Adventures in Hoenn
Chapter Thirty-Two: Goodbyes and Sootopolis City
*Alex's p.o.v*
Dad, mom, Alice, Brendan, May and I were outside the hospital. Alice was holding crutches and dad was in a wheel chair. Dad, mom and Alice had to go home due to dad's and Alice's conditions.
''I'm sorry that I have to go,'' dad said sadly.
''It's not your fault, dad. It's Archie's. I heard on the news that he has a life sentence for his crimes,'' I said.
''Thank goodness we won't have to HIM anymore,'' Alice snorted.
''But, how are you going to get home?'' Brendan asked.
''Easy,'' dad responded. He took out Gardevoir's Pokeball and summoned her. ''Gardevoir, teleport us home, please.''
''Okay,'' Gardevoir replied smiling.
''Bye, guys,'' I said hugging Gardevoir, dad, mom and Alice.
''Bye, sweetie. Good luck at Sootopolis! Call us!'' dad said as they all waved before being teleported home.
''It's not going to be the same without dad,'' I said somberly.
''Don't worry, Alice. You still have me, at least,'' Brendan said putting his hands on my sides. I smiled and kissed him on the lips.
''If you two keep kissing for so long, we'll never get to Sootopolis,'' May said crossing her arms. Brendan and I let go of each other and blushed an embarrassed red.
''Fine,'' we said pouting. We went to the beach and summoned Swampert and Wailmer. Brendan and I got on Swampert and May got on Wailmer to head off for Sootopolis.
''What does the next Gym Leader use?'' I asked Brendan.
''Juan uses Water-type Pokémon,'' Brendan replied.
''He must be a real challenge if he's the last Gym Leader!'' I said.
''He taught the Pokémon Champion, Wallace, all he needs to know so yeah, he must be,'' Brendan responded.
''Oh my GOSH! Wallace is so hot!'' May squealed. ''He's both an amazing Water-type trainer AND coordinator! His Milotic won the Beauty Cup almost every time! He's so dreamy. Too bad he's way older than me.''
''Don't worry, May. You'll find mister right,'' I said encouragingly.
''Hope you're right,'' May pouted. We came upon a giant mountain in the sea.
''This is where Sootopolis City is?!'' I said looking at my PokeNAV.
''Y-yeah,'' Brendan replied.
''How're we going to get in there?'' May asked.
''I'll show you,'' a man said coming up to us on a Milotic.
''Are you Juan?'' Brendan asked.
''I am, young man,'' Juan replied. ''You have to dive below the sea to get into the city. Follow me. Milotic, Dive!'' Juan and Milotic dove below the sea.
''Follow him, Swampert,'' I said.
''You too, Wailmer!'' Brendan called. We dove below the sea and followed Juan into a hole in the side of the mountain. We exited the hole and surfaced in Sootopolis City.
''Welcome to Sootopolis City!'' Juan said. ''I understand that you wish to challenge me to a battle?''
''Yes, please!'' Brendan and I said eagerly.
''Well, then I'll take you to the Gym,'' Juan said getting off of Milotic. We got off of our Pokemon and followed Juan around the city. ''But first, let me fill you in on a bit of Sootopolis' history. This proud city is built on top of an extinct volcano. It is also believed that this is where Groudon and Kyogre first fought long ago before humans evolved. Thankfully, Rayquaza intervened in the fight and sent the behemoths to sleep for many years. You are the kids who were caught up in the middle of their battle several days ago, yes?'' We were surprised that Juan knew us.
''Y-yes we are! How did you know?'' I asked.
''It was all-over the news, of course,'' Juan answered.
''Oh,'' we said dropping sweat. We came upon the Sootopolis Gym.
''After you,'' Juan said letting us go ahead of him.
''Thank you!'' I said smiling. He's quite a gentleman, I thought. The battling area of the Gym was filled with water and a small amount of platforms.
''Who would like to challenge me first?'' Juan asked as he made his way to the other side of the ring.
''Ladies first!'' Brendan said.
''Thank you, sweetie,'' I said to Brendan gratefully. ''Me, please!''
''But, of course,'' Juan said smiling. ''Three Pokémon, alright?''
''You got it!'' I said excitedly pulling out a Pokeball. ''Go, Lileep!'' Lileep landed on the platform in front of me.
''I choose you, Sealeo!'' Juan cried. Sealeo landed in the water and glared at Lileep. ''Sealeo, Ice Ball!'' Sealeo fired a ball of ice at Lileep.
''Lileep, jump it and use Confuse Ray!'' I ordered. Lileep did as she was told. Sealeo ducked Lileep's Confuse Ray and swam below the water.
''Sealeo, Body Slam!'' Juan commanded. Sealeo leapt out of the water and was above Lileep.
''Lileep, get out of the way!'' I commanded. Lileep jumped out of Sealeo's way but fell into the water when Sealeo landed on the platform. ''Oh no!'' I yelled.
''Sealeo, save Lileep!'' Juan cried. Sealeo dove below the water and picked up Lileep and put her on the platform as she coughed up water.
''You okay, Lileep?'' I asked.
''Yeah,'' Lileep replied wearily. ''I can still fight!''
''Thanks, Juan,'' I said thankfully.
''No thanks needed,'' Juan replied happily. ''Now Sealeo, Water Pulse!'' Sealeo fired the attack but Lileep dodged it.
''Sunny Day!'' I yelled. Lileep made the sun come out. The heat was getting to Sealeo as he panted and sweated. Juan grunted in a panicked tone in response. ''Now, SOLAR BEAM!'' Lileep fried Sealeo with the powerful beam and defeated it.
''You did well, Sealeo,'' Juan said calmly as he called back the Pokémon.
''Great job, Lileep!'' I said happily.
''Gee, thanks, Alex!'' Lileep said turning red with embarrassment. Suddenly, Lileep glew white. ''Lileep, you're evolving!''
''Woah,'' Lileep said as she grew taller. Her head budged out as her petals moved to the back of her neck. Lileep finished evolving and was now green and yellow.
''That's Cradily!'' Juan said.
''Great! You look cool, Lil-er, Cradily!'' I exclaimed happily.
''Thanks!'' Cradily said blushing.
''Now, for my next Pokémon, Seaking!'' Juan said summoning the fish-like Pokémon.
''Cradily, come back!'' I ordered returning Cradily. ''C'mon Gallade!''
''Seaking, Megahorn!'' Juan demanded. Seaking swam quickly towards Gallade and lunged out of the water headfirst.
''Gallade, dodge and use Psycho Cut!'' I commanded quickly. Gallade side-stepped the attack and blasted Seaking with the energy blast. Seaking was severely weakened but was still eager to fight.
''Seaking, Aqua Ring!'' Juan yelled. Seaking was surrounded by blue rings helping her heal herself.
''Gallade, Leaf Blade!'' I cried. Gallade lunged at Seaking with his blades.
''Seaking, Dive!'' Juan commanded. Seaking dove below the water as Gallade fell into the water.
''Gallade, get out of the water!'' I yelled.
''Seaking, Horn Drill!'' Juan ordered. Seaking swam towards Gallade with her horn spinning.
''Gallade, Leaf Blade!'' I commanded. Gallade's and Seaking's attacks connected with each other at the same time resulting in Gallade and Seaking floating on the water's surface knocked out.
''Ooh, double K.O.,'' Brendan commented. Juan and I recalled our Pokémon.
''You're quite good,'' Juan complimented.
''Thanks, you too!'' I responded.
''But, can you handle my final Pokémon?'' Juan asked pulling out his last Pokémon.
''I think I can,'' I responded smiling and pulling out my last Pokémon.
''Luvdisc, go!'' Juan cried summoning a heart-shaped fish.
''Pikachu, fight!'' I yelled. This is going to be easy, I thought smiling.
''Luvdisc, Scald!'' Juan yelled. Luvdisc spat hot water at Pikachu.
''Pikachu, Thunderbolt!'' I yelled as well. Pikachu fired the attack at Luvdisc.
''Protect!'' Juan cried. Luvdisc guarded against the attack. ''Now, Sweet Kiss!'' Luvdisc lunged at Pikachu kissing her on the cheek. Pikachu then got confused.
''Pika, snap out of it!'' I begged.
''W-why is the wo-world sp-spinning?'' Pikachu asked as she wobbled.
''Now, Scald!'' Juan cried. Luvdisc fired the boiling water at Pikachu.
''Thunderbolt, Pikachu!'' I yelled. Pikachu fired the attack at the wall and as Scald connected with Pikachu, Luvdisc got fried from the attack and knocked out. Pikachu floated on the water's surface also knocked out. ''You did good, sweetie,'' I said returning Pikachu.
''Congratulations, Alex. You win!'' Juan said clapping.
''Way to go, Alex!'' Brendan called from the stands.
''You did it!'' May added. Juan came over to me and pulled out the last Badge.
''Here is your Rain Badge,'' Juan said smiling.
''Thank you,'' I said accepting the badge. ''Pokémon League, here I come!'' I cried happily.
''Could I challenge you tomorrow, Juan?'' Brendan asked as he and May came up to us.
''Yes you may,'' Juan answered. ''Tomorrow morning all right?''
''Sure! Thank you!'' Brendan said smiling.
*Brendan's p.o.v*
Wailmer, Hyper Beam!'' I yelled. Wailmer fired the mighty blast at Seaking but it dove below the sea. Juan and I were down to our last Pokémon. Wailmer was panting heavily due to firing the powerful beam.
''Now, Seaking, Horn Drill!'' Juan yelled. Seaking charged at Wailmer.
''This could get bad,'' Alex said.
''Brendan, look out!'' May cried panicked. Wailmer stopped panting and was ready to move.
''Wailmer, Dive and use Body Slam!'' I yelled. Wailmer did as he was told and jumped out of the water landing on Seaking knocking her out. ''We did it, Wailmer!'' Wailmer smiled at me and bellowed happily. Suddenly, Wailmer glew white.
''He's evolving!'' Alex said surprised. Wailmer quickly swelled up and got longer.
''It's going to be a Wailord and crush all of us!'' May panicked.
''WAILMER, STOP EVOLVING! STOP! YOU"RE GOING TO KILL ALL OF US!'' I cried. Wailmer then shrank back down to his normal size.
''Thank Arceus,'' May sighed relieved.
''You'll want this,'' Juan said coming up to me. He handed me a pale stone. ''This is an everstone. It'll prevent any Pokémon from evolving.''
''Wailmer, here,'' I said putting the stone in Wailmer's mouth. Wailmer put it below his tongue.
''And here is your Rain Badge,'' Juan said handing me my final Badge.
''Thank you,'' I said gratefully. I looked at the badge and shivered.
''You did it, Brendan!'' Alex cried hugging me.
''We're within arm's reach of the Pokémon League, sweetie!'' I cried hoisting up Alex and spinning her around. Suddenly, my foot slipped and we fell into the water. We surfaced gasping for breath. Alex and I looked at each other and laughed before kissing each other.
''Ah, how wonderful it is to be young and in love,'' Juan said smiling.
''We'll never get to the Pokémon League if you guys just stay like that,'' May teased. We glared daggers at her in response. ''Okay, please continue,'' May sighed. Alex and I continued our loving embrace for what seemed like hours.