Chapter 4
The Reckless and the Brave
Dawn
They were completely surrounded. The pack of wild Growlithes circled around Dawn and her two companions. They came out of a bush without warning, catching the unsuspecting group traversing the forest.
"I told you we should have stuck with road," Barry spoke up in the midst of the surprise attack. "Nothing good happens when you go off the path!"
"This isn't a video game where we are limited to certain areas," Dawn brashly argued. "There are no invisible barriers here stopping us from reaching the quickest route!" Dawn snapped her fingers. "Come on! We're trainers now!" she exclaimed. "Everyone send out your Pokemon."
As if they just remembered, all three pulled out a Pokeball. Lucas and Barry released their two Pokemon as Dawn only brought out her starter. It was still five against six giving the attacking team confidence to continue their assault.
"I got these two. Piplup douse these pups who dare ambush us like this! Bubble!" Dawn took upon herself to take on two Growlithes with her type advantage.
"Don't let up both of you! Get them with your Scratch and Peck attacks!" Barry went with the relentless assault.
"Cirno keep these two busy. Turtwig, attack with Tackle but retreat to use Absorb safely behind Cirno." Lucas strategically placed his Pokemon.
Piplup puffed his chest, and brought his round, blue head forward. A stream of small bubbles flew out of his yellow beak and clashed with the two Growlithes. The bubbles pelted the two fire types, exploding like a firecracker.
One Growlithe yelped and recoiled from the water attack. The other Growlithe endured the hit and lunged at Piplup. Opening his maw, he spat out a small burst of flames. Hot flames licked Piplup's blubbery hide dealing minimal damage.
Dawn's eye grew wide. This was destiny at work, she knew it was meant to be. In a region devoid of fire-types, the rarely seen Growlithe was right before. And this one took a Bubble head on without so much of a flinch, she felt the fire burn in her soul.
"Such guts! Such boldness to attack Piplup with a fire attack," Dawn raved as she was smitten by the Growlithe. "Piplup, Bubble again! Then pierce him with your Peck! We can't let this one escape. Fate has brought him before us!"
Piplup thought otherwise. -"I thought your little fireball was a foolish act than a brave one but my trainer seems to have a strange fondness for fire Pokemon,"- Piplup brushed off the hit and puff his chest once more.
The opposing pup hopped back and took a defensive stance. -"She's sees the potential in me, as you merely are looking down on me,"- Growlithe defended himself.
Piplup blew another barrage of bubbles but Growlithe was prepared this time. He leap out of the attack's way, letting the bubbles harmlessly crash into the dirt. He charged at Piplup again and threw his entire body at his foe. The Tackle knocked Piplup onto his back, and Growlithe jumped to his feet.
Rolling onto his feet, the penguin responded with a swift Peck attack. He drilled his beak into the canine's skull, rattling his brain. Growlithe stumbled backwards and opened his eyes just in time to witness a red blur fly straight at his face. The object struck his jaw and he felt his own body being sucked into the orb.
Dawn held her breath, intensively watching the Pokeball rock back and forth. She felt a rush of adrenaline as she couldn't do much else but wait for the jolting to seize. She was determined to catch this Pokemon, even if she had to waste the dozen of Pokeballs gifted to her by the professor.
A loud click resonated from the Pokeball as it stopped shaking and a loud cheer followed shortly from the teenage girl. Dawn swept the ball from the ground in a singular, graceful motion. She turned to her comrades, showing off her brand new fire Pokemon.
-"Our leader has been captured!"-
-"Run!"-
-"Let's get out of here!"-
The remaining Growlithes scattered at the sight of their pack leader being captured. They dispersed into the forest, weaving through the trees. The trio celebrated as they successfully repelled an ambush.
"I think you caught the alpha," Barry remarked, shocked by how fast they turned tail. "Let's hurry before we are caught in another surprise attack."
Lucas nodded in agreement and took one step into a bush. A swarm of Bidoofs jumped out of the bushes, with one latching onto Lucas's leg. "Give us a break," he wailed, shaking his leg.
Cyrus
Nothing, Cyrus said to himself. We found nothing, yet the activity picked up in the area was well beyond energy levels we have recorded before. Stronger than any of our calculations ever predicted.
Standing in front of Lake Verity, Cyrus surveyed the lake with meticulous blue pupils. He had sent men into the cavern only to return with nothing to report. The cavern remains empty while the lake contained nothing of true value besides the native species of the lake ecosystem. Radars craftily placed around the lake weren't picking up on the extraordinary frequency that momentarily overtook them earlier in the week.
I had canceled meetings with potential investors on that day to see the lake for myself, Cyrus reminded himself neither in anger nor in frustration but almost as if it was a calm mental note for himself. Team Galactic can't fall behind as other organizations discover and try to control legendary Pokemon. They have all failed but we won't.
The sun was high in the clear sky yet he still wore his heavy, stiff Galactic uniform. No sweat formed on his brow as he walked alongside the edge of the lake. An underling approached him from his right. Cyrus kept his stoic gaze on the lake as if it was going to act up again at any given moment.
The Team Galactic member stopped a few feet before his boss, saluted him as a soldier would to his commanding officer and said, "There haven't been any signs of activity in the past few hours we have been here. Professor Gilbert reports that the sensors dispersed around Lake Acuity show no signs of being tampered. Testing for any sign of damaged equipment came out with negative results. They all seem to be working in order."
His underling paused once his report was disclosed. Cyrus kept his patient expression, taking in the information. Possibilities to explain the phenomenon were crossed out in his mind one by one.
It seems to be a single, rare event that took place here. In the countless years I have spent researching and monitoring this lake, it hasn't shown anything significant. But for it to act up like this…seems I missed my chance to see it, he figured not perturbed by the thought.
"Whether we find out what caused this or not is not a huge deal at the moment," Cyrus finally spoke in a resounding, cold voice to the grunt who begun to nervously sweat in his unsettling silence. Cyrus emitted that unfriendly presence that could rendered his subordinates immobile with fear that appeared on their faces like cold mud. Cyrus knew this trait well. "This just confirms about it being here. We are not grasping at straws now and have hope for our plan to work."
"Then should we abandon research on this place," the lowly grunt boldly advised.
"No, we can't undeniable ignore this," Cyrus refuted, his tone carrying all of his authority, causing the grunt to flinch. "I'm leaving a small team behind to keep observation on the lake. I'll give you an order when it's time to pack up and leave."
"But sir-"
CRUNCH! CRASH!
Their conversation was abruptly interrupted by the sound of tree branches breaking followed by painful yells from a handful of people. Both men turned to the source of the clamor which happened directly behind them at the edge of the wall of coniferous trees.
"I believe I told you to not allow any citizens get in perimeter of this area," Cyrus remarked, eyes falling onto the shocked grunt.
Bewildered and alarmed, the unnamed grunt furiously tugged at his teal-colored hair. "How could this BE! I had set up an impenetrable group of Team Galactic members along the pathway to this lake!"
"You mean to tell me that you only placed guards at the entrance of the lake?" Cyrus sternly asked eyebrows furrowed.
He threw his arms in a frenzy. "I didn't think anyone would be crazy enough to go through the forest! Trainers always take the routes lay down for them," he defended with irrefutable logic.
The grunt cringed at the simple quiver of Cyrus's lips. "I had someone once say to me that a perfect plan doesn't go within expectations. A perfect plan is when it has the plasticity needed to flexibly deal with unsuspected problems," his response left the man stunned.
Cyrus set aside the error of his subordinate to approach the trainers recollecting themselves. He took note of the three teenagers believing for them to be quite new trainers. He came to that conclusion by studying the beret-wearing boy carrying a plain, feeble Bidoof. The most common Pokemon in the region that can be easily caught by any beginner trainer.
"I guess you were right about the branch not holding all of our weight?" the lone female of the trio asked, clueless to Cyrus's imposing presence. She glanced back at the snapped bough, instinctively clutching her back, reliving the painful moment.
"You brats are going to dearly pay for disrupting our investigation," the grunt stepped forward, ready to yell at these kids. "The place is off limits to the public and that includes nosy trainers."
"Hey, this place is not yours to control. It's open to the general public," Barry clashed with the underling.
"You kids couldn't comprehend the importance of our research here. Your meddling will ruin everything-"
"She has the right to be at the lake," Cyrus spoke up, making the grunt jolt and straightened his back. This idiot doesn't realize what public image is. We are baring the Galactic uniform and this grunt throws a tantrum against teenagers.
The young girl held a pensive look as she studied Cyrus with great intrigued. She was thinking so hard that he thought her head would overheat. "I remember now!" She clasped her hands together. "You're Team Galactic? I should have realized since everyone has that same futuristic space uniform ripped out of 50's scifi and that cyan bowl haircut." She nodded, proud of her realization. "Can't you let the girls have a different hairstyle?"
"This uniform is an integral part of our organization. It reminds us that it's not what on the outside that matters but the spirit," the nameless grunt patted his suit with pride. "No matter how perfect we try to look on the outside we can never complete this imperfect spirit."
"Are you guys a cult?" the raven hair boy asked in a concerned voice.
"IT IS NOT A CULT!"
Cyrus stepped in to silence the grunt with a disapproving look. "We are an organization dedicated to improving the community in Sinnoh. We fund libraries, land preservation, and research that will help improve everyone's life such as a new energy source," he adopted his public figure voice. He hated to pretend but it was necessary in this world. Emotions eluded him since he was young but he figured how to imitate them. Fake compassion when he felt none of it or reveal remorse when there was none to give. "We are conducting on research at this lake for there has been a disturbance in the area this week. Are you three locals? Has there been anything strange events in the past few days?"
"I live close by and I can only say the only thing interesting about this lake is that it's the resting place of Mesprit," the blue-haired girl replied. "Are you here to capture it?"
Cyrus took note of the girl. "I'm here to study it if it provides the opportunity. I dedicated myself to solving the world's mysteries and myths like Mesprit in hopes of learning more of our world."
"Because in every legend there must be a grain of truth. An answer that can explain," the Bidoof trainer added.
He was slightly taken aback by the response. He composed himself and posed a question, "What business you have at this lake if you don't mind me asking?"
"I'm here to catch the lake guardian Mesprit," the teenage girl said without a hint of sarcasm. "Only a legendary Pokemon can give me the edge in becoming champion." she spouted her blatant goals.
This girl actually believes in Mesprit...or is this just some of recent excursion brought on by the recent events. The appearance of Pokemon thought to be of legends have started to appear around the globe and maybe she's hoping to catch one here, he figured since no trainer could have fathom to catch a legendary Pokemon a few years ago. I can only press her for more information
"What do know of Mesprit? How can this lake be tied to such an ancient Pokemon?" Cyrus began to pressured the young girl.
"This is Mesprit's resting place," she defended her claim but which such vigor. All that excited energy died down as she noticed that Cyrus wasn't convinced. She withdrew a bit. "I also know it has to be here...because I saw it," Dawn lowered her voice and her gaze.
Saw it? If that's the case why does this girl look so down, Cyrus asked himself.
"What! Dawn, you actually met Mesprit?" the rowdy blonde grabbed the girl by her shoulders. "Why didn't you tell me or Lucas?"
"I didn't tell anyone...because I don't really know if it was Mespirit," she revealed, freeing herself of the boy's grasp. "I remember meeting something here...but I have a very fuzzy memory of that day. A long time ago, I don't remember exactly but I just know it was a...very mournful day. I don't know when, but I recall meeting something here."
Cyrus was observing the girl named Dawn but he could have sworn the raven haired boy stiffen from the confession. "Mespirit came to you when you were young and vulnerable?" he oddly asked.
"Mespirit is very attuned to human emotions. It must have felt your sad feelings and appeared before you," Lucas added, and he no longer seemed like the dimwitted boy Cyrus first saw in him. "Do you remember anything else?"
"I-I can't recall. The rest becomes a blur...but that doesn't deter me from believing," she affirmed with a smile. "The legendary Pokemon of Sinnoh are as real as anything else. I firmly stand behind that belief no matter how much of a fool it makes me seem."
"Then let us catch us a legendary Pokemon," the lively boy encouraged.
These three are quite an interesting group...especially the precocious boy, Cyrus noted that Lucas was a gifted individual. The girl claims to have met the lake guardian...which if its true, then strong emotions draws it out. Specifically, depressive or painful emotions, he figured it was a lead in helping in awakening it.
"Barry...Lucas. You guys actually believe me," Dawn sounded touched.
"I have no reason to doubt you," Barry said.
"I'm much of believer in myths like you. I trust you are telling the truth," Lucas accepted.
Cyrus hoped to learn more but he had to be taking his leave soon. "I have other business to attend to. You three trainers can stay but I implore you three to please not get in the way of their research. Explore the lake or investigate the cave, but please don't disrupt these folks. You can even ask the researchers questions if you want information," Cyrus laid out his conditions.
"Sounds fair to me," Barry accepted the deal without giving a second thought.
"Mesprit will be mine for sure!" Dawn pumped a fist invigorated.
"I'll be on my way then," Cyrus took the path straight out of the lake.
They think to capture Mespirit, Cyrus thought himself as he got further away. The youth have gotten brasher over the years, but that is to be expected of every generation. That group could prove useful if they do really know something about the Legendary Pokemon. Sleep well, Pokemon of the lake bed. I will make you power mine one day.
Lucas
He scanned the lake's calm surface, occasionally spotting ripples caused by water Pokemon swimming too close to the surface. He admired the lake with his friends stationed in the middle of the lake. They had a Galactic member ferry them to the island on a small boat.
"Whatever this thing was, they claim it to be huge," Lucas tried to piece together what the researchers have told them what happened at this lake. He couldn't comprehend most of what they were measuring with their fancy instruments. He just knew was they detected a disturbance in the lake that was detected for a minute before it vanished.
"But something has to be here! Like in the news about a rare Gyarados being spotted in that one lake! There has to be some rare Pokemon in this lake as well!" Dawn clung to the idea of catching something other than a Magikarp in this lake.
"They said they didn't find anything in the cave so maybe it could have come from the lake itself," Barry proposed a theory. "Standing around ain't gonna help us. Let's explore."
Lucas was dipping his hand in the cool water when his two friends decided to enter the cave. He followed them out of the midday sun into the dank cave. It was single room that could barely house an Onix if it didn't suffer from claustrophobia. Lanterns placed by Team Galactic around the room was enough to light up the bare cavern.
"There really is nothing," Dawn was disappointed then snapped her fingers. "I bet my new Pokemon can find it. Driscoll, come on out!" Dawn enthusiastically shouted, pointing the Pokeball at her feet.
"Driscoll?" Barry confusedly said.
-"Driscoll?"- Growlithe repeated.
"Yeah, that's what I named him! Fitting isn't it?" she beamed, getting down to pet her new party member.
"But why Driscoll?" Barry asked.
"Driscoll, the courageous knight who stood against the evil wizard in medieval times. Legend has it that his Charizard razed the wizard's castle. He's my definite counter to Ismael," Dawn's expression twisted into a wry smile, plotting nefarious plots. "Yes…to burn him into a crisp."
-"Please don't make me burn a person to a crisp,"- Driscoll sweatdropped.
"And here is Quinn!"
The Pokeball snapped open, shot a thin laser next to Growlithe that morphed into the shape of Piplup. The tiny penguin Pokemon materialized and instantly puffed out his chest in a pompous manner.
"Quinn?" Barry and Lucas uttered at the same time.
"That's Sir Quinn to you," she replied. "A famous Aura Guardian from Sinnoh's history."
I'm starting to see a pattern with your naming patter, Lucas realized Sinnoh's historic figures were all available to be used.
"Of course, I forgot to give my new Pokemon nicknames," Barry was slow to realize. "I can't have my Chatot being the only one with a cool name."
"I already named my Turtwig," Lucas remarked, releasing his little buddy. "From now on, I'm going to call you Turps. That's a fine name, don't you think?"
Turtwig twitched his head to face Lucas. –"Tuuuurps?"- he slowly said, trying to a get feel for it. –"I like it! Better than always being called specimen one back at the lab,"- he beamed in approval.
-"Hah! Turps sounds like an appropriate name for you. It instills aloofness and laziness,"- Piplup scornfully trilled. –"My own has an air of importance. Quinn!"-
Turps smiled despite Quinn's rudeness. –"That's a good name,"- he said in a cheerful tone. –"I'm glad to have a name."-
"And Bidoof! You will be Al, short for Alphonse." Lucas turned to his newly caught Bidoof munching on a branch he took with him.
The Bidoof was just a simple Pokemon with little thoughts flowing through his head. -"A name?"- Al paused from his gnawing to critically think. -"A name..."- He was about to come to an epiphany about his very being. To no longer just be another Bidoof in this region. Another Bidoof overlooked by every trainer. -"I don't mind,"- he finally said, returning to chewing his branch as if it was his sole purpose.
-"He was so close to developing his character,"- Turps acknowledged Al decision to return to being a plain Bidoof. -A simple mindset might not be so bad,- Turps thought to himself.
"Growlithe: the Puppy Pokemon. Growlithe has a superb sense of smell. Once it smells anything, this Pokemon won't forget the scent, no matter what. A Pokemon with a friendly nature. However, it will bark fiercely at anything invading its territory," Dawn's Pokedex informed as it cataloged the Pokemon.
Dawn was on her Pokedex, using the nifty feature of determining what moves this Growlithe knew. She scrolled through the short list, realizing this pup wasn't that experience as she initially thought. She did come upon a certain move."This should work. Driscoll, find me that legendary Pokemon," she shot up and pointed a finger at her Pokemon. "Use Odor Sleuth and sniff out Mespirit!"
Driscoll barked with enthusiasm, knowing exactly what Dawn wanted him to do. He raised his wet nose high and activated his technique. A small green light appeared on the tip of his nose and expanded to cover his nostrils. With his heightened sense of smell, he went to work. Nose to the floor, he paced around the area sniffing. He made sure no corner of the of the cave was left un-sniffed and not stone was left unturned.
"What, no luck?" Dawn picked up her hound to sniff the ceiling.
-"There is nothing here,"- Driscoll concluded. -"In fact, I don't think any Pokemon lives in this cave."-
Dawn placed him back on the ground disappointed. "If Mesprit is really here...then we need to awaken the spirit," she figured and spun around to face her friends. "Lucas, I challenge you to a battle!" Dawn challenged.
"You want to battle me?" Lucas asked, surprised by the sudden demand. "Shouldn't you be fighting Barry. I'm not the one aiming to be a Pokemon trainer." He pointed at Barry.
"But that doesn't give you an excuse to slack off. You and your Pokemon are going to need to keep up with us on this journey. So, Lucas give me your best! Your Turtwig against my Quinn!" She stepped backwards from Lucas to create some distance.
"Come on, Lucas! Show her what you can do," Barry encouraged his friend. "I bet that Turtwig must have some awesome moves. Mine already knows very cool attacks."
Lucas looked down and met Turp's eyes. He looked up to him with a confused look but gave an affirming nod. "Alright, we'll put each other to the test," he accepted the challenge.
The Pokedex listed the moves that Turps can do...but are they enough to win, Lucas pondered on how to play this out. He stood across from Dawn, leaving a few meters of space between them. Turps stood before him with a confident smile as Piplup confronted him.
"Oh great guardian of the lake! Witness our battle and feel inspired by our burning spirits!" Dawn began to chant as if she was starting a ritual. There was no reaction and the match started.
"Quinn, Peck attack"
"Withdraw, Turps. It won't hurt as much."
Dashing forward, Quinn extended his tiny beak glowing a bright white. Hopping once he was in range, Quinn brought his Peck attack down. Turps managed to retreat into his shell just time as a series of pecks clobbered his shell.
-"Guh!"- Turps groaned as the assault continued. His own shell glimmered and flashed white a few times.
Quinn jumped back. -"That shell is suppose to be made of dirt! Now it's tougher than stone,"- he complained.
"Turp's defenses nullify your type advantage," Lucas confirmed the Withdraw ability raised his Pokemon's defenses. "Now safely from within your shell...Absorb! Gain back your lost health."
"Hey! You can't hide from us. That has to be cheating," Dawn lambasted.
"Actually, it's pretty legal as long as the Pokemon doesn't completely remove itself from battle," Barry, being this match mediator, gave Lucas the pass. "But will this really bring out Mespirit. Will there be a burning spirit if Turtwig just wins by standing still."
Turps, still in his brown shell, began to absorb Quinn's life force. His body was outlined in a deep green aura while Quinn's own figure was shrouded in a vivid red aura. Quinn could practically feel the life being sucked out of him.
"I'll show Mesprit my soul is raging with spirit," Dawn proclaimed. "Piplup, draw Turps out of his shell. Icy Wind!"
She has two moves strong against grass types! Lucas thought alarmed. Why does she even need a fire-type when this Piplup can take care of them just fine?
-"No more hiding! Come out or become an igloo,"- Quinn trilled. Opening his beak, Quinn blasted a gust of cold air. Winds carrying freezing temperatures smashed against Turp's body, forcing the tortoise to jump out of it's shell.
"Fight back. Leafage!"
"Don't let up! Icy Wind!"
Throwing his head forward, multiple leaves shot out of Turps's head. The tiny leaves spiraled into a mini tornado towards his target. The Leafage didn't slow from the Icy Wind threatening to freeze everything. Quinn's attack halted once the barrage of leaves pelted him into the ground.
"Quinn!"
Dazed and disoriented, Quinn perked up from Dawn's yell. I can't be outdone yet! He told himself. Mustering the strength, Quinn hopped to his feet. His first trainer match and he was being tossed around.
"Quinn..." Dawn whispered, awed by the fire in her Pokemon's eyes. "It was wrong of me to not believe in you. Show me what you can do. Full power, Icy wind!"
"Turps, Leafage! He can't be to far from fainting," Lucas encouraged his tired Turtwig.
With both Pokemon close to their limits, it all came down to who had the faster draw. Piplup moved first and froze everything in front of him with a gust of Icy Wind. Turps barely managed to swing his head around as he was struck by the gust. He fell to his side, not able to complete his finishing move.
"This match is over! Quinn is the winner!" Barry hollered as if he was an official referee, making extraneous hand signals towards Dawn.
"Great job, pal," Lucas commended his Pokemon before returning him back into his Pokeball. "That was a great mat-"
"That was amazing, Quinn! Such vigor! The guts you showed!" Dawn held her penguin up high. "Oh powerful Mesprit! Do you accept this battle as an offering? Did our burning spirits pleased you?"
Lucas scanned the cavern, but a quick glance revealed nothing has changed. No magical being appearing out thin air. No hints of any life resonated in the barren cave. It was eerie just thinking of how lifeless a cave could be. Not even the Zubats dared to nest in here and those damn creatures were everywhere.
-"Are trying to summon something here?-" Driscoll felt clueless in this situation. He remained alert but smelled nothing out of the ordinary.
I guess only painful feelings can really awaken Mesprit, Lucas figured. Just like last time...
"I don't want to cut this little expedition short but the day is getting shorter. Shouldn't we cut our losses and make our way to the first gym," Barry surprisingly gave up.
Dawn scrunched her face, making an odd face. "I really hoped to see it one last time before we actually departed our hometown," she sighed, looking down at Driscoll and Quinn. "It was not wasted time but we are going to need to make up some distance if we want to reach the closest gym in the next few days."
"Then let's head to Jubilife City first," Lucas suggested, already setting his sight on the exit.
"Alright, I guess we can leave now. If our incredible battle couldn't stir Mesprit from its slumber then these spacemen have less chance of even getting it to fully awaken." Dawn returned her two Pokemon, and followed the two boys to greet their ferry.
"And can we please stick to the roads this time?" Barry pleaded.
"I can't deal with another Bidoof mistaking my leg for a branch of the finest of acacia," Lucas piled on, tired of trekking through bushes.
"Fine, fine, it was bad idea," Dawn admitted. "I guess we can stick to the paths...but I will still complain if the road takes on a longer path than if we could have just cut through," she grumbled.
A/N: These starter Pokemon are stronger than the usual ones that you get at the start of the game. I thought it would make the battles more interesting if they had more moves other than Tackle or Pound. That's why I'm including Egg moves and even moves that they inherit from their parents. I hope this makes the early battles more engaging and it doesn't seem like I'm trying to give the main characters some overpowered Pokemon. The upcoming battles aren't going to be easy and I hope to keep them entertaining.