Archie - Pokémon: 7 Deaths: 1
Blue - Pokémon: 4 Deaths: 0
{Monua 27th, 8:43AM}
{Eterna}
"...Is it over yet?" Star asked, peering out from under the table as the tremors subsided.
"Looks like it," Blue said, prying Archie's hand off his arm. "Listen, Douglas, I appreciate you making sure I don't fall over or something, but if you're gonna grip my arm like that try and not crush my bones next time."
"Sorry," Archie apologized nervously.
The Aqua Leader glanced around, fidgeting with his sleeves a little. A couple objects had shifted, but nothing was broken and was otherwise still in place. In the time it took for him to turn toward the gym leader again, Blue had already wandered away to talk to a pair of women who were also in the cafeteria.
"What's that underground feud even about?" Blue asked.
"Oh, same as always, it's the Gabite and the Graveler arguing about territory," one of the ladies said, rolling her eyes. "It's been going on for ages and there still hasn't been any peaceful solution. So now the people who live here just kind of deal with it as a part of everyday life."
"So this happens every day?"
"Not every day," the other woman said quickly, shaking her head. "This is the first one in two days. But it's not rare for there to be several in a day. Usually we just wait for Jules and Gemma to handle things, but they're out of town right now. Just gotta be patient, eh?"
"If it's Graveler and territory shit, I can help with that," Blue offered. "Just show me the way and I'll let Sam threaten them with water."
{Monua 27th, 9:59AM}
{Wayward Cave}
"I gotta say, I'm really glad there's a grass path we can take under the road," Archie commented, looking behind him before they walked into the cave. Neither of them had a bicycle, so they couldn't take the bridge that was over their heads, but under all the steel and concrete was a small valley of rocks and grass, with a bunch of Bidoof and a couple white Pokemon with fiery manes that the Aqua Leader eventually remembered were called Ponyta.
"I'm just glad we found another way to leave the city," Star said. Blue switched a flashlight on so that those of the group who weren't accustomed to looking in the dark could try and walk through the cave without tripping over rocks. "No offense to Rapier and Warin, but I just really didn't want to go back through that forest."
"No offense taken," the Beautifly on Archie's shoulder said, giving a light beat of wings. "I think it's natural that you wouldn't want to be reminded of such terrible events. I'm kind of sad that I didn't get to know him more. You always hear stories about angry Gyarados like it's the only emotion they have, but Mark looked genuinely sweet."
"He certainly was," Prince said softly.
"S-So, um, what are we doing in here, anyway?" the young Buizel beside Star asked timidly. "I mean, I thought we were going the other way..."
"We're just gonna go douse some Graveler ass real quick to stop the Eterna earthquakes and be back on our way," Blue replied, palming an old Pokéball with a faded pink instead of the usual vibrant red. Archie recognised it as Sam's. "And some Gabite ass, whatever those things are."
"They are dragons of the earth," Prince said. "They are very powerful, so no doubt have they stood against Graveler for so long due to their strength and tenacity."
"Wait, you mean we're gonna fight? Against dragons?!" the Buizel gasped.
Star gave him a gentle lick to the cheek. "Oh Basil, sweetie, don't worry. You won't have to if you don't want to."
"Yeah, I think Blue's got this," Archie added, giving the Buizel a pat on the head.
"Oh. Humans. Are you here to attempt to quell the feud again?"
Archie blinked and looked ahead as Blue cast the light to the source of the voice. The Aqua Leader's eyes widened when the Pokémon he saw could only be described in his mind as a mini-Sharpedo with hands and feet.
"I have no idea what that kind of Pokémon is but I need one," Archie said.
"You can only legally carry six, you know," Blue said flatly before looking at the small, round Pokémon again. "I heard that Jules and Gemma are the ones who usually come down here, but they're both out in Canalave visiting Jules' son. So now I'm here to hopefully settle things once and for all. I'm Blue, and this is Douglas. These are Prince, Star, Basil, Warin, and Rapier."
"I see. I am Girish, a Gible," the miniature land-Sharpedo introduced itself. "You are certainly welcome to try. Although I must say that none of you seem to be anywhere as strong as Gemma..."
"Would your kind perhaps listen to the words of one with royal blood?" Prince asked. "We are son of the Water Lord Edric, and are accustomed to solving quarrels between our subjects."
"The most they would listen to is the Fire Lord Indra," Girish said, shaking his head. "Even if you are of royal lineage, your breath would be wasted on them."
"Well, I believe that words are not what we intended to use either way," Warin said mildly. "Girish, would you be so kind as to guide us deeper into the cave? I'm sure you know the place better than we do."
"This way," Girish drawled, turning around and waddling forward.
{Monua 27th, 10:28AM}
{Wayward Cave}
There was a panicked yelp as Basil ducked and a Graveler flew over his head, blasted to the other side of the surprisingly well-lit cave space by a Hydro Pump. The Gible beside Archie stared in awe as a Gabite- a longer, taller, and more reptilian-looking evolution than the small round bundle on the ground- was blown away next and the scared Buizel frantically scurried away from Prince and back to its trainer's side as quickly as possible.
"Alright, who's next?" the gigantic Blastoise asked, swinging her arms a little as her cannons clicked again.
"I think Prince can handle the rest of the negotiations," Blue said as he walked back to the Aqua Leader, ruffling his own hair.
"Have you done this before or something?" Archie asked curiously.
"Happened all the damn time," Blue said, rolling his eyes. "There's a ton of caves around Pewter and Cerulean, with Mt Moon being there and that tunnel leading to Lavender and stuff. There's also a bunch around Indigo Plateau but I don't go there, there's enough shit to do elsewhere and other people can take care of that. Johto can do some work too."
"Pardon me for interrupting your conversation," the Gible between the two human trainers started, "but are you accepting any new teammates?"
"This guy's got a full team already, and I don't exactly like training new Pokémon," Blue replied, crossing his arms. "I've got four partners and they're damn good as they are."
"I can see that very clearly," Girish said, glancing quickly toward Sam, who was watching Prince converse with the cave residents. "And that is exactly why I wish to join you. Your team is far stronger than Jules and Gemma. I can see that your team has made extremely fast progress. I am convinced that the fastest path to becoming the strongest is with you."
Blue frowned. "My training isn't exactly for beginners, you know. I'd be making you have to keep up with the others, and you see how Sam big is." Girish nodded vigorously. "Why do you wanna become 'the strongest', anyway? Do you have someone you're trying to beat?"
Girish blinked. "That would be myself," the Gible said seriously. "The limits I am trying to surpass are my own."
Blue stared for a moment, silently watching the round dragon. "...Right then. We'll see what you're made of during the next few training sessions, and if you're not up to scratch I'm sending you back."
"Understood," Girish, said with a final nod. "Thank you."
"Oh Kyogre, we're gonna be travelling with a Gible!" the Aqua Leader said excitedly. "Blue, do you mind if I borrow your PokeDex sometime? I've been meaning to ask for a while now anyway because I wanted to look up a bunch of stuff on Star, but I really wanna see the Gible line is about. You're lucky Girish willingly asked. I'm kinda envious."
"Oh, are we getting a new recruit?" Sam asked. Archie looked up and watched her return with Prince proudly waddling behind her. "That's definitely an unusual sight. When was the last time you took in anyone? Actually, wasn't the last one Ryan?"
"Well, it's not like I've ever needed anyone else, but Girish looks pretty damn serious about wanting some hardcore training, so I'm giving him a shot, at least," Blue said with a shrug. "He's interesting enough, so why not? Anyway, if we're finished here, it's about time we went back to Oreburgh."
As Blue turned and started walking out of the cave, Sam made a face that Archie took to be the equivalent of raising a brow. "Did that bubble-dragon say something Blue liked?" the Blastoise asked quietly, leaning to Archie.
The Aqua Leader shrugged. "You know Blue better than I do. My best guess would be that when he asked Girish if there was anyone he was trying to surpass, Girish said he was trying to surpass himself."
Sam thought about it for a moment. "...Huh. Girish really is interesting enough."
{Monua 28th, 2:50PM}
{Oreburgh}
"Warin, Gust!" Archie ordered quickly as he ran. The Beautifly spun in the air and with a fast beat of wings he blew the Machop back.
"Somebody call Ben for backup!" one of the officers shouted as another was already half-way through executing the order. Archie swore under his breath, darting for the northern gate as fast as he could.
There just HAD to be an officer nearby, didn't there? Archie thought with a growl. The one time he stops to help…
After spending the night at the Pokemon Center and making plans to leave Oreburgh and camp inside Mt Coronet by nightfall next day, they'd heard some odd screams and wails from a distance that Archie had recognised as being that of a Psyduck. Promising he'd catch up, the Aqua Leader had sent Blue ahead (and tossed Shanks' Pokeball at the gym leader, which made Blue raise a brow but not question the gesture) and run in direction of the pained yells. Unfortunately, the second Archie got too close to the suffering Psyduck, he was tossed back by a blast of uncontrolled psychic energy...and his wig flew off as well. It wasn't exactly a good disguise, and he was easily recognisable to those who knew to look for him. The lack of blond hair made him no longer Douglas and instead just Archie- and every officer in the region knew Archie Irving, the ecological terrorist of Hoenn. So when the first shout of alarm echoed, Archie and his Luxio had bolted, and he'd released Warin as back-up.
"Archie, once we reach the city exit, you run ahead. I'll cover for you," Star said. "I can climb over the cliff and see in the dark, but you can't, so your only escape is through the tunnel. I'll try and stall for time."
"Star-"
"I'll be fine, trust me," the Luxio insisted. "You gave your best Pokemon to Blue, right before he left ahead, didn't you? The moment good enough backup shows up, it's over. We're only able to handle them right now because they're all small fry! I'm not gonna actively fight them, just stall for time while you run."
Archie winced. "Okay, fine, but promise me that you won't get caught and that you'll catch up to us as soon as you can, alright?"
Star snorted. "Oh, hon, I can't believe you would consider even for a second that I'm letting you out of my sight for more than a few hours."
Archie continued the run with Warin fluttering past his head while Star skidded and turned her back to him, facing the officers instead and immediately sending off sparks in all directions. The Aqua Leader and Beautifly both entered the tunnel. He could vaguely hear a few shouts echoing against the walls.
"What the hell is going on?!"
"She's helping the criminal get away!"
"Nobody gets through until I say they do!"
Archie panted, taking a turn and hoping that Star would make it out unhurt. She's quick and really strong, but I don't know what she'll be up against…
He froze when the tunnel suddenly rumbled and the walls echoed with a loud roar.
"Keep running, Archie!" Warin shouted. He yelped when a collapsing boulder narrowly missed him.
The entire cave was trembling, an orange glow all around the walls. The heat was just barely tolerable, having sloppily and hastily pulled on a magma suit so he could run in, the mad cackling of his godfather still echoing in the back of his mind. He froze when he found the stalactites, his breath stopped when he saw them piercing the ground, piercing through a figure that was barely more than a mess of torn fabric and burning skin and blood and oddly-angled limbs, the ground shook harder-
Archie screamed and stumbled forward when the ceiling cracked open a few feet behind him and a gigantic-looking rock-Pokemon blast through, vanishing into the ground just as quickly as more rocks and boulders came crashing down.
"Archie, this way!" Warin yelled. Legs no longer frozen in place, the Aqua Leader bolted after the Beautifly, dodging a last couple tumbling rocks as the shaking slowly subsided and the ground settled. They followed the draft of cold air gently blowing through the tunnels until they finally arrived outside again.
Waiting a few feet away from the exit, Blue raised his head when he heard the heavy breathing and panting.
"I could feel the damn earthquake all the way over here!" Blue said. "What the hell did you do?!"
"I jus' wanted t'help," Archie wheezed. When he got up to Blue, he didn't stop, and instead pushed the gym leader forward and in direction of the mountain. "Headache not normal...Psyduck knocked me away..."
"When the Psyduck blast Archie away, his wig fell off," Warin said, picking up where Archie was struggling to breathe. "There was an officer nearby that was concerned about the Psyduck as well, but Archie was identified as an international criminal and they gave chase. Star stayed back to stall for time, but we got about halfway through the gate when the tunnel started shaking and everything collapsed behind us."
"M'so happy y'don' have a fuckin' ground-type," Archie grumbled weakly. "Them 'n their fuckin' earthquakes n' shit..."
"Wish I'd brought my Rhydon, just to spite you," Blue said. Archie scowled. "Alright, we'll keep going until we reach the mountain. Hopefully the police will have trouble finding us while we're inside. And if we're lucky...Roark won't be involved and sending those three after us."
Archie stared at Blue. Blue never explained who 'those three' were.
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I didn't actually do a nuzlocke run for Blue nor did I catch a Gible during Archie's run meaning basically Girish is literally just me abusing my creative liberty and giving Blue whatever the hell I want because Blue totally very definitely needs a Garchomp.
ARCHIE
Shanks the Sharpedo, Prince the Prinplup, Star the Luxio, Warin the Beautifly, Basil the Buizel, Rapier the Budew
BLUE
Sam the Blastoise, Pete the Pidgeot, Adam the Alakazam, Gary the Arcanine, Girish the Gible