So this is Eldrome! I stopped at the gates to Eldrome City and looked around. The place was huge, and teeming with people going about their everyday lives. Nobody was taking any notice of the five teenagers who had just appeared at the city's gates. I looked at Eve, who was still taking it all in. Luca started walking forward, and called for the rest of us to follow.
"So this is the big city! It's so much bigger than Gearbreeze..." Eve looked around in wonder.
"Eve… if you think this is big… you obviously haven't been to Central City." Luca nodded his head at me, and I remembered a trip we had taken to Islaa's capital city, Central City, two years ago. Eve had been sick that day. Central City was easily ten or fifteen times as big as Eldrome, and made Lumiose City look like an abandoned shack in the woods. We walked around a bit aimlessly. Igneo ran over to a shiny rock on the ground and picked it up. Eve wandered around looking for a place to shop, and Luca started walking toward a building labeled "Pokemon Nursery." Just the kind of place he would go. After the three of them went off, me and Maylee were left together, standing there awkwardly.
"Well, I guess we can go take a look around this place. I don't see hide nor hair of Team Corona, and I assume Ezla keeps the city in good running order."
"Ezla?" Maylee asked, and looked at me curiously.
"Ezla. The city's Gym leader. We should go take him on and nab ourselves a badge after we have a knowledge of the layout of this city. Don't worry, he uses a different team of Pokemon for weaker challengers like ourselves than he uses for keeping peace in the city. I'd rather face an Electrike than an Electivire, wouldn't you?" I looked at her and nodded.
"Definitely. Now let's go see what this place has to offer," Maylee said, and started walking off in a random direction. Without much choice, I ran after her, Kitsinge tailing me. She stopped outside of a building labeled "Cafe", called something I can't read. Kalos language, I believe. She pushed the door open and hopped inside. I tossed Kitsinge's Pokeball at it, and followed her in. Maylee took a seat at a small table. I struggled into the chair across from her, and folded my arms across the table.
"So, what do you think Ezla's like?" she asked me, looking at me intently.
"I don't know, I've never met the guy. If he's a gym leader, he's got to be a nice guy, right?" I replied, and she tilted her head.
"Yeah, you're probably right. I can't wait to see what kind of food they have here!" she smiled, and I couldn't help but smile as well. After a minute or two, a waiter came to our table and handed us a couple of menus.
"Take you time," he said, then walked away. I unfolded my menu and almost had a heart attack when I saw the prices. Forget my college savings!
"Oh! Flight! I want this one!" Maylee held out her menu to me and pointed to a shrimp dish. I looked at the price… 48000P. Mother of Arceus, these fish must be shiny or something!
"Um… all right..." I pulled on my shirt nervously, knowing that I was treating a friend to lunch and draining my entire bank account in one sitting. I just wanted a cheap 9200P pasta meal. The waiter came, and he took our orders and brought us lemonades, and took our menus. We sat in silence, looking at the other people in the restaurant. After twenty minutes or so, our food came, and I was appalled. I paid 48000P for six shrimp?! Those had better be the best shrimp in all of Islaa! Maylee picked one of the shrimp up with a fork and stuck it in her mouth.
"Bleck! These taste nasty! Flight, you have them." Oh, come ON! You have got to be KIDDING me! Screw it. Kitsinge can have them. He loves shrimp. I shoveled the rest of the pasta into my mouth and drank my lemonade. The pasta was good, but I couldn't believe I had wasted 48000P on a plate of shrimp. Kitsinge had better like them, if he knew what was good for him. I shook my head and got up, walking out. Maylee followed me, and I sent out Kitsinge and gave him the shrimp. He devoured them hungrily. Maylee set off running down the street we were on, and I took off after her. Not like I had much choice, after all. Meowing frustratedly, Kitsinge took off running after me. For such a small kitten, he could sure run. The two of us spent hours aimlessly wandering around the streets of Eldrome until I was snapped back to reality by an eerie, unnerving silence around me. I realized we had wandered into an alley, and the stench of decay was nauseating. I looked down to see Kitsinge shivering and looking up at me. I sent him back into his Pokeball and looked at Maylee. "Flight, I'm scared..." Maylee looked at me, fear in her eyes.
"You're right… something's off about this place. We need to get out of here, and fast." I grabbed Maylee's hand and took off running, around corners and down streets that looked the same as the last. After a couple hours of running, I sat down, panting. Eve sat down next to me, and laid her head on my shoulder and started to cry. "Don't cry, Maylee. Someone will find us soon.
"Someone already has!" I heard a voice to the right of me, and looked up to see three men, looking like they had lived their entire lives on these streets. "Look what we have here! A boy and his girl. These two should be good for the business." The man who looked like the leader cracked his knuckles, and the other two did the same. Instinctively, my hand whipped down to Kitsinge's Pokeball, and I pulled it off my belt. "Look," the leader said to the man to his right. "Little twerp has a Pokemon. Thinks it'll protect him. Let's see how he likes Bisharp. The man tossed a Pokeball out onto the ground, and out came a Pokemon that must be Bisharp. I stood up and shook myself off, and tossed Kitsinge out. Both of my Pokemon had a type advantage here- that would make it far easier. Then, I saw the man to the left take out a Pokeball, and threw it on the ground. Krookodile… oh, you can't be serious. The man to the right took out a Pokeball and did the same. Banette… you have to be kidding me! I'm going to die! Panicked, I took Riolu's Pokeball.
"Leave those kids alone. Now." I turned, and saw a man, wearing a yellow and black shirt, with electric blue jeans and hair. "Manectric and I have already been around these parts many times. How many times do we need to teach you not to cause trouble?" Manectric's fur bristled with electricity, and I could see a Manectrite in his neck fur.
"Grah… fine. Take the kids." The man turned and ran, and the other two followed him. The man turned to look at me, a grin on his face.
"The name's Ezla. And yours?" Manectric looked at Kitsinge and smiled. Kitsinge hopped over to him and started bouncing around him.
"My name's Flight… this here's Maylee. Maylee, get up." Maylee struggled to her feet and brushed herself off.
"Ezla… the Gym leader! I assume we have to beat you in order to get the Jolt Badge? I'm ready! Let's go!" Maylee grabbed Eevee's Pokeball from her belt and prepared to send her out.
"Whoa. Take it easy, girl. The Pokemon I'm carrying right now would deck your little Eevee in no time flat." Ezla pointed to the six Pokeballs around his waist. "Electivire. Ampharos. Voltric. Magnezone. And Jolteon. Then, there's Manectric here. I'll see you back to the Gym, where you can challenge the Pokemon I use to take on challengers of lower skill levels. Here, take this, though." Ezla held out a Pokeball to Maylee, who took it, looking at it curiously. "It contains the Pokemon Mareep, which evolves into Ampharos. Also, an Ampharosite." Ezla took out a yellow and nazy blue stone, and handed it to Maylee, who took it and looked at it with wonder. "Follow me." Ezla began to wait, and without much choice, we followed him. Eventually, we were led back into downtown Eldrome, and stopped at the front of the Gym. I heard familiar voices.
"Arceus… Where are Maylee and Flight? They disappeared ages ago! Also, where's that Gym leader? I need to give him a little something to remember me and Foaling by." Eve was tapping her foot annoyingly.
"Eve, give it a rest. You're annoying the crap out of me. He'll be back anytime. Go play a game on your X-Pad while you wait." Luca looked around, and brightened when he saw the four of us. "Eve. They're back!" Eve stood back up and waved at us, and we picked up the pace.
"I take it you two are challengers as well? I see I have many challengers to fight today. Flight'll be first. Follow me." Ezla motioned for me to follow. I followed him inside, leaving the other three outside. Ezla lead me up to a platform, hovering in the air slightly with electrified wires on the perimeter. We each took a side, and my hand dropped to Riolu's Pokeball. "The battle is straightforward, but don't let your Pokemon hit the wires. It'll damage them. They have no effect on Electric-type Pokemon, however."
"Hey! Not fair! That means your Pokemon can hit it all they want!" I replied, a bit angry.
"Flight, one of the best things a trainer can know is how to battle in any environment. Show me your moves!" Ezla picked up a Pokeball from his belt, and tapped on a button on what looked like a speaker. Music started playing from it, and I took that as my cue to start. I tossed Riolu's Pokeball onto the ground, and with a small flash, Riolu dropped to the ground, and issued a cry. Ezla tossed a Pokeball onto the ground, and out came a Pokemon I recognized as Electrike. "Electrike. Thundershock." Electrike howled, and a small jolt of electricity hit Riolu, who growled in pain.
"Rgh… Riolu, give him a Low Sweep!" Riolu ran at Electrike and delivered a hook kick to his feet. Electrike hit the ground and yelped. "Must have been a critical hit!" Riolu ran back to me and beamed.
"Riolu! Quick Attack! Don't let up!" Fast as the lightning coursing from the wires, Riolu dashed at Electrike and struck it. Electrike howled in pain. It couldn't be much longer. Riolu dashed back to me, panting.
"Not bad… Electrike, hit him with Thunder." Thunder?! Please, Arceus, no! I winced as the huge bolt of electricity struck Riolu, who cried out in pain and fell to the ground. Argh... Luca's gonna kill me! I strengthened my resolve as I sent out Kitsinge. "If you fall that easily to Electrike, I don't want to see what Flaaffy will do to you.
"Kitsinge. Take him out with Fire Fang." Kitsinge lunged at Electrike, chomping it with flaming fangs. Electrike squealed, and fell on the ground, fainted. I need a miracle to get victory against Flaaffy, without using Nightnova… wait. What? Kitsinge was surrounded in light, a swirling mass of photons surrounding his being. All at once, they vanished, leaving Kitsinge- that isn't Kitsinge. "That's… Searline!" I immediately lit up, and my heart leaped. Kitsinge had evolved- this battle would be a breeze. Searline looked like a more adult Kitsinge, with darker stripes and sharper claws, and more tuft-y fur.
"A Searline… this battle will be difficult. Flaaffy, let's give it our all." Ezla tossed a Pokeball on the ground, and Flaaffy burst out, electricity making its fur glow. "Let's start this off strong with a Electro Ball." Flaaffy gathered electricity in front, then fired it at Searline, who narrowly sidestepped.
"Searline, fire back with a Fire Fang!" Searline danced around the Electro Ball and fired himself at Flaaffy, clamping his jaws around him, jaws burning. Flaaffy shook Searline off angrily, and stomped his foot, sending electricity coursing from his foot.
"Flaaffy. We need to end this quick. Give him another Electro Ball." Flaaffy charged up a sphere of electricity and shot it at Searline again, this time making a direct hit. When the smoke cleared, Searline was struggling to get up, but his eyes still burned with the fire of battle. I could see fear flash in Flaaffy's eyes as Searline shook himself off, leaping to his feet, growling.
"All right, Searline, this should be the end. Let's finish this with another Fire Fang." Searline snarled, and launched himself at Flaaffy and fastened his burning teeth around Flaaffy, who screeched, and as Searline let go, Flaaffy dropped to the ground, unmoving.
"Well… done. You've earned the Jolt Badge. Here, take-"
"Ezla! Ezla! We need you out here- right now!" I heard Juliana's voice, and turned to see her in the doorway.
"Shove the speech, here, take a badge, and happy birthday, you get a TM. Enjoy!" Ezla took off running and skidded to a half beside Juliana.
"Oh, is that you, Flight? And Kitsinge- no, Searline! Come with us." Juliana motioned for me to follow her, and Searline looked at me before we took off running after Juliana. "Flight! Pick up the pace! We don't have much time!" Juliana sped up, and me, Ezla, and Searline were running behind her as fast as we could. Juliana swerved around corners and streets, running here and there, and eventually I heard voices.
"Leave him alone! He has done nothing to any of you!" I heard a man's voice, then a fierce growling. Aspen! I rounded the corner first, and saw Aspen standing over an unconscious Igneo, with a bleeding Pyrugami growling ferociously at four Pokemon I recognized as Raticate, Ferroyal, Absol, and Dusknoir. Without hesitation, Searline snarled and shot himself at Raticate, sinking his teeth into Raticate's shoulder and causing the two to roll away. Within seconds, Searline stood up, blood dripping from his teeth. I never knew Searline had that in him until I realized that when Kitsinge became Searline, he became Dark-type as well. "Flight! And Juliana, you brought help! Ezla, you came too!"
"Ah… I don't have any Pokemon with me, Flight here decked them all..." Ezla scratched his head embarrassingly.
"Well, that's both good and bad. It still means we're outnumbered..." Then, I heard voices.
"They ran this way! I'm sure of it! Pick up the pace, Luca, we may be too late!"
"For Arceus's sake, Eve, calm down! They can more than easily hold their own without us. All the same, I suggest we- oh. Here we are." Luca skidded to a halt, and Eve slammed into him from behind. "Ouch, Eve! Watch it!" Luca's hand dropped to the Pokeball at his waist, and he grinned. "Flight, don't tell me we're late to the party?"
"Never too late, friend! Let's give them hell!" Luca grinned, and took out a Pokeball.
"Arcanine! It's time to tip the scales!" Luca tossed a Pokeball onto the ground, and I was breathless as a massive, regal canine Pokemon came out. I could feel the inferno of power coming from it, and instantly thanked Arceus I wasn't on their side. "What do you think, Flight? There's a shop downtown that sells evolutionary stones! Came in mighty handy!"
"Well done, Flight! Shall we deck these fools?" Luca grinned.
"With pleasure! Let's give them hell! Literally. We're all using Fire-types." Without me issuing a single command, the leader of the men threw up his hands.
"Good mother of Arceus! Take the boy! Just let us live!" The man turned and ran, and the opposing people and Pokemon fled after him. Luca and I high-fived, and laughed.
"Igneo? Are you all right?" I walked over to Igneo and knelt down.
"Yeah, I think so… I'm just shaken up. Larvitar isn't doing so well, though." Igneo handed me Larvitar's Pokeball, and I took it and stood up. Let's get back to… wherever we plan to sleep. I'm sure Ezla can arrange us something." I looked over at Ezla, who nodded. The rest of us walked back together, discussing the day. After a couple more hours of shopping, playing "Let's Find Maylee: Eldrome City Edition", watching my friends challenge Ezla one by one and win, and finding a good hotel, night had fallen. Luca, Maylee, and Igneo were all fast asleep, some looking stupider than others. Eve was still sitting up, looking out the window. I looked over at her.
"Eve… I can see you're still awake. Do you want to go take a walk?" I smiled as I looked at her, and she stood up and looked back at me.
"Sure." Eve hopped over to the door, opened it, and stepped out into the night. I followed her, and she walked to the outskirts of the town, near the forest. There was a path. The two of us looked at each other, and walked down the path in silence, looking at the forest around us. Eventually, we came to a clearing with a small pond in it, much reminiscent of the one we used to go to near Gearbreeze. There was a rock, and I walked over to it, and looked in the hole that was inside. There were two flutes, both looking old and well-used, yet strong.
"Eve… should we take them? It's almost like they were left here for us..." I looked up at her, and Eve looked back at me. We each reached our hands towards a flute. The second we touched ours, at the same time, a blinding flash of light came over the area. I gripped the flute and stepped back, bumping into Eve. After several seconds, the light vanished as quick as it had appeared. I rubbed my eyes to clear my vision, and when I looked up, I fell back. There were two Pokemon hovering in front of us, both which didn't look like normal Pokemon. I took a step back, and the one on the left, which was blue, gestured to me with his hands.
"You want to… come with us?" I looked shocked, and the Pokemon slowly nodded. The one on the right, who was pink, did the same to Eve. Then I heard a voice behind me.
"Flight… Eve..." I turned around and saw Juliana standing there, her eyes glowing white.
"Juliana? Do you know who these Pokemon are?" Eve asked, curious. She tilted her head curiously as she awaited her response.
"I've been searching for them for six years, yet have never even seen those two. Flight, Eve… those are the legendary Pokemon, Latios and Latias."