Pokemon Adventures: Where Legends Cross
Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon Adventures/Special.
Screw the test. Here I am again, typing away...
On this chapter we continue where we left off with White, Bianca and the epic Aerodactyl skyfall. And then, well...
Began writing... oh you know, right after I finished the fifth one. Still drafting chapter 23. I'm crawling here.
Chapter 6. Vs. Muk: And Ancient Bond
White watched, nearly paralyzed in fear, as the Aerodactyl shifted itself toward her on all fours until they were staring eye-to-eye. Slowly her fingers twitched toward the Poke Ball containing her Dewott, wondering why the creature looked so impatient when it wasn't even attacking them. It was as if it was waiting for them to make a move first... but why?
"White," Bianca's voice was unnaturally quiet, causing White to pause in her action and look back at her companion. "That Aerodactyl should be a rock-type, right?"
"I... I suppose so," White stammered, unsure of what she was implying.
"Well then, I should have a fair chance in a battle, shouldn't I?" Bianca replied with an uncertain smile, flinging a Poke Ball into the air and releasing her own Dewott. "Razor Shell!"
The Discipline Pokemon quickly raced at the Aerodactyl, its twin shells raised with a blue aura surrounding them, ready to cut down the enormous creature in its way.
This whole time the Aerodactyl was crouched on the ground on all fours like a bat, the claws on its wings set in front of it as if they were forelegs. As it noticed the Dewott leaping at it with its blades raised, it let out a growl of annoyance as the water-type attack came down upon its head.
"Bianca, don't!" White cried out, suddenly feeling that the creature knew what it was doing, that it had a good reason for not fearing the Dewott's attack. But she was, as she had expected, too late.
Quick as a flash, one wing came between the blade and the Fossil Pokemon's skull, the attack connecting to its bony arm harmlessly. Then, with a dismissive shake of its wing, it flung the Dewott straight into a nearby tree, effectively knocking the smaller Pokemon out cold.
It had just defeated an opponent with a type advantage, and it hadn't even lifted off the ground.
"Dewott!" Bianca cried out as she rushed over to her fallen Pokemon, but the Aerodactyl spared her no glance, its dark-green eyes only on White as if it was trying to tell her something.
Tell me something... thought White, frowning again in confusion. Not for the first time she wished that she possessed N's power, to be able to understand Pokemon better.
The Aerodactyl opened its jaws, but this time its growl was quieter and sounded inviting rather than intimidating. White's eyes widened in disbelief as the creature shifted its body sideways until she was facing its sides, its wide back leaning out towards her in an obvious gesture.
"You want me to ride on you?" The question itself was surprising enough without considering that she was the one who said it. And she could hear Bianca's undisguised gasp behind her as the Aerodactyl nodded, looking relieved to have finally conveyed the message.
After another moment of dumbfoundedness, White barely gathered herself together to say: "Um... then would you happen to know Nimbasa City?"
Again, to her surprise, the creature nodded its large head vigorously.
"You - you'll really take me there?" White again, unable to believe how things turned out to be; who wouldn't be shocked to find that an ancient, supposedly extinct Pokemon - not even native to Unova - would drop out of the sky to give her a ride when she most needed one?
For an answer the Aerodactyl crouched down lower to the ground, pushing its back closer to her.
Glancing back to meet Bianca's equally astonished expression, White turned back to look at the Aerodactyl's expectant expression. Totally lost on what to do, she took out her Dewott's Poke Ball and looked into it, asking her new partner as it looked back at her: "Should I?"
He nodded.
When in doubt of Pokemon, always trust her own. Black had taught her that.
"Okay," White nodded, giving her best friendly smile to the Aerodactyl, who growled back in satisfaction.
"Wait, waitwaitwaitwaitwait!" Bianca trilled, rushing in front of White utterly confused. "You're actually going to let it carry you on its back to who-knows-where?"
"Yes," White answered, trying not to giggle at Bianca's astounded face. "Don't get me wrong, Bianca. It's... just a feeling. I feel as if I can trust this Pokemon. He'll take me safely to Nimbasa. Won't you?" She asked - and yes, she was for some reason certain that it was a male.
The Aerodactyl nodded solemnly, making her smile again.
"Well... if you insist," said Bianca, smiling weakly despite her still-doubtful expression. "At least Swanna won't be as exhausted when we arrive in Nimbasa, right?"
"Um, actually," said White as she turned to face her, her face slightly reddened in embarassment. "If I can fly on my own, wouldn't it be better if we split up too? That way we'll be faster."
"You mean, I should head straight to Nuvema Town while you go to Nimbasa alone?" Bianca asked back, frowning in obvious worry again. "It'll certainly be more efficient... but will you be fine on your own?"
"I think Aerodactyl here can keep me pretty safe," said White, as Aerodactyl gave a huff to prove her point.
"You know, you're a little like Black when it comes to willpower," commented Bianca with a defeated sigh, shaking her head with a smile. Taking that as a compliment, While gave out a small giggle as she gingerly climbed onto the Fossil Pokemon's back; it was surprisingly smooth for a rock-type, in a way that she wouldn't feel a scratch even if she slid on its back (though, admittedly, her own skin was rather tough as well).
"Say hi to Elesa for me!" Bianca called out as she quickly released her Swanna again, watching Aerodactyl readily rearing onto his hind legs before giving out a mighty flap with his wings, carrying White six feet off the ground with a single swap.
"Safe journey!" White called back as her powerful mount quickly soared above the nearby trees before turning eastward and gliding away swifter than the wind. "Tell the Professor I said hi!"
Bianca was already too far away for her to hear her response.
- Route 7 (Unova) -
"Spinee, use Spider Web!" Crystal commanded confidently, a Poke Ball already twirling in one hand and the other busily scanning her upgraded PokeDex. Platina could only stand and watch in amazement as the older girl's Ariados quickily shot out a wad of think string out of its jaws, trapping the surprised Foongus in a tight web and rendering it immobile.
"Great job! Go, Poke Ball!" The ball left Crystal's hand, only to have her foot come out of nowhere and shoot it straight into the Mushroom Pokemon's face, capturing it instantly.
"Nicely done, Spinee!" said Crys as she pucked up the Poke Ball, patting the Ariados' head while turning back to Platina. "Well? How many have I caught so far?"
"Crys, you're - " Platina had to pause for a breath to remain clam - "You're amazing. Just this day you captured a Tranquil, an Emolga, an Audino, several Deerling, and now this Foongus. I had never imagined this possible!" (A/N: All the Pokemon mentioned are actually present in Route 7 in the games.)
"Capturing Pokemon is our famiily tradition," replied Crys somewhat sheepishly. "The only reason I got to become a Dex Holder is because everyone was so focused on their own journeys that they never got to finish their own PokeDex."
As soon as they arrived in Mistralton City, the two girls were immediately contacted by Professor Oak, who offered to modify their PokeDex so that it could encompass the Pokemon native to Unova as well. Three days had passed since then, and they were now passing through Route 7 in the direction of the Pokemon League, upon Platina's suggestion. Deep beneath, she supposed that advancing, rather than retreating back to Nuvema Town, would help her solve the mysteries of the dream.
"Boy, I hope we get to Iccirus soon," said Crystal as they resumed walking down the road, pointing at her bulky bag. "At this rate I'll be flattened by all the balls before we make it. I never thought everything would be so new in Unova."
"The feeling is mine," replied Platina with a soft smile. "Maybe we should have - "
"Platina, look out!" Crystal's alarmed cry came out just before several Deerling suddenly erupted out of the bush right behind Platina, causing her to leap back with a yelp as they raced past her, wailing and squealing in terror.
"What - ?" Her cry was muffled as two shapes burst out of the same place, trampling the entire bush under their rampage. In shock Platina easily recognized the large cobra-like Pokemon and the colossal glob of living sludge beside it, having seen both during her adventures through the Sinnoh Battle Frontier two years ago.
"Arbok! And Muk?" Crys exclaimed in disbelief, leaping in front of Platina to face the two poison-types, who had turned their attention from the fleeing Deerling to the two girls. "These can't be wild Pokemon. They're not supposed to even exist here in Unova!"
"But what kind of a Trainer would let their Pokemon do that?" Platina asked in horror as she pointed at the space behind the two Pokemon; the small area, along with an enrtire field beyond it, was completely covered in sludge or burning under acid, a site of utter and purposeless destruction.
"Platina, you'll be able to handle the Muk, right?" Crystal asked, taking out a Poke Ball from her belt. As if on cue the Arbok coiled up in response, ready to strike at the older girl.
"I'll do my best," Platina promised her, readying a ball of her own as the Muk let out a challenging bellow, preparing to charge.
"Go, Bonee!"
"Come out, Lampent!"
The Muk chose that moment to rush forward, and Platina quickly focused on her new opponent as her new Lamp Pokemon - which Crystal helped her capture inside Celestic Tower - swiftly dodged the Sludge Pokemon's Poison Jab.
At a glance Platina could see that she could win this - the creature was attacking with no strategy at all, just swinging its thick arms madly like a blind Vigoroth would. And even then the Muk was notably slow, its movements clearly predictable. She shouldn't have too much difficulty with this.
"Lampent, use Will-o-Wisp!" She ordered at her newest member, who was hovering above the Muk's arm reach as if flailed around senselessly. The Lamp Pokemon complied immediately, throwing an orb of bright blue flame at the disgusting Pokemon's head. The burnt Muk howled in pain, rearing back staggering as Lampent quickly readied a Hex attack.
"Bonee, finish off with Bone Club!" Crystal's sure command, followed by a solid THWACK and a collapsing noise, prompted Platina to spare a glance at the senior Dex Holder. To her surprise she was already done, busily inspecting the fallen Arbok with her stalwart Marowak standing beside her fully on guard.
"Lampent, let's get this finished too!" Platina cried quickly, not wanting to be outdone. The Lamp Pokemon nodded in agreement as the Muk came charging again. Swiftly dodging a Sludge Bomb as it soared up above the Sludge Pokemon's head, Lampent quickly landed a rapid burst of Shadow Ball on its head, easily knocking it out.
"Done already?" Crystal asked as she came over to Platina's side with an impressed smile.
"It was... nothing," she answered modestly. "I've fought stronger opponents. Are you sure they're not wild?"
"You have no idea how ill-trained Pokemon can be if they meet a wrong master," said Crys, her tone suddenly gaining a far darker quality. Looking at the older Dex Holder in surprise, Platina noticed a faraway look in her eyes, as if the short battle broght her back unpleasant memories.
"Aww, surely you ain't talking 'bout us, eh, little Missy?"
A lazy, drawling voice had both girls whirl around in shock, staring at the woods surrounding the road in wariness.
"Who's there?" Crystal exclaimed boldly as she stood back-to-back with Platina, their Pokemon right beside them and with undisguised fury in her voice. "Show yourself, instead of hiding under those leaves like a coward you are!"
"Gah, there you go again!" Remarked the voice again, this time sounding ticked off. Turning her head Platina saw someone - the one who had been speaking - slowly trudge out from the trees at Crystal's side. It was a man, she noticed, though his entirely-black attire - complete with a hat, boots, gloves and even bandana over the eye - made it hard to see his features clearly. There was a large red 'R' printed on his shirt, oddly reminding Platina of Team Galactic. The sneering expression on his face made her strangely want to hit him.
"Team Rocket!" Crystal hissed with such venom in her voice that Platina almost jumped in shock. "I should've known. You guys never learn, do you?"
"Crys, do you know this man?" Platina asked her in astonishment, but soon realized that she asked the wrong question; it was an entire horde of men, similarly dressed in black uniforms, that began crowding out from the woods until they completely surrounded the two Trainers in a thick wall of black.
"Team Rocket," nodded Crys, looking strangely unafraid; if anything, she looked as if she'd dive into them with clenched fists. "They're a bunch of thieving criminals from Kanto. They've been wiped out about three times so far, but they just keep coming back."
"Oho!" Exclaimed the spokes-grunt theatrically, inducing a tremor of unpleasant laugher from his comrades. "You got that right 'bout us, missy. We'll keep coming back. As long as our Boss is here to call upon us!"
"Your... Boss?" Noticing a change in Crystal's tone, Platina looked back again to see that the older girl's expression had changed from simmering anger into downright shock within a moment. "But... but he vanished four years ago! After being defeated he - "
"And you thought I'd disappear forever like that, never to appear again in your wildest dreams?" A cold, mocking voice drifted down from the road they had just walked through, causing both Trainers to look to where it came from. The Team Rocket grunts standing there quickly parted ways and saluted to a man who came walking through. He was a tall lean figure, well-dressed in a black suit and his brown hair short and smoothed. The barely-visible wrinkles on his face suggested that he was around in his mid forties. However, Platina didn't fail to miss the red R on the corner of his suit, nor the cruel, sadistic grin on his face. All in all, he reminded Platina of Cyrus for awhile, if more subtle.
This was a dangerous man.
"Giovanni..." whispered Crys, apparantly unable to mask her horror.
An evil smile climbed up Giovanni's face as he looked round at his minions. "You know what to do." His voice showed no mercy as he spoke.
"Aye, Boss!" The grunts chorused in unison, all of them taking our their Poke Balls simultaneously.
"Platina," Crystal's voice was low and urgent as she spoke. "Can you hold your own against all these grunts?"
"I can try," Platina whispered back uncertainly. "What do you plan on doing?"
"Fight that man," said Crys, her serious expression a stark contrast to her usual face; frankly the difference was rather baffling. "I have to. He's my friend's... never mind. Try to open a way so that we can escape. I'll take on Giovanni."
"Are you going to be okay?" Platina asked the older Dex Holder in shock, even as she took out three Poke Balls from her bag. It took only a glance at the Team Rocket Boss to know that this man was no weaker than Cyrus himself, perhaps even stronger. And as far as she knew of Crys, capturing, not battling, was her style...
"I'll have to. Bonee!" Crys spoke hurriedly, as Giovanni slowly took out a Poke Ball out of his belt, that dark smile lingering on his face. "Help Platina fight the grunts. Go, Monlee!"
As the Marowak reluctantly left her side to join Platina and Lampent, a white flash leaped straight out of her large bag, landing in front of her to reveal a lean-looking Hitmonchan, who pumped his fists energetically as he glared at his grinning opponent.
"Crush it, Weezing." Giovanni spoke as he held up the Poke Ball in his hand, which opened up to reveal the noxious Poison Gas Pokemon, its mouth(s) agape to let out its disgusting fume as it leered down at Monlee.
"Ready, Platina?" Crystal asked as s he quickly looked back at Platina, a fierce look in her clear blue eyes.
That determinerd look gave her the strength to say the right answer.
"Yes!" She cried, throwing her three Poke Balls into the air at the same time the grunts all released their Pokemon, mostly consisting of Golbat and Houndour. Good.
"Empoleon, Rapidash, Lopunny!" Platina called out to her three earliest team members as they materialized next to her, Lampent and Bonee, ready to face the wall of their newest threat without fear or hesitation.
"Let's go!" The two girls yelled at the same time Giovanni commanded his Weezing forward with a dismissive wave.
Their Pokemon charged.
Wait, wait! Before you start stoning me I need to say this. Yes, I know what kind of a person Giovanni was, how much he had loved his son and how he was near death from his disease, and YES, I know the Giovanni I've just portrayed here is a major OOC. And YES, I know he doesn't own a Weezing! So why did I write down this crap? Because I need it for future chapters, of course! Please understand this one thing, all ye Giovanni fans (if there are any) or fans of the manga in general. Giovanni, at least for now, is OOC. He is acting like this for a reason. Do I get to live now?
While I await my judgement, a happier news. I finished this one on April 30th, 2011. You know what this day is. YES, Crystal's birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CRYSTAL! To tell you the truth, I finished Chapter 5 almost a week ago. But delayed posting it because I thought I wouldn't get to finish this one before today. So now, I'm proud to be able to post both chapters on this happy day. And what's more, Crys had an appearance in this chapter. Once again, happy birthday, Crys! May I be able to enjoy this sort of momentous day again!
And yeah, a couple more new faces. Crystal's Ariados (Spinee), Bonee having evoled into Marowak, Platina's new Lampent. Just thought I'd double check.
Writing completed on April 30, 2011. This is Yowl of Time, out.