Author's Note:
*cricket noises*
A bunch of shout-outs to shifterofthedark for the Follow, and to Provider of odd things for that as well as the Favorite!
Disclaimer:
Pokémon and any other referential materials found in this story do not belong to me. They belong to their respective owners and subsidiaries, and I claim no ownership of them.
Of Children, Men, and Monsters
Chapter Thirty-One: To the Top
"An old village surrounded by Johto tradition just as much as it is trees," the sign that Marza hadn't bothered to previously read showed at the entrance to the place.
'Old Johto tradition? So is this what this region is like at its core? If so, what caused the supposedly foreign style of the other towns to come in and potentially overtake it? Hrmmm…' she pondered among other trains of thought. The mini-map on the sign displayed a few of the notable landmarks relative to each other, such as Sprout Tower – the pagoda that she marveled at before entering Violet City – and, perhaps more important for her quest, the place's Gym.
After deciding upon letting her two companions know what she intended to do next, Marza and company walked the paved streets of the place, intent on doing a bit of exploration before challenging the Gym and on getting to know the place better.
"So, you two," she asked as the trio headed towards the bridge that connected the rest of the town to Sprout Tower, "what do you think of this place? I know I like it quite a bit already, and not just because of its novelty."
Oscura nodded her agreement, as did Chikorita.
"… Now that I think about it, I probably should've brought a notebook and something to write with. Phrases I can't understand are hardly things I want to work with. In fact, I should make a visit to the Poké Mart here, both for those and some other things we're likely going to be needing. Another place to check out while we're here, I suppose…"
Cue music – Pokémon Gold/Silver/Crystal Version soundtrack – Sprout Tower
They crossed the bridge and reached the entrance to the tower as she finished that statement, politely knocking on the door thrice before patiently waiting for the door to open. As she did so, she read the sign just to her right .
"Sprout Tower – A pagoda built around an ancient gargantuan Bellsprout where one can train both mind and skill."
'Not sure what a Bellsprout is, but it must have been exceptionally massive to have had a structure this size made around it… Wait, wait. What does it mean by "built around?'
She was about to find out as the double doors opened, a middle-aged bald man in black robes allowing her through.
"Welcome to Sprout Tower, young one," he said, sagacity practically oozing out of his tone. His voice also had a slight accent that befitted the area that he likely lived in. "Am I to assume that you are here for the trial to assist in your preparation for the Violet City Gym challenge?"
"… I suppose. I was also here to look around, but now that you mention it, I suppose some training would be in order."
"Very well. Your goal is to climb to the top of Sprout Tower and defeat our most competent Trainer, Elder Li, in a battle. The trial starts when you climb the ladder over there–" he gestured to the wooden ladders nearby, "and, luckily for you, the path is fairly linear. Do be aware that it's called a trial for a reason, young one – expect many a Trainer to confront you on your way to the top. You are hardly the only one undergoing training, after all.
"Oh, and a warning… That pillar you see in the center of this structure? It is the titanic Bellsprout of old, and it is both valuable to us and this structure's livelihoods. As such, if you cause any sort of damage to the pillar you see creaking back and forth in the center of this place…"
A slightly frightening glare was sent her way.
"Understood, sir."
"That aside, I would invite you to come meditate whenever you would please. You may find that it will help you just as much – if not more – than any sort of usual battling would."
"I might take you up on your offer later. As it so turns out, it's starting to get late already, and my feet are complaining very loudly to stop using them so much," she explained only half-jokingly. The monk – for Marza assumed that that was what his occupation was – nodded in understanding, heading back to the north-eastern quadrant of the room and to the miniature crowd of people to resume his… well, whatever it was he was doing.
'A seminar? Tour expo? Guide to being a monk in just twohundred easy steps? None of my business regardless.'
She climbed the ladder, Chikorita in one arm, with Oscura following closely behind, all three unaware of the pair of eyes watching them ascend…
Barely three seconds' worth of walking after she ascended to the next floor and another, slightly younger looking man than the other monk, clad in similar clothing, walked around a corner, startling her a bit.
"I will be the first of many opponents in your trial this evening! For our honor, Bellsprout!"
Out came a Pokémon that could best be described as a mobile fly-catching plant with a body composed of roots.
"Pokédex Number Sixty-Nine: Bellsprout, the Flower Pokémon. Typing: Grass-Poison. Ability: Chlorophyll. Bellsprout's thin and flexible body lets it bend and sway to avoid any attack, however strong it may be. From its mouth, this Pokémon spits a corrosive avid that melts even iron."
'Better hope both of those are just exaggerations…'
Chikorita stepped up to the metaphorical batting plate, leaf swiftly swishing to and fro.
"Give our foe a Vine Whip, my friend!"
The other Grass-type extended a root, whipping Chikorita once or twice at range. The attacks barely appeared to faze her (Grass type moves must not be particularly effective against other Grass types…'), and she swiftly closed in for the knockout, succeeding in her efforts after just two Tackles. She barely looked winded, despite the Vine Whips she had received.
The monk withdrew his Bellsprout, sending out another.
'Is this going to be another case of one person using multiples of the same Pokémon?' thought Marza, unamused mused by the prospect. 'It is, isn't it.'
Repeat the previous process twice, as predicted.
Get profit in the form of victory and growing stronger.
The monk sighed in defeat. "Alas, the typing was not in my favor, and Vine Whip is the only Move Bellsprout knows at the moment. Regardless, you may progress."
Between this battle and the next inevitable one, Marza took to gazing at the pillar, noting its slow, rhythmitic motion.
'That pillar was once the body of a giant Bellsprout, then? What could have possibly caused it to grow so big?' Marza pondered on the seemingly impossible piece of lore, a bit bewildered. 'And why make this pagoda around it? Why make this a place of more or less worship for monks? So many thing to uncertainties… Then again, life is full of them to begin with.' She internally shrugged, putting a trip to the local information center on her mental to-do list.
Now on the third floor, Marza and the two Pokémon were almost immediately confronted by another monk.
"This tower is a sacred place to us monks. You shall not pass this point!"
'Kind of random, considering I already knew that first point. Ah, well, time to go to work…!'
"You up for some more, Chikorita?"
An eager nod as she stepped forth.
"Well, go get 'em then!"
Marza felt some sense of déjà vu as another Bellsprout was sent out to combat Chikorita. The battle flowed quite similarly, aside from the fact that the third Bellsprout only took a singular Tackle to defeat rather than two.
"Your bonds… I can tell they have not been around for long, yet they are already building. Continue on."
'Bonds of friendship, he means. So cheesy, but, considering his occupation, I guess I should've expected as much.'
Some words of courtesy later, and progress was resumed.
The moment that Marza went out of sight, the monk glanced at a corner of the roof, saying, "I know you're there. If you were going to make an attempt at startling me, little ghost, your efforts are already in vain."
He didn't hear a response, yet let out a small "Hmph!" as he felt the sprit leave, following the other human down the stairs.
"You'd best be careful, lass, because you're being followed by something that's not nearly as friendly as it could be …"
Now once again on the first floor, Marza meandered on, intent on getting this whole ordeal over with as quickly as practically possible, but was halted in her tracks by an odd, laughter-like noise resonating around the entirety of the section of the room. Marza, Oscura, and Chikorita warily glanced around, not really seeing any apparent threats… that is, until she felt a sharp gust of wind flow through her hair from behind her. She whipped around, but all that was present were a few faint whisps of purple gas. Those were all the evidence left that something had just attempted to sneak up on her.
"Hmmm," was all that the lass let out externally in response to this series of events. Internally, however?
'Well that gave me a spook. What even was that, some sort of ghost? Because there's no way someone can sneak up on me like that and vanish so quickly. Plus, who would go through the trouble of setting up mics across the entire room or some such just for this?'
Marza always did believe in the existence ghosts. And extraterrestrial beings. And alternative dimensions… And a bunch of other relatively strange topics. For all she knew, all of those and then some were being proven right in these very moments!
… Which was quite exciting, now that she thought about it, but she hardly wanted to be haunted by a spirit, if her assumption was correct.
'Not exactly a lot that can be done about it, and I can't exactly afford to sit around all day waiting to get startled again.'
She voiced this sentiment to her companions, and they nodded their approval, however wary they seemed.
Going up the stairs, she entered the other section of the second floor, beating out another monk that attempted to bar her path. This one only utilized two Bellsprout, yet were packing a bit more resilience than the others. At the end of the battle, Chikorita learned a new Move – Poison Powder, which the Pokédex described as a damage-over-time type of move. And speaking of Typing, it was Poison, and, as a result, it didn't work on other Poison-types or Steel-types, the latter of which Marza had yet to see a specimen of.
'A fact that I should remember for later. Who knows? That wasted time and energy may prove to be a mistake that marks a defeat,' she noted.
"Well done. You've another two of my ilk to face, and then our elder and more-or-less leader, Li. Continue on."
She did so, climbing up the ladder and reaching the third floor for the first time. One monk promptly fell, than another just three minutes later.
Marza was beginning to grow worried for Chikorita, who, despite her efforts to hide it, was clearly struggling to stay on her feet… well, not quite feet, more like stubs, but that's beside the point.
"Come here, Chikorita. You're clearly exhausted – I doubt you'd be able to win another battle even against some Bellsprout in your current condition."
She let out a huff of arrogance, refusing to hop onto Marza's outstretched arms.
"Come on, Chikorita. You need to swallow your pride! What about when we saved you back in the forest? I didn't see you hesitate then!"
'That was because I knew I couldn't continue then, but I can now!' she yelled, though it came out as nothing more than indiscernable cries to Marza.
"… Fine, fine, if you're so insistent about it, I'll let you fight Li. Don't blame me if you end up going down, though."
Chikorita just let out a huff as a response.
They opened the door on the left side of the leaning corpse, entering and finding a rather shocking sight – Marza's red-haired nemesis, gazing haughtily at the facility dressed, elderly man, who Marza assumed was Li. Silver had just withdrawn Totodile when the grizzled man began to speak:
"Hrmmm… You have attained victory over me, and your Pokémon has certainly grown stronger. Your ties of friendship, however… they grow ever-more strained. If you continue to push your Pokémon like this, I doubt you will grow to any notable level of strength–"
"Can it, you senile old man! I have better to do than listen to you prattle on about this "friendship is power" crap!" he exploded with indignation, approaching the door. His eyes widened slightly, having not even noticing her standing there until he finished his mini-rant.
"Oh, it's you. And with another one of those pathetic Pokémon of Elm's, to boot. Came to steal something else that belongs to me?"
"I would hardly call Chikorita pathetic, especially in comparison to the likes of you. And you know that I took your… thing, then," she retorted, just barely avoiding spilling the beans and potentially looking like a fool in her arrogance.
"If by thing you mean my ID, then yes, you certainly did. Hand it over, or I will make you."
"And if I don't think you deserve to have it back…?"
The two got into a competition to figure out who had the most venomous glare (along with Oscura – Chikorita was just looking shocked that this was even occurring in front of her), but this ended up interrupted by Li.
"Calm yourselves! This is not a place meant for petty arguing. I know not what makes you two dislike each other so, but settle this argument at a later point!"
The two resumed glaring at each other, continuing for a few moments before Marza reluctantly retrieved the card out of her pocket, half-heartedly tossing it over to Silver.
"Let's face it: we're going to go at it again sometime, and Oscura, Chikorita and I are going to win," she stated, voice willed with finality to the point where it appeared like she was stating fact rather than opinion.
"Empty words! That first victory was nothing more than a fluke! Totodile is already strong enough to pound both of your Pokémon into the ground!"
"They aren't my Pokémon! They aren't my things to just raise up to be emotionless winning machines! They're living beings!"
But Silver wasn't listening by this point- he legitimately pushed passed Marza, roughly slamming the door behind him.
"… Alas, that young man… he is nothing short of a fool if he believes he can go any sort of distance with that attitude," proclaimed Li, sighing regrettably. "You, however… you look to have some promise. What is your name?"
The girl stepped up to the plate, taking a moment to glare at his somewhat flashy attire before answering, "Marza, sir. I assume you're Li?"
"Indeed. If you are looking for a battle with me, I would advize that you give your Pokémon these–" he gave some pear-shaped, yellow fruits with dark spots over their surfaces to Marza, "and wait for a few minutes. Then, we shall do combat."
"Alright," she readily agreed, giving three of the offered berries to Chikorita and one to Oscura (the latter felt some chagrin at this, but remembered that she didn't even get into a single fight, so…). Marza sat down and rested her feet as the other Pokémon rested up, as well.
The pair of eyes belonging to a certain ghost, meanwhile, continued to follow Marza, eager to see the confrontation unfold. Why, it could practically link its lips in anticipation…
In fact, it would.
Schliiick…
'Heh heh heh…'
