Pleased with his win, Riley made his way down the skyscraper and took another visit to the Pokemon Centre; reluctantly. Thankfully though, a more responsible Joy was on staff at the moment. "Hey there, I see you got the Moon Badge," she smiled. "Check out the PokeMart, there might be something new for you available now."
So Riley did. He scrolled through the catalog on the touch screen on the desk and found a handful of items with the word "New" next to their icon. They each looked like different colours of potions and had names like "antidote" and "awakening" on their icons. There was also a new type of Potion labelled Hyper Potion. He bought one of each of the bottles, and two of the Hyper Potions.
After that, he quickly checked out the PC. He was greeted by Sir Kit. "Hello, Riley!" the AI greeted. "Darwing is doing great! He's grown a liking to me. What would you like to do today?"
Riley put his finger on the "Deposit Pokemon" button.
"Depositing a Pokemon, huh? I'll take good care of it!"
Knowing Maskoon had been traumatized, Riley deemed that it would be safer if it were left in the Virtual Paradise with Sir Kit.
"Aww, what a cute Maskoon! Don't worry, I've got my eye on it!"
Riley smiled, relieved.
He sat down where he'd sat before and watched the Contest Palace feed. But then it was interrupted by an urgent news flash!
"A radical attack on Chinocko's Power Source Field could leave the region in a power crisis!" the news anchor claimed, calmly. On the screen was a picture of Team Delta Grunts standing i a rocky area that had black goo sitting in pools across it. Riley was entirely disgusted by the sight, but he knew that Team Delta were evil-doers and that he needed to take care of them! He got up and ran to the door-
Wait, his Pokemon!
He waited anxiously, his feet forcing his body to pace across the tiled floor while he was unable to stop them. When he heard the chime that his Pokemon had recovered, he immediately grabbed them, left Nurse Joy a small tip, and rushed out.
She sighed, looking confused and flustered, "What's he so excited about?"
He ran straight for the northern end of Eclisse City. Right next to where the Pokemon Gym was, there was an entrance to a subway. He'd recognized it from his visits to Derreck's Pokemon Gym beforehand.
He walked down the wide entrance. There were lights lining the trim of the walls and they changed through all the colours of the rainbow. The lights on the ceiling were a solid white, but they were bright enough that it almost felt like it was daytime.
Considering Eclisse City rarely experienced actual daytime, this would've been the closest many of them would have gotten. There was graffiti on the walls that showed words, phrases, and even some Pokemon.
Riley sat down on a comfortable, if not freezing cold chair, waiting for the subway to arrive. That's where he met Derreck, who was entering the subway right when Riley sat down. "Hello, son," he smiled. "This subway only travels to the Power Source Fields, you realize?"
Riley nodded, confirming. He knew, but he wanted to take it anyway.
"Are you sure you want to go there?" Derreck asked. "It's not the nicest of places. And besides, it's dangerous at the moment."
But the young Trainer was determined to fix whatever the evil Team Delta was doing. He train had finally arrived! It was a sleek, efficient model that had come from a manufacturer in the Kanto region.
They soon arrived at the exit, which was in the aforementioned Power Source Fields. Immediately upon stepping out of the subway, Riley gagged. The smell was gut-wrenching. How were the Team Delta Grunts planning to revolt in this stench?
Derreck followed Riley into the field. "You take care of the Grunts, alright?" Riley looked up to the tall, darkly-dressed man. "We partners, then?" In response, Riley nodded. He most definitely did want to be partners with Derreck! What would teaming up with Derreck be like? Could it possibly be like when Night Shadow had taken out three Team Delta Grunts with only his Racrook? Oh boy, that would be so cool!
Riley took the main path while Derreck walked down a side path.
That's when Riley encountered two Team Delta Grunts! One was a navy-haired young woman in her sleek, easily-worn Team Delta outfit, and the other was a boy around her age who had bleach blonde hair and wore his metal-covered super spy-style suit proudly.
"I joined this organization so I could help people and Pokemon," began the woman, "to live more naturally and healthfully."
"I joined because sometimes you have to destroy things to do the right thing," the boy said, his voice attractive and soft.
Riley didn't know what to think of their words, so he shrugged them off. They sent out their Pokemon! The young woman sent out a Ledyba, a cute Pokemon with spots on its back and six silly-looking stubby legs. Her partner, the young man, sent out Purrloin, a prideful and mischievous Pokemon that had migrated to Chinocko from the southward Unova region.
Riley sent out Barksky! Its Brick Break would be very strong on Purrloin's inner darkness! He also sent out Flaradillo, whose Fire-type attacks would be strong against Ledyba's exoskeletal body!
Flaradillo got the first move, using Flame Wheel on Ledyba! Ledyba fainted in only one hit as the heat overtook its body and forced into into painful submission.
"My poor Ledyba!" the Grunt shrieked, diving to catch her Ledyba before it hit the ground. She cradled it in her arms and proceeded to send out Ledian, the evolved form of Ledyba, a much more mature and strong ladybug Pokemon.
Purrloin used Purr, a move exclusive to Chinocko. Flaradillo was unaffected because its Fire typing was super effective against Purrloin's Dark typing, but Ledian and Barksky were both were both caught in the adorable purring.
The Normal-type Purr attack disabled Barksky from using Brick Break. In other words, it disabled a Pokemon whose typing wasn't super effective on Purrloin from using any super effective moves.
Riley ordered Barksky to use Brick Break, but the Pokemon was so entranced in the adorable, adorable little noise that it couldn't land its attack. Ledian used Bug Buzz, which sent Barksky into a confused state. It teetered on its paws, struggling to even keep itself standing.
Flaradillo used Ember, which shone light into Purrloin's sinful soul, making the attack super effective! Purrloin was unable to battle! Running out into the battlefield to feed Purrloin a Poffin, not knowing if he would have been injured, the male Team Delta Grunt recalled Purrloin, cuddling close to it and rubbing his cheek against its cheek. He sent out Liepard, who was a larger and more intimidating Dark-type cat Pokemon.
While Barksky was no longer disabled from using its Brick Break, it was still confused. Not able to see straight, it tripped over its paw and injured its knee! It cried out in pain!
Flaradillo was ordered to use Flame Wheel on Liepard, so it obeyed! Liepard only hed on with a minuscule fraction of health, but it had received a burn! The burn was enough to knock it unconscious, and the Team Delta boy called it back, picking up the rather large Pokemon in his hands and laying it down on a rock, petting its chin as it rested, trying to recover.
Ledian used Bug Buzz once more! While Flaradillo did take damage, it resisted becoming confused. Riley pet Barksky's behind, hoping it would come through for him. He asked it to use Ice Fang!
With struggle, it managed to waddle awkwardly over to Ledian. It encased its fangs in hard ice and chomped down. Ledian was down and out!
"No! We've lost!" the girl cried, letting both of her Pokemon rest their heads in her lap as they recovered.
"It's fine, my dear," reassured the Team Delta boy. "We tried our best, and our Pokemon did too. We can only thank our Pokemon for fighting so hard to protect us."
Riley proceeded. The Power Source Fields were a disgusting place. He wished he didn't have to be here, but he had to stop Team Delta. There was a tar pit that spanned the entire length of the area, almost like a river. All there was to cross it were some specialized boats and some bridges made out of chrome and gratings.
He crossed the bridge that was connected to the path he'd decided to take. He shoes made satisfying 'chank' sounds when they touched the metal surface. Standing in the middle of the bridge was another Team Delta Grunt. This one was a man, around Derreck's age, who looked a little odd as his uniform because it didn't fit him properly.
"Darn Float Stone..." grumbled the man, who was actually quite fat. "Why did I give it to my Pokemon instead of keeping it for myself?"
Riley walked up to him. He turned to Riley, his brow intense.
"You! I need a good workout! Battle me!"
Riley shrugged. He didn't really care, but if his Pokemon could get experience out of it, it was worth the battle.
"Alright! Go Munchlax!"
Munchlax, a blue Pokemon with a pudgy torso and a messy mouth, waddled onto the bridge. It managed to get the first move! It used Tackle!
Barksky, who had recovered from its confusion and gone into battle, just stared at it. Who kept the move Tackle for this long...?
Barksky used Brick Break, performing the move weakly as to not waste its energy. Munchlax fainted.
"Gah! I really didn't plan to get into any battles today!" the Team Delta Grunt groaned, his belly jiggling as he fell onto his behind in shock of losing.
There was a building on the other side of the river that was made out of the same chrome material as the bridge Riley'd just stepped off of. It was a cube and had a very industrial feel to it. But it was still a ways away. Riley had a bit more of a walk to go.
Just then, a Pokemon jumped out of one of the circular tar pits! It was a Poison- and Dragon-type Pokemon! "Britt!" it croaked. "Rawbbit!"
Riley knew that Dragons were weak to Ice, so he sent out Bluntooth! But Rawbbit managed to attack first! It used Toxic! The boils on its unpleasant, dirty green body began leaking a purple gas that was launched right into Bluntooth's nostrils!
It coughed and choked, but it was unavoidable. Bluntooth had been poisoned!
It tried making its move, but it didn't get the chance before Rawbbit called for help!
"Fing!" It was the Pokemon that answered the call! It was Koffing!
Bluntooth used Ice Beam! It hit Rawbbit right in its inflated air sac! The Pokemon nearly fainted, but it held on! That's when Bluntooth felt the effects of its poison. Riley quickly hurried to treat it with the Antidote he'd purchased! Was he ever glad to have bought that!
Koffing used Sludge Bomb, turning the gas from its body into a ball of poisonous goo and throwing it at Bluntooth! But the attack missed! Rawbbit took its turn next, using Poison Jab! It jabbed its stubby front leg into Bluntooth's sternum. Bluntooth took little damage, and resisted being poisoned again!
Bluntooth used Ice Fang on Rawbbit this time, causing it to faint! Koffing using Poison Beam, a move that had first been used by a Weezing in Chinocko merely two years prior and had gained huge popularity in the Pokemon kingdom.
Bluntooth resisted being poisoned, but after being hit by the dark-purple beam, it wasn't in the best place physically! Riley withdrew it!
He sent out Barksky, knowing that Poison-types were for whatever reason weak to Fighting-type attacks! Weezing tried to use Poison Beam again, but missed! Barksky used Brick Break, causing Koffing to faint and dissipate into the air!