So sorry for the wait! I had some RL serious stuff going on and had trouble writing or finding time. To make up for it, this chapter is twice as long! As always, thanks to my readers, and special thanks to Amy47101, Meemeeru, Darkkami, dewdrop6, W1ng3dOne, YOU ARE COOL, and Guest for reviewing!
My Great Big Adventure
There were two ways to enter the Pokemon World Tournament grounds without being stopped at the main gate. The first, was to enter through the Castelia Sewers, which would take at least a week of walking. The second, was to surf along the Driftveil Harbor and then across a small but rough-watered channel and climb the cliffs up to the tournament grounds.
Guess which route I was taking?
Azumarill is hardly the ideal Pokemon to surf on in extreme conditions. However, he is part of my team, and I wasn't about to switch him out in case I needed him during my expected battle with Colress. So with much apologizing, I clung to my water mouse tightly as he sailing across the channel. My bare legs drifed behind me in the freezing water and it was all I could do not to think how cold I was.
Surprisingly we made it across the water with minimal problems. Only once were the waves so strong that I was pulled away from Azumarill and thrown under the surface. Thankfully he was right there when I came back up, anxiously waiting for me to grab hold of his ears once again.
After finally making it to the cliffs, I struggled a bit to climb out of the water; it took a few tries but I hoisted myself onto a low rock just above the waves. Here, I recalled Azumarill and sent out Growlithe, who used her warm breath to help dry me off. Though I was tired and cold, I knew I had to press on. The sooner I got this over with, the better. I kept reminding myself of Hugh, and the possible horrible things that were being done to him.
With tired limbs and burning determination, I began to climb.
Around noon I calculated that I was halfway there. The sun was now high overhead, and I was completely dry and somewhat warm (though the wind kept a constant breeze blowing). My hands were sore and scratched from the cliff, and I had scraped my left shoulder against a sharp ledge after almost losing my balance at one point. Not sure what else I could do, I had sprayed a small bit of Potion on it (does Pokemon medicine even work on humans?), but there was already a large bruise poking out from underneath my short puffy sleeves.
Another hour went by, and finally the shadow of the giant stadium began to creep over me. I hoped the darkness would help conceal me from prying eyes. Once I reached the top of the cliffs, I sank to the ground, resting my back against the stadium wall.
This was it. I didn't know what exactly lay beyond the wall I was leaning against, but I had a grim idea of a few things.
Hugh, Cheren, and several other trainers were being held hostage and forced to have their Pokemon battle. Whether against each other or Colress, I wasn't sure.
Speaking of Colress, he was bound to be expecting me to show up at some point, and he was probably expecting me to sneak in… He knows I don't like him, so I doubt he's planning for me to play along nicely.
And I wasn't exactly ready to face Hugh yet… I was still angry at him, but if he had tried to call me all those times, maybe he was going to apologize. Or maybe he was just calling to yell at me some more. I was afraid to find out.
With a heavy sigh, I stood up and stretched. Time to keep moving…
I crept around the base of the high wall, hoping to find some sort of entrance. I really didn't want to have to climb again… besides, these stones were smooth and offered nowhere to put my hands and feet. Aside from the more important things, I also didn't like how this skirt blew around in the breeze while climbing.
I looked around for another twenty minutes before finally coming across a small crack in the stones. Small enough to be ignored, but large enough for me to crawl through on my hands and knees. I checked the gap first to see where it would come out, but all I could see were leaves. There must be bushes lining the wall, or something similar; it would be a good cover for me to slip inside undetected.
Crouched under a bush, I looked out at my surroundings.
I appeared to be in an outer area; I saw a few empty vendor stands and such. The lack of people gave the place a disturbing aura. Further along to my right was the main stadium. I could chance trying to get in the front entrance… or I could climb so more. There was an open window on the side closest to me, about 60 ft above the ground. Deciding that there was no way I could scale the side of a building by myself, I called out Serperior. I had him use Vine Whip and grab hold of the windowsill, and then I held on as he hoisted himself up.
I heaved myself over the window ledge and into the building. I was in an empty hallway that presumably wrapped around the stadium, with openings leading out to the spectator seats. Catching my breath, I thanked Serperior and called him back.
Phase 1: cross the channel. Check.
Phase 2: climb the cliffs. Check.
Phase 3: get inside the stadium. Check.
Now I just had to locate the hostages, though I had my suspicions about where they were… I could hear noises coming from what had to be the main arena.
I quickly dashed over to the nearest entrance, slinking around the corners. I ducked behind the first row of seats and peered around the edge.
I spotted Colress's obnoxious hair immediately. He was standing on a raised platform, checking a clipboard, and looking over a fat, pink Pokemon I didn't recognize. There was also a woman standing nearby, her hands and feet cuffed. A hostage…!
Colress shook his head dismissively. "Such poor results. You must be a bad trainer."
"You take that back!" the woman cried. "Leave my Slowpoke alone!"
Colress signaled at something with his hand, and I looked around the rest of the arena. An Elgyem was using his psychic powers to force the woman and her Slowpoke off the raised platform, and over to a group of chairs… with other hostages chained to them!
Three of them, including the Slowpoke woman, I had never met before. But I saw Cheren seated on the end furthest from me. His head was slumped over, as if he was sleeping. His hands, like the other hostages', were cuffed to the back of his chair.
"Next!" Colress's voice boomed, commanding my attention.
Another Elgyem deposited a prisoner onto the platform…
I had to bite my lip to keep from crying out.
"Well, well, well. Rooster brat, back again? Given up yet?" the scientist mocked.
Unfortunately Hugh was facing away from me, so I couldn't see his expression. I could, however, hear the hatred and total exhaustion in his voice when he spoke.
"I'll never be done crushing scum like you," he spat.
"My dear boy, your Pokemon can barely stand. While I have to admire your stubbornness, even I know when to concede defeat."
"So why don't you just lose already?" he growled, throwing a dirty hand gesture in Colress's direction. It must have been painful to do in those cuffs… Oh, Hugh!
"Tch, tch. Manners," Colress scolded, pulling something out of his pocket.
The stadium was suddenly filled with light, and Hugh was writhing on the floor in pain. If I cried out, it was muffled by his screams. I had never heard such awful noises my entire life. With each passing moment, I felt a small stab in my heart. Thankfully I remembered to keep a level head and forced myself to remain hidden.
I had to plan things out. If I rushed into this… What if Hugh died?!
After what was probably mere seconds, the light faded and the screams died down. Colress was laughing audibly, circling his prey. Hugh was lying on the ground, twitching.
I stuffed my hand into my mouth to keep quiet. I had to think! There were several lives at stake and I couldn't afford to screw up.
"You know," Colress's voice sliced into my thoughts, "this wasn't meant to be used on humans. But… I rather like the effect."
Was he talking about whatever made that bright light? It looked possibly like electricity, or something. Hmmm… a juvenille plan started to form in my mind. I pulled out a Pokeball and slowly, ever so slowly, began to creep down the rows. Thankfully Colress was now on the opposite end and couldn't see me from his position. This just might work…
"You're sick," Hugh said, groaning in pain. "You're messed up in the head. What… what the hell do you gain by doing this?!"
That's it, Hugh. Get him started on a monologue and buy me some time.
"Silly boy, I'm gaining great research here. Attempting to bring out a Pokemon's full potential… Well, obviously you all have failed me. None of you were able to win." Colress stopped pacing and looked thoughtful.
"Only one person has ever beat me. Her. Rosa..."
Crud, he was talking about me. Peering from around a chair, I could see the platform clearly now. Hugh had scratches, cuts, and bruises all over his body… and he was still twitching occasionally.
"I don't like the way you said her name, you creep!" he growled, propping himself up with one arm.
"Aw, concerned for your girlfriend?" Colress mocked, kicking Hugh's arm out from under him. "Well, you should be… oh, what I have in store for her… Heheh."
Although he must have landed on his arm painfully, Hugh looked fiercer than ever. His other hand shot out and grabbed one of Colress's legs, yanking hard and pulling the man to the ground. I used this distraction to hastily creep down several more rows. I was now maybe 10 feet above them.
"Filthy brat!" Colress spat, kicking Hugh in the nose. I think I saw blood, but my eyes were drawn to the device in Colress's hand.
"I'll teach you to respect your superiors," he said venomously, pressing a button in the center.
I saw it clearly this time… bolts of light shooting out of the device and into Hugh's body. He was screaming again. Hugh, my tough-as-nails Hugh, was screaming and crying like a small child.
My plan flew out the window.
"LEAVE HIM ALONE, YOU ALBINO FREAK!"
Colress stared up at me with a greedy expression, turning off his machine and walking away from Hugh, who was jerking intensely.
"Well, well, well, look who's here. Finally decided to join us?" Colress drawled. "I can't believe you waited so long."
"Yeah, well, I never saw any of your stupid broadcasts," I snapped, resisting the urge to look away.
Colress obviously couldn't contain his excitement now that I was here. He must have something terrible up his sleeve, and I began to worry I had already screwed up.
"My, my, where have you been?" he asked, peering up at me. "A cosplay convention?"
I blushed but kept most of my compose, standing close to the railing. I couldn't let him know how scared I was. "Well maybe if you'd bothered to watch tv instead of being on it, you'd have seen one of my shows!" I hesitated for a moment, then added, "And my regular clothes were dirty!"
Colress snickered. "Well, I can't say I mind the view…"
What the…! "You… you PERVERT!"
"Language, language," he warned. "Now, are you going to come down and enter my tournament, or do I have to come fetch you?"
He wagged his eyebrows suggestively. Gross.
Glancing at Hugh again, I was relieved to see he was no longer twitching.
With a slight nod, I took a step forward…