As Colin wanted, the two and their Pokemon left during the night. "It's so cold out, Colin!", Baz said as he wrapped himself in Croagunk's curtain bed. "It is NOT that cold out, dude.", Colin said lying through his teeth. He was freezing. But it shouldn't be as cold as it is. They were too far into the path to go back to Floaroma. He shrugged it off as they walked past a rather beautiful view of the moon striking against the surface of the river that ran next to the path. Eterna Forest was coming up soon anyway. No houses out here. No trainers, no nothing. Baz took note of this, as did Colin. Colin took note of the light snoring coming from his back. It was Croagunk, who stayed attached to Colin's back as it slept. The world was quiet here. No noise except the light crunch of the gravel beneath their feet as they walked.
Colin broke the silence. "We should get to the Forest soon. Want to go in or camp out by the entrance?", he asked Baz. Baz was silent for a few moments. He spoke suddenly, "We may as well go right on in. We'll get to Eterna by morning, I guess." Before Colin could speak, Baz continued, "Because SOMEONE wouldn't wait until tomorrow to go!" Colin was taken aback. "Excuse me, Mr. Early Bird! I thought you would enjoy staying up later than your bedtime for once!", Colin retorted. They kept on arguing as they walked, not even noticing that they had entered the forest.
The two stopped as they felt a icy breeze sweep over them. All warmth they had was gone in an instant. Croagunk's snoring ceased and it flung itself off of Colin's back and onto the slightly frozen ground in front of him. Croagunk had a look on its face that Colin had never seen before. A look of pure anger. Whatever was in the Forest, Croagunk was not a fan of it. The two trainers look at each other, then at Croagunk. "Later.", Baz said. Colin nodded and the group trekked farther into the Forest. Noises surrounded them, possibly even from every direction. They were backed into a clearing where the moon shone down on them and gleamed in the starless sky. The noise grew in volume until it was right on top of them. By this point, Baz had let out his Pokemon. Budew huddled next to Prinplup, wo was enjoying the all of a sudden cold weather. Zubat was (who guessed it) asleep. Colin let out Luxio and prepared for a fight. The freezing air got colder and colder, until the very ground beneath them felt slick. Then, at once, it stopped.
The group let their guard down. Big mistake. A shadowy form sprinted across the field and struck Luxio on its flank, sending Luxio flying backwards into a group of trees behind Colin. The wind became freezing in an instant. This Pokemon seemed to have control of the environment around it. It was small and slender, but moved like a blur around them. Colin could not see its face, but had a feeling that it wasn't friendly. From what he could see, it was bright blue, thin, long ears, and a long tail. But even given its color, it was still hidden mostly by its shadow. The mystery Pokemon slowed to a walk and finally sat down a few yards away from Croagunk. Croagunk grew more and more angered, as if the very existence of this Pokemon made the frog Pokemon want to fight. Colin took notice and immediately tried to grab Croagunk. As if Croagunk knew, Croagunk flung itself forward and fired a Poison Sting in the direction of the Pokemon. The Poison Sting hit the ground where the Pokemon was. It had disappeared. As Croagunk landed on the ground again, a barrage of stars struck the frog Pokemon. Swift, noted Colin. It barely fazed Croagunk. Croagunk had seen it all before, it seemed. It placed one foot on the ground and launched mud around it. One mud ball had struck the form. All Croagunk needed.
Croagunk sped forward and latched onto the unknown Pokemon. The two Pokemon wrestled with each other for a while. Then, Croagunk threw the Pokemon into the light. Colin took the opportunity to use his Pokedex before Croagunk attacked again. ~ Glaceon, the Fresh Snow Pokémon and the evolved form of Eevee. Glaceon is able to control the temperature of the environment around it by modifying its body heat. ~ "Evolved form of Eevee?", Colin asked himself. "Yeah, you don't have them back in Hoenn?", Baz wondered. Colin could see the resemblance. Before he could ask more, Croagunk attacked Glaceon once more, this time using Pursuit. Glaceon dodged and Tackled Croagunk as the frog Pokemon came back into view.
"We need to stop this!", Colin yelled to Baz. "Alright, alright!", Baz said, throwing his arms up as he did so. "Budew, go and help Croagunk!", Baz ordered. Budew ran forward and fell. It then got back up and continued running towards Croagunk as it fought with Glaceon. Croagunk took notice of Budew and immediately threw Glaceon off into the tall grass and ran over to Budew. Both Baz and Colin looked surprised at this. Croagunk attempted to force Budew back to Baz, but to no avail. Glaceon had already recovered and was on the move again, now circling the two Pokemon. Budew huddled in closer to Croagunk as the frog Pokemon fired Poison Sting after Poison Sting at the icy Pokemon. Mist appeared to settle in as the battle ensued. Croagunk looked around the clearing. The mist had made it too hard to see. Croagunk felt a chill run down its spine as the frog Pokemon was smacked away from Budew by what could only be assumed as Glaceon. Budew looked up to see Glaceon, and attemped from the Pokemon with a permanent scowl upon its face. Glaceon was in front of the plant Pokemon in seconds. Croagunk struggled to get up. It staggered up to its feet and limped toward Budew and Glaceon. The scowl on Glaceon's face turned into a wicked smile. The mist dissapited as Glaceon unleashed a concentrated flow of ice onto Budew, sending it flying backwards.
Baz yelled and tried to run forward, but Colin held him back. No way was Colin letting anyone else hurt themselves. "That was an Icy Wind, Colin. Budew's hurt! LET. ME. GO!", Baz bellowed. Croagunk watched as Glaceon walked calmly over to Budew, who lay unconscious on the frozen ground beneath it. Glaceon's face remained with a smile of a killer still prominent on its face. Croagunk felt as though a fire had been lit underneath it. Rage defined the frog Pokemon's face as it gained newfound strength, running forward. Glaceon looked over to see Croagunk sprinting forward, going for what looked like a Feint. Glaceon ran toward Croagunk as well, the two ready to clash like titans. Croagunk's sheer anger only intensified as Glaceon sprinted toward it. Colin watched on in awe as the two neared each other. The two got in striking range as Glaceon went for a Take Down and Croagunk made a fist. The air grew more and more tense as the two Pokemon began to yell at each other as they charged. The "fist" Croagunk was making suddenly burned a bright white, illuminating the battlefield. Croagunk smirked and brought the fist up hard, uppercutting Glaceon. Glaceon stopped in its tracks and was flung backwards into a tree, smacking hard enough to shake a few Burmy out of the tree.
"That was Revenge!", Colin announced amazed. Baz stopped struggling and appreciated the new move Croagunk had learned. Glaceon attempted to regain its balance against the tree. Croagunk let loose a Poison Sting, refusing to let Glaceon recover. The smile from Colin's face faded fast. "This, this has to stop. Croagunk's going to kill Glaceon!", Colin exclaimed. Glaceon had yet to move as Croagunk pelted it with attack after attack. Glaceon hurt Croagunk's friend. Glaceon was going to pay. "Croagunk, stop! Please! If you don't, you'll kill that Glaceon!", Colin screamed at the frog Pokemon. Croagunk pretended not to hear. Colin's flatcap covered his face as freezing tears began to fall. Croagunk was not listening to reason. Baz was over comforting Budew as Colin was distracted. Colin couldn't think of what to do. He looked over to the frog Pokemon, tears profusely staining his face. Glaceon was no longer trying to move. The trainer slowly lowered his head in defeat. "If you won't listen to me, you can listen to this!", Colin yelled as he pulled Croagunk's Pokeball from his belt. The red bolt escaped the ball and grabbed Croagunk from its position and placed Croagunk back in its Pokeball. Colin looked at the Pokeball, then hit the switch in the middle, shrinking the Pokeball. Croagunk wasn't getting out now.
Colin and Baz hid in some nearby bushes and watched as Glaceon staggered to its feet, looking around, terrified. The icy eeveelution then limped away, into the forest. The two walked wordless through the forest. Baz was at a strange peace, listening to the sounds of the forest as they walked. Colin was in a world apart, thinking of what he'd done. He felt numb to the Forest around him, watching as a Rotom flitted by aimlessly. He pulled his hood over his flatcap and walked faster. Baz kept up slowly. The moon was glazed over by stormclouds. It began to rain. The sun's light, while clouded by the new clouds, peeked over the horizon. Colin's face remained streaked with tears. Baz was happy to see Budew ok. The two made it to Eterna City as Colin's watch chimed its alarm, 6:30 A.M. Colin and Baz made it to the Pokemon Center at about 9 that day. They got in their room at 11 and slept. They wouldn't wake until tomorrow morning.
~Our heroes have made it to Eterna City, just as Colin wanted, but at what cost? Find out how Colin and friends will see this bumpy view to the next chapter of their lives, as the pokejourney continues...~