Chapter 8: Nothing's Ever Easy

-Dash's POV-

I managed to make it through the enemies with only a bit of trouble. Recently I was more focused on dodging through instead of fighting every last one of them. I took out one or two that were blocking my path and then got my electric-charged hide out of there. Over the course of this dungeon, I had learned no new moves. Apparently evolving gave you a power and speed boost, but made you slower to learn new moves. I wish somebody had told me that earlier.

Then again, thinking it over, maybe charging into a giant unknown dungeon with an unfamiliar body wasn't one of my brightest ideas…

And as if that wasn't enough, it was getting freezing up here. The snow cut down on my speed, which is why I had to start actually fighting the enemies. Whenever I found an Apple, I ate it right away so that I could hold on to my Oran Berry until I found another Reviver Seed. Those things restore me to tip-top shape as long as I faint to use it. Sometimes I let myself be defeated while I had a Reviver Seed and ran away until the seed fixed me up. Not the proudest strategy, but it lets me start with a new burst.

As I shuffle-ran through the knee-deep snow, I let out a chuckle as I thought about what would happen when (not if, when) the others caught up with me.

I am going to be in sooooo much trouble…

-Damus's POV-

Reviewing the new recruits' progress in my head as I looked at the two of them in the lobby, I decided that this would be the last run for the day. It was never good to over train, and they may very well be called out to field work the next day. Or they could be assigned to training again; either way, it would not do for them to be too sore.

Rose, on top of the other moves that she already knew, learned Lucky Chant, Magical Leaf, Calm Mind, and Psychic. I had given her a stern talk about the potential uses of her psychic-athletics strategy. With proper control, it could very well erase her weakness to Dark-types such as myself if she used it to enhance her physical striking power by increasing her speed. But I also warned her about the potential risks. What if the enemy survived and she was too tired to retaliate? I warned her twice-over that she would have to train her endurance up further if she wanted to reap the benefits of her new discovery, as well as bringing to light that she shouldn't try it with any defensive opponents as it might break her hand instead of yielding results.

Vlad had acted like a problem-child the first few runs, but he eventually got into the rhythm of training and made progress. One of his favorite tactics was using Hypnosis on the opponent and attacking them in their sleep or making them see illusions. Personally, I think he just likes messing with his opponents instead of actually defeating them. Over the course of the training, he learned Spite, Mean Look, Curse, Night Shade, Confuse Ray (goodness, did he just love that move…), Sucker Punch and Payback. His arsenal is more suited to undermining and controlling the opponent while he stays in the safety of the walls and ceiling. Having sent him into the Ghost Maze, I feel that not only did I point out the flaw in his main escape strategy, but I also got across the message to not abandon the team once the going gets rough.

Never one to be slacking off, I resumed my own training once I ordered Rose and Vlad to wait in the lobby. Seeking a challenge to practice my strategies, I went into the Fighting/Psychic Maze. While inside, I learned Slash and Future Sight, along with the apparent fact that I had become over-reliant on Double Team to dodge. After a Hi Jump Kick from a Meditite that used Mind Reader to detect my location, I was caught short on what to do next. The moment of hesitation cost me dearly as I was finished with a Force Palm and evacuated from the maze. The only consolation when Marowak woke me up was that Rose and Vlad (especially Vlad) had gone back for one last session in the mazes mere moments before I was warped here unconscious. Never had I been so glad that they had disobeyed my orders.

This defeat was enough to give me pause while I waited for the two of them to finish. I had been brought down simply because my initial plan failed! Why could I not think of a back-up plan? Why had I not considered that a Psychic-type would have a move like Mind Reader?!

Stupid, short-sighted, arrogant!

I shook my head as I mentally berated myself. How does Meowth do it? How does he see so far ahead in combat and in plans? I had heard tales of his triumphant plans against Team Skull and Dusknoir (The latter of which had the whole team angry at him for a short while.) as well as the numerous cunning or infamous outlaws that our team had captured over the months and it just seemed impossible that he could out-predict them so accurately. Whether chasing them down or fighting, he knows their strategies as if he's experienced them!

As Vlad and then Rose appeared from the maze entrance, I regarded them, but did not scold them for going against my orders to rest, and told them that we were done for the day. I led them out of the dojo to take them to Spinda Café for some Oran Juice while we waited for the other two squads to report back in. My legs were moving, but my mind was elsewhere.

What's your game, Meowth? What's your secret?

-Meowth's POV-

"Ahhh-CHOO! Gah, 'scuse me."

After Shaymin cleared up that little incident with the Carnivine, and Team Frontier apologized for just jumping into a fight instead of listening, we continued up the mountain for glory, self-discovery, and to look for that hypercompetitive little idiot that charged ahead of us. Technically he didn't go against orders since we didn't order him to go back to Treasure Town, but that was a level of stupid that would have Damus launch into an hour-long lecture about the dangers and "utter flouting of protocol", as I've heard him lecture Savage sometimes.

As we went through the 6th Station Pass, the area started looking more rocky than green. Once we got to the clearing, Team Frontier was there already and they told us that since the rest of the mountain was covered in snow, they wouldn't be able to set up any more bases. Hearing this, I made a note to prepare for the long haul when getting items ready. They also said that they were going to make a serious effort to reach the top.

Breloom waved, "See you along the path!"

Shaymin waved back and they both said goodbye. While Rio and I got ready at the Kangaskhan Rock, Siltram volunteered to go around the clearing asking for information on Dash. Rio slipped the bag to the ground and I looked through the huge drawer in the base of the statue. Lessee here, if there's snow, dat means dat there'll prob'ly be Ice-types too. Also, it'll be harder to climb if the cold is sapping our energy. And ain't there sumpin' about height on a mountain an' air? Well, guess I'll pack some extra Apples an' Oran Berries to keep up our energy and keep an eye out for items on da ground ta restock. After thinking over that there might be stronger enemies too, I packed in two more Reviver Seeds.

Closing the drawer, Rio pulled the bag back over his shoulder and I pulled the journal out of the mouth of the statue to write in. Looking closer, I noticed that there was some scrawl that wasn't Rio's or my writing in the side of the journal.

I waved Rio over, "Hey, Rio, check this out…"

"Dear Rio, Meowth and Siltram,

"I'm more than halfway there now! I heard that there's snow up on the second half. Isn't that awesome? It's getting kinda cold up here now, but I'm no quitter! Team Frontier somehow always beats me here! How do they get through so fast?! I'm making sure to leave before them now! I'll get to the top first for our team for sure.

"Catch me if you can!

"Dash"

Rio scowled, "When I get my hands on him…"

I patted him on the shoulder, "Cut 'im a little slack. He just didn't wanna miss out on da action. It was a stupid reason, but I'll give 'im props for makin' it dis far by himself."

"He could get hurt!"

Siltram slithered over, "Exeggcute said that Dash passed through about 5 minutes ago. We're getting closer."

Dash must be getting tired.

Rio nodded and I took the old wrappings out of the storage to wrap my feet. Now's not the time to get cold feet! I chuckled at my own joke and turned to Rio and Siltram before waving Shaymin over.

"Alright guys, let's hustle! We're in da final sprint, so let's give it all we got!"

We charged through the 7th Station Pass and it turned out that there weren't Ice-types like I thought there'd be, but there were Flying-types. When we got through, Team Frontier was in the clearing and when we walked up to them, I saw that Sneasel was passed out.

Shaymin stepped forward, "What happened?!"

Breloom turned toward us, "I don't know, he had fainted before we got here… I don't know if it's because of the cold or because he ran out of items, but I do know this is dangerous."

Shaymin examined Sneasel, "This isn't good at all… I'll go get help."

Shocked, Mawile said, "Huh? Who are you going to call for help?!"

"There's a rescue expert at the 8th Station Clearing. We don't call him for the little things, but emergencies are different. Could you please keep an eye on Sneasel, Team Frontier? We're going ahead!"

Mawile nodded, "I see. We're counting on you!"

Shaymin turned back to us, "Let's hurry!"

He led us through the 8th Station Pass as quick as he could. We made our way through snow that reached up to my tail. Shaymin, being lighter, walked on top of it, but the rest of us were lagging a bit behind. Rio as usual didn't have a problem, but Siltram had to shake the frost off every now and again.

"Brrr… Hope I don't freeze solid…" He pulled a frozen finger off and popped it in his mouth hoping to thaw it out as he grew a new one. He only has so much sludge to work with.

"The 8th Station Clearing! Hurry!" The snow started to thin out until we got to a cave. Siltram let out a happy groan as it started warming up.

Shaymin led us in and when the entrance widened into a cave, he called out, "Ampharos!"

The Ampharos came forward and smiled, "Oh! It's Shaymin from the village! I was wondering who it was. It's been a long time! How have you been?"

Shaymin nodded urgently, "It has been a long time, Ampharos. But we don't have time to chat. We're in a hurry!"

Ampharos tilted his head, "Indeed? Did something happen?"

"At the 7th Station Clearing!"

"Ah… Here I thought I was going to have more guests, but it sounds like that will have to wait."

Wait, more guests? Okay, hold it, Meowth, there's an emergency now.

I filed it away for later as Ampharos confirmed which clearing with Shaymin.

"You wait for me here."

Shaymin nodded, "We're counting on you!"

Ampharos left and we waited for about a half hour before he came back with Sneasel in his arms and Team Frontier following behind.

Over the next few minutes, Ampharos tended to Sneasel's injuries until he eventually…

"Oof… Urrgh…"

"Oh! He's awake," Shaymin called out. "Sneasel! Are you all right?!"

"Uh… Where am I?"

Mawile leaned in, "You fainted at the 7th Station Clearing."

Breloom added, "If Ampharos hadn't carried you here, things would not have gone well for you, seriously."

Sneasel turned to Ampharos, "You did that for me?"

Ampharos shook his head, "It wasn't just me. Everyone here came to your rescue."

"I see… I… Unnh!" Sneasel grimaced and clutched his chest.

Shaymin shook his head, "It's all right. You don't have to say anything. You should really take it easy and rest."

Sneasel stayed quiet and laid back. Ampharos turned to us, "All of you may go on through the mountain pass. I can take care of him. You were all headed to the summit, weren't you? This is the 8th Station, so you're almost there. Do your best!"

Mawile crossed her arms looking worried, "B-but…"

Ampharos held up his hand, "There's nothing to be accomplished by all of you standing here. I can handle this on my own. Go on ahead."

Breloom stepped forward, "Are you sure…?" Ampharos nodded and Breloom nodded back, "Well, all right. We'll leave Sneasel in your care."

Team Frontier started talking with each other and I walked up to Ampharos, "Hey, Ampharos, earlier ya said 'more guests', right? Did anybody else go through here recently?"

He turned to me and said, "Why, yes, as a matter of fact. A Manectric came through here short while ago. He wanted to go straight through, but I just couldn't let him. I forced him to stay and get some rest by the fire and gave him some food wrapped in a cloth. He wrapped the item he was carrying inside it and left a mere minute before you got here."

I nodded, keeping cool, but inside I was groaning in frustration. We almost had 'im, but we lost him again! Haaah… But we couldn't just leave Sneasel like dat, we had ta help. And now Dash has a half-hour lead…

"Thanks."

I turned back to Rio and Siltram, "Okay! Good news and bad news… good news is dat Dash was through here, so he's still alright."

Rio sighed in relief, but then looked back up, "And the bad news…?"

I rubbed the back of my head, "Bad news… is dat it was half an hour ago…" I grinned sheepishly, trying to pass if off as a joke.

Rio was not a happy camper. He wasn't a happy anything. He pinched the bridge of his nose and took deep breaths, but they sounded more like growls. Siltram, bless his cheeriness, lightened the tension, saying, "Weeeeell… No time like the present! Let's go and try to catch up!"

Rio took a deep breath and let it out, "Right. If anything, we'll surely run into him at the summit. He's running out of mountain to go to."

I didn't like how Rio phrased it like he was hunting Dash down. But I just reminded myself in my head that he was angry because he cared and was worried.

As we moved forward, I had one more quick thought.

I feel sorry for you Dash. I've been the target of Rio's "worry" before. It's not a good time…