In this chapter, I make a friend and I lose a friend, but there's also evolution and growth to be found.

Shine a Light in the Darkness

Chapter 6: The Joy and the Pain

"Excuse me, would you like a free TM?" a woman asked me. The summer sun was shining on the road west of Nacrene – I was headed into Pinwheel Forest to train, and maybe catch some new friends.

This was certainly a promising omen for the excursion. "Yeah, I'd love one!" I grabbed the disk from her and looked it over.

"That TM contains Rock Smash, but don't be fooled – it's actually a fighting-type move. I'll teach you how to use TMs, but first if you don't mind, I'd like to speak to you about the Lord Arceus. Is that OK?"

"Yeah, sure," I said, putting on my most pleasant smile. It's funny how I had forgotten not everything in life is free – sure, sometimes you can get a berry or a creepy monkey for nothing, but sometimes it's not so easy.

The woman began to lecture. "Well, our top scholars believe that Arceus may have created the universe as early as 1994 or as late as 1997. First, Arceus created the Universe. But it was just a formless mass, so he sent his three sons to grant it form. Palkia created Space and Dialga created Time, while Giratina, the third son, watched and learned. Then Arceus beseeched Mew to fill his beautiful but empty universe, and Mew created Life. Giratina recognized that although each instance of Life was beautiful, they must each also end, so he created the Afterlife. But on his first attempt he failed, and created the Distortion World…"

I didn't hear any more because by now we were all out of earshot. "That was hilarious," Tormod snickered. "When do you think she'll notice you're gone?"

"Probably when she tries to ask me a question," I answered with a grin. "Hey, Brom, I've got a cool move to teach you." As I pressed the TM to his head (torso?), we heard shouting around the corner of the footpath. "Stick close, guys."

It was Team Plasma – a whole platoon of them. They were clustered around a big bonfire and blocking most of the path into Inner Pinwheel Forest, and we weren't about to sneak around the edges. From this distance, though, they seemed too absorbed in their little pep rally to see us. An older man in a yellow-lined red fur coat was leading them, waving his little matching fur hat in the air. "What do we want?" he bellowed, perspiration dripping off him.

"To free Pokémon from their trainers!" a couple of men called.

"That's right!" the man had a raspy voice, the voice of a man who had been shouting angrily all his life. He had tan skin and sweat-drenched silver hair, and his eyes were hidden behind wire-rimmed glasses. "And why do we want that?"

"Because trainers are abusive bastards!" this from a woman in front.

"Yeah! When do we want it?"

"Now!" now he had a bunch of people responding.

"And where do we want it?"

"EVERYWHERE!"

"Let's go," I said, leading the way back out of the forest.

"I really don't trust those guys," Rolf said from behind me.

"And if necessary," the man ranted, "If necessary, how are we going to accomplish our goal?"

"BY FORCE!"

"Wow!" the nurse said. "You're quite the strong trainer! I'll be happy to heal your Pokémon whenever you need it!"

"It's no challenge for the GIANTSLAYER," Edward said nonchalantly, one paw atop the defeated Munna. He was practically glowing with pride.

"Alright, Edward, take five," I chuckled. "Let her heal her own Pokémon, too."

"Layla? I feel funny…" Wait. Edward was literally glowing. "Did you feed me anything different?"

"No, that was just normal Pokéchow." I smiled in surprised delight. "Edward, I think you're evolving!" And he was. In a few seconds, he had more than doubled in height and length, his muzzle had developed more fully, and he had a tough-looking black outer coat. "You look good."

Edward classed up into Swordmaster... er, evolved into Herdier!

"I do look good!" he said proudly.

"Alright, guys, huddle." I put my arms around Tormod and Edward to either side of me, and we all leaned forward in a circle. Opposite me were Rolf and Brom, the latter making a kind effort not to bludgeon anybody with his antenna. "We had a couple of losses yesterday, and I'm going to be honest, it was about the worst day of my life. I don't want to see this happen to us again. This has been true from the beginning, but let me make it clear: we are a family… and a team… and a crew… and a pack. I will not tolerate this tragedy repeating itself. Any questions?"

"Are you the mommy?" Tormod asked with a giggle.

"That's right," I replied, completely serious. "I'm the mommy. And the captain, and the sergeant, and the alpha. I do the planning and the acting. But I couldn't do it without you guys. I need you. Now, let's get out there and get stronger so we can keep winning some badges."

"Is this club exclusive?" I looked up. Another Pidove, a female, was watching us from atop a boulder. "Because I've been looking for a strong trainer around here. But all the locals are lame, totally lame. Now you… you look like you've got your shit together, right? But you guys don't have a set of wings. You could use a set of wings."

"I'm gonna give you full disclosure," I said grimly. "We had a set of wings. Shit got real and he died yesterday. Today, we're getting real too. Do you still want to sign on?"

"Hell yeah, I wanna sign on." The Pidove waved her wing. "You sound like somebody who's learned a tough lesson recently. And I wanna learn to throw some wind blades like my parents could. Now, get your catch on."

"Well-"

"Come on, girl, ball me."

"If you insist!" The Pokéball was dead-on, and the Pidove hardly resisted.

Met Vika at Pinwheel Forest (Outer)!
Female Pidove, lv. 12.
Relaxed Nature, Super Luck.
Proud of its power.

I let the newly-christened Vika out immediately. "Okay, guys. Back to the training."

Tormod classed up into Fire Sage... that is, evolved into Pignite!

"Sweet!" I pumped a fist. "You're part Fighting-type now, if I'm not mistaken. I hear there's a Challenge Rock somewhere around here."

"I'm feeling pretty good about this!" Tormod flexed his new hoof-hands. "Yeah, I feel… strong! I bet I could crack rocks! And I'm ready to burninate the countryside!"

"Yeah, please don't do that," I said.

"It's nice to know your morals haven't completely dissolved in these long years."

"Oh, god, not you again," I said. But there he was – Audino Montoya, as I live and breathe. "You just can't leave us alone, can you?"

"Who's this jackwagon?" Vika asked. "He looks a few nails short of a birdhouse."

"That's the guy who killed the previous Pidove…" Rolf whispered to her urgently.

"Well… oh. Shit."

"It seems I have not yet properly introduced myself today. Hello. My name is Audino Montoya. She…" he craned his head toward me… "Killed my best friend. Prepare to die." With no further preamble, he jumped at Vika. She endured a few hits of Doubleslap and knocked him back with a Gust, then struck him with a Quick Attack while he Growled at her.

"Alright, that's it!" I waved my arms. "Vika, get out of there!"

"But I've almost got him!" she complained.

"Believe what you will, little bird."

"I'm in charge here!" I countered. "Besides, you only think you have him! This guy's got crazy defensive strength! Tormod, get in there!"

"Right!" Tormod jumped in, shrugging off a round of Doubleslaps for Vika's good.

"Bah. Small quarry, large quarry, medium… it doesn't matter." Montoya moved in on Tormod's personal space, readying another round of Doubleslaps just for the pig.

"Tormod, Arm Thrust!" I countered.

"Yeah!" Tormod slammed first one hoof, then the other into Montoya's chest. A third blow came, and then a fourth, knocking the Audino back. The tell-tale shine of his rare blood glittered from between his teeth, but the next moment, he had slipped from view. "Hey, where'd he go?" Tormod and I rushed forward, and were greeted with our answer – Tormod had knocked him back over the ledge of the hill we were fighting on, sending him rolling down a steep embankment into a lower section of grass. "Should we chase him?" Tormod asked, catching his breath.

I shook my head. "I'm sure he'll find us again. Especially if we stay here, so let's keep moving. I don't know what his game is, but it's sick and we should do what we can to stay out of it." A flash of soft red light in the grass below caught my attention; I didn't know what it was, but my fear outweighed my curiosity. "Yeah, we're gonna keep moving."

"Go, Timburr!" The martial artist in front of me, unsurprisingly, had sent out a Fighting-type. Like I'd see anything else from a guy in a gi.

"Vika, you've got the advantage here! Take him down!" Vika had taken to hanging out on my shoulder as my collection of Pokémon small enough for that had dwindled, but she took off with an eagerness that belied her soft voice. "Use your Air Cutter!"

"Wind blades, bitch," Vika replied. I was sure she was smirking around her beak, if such a thing were possible.

"Timburr, Rock Throw!" the Black Belt grunted. The Timburr leveraged his big stick under a stone and tossed it into the air just before Vika's blade struck home. It left a deep cut across the fighting-type's chest, but the sound of the rock striking Vika across the head was horrifying.

"Vika!" She hadn't dropped completely out of the air, which was reassuring. "I didn't know he had that move, let's get you out of there!"

"I can handle it!" Vika called back. Her beak was chipped, but if it hurt, she didn't let it show in her eyes or her voice. "He can't take another hit!"

"Are you sure?"

"Sure I'm sure. Let me take the shot." I was worried… but after my losses yesterday, her confidence was like a beacon that far outshone mine. I was in no mental state to veto her decision, reckless or not.

"Okay… Air Cutter." Vika launched the wind blade with a wide sweep of her wings, but in the time she and I had been arguing, the Timburr had gotten behind his wooden beam. The attack cut him on both arms around the block, but he avoided a direct hit.

"Rock Throw, Timburr! Do it!" The Timburr kicked a stone like a soccer ball, and it hit dead on target – another head shot. It was over so quick. I watched as Vika dropped to the ground, her neck twisted at a horrible angle, her eye smeared over with fresh blood. This wasn't like with Heather. There was no question as to her fate. "Timburr, no! That was too much!" the black belt looked more annoyed than genuinely concerned. He didn't really care that his Pokémon had just murdered one of mine. He was just… irritated that his Timburr lacked control, because he knew at an intellectual level that accidentally killing other people's Pokémon would cause trouble for him.

"FUCK!" I screamed. I didn't know what else to do. Why me? Why three in two days? What the hell had I done to deserve this?

When I screamed, the black belt had flinched back. He looked like he had seen a ghost, but he shook his head and the expression passed. "I apologize for the damage we have done, but you are not faultless. You need to learn better caution and control over your Pokémon, as do I." He bared his teeth. "I will claim my prize money now."

"Fuck you," I hissed. "Edward. Take Down."

"Sending in a normal type? How foolish. Timburr…" but it was too late. His Pokémon was already down, Edward standing on top of him. "It appears I have made a tactical error. I did not specify a one-on-one battle." He bowed to me, and gave me some money. "I'm deeply sorry for your loss." He wasn't. "Your Pignite looks strong. You should test his strength against the Challenge Rock." He felt vindicated by giving me the advice and his conscience was clear.

"Gee… thanks," I said. So much for the honorable Fighting-type.

RIP Vika lv. 12 – lv. 16
Air Cutter, Growl, Leer, Quick Attack

"What's up, Layla?" Bianca asked, peering across the wooden table at me. My Pokémon and I sat at an outdoor table for six in a Nacrene City café, holding an impromptu wake for Vika. After Heather and Janaff died, I had no appetite. But after today, I was starving, and Bianca happened across me wolfing down a sloppy joe and a big soda pop. "Uh… is it okay if I sit down?"

I swallowed my mouthful of food. "Yeah, sure, but I'm not in the mood to talk."

"Okay…" Bianca sat down in the single empty chair; customers were to order food at a window built into the side of the restaurant, and she didn't feel like eating just yet. "I got the Trio Badge!" Bianca said proudly, showing it to me. I mumbled a congratulations. We lapsed into uncomfortable silence for a while, and then the accordion player wandered over to us.

"I wanna be the very best…" he sang. "Like no-one ever was…" Bianca seemed to appreciate it, as did Edward, Tormod and Rolf (who had evolved into a Watchog on the way back), so I let him finish the song before tipping him to go bother somebody else.

This ruined Bianca's mood – she seemed to have been getting excited for more songs from the guy, but for whatever reason it didn't occur to her to follow after him. So instead she said, "I can't believe you eat that right in front of Tormod, Layla. You know that meat contains ground-up Tepigs and Pignites, right?"

I squinted at her over my sandwich. Not this debate again. "This sandwich actually has ground Bouffalant," I replied, dodging the accusation.

"And it's delicious," Tormod added. "I found an unfinished one in the trash, it was really good."

"But you're eating cooked, eaten Pokémon right in front of your Pokémon!"

"They kill and eat each other in the wild," I said calmly. "Some even eat their own kind, like Trubbish."

"That's the wild! This is factory farming, and it's so cruel!" she managed not to be on the verge of tears this time, but I was, and I didn't want her to start thinking I was persuadable on the subject. She didn't know how emotionally vulnerable I was right now.

"I've donated to groups that promote humane treatment of farmed Pokémon," I explained curtly, "but I'm not about to go vegetarian. The fact of the matter is, I'm just more of a carnivore than you, Bianca, and I'm not about to stop eating things because they had feelings once."

"But-"

"It works both ways, Bianca," I interrupted. "You can't feel bad about eating Braviary nuggets, because they'd do the same to you. They actually do carry off human children from Opelucid once in a while." My sandwich was gone now, so I just angrily drank my soda at her.

"What's with you tonight, Layla?" Bianca asked. "You're in a really rotten mood!"

"I've kind of had a lot on my mind," I snapped. Silence reigned again for a minute. Well, the accordionist was singing, but he was across the terrace.

Finally, she said, "I'm sorry about Heather."

I shook my head. "There was nothing you could've done. Besides… I've actually had more of my Pokémon die since then." Bianca looked suitably horrified. "Both of the Pidoves I tried to raise… it was so hard to watch."

Bianca bit back what was no doubt a comment about my carelessness (losing three Pokémon in two days, could you blame her?), and just… stared at me. "Are you still going to face Lenora?" she whispered.

"Tonight, maybe," I said. "My Pokémon are tough enough now."

"Everybody says Lenora is really tough."

"Yeah."

"Are you ready?"

"We're ready," Tormod grunted.

"He says we're ready," I repeated.

Bianca smiled. "Well, who am I to argue with your Pokémon?"

"Welcome to the museum, challenger!" the museum/gym was… surreal. I had barely explained I was here for the gym before I was being led around by Curator Hawes himself, a nerdy guy in a white sweater. As he explained various fossils and shiny rocks to me, I couldn't help but wonder if they brought people who said they wanted to see the museum into the gym portion.

"I don't see any art exhibits here," I noticed.

"Yeah, we tend to leave the arts to the galleries up in Castelia. The gym leader there is a professional artist, you know. Instead, we focus on natural history. But we do have one portrait!" He led me to a picture of a determined-looking black woman with a chunky physique. "Mai waifu," he reported.

"Oh, that's great!" I looked at this graying, skinny nerd, and then at the picture of Lenora, and tried not to laugh. What did she see in him? "So you and Lenora, huh?"

"Yeah… we met on an archaeological dig we were both assigned to. When she became gym leader here, she helped me get the curator job." He adjusted his glasses. "I shouldn't keep you any longer. We close in less than an hour. Good luck!" As he walked back to his desk, I could hear him mutter how much I would need it.

"Brom, go!" I had been surprised at first to learn that the 'Gym' was just the museum's archive area, and the library staff were the resident gym trainers. Almost as surprised as I was to find the same silver-haired guy, Clyde the Guide, giving me Fresh Water brand fresh water, advising the use of fighting types, and telling me about library books.

"Herdier," my opponent called calmly. She was one of the museum's researchers, a cold woman who bore a passing resemblance to Fennel. I would chew through her just as easily as the rest of the trainers around here – they were half a cut above other local trainers, like most Gym trainers, but the day's regimen had left my Pokémon raring to fight. However, this scientist did something I wasn't expecting – she used some sort of spray on her Pokémon. "It's an X Defend," she explained.

"Brom, drop that defense back down with Rock Smash!" I called. Brom kicked the Herdier with strength enough to crack stone, but it barely staggered from the blow.

"Herdier, Bite!" she called.

"Brom, Rock Blast!" When the Herdier's fangs closed around Brom's antenna, he grunted, but he got up in record time and shot a pair of stones out of his ear. The Herdier staggered back, but he didn't look close to dropping yet. We called out the same attacks again, but this time Brom flinched at the force of the Bite and his rocks went wide.

"Keep Biting!" the woman ordered.

"Brom, hit it with another Rock Smash!" He shrugged off the Bite and slammed the Herdier in the ribs with his antenna, and this time I saw the Herdier's knees buckle – its defense was finally starting to be affected.

"Bite again!" My next command died on my throat as Brom flinched back from the Bite, in obvious pain.

"Brom, let me heal you," I said.

"I can give it one more shot first, then I'll take a Potion," he said.

"Herdier, go for the throat!" the scientist cried. "Take Down as hard as you can!"

"Bitch, don't even JOKE like that!" I yelled. "Brom, Rock Smash this woman's Pokémon until she regrets her choice of words! But don't kill it… we have standards!"

The Herdier slammed Brom back and sunk its fangs into his antenna, almost knocking him off his feet. "Durnit…" Brom grunted, his stubby legs shaking under him. "I'm not about to be bossed around by some dog!" Brom slammed his antenna, and the dog's face with it, into the ground. The Herdier bounced loose, and Brom wasted no time in kicking it away. As luck would have it, the unconscious Pokémon crashed into its owner, and she tripped over the step-stool she had been standing on when I first talked to her, falling onto the shelf. I watched in satisfaction as the shelf collapsed backwards into the wall, spilling books all over the floor.

"Don't even joke about killing people's Pokémon," I repeated, my fists clenched.

"You're good," the scientist said, withdrawing her Herdier and acting like the fight hadn't just happened. "Will you be fighting Lenora?"

I looked at my team. They were strong, but exhausted. We needed sleep. "Tell her I'll be here tomorrow morning," I said.

Woo, this was a tough chapter to write. Motivation has been flowing at a trickle. But I'm starting to catch up with my cartridge, which I'm convinced is the key to motivating myself.

The battle with Lenora kicks off the next chapter. Today you'll have to satisfy yourself with trainer battles, evolution, and the acquisition and death of a new team member.

Nuzlocke challenge (c) Nuzlocke
Pokemon (c) Nintendo and Game Freak
Layla (c) me