Adventures in Hoenn
Chapter Twenty: An Impossible Dream?
*Alex's p.o.v*
I woke up the next morning. Everyone else was still asleep. The air was filled with a thick fog and it blanketed the gently-flowing river. I grabbed my bag and went down to the river and felt the water. ''Ooh!'' I exclaimed quietly in reaction to the cold water. I got undressed and got my soap as I took a morning bath. ''It's no hotel bath, but it'll do,'' I said to myself. I was scrubbing myself peacefully when I turned around and saw Brendan bathing as well. We just stared at each other with looks of shock and embarrassment on our faces. We then screamed at the top of our lungs and woke up the others.
''Alex?!'' my dad yelled worried. He and May ran to the river's edge and saw us both in the water. ''What the-?! What are you two doing bathing in the same river together?!'' my dad asked angrily glaring particularly at Brendan.
''I-i-it was an accident sir, I swear!'' Brendan said nervously. ''I had no idea Alex was here! Honestly!''
''It's true, dad!'' I added defending Brendan. ''I came down to bathe and I had no idea Brendan was here! The fog was so thick I couldn't see anything!'' Dad growled to himself and sighed.
''Okay,'' he said finally. ''You just scared me when you screamed, sweetie. Don't do that. I was afraid something bad happened to you!''
''Sorry dad!'' I said sinking myself below the water up to my neck.
''Brendan, please move down the river more,'' my dad requested calmly. Brendan moved down towards the river. ''More,'' my dad said crossing his arms. Brendan moved down even more. ''Good! I'll go get breakfast started!'' my dad said walking away while humming. Brendan and I sighed in relief and finished our baths.
''Sorry about that, Alex,'' Brendan said to me as we joined everyone at the camp dressed.
''It's fine, Brendan,'' I said. ''You didn't mean to! Quit worrying about it. My dad forgives you to, right dad?''
''Mmm, I don't know,'' my dad said rubbing his chin.
''Dad,'' I said crossing my arms annoyed.
''I do! I'm kidding!'' dad said smiling. ''But from now on, it's same gender bathing only. No exceptions.''
''Got it,'' Brendan and I said laughing. Dad fixed up some eggs for all of us and we continued on our way to Fortree City.
''Wow!'' May said in awe. The city consisted almost entirely of tree houses from the hotel to restaurants to shops to the houses. The only building on the ground was the Pokémon Center.
''This is incredible!'' my dad said. ''I've never seen anything like this before. Reminds me of the times your uncle Napoleon and I would play in our tree house in Celadon City, Alex. Haven't heard from him since he joined the military. Hope he's alright.''
''I'm sure he's fine,'' I said trying to encourage dad. ''Wonder where the Gym is.''
''You guys can go find the Gym,'' May said. ''I'M going to go shop!'' May ran off to the nearest store and we went off to find the Gym.
''Here it is!'' Brendan said. We looked and saw that the Gym was closed.
''Closed?! Man!'' I said disappointed.
''It's just for the day, Alex,'' my dad said. ''Maybe the Gym Leader is around here.'' We went on our way and saw a tall tower where bird Pokémon where flocking. We walked up the tower and saw a woman with light purple hair and a blue costume feeding Swablu and Altaria bird seed.
''Here you go, little ones,'' the woman said. ''Eat up! You'll need this food to keep up your strength.'' The woman turned towards us and smiled. ''Hello,'' she said happily. ''Are you new to Fortree City?''
''Yes,'' I said sitting next to her. ''We're looking for the Gym Leader for this city.''
''Oh, I'm the Gym Leader,'' the woman said. ''I'm Winona.''
''Oh, really?'' I said. ''We saw that the Gym was closed. Is today your day off?''
''You're right,'' Winona said. ''I spend some time up here to feed bird Pokémon. They are the most beautiful and graceful of all Pokémon. The reason why I feel that way goes back to my childhood. I was only seven years old. I was lost in the mountains and it was snowing really hard. I was afraid that I was going to die.''
''Oh no,'' my dad said sadly. ''What happened next?''
''Well, an Altaria saved me by leading me to a cave,'' Winona went on. ''It kept me warm with its soft, pillow-like wings. I was there for two days and the Altaria kept me alive by bringing me food and water. Soon, a rescue group found me and I was eternally grateful to that Altaria. That's why Flying-types are my favorite.'' Winona then stood up. ''Well, it's been nice talking to you all,'' Winona said smiling. ''Feel free to challenge me tomorrow.''
''Thanks,'' I said. ''Bye Winona!'' I looked at the Altaria and Swablu still eating the seeds. ''I got to get a Flying Pokémon,'' I said to myself. ''Otherwise, I may not stand a chance.''
''Say Alex,'' Brendan said. ''You know your Trapinch?''
''Yeah?'' I said curiously.
''Its second and final evolutions can fly I believe,'' Brendan went on.
''Really?'' I said surprised.
''Yes, she'll evolve into Vibrava first,'' Brendan added.
''Well, then I gotta train Trapinch then!'' I said standing up and clenching my fist. I then ran off to begin training.
*Anthony's p.o.v*
We followed Alex to Route 120. She was breathing heavily and grabbed Trapinch's Pokeball.
''Let's go, Trapinch!'' she cried.
''Hi, Alex,'' Trapinch said. ''What's up?''
''You and I are going to train,'' Alex replied. ''We're going to face Winona, a Flying Pokémon Trainer. I need you to evolve into Vibrava.'' Trapinch's eyes lit up.
''YES MA'AM!'' Trapinch exclaimed happily. ''I've always dreamed of flying! Let's do it!''
''That's the spirit!'' Alex said happily. Trapinch and Alex then began picking battles with random Pokémon.
''Look at them,'' I said to Brendan. ''They're so determined to win.''
''She has a strong and beautiful spirit and a determination to win,'' Brendan said.
''Yes, she definitely has my blood in her,'' I added. ''Her mother would be so proud of her.''
''There you are guys!'' May said coming from behind us with shopping bags in hand. ''What's Alex up to?''
''She's trying to help Trapinch evolve into Vibrava so she can have an easier time against Winona,'' I answered.
''Look at them go!'' Brendan exclaimed pointing. Alex and Trapinch defeated many Pokémon and they were panting heavily.
''Let's take a break, Trapinch,'' Alex said sitting down on the ground. ''We did great.'' Alex poured water into Trapinch's jaws. ''How close do you feel to evolving?''
''Pokémon can't tell when they are going to evolve,'' Trapinch replied. ''Sorry.''
''It's okay,'' Alex replied. ''We may have a ways to go before you evolve.''
''We can do it! Don't be discouraged!'' Trapinch said encouragingly.
''Thanks, Trapinch,'' Alex said petting her head. Trapinch then nuzzled Alex causing her to laugh. The grass then started to rustle. A Zangoose leapt out of the bushes and ran right for Alex and Trapinch. Before Alex and Trapinch could get up, Zangoose pinned down Alex with its claws.
''What are you doing in MY territory human?'' the Zangoose snarled.
''We were just…training!'' Alex replied in a strained voice.
''Looks to me like your trespassing!'' Zangoose snapped. ''I don't want your kind around here.''
''Then let us go!'' Trapinch yelled angrily. Zangoose looked at Trapinch and punched her away.
''Get your claws off of her!'' I yelled as we ran to Alex's aid. Zangoose made a gesture and more Zangoose poured out of the woods and grass pinning us down.
''No one will interfere as I make an example of this human!'' Zangoose said snarling. ''She shall die!''
''NO!'' Brendan yelled. ''Kill me instead! Don't harm her!''
''Sorry, bud,'' a Zangoose said. ''The boss never changes his mind.'' Zangoose then began to press down on Alex's throat with its paw.
''Leave her ALONE!'' Trapinch yelled leaping at Zangoose. Zangoose slashed Trapinch and sent her back again.
''Trapinch…save yourself!'' Alex said weakly.
''NO! I'm not leaving you!'' Trapinch said.
''As your trainer, I command you to do as I say!'' Alex snapped. Trapinch growled frustrated at what to do. Suddenly, Zangooses suddenly ganged up on Trapinch and started beating her up. ''No! Leave her alone!'' Alex yelled. Suddenly, a white light came from within the group of Zangoose. A small fly-like Pokémon burst out of the group and blasted them with Dragonbreath. Trapinch evolved into Vibrava!
''I said leave her alone!'' Vibrava snarled using Dragonbreath on the Zangoose pinning Alex. The Zangoose pinning us down snarled and charged at Vibrava. Vibrava flew up and dove down at the group and knocked the group away. ''Get out of here and don't come back!'' Vibrava yelled as the Zangoose fled. ''Are you okay, Alex?'' Vibrava asked landing near Alex.
''Trapinch? Is that you?'' Alex asked surprised. ''You evolved!''
''Yep! I couldn't stand to see you hurt and so I evolved!'' Vibrava said nuzzling Alex.
''Congratulations, you two!'' May said.
''Thank you for protecting Alex, Vibrava,'' I said gratefully.
''It was nothing, sir!'' Vibrava said smiling.
''You two make a great team!'' Brendan complimented.
''We're ready to face Winona now!'' Alex said happily as she hugged Vibrava. ''Here we come Winona!''