Last Time, the Clubsplosion begins and the gang all make it past the first round, however, soon afterward the word that Cody was part of Team Rocket this whole time spread, Oshawott, blinded by love, doesn't believe in it, but just about everyone else does, they get stronger to combat the threat, meanwhile said Cody, who is Missile by the way, makes it to Dragonspiral tower, where he is told where the second half of the Light Stone might be, it is in the frigid lake, he prepares to take a dive into the lake, now the Clubsplosion is still going strong, the next two fights are coming up, so stay tuned!
It was a cold morning up in mountains, as always, Derik had woken up early, he had already made breakfast for himself, and his mons, and at this point was waiting for noon.
"Come out" He said, releasing all his mons, well all the ones he had on him, Mienshao and Druddigon were still back with Ash.
*sniff* 'Man that smells so good' Eelektross said, moving towards the steaming pot of broth.
'You don't even have a nose to smell with' Gothitelle said.
'Hey where's Mienshao and Druddigon?' Bisharp asked.
'No, he didn't' Volcarona said, a look of surprise, and then anger on her face.
"Come on, eat up, today at the hottest time of the day, we're gonna go into that lake over there, turns out the Light Stone is deep within that lake" Derik explained.
'What are we to do then?' Gothitelle asked.
"Eelektross I want you to come underwater with me, if you are in any danger I'll return you, Gothitelle I want you to keep communications with me at all times, when I think I'm in trouble I want you to tell Bisharp, Bisharp if that happens you will descend into the lake and get both of us out, Volcarona when I resurface I want you to make the biggest and warmest fire you possibly can, is everything clear?"
'Yeah'
'Pretty much'
'Sounds good'
'It's alright I guess'
"Alright then, eat up, get ready, when the sun is at it's highest we will go" Derik said, before walking away for a morning stroll.
'Bisharp' Volcarona called.
'What is it?' Bisharp responded.
'Druddigon and Mienshao, you don't think they're with those twerps are they?'
'Well maybe not, no offense to them, but I don't think they'll be very useful here'
'So you're saying that Derik's simply just hasn't released them? That's not much like him'
'There's more' Gothitelle suddenly sprang in. 'He's only carrying four balls, and unless he lost them'
'There's only one place where they could be' Bisharp said, tensing up, mostly due to Volcarona.
'Those twerps, why when I come back to them, I'm gonna!' Volcarona shouted, but she was stopped.
'Calm down Volcarona, remember the deal, we do not intervene unless Derik's true identity is in jeopardy' Bisharp said.
'But it is in jeopardy, for all we know every last one of them over there could know, and those two idiots could already be captured!' Volcarona shouted, furiously. 'Why if I could speak human, I'd have a few hundred words I'd like to tell Derik, him and his stinking'
'Are you questioning Derik's judgement?' Bisharp asked sternly.
'Why yes, I am! Cause it's stupid!'
'Remember you're place on this team Volcarona'
'Remember our situation Bisharp'
'Stop fighting!' Gothitelle said, separating the two. 'For now there is nothing we can do, but, so no one takes anymore unnecessary risks, let's have a compromise'
'Fine, here's my judgement, when we do return to them, we will hold our fire' Volcarona said. 'Unless, they already know'
'And then what?' Bisharp asked.
'Simple, we attack, get Mienshao and Druddigon out of there, and flee' Volcarona said. 'Even if Derik retaliates'
'Fine, but no harm goes to Derik' Bisharp added.
'Sure, that's fine, but just so you know, we were never going to be friends with them, nor will' Volcarona said. 'Deal?'
'Deal' Bisharp said.
It was noon again, which meant that the Clubsplosion was beginning it's second round of battles.
"Alright guys, looks like we'll have to face off against each other" Cilan said. "And I still have to beat you with Burgundy"
"Oh well, at least we'll have fun right?" Ash said.
"Yeah I guess we will" Cilan said.
"Cilan get over here!" Burgundy shouted.
"See you guys soon" Cilan said, rushing off to his reluctant partner.
"Okay Ash, you ready?" Iris asked.
"I was born ready" Ash said.
"Alright folks! Today is the second round of the Clubsplosion, starting today is Ash and Iris vs Cilan and Burgundy!" Said the announcer. "Battle begin!"
Ash and Iris sent out Braviary and Axew respectively, while Cilan and Burgundy sent out Petilil and Sawsbuck.
"Petilil use Stun Spore"
"Braviary dodge it"
"You too Axew"
Petilil shot out a Stun Spore, but both Braviary and Axew dodged.
"Counter with Slash Axew"
"Intercept with Megahorn"
Axew went in for a Slash, but Sawsbuck charged forwards with Megahorn, Braviary swoops in and tanks the hit.
"Petilil use Stun Spore again!"
Petilil instead used Growth, and then Stun Spored Axew.
"Nice one Petilil!"
"Sawsbuck Jump Kick on Braviary!"
"Dodge and use Air Slash!"
Sawsbuck went for a Jump Kick, missed and got hit by an Air Slash, stunning it a bit.
"Axew use Slash!"
Axew instead slammed Sawsbuck with his metallic tail.
"Whoa! You learned Iron Tail!"
"That's two new moves in one battle" Ash commented.
"Petilil Growth"
Petilil grows stronger.
"We gotta make sure Petilil doesn't get too strong" Iris said.
"Yeah, you're right, Braviary Air Slash on Petilil!"
"Axew Iron Tail on Petilil!"
"Sawsbuck, tank the damage for Petilil!"
Sawsbuck tanked the Iron Tail and Air Slash knocking it out in the process.
"Whoa, you just gave up one of you're pokemon to protect one of mine" Cilan said, surprised.
"Yeah whatever, Dewott take them on"
"Petilil Magical Leaf on both of them!"
"Try to brave through it"
Braviary and Axew tanked the supped up Magical Leaf, but where both pretty weak at this point.
"Braviary Air Slash Petilil!"
Petilil got hit by Air Slash knocking her out.
"Petilil return, Crustle come out!"
"Dewott Ice Beam on Axew"
Dewott fired an Ice Beam at Axew knocking him out.
"Crustle use Rock Blast on Braviary"
Crustle fired rocks at Braviary, knocking her out as well.
"Axew return"
"Braviary return"
Ash and Iris sent out Servine and Emolga respectively.
"Servine use Leaf Storm!"
"Emolga Hidden Power!"
Servine used Leaf Storm hitting both Crustle and Dewott, but Emolga used Acrobatics on Crustle instead.
"Man where are all these new moves coming from?" Ash asked.
"Crustle use X-scisscor on Servine!"
Instead Crustle used Poison Jab, poisoning Servine in the process.
"Okay this is getting ridiculous" Burgundy said.
"Servine hang in there okay"
"Emolga use Acrobatics on Crustle"
"Aqua Tail on Crustle"
Servine and Emolga attacked Crustle simultaneously, causing the pokemon to stumble a bit, Servine was hurt by poison.
"Dewott Ice Beam on Emolga"
"Dodge and retaliate with Disharge!"
Emolga dodged the Ice Beam and hit Dewott with Discharge.
"Crustle Rock Blast Emolga!"
"Servine Vine Whip Dewott into Crustle"
Crustle got ready to fire, but Servine slapped Dewott into him, causing Crustle to miss, Servine gets weaker due to poison.
"Emolga Hidden Power on Crustle"
"Servine use Leaf Storm!"
Emolga shot Hidden Power into Crustle, and Servine finished both Crustle and Dewott off with one last Leaf Storm.
"Yeah, you guys did it!" Ash cheered.
"Axew and Braviary did great too" Iris said.
"Well, that was a pretty good battle Burgundy" Cilan said.
"You know, working with you isn't actually that bad" Burgundy said.
"Does that mean you're not angry anymore?" Cilan asked.
"Nope, I'm still beating you one day!" Burgundy shouted, invigorated.
"Whatever you say Burgundy" Cilan said, Burgundy then left the stadium.
Servine then fainted due to poison.
"Take a good rest Servine" Ash said, recalling the grass snake.
"Well I guess we can watch the next battle" Iris said.
"Alright, let's go then" Cilan said.
After a brief intermission…
"Alright folks, now it's time for the second battle for today" The announcer announced. "It's Trip and Bianca against Stepstool and Montgomery!"
"Alright Stephan, you ready?" Montgomery asked.
"I still can't believe you're saying my name right, and yes I am ready!" Steffen said.
"You'd better be, because I'm gonna beat you both!" Trip said, like a dick.
"You mean we're gonna beat them both" Bianca said, sweat dropping.
"Battle begin!"
Trip and Bianca sent out Conkeldurr and Cinccino respectively, and Steven and Montogomery sent out Karrablast and Shelmet respectively.
"Conkeldurr use Stone Edge on both!"
"Cinccino use Hyper Voice on both!"
"Dodge Karrablast and use Bug Buzz on Conkeldurr"
"Shelmet dodge and use Mega Drain on Cinccino"
Conkeldurr fired Stone Edges, and Cinccino shouted really loudly, but they both missed and Shelmet and Karrablast got their attacks off.
"Conkeldurr use Rock Tomb on Karrablast, the Rock Smash!"
Conkeldurr encased Karrablast in rocks, and Rock Smashed it.
"Shelmet use Body Slam on Conkeldurr"
Shelmet rammed into Conkeldurr knocking it back.
"Karrablast follow it up with Aerial Ace!"
Karrablast slammed into Conkeldurr soon after.
"Cinccino use Iron Tail on Shelmet!"
"Dodge it!"
Cinccino slammed its tail into Shelmet.
"Karrablast use Energy Ball on Cinccino!"
Karrablast fired an Energy Ball at Cinccino which sent it flying.
"Conkeldurr use Dynamic Punch on Shelmet!"
Conkeldurr punched Shelmet sending it flying.
"Shelmet use Mega Drain on Cinccino"
"Karrablast Aerial Ace on Conkeldurr"
Shelmet and Karrablast did their attacks on their targets, both of which got knocked out.
Trip and Bianca sent out Servine and Pignite respectively.
"Servine Coil!"
"Pignite Heat Crash on both!"
Pignite Heat Crashes both Shelmet and Karrablast.
"Servine use Aerial Ace on Karrablast"
"Karrablast intercept with Bug Buzz"
"Pignite use Flamethrower on Shelmet!"
"Shelmet dodge it!"
Servine and Pignite defeated both Karrablast and Shelmet at the same time, without as much as a scratch.
Stubby and Montgomery sent out Sawk and Throh.
"Sawk use Ice Punch on Servine"
"Throh use Thunder Punch on Pignite"
"Dodge and use Aerial Ace!"
"Dodge and use Hammer Arm!"
Sawk missed, and got hit by Servine's Aerial Ace, while Throh hit Pignite.
"Pignite, use Hammer Arm on Sawk"
"Servine, Coil once more!"
"Don't let him get that Coil, Throh Focus Blast Servine"
"Sawk dodge and use Double Kick on Pignite"
Throh Focus Blasted Servine before he could get off another Coil, and Pignite missed, getting hit by Double Kick.
"Servine Giga Drain Throh"
"Pignite use Take Down on Sawk"
Servine drained Throh's energy, while Pignite slammed into Sawk.
"Throh use Low Kick on Pignite"
"Sawk use Close Combat on Servine"
Throh and Sawk did their moves on their targets, who were getting pretty weak now.
"Servine use Leaf Blade on Sawk"
"Counter with Superpower!"
"Pignite use Take Down on Throh"
"Retaliate with Superpower!"
At the same time the two Unova starters were grabbed by Sawk and Throh, and thrown towards each other, they collided into a plume of dust, when it settled they were both knocked out.
"Woohoo! We won!" Steffen said.
"Yes we did Stephan" Said Montgomery.
"Oh well, at least it was fun" Bianca said.
"Grr, grrr" Was all that Trip could utter. "Hmm, alright then, Servine return, we're gonna get much stronger, much much stronger" He said before walking away.
"Well that was a great battle" Steven said. "Wish you luck on your travels"
"Yeah I do too" Montgomery said.
"See ya then" Bianca said, running out of the stadium, bumping into everything she could.
Back to Derik…
It was 3:00 PM the hottest time of the day, despite that the lake was still frozen, and the trees were still covered in snow.
"Well, this is it" Derik said, Eelektross was getting ready to jump in, Gothitelle and Bisharp were on stand by, and Volcarona was keeping warm, Derik had gotten scuba diving gear, which he luckily packed in advance.
'Are you sure you got this?' Gothitelle asked Eelektross.
'Of course I do, Bisharp you might as well just sit this one out, we'll be just fine' Eelektross joked.
'I doubt you would' Bisharp responded.
'Whatever you do, make it quick, I hate being in the cold' Volcarona said, creating a small fire.
"You ready Eelektross?" Derik asked.
'As ready as I'll ever be'
"Let's do this" Derik jumped in followed by Eelektross, it was very cold as expected, but more so it was hard to see, when you looked down there was nothing but empty water, dark blue, unending, deadly.
Even Eelektross, who was a marine pokemon, was struggling to survive down there, the two looked around the vast emptiness with a flash light Derik had brought, they found nothing, they concluded that the Light Stone must've sank down to the bottom of the lake, so they headed down to the lake bed.
It felt like an hour had passed, yet they were still not yet at the bottom, unfortunately their draining oxygen supply would soon become the least of their worries, suddenly a school of Basculin appeared, and they did not look friendly.
They lunged towards Derik with gaping jaws, but Eelektross intercepted them with a Flash Cannon, the eel and the fish dueled it out a bit, and eventually the Basculin fled, but Eelektross had taken some damage, Derik went to return the eel, but he shook his head, and continued on, Derik followed, albeit reluctantly.
After what seemed like yet another hour, they finally reached the bottom of the gargantuan lake, and Derik had only two thirds of his oxygen left, that was bad news, they had to find that Light Stone quick.
Using the flash light, Derik looked around the lake bed, but found nothing, well he did find something a tiny crevasse in the lake walls, the thief from the legend must have swam into this crevasse for his final resting place, the thought of the thief still being alive after being attacked and then was practically drowned to death sent shivers down Derik's spine.
Nonetheless Derik carried on, Eelektross slithered with him, eventually the duo reached a dead end, but there was something different about this wall than any other, it was practically crumbling apart, there must've been a landslide or something, that inconveniently covered up the burial place of the Light Stone, Eelektross used Rock Smash to smash the false wall open, although it took a while.
A way was finally created, and Derik continued on, Eelektross was barely holding on at this point, Derik saw this and returned the eel, Derik swam through the water filled maze and stumbled upon a human skeleton, he recoiled at the sudden discovery, but soon regained his composure, he noticed that the skeleton was holding something.
Derik pried open the skeleton's hand, to find a glowing shard, the second half of the Light Stone, this was it, he had found it, good thing too, because he only had one third of his oxygen left, quickly he pocketed the Light Stone, and started booking it to the top of the lake, he went back through the tight tunnels of the cave and made it out of the crevasses.
Now he had to get out of the lake itself, he quickly swam up as fast as he could, but he could feel himself getting faint, his vision, getting blurred, his, movements, slowing, down, and, down, and, down, down…
Was this the end? Was this really how it would all go down? I'll never see any of them again. That was all Derik could think, before slipping into unconsciousness.
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
A large splash hit the water, down came Bisharp, he picked up Derik and swam all the way back to the surface, he broke through the water, and laid his passed out trainer near a large fire.
'Come on Derik hold on' Bisharp said. 'Make that fire hotter!'
'I'm trying! It's hard making a hot fire!' Volcarona said, making the biggest flame she ever had up to that point.
Gothitelle put her hands on Derik's heart. 'Don't worry he's still alive, he'll be fine'
'That's good' Bisharp said.
'Well did he get it?' Volcarona asked.
'I think he did' Gothitelle said, seeing the glowing Light Stone.
Back to Ash and the gang…
"Man that was a good meal" Ash said.
"Truly delicious it was" Cilan said.
"I hadn't eaten like that in days" Said Iris.
"Alright guys, tomorrow's the last day of the Clubsplosion, so let's get training, and do our best okay?" Ash said.
"Yeah!" Said Iris.
"Well I don't have a Clubsplosion to compete in tomorrow but I guess some extra training won't hurt" Cilan said.
The gang trained for a while, although both Druddigon and Mienshao were estranged from the training due to their connections to Team Rocket.
'I'm gonna do it' Oshawott said.
'Do what?' Krokorok asked.
'I'm gonna asked her out' Oshawott said, promptly.
'But dude, she's still part of Team Rocket' Krokorok said.
'I know, but just because of that doesn't mean they're bad, right?'
'Well, I guess not, but still this is a dangerous move'
'Well, I'm still doing it, wish me luck'
'Alright then, you do you I guess'
Oshawott approached Mienshao, who was dawdling around.
'Hey Mienshao there's been something I've been meaning to tell you' Oshawott said.
'What is it?' Mienshao asked.
'Well, I wanted to say that, I love you, like love you' Oshawott said.
There was a brief pause, Mienshao had an expression of shock, but eventually she said. 'I'm sorry Oshawott, but I don't share your feelings'
'What?' Oshawott said, mortified.
'Well, we've only known each other for a couple of weeks, and I've seen your attempts at wooing me, and they're not very good'
'Wait you knew about me and Oshawott's deal?' Krokorok said, surprised and suddenly there.
'Yeah, I saw you guys before you made up, and just knew that your tom foolery was due to something, and since it was targeted towards me, I figured it out'
'Oh, well that makes this kinda weird' Krokorok said, scratching the back of his head. 'Sorry Oshawott'
'It's okay man, it's okay'
'Hey Oshawott if it makes you feel better, I'm sure there's still many people who still care about you you know, Krokorok went through all that, cringe, just to help you, you know, you might not have found love, but you definitely got love, in a way'
'It's alright, I'll just be over there' Oshawott said, walking away disappointed, but not angry.
'Oshawott, buddy' Krokorok said, reaching out to his, now, friend.