Pokemon Adventures: Where Legends Cross
Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon Adventures/Special.
Yet another test upcoming nexy month... gotta go my own way...
As I've said here we return to Black as he proceeds on his journey for the Pokemon League after obtaining the Light Stone. Assuming that I'm already pardoned for skipping his adventures at Relic Castle and onwards, let us advance!
Began writing on May 24th, 2011. Began drafting chapter 29, but... going's slow. I'm getting a bad feeling about this...
Chapter 14. Vs. Druddigon: Iron Mayor
- Opelucid City, Unova -
For the tenth time that day Black stared down at the small, pure-white stone held in his hands in wonder. After all the trouble he had to go through to retrieve it - at least forty grunts he battled himself without help from Cheren or Alder, and after that Sage Ryoku awaited with his Cryogonal -, the otherwise unremarkable object appeared almost holy. And in a way it was.
Reshiram's body sleeps here.
"Be careful when you have it out of your bag like that," warned Maroon quietly from beside him as they walked down the well-worn streets of Opelucid. "Beside the possibility of Team Plasma spies, people here are good with ancient lore in general. It wouldn't do us good to expose the Light Stone to the public."
"Right," agreed Black, quickly stuffing the sacred item inside his bag. "I'm glad you know the way around here, Master. Are we almost at the Gym?"
"It'll take about five minutes," said Maroon, smiling at his apprentice's obvious excitement. Here he was, the last challenge lying between him and the Pokemon League.
"But where is everybody?" Asked Black as he warily glanced around, noticing that even under broad daylight there were hardly any people on the streets.
Maroon paused in his walking upon hearing that, cocking his head around as if trying to hear something.
"I think they're all gathered in the town square over there," he said after awhile, pointing further down the street. "Apparantly, someone's making a speech. And I have a pretty good idea who it might be."
"So can I," Black groaned, remembering what had happened during the last speech he had heard. Nodding at each other in understanding, he raced away toward the source of the sound with Maroon way ahead of him.
Among the many things that he had never succeeded in beating his master, running was one of them.
- Opelucid Town Square -
It was just as Black had expected.
People were crowded in front of him and Maroon, most of them holding a Poke Ball in their hands and conflicted looks on their faces as they listened to the speech. Way ahead was a large outdoor stage, just like last time, complete with a small-but-exquisite podium where Sage Ghetsis stood, speaking with the same grace and passion he had demonstrated last time. But it seemed that, unlike back then, his words had gained more in confidence and power.
"That is correct!" He cried dramatically, sweeping his robed hand across the transfixed audience with zeal. "Our lord N has combined his power with the legendary Dragon-type Pokémon and intends to create a new world. We herald the return of the hero of Unova, founder of this region! Pokemon are different from people. They are living beings who contain unknown potential. They are beings whose greatness we should acknowledge! Beings who should be freed from our oppression! We, Team Plasma, invite you to join us!" (#1)
"Like they would know anything about it," muttered Black, an unfathomable rage beginning to boil inside him as he endured the hypocritic speech. Memories of all the atrocities Team Plasma had done under the banner of freedom passed through his brain; the thievery at Nacrene Museum, Bianca's stolen Litwick, the incident at the Cold Storage... The memory ended with N's pure and innocent expression as he stood face-to-face with Zekrom. However, in his mind he was surrounded by the rest of his subjects, whose own faces were twisted by greed and deceit. Before he knew it he was already closing his hand over Tula's Poke Ball as he took a step toward the podium.
"Wait," Maroon's quiet voice spoke urgently as his hand grasped Black's shoulder firmly, stopping him in his tracks. "Ten to one he knows you already. You can't reveal yourself here."
"So I'm supposed to endure that?" Asked Black glumly, glaring ahead at the rambling Sage. "If I had it my way I would've beaten the living crap out of him already."
"Trust me, Black." His mentor's voice suddenly became darker than night. "You don't want to know what would happen to him if I had it my way."
Turning around to look at his master in surprise, Black looked into Maroon's cloaked face to discover that his jaws were clenched tight, as if he would start gritting his teeth. His free hand was also balled into a fist, strong enough to shatter an Ultra Ball in its grasp. He was, for the first time since Black had known him, truly and utterly caught in a rage.
"Master - "
"CUT THIS RUBBISH AT ONCE!"
The angry bellow couldn't have been louder if Zekrom had roared it at the top of his lungs. Almost all the gathered people - Black and Maroon no exceptions - jumped in shock as the resonant (war)cry virtually echoed off the building walls.
"Mr. Mayor!" "You gave us a fright, sir!" "The Leader is here!"
"The Leader?" said Black, looking behind to notice a single figure marching into the crowd. He was a large man with a tough build, his whitening hair and beard (which covered half his face like a dragon's maw) failing to insult his bulging muscles. As he stalked intimidatingly towards the gathered people Black suppressed a shudder at the half-permanent scowl on his face - amplified further by genuine wrath - , despite having seen that face many times during his research for the Gym Leaders of Unova.
"How dare you!" Snarled Drayden as he pushed through the startled crowd until he stood almost directly under the podium, looking as if he'd leap up the stage and begin swinging his thick fists right there. "Spreading lies and discord among people for your own filthy greed! Did you expect me to endure the honey on your forked tongue if anyone else would?"
Ghetsis looking down at the fuming Gym Leader, for a moment almost betraying anger and comtempt on his face. Then his face quickly smoothed over again, but Black could still detect a faintest trace of venom in his voice.
"Peace, O' ignorant one," the Sage told Drayden as if he was telling off a misbehaving child. "Violence will do nothing to change the truth and the old history. Do you not know about the ancient lore? How disappointing..."
"Shut that snake trap!" Drayden roared in response. "Your twisted words are an insult to the ancient lore. If you're so bold to give that crap to my face you might as well as face me in battle now. Go, Druddigon!"
A Poke Ball strapped on his belt flared into life and revealed the massive Cave Pokemon, who leaped onto the stage and quickly swept away the interfering Team Plasma grunts with its tail. Ghetsis slowly looked up at the Druddigon as it stomped its way in front of him with a challenging roar.
"I have no obligation to answer to so barbaric a challenge," he replied with ice in his voice, turning away from Drayden and his Pokemon as if they were ragmen begging for money. "The future is about to change forever, and it is not in your place to challenge that."
"Don't you dare turn your back on me, coward!" The Dragon-type Gym Leader raged at the High Sage as he slowly walked away, the grunts following behind him. Upon hearing that, Ghetsis halted for a moment and glanced back at his angry challenger.
"If you are so eager to fight you are free to follow me," he said, a hideous smile flashing across his face for a short moment. "If you are willing to risk your life, that is."
His tone told Black that he meant those words.
Without waiting for a reply, Ghetsis and Team Plasma calmly walked away.
"Stop right there, you - !" Drayden bellowed as he took a step forward, but a firm hand latched onto his shoulder and causing him to turn around in annoyance. Black blinked in surprise to discover that while out of his notice, Maroon had slipped through the now-dispersing crowd onto the stage, approaching the gym leader from behind.
"Don't listen to his taunts, Mr. Mayor," Maroon's words were soft, but his expression was unchanged from when he was glaring at Ghetsis by Black's side. "Let the villian rave. His grin won't last when we're through with him."
The anger faded from Drayden's face as he studied Maroon's cloaked face curiously, making time for Black to rush up to stand below where the two men faced off.
"I know you," said Drayden finally, his eyes brightening in recognition. "You challenged me two years ago, didn't you? What was your name, Maroon?"
"That's right," replied Maroon, sounding like his normal, cheerful self again. "I'm surprised you still remember, sir. That was one hell of a match back then, wasn't it?"
"One of the best matches I've had in my life," laughed Drayden heartily, as if the brief shadow cast by Ghetsis and his words had already evaporated. "That was one battle I don't regret losing, lad. Well, so what brings you back in Opelucid now? Not for a rematch, I assume?"
"I'm afraid not, as a challenger's already waiting for you," Maroon chuckled as the two men leaped lightly down the stage to stand in front of Black. "Mr. Mayor, this is Black, my apprentice and one of the two Dex Holders of Unova."
"Honored to meet you, sir," said Black, raising his hand in greeting.
"Hm!" Exclaimed Drayden in surprise, taking his hand with a curious look. "Your apprentice, is he? Fancy that. So this is the lad that's about to challenge the King of Team Plasma, yes? The possessor of the Light Stone?"
"Yes, sir," Maroon replied for Black. "Assuming that the King brings Zekrom to the Pokemon League, that 's where he'll meet him in battle."
"My goal is to conquer the Pokemon League anyway," added Black, feeling that he should at least speak a little for himself.
"Is that so?" Now Drayden looked pleased as he spoke. Looking back at Maroon he commented: "He certainly talks like you, lad. I assume he fights like you too."
"He's better," said Maroon, at the same moment Black replied "No way."
"Hah! He even has your humility," laughed Drayden as he walked ahead with Maroon and Black following behind. "Well, my boy, it'll be most pleasing to be able to battle a fine lad like you, if I do say so myself. I'm starting to envy her a little."
"What do you mean?" Asked Black, looking up at the Gym Leader with a questioning look.
"I'll explain on the way," chuckled Drayden, leading on.
"So Boss' message reached here already?" Black asked in amazement. He had counted on the BW Agency's wide contacts, but he hadn't expected it to be so swift. I'll have to find a way to thank her someday, he thought to himself.
"Aye. White has already left Nimbasa," said Drayden as he led him and Maroon across the semi-busy streets of midday. "I was contacted a little while ago that the rest of the Gym Leaders are to arrive here soon, and I'll have to go and greet them. But your battle is required to be held urgently, isn't it?"
"I guess so," said Black as they approached the Opelucid Gym, an impressive building with two dragon-shaped statues, coiled together in harmony, roaring out from the roof. As he looked at the stone dragons Black became oddly sentimental; one of the two figures reminded him of Zekrom, brooding with the anticipation of meeting his sister in battle... whose legacy was sleeping with Black's backpack.
"Don't be agitated, lad," chuckled Drayden as they entered the building, nodding at the Gym Trainers as they made way for their leader. "Just as the Gym of Striaton City has three leaders to greet their challengers, this Gym also has two leaders, with me being one of them."
"Really?" Black asked in surprise. That wasn't what he found during his research last year.
"Aye, the other has only passed her test months ago." There was pride in Drayden's voice as he opened the door into the leader's chamber, allowing Black and his master to step inside. Upon entering Black's eyes immediately fell to a small figre waiting at the center of the platform, a little girl with dark skin and wild, bushy purple hair. There was a mischievous look in her mahogany eyes as she stood up to greet her visitors.
"Gramps!" She cried, happily skipping over to Drayden before taking a look at Maroon and a dumbfounded Black. "Great! Are you my challenger, Black? I knew you'd make it here someday!"
"Iris?" Black exclaimed in shock, nearly taking a step back the unexpected event. "What are you doing here? You're the Gym Leader of Opelucid?"
"What is this?" said Drayden, raising his eyebrows as he glanced at Black. "I didn't know you were accquainted to my granddaughter already, lad."
"You're her grandfather?" Black asked back, completely taken aback. "I - I didn't know. I met her in Castelia, when we helped my friend get back her Litwick from Team Plasma."
"Hm! Is that so?" remarked Drayden interestedly as he glanced at his old-fashioned pocket-watch. "Oops, looks like it's almost time. Well, Iris, I'm trusting this match to you. You'll be done by the time I'm back, yes?"
"Of course!" Iris cried gleefully, almost bouncing in excitement. "Leave Black to me, gramps! I'll give him a battle he won't forget!"
"Energetic, isn't she?" commented Maroon, who had been keeping quiet all along. Turning to Black he added: "Good luck to you, Black; I know you'll emerge victorious. I have to go now, to have a few words with the Gym Leaders. We'll be back before you're done, I'd assume. Fight well!"
"I will!" Black replied energetically, returning Maroon's thumbs-up with his own. However he was a little disappointed that his mentor wouldn't be able to see his Gym challenge; he could have shown him one hell of a match.
"Well, are you ready, Black?" Asked Iris cheekily as Drayden and Maroon exited the platform, leaving Black and Iris alone in the stadium. "You'd better not underestimate me! I can fight as well as Gramps, you know!"
"I'll be counting on that," said Black, grinning at the little girl's enthusiasm. While he didn't know the full extent of Iris's battling skills, he knew she'd be good, or she couldn't have become a Gym Leader at such a young age.
"Technically the battling rule for our Gym is a three-on-three match," explained Iris as the two young Trainers took their positions at each end of the platform. "But since I'm in a good mood today - and 'cause Gramps said you're really busy - I'll specially arrange a one-on-one combat for you, so bring out your best!"
"Look who's talking!" Black replied with a smile of anticipation, taking out the Poke Ball containing his strongest Pokemon. "I'm ready when you are, Iris!"
"I'm ready now," retorted the Gym Leader, throwing out a Poke Ball with a loud cry: "I choose you, Haxorus!"
With a great flash of light appeared the Axe Jaw Pokemon, who landed in front of Black with a loud thud and began shaking its axe-bladed tusks around menacingly.
"That's pretty impressive, eh?" Remarked Black admiringly as he flung out his own ball with a confident shout: "Let's go, Poka!"
A second flash revealed his trusty partner, now grown into a hulking Emboar, with his fists clenched tight in anticipation and his half-open jaw breathing smoke as he faced his opponent.
"Wow, he's grown!" Exclaimed Iris, sounding thrilled. "This is gonna be so much fun! Let's go, Black! Let's make this battle a stuff of history!"
"All right!" Black yelled in agreement, shooting out his arm in an attack command.
"Poke, let's do this!"
"Haxorus, charge!"
Oh. My. God. TEN REVIEWS AFTER WRITING ONE CHAPTER! *dies* This is so cool! I never thought... let's not talk about it. It spoils the joy! XD
On the other hand, on a sadder note, the typos. Oh, DAMN, THE GODDAMN TYPOS! *dies again* Pikachu127, so sorry about the Newleaf crap. I must've screwed up New Bark Town with Twinleaf Town. Ah, geez. I think the reason why I get so many typos is that, as Garaichu pointed out, I can't use a proofreader. In Korea we have our own word processor, so next to no computer I have access to has Micosoft Word installed at all. So I use the notepad to update documents, and write it out directly here. I'll, er, try to be extra careful in the future. Maybe I do need to slow down... :/
the Red King, yes, Gold's Pokemon have the suffix bo for their nicknames in English. I know, I still find Bakutaro a little more familiar than Exbo, but eh, I'll stick to the English version in here. Of course this doesn't count for Blue and Green... I just don't get why they had to swap names in the English version when Green's just Green in the games.
LyraXEthan, as you've seen, the badass is Ghetsis :) Though he appeared only for a short while. Which reminds me,
#1. Ghetsis's speech here is a direct transcipt - a little edited - from the games. Would you prefer if I sometimes use the game lines in the fic, or would you rather have me use my own words? I'd like to hear your opinion.
I didn't miss another footnote, did I? It'd be most embarassing if I made a slip on THAT.
Hm, so Black begins his eighth Gym battle! Oh, and I almost forgot again: beginning from this chapter I began to use the Gym-associated words in capitals, so take note of that, if you don't mind. Anyway, his match will drag onto chapter 17, so I indulge you to hold onto that. A slightly deeper delve into Maroon's character... hm, what do you think? And what do you think about Drayden? In the games he really talks like a gentleman, but I think the fierce hothead I've depicted suits his image better.
Wow, today the author's note is so long. Just one more! I don't know if Black will meet Iris in Castelia like he would in the games. I suppose not, but I'll just go along with the game storyline on this one and say he did. Makes things a little more fun to have them know each other already :)
Well, that's all. The next chapter we return to White, who hasn't been shown since Sage Gorm's ambush in chapter 10...
Beware Spoiler: They have a rescuer! Can you guess who it might be? XD R&R!
Writing completed on May 29th, 2011. This is Yowl of Time, out.