Sorry this took so long. I blame exams and my recent discovery of Archer. Seriously, I watched close to five seasons in a ridiculously short ammount of time. Anyway, I'm not sure when the next chapter will be done, and now that I'm no longer on campus I don't have easy access to internet so even when I do finish it I probably won't be able to post it right away.
"Damn bastards, think they're so much better than me," Sol hissed to herself as she forcefully shoved supplies into her bag. "'Oh, look at me, I'm a Lucario and I know everything'. Stuck up bitch."
Sol closed the tie on her pack and threw it on the bed. The she sat down to wrap up her feet against the outside cold and snow. The events of the previous night replayed in her head, and the more she thought about it the madder she got. That Lucario thought she could just walk in and boss Sol around without an explaination? Did she really think Sol would just do what she said? And that the Lucario probably knew exactly what she was talking about just made it worse.
"She could have just said it was bad for my feet," Sol muttered. "But no, she was all 'ROAR! Bow before my glory and do exactly what I say without question! You dare disobey me?! Off to brainwashing camp with you! ROAR!'. Bitch."
And then there was that Riolu, Riley. He was even meeker than Eevee was when Sol first met him, hiding behind the Lucario like a well trained pet. Was that what the clans turned you into? Then Sol wanted to keep well away from them. But she's show that Lucario. Sol was just as strong as them and would make it to the top of Snow Peak. Then she'd like to see them try to get to Temporal Tower.
Sol stood up, grabbed her cloak and put it on.
"What does Cheynin even mean?"
"Child. Or student. Something like that, I think." Sol looked up to see Espeon walk into the inn room.
"How do you know so much about them?" Sol asked and picked up her scarf.
"One of the clans isn't far from Pokémon Square. There's some trade between the two, but the clan usually sticks to itself. But the Riolu sent out on their trial usually pass through, and I've met a few of them."
"The Lucario mentioned a trial."
"It's some sort of initiation thing. Riolu get sent out and they don't return until they evolve."
"So, what? They head over to Luminous Spring then go all the way back?"
Espeon shook her head. "If they were going to do that they would use the well in the Square. They have to evolve the old fashioned way, which can take a long time, I hear. A lot of them join Rescue Teams. But they're always done alone. I don't know why the Lucario is here."
"That doesn't matter to me as long as they stay out of my way," Sol said. She picked up the muddy red stone, the one she had found back in Treasure Town, off the dresser. She had managed to find a length of black cord and threaded it through the hole in the center so she could hang it around her neck. She didn't know why, but looking at the stone made her feel a bit more relaxed, and she liked having it around. Eevee, for some weird reason didn't like it, but that was his problem.
"Listen, Sol," Espeon said. "I really don't think you should try climbing Sky Peak."
"Why does everyone keep telling me that?" Sol said angrily. "I saved the damned world! I fought Dialga! I think I can handle a mountain and some snow. You don't seem the least bit worried about those other two."
"I've met more than one Pokémon from the clans. I've been there once myself. Each and every one of them train since the moment they can walk to be warriors. Those two have been training for situations like this for years. And, while your doing this to make a point and defend against some nonexistent offence, the clans reject all forms of vanity and arrogance. They're doing this because they know they can without any pride clouding their judgement."
"Oh, yes. They're just so great. I could never hope to meet their esteemed awesomeness."
"Sol..."
"Whatever," Sol said. She grabbed her pack and stormed from the room. She wanted to leave as soon as she could, then shove it in that Lucario's face when she made it to the top first.
Eevee was down in the inn's main room on the ground floor. He looked anxious as he spoke in hushed tones with Ren while Jak stood nearby.
"You guys ready to go?" Sol asked cheerfully.
"Sol," Eevee said, "I really don't think this is a good idea."
"For the love of- You too? We'll be fine! We can do this!"
"You didn't want to do this before we came here. Why now?"
"Pride delights in building up a pedestal, but will cry and ask how could this happen when it falls from great heights," Ren said.
"Come on! We're Team Wanderers! We've faced worse than this!"
"But there's no point in putting ourselves in danger like this! Jak, can you talk some sense into her?"
"This one believes we have no choice but to face the mountain."
"What?!" Eevee exclaimed while Sol grinned in delight. "But aren't you the one who refused to jump into the quicksand pit because you thought it was too dangerous? This is exactly like that except we're not even on a mission!"
"This is different. Our alpha made a claim to another and to back down would cast weakness onto the pack. Jak also believes this is the only way to prove the pack's strength after the outcome of last night's fight."
"We don't need to prove anything!"
"I know we don't need to, but I sure want to," Sol declared. "Did you get a load of that Lucario's attitude last night? She's just asking to get knocked down a peg."
"She apologized! And what if we never ran into her? You could've gone on walking as you have been and ended up crippled when you evolve."
"If evolving means turning into a self righteous jackass like her, I think I'll stay a Riolu," Sol said and made her way over to the inn's newly replaced door, purposely walking on her whole foot instead of just the toes.
"Sol! This is serious! You can't just ignore what she said just because you don't like her."
"I didn't ignore her. She clearly said it wouldn't effect me now. Just if, and that's a big if, I evolve."
"Stop this, Sol. I can kind of understand you wanting to climb Sky Peak, but knowingly hurting yourself just to stick it to someone who isn't even around to see it?"
Sol roller her eyes. "Fine, but calm down, would you?" Sol said and moved up onto her toes. "But do you really think that after all the time I've been here that this is going to make a difference? I think the damage is already done. Now let's get moving already. We need to find a guide to take us up Sky Peak."
...
"In the middle of winter? Are you crazy?"
"The paths are too treacherous now, and the wind will blow you right off the side."
"Winter's too unpredictable. Storms hit without warning."
"Sorry, I only take people up in the summer."
"Certainly you don't mean to go all the way up to the top! Even the most experienced climbers hesitate to even go halfway in the winter!"
"Might I suggest trying the lower hiking trails?"
Sol ground her teeth in frustration. There were three stores in Shaymin Village that specialized in climbing and hiking equipment, and they were also where people went to book and hire guides. She had gone to each in turn and received the exact same answer from each guide she had spoken to. No one goes up Sky Peak in the winter. It was just too dangerous.
"That's that, I suppose," Eevee said.
"We don't need a guide. We can go up by ourselves."
"No, we can't. Sky Peak isn't like Bristle or any other mountain we've been up. It's dangerous."
"We're explorers, aren't we? We're supposed to go to dangerous places, it's our job! And since when have we needed a guide before?"
"Sol, there's no point in this!"
"If that damned Lucario can climb up there, then so can I."
"Why are you so angry? What do you want to prove so much?"
Sol kicked at the snow on the ground. Why did this matter to her so much? That Lucario thought she could order Sol around. Sure, similar things had happened back when she was an apprentice at the guild, but it was the way the Lucario had done it. She hadn't looked at Sol like she was a person, but instead more like a piece of equipment that had been allowed to rust. Sol was something to repair and then set back to work.
And the Riolu... Sol didn't get then same feeling from him as she did from the Lucario. But something about him still made her want to prove that she was just as good as them. When she thought of him, her thoughts immediately went to him basically telling her she wasn't ready to be out on her own. That irked her, especially when she remembered the look of genuine concern and empathy.
"This is just something I need to do. Guide or not, I'm going up that mountain."
"Pardon me, youngin', but did I hear correctly that you're planning on going up Sky Peak?"
Sol looked over to see an older Shaymin approach, the grass on his back ragged and wild and one blind eye milky white. His voice was gruff with age and an air of confident experience hung about him, like he knew he had seen it all and would not stand to let anything waste what time he had left.
"Yeah, but we're having trouble finding someone willing to show us the way."
"That's because no one here is stupid enough to try," he said bluntly. "I reckon you must be Sol. Eliza told me about you and already hired me to take you youngins' up."
"What?!" Eevee exclaimed. "Who's Eliza?"
"That Lucario that came through here with that Riolu. Didn't catch his name, though. I was supposed to take them two up, but she came to me and told me some headstrong Pokémon would come around looking for a guide. I'm the only one who ever goes up in the winter, and she said you'd need the help more than they would. I reckon she was right."
Sol narrowed her eyes. How dare that Lucario, Eliza, insult her like this! Sol didn't need her help. She was perfectly capable of getting things done on her own without anyone stepping in to hold her hand.
"Hold on," Eevee said. "Does this mean the other two decided not to climb Sky Peak?"
"No, they're still going. They were only taking me just in case."
"So she sent you to babysit us," Sol spat.
"Look here, missy," the Shaymin said. "I see far too many Pokémon like you, thinkin' they can run up the mountain no problem. Then it falls to me and my fellows to chase up after 'em and pull 'em from danger, though most times we just end up dragging down their frozen bodies. If I thought it would stop you I'd refuse to take you, but I can see already you're just as stubborn as Eliza said you'd be."
Sol ground her teeth. Eliza thought she knew all there was to know about Sol in the brief few minutes they had met.
"The source does not diminish our need," Ren cut in, guessing at Sol's line of thought. "Do not dismiss the experienced guide."
"Fine. When will you be ready to leave..." Sol said, leaving a pause for the Shaymin to finish it.
"Alistair. And my gear is all ready to go. I'm just waiting on you youngins'."
That was good, at least. Sol looked up at the towering form of Sky Peak, the village caught in its massive shadow. Sol wasn't nervous. She was far too pissed off for that. She'd show that Eliza just what she was capable of.
Oh, no! There are two Unnamed Generic Guests now! How to tell you apart...
Unnamed Generic Guest 1: We'll be seeing more of the clans, which I hope will be interesting. As for Red/Blue, I think it's best to stagger out world catastrophes a bit. It'd be terrifying to live in a world that almost gets destroyed every other week.
Unnamed Generic Guest 2: Unfortunately I highly doubt Grovyle will be coming back in this story. But the good news is that I will be writing a prequel after this is finished that will be featuring a lot of Grovyle.
Darkrai6543: Glad you enjoyed it. And I made up 'Cheynin' and all those other words.
Mister L: Pancakes? Well of course the new plot will include pancakes. It wouldn't be a good story otherwise.
ckrier.3000: You take the time to respond to what I write, so I like to return the favour.