Chapter 19: Onwards to Dewford Town
Argh, I hate writing fillers so much! And school keeping me away from my writing, and writer's block happening, and my friend dying suddenly! I hate them all!
Yeah, so, long story short, this chapter gave me horrible writer's block, and I had a ton of homework, and this really awesome friend of mine just died very suddenly. She was so young, and I miss her a lot, but I'm trying to be happy and live a good life because she wouldn't have wanted me to get all depressed over her passing.
So yeah, life's just been really hard. Sorry you all had to wait so long for another chapter.
Lynxgoddess: Thanks for the review. To be honest, I'm going to be interested in seeing how Alpha evolves as well, since I literally have almost nothing planned out for her character development. Like, I have main events and such, but the little things are all up in the air.
Eon The Zoroark: Double or nothing says that since you said that I will totally find some way to make sure Swampy evolves before the battle with Norman. I'm just kidding, by the way, I actually don't have a specific time frame for any of the evolutions, just a general where it will happen. Like, Sword's is definitely going to happen before the final battle with Wally, but I'm not certain when. I guess it'll happen when it makes sense. Thanks for the review.
And a big thanks to everyone who has followed/favorited my fic since the publication of the last chapter.
Disclaimer: I don't have a job people, my spare money is going towards Switch games, do you think I have the rights to Pokémon? Because I don't. Please don't sue, I want to play the Switch so badly and I can't if I'm in jail!
"Are you certain that it was her?" Norman asked as he glanced over at the picture of his family that was sitting on his desk. His daughter looked so happy, a smile on her face. It had been taken a while before she had grown bitter over her lack of a Pokemon journey.
"Absolutely." On the screen, Roxanne nodded. "She called herself Alpha, and had a Sneasel named Shade with her. Do you want me to notify the police? From what I heard, she's heading out to Dewford Island. They can intercept her there."
"No, let her keep traveling." Norman replied. "She's been denied her journey for a while, it's only fair that she gets to finish this one. I'll ask the other gym leaders to not mention anything about knowing who she is. She'll have to come to my gym eventually, and when she does I'll deal with her then."
"But Norman, she ran away from home. Her mother must be worried sick!" Roxanne protested. "Not only that, I had a few challengers the day before that mentioned something about a girl named Alpha stealing a Mudkip from Professor Birch's lab, and your daughter had one."
"Interesting." Norman frowned slightly. "I don't know how she got a Mudkip, but I know that my daughter would not steal."
"But-"
"Roxanne." Norman's words stopped her cold. "I know I'm asking a lot of you and the other gym leaders in not going to the police, but please let me try and handle this first. I give you my word that if something else changes, I'll bring the authorities into this."
For a long moment, neither of the two spoke. Finally, Roxanne sighed.
"I don't like this, but I'll listen to you." She eventually said.
Sapphire knocked on the door of the small windswept cottage on the shores of the lower part of Route 104. She had found a shortcut through Petalburg Woods that involved clambering down a series of tiny ledges. The Wingull was still perched on top of her head, and Shade was in his Pokeball after Sapphire had caught him eyeing the bird with what could only be distaste - either that or hunger. Regardless, Sapphire hadn't wanted to take a chance, and her partner was now grumpily sitting in his Pokeball.
The girl did not have long to wait, for the door flew open to reveal an old man. He had a gray beard and mustache, with a bald head and kind eyes. The man had on a red shirt and tan shorts, and the smile on his face seemed to grow as he caught sight of the Flying type atop Sapphire's head.
"Peeko! Oh, I thought I would never see you again." He cried in happiness. Peeko cawed happily and hopped off of Sapphire's head and flew over to his trainer. The minute he vacated his perch, Shade popped out of his Pokeball.
"Sneasel." He groused, glaring at the Wingull. It was obvious he did not like having his spot taken.
"Oh, quit your whining." Sapphire scolded. Shade responded with a flat look that showed he wasn't happy.
"My Peeko owes her life an' freedom to you, lass!" Sapphire put her frustration aside for the moment and refocused her attention on the ancient man in front of her. "They call me Mr. Briney. And you are?"
"I am known by the name of Alpha." She replied as the man invited her into the cottage.
"Alpha? Ah, then I sincerely thank you for rescuing my darling Peeko." Mr. Briney said. "Aye, I do say that we owe you one, lassie."
"If that's the case, then can I ask a favor of you?" Alpha inquired, pulling out the letter addressed to Steven Stone. "The president of the Devon Corporation asked me to deliver this letter to his son in Dewford. I was hoping that you would take me."
"Aye, he sent one of his employees out here the other day saying that someone with a letter bound for Dewford would require my services." Mr Briney nodded.
"So, will you take me?" Alpha glanced at the doorway, disguising her growing impatience. She hated to push the older man; but the girl did not like being so close to her father's home. Despite the fact that no one had showed up to pull her back to Littleroot Town, Sapphire had no doubt that her father had seen her. The less time she spent hanging out in the Petalburg area, the better.
"Certainly, that'd be no problem at all. You've come to the right man! Shall we hoist sail for Dewford at once, or do you have anything else you want to do around her?"
"I'd like to leave now, if that's alright." Sapphire asked.
"Alrighty then. Anchors away Peeko! We're setting sail my darling!"
Sapphire inhaled a deep breath of the clean, salty sea air as the boat transferred from Route 105 to Route 106. She could see a large island in the distance, which meant that they had to be getting close to their destination. Flocks of Wingull cawed overhead, and Peeko added his cry to theirs. Shade was still eyeing the birds with distaste.
"How long do you think it will be until we get there, Mr. Briney?" She asked, yelling to be heard over the noise of the motor.
"Not too long, lass." Came the quick reply. "I believe we shall be landing in about twenty minutes. You know what you're going to do when you get there?"
"Yep." Sapphire smirked. She was going to do a training session with her Pokemon, then challenge the gym the next day. After that, she'd go to the cavern nearby, where Steven apparently had been heading too. She was looking forward to another challenge, despite her apprehension at allowing the gym leaders to catch glimpses of her. They weren't fools, sooner or later one of them would either mention her to her father or realize that she was the same girl that had run away from Littleroot Town.
Ah, but the challenge was to good of an opportunity to pass up. Mr. Briney had informed the trainer that Brawly, the leader of the Dewford Gym, favored Fighting types, and Sapphire had structured her team accordingly. Shade wouldn't battle, and Beldum was her last resort Pokemon. Swampy could be called in to fight if the going got a tough, or if she needed to buy time to heal her Pokemon. The main fighters for this round would be Wind, Sword, and Dancer. Shadow, unfortunately, would have to sit this round out, but Sapphire wasn't going to be foolish enough to pit a Dark type against a Fighting type.
Sighing, the girl went back to looking out over the ocean. She had another big challenge coming up, and the girl couldn't wait for the boat to finally reach their destination so she could get to practicing.
So, what do you all think? Leave any comments, compliments, inquiries, or constructive criticism in a review! Flames shall be put out by a Gyrados using Hydro Pump!
