you.
Martial Arts Master: Bruh, that sounds hilarious.
Lelouch of Zero: Heh, I always saw Colress as just the type of creepy scientist that only gets overly excited about science, kinda like how Mei from My hero academia gets too excited about making inventions. But I always liked those kinds of characters.
lonelyboi69: Ah, don't you just love a girl that can stop you from existing?
Acebun815: Colress in general is pretty nice and positive, but he just lets his desire for knowledge fuel him to do whatever it takes. Thanks for understanding that I'll be working a lot more on my other fic from now on, until next time!
Exia Zero: Ayyyyy I actually didn't think that anyone would get that reference. Glad to know you've had a childhood, heh. But no, I'm not gonna just create a tradition in Galar for an embarrassing wholesome moment. I think Victor presenting Sonia with the love ball itself would cause enough trouble, heh.
Jak: Lol, of course you've mastered type matchups, bwahaha. (Not gonna lie, that line always just made me chuckle in the game.) I personally think that Crocodai sounds pretty cool. And I'm sorry you lost your DS, losing such key pieces of your childhood really is one of the worst things to think about when you're older.
Lildeevil: *Whispers in ear* Psst, wrong card game.
Silver Crow: Did you really think Klara would have a Galarian Dustox? She's a poison type user, so I never pictured her having one. Lol, and as for Colress, for some reason, I really did see him having the same type of energetic personality as Allister because both of them try to seek out something to amaze/amuse themselves in excited in general.
Shiboah: Thanks for commenting! Glad you're enjoying it.
5AT05H1L1NK: Wasn't Gloria always pretty foul? Heh, she just kept it in check most of the time. And also, thanks for the personal Merry Christmas man! Glad to have a fan like you!
~{Bridge Field Cave- Forty Minutes Before Nessa Left}~
*Snoooooooooooorre!*
Victor was completely awake with an unamused look on his face, lying on the ground in his tent and wrapped in his yellow sleeping bag as if in a cocoon. The loud snoring next to him was Hop, the noise even louder than the sounds of thunder from outside. Their pokemon were stored in Pokeballs for the night, as the tent was too cramped for all of them.
"Yeah... I don't think I'm sleeping much..." The boy thought with a sigh, unzipping his sleeping bag and sitting up. His current clothing was the same as earlier, with the white Shuckle-designed T-shirt and gray sweatpants to go with it.
"I guess I could use 'Rest' to immediately put myself to sleep... The only problem is that I'm guaranteed to wake up after a certain amount of time in the middle of the night..."
He stretched his arms up with a small groan.
"Although, I'll be asleep for MUCH longer if I'm injured... Learned that the hard way with Sensei."
Thinking of his Greninja friend, Victor paused and lowered his arms, then letting himself fall back on top of his sleeping bag while staring up in thought.
"That's right... It's been a while since I've seen Sensei... I haven't even-"
Victor suddenly sat up with completely widened eyes.
"I NEVER CALLED MOM!"
He started nervously shivering as he recalled promising to get in touch with her.
"I'm... so dead."
He rushed to put on his sandals and grabbed his Rotom phone, being sure not to accidentally trip over Hop as he slipped outside his tent. The cave was rather dark, but with his eyes already adjusting to the darkness, Victor proceeded to the deepest part where the storm's noise would be the lowest. He held his phone in his right hand as he tapped the contact for his mother, sitting down with his back pressing against the cave wall.
"I hope she's not asleep yet... I don't think she is. Ever since learning that I sneak out to train with Sensei at night, she changed her sleep schedule..."
He heard the dialing of his phone go on, to which he turned his head and gazed outside the cave at the occasional flashes and booming occurring.
"Man... The rain really came down hard..."
He waited a few more seconds before he heard his phone click.
And then...
*Victor, the next time you come home, you're eating sardines with yogurt.* A dangerous voice spoke.
Victor had an expression as if dead inside as he turned completely blue in despair.
"H-Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeey mom..." He nervously chuckled. "L-Let's not get ahead of ourselves..."
*So anyways, how have you been, sweetie?* His mom's voice became sickenly sweet as if she hadn't just said her previous words.
"She's PISSED!" Victor could immediately tell.
"L-Look mom, I'm sorry... I know I said I would call, but... a lot of things happened. It feels like every second of my trip, I was doing something."
There was a moment of silence on the line before Victor heard his mother sigh.
*It didn't matter anyway. In fact, I should be glad you didn't call..."
"Eh?" Victor blinked in confusion. "What do you mean?"
*Well, let's say that some unnecessary information is always said in those pokemon stadiums... Right, 'Victor of Postwick?'*
Victor's eyes widened in realization. At each gym he's been to, his presence was always announced with the location of his home town. So if Rainbow Rocket was watching, then...
"W-Wait! So-!?"
*Yup, Team Rocket came looking. Don't worry, they didn't find me.*
Victor let out a breath of relief, and he rubbed his head.
"I-I never thought about that... I knew they'd be watching me as much as they can, but I didn't think about you... So it was good that I didn't call? Did that have to do with them too?"
*Yes, Victor. I worried that they'd be tracking any calls in Postwick, so I worked on a little gizmo to install into the house. I finished it recently, so now you should be good to ACTUALLY remember to call me.*
"Again, sorry for forgetting..." Victor sweatdropped.
*Sure you are, heh. But besides blocking out any tracking Rainbow Rocket can do, your gentleman of a Greninja and all your other pokemon friends from the forest have been keeping watch around Postwick. They've been driving away any of those Grunts that go searching in the forest. And because of how many times they've been pushed out, they must think I'm hiding in there rather than in a house nearby! Heh, good old misdirection.*
"I'm... I'm just glad to know you're safe, mom..." Victor smiled with clear relief on his face. "Is Sensei living in the house? Or is he watching from the forest?"
*He helps the pokemon in the forest since you're not around, even fighting Team Rocket when he finds them.*
"It's actually 'Rainbow' Rocket."
*You think I care whatever they call themselves!?*
"No, but they officially changed their name, so not hearing official names bugs me." Victor chuckled.
*...*
"Mom?" Victor asked, not liking her moment of silence.
*Did... you run into them?*
Victor paused for a moment before he understood what his mother asked.
"Rainbow Rocket? Yeah... I did, mom."
His mother's voice suddenly became panicked.
*How many were there!? Are you hurt!? Hop and Gloria didn't get involved, did they!?*
"I'm fine, mom! I'm fine! Everything's fine!" Victor quickly reassured her. "I wasn't together with them when Rainbow Rocket came after me, so my pokemon and I were able to take them on with my powers!"
He looked down at his hand, opening and closing it.
"Speaking of which... It's actually been quite a while since I used any of them..."
*Don't make it sound like you want to use them! You should only be fighting in self-defense!*
"But I mean, I do want to keep practicing with them. I want to learn new things." Victor muttered.
There was a brief pause over the phone before he heard his mother let out another sigh.
*Victor... Remember, these powers of yours... They're special.*
"Obviously..."
*So you should know that because of how special they are- Because of how special YOU are, you have to be careful. You didn't ask for those for powers, and... I'm sorry for that-*
"Mom." Victor cut her off in a more serious tone. "I told you... I don't blame you for anything. You didn't have much of a choice to do tests on me... It was basically either to go against Rainbow rocket and lose me or work with them and keep me. And I'm just glad that you and-"
He paused for a moment, closing his mouth and looking down with a pained expression.
"-dad were there... You both made sure I was always okay, even managing to halt some experiments because you guys got worried about me. You didn't even care if it got you into trouble... You did all you could with the situation you were forced into."
*Heh... My little boy, so kind and forgiving... I'm so glad you still ended up coming out as so pure...*
"Thanks, mom..." Victor sweetly smiled.
*Now, I think we've talked enough about bad things. So... Tell me everything, Victor. Tell me all about your adventure so far. Unless if it's too late for you-*
"I have SO much to tell you!" Victor exclaimed with sparkling eyes, only to blink in realization and start whispering. "Oh, I gotta be careful not to be too loud. Everyone else is sleeping..."
*Everyone?*
~{Meanwhile-Team Rainbow Rocket Base}~
"Hm, this is... exceptional."
Colress glanced around in a rather large room with a curious look on his face. Around him was an entirely black tiled floor with bright red outlines forming square shapes on the ground. In addition, the walls around him were black from the top, only to slowly blend into bright red as they went down near the floor. Colress was entranced by the room's size, which rivaled the interior of the normally large gyms of Galar, and gave him plenty of space to work. He turned his head left and right as he walked forward, noting every single bit of equipment going from desks of computers to the large capsule all the way at the end of the room.
Colress stopped in front of the large and spherical capsule, his smile falling as he gazed through the thick lid of glass and into the interior. The inside was large enough to contain a person, to which Colress found it obvious as to who it was meant to contain.
"So... This is where he'll be stored..."
Colress glanced upwards at the machinery above him, noticing several weapons aimed towards the capsule and typing the details of them on his wrist keyboard.
"Hm... Tasers... How barbaric." He muttered.
Colress then heard a beep behind him, then followed by the reinforced doors at the entrance opening.
The scientist turned around as a familiar man walked in. His long cane and hateful expression instantly recognizable.
Colress put on an innocent smile as the cane echoed with each thud.
"Ah, Ghetsis, my most despicable colleague."
Ghetsis was halfway across the room before the bottom of his cane slammed against the ground with an eerie clank.
"You watch your mouth, Colress!" He spat, his red eye dilating in an intense glare while the other remained hidden behind his visor. "I don't give a damn how important you are in this! You speak to me like that, and I'll crush you right here!"
"Oh dear, you appear to be extra agitated today. Do you wish to talk about it?" Colress asked, completely unfazed by the threat.
"Hmph!" Ghetsis simply marched past him and approached the large machine that was the capsule, stopping in front of it to admire it.
As Ghetsis stared at the machine, Colress's smile fell. If anyone in Rainbow Rocket knew Ghetsis, it was Colress, having worked for the man before. And this also meant that because Colress knew him so well, he despised him the most out of anyone.
"May I ask what it is you're here for?"
Ghetsis scoffed, keeping his gaze on the large capsule.
"Isn't it obvious? To take a look at what will soon be the living quarters of my new... 'associate.'"
"You aren't implying that you'll use the boy as your new king, are you? Don't you recall the last time you attempted something such as that?" Colress frowned.
"I simply went about it the wrong way." Ghetsis gritted through his teeth, holding back the urge to erase the scientist right there. "I kept him isolated. I showed him pokemon in pain so he would detest humans, but... In the end, he still ended up seeing the 'good' of it all..."
"So then how are you going to go at it this time?" Colress asked with a disinterested tone, proceeding to type on his wrist.
Ghetsis simply turned back to him with an evil grin.
"Simple. We both have a common enemy."
"So you're just going to try to convince him to join you and plot against Giovanni?" Colress sighed. "You think it'll be that easy?"
"Of course not." Ghetsis stated, fully turning his body in Colress's direction. "I have to play on everything about the boy... What he fights for, what he loves, what he aims to do and be... It will take time."
Colress stopped typing and rose his head. "So you're going to acquaint yourself with him? To speak to him like a high school friend spending your youth together? No offense, Ghetsis... Actually, with every offense, you're not exactly, oh what's the word...?"
He looked up with a hand on his chin.
"Sociable? No... I believe I'll simply state that anyone who'd be friends with you requires either a doctor or a psychiatrist, or perhaps they'd need to be in an asylum entirely."
Cross-veins formed on Ghetsis as he scowled.
"You bastard..."
"Subject Victor isn't a fool. He's cautious, intelligent, and very high-spirited. Unless you get on his bad side, at least. I've felt his aura firsthand. I wouldn't recommend getting close without knowing just what he's capable of." Colress declared.
"But that's what you're here for."
Colress raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"
"Your job is to discover everything you can about Victor. His strengths, his weaknesses." Ghetsis grinned. "And you're obligated to share that information with not only Giovanni but with me as well."
"Technically, any one of the organization leaders are entitled to that information."
"Moving on." Ghetsis hissed upon the mention of his 'colleagues,' "You are to conduct your research and obtain as much information about Victor as you can."
"I know my orders, Ghetsis. And as what I already know about the boy, he's a kindhearted and intelligent individual who won't be fooled by charades." Colress spoke, emphasizing his last word.
Ghetsis picked up on his clue, clicking his tongue in frustration.
"If he won't comply with me... Then there are always 'other' methods of submission."
"Aaaaaaaand that's why you'll never end up with what you want..." Colress shook his head in disapproval.
"JUST DO YOUR DAMN JOB!" Ghetsis yelled, his patience for the scientist thin.
"I was going to before you came in." Colress reached into his coat pocket and pulled a vial containing blood.
Ghetsis's rage was replaced with surprise the moment his eyes laid on the item.
"Wait... Is that-?"
"Indeed. The first step to progress." Colress walked over to a piece of equipment on a table that contained several slots, one of which Colress inserted the vial of blood into.
"How did you obtain it?" Ghetsis asked, suddenly rushing to the same table and slamming his hands on it. His eyes focused on the vial with a captivated gaze.
"I've come to a 'mutual agreement' with subject Victor."
Hearing that, Ghetsis turned his head to Colress with an intense glare.
"What did you do?"
Colress gave an unamused sigh. "As I've stated, I came to an agreement with subject Victor. I simply approached the boy and offered him a chance to discover his own strength. To find the answers that he's been looking for about his own body."
Ghetsis grabbed Colress by the collar and pulled him threateningly close.
"And what other answers have you also given him! How the hell do I know you just won't tell him where to find us!?"
"Simple. I already know I can't share any kind of that delicate information. If I did, the base would be compromised, and I would lose the equipment needed for my research. Not to mention, I wouldn't want a target on my back and be hunted down from any possible remains of the organization in the circumstances that such an event would happen." Colress smiled.
As much as he hated to admit it, Ghetsis knew Colress would remain in line. In the end, the scientist only worked to satisfy his own curiosities about the world of pokemon, so there shouldn't be too much worry about any exposure of information from him... Unless another group offers him an even bigger chance of conducting research.
"Hmph!" Ghetsis released Colress and started marching off with his cane clanking on the floor. "I expect you to notify me as soon as you've made some progress."
"Must I have to? It'll most likely slip my mind."
Ghetsis stopped and turned back to Colress with a Masterball out, wrinkles all over his livid face.
Colress sighed, not wishing to be on the receiving end of a Sheer Cold.
"Fine..."
Ghetsis appeared to be satisfied, turning around and exiting the room with the doors gently sliding closed behind him.
Colress turned back to the desk and connected the keyboard on his wrist to the machine he had slipped the vial into, then proceeding to type away.
"And now with the hindrance is gone..."
He put on an excited smile.
"Let's see just how you're doing, my interesting specimen."
~{Back to Bridge Field Cave}~
"And then the Snorlax started running after me! It was insane!" Victor laughed as he lay down against the ground.
He had summarized his entire journey ever since leaving his mother at Wedgehurst station. He told her about the new additions to his team, laughing when he recalled how Telsa snuck into his bag, and then sighing when he told her how Midori and Gloria's Luna were attacked.
However, his mood lightened up again when he told his mom about all the new friends he made. He told her about Marnie's cold look but that the girl was actually precious, told her how over-eccentric but full of passion Kabu was, and he even told her about how... 'friendly' Bede was and that he knew there was much more to him.
But what really got him excited to talk about was his battles. He told his mom how nervous he was in his first Gym Battle against Milo, then he told her how relieved and amazing Nessa was when she started fighting full force after he had helped her through her issues, and then he described how heated up he felt with his battle got against Kabu.
At first, his mother had joined him in laughter, and her excitement even peaked when Victor told her about helping such a popular model like Nessa and helping to treasure Marnie like a gentleman.
However, she got quiet when her son informed her about running into Rainbow Rocket. Victor reassured her that he and his pokemon held off against them quite well, but she still remained silent as her son continued to ramble with the more recent parts of his adventure. Meeting the three Gym Leaders he already battled, going out to different areas of Motostoke with them, and then proceeding to leave with Nessa joining his fellow Gym Challengers on their journey.
Which led to him leaving off on his group encountering the rather frightening Snorlax.
"Man, I was terrified. I mean, since when does a Snorlax run like that!? Right, mom?" Victor chuckled, sitting up again and pressing his back against the wall.
The lack of a response wiped his smile away into a look of confusion.
"Mom?"
*Er, sorry sweetie, I'm just... processing everything.*
"Oh, I guess I did kind of brought up a lot... I got completely into it." Victor awkwardly chuckled.
*Yes... Victor, about Rainbow Rocket-*
"I'm fine, mom, really!" Victor quickly reassured her. "It was tiring to deal with them, but I handled those guys every time they came at me!"
He turned his head and looked outside the storm, almost as if expecting someone to be there.
"Besides... They haven't ambushed me at all ever since I arrived in Hulbury... Even if I was surrounded by people most of the time, there were still moments where they could've used the chance to attack. I think they gave up? Er, or at least for a while."
*That's what concerns me, Victor... If they haven't come after you since then... They may already be planning something new. Or sending someone else to go after you rather than some basic Grunts.*
"Then I'll just beat them too!" Victor declared over the sound of thunder outside. "I haven't had any trouble so far, and my team is just getting stronger by the day!"
*Victor... Whoever is sending those grunts after you, it's clear they're testing you. Otherwise, I'm sure they would've sent the strongest members they have. The more people they send, the more they learn watching from afar. You can't show them everything you have.*
Victor looked down with discolored eyes, thinking about who these types of... 'stronger' people are. He wondered if it was any of the higher-ups, or maybe the leader himself would come after him, which begs the question...
"Mom... Do you really not know who leads Rainbow Rocket?"
There was a moment of silence over the call before he heard his mother sigh.
*I'm sorry, Victor... I told you this before. Your father and I... we were part of an unfortunate group abducted to forcefully help Rainbow Rocket... We were isolated from anyone too important in the case that any of us somehow got out... They didn't want us to have any important names.*
"But..." Victor's mind went back to his first encounter with Rainbow Rocket, recalling the instant chill he felt the moment he had heard someone's voice over the Grunt's phone. "Mom... I think I might've met him before."
*Eh!? You have!? When!? How!?*
"I don't know. It's just... He called me through one of the Grunt's phones. The moment I heard his voice... I-I recognized him. But at the same time, I didn't. I don't remember how he looks, but I just know I met him before..."
*I... I don't know how you could've. We always made sure to keep an eye on you, so I don't know how he could've had the chance to speak to you. What did he talk to you about?*
"Nothing too serious. We just both kinda agreed that it's better if no one else knew about my powers. It'll just make it harder for him to ever have chances to catch me. Other than that..."
Victor recalled when he asked the man about who caused his father's fate, making his eyes dilate.
*Victor?* His mother piped up, noticing his pause.
The boy shook his head to snap out of the darkening thoughts, then taking a deep breath.
"Sorry... I don't really remember what else we talked about. It was a while ago."
*I see...* His mother muttered, not sounding too convinced. *Well... Other than him, is there anyone else from Rainbow Rocket you've spoken to? Maybe you could've gotten any information from one of them about who does lead them?*
"Well..." Victor's eyes widened as he remembered the scientist from earlier in the day.
"That's right! Colress!"
He nearly blurted that name out loud, but Victor clamped his mouth with fearful eyes as he thought about the consequences.
"I... I can't tell mom about Colress. If she learns that Dynamax energy is hurting me, if she learns that I'm actually going to be WORKING with someone from Rainbow Rocket... Th-Then there's no way she'd be alright with it. She might make me come home. Actually... she'll DEFINITELY make me come back. I... I can't do that. Not when I've got so far..."
*Victor? What's wrong? You're quiet again.*
He flinched, "S-Sorry, mom. I got a little too deep into my thoughts... I was thinking about any others I talked to, but... I've only been asking the Grunts I defeated about their leader since I've only fought them. But their answers were always the same. They refused to talk, they don't know, or they just kept silent. I... I didn't really get any information from them."
*I see... You're not hunting any of them down, are you?*
"What? No, no, no!" Victor said with a shake of his head as if his mother could see him."That would just get in the way of my Gym Challenge! Don't worry, mom, I'm making sure to stay safe! I wouldn't just charge headfirst into their base or go actively searching for trouble."
*You'd better not, young man. I expect you to be smart about your choices.*
"I know, I-"
Victor paused when he heard some rustling, turning left to see Midori sleepily stumble out of his tent, rubbing both of his eyes.
"Oh, hey Midori." Victor smiled upon seeing his pokemon. "Sorry, did I wake you up?"
It didn't even seem like his pokemon heard him, as he was just sleepily walking towards his trainer before plopping onto his lap, then curling himself in a little ball and sleeping there.
"Awwwwwwww!" Victor thought as a gentle warmth went through him from the sight.
*Midori?*
Victor snapped out of his daze as he remembered he was still on the call.
"Oh, sorry, mom! My Kirlia came out of my tent and fell asleep on me."
*Well, doesn't that sound nice?* His mother chuckled. *I think that means it's time to end this for tonight.*
"Huh? But I didn't even get to tell you about how adorable Marnie is! Or what I'm doing for Sonia! Or even how amazing and misunderstood Spikemuth and its people really are!"
*We have time for all that for another day, Victor. It's already late enough as it is. You need to get your rest.*
"But mom, I-"
*I don't care if you're used to staying up late because of your training with Greninja. You have to fix that sleep schedule! And another thing, I won't get on your case about calling me 'every' night from now on, as it's clear that a lot of things happen to you throughout the day. But I still want you to call me at least once a week. If I have to be the one to call you, then you're going to find even more 'bizarre' food choices when you do finally come back home.*
Victor nervously shivered at the threat, "Y-Yes, mom..."
*Good. Then I'll say just one last thing... I'm proud of you, sweetie."
The boy stopped shaking.
*Like I said, you didn't ask for your powers. You didn't ask for this kind of life. But... You're still the same innocent boy I raised even before anything happened. I'm so glad you didn't change.*
Victor formed a gentle smile of pure happiness as he heard her say that.
"I'm glad too, mom... I don't fault you for how things ended up. If anything, I'm glad they ended up this way. I've got so many friends, I live in such an amazing region, and I'm strong enough to make a change... To understand pokemon and help them, to use my powers to save them alongside my own pokemon. I'm glad that out of everyone, I was the one to become like this... And I'm glad that you didn't treat me differently despite turning into... well, someone special."
*You were always special, Victor. Your kindness, your confidence, just you in yourself are special.*
"Then... Thank you for not treating me differently despite becoming 'more' special." He smiled.
His mother chuckled over the phone.
*Of course, Victor. In the end, you'll always be my son, and I'll always love you, no matter what happens.*
"Thanks, mom... I... I hope you sleep well." Victor said, feeling simply happy.
*I will, especially knowing how happy you are. I can't wait to see you in your next gym battle. Say hi to Hop and Gloria for me, would you?*
"I will, mom. Goodnight."
*Goodnight, Victor. I love you 3000~*
"Hold up, you did not just-!"
He didn't finish as he heard a click of the call being hung up, followed by a comforting silence.
He grinned as he placed his phone down and looked down at the Kirlia on his lap.
"She really just said that... Heh, I wonder if she's gonna make that a thing now."
He started gently rubbing Midori's head, who smiled upon the contact.
"I'm so glad I met you guys... This adventure has been so great..."
He turned to his tent with a proud smile.
"Right, Ace?"
From behind his tent walked out the familiar rabbit, the pokemon not surprised that his trainer somehow knew he was there.
"Raboot, Boot."
"Oh come on, what do you mean, 'It's been okay?' You were having so much fun before you turned into an edgy teenager!" Victor laughed.
Ace frowned as he turned away with his paws stuffed into his pouch.
"Raboot..." He grumbled.
"And you're still just as adorable as a tsundere~" He smugly grinned.
"BOOT!"
"Ack!" Victor's cheek was struck by a swift kick by an irritated Ace, causing the human to topple to the side and sending Midori off his lap.
"Kirl!?" Midori landed facefirst on the ground and remained there for a few seconds. He then pushed himself up and rubbed his face with small whimpers of pain.
"Look what you did! You woke him up!" Victor pointed with a pout, completely ignoring the red imprint of a foot on his cheek as he sat up from the ground.
"Hmph! Boot!" Ace huffed, crossing his arms and looking away.
"You little..." Victor grumbled, getting up and walking over to Midori, rubbing his head. "You okay?"
Midori stopped rubbing his face and turn to Victor, revealing a slightly red area of impact.
"Kirl, Kirl..." He sighed.
"I don't think that's good... You shouldn't be wide awake. You guys should really be sleeping."
*Boom!*
Both of them turned out to the entrance of the cave, the storm still violently brewing outside.
"Wow. I've never seen a storm like this in Postwick. It's..."
Victor smiled in awe.
"Amazing."
Ace turned to gaze outside where his trainer was looking, watching as flashes of lightning occurred, revealing just how much rain was coming down. Surprisingly, it wasn't too dark outside despite it being night, but the constant flashing did mess with his eyesight.
However, he was able to pick up a few small silhouettes scurrying into the cave.
"Raboot!" Ace narrowed his eyes and pulled out a stone, kicking it right to the wall next to the incoming group of pokemon.
There were a few cries of alarm as pokemon scattered around the area.
Victor was surprised as he saw a wide variety of pokemon. Zigzagoons, Cubants, and Stuffuls run around in panic before hiding behind a few large rocks within the cave for cover. A few Noibats then flew into the cave but immediately fell to the ground with their eyes close while panting heavily.
"Noi..."
"Ace, hold up!" Victor said when he saw his pokemon juggling another rock threateningly with his feet.
He and Midori immediately rushed over to the few tired Noibat and checked their condition. Victor examined their wings and bodies, frowning to see how wet and bruised they were.
"They must've fought through the storm..."
He then glanced around at the rocks where he knew the other pokemon were hiding.
"Um... I'm sorry about my friend! He was just being cautious! We won't hurt you guys!"
"Kirl! Kirl!" Midori tried to add in measurement.
It didn't seem to work, as there wasn't any movement from behind their hiding spot, making Victor sigh.
But he didn't let that bring him down, forming a small smile. "You guys must be cold, right?"
He carried the few small Noibat's in his arms, taking them towards the circle of stones where his campfire had been earlier. Midori followed him while using Telepathy to carefully carry another Noibat, the two gently placing the pokemon down.
Victor then crouched beside the remains of kindle and sticks that had already been used.
"I've got to light this back up and quick... But I need more fuel."
Victor got up and took a few steps back, then pointing his open palms forward.
"All right. It's been a while... But it should be fine."
The pokemon from their hiding spots, curiously gazing at the human who didn't immediately go to harm them.
"Crap, which one do I even use, though?" Victor wondered, keeping his position still for a few moments.
He then got a good idea. "Okay... Let's try this."
His palms started glowing a green hue, to which the pokemon watching were stunned to see.
"Magical Leaf."
From Victor's palm, several leaves were fired out to the center of the stone circle. Luckily, they weren't fired too hard, so they simply landed together without causing any significant impact.
"Alright! Next is..." Victor crouched down and placed both of his palms on the ground next to the group of leaves.
"Ingrain."
There was a small rumbling coming from the ground that lasted a few seconds. Then what followed was the ground cracking with small roots coming up and wrapping on top of the leaves to make sure they wouldn't blow away, the roots themselves also providing more fuel.
Victor grinned proudly while Midori curiously stared.
"Kirl? Kirl?"
"Hm? Oh yeah. Making these roots and leaves is pretty much the same as any other move I use." Victor answered him as he stood back up, dusting his hands off.
"My energy, or... I guess 'stamina' is used to convert into energy, which is then converted into whatever move I want. So I could make leaves, sand, make stones erupt, that kinda stuff. Or that's what mom said anyway."
Midori put a hand to his chin with a pensive look.
"And now, let's light this thing up." Victor crouched beside the fire and stuck his palm on top.
"Ember."
After a few seconds, smoke started coming from the pile of leaves and roots. Victor pulled his hand back and saw a small flame developing, to which he blew and kept it spreading to the rest of the tinder. It didn't take long before the fire blazed up to a decent size, to which Victor smiled to see.
"Alright. Ace, Midori, help get these guys by the fire to warm up while I get some towels."
His pokemon nodded as Victor ran back to his tent.
The two turned to see the pokemon that had been hiding now had their heads poking out.
Midori smiled and waved over to them, then motioning his small hands to the fire.
"Kirl!"
Several minutes went by before the many pokemon were gathered by the fire with towels wrapped around small groups of them. Ace watched them uncaringly from afar while Midori went from pokemon to pokemon to see if they were alright. As for Victor, he sat with them around the fire with a smile, glad to see them all relaxed.
"You guys just want to hide from the storm, right?"
The pokemon nervously shivered around the fire but managed to nod. Some started at him in wonder, no one even asking about what they just saw as they thought it was pointless.
"Well, you guys can stay in here for tonight. Just stay clear of the tents. My friends are sleeping there, and they'd be pretty shocked if you suddenly crawled in."
"Zig!"
"Noi!"
"Eh?" Victor turned his head to see one of the Noibats attempting to fly back towards the cave entrance, only to be held by the legs by a Zigzagoon's mouth tightly.
"Noi! Noi!" The Noibat pushed with all his might to fly out of his friend's grip, but the Zigzagoon was determined to keep him back.
"Whoa, whoa! What's going on!?" Victor rushed forward, ignoring the small puddles he stepped in and grabbed the Noibat, attempting to pry the Zigzagoon's mouth off his leg. Midori joined him and teleported right next to the Zigzagoon, attempting to pull him off the Noibat.
"Nngh! Let go, little fella! You're gonna hurt your friend!" Victor frowned as he managed to unhinge Zigzagoon's jaw from the Sound Wave pokemon's leg.
Immediately after being free, the Noibat attempted to fly further out of the cave, only for Victor to wrap him in his arms.
"Hold on there! You can't just head out now!"
"Noi! No!" Noibat cried out as he struggled to get out of the human's arms, even starting to bite him.
"Argh! Oh, come on! It's too dangerous! Didn't you just come from out there!?"
"Noi! Noi!"
Victor's eyes widened.
"More of your friends are out there?"
Noibat instantly stopped struggling and turned his head to Victor in shock, the other pokemon turning to him with similar looks of surprise.
"Noi... Noi?"
Victor gave him a reassuring smile.
"Yeah, I can understand you guys."
"I guess those other pokemon weren't able to spread my name too far... They don't know about me." Victor thought in some disappointment.
"Noi! Noi!" Noibat flapped out of Victor's arms and landed on the ground, looking up at him and frantically speaking. "Noi! Noibat! Noi!"
Victor crouched to one knee as he listened.
Noibat waved his wings up and down.
"Noibat! Noi!"
Victor frowned.
"I can't just let you go out there by yourself."
"Noi!" Noibat frowned and opened his wings, making it clear he wasn't going to remain.
"I guess I'm coming with you then..."
Noibat paused, confusion visible on his face.
"Noi?"
"I can't really stop you from leaving, and it's not like I can stay in here after hearing that someone's in trouble." Victor stood up and stretched his arms with a smirk, keeping confident eyes on the pokemon.
"But you're not in the condition to fly. So you'll be sticking with me, got it?"
Noibat stared at Victor for a few seconds, still shocked that the boy so easily decided to go outside into such a dangerous storm for him.
But he formed a serious stare and nodded.
"Noi!"
"Great! Just give me a moment!" Victor ran back to his tent while the other pokemon gazed at him in wonder.
"Noi!/Zig!/Cu!/Stufful!" The gathered pokemon then put their attention to Midori and Ace, bombarding the two with questions about this unique trainer.
Ace simply rolled his eyes and jumped several feet away to avoid the pestering, while Midori was surrounded and nervously stammered as he struggled to answer.
Victor came out of his tent a few moments later with a new set of clothing. This consisted of some black pants and a red raincoat with a hood, although keeping his usual shoes as he didn't have a different pair to change into for the rain.
He didn't seem too bothered by his clothing's obvious flaws and simply grinned, ready to go.
"Alright! Let's go, little fella! Ace, Midori! You guys stay here and watch these other guys!"
Ace nodded, but Midori surprisingly pouted.
He stuck his arms up.
"Kirl, Kirl!"
"I really don't think it's a good idea for you to come with me." Victor chuckled, amused by his pokemon's determination.
Midori crossed his arms and kept his pout, eyes engrossing on Victor with an intense stare.
Victor struggled to hold in a laugh.
"E-Even though he's trying to look so serious... He looks so adorable..."
"O-Okay! You can come!" Victor snickered, looking away and trying not to just hold him tightly right there.
Midori deadpanned, feeling like he wasn't taken seriously and feeling offended.
"Noi! Noi!" Noibat pleadingly rushed them, even starting to flap his wings to lift himself upward.
"Hold on there, you aren't in shape to fly!" Victor immediately snatched Noibat from the air and moved him into the collar of his shirt underneath his raincoat, placing him there with his head poking out as if in a pouch.
"There we go, you comfy?"
Noibat snuggled in the area, then nodding.
"Great, then..."
Victor and Midori turned to the flashing lights and roaring rain outside, thunder still echoing.
He put on a serious glare as he put on the hood of his red coat.
"Let's go."
~{Macro Cosmos Agency}~
Chairman Rose gently hummed as he worked on his desk, providing signatures on several papers involving future projects for Galar.
Oleana was on a separate desk, rapidly typing several things onto her laptop with her usual stoic expression. It was a wonder how she never had bags under her eyes with how much she worked, never losing any energy whatsoever and able to finish any task, whether asked to do it or not.
Rose signed another paper before glancing outside at the night sky of Wyndon, the most populated and popular city in all of Galar. The reason for the city being a highlight of Galar was obvious. Wyndon had the Wyndon Stadium, also known as the Champion Stadium from all the important battles involving the champion. It was a rather peaceful night in the city compared to the violent weather reported in the Wild Area. Stars brightly shined, there were hardly any clouds, and a gentle moonlight illuminated the city below.
Rose twirled with some of his hair before pushing his chair back and standing up, getting Oleana's attention.
"Something the matter?"
"Hm?" Rose turned to her with his usual smile. "No. I simply believe we should be done for the night. It is rather late, after all."
Oleana focused back on her screen, continuing to type.
"Get your sleep, Chairman. I'll remain here and finish up your work."
Rose just chuckled as he put his hands into his pockets.
"Come now, Oleana. You need to get your sleep, as well."
"I'll be fine. I'm used to staying up for long nights."
"Now that just makes me worried..." Rose sweatdropped.
*Knock! Knock!*
The front door opened to reveal a woman with an office uniform and a small smile.
"Chairman? It appears you have a visitor." She stated.
Oleana frowned and immediately stood up from her desk, an eye twitching.
"Who dares to see the Chairman at this time of night? Why haven't you sent them away?"
The woman flinched under Oleana's glare, starting to shake.
"B-But... H-He claims to be part of the I-International Police!"
"Oh?" Rose looked surprised as he tilted his head.
This response removed Oleana's irritation as well, the woman returning to her stoic expression but with an eyebrow raised. She turned to the Chairman, who was already walking to the door.
"This must be important." Rose stated, keeping a calm smile to him.
Oleana typed a few last things at lightning speeds before closing her laptop and shoving it in her bag, chasing after Rose out the door.
Rose and Oleana followed the woman through their building's halls, making it to the nearly empty lobby to see a man waiting on one of the red couches.
The man was clearly an investigator of the sort, the light brown trench coat being a dead giveaway. The rest of his outfit consisted of dark brown suit pants with a matching brown vest, a white dress shirt with a pink tie, and with the last piece being black penny loafers.
His brown eyes displayed his seriousness and conviction, his black eyebrows gave him a constant pensive expression, and the wrinkles by his mouth expressed years of experience. His dark brown hair didn't seem to be suffering by age yet, but it seemed that it was only a matter of time.
His Croagunk sat beside him with the specie's usual wide smile, while his Growlithe was lying on the floor beside him, staring rather seriously at Rose as he came out.
Upon seeing the Chairman, the man stood up from his seat and made it to him and Oleana.
"Chairman Rose?" He asked, reaching a hand out, to which Rose accepted and shook.
"You got him." Rose chuckled, ending the handshake and curiously eyeing the visitor.
The man then reached into his coat pocket and showed off his badge, revealing his identity.
"Detective Looker of the International Police. I apologize for coming so late, but I've come to ask a few questions."
Rose started to twirl with his hair, "Then perhaps we should take a seat?"
Looker nodded before he and Rose took seats across each other on the couches, with Oleana standing by the Chairman with her hands together.
"Please don't keep the Chairman for too long. It's rather late for him to be up." Oleana stated.
"Don't make it sound like I have a bedtime..." Rose awkwardly chuckled. "And please worry about your own sleep as well..."
"I promise it won't be too long. I simply wish to speak about Rainbow Rocket." Looker stated.
Rose's smile faltered upon hearing this.
"I see... Then I assume it's about their recent increase in activity?"
Looker nodded. "Indeed. Since your company is authorized as a police force for your region, I've come to ask simply for your cooperation with the International Police pertaining to Rainbow Rocket. Sharing information, helping enforce detainment of members, those sorts of matters."
"I don't see there to be a reason to discuss it. Macro Cosmos will work with the International Police in any way it can." Rose answered, his smile returning.
Looker blinked in surprise.
"Oh... That was fast. I didn't even give a rundown of the situation."
Rose just chuckled, "My main priority is helping Galar. The International Police's assistance will pave the way for this. But if I may ask, just how is the 'situation' so far?"
Looker sat straighter in his chair and entwined his fingers together over his lap, looking more serious.
"Well... As I've mentioned, we've received many more reports of Rainbow Rocket sighting in this region. Their increase in activity is startling, to say the least, as there wasn't any activity in Galar before. Your company ensured that it would be too dangerous for them to have a long-term order of operations here, but despite this... they're here. And their activity in other regions has gone down by half as the activity in Galar went up tremendously. They're risking themselves by being here, yet here they are, and remaining."
"Yes, I've noticed." Rose stated, scratching his beard, "It's as if they've moved their base of operations to Galar. That would be foolish and dangerous of them to do so, so they must have their reasons..."
"I assume you've done an investigation. Do you know what these reasons are?" Looker asked, staring with an intense stare.
"Oh, no idea." Rose waved with a chuckle.
Looker sweatdropped.
"You... You have no clue at all?"
"No. I've only concluded that they're searching for something that doesn't revolve around their normal activities of pilfering pokemon. And if they've concentrated their focus solely on Galar, then we know they're searching for a matter of great importance."
"I assume you don't have an idea of what they're looking for?" Looker suspected.
"I don't... We've interrogated the Rainbow Rocket members that we've arrested, but none have shared any valuable information. Their devotion to their leader is... frightening." Rose answered, looking down with a contemplated look.
Looker saw the conflict in Rose's eyes and piped up.
"I'll be staying in Galar to conduct my investigation. I know you must be a busy man, so rely on me to discover just what it is Rainbow Rocket is looking for and what they're planning." Looker declared.
Rose raised his head with a delighted smile.
"That would be greatly appreciated, Detective Looker. I pray you can figure out what they're planning before they end up executing it."
"Yes, I will do my best to bring these perpetrators to justice. Do you know of anyone I can speak with that could possibly give me a lead on finding Rainbow Rocket?"
Rose looked down in thought again.
"Hm... You could speak to Leon, as he apprehended a few groups of their men. But I doubt he knows anything, as he was only there to apprehend them after... Oh!"
Rose snapped his fingers with a grin.
"There is a boy you can speak to. He ran into two large groups of Rainbow Rocket members twice within the week their activity went up. Perhaps he can provide his knowledge as to what they were doing when he encountered them?"
Looker seemed satisfied as he pulled out a pen and notepad, opening it up.
"What's his name?"
Rose almost seemed thrilled to speak it.
"Victor."
~{Bridge Field-12:05AM}~
*CRACK!*
"ARE YOU SURE THEY'RE THIS WAY!?"
Victor screamed over the storm as he pushed against the oncoming winds while keeping an arm close to Noibat. Midori tried not to get swept off his feet as dozens and dozens of raindrops fell on him and his trainer, the two traveling through the wet grass as lightning struck in the distance.
"Noi!" Noibat yelled as Victor made it through the grassy fields empty of any pokemon beside a few Frillish, jellyfish-like pokemon, roaming around.
"Even if they came through here, I'm sure they must've run somewhere to get cover!" Victor shouted as he kept running in the direction the rain was falling, causing sums of it to hit his face.
"Noi! Noi!"
*BOOM!*
Rain furiously smashed down on Victor's coat as he leaped over a large puddle.
"How long ago did you guys go through here!?" Victor screamed as lightning struck one of the few trees several yards away from them.
"NOI!" Noibat screamed as he hid his face in fear of the lightning strike.
"Then they couldn't have gone too far!" Victor thought confidently, hearing Noibat despite the loud bursts in the atmosphere.
Their current location was by the edge of the Bridge Fields and onwards towards the Stony Wilderness of the Northern part of the Wild Area. Many more rivers were violently roaring and spreading in the area from being overflooded. The tall trees violently swayed back and forth, and several boulders were scattered throughout the large fields Victor was running through. In addition to these new features of the new oncoming landscape, large pieces of debris from rocks to tree branches would occasionally come through the water or fly by the air, to which Victor would have to dodge.
"Midori, are you doing alright!?" Victor screamed as he used an arm to shield his eyes from the rain, looking down to his small pokemon soaked but still looking strong as he took big steps.
"Kirl!" Midori answered, clearly frustrated but not backing down.
"Okay!" Victor stopped walking and glanced in all directions, then cupping his mouth.
"IMPIDIMP! NOIBAT! WHERE ARE YOU!?" He screamed with all his might.
"Kirl!?" Midori shouted to his trainer.
"I can't use Sunny Day or Hail, Midori! I can't change the weather occurring when it's this strong!"
"KIRL!" Midori stomped.
"LANGUAGE!"
The group kept searching through the area but were unable to see too far due to the storm.
"Ugh! If only I could just see them! Aren't there any pokemon moves that can do that!? Detect!? No, that only lets me detect pokemon attacking me... Future Sight? Wait, that move doesn't work like that..."
Victor avoided stepping in some large puddles forming, his frustration growing.
"Ugh, can't I just sense them or something!?"
Victor then stopped walking as his eye widened, suddenly recalling something.
"Wait... Sense? Mom mentioned something about that with a pokemon..."
His mind suddenly found himself back at his kitchen table. Several books surrounded him as he stared at the whiteboard his mother wrote on while instructing him.
"Every pokemon is special in its own way, but there are many pokemon that go past this scale by being more noticeably unique than any others!" His mother declared, pointing at a few pokemon on the board.
"How are they more unique?" A ten-year-old Victor asked, confused by what she meant by this.
His mother quickly started drawing a pokemon on the board. "They have abilities that are unique for their species, they have moves special for them compared to movies other pokemon have, and they have characteristics that can only be found in their species!"
She finished drawing and tapped the board to get his attention to a drawn bi-pedal, canine-like pokemon with blue and black fur.
"Lucarios are such examples of the kind of pokemon we call 'unique.' They are one of the only species of pokemon that can detect 'Aura.' Medichams have also been known to sense Aura, but not manipulate it like Lucarios can."
Victor blinked in confusion.
"Aura?"
His mom rapidly spun the marker in her hands with a grin.
"Allow me to explain!" She rapidly drew an outline around Lucario with plants and a few pokemon around him. "'Aura' is a form of spiritual energy that flows through every living creature. It's also known as the 'essence' of life!"
"So... I have Aura, you have Aura, and the pokemon all have Aura?" Victor asked, tilting his head.
"Indeed! Not just that, but in the past, there were humans that could actually sense AND use Aura too!" His mother stated.
Victor's eyes sparkled. "Really!?"
But then he blinked in confusion.
"Wait... What does Aura even let a person do?"
His mother wrote down several bullet points.
"According to the lore found in temples, Aura lets people read the minds and actions of another being, allows them to sense the Aura's of people and pokemon in their surroundings, and people can use Aura to create barriers or attacks!"
"Can I use Aura!?" Victor asked excitedly.
His mom just pointed the marker at him, "Maybe! It's not like 'all' humans can use Aura! It's been known that only those with the biggest of fighting spirits and the keenest sense of justice can use Aura! This is our reasoning when we hypothesize why Lucarios can use Aura! It's because they have these traits!"
"But... can 'I' use Aura?" Victor asked, pointing to himself.
His mother giggled.
"I'm sure you can, Victor. If those traits are the only things needed for a person to use Aura, then I know you can! In fact, why don't you try it now?"
The young Victor jumped in his seat. "Really!?"
"Yes! But it isn't exactly easy from what I researched." His mom told him, putting down his marker and walking to her son. "Do exactly as I say, understand?"
"Yes!" Victor saluted.
"Good." His mom smiled, getting behind Victor and placing her hands on his shoulders.
"Now... Close your eyes."
Victor's eyes shot open to find himself back on the field, with Midori gazing around the area while Noibat shivered in the trainer's coat.
*BOOM!*/"I GOT IT!" Victor's shout synchronized with the explosion of sound.
Midori heard him over the thunder and glanced back at him while trying to shield his face from the rain.
"Kirl!?"
"Give me a moment! I'm gonna try something!" Victor told him.
He then closed his eyes and put his palms together, ignoring the chilling rain hitting him and how wet his hands were.
"I can't believe I forgot about this..."
Loud sounds rang in his ears, but he took a deep breath and drew out the noise from his mind.
"Clear your mind, don't think of anything."
His mother's voice echoed through him as the world turned dark around him, leaving him standing in a black abyss of silence.
"Focus on not what you can touch, not what you can smell, or even what you can hear."
In his mind, Victor started getting surrounded by blue.
"Focus... On what you can feel in the world around you.."
A blue aura then formed around Victor in the black abyss. This aura started spreading in the darkness as if a ripple in a still lake. The ripples spread in all directions, suddenly projecting outlines of pokemon in the distance.
Victor's eyes snapped open when he detected a Noibat and an Impidimp, both seemingly holding on to something.
"I found them!"
"Kirl!?" Midori was shocked.
"This way!" Despite opening his eyes and regaining all of his senses again, Victor was so focused on the direction he ran that he could feel the two pokemon he was searching for not too far ahead.
Midori ran after him while the Noibat in Victor's coat seemed both relieved but worried as the trainer took him through the plains of the Stony Wilderness.
Soon, they came upon a large and roaring river formed by the flooding from the storm. Within this large river was a tree sticking out from the muddy water, with it, two pokemon holding on for dear life on the edge of one of its branches.
"There!"
Midori and Noibat both saw an Impidimp and another Noibat near the top of the tree. Its body was sinking into the water and was tipping over due to the powerful winds.
"Is that a tree in the middle of a river!? No... I think the flood just rampaged over!"
"NOI!" Noibat shouted, attempting to wiggle out of Victor's coat.
"No! You shouldn't try to fly out here! The wind is just gonna send you flying!" Victor held him in, then pointing his finger. "Midori! Is your Telekinesis strong enough to hold that tree still!?"
"Kirl!" Midori firmly planted his feet on the ground and put his hands on his head, a pink glow surrounding it as he focused his power on the large item ahead.
Victor's eyes widened as the tree was starting to fall before a pink glow surrounded it, stopping it despite the force trying to topple it down.
"Noi?/Imp!?" Both pokemon on holding onto the tree branches turned their heads and saw Victor with their friend.
"Thanks, Midori! Just hold on for a bit!"
After shouting this, another bolt of lightning struck a tree in the distance, making the Noibat and Impidimp shout in fear.
"They're either gonna get struck by lightning or fall into the river if they stay there!"
Victor turned to Midori and noticed his face scrunched up as he tried to keep hold of the tree.
"Kirl... Kirl!"
"He can't hold it for too long! I have to be fast!"
Victor took off his raincoat with Noibat and tightly wrapped it around it, then placing him on the ground beside Midori. He ignored the chills of his soaked body and the rain hitting him as he moved the Noibat next to a boulder.
"Stay here! I'll get them!"
"Noi!?" Noibat shouted, watching in shock as Victor turned around and ran towards the large, flooded area ahead.
Victor took a deep breath as he started glowing a pinkish purple.
"Teleport!"
He leaped right towards the large pool of rushing water before vanishing in thin air, only to appear a second later on the same branch just beside the other Noibat and Impidimp.
"Noi!?"
"Imp!?"
Both pokemon kept hold at the end of the branch as Victor kept balance by the trunk.
"I'm here to save you guys!" Victor shouted, giving them a reassuring smile as rain bombarded him.
*BOOM!*
"WHOA!" Victor nearly lost balance by the sudden sound but kept hold of the trunk with his feet on the branch. Simultaneously, the Impidimp and Noibat shrieked as they desperately tried to hold on to the same branch at the end.
"That was sudden..."
"Nnngh...! KIRL! KIRL!" Midori shouted, struggling to use his psychic powers to keep the tree up in a forceful raging river.
"I know! Just hold on!" Victor shouted, then focusing his attention on the two frightened pokemon. "I'm heading to you guys!"
Victor laid on his stomach on the branch, hugging it and pulling himself over towards the pokemon. He was thankful the rain was going in the direction he was facing. Otherwise, it would've been much harder to see for his vision to fight against oncoming water.
He glanced down at the muddy water roaring underneath, carrying tons of debris that would be dangerous to fall into.
"You got this, Victor. Shouldn't be too hard..."
He saw the Noibat shivering as his small wings couldn't fully wrap around the branch.
*CRACK!*
Victor ignored the closer lightning strike and crawled closer to the two, then reached his hand for them.
"Just... a little more!"
The Impidimp reached one of his one small hands back to Victor, desperately reaching for the safety from the boy.
Only for a bolt of lightning to strike directly in the middle of the tree they were on.
The sudden explosion sent all three of them flying right off, with Victor feeling burns and some wood hitting his back from how close the bolt struck.
"NGGH!"
Despite the pain, Victor's eyes snapped open to see the world moving in slow motion around him. He saw himself falling towards the river with the Noibat and Impidimp just below him, fear in their eyes.
Midori and the first Noibat both had their eyes widening in horror, their friends only a second away from disappearing into the murky water that was swallowing everything surging in it.
Victor knew he could teleport away. But he knew that if he did, then he'd never see the two falling pokemon again. He knew they would disappear into the river without a trace. He only had a second to get to them, and by then, he'd be in the river too.
But of course, he went for it.
"I GOT YOU!"
He didn't think. With one swift moment, Victor snatched both pokemon out of the air and spun as he fell.
"YAH!" With his momentum and all his strength, Victor flung both pokemon to the side.
"NOI!/IMP!" With the intense winds adding to the trainer's throw, the pokemon soared all the way across the large body of water and tumbled along the ground next to Midori.
But Victor didn't even get to see them fall, as he had already disappeared into the murky water.
He heard Midori's muffled scream through the water only for a second, the water clogging up his ears, and he was tossed and thrown under the force of nature.
He tried focusing on teleporting away, but a sudden impact of a broken trunk slammed into his head.
Then all he saw... was darkness.
~{Author's Post-Notes}~
(Mimikyu standing on a snowy roof, wearing a Santa Claus outfit.)
Wow, that's... that's pretty messed up... isn't it? To leave this off on a cliffhanger like that, to which won't be updated for... I don't even know for how long. But it's not like I'll just be halting this fic entirely, but... yeah, there will be a number of chapters of my other fic first before I write one for this one.
But anyway, NO MY BOY! MY BEAUTIFUL BOY! He got THWACKED out of his mind!
*Ahem* But yes... So things look bleak but don't worry, there's no way the main character would die so early...
Right?
Heh, so we'll see what happens next time.
One more thing for tonight, I wish to say from the bottom of my heart... Thank you. Thank you to everyone giving me praise and support for my writing, thank you for... thanks for just making me feel important.
(Hops on a sleigh being pulled Stantlers and soars into the sky.)
Ho! Ho! Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas you FILTHY animals! And I hope we all get a better year than this one was! Ha!
(Flies off towards the clouds)
Onward, my noble steads! Take us to the brilliance of the night- Hey, wait a second.
(Sleigh and Stantlers stop in midair.)
Stantlers aren't flying types.
...
Crap.
(Falls down below.)
