DISCLAIMER: All rights to Pokémon Special/Adventures belong to Hidenori Kusaka, Shōgakukan, The Pokémon Company and all those who've worked hard to bring us this awesome manga. What are they gonna name the guys for Black 2 and White 2?
RATING: T for language, mild crude humor and SHIPPING!
CHARACTER AGES: Red (29), Green (29), Blue (30), Yellow (27), Gold (26), Silver (26), Crystal (26), Ruby (25), Sapphire (24), Emerald (24), Diamond (22), Pearl (22), Platinum (22), Black (21), White (21).
TIME FRAME: January 8th, 10 years later.
A/N: I really did not expect this to be so long. It's seems to happen a lot where the chapters that are the least planned out end up being the longest. Not sure why, but I'm totally cool with it. Now, I was going to wait to read the latest volume, so that I'd have more material to reference, but I realized that'd take much too long. Also, I edited the part involving the mysterious letter in the last scene of chapter 3, 'cause I realized I kinda half-assed it. Enjoy!
Chapter 4 - DIAMOND and PEARL
(Ribbon Syndicate, Resort Area, Battle Zone, Sinnoh Region)
...
...
...
"Speaking of Pokémon..."
"...Speaking of Pokémon,"
"You can give your Pokémon their very own nickname!"
"You don't say?"
"You betcha! For instance, I named my Chatot 'Chattler'. What about you?'
"My Munchlax's nickname is "Lax"."
"Doesn't seem very original."
"...Okay then; Maybe I should change it to 'Munch.'"
"That's not any better! *Smack*"
"Ow...maybe 'Mate', like, as in friend?
"I guess...but you know, a trainer should also choose a nickname that matches their Pokémon!"
"You don't say..."
"Hell yeah! I mean, imagine if I nicknamed my Infernape, 'Cutie Patootie'. 'Cutie Patootie, use Flare Blitz?' Lame."
"Let me try..."Mate, use Lick!"
"You pervert! *Smack*"
"Ow...I think I should change its nickname back to 'Lax.'"
"No problem! All you have to do is go to the Name Rater in Eterna City, and he'll change your Pokémon's nickname for you, free of charge!"
"...Can't I just change the nickname myself?"
"Absolutely not! You have to make it official!"
"Aw, why not? I don't wanna go all the way to Eterna City!
"Because if it were as easy as just saying, 'I, PEARL, OFFICIALLY BESTOW UPON YOUR MUNCHLAX THE NICKNAME LAX!', then that would just be stupid!"
"Oh, I guess that makes sense..."
"Of course it makes sense! Now go to the Name Rater this instant!"
"Fine..."
"And that's all we got so far. What do you think?"
He didn't get a fast response, as their only audience was too busy laughing and clutching her stomach to give them a straight answer. Once she was finally able to settle down, she clapped her hands in approval.
"That was truly the funniest performance you've ever done, Pearl!" she laughed, wiping off a tear. "You and Dia are certain to win the grand prize at tonight's show!"
"Gee, Lady, you really think so?" Diamond asked, modestly.
"But of course!" she replied. "And Dia, I've asked you before to please address me as "Platinum"."
"Sorry, La-I mean, Platinum."
"You know Platinum, it was pretty cool of you to get us this gig," Pearl remarked, walking off the stage. "But do you really think that these frou-frou, high-class socialites are gonna appreciate are cheap comedy routine?"
"But of course!" she answered confidently, turning around to reach her bag. "After all, I'm technically a socialite, and I love your routine! So by association, they should enjoy it as well."
"Yeah, but they might actually have taste." Pearl muttered under his breath.
"Come again?"
"I-I said that you taste good!" he blurted out, without thinking. The young heiress stared confusedly at her companion whereas Diamond simply blinked in surprise.
"Oh, um, thank you...I suppose." Platinum said, smiling politely before turning to Diamond. "Now Dia, are you certain that you want to provide the cake? I'd be more than happy to order one myself."
"It's no problem, really." Diamond insisted. "Blue can't argue when it comes to my cooking. Plus, a day this special deserves the best, right?"
"Well, if Senior Blue is okay with it, then so am I," she stated, taking a quick glance at her Pokétch. "Well, my lunch date with White is in about two hours, so I really must get going. Pearl-"
"You don't even have to say it," The blonde man turned to his Chatot who was hovering by his side. "Chattler, I need you to fly Platinum over to the Hotel Grand Lake. You think you can make the trip?"
"Hotel Grand Lake! Hotel Grand Lake!" Chattler squawked, perching itself onto Platinum's head.
"Thanks, you two!" The young woman wrapped her arms around her two friends, and gave them both pecks on the cheeks. "I shall be back later tonight, okay?"
"Uh, yeah," Pearl replied uneasily. "Dia?"
"Mmhmm." Diamond mumbled, his face turning red.
Platinum continued to smile, as if their reactions were typical behavior for them. "Alright then, um, I shall see you later, Feraligatrs!"
As she walked out the theater doors, she attempted, and failed, to flash a peace sign towards her two friends. The two comedians, amused, waved backed until she was gone, then sat down to pack their bags as well. Pearl, done in under a minute, looked curiously at Diamond, who he noticed was taking longer then usual to finish up.
"'Eh, Dia!" he shouted.
"Hmm?"
"Something buggin' ya, man?"
"Oh, uh, its nothing, really." he answered, gradually picking up the pace. Pearl could easily tell he was lying but chose not to push the subject, at least for now.
"Well, hurry up, cause I'm hungry. And if I'm hungry, then you must be starving!"
"Well, where do you want to have lunch?" Diamond asked, though without his usual hunger-induced excitement.
"I know just the place!"
"Pearl, how can we afford this place?"
"Hey, I'm the Battle Tycoon's son!" he replied, proudly. "My dad got me an all-expenses paid coupon, so everything's free!"
Diamond took a long sip out of his champagne glass of Sprite Zero, as he stared wearily out the window. Pearl took note of his odd behavior, but dismissed it once their waiter had arrived with their meals.
"One 12 oz, well-done Filet Mignon, sauteed in imported Aprijuice, and a side of Torkoal-roasted vegetable medley drizzled in a Rabuta Berry sauce for you..." Pearl licked his lips as the plate was set in front of him.
"...and Fish and Chips for you." Diamond stared blankly at his dish, looking somewhat unsatisfied. "Enjoy your meal."
Pearl took his knife and began cutting his steak up as if it were rice paper. As he stuffed bite after bite into his mouth, almost forgetting to chew, he looked over at Diamond, whose food was barely touched.
"Wha aresh ihou eatshish?" Pearl asked.
"I'm not very hungry." Pearl punched his chest repeatedly, trying the dislodge a piece of meat that he was suddenly choking on.
"Alright, that's it!" he cried, slamming his fist on the table. "What's going on with you?"
Diamond backed up into his chair in surprise. "Wha-what do you mean?"
"Don't give me any of that!" he shouted, as he started counting off his fingers. "You've been totally distracted lately, you act slower than usual, and now you're not even eating!"
"So?" Diamond responded, with a shocking hint on indignity.
"Dia...Diamond, please," Pearl reached across the table and placed a hand on Diamond's shoulder. "You're my best friend. I can't stand seeing you like this. Now, what's eatin' at you?"
Diamond lowered his head, his eyes focused on his food than his long-time friend. "Platinum."
"What about Platinum?" Pearl asked, quirking an eyebrow.
"Do you like her, Pearl?" The normally hotheaded man was taken aback by the sudden question, and immediately began shoving his face again.
"Well, of course I like her," he chuckled, his words muffled from the chewing. "She's our friend."
"I mean do you like like her?" Diamond paused, as Pearl struggled to swallow. "You've been acting really awkward around her lately, and you've been eating a lot more too."
"Boy, nothing gets past you, huh?"
"Well..." Pearl crossed his arms, trying to appear confident and composed.
"I mean, maybe as a kid I had a little crush on her, b-but that's all water under the bridge now!"
"Really?"
Pearl sighed, unable to look Diamond in the eyes. "Honestly...I don't know." he admitted. "I like her...a lot. But, I don't know if I like us together, like, as a couple, you know?"
"Wow," was all Diamond said.
"Yeah, 'wow'." Pearl groaned, slamming his forehead on the table. "I'm pathetic, right?"
"No, I mean, 'Wow' as in..." The slower man took another slight pause. "I...like her, too."
"WHAT?" Pearl screamed, jerking his head up.
"I like her too," Diamond repeated. "At least...I think I do."
"Why's that?"
"Well, if Platinum and I ended up together...where would that leave you?"
Pearl shuffled in his seat as he searched for an answer. "Right..."
"I mean think about it," Diamond continued. "Would you and I still be a duo? Are you going to be a third wheel? Or are we just gonna be the trio we've always been?"
"And if Platinum and I got together, then all those questions fall on your shoulders, Dia."
"Aw, crap," Diamond groaned. "What are we going to do about this, Pearl?"
"I'll tell you what we're going to do!" Pearl exclaimed, slamming his fist on the table again. "We're going to forget about it!"
"Huh?"
"At least for now," he added. "Look, we've got a show to do tonight, and we won't be able to perform if we can't think straight."
"Well, we can't just...stop thinking about it." Diamond said.
"True. We're going to need something to keep us busy until tonight...but what?"
"Excuse me, sir?" Pearl snapped out his thoughts at the voice of their waiter, who was standing next to them. "Would you like you're check now?"
"Oh yeah, sure," he replied, whipping out a small slip of paper. "Just put it on this coupon."
The waiter took the slip from him and gave it long look, his face scrunching up in confusion. "Sir?'
"Hmm?"
"This is a coupon for a free dancing instruction being held by the Johto Region's Kimono Sisters at the local Sinnoh Dance Hall."
"Say wha?"
"This coupon is invalid."
Pearl started to sweat. "Oh, well...the thing is, w-we...kinda, um-"
"We can't afford this place." Diamond finished.
"Then how do you propose to pay for your meal?"
...
...
...
"...How about we cut a deal?"
(Sinnoh Dance Hall)
"Okay class, before we begin, make sure to allow adequate dancing space between you and the other couples."
Everyone did as told, and moved around until they were sure they weren't invading anyone else's space.
"Alright, now please select two of your Pokémon to accompany you for the instruction."
Various types of Pokémon were released onto the dance floor, most of them either bipedal or smaller than their trainers.
"Great! Now, my sisters Miki and Naoko will demonstrate the basic holding position. Sisters?" Kuni moved off to the side, allowing her sisters to take over.
"Now class, the stance that you will be using is as followed," Miki instructed, grabbing on to Naoko. "For the leads, you link your partner's right hand with your left and raise it as so."
"Then," Naoko continued. "Place your right hand on your partner's back, leaving your elbow out at a forty-degree angle."
"Good! Now, all the leads, Pokémon included, take one step forward with your left-"
"ARGH! DAMN IT, DIA! YOUR STEPPED ON MY FOOT!"
"Sorry, Pearl!" Diamond apologized. "Oh, and by the way, everyone's looking at us.
Pearl turned his head sheepishly towards the staring couples. "Sorry, everyone!" he yelled. "Please, carry on!"
"Thank you," Miki replied back. "Now, as I was saying, the lead should take..."
Diamond awkwardly moved his legs, trying to follow the rhythm. "Um, I don't know about this, Pearl."
"Hey, I don't like this any better than you do, Dia." he replied, bitterly. "Just follow my lead, keep up with the pace of the music, and don't step on my toes."
The slighty shorter man gave a nod, and took a step to the right. Surprisingly, he was able to follow Pearl's tempo, and eventually, the two were completely in sync.
So...Dia," Pearl started, vaguely listening to the dancing instructions. "You're uh, pretty good at this."
"Hmm?" Dia mumbled. "Oh, thanks."
The blonde man sighed, shaking his head knowingly. "You're still thinking of Platinum, aren't you?"
"...Yeah. You?"
"Uh-huh," Pearl took another step, almost tripping on his feet. "But you know what's really annoying me?"
"What?"
"That I never knew you felt the same way!"
"Pearl, you're not...mad that I like her, are you?" Diamond asked tentatively.
"Of course not," he said sternly. "That'd be selfish of me. Its just that we're best friends, so I really should have seen it all along."
Diamond lowered his head, partly to watch his dancing, but mostly because he was thinking of how to respond. "Do you think..." he muttered. "She could like us, like, in that way?"
"Good question," Pearl remarked. "Sadly, I don't have an answer for it."
"How about we-"
"Float Floatzel!" The two men looked down at their side, seeing Pearl's Floatzel holding its foot and yelping angrily at Diamond's Munchlax. The former was scratching its head confusedly as the other couples turned to watch.
"Hey, cool it!" Pearl chided. "You two are making a scene!"
"Munch?" mumbled Lax, before attempting to do a spin around its partner. It lost control, however, and toppled over on top of Floatzel. Growling in frustration, the Water-type threw the heavier Pokémon off of itself and launched a Swift attack at its face.
"Floatler, stop!" Pearl pulled out its Pokéball, but before he could make a move, his Pokémon was chasing Lax across the room, trying to land another attack.
"Lax, don't-" Diamond started. But it was too late, as Lax starting knocking over various tables and vases in a frantic attempt to escape Floatler. The majority of the crowd moved away in fright, while some gave the two trainers glaring daggers.
"Trainers, please get control over your Pokémon!" Sayo cried.
"What the hell does it look like I'm doing?" Pearl yelled, running after his Pokémon. He tried desperately to recall Floatler back to its Pokéball, but couldn't aim, due its quick turns and twists. "No good! Dia, you got any bright ideas?"
He waited for an answer, but only heard the sound of another Pokéball. Pearl turned around to find Diamond's Torterra standing behind him.
"Dia-Mach-One-and-Only Razor Leaf!" Half-way through the order, Pearl ducked his head as a flash of green shot out of Tru's back. The lightning-fast leaf zipped right in between Floatler and Lax, causing them both to freeze from the sheer intensity of the move. The leaf then crashed into a large window, instantly shattering it. While everyone was momentarily stunned, Pearl took this time to recall Floatler to its Pokéball.
"Good job, Tru." Dia said, patting his Grass-type. "And Lax, that twirl needed a bit more balance."
"Um, Dia?"
"Yeah, Pearl?"
"I think we're in trouble."
Both men looked around, taking in all that had just occured. The entire room was in ruins, and there were shards of glass all over the floor. Everyone was glaring angrily at them, and the Kimono Sisters were walking up to them in contempt.
'Uh..." Diamond nervously pulled out two Pokéballs. "Its...Poké~~aayy?"
2 hours later...
"Thanks for cleaning up the mess, you two. Would you care for some lemonade?"
"Yes, please!" Zuki giggled as Pearl moaned in his chair, and headed off into the concession area.
"I think I may have dislocated my ass." Diamond grunted as he plopped himself on the table. He lifted up his head to find Pearl's Infernape carrying a heavy looking table over its shoulder. "Pearl, where does the table go?"
"Just put it next to that wall, Chimler." The Flame Pokémon nodded and set it carefully on its bottom. Fixing up the room had taken longer than Diamond and Pearl had expected, and Chimler was their only Pokémon dexterous enough to handle the delicate repairs. Needless to say, they were exhausted.
"Finally, we're done!" Pearl proclaimed.
"I can't feel my funny bone." Diamond chuckled.
"Dia, that joke is so freakin' old, man!" Pearl groaned, standing up to stretch his muscles. "You better not pull any of that during...CRAP!"
"What!" Dia shouted, jumping up in surprise.
"The contest!" screamed Pearl, looking at his Pokétch. "We're supposed to go on in...thirty minutes!"
"But its a forty-five minute walk back to the Ribbon Syndicate!" Pearl's face went pale, and without a second to spare, grabbed Diamond by the arm, and scrambled out the front door, with Chimler following close behind.
"Here you go boys! Fresh lemonade for all your hard...work?" Zuki looked around, finding the room completely empty, with no sign of the two Dex Holders. "Gee...I hope they remembered to take the rental cars they borrowed."
The audience in the theater room was getting excited, and their commotion was making it very difficult for Platinum to listen on her Pokétch via the Call application.
"Platinum, you you there?" Pearl's voice asked through the speaker.
"Pearl, where have you and Diamond gone?" Platinum whispered, not wanting the audience to hear. "The next act is about to begin, and your performance is to proceed right after!"
"We...kinda got held up. But don't worry! We're on our way back!"
"Please hurry; I may be unable to cover for you if you do not arrive on time." The young heiress hung up and sighed, with Chattler resting on her head.
"Hurry, Hurry!" it squawked worriedly.
"Do not fret, Chattler. I am sure that Diamond and Pearl will not let me down."
"What'd she say?"
"She says we're on right after the next act!"
"Aw, shoot!" Diamond stopped running, trying to catch his breath. "This...is...taking...too...long."
"Yeah," Pearl agreed, stopping as well. "We gotta find a short-cut, or some transportation, or something!"
They looked around, but seeing as they were on a fairly empty street at near dusk, they couldn't find anything that would be of use to them. Suddenly Diamond pointed to the left, at a collection of trees.
"How about that forest?" he inquired. "Maybe if we cut through it, it'll lead us to the Syndicate."
"Hold on, let me check." Reaching into his bag, Pearl whipped out a crumpled up Town Map and moved his eyes towards the Battle Zone area. "You're right! Judging by the map, it should could cut our time by about ten minutes or so."
"Sweet! We better get going then!"
"We are The Koffing! One, two, a-one, two, three, four!"
The band on stage played a heavy beat as the lead singer was jamming crazily on her guitar. "My, this Roxie character sure has a unique taste in musical composition, hmm?"
"Yes, she certainly does." answered Platinum, forcing a chuckle for the older woman. "Oh, Diamond...Pearl...where in heavens are you?"
"Seriously, Dia?" Pearl cried, looking behind him as he ran. "You really gotta set your priorites, man."
"Hey," he replied, stuffing his face with a RageCandyBar. "Ah' godd'ta ke'p ma sren'th up!"
"Well, you're gonna end up puking your guts out, so-DAMMIT!" Pearl's reply was cut short by a large root poking from the ground. With a painful cry, the blonde man dropped like a sack of bricks, his foot still caught in the root.
"Pearl!" Diamond rushed to his friend and carefully dislodged his foot from the root. "You, okay?"
"Yeah, I just-Gah!" he grunted, attempting to stand upright only to be caught in Diamond's arms. "Alright, I'm not okay. I think I sprained my ankle."
"We better get you to a hospital."
"The hell with the hospital! We gotta get back for the show!"
Diamond frowned, though Pearl couldn't see over his shoulder. "There's no way we'll make in time in this condition."
"Sure we can," Pearl retorted. "C'mon, Dia. We've faced Dialga and Palkia under the control of a madman. I think I handle an ankle sprain."
"...Alright. But I hope you don't expect me to carry you for a mile and a half."
"'Course not. Just-argh! Think of something different."
Looking around him, Diamond took note of all the trees before a smile grew on his face. "I have an idea."
With his free hand, he pulled out and activated a Pokéball, releasing his Lickilicky into the clearing. The large, pink Pokémon gave a grunt of concern, seeing his trainer and his best friend in a troubled state.
"Dia, what are you doing?"
"This." he replied, turning to his Pokémon. "Tung, I need you to give me and Pearl I ride back to the Ribbon Syndicate." Tung nodded, and turned its back to the humans, allowing Diamond to lift his injured friend and himself onto its shoulder.
"W-what's going on?" Pearl said, nervously.
"Let's go!"
Without a second to spare, Tung wrapped its elongated tongue around a nearby tree branch. Then, swinging like an acrobat, the Licking Pokémon threw itself over the branch in a circle, released its tongue, and wrapped it onto the next branch. It repeated the process and before long, the two Dex Holder's and their Pokémon were traveling at twice the speed they were orginally going.
"We're. Making. Great. Time!" Diamond cried, his voice udgulating with the spins. "And. It's. Fun. Right. Pearl?"
"AS IF!"
"Goodnight, Sinnoh!"
The audience lightly clapped as each of the band members took a bow. Done for the night, Roxie and her band gathered up their equipment and stepped off the platform. The announcer then took the stage and grabbed the microphone, ready to introduce the next performance.
"For our final act of the night, we have a very special treat for our audience. World-renowned as two of the infamous Pokédex Holders, they are also known locally for their manzai routine. So, without further ado, let's give a warm welcome for Sinnoh's own comedic duo, Diamond and Pearl!"
Another round of applause ensued, but slowly died down when nobody came up to the stage. The audience murmured amongst itself, concerned with why the two Dex Holders had not shown up.
"Where are your friends?" the same woman asked Platinum.
"That is precisely what I would like to know." she answered.
"Pearl. I. Can. See. The. Building. We're. Gonna. Make. It!"
"Thats. Great. So. Can. We. Stop. Now?"
"Sure. Tung. You. Can. Stop. Now." Diamond waited for his Pokémon to land on the ground, but when that didn't happen, he started to worry. "Tung?"
He looked at Tung's face, which appeared very disoriented, showing a complete lost of control. Unknowingly, the large Pokémon wrapped its tongue onto a streetlight and leaped twenty feet into the air.
"This. Is. Not. Good."
"Um, it appears that our final act is nowhere to be found." The audience grew restless, giving out words of disappointment and anger. Platinum shrunk in her seat in defeat as she heard the announcer.
"How could they do this? To them? To Me? Perhaps I should have known better than to become their manager."
"Well, I am sorry to say that this constitutes as a forfeit. As of right now, Diamond and Pearl are officially disqua-"
"INCOMING!"
Everyone turned to the screaming, which came from the right side of the building. The moment they did, a large formation of blue, orange, and pink came smashing through the window, sending glass everywhere. The entire room cried out in shock as the formation crash landed onto the stage, revealing two young men and a Pokémon.
"Diamond? Pearl?" Platinum exclaimed, rising to her feet.
"Hey, Plat..." Pearl answered groggily.
"Wassup?" asked Diamond.
"Ahem, it appears that our final performers have chosen to appear in a more...unorthodox manner," the announcer declared, straightening his tie. "Well, I for one am not one to deprive an audience of a well-deserved show. It is my pleasure to introduce...DIAMOND AND PEARL!"
The audience cheered with delight, as the two comedians stood up and waved. Pearl supported himself on Diamond's shoulder, both of which had their eyes directed at Platinum, who was cheering the loudest.
"Good evening, everyone! I'm Pearl!"
"And I'm Diamond!"
"And this is Tung!" they both finished. The pink Pokémon happily licked their faces, causing the audience to howl with laughter. Feigning annoyance, the two men wiped their faces and proceed with their routine."
"Speaking of Pokémon..."
"...Speaking of Pokémon,"
(Backstage)
"That was an amazing show, tonight." Platinum said, holding a check in her hands. "You two truly deserve this prize money."
"Yeah," Pearl agreed, carefully putting his foot in a bucket of ice. "Too bad we won't be able to use any of it."
"Why is that?"
"Well, if we subtract Pearl's expensive-ass meal, the broken window at the Sinnoh Dance Hall, and the broken window on this building, I believe we're left with...two dollars and thirteen cents."
Diamond chuckled when Pearl and Platinum gave him disbelieving looks. "I like math."
"You know, I'd be more than happy to pay that off myself." Platinum pointed out.
"Nah," Pearl argued, waving his hand dismissively. "We can't let you do that. What kind of clients would we be if we let our manager bail us out of our responsibilities?"
"I see," she said, before deciding to change the subject. "So...exactly what have you two been doing all day?"
The two comedians looked at each other and blushed, before Diamond spoke up. "Oh, uh, you know...guy stuff."
"And you? What did you and White talk about at lunch today?" Pearl asked.
Blushing just as her companions did, Platinum turned her face away. "Um, just...girl stuff, and whatnot."
She received confused looks from her friends, but before they could pry her with more questions, a young woman dressed in a punk-like outfit came through the door, carrying three envelopes.
"Evening, Roxie," greeted Platinum, thankful someone had interrupted them. "Your performance tonight was without a doubt spectacular."
"Thanks, girl," she said, dropping the small stack onto the coffee table. "Your boys here got some fan-mail, so I figured I'd drop by and deliver 'em."
"Gee, thanks, Roxie." said Diamond.
"Ain't no trouble at all." She turned and headed back out the door. "But you guys must have some pretty looney fans, though. These letters are like, hard as hell."
The whole room suddenly became silent, with all three Dex Holders looking at each other in anxiety. Pearl was the first to react, and snatched the envelope addressed to him, followed by Platinum and Diamond. They each tore open the seal, and pulled out what appeared to be a paper-thin sheet of steel, engraved with writing.
Platinum looked up in distress. "We must call Senior Crystal immediately."
To Be Continued...
...
...
...
NEXT TIME: Taking her first step into her house, Crystal yawned and headed for her living room, having every intention to fall asleep on the couch. Upon entering, she suddenly had the vague feeling that her home had been recently entered, but she was far too tired to look into it. When she flipped on the switch, every ounce of drowsiness instantly left her body, and she clutched her heart in pure terror.
"OH MY G-"