The Platinum Adventure
Disclaimer: I do not own any Nintendo franchise.
Kenshin: Welcome now everyone. In this chapter Lucas starts to train with his Pokemon to prepare for upcoming encounters with Team Galactic and Cyrus.
Yusei: He also starts to grasp aura in some way, and will need it in some sort of way. He'll then tackle the gym and go on to the lakes.
Kenshin: Afterwards he'll proba-Ah damn!
Yusei: What?
Kenshin: Someone figured out what manga Riley quoted from. It was Rave, or Groove Adventure Rave or Rave Master as some like to call it. Anyway, the story was from Volume 29, where Haru battles against Shiba. I didn't think anyone still read that.
Yusei: Well that's not very nice; TCM based his name and both of us off of Rave. It's his absolute favorite manga, even more than D. Gray Man or One Piece. But anyway, on with the show!
Journal Entry 8: The Galactic Tactic
"Blitz, use Thunderbolt!" Lucas shouts so his Luxray would comply. His Pokemon releases electricity all around its body, but is unable to collect it into a single point and shoot it. Lucas walks up to Luxray and says to it, "Luxray, don't worry. You'll get the hang of it sooner or later."
He then turns to face his other Pokemon still training against each other: Infernape, Floatzel, Gabite, Staravia, and Tropius. Each of them is battling against Riley's Lucario while he taught his Luxray a new move. Riley watches from a higher boulder as his Aura Pokemon dodges and moves past all of Lucas' Pokemon's attacks.
Both him and Lucas are currently at Iron Island, a day after resting away in the hospital. Indeed Lucas' team was growing better with each passing minute, but would it be enough to surpass the Canalave gym?
Cheryl watches them beside Riley, sitting down with Togepi in her arms. "It looks like he's having fun."
"Yeah. He does seem like a person who enjoys being with Pokemon." Riley says in response to her. "So, when did you two meet?"
"I met him walking through Eterna Forest. I was hiding from Team Galactic in a tree, and he helped me get down. We've been friends ever since we left that forest." Cheryl says to him, remembering the first time she saw him. "After he defeated my sister Gardenia in a gym battle I asked to join him on his journey, and here I am."
"So was it before you two left the forest or after that you began to fall in love with him?" Riley asks her, causing the girl to gasp and look at him.
"How did you-
"Did you think I wouldn't realize it? Your eyes were the same as hers when I saw you looking at him." Riley replies with a smile. Cheryl looks to the ground in defeat.
"It's that obvious?" She asks him. He nods to show his agreement and they go back to watching Lucas interact and train his team.
"Would it make you feel any better if I told you how he feels about you?" The blue trainer asks her.
"No way! If I want to know of Lucas' feelings for me I want them from his own mouth, not someone else's." She states firmly. Togepi squeals.
"Okay then…just try not to act too lovey-dovey eyed all the time." He says to her while watching Infernape use Flamethrower at Lucario. The attack breaches through the dog's Force Palm, and finally touches Lucario. It comes out okay in the end. Riley then rises up and walks towards Lucas and the Pokemon. "Lucas, that's good enough."
"What is?" He asks him.
"You're ready to tackle the gym." Riley says, bringing a smile on the young boy's face. Lucas returns all his Pokemon to their balls and heads up to join Riley. He reclaims Lucario inside its ball. Riley digs into his bag, one neither Cheryl nor Lucas seem to have noticed until just now, and pulls out a dark blue egg.
"What's that?" Lucas asks as he and Cheryl stare at the object. Of course they knew it was an egg, but what he really wanted to know is what Pokemon is inside.
"It's a Pokemon egg, one I want you to have. I feel you'll be very happy with it." Riley says as he hands it to him.
"Wow, thanks! What's inside?" Lucas asks him, taking the egg with both hands.
"Well I can't just tell you. There would be no fun in that." Riley replies with a grin, as the aura trainer zips up his bag.
"Well, I better get on to the gym. Will there be a weird puzzle for me to solve?" He asks Riley.
"Of course." He replies, causing Lucas to give out an annoyed grunt. Riley, Lucas and Cheryl head back to the cruise ship that brought them to Iron Island, and they each ride back to Canalave City.
--
"Thanks for helping with my training. Would you like to join us on our journey?" Lucas asks Riley, as the three trainers stop in front of the gym.
"Hmm. I might, after all you two may need help in this battle against Team Galactic." Riley says to him, bringing Lucas to pout. He wanted him to come as a friend, not a guardian. "Why not? I'll meet up with you two at the Pokemon Center."
"Sure!" Lucas says. Him and Cheryl head inside the building while Riley heads for the center.
Inside Lucas could see that the entire gym has a lot of elevators around. He could only guess that this was the puzzle Riley mentioned. Cheryl steps inside and sees a large cage area. Inside of it is a man with bushy mahogany hair.
"I guess I have to go there." Lucas heads forward to the first elevator and take it, as Cheryl walks over to the cage. From above Lucas says to her, "I'll wait for you when I'm finished."
"Okay. Good luck Lucas!" She calls out to him, waiting at the outside of the cage.
Lucas heads to another elevator and takes it down, and continues to the next. This keeps going on until he is back at the very top next to a red one. He enters inside it and rides all the way down to the cage, where the gym leader resides. The elevator heads back up.
"Hi. I'm Lucas of Twinleaf, and I request a battle with you." He says to the man, whom he can only assume is Byron.
"Show me your badges." He orders the cap wearing teen. Lucas reaches in his jacket and pulls out a case with his badges inside. He then opens them and shows all five to him. Byron smiles when he sees the Coal Badge. "Ah, so you defeated Oreburgh gym. But that's no surprise, since my son has so much to learn."
"So he really is your son?" Lucas asks him, confirming what Riley told him back in Iron Island.
"In place of my son I, Byron the Man with The Steel Body, will take your challenge!" He shouts out, announcing his Gym Leader Title. He takes out a Pokemon and releases a Magneton. "This will be a three on three fight; best 2/3 wins."
"Let's do it! Go, Gabriel!" Lucas sends out his Dragon/Ground type. Against an Electric/Steel type this first battle will be a synch. "Gabriel, use Dragon Claw!"
Gabite lunges at Magneton to deliver a swipe at it with its weird shaped claws, but his opponent levitates high up and dodges. Byron then says, "Magneton, Thunder Wave!"
Magneton releases a magnetic wave at Gabite, who remains unaffected by it. Lucas smiles saying, "Gabite is part Earth, so no electric attacks can affect it. Being part dragon makes him a clear winner against your Pokemon."
"Is that what you think?" Byron mutters with a smirk.
Magneton circles around Gabite, which is unable to keep track over it. "Flash Cannon!"
The three magnets spiral together and collect light in between them, and fire it in the form of a beam at Gabite. Lucas tenses up when he sees the attack coming straight for him. "Dig underground!"
Acting quickly, Gabite burrows under the earth, in this case the gym floor. The Flash Cannon develops a crater where Gabite dug under, but thank goodness for Lucas it got away in time. Our diamond protagonist throws his hands up to block his eyes from the dust kicked up from the blast.
"Good luck, Lucas, Gabite!" Cheryl calls from behind the cage walls.
Gabite bursts up from the ground and slams into Magneton, sending it high up and crashing into the cage ceiling. "Finish it off with Dragon Claw!"
"Tri-Attack!" Gabite lands and leaps back up at the Pokemon, whose three individual sections each glow brightly. They each fire a triangular beam at Gabite, who fights back with its claws. The attack is too strong to overcome and Gabriel crashes back.
"Gabriel, don't give up! You can do it!" Lucas cheers, and Cheryl joins in from behind him. With their support Gabite rises back up. "All right! Now, use Dragon Rage!"
Gabite opens its mouth a fires a ball of dragonic energy at Magneton, which dodges. But it was unaware of the second one coming straight at it. Magneton falls to the floor unconscious, leaving Gabite the winner. Lucas throws his fists up triumphantly. "Yes!"
"Don't get too confident. This battle isn't over yet." Byron says as he returns Magneton to its ball. He then takes out another Pokeball and throws it, shouting, "Get in there, Steelix!"
His next pokemon is the Steel/Ground snake Steelix, the evolved form of an Onix. Lucas gasps whoa as he looks up at it, this being his first time seeing one up close. But now Gabriel was still tired from his last battle, so he returns it to its ball. Lucas then sends out Floatzel. Its water abilities will be useful against this ground type.
"Floatzel, use Aqua Jet!" Floatzel covers itself in water and fires itself at Steelix. It takes the hit full on, but doesn't fall back or feels any significant pain. "Huh?"
"It won't matter what type you use against my Pokemon. Your physical attacks won't dent my sturdy men!" Byron then makes a weird, almost psychotic, laugh and glares at Lucas with a smile. "Flash Cannon!"
Steelix fires a beam of collected light from its mouth at Floatzel, which stares up at the incoming attack. Lucas instructs it with, "Geyser, use Agility!"
The water weasel leaps high up into the air and dodges the beam, and its tails glow brightly. "Iron Tail!"
"Iron Tail!" Byron shouts back.
Both Pokemon strike each other with glowing tails, but Steelix overcomes Floatzel and sends it flying up into the ceiling. Steelix then fires a Flash Cannon on Byron's orders. The cannon blast hits Floatzel critically, and the water weasel breaks through the ceiling outside of the cage.
"Geyser!" Lucas calls out worried for his Pokemon.
His Pokemon falls to the ground and faints, inciting his defeat. Lucas grits his teeth at his speedy defeat. Lucas then returns his defeated Pokemon inside the ball. "That's the first time Floatzel lost to a Ground type."
"You shouldn't emphasize so much on type. I remember a trainer who had a Pikachu defeat a Geodude without breaking a sweat." Byron says to Lucas, who turns around to face him.
"I guess the only thing I can do now is use Natsu. He'll be fine." Lucas sends out Infernape out to the field. Byron returns Steelix, since he wouldn't do well in the third battle.
"A fire type eh? Well that would be a great idea against a Steel type trainer, but," Byron throws his last Pokeball to the field, releasing Bastiodon. The appearance of this Steel/Rock type shakes the ground itself. "This isn't just any Steel type. Trideps here is part rock, bringing forth an immunity to your fire abilities."
"Natsu is stronger than he looks. Flamethrower!" Infernape opens its mouth and releases a stream of fire, which completely covers the steel dinosaur.
"Metal Burst!" Trideps releases shards of metal from its body, which knocks away the flames and pierce into Infernape. The fire ape falls backwards from feeling the attack, picking out major shards stuck in its body. Lucas was about to make an order when he sees sharp rocks collecting above Infernape. "Stone Edge."
"Vacuum Wave!" Natsu quickly throws a punch up in the air at the rocks, knocking them away without even touching them. Lucas smirks at his Pokemon's newfound power. "Good job!"
"You still haven't won this battle. Ancient Power!" Giant rocks rise up from the ground and fly after Infernape.
"Vacuum Wave!" Infernape copies its early move and destroys the boulders. It was unaware of Bastiodon charging after it.
Natsu grabs hold of the shield-head and tries to lift it onto its back, but the Pokemon was too heavy weighing at 329.8 lbs. Byron sees this and laughs. "Ha! Like you can just pick up Trideps and make him useless! You'll only end up tired and vulnerable later on."
"Oh really? Natsu, keep it up!! Flame Wheel!" Lucas cheers, as Infernape covers itself with fire. The added flames increase the fire monkey's strength, as it slowly begins to lift up Bastiodon. Infernape finally is able to turn Bastiodon onto its side, causing the ground to shake due to its immense weight.
No way! Trideps!" Byron could not believe that his Pokemon could get turned over by a flaming monkey.
"Finish him off with Flamethrower!" Infernape heads to its underbelly, and releases a stream of flame at it. Due to this being its weak spot the fire attack promotes a critical hit.
Trideps faints from the attack, and Cheryl shouts out, "Lucas won!"
"My sturdy Pokemon…defeated…" Byron says, returning his Pokemon back into its ball.
"Good job Infernape. You deserve a nice rest." Lucas says as he reclaims his Pokemon.
"Amazing…you was strong enough to take down my prized team of Pokemon. In recognition of your power, I permit you this Mine Badge." Byron walks over to Lucas and takes out the Mine Badge, handing it over to him.
Lucas gladly takes the badge, and laughs happily as he shows it to Cheryl. She smiles back at him. Byron then says, "I'm amazed by this new generation of trainers; at least I know now that Roark didn't lose to a straggler. But I'm not ready to pass over my torch yet. I'll continue my training on Iron Island."
"Yeah, why not…so how do I get out?" Lucas asks him.
Byron points to a second red elevator that was behind him. "You can take that one."
'How long was that there?' Lucas rushes over to the thing and takes it up. He follows the path all the way to an elevator, which take him to the exit. As he descends to it Cheryl follows him from below.
The two friends meet up with one another, and she gives him a hug. "You did great!"
"Thanks for the support." He replies. The two then release from one another and exit the gym together.
As they do they come before Paul, who snickers when he sees Lucas. "So you managed to get the badge?"
"Yup." Lucas holds up the Mine Badge. "So what brings you here?"
"I'm here to pick up you and your friend for the Professor." He says as he points over to the library.
"He's there? I wonder what he wants?" Lucas asks himself interested.
"Let's go see him!" Cheryl says with a smile. She has always wanted to meet with the guy who gave Lucas his first Pokemon.
--
"I brought them here, just like you said professor." Paul says as him, Cheryl and Lucas stand before a table at the top floor of the library.
Sitting before them at a round table is Professor Rowan and Dawn. Lucas sits down first next to Dawn. Cheryl sits next to him. "It's nice to see you again Lucas. I assume you're this Cheryl I was told about."
"Uh huh. It's nice to meet you for the first time." Cheryl says being as polite as she could. Of course being with an old man with good posture that wasn't hard.
"Alright, I'm out of here." Paul heads towards the stair, but stops when he sees Rowan staring at him. "What? I did my job; I brought Lucas here!"
"This requires your help as well." He says to Pearl.
"Oh fine!" He gives up eventually and sits down between Cheryl and Rowan.
"Alright then, now that everyone is here I can begin. As you all know I study Pokemon evolution." Rowan rises up from his seat, and walks to the window behind him to look out it. "And as I continued my research, I've come to realize that Pokemon that evolve release a sort of energy."
All four teens stay in their seats quietly and listen to him. Rowan then says, "Then I asked myself, why do only some Pokemon evolve and others don't? Why do some have more than two forms? And why can some old Pokemon evolve into different forms outside of their normal ones? Do they become mature when they evolve?"
"Wow. That's pretty deep." Cheryl whispers to herself.
"Well with that logic, you make it sound like the Legendary Pokemon are the most mature beings in the world." Dawn says to him.
"That's the theory…to answer these questions," He turns around to face Lucas and the others. "I shall require your assistance in studying the Lake Guardians, if you may spare the time."
"Sure, why not? I guess a little side trip won't get in the way of the last two badges." Lucas says.
"You know I'll help you Professor." Dawn adds.
"I have no intentions of going anywhere without Lucas, so I guess I'm in." Cheryl states.
"Mah, whatever. Even though I'm not a part of your Pokedex group, me and Lucas were planning to catch one of them as a thank you that day you gave us Pokemon." Paul says while extorting a cool disposition.
"The only reason you don't have one is because you ran out before I could give you one." Rowan says to the blond.
"And here I thought you forgot about our thank you to him." Lucas says, referring what Paul last said.
"Shut up! So what if I forgot? You did too!" Paul says as he slams his hands on the table and stare at Lucas.
"I didn't forget; but not only did we not have any Pokeballs to catch them but we were rather inexperienced to catch Pokemon that have been around longer than we have." Lucas explains to his friend.
"What's that? Are you saying I'm a loser?" Paul rises up from his seat and looks down at Lucas.
"Now hold on! I never said that!" Lucas argues back.
"Now calm down, you two." Cheryl says, standing up to push both of them back from each other.
"Fighting is not going to do anything for your friendship." Dawn says while standing between Lucas and Cheryl.
"Now if you two can calm down…" Rowan says while looking at both of them.
Lucas quickly releases his anger, and Paul follows afterwards. Rowan then continues with, "Good. Dawn and I shall go to Lake Verity. Lake Acuity shall fall to Paul. It's all the way up to Snowpoint, held before a long and hard road."
'Heh heh! Long and hard.' "That's right! You need a real tough trainer to go there right?" Paul says and thinks as he tightens his fist.
"So I have to head for Lake Valor?" Lucas asks the professor.
Rowan nods. "Yes. I believe it could 'be somewhere' between Veilstone and Pastoria. You and your friend can-"
Suddenly there was a large explosion somewhere in Sinnoh, causing a powerful earthquake, which shakes up even the library. Lucas and the others fall down in the process. Our diamond protagonist falls on his back, and Dawn plops over top of him. Paul and Cheryl crash as well, but she quickly got back up due to the chair she had. The earthquake stops.
Rowan quickly pulls himself together and rises up. "Is everyone alright?"
"Lucas, are you okay?" Dawn asks him, blushing as he helps her up.
"Yeah, I'm fine. And you?" He asks her, not noticing Cheryl at the time.
"I'm okay…but I feel something piercing into my back." Dawn then turns around to see what was on her, and notices Cheryl glaring evilly at her.
"Ah, Cheryl! Are you okay?" Not at all noticing the hateful glare Cheryl gave Dawn, Lucas rushes to her side and sticks his hand out to her.
Cheryl almost immediately gets over her jealousy and is filled with a great warmness. She blushes as she accepts his help, while Paul goes to the television and turns it on. "Let's see what's going on."
Paul finally gets to a channel, which shows that one of the lakes have been bombed. A reporter then says, "This just in, an explosion happens at Lake Valor. All the water has been blown away. Luckily we had a reporter nearby to catch this."
Someone then pops up and says, "I was the guy who filmed the Red Gyaradous!"
"We don't know the cause but we will keep you updated." She says and then Paul turns off the set.
"Looks like Team Galactic's making their move!" Lucas says as he heads down the stairs.
"Lucas, wait up!" Cheryl says as she heads after him.
Lucas reaches the outside and looks around. It would seem as if nothing has changed since. Cheryl catches up. She then says to him, "Let's tell Riley we're heading off first."
"Oh right. I almost forgot. He's at the center right?" Lucas asks her.
"Mm. Let's go." Cheryl heads off to the Pokemon center with Lucas following her behind.
"Guess it's time for me to shine!" Paul shouts as he jets off to the exit of the city.
"Lucas, good luck." Dawn whispers to herself as she watches all three of them leave. She then follows Rowan to the city exit. Since they were closer to Lake Verity running wasn't that necessary.
--
"And that's the problem!" Lucas says to Riley as he finishes explaining to him what had just happened.
"So that's what that was…well I'm all packed up. Let's get moving!" Riley says as he rises up from his seat and grabs his Pokeballs.
The two stop outside where Cheryl waits for them. Lucas takes out a Pokeball, and shouts, "Go, Tropius!"
"Go, Salamence!" Riley and Lucas send out Tropius and Salamence, two flying types that can support more than one trainer.
Lucas notices this and smiles. "Wow! That's an awesome Pokemon!"
"Now's not the time to be impressed. Let's go." Riley says while boarding his dragon. Lucas and Cheryl get on top of Tropius and together they take off.
In the air Tropius tries its best to move fast, but Salamence easily surpasses it in speed. Cheryl is amazed by this as well as Lucas. "Wow. He really makes your Pokemon look like starters."
"Ow, that really hurts Cheryl." Lucas says to her.
"I'm sorry. You know I'm just joking." She replies lightly pulling on his cheek.
"Let go!"
"No!"
--
The two Pokemon finally land before the lake. Riley, Lucas and Cheryl dismount and return their Pokemon inside. Lucas heads inside first, passing by Riley. "Lucas, wait!"
"What's wrong?" Lucas stops himself from entering to hear Riley.
"You can't just walk up and expect to beat every member of Galactic by yourself. These guys are a lot more dangerous than the other criminal organizations." Riley explains to him.
"Other?"
"They won't lie around for some kid to just walk up to them and honestly beat them in battle. They will make sure we don't interfere with them again; remember that incident at Iron Island?" At this Lucas looks down in depression.
"He's right. You have to be more careful around them. Besides, you haven't healed your Pokemon from Canalave gym." Cheryl says as a reminder.
"Oh right. I forgot." Lucas then realizes that they were right.
"Don't worry; this is exactly the reason why I told you to let your friends share your weight." Riley says as he takes out a second Pokeball. He releases it and out pops Lucario.
"Let's get them! Go Noctowl!" Cheryl sends out her Noctowl.
"You guys are right. Let's do it!" Lucas takes out his own ball and releases Staravia.
The three trainers head inside of the Lake. What they see bring them to gasp; the entire lake has dried up. Any form of water still around exists in puddles. Flopping around are Magikarp. Some grunts of Team Galactic are still around and would eventually get in their way.
"What happened?" Lucas asks no one in particular. He does that sometimes.
"So where're the other ones?" A grunt asks another one.
"Well one's near that city covered in snow and the other's by some hick town called Twinleaf." He replies.
"Hick town?!" Lucas grows enraged when his hometown is ridiculed by some loser grunt.
"Let's take them out." Cheryl sends her Noctowl out at them, releasing an Air Slash at them. They easily get blown back. "Lucas, go see if the Lake Pokemon is okay!"
"Okay! Be careful!" He says to her. As she dealt with the grunts who insulted Lucas' home Lucas and Riley head down the dried up road to the cave entrance.
More grunts show up to blockade them, but with Lucario and Staravia they could easily get past them. They eventually enter the cave, and see a Galactic member that has blue hair with his back facing them. He soon notices their presence and turns around to face them.
"What do we have here? You must be the child that defeated Jupiter and Mars in battle. I can understand that weakling Mars, but Jupiter knows better than to lose to lose to a kid." He says to them.
"I'm not a child! I'm 12 years old, 13 in a month." Lucas says as he counts in mid air.
"Who are you, and where's the Lake Guardian?" Riley asks him.
"You must be Riley the Aura Guardian. I've heard many tales of your exploits." He says to him, walking closer while stepping on puddles. "My name is Saturn, lieutenant of Team Galactic. The Pokemon you're looking for is gone; taken to our headquarters. I believe Mars should be wrapping things up at Verity."
"Damn. That means Dawn and the Professor are in trouble. We have to go!" Lucas states as he rushes out the exit. Before he could though a Toxicroak appears from above and jabs him in the stomach, knocking him back in the cave.
"Before you do though I wish to test your strength against mine. I wish to see the strength both Mars and Jupiter lost to. Poison Jab!" On Saturn's orders Toxicroak's right hand glows purple as it leaps at Lucas.
Staravia swoops in and blocks it with a Wing Attack, saving Lucas' life. Lucas rises up quickly and backs away. "Zephyris, thank you! Hit 'him with Quick Attack!"
Staravia disappears in a flash and comes up from behind to strike Toxicroak. The poison frog digs into the ground and throws a ball of mud at the bird. Staravia rises high up to dodge. "Ariel Ace!"
It then swoops down in a dive bomb attack and strikes the toad in its chest. Toxicroak falls to the ground, and it doesn't look like it may get back up. Lucas then shouts, "Alright, I won!"
"Oh really?" Toxicroak then performs a Faint Attack, leaping up at Staravia and striking its wings. The bird falls to the ground and collapses on its chest.
"Zephyris!" Lucas calls out as he begins to move towards his Pokemon.
"Now, strike the boy with Poison Jab." On Saturn's orders Toxicroak leaps at Lucas, but Lucario jumps in the way and blocks with Bone Rush.
"You're not just fighting him. You have to get past me too!" Riley shouts at Saturn, as his Pokemon makes a stance while facing Toxicroak.
"Of course; even the thought of opposition cannot be tolerated!" Saturn states as Toxicroak leaps after Lucario. Staravia strikes it with a Quick Attack from behind while Lucario gives it a Dragon Pulse from the front.
Their combination knocks out the toad and force it to the ground unconscious. Saturn grits his teeth in anger as he returns his Pokemon to its ball. "Crap. I should have figured."
"We won!" Lucas shouts out as Staravia copies him. When it does it begins to glow brightly.
All three trainers watch in shock as the bird becomes bigger in height and length. It soon stops glowing and is revealed to be Staraptor. "Wow, a Staraptor."
"It doesn't matter; Mars and Jupiter have probably achieved their goals by now. It's too late to stop us." Saturn says as he throws a ball to the ground, releasing a flash of light. When it died out he was gone.
"We have to move on to Lake Verity. Dawn and the professor might need our help." Lucas says as he, Riley and the Pokemon head out the cave.
They meet up with Cheryl who was waiting outside. Lucas returns Staraptor to its ball and sends out Tropius. Riley returns Lucario and resends out Salamence. Once Noctowl was in its ball and Lucas explains to Cheryl the situation all three trainers hop onto the Pokemon and fly off to Lake Verity.
--
"We're too late!" Lucas says as they land down by the Lakefront.
They return their Pokemon to their balls and approach the area, seeing the many grunts that plague the area. The grunts were leaving the lake it seems and heading for the exit. At the farthest end of the shore Lucas could see Dawn and the Professor before Galactic Commander Mars.
Lucas doesn't hesitate to run up to her, shouting, "Dawn! Professor!"
"Lucas!" Dawn calls out, looking up at him while down on her hands and knees. "I'm sorry…I couldn't stop them."
"It's okay. You did your best." Rowan says to her, comforting the girl as his hands rest on her shoulders.
Mars looks at the approaching trainers, and tenses up when she sees the young trainer. "You survived?! What is wrong with you boy?"
"What? What does she mean?" Cheryl asks Lucas.
"She's the reason I had that wound on my stomach and forehead." Lucas replies to her.
Inside he felt he shouldn't have told her that, but it would be better for their friendship if she heard it from him than possibly Riley. Once he does tell her though her face slowly grows angry. Cheryl then glares angrily at the red head. "You…tried to kill Lucas?"
"That's right, I did! And what are you going to do about-!" Before she could finish Cheryl swiftly punches her in the face.
Lucas, Rowan and Riley gape in shock at her quick attack while Dawn cheers her on. Mars falls to the ground with blood slowly oozing down her nose. "You…"
"I'll make you pay for hurting my Lucas!" Cheryl yells at her, preparing to strike her again.
Lucas grabs both her arms to prevent her from doing anymore. "Cheryl, I think that's enough…"
"I'll make you pay the next time we meet. Jupiter and Saturn should be done with their assignments…" Mars throws a tiny ball at the ground, releasing a flash of light that blinds them. When it disappears she is gone, along with all the other grunts.
Dawn then says, "Lucas, they took the Pokemon. What are they planning?"
"I don't know…what good will collecting them do? Riley?" Lucas asks Riley who was standing behind him.
"I'm not sure what. It might have something to do with the Pokemon that created this world…" Riley answers him the best way he could. "Either way, they're more than likely to go to Lake Acuity. We have to stop them."
"Lake Acuity is far up by Snowpoint City. Not only would you need snowsuits for the weather there but you would also have to go through Mt. Coronet; from the entrance at either Celestic or Eterna." Rowan informs the young trainers.
"So we have to go all the way up there…then we might as well stop by my mom's place." Lucas says as he walks towards the Lakefront entrance.
"His mom's?" – Riley
--
"Hi mom! I'm home!" Lucas shouts out as he walks inside his house. By his side are Cheryl and Riley. The professor and Dawn went to Sandgem town in hopes that Lucas and his friends can help Paul and settle this situation.
His mother Johanna looks out from the living room where she is, and smiles with relief that her son is here. She rises up and walks over to him, hugging him while saying, "Welcome back home Lucas. I'm so glad you've returned."
"I know…it's nice to see you again." Lucas replies as he hugs her back.
"It must feel nice…getting a hug by your mother." Cheryl says to herself.
"Oh hi Cheryl. Have you been taking care of my son in my absence?" Johanna asks the green haired teen.
"Uh huh." Cheryl says with a smile.
"Now mom, I can take care of myself." Lucas says to her as he releases himself.
"Come on Lucas honey. I was just teasing you. That's what mothers do right?" She states while pulling lightly on his left cheek.
Lucas complains, "Mom!"
"Now miss Kongoseki, I don't wish to intrude but we were hoping we could stay here for the night. After all Lucas said it was alright." Riley requests the blue haired mother.
"Oh of course it's okay. It's not every day my son brings home company, besides Paul." Johanna replies. "And who may you be?"
"Oh uh, I'm Riley. Lucas and I met two days ago." Riley replies with a little blush. He seems a little embarrassed.
"Well you three go situation yourselves. I'll go fix you all some nice dinner. I made allot yesterday so these leftovers should be enough for you three." She says as she enters the kitchen.
When she left Riley sits down in a chair and says, "Wow, your mother seems to share your politeness."
"Yeah. She sometimes says I get my impulsive interests and random temper from my father." Lucas replies as he sits down on the couch. Cheryl does the same and slides next to him.
"So when we go to Snowpoint, can we stop by Eterna? I want to speak to my sister." She asks him.
"Of course! But now the main issue; where will we each sleep?" Lucas says as he brings up that important topic.
"Oh yeah…I can sleep here on the couch. What about you Cheryl?" Riley asks the girl.
"Well, I don't want to let my mom know that I sleep with a girl yet…she might freak out and act all protective." Lucas replies as he tries to predict her reaction. It would be the opposite though.
"You can always have us tell her. It's just that, I've just gotten so use to being by your warmth, but if it'll make you happy then okay." She says to him, hoping he doesn't get into trouble because of her.
Little do they know Lucas' mother was listening to them as she fixed up the leftovers. She smiles to herself knowing how close the two of them were together. Johanna could never get in Lucas' way of love, especially with such a beautiful little sweetheart like Cheryl; she could clearly see the loyalty and kindness Cheryl shows for her son.
In a few minutes she was done and carries food to her son and his friends. After politely eating and feeding their battle-worn Pokemon they turn in for the night. Like Riley mentioned earlier he resides on the couch, which was luckily a pull out bed as well. He had a good night's sleep.
Lucas and Cheryl on the other hand are sleeping inside his room upstairs. Both were in their sleep attire and preparing to retire.
"So you really want me to sleep with you?" Lucas asks her. It would seem Cheryl is dead set on waking up to his face no matter how embarrassed he felt. Sure he did it before but he was a bit self-concerned as to how his mom would feel.
"Of course. But, if you don't want to then it's okay. I can always sleep on an extra fuuton." She says to him, looking down at the floor while twiddling her fingers.
"Well I don't mind you sleeping on my bed. It's just…" At that Lucas pauses for a moment, and remembers back at Lake Verity this late afternoon.
Back then Cheryl got truly upset at Lucas being hurt and close to death. The only time he has seen her so angry was when she and Paul first genuinely met back in Pastoria. But even compared to that he would never have guessed she would pack a hit like that. Lucas then blushes when he realizes why she referred to him as 'her Lucas'.
He looks up at her and asks plainly, "Cheryl, remember back at the Lake, and you punched Mars in the face? Why did you call me yours?"
"Are?" Cheryl replies, and then thinks over what he said and what she said. She blushes harsh red when she realizes that he was right. She wasn't planning to deal with her feelings for him until at the end of their journey: if he loved her back then it would be perfect, and the two of them would be such a wonderful couple but then Team Galactic might target her to get to him, and if he didn't then her heart would be broken, their friendship would be in major jeopardy and there would be a terrible awkwardness between them. "Oh, that…I did say that. I…I've…I don't know how to explain this…"
"Cheryl? You can tell me anything if there's something wrong. I'll always listen to you if-"" Lucas is quickly cut off when Cheryl leaps onto him, causing him to crash onto his bed, and place a kiss on his lips.
Their kiss escalates their emotions and implants warm heavy feelings inside of them. While wide-eyed at first Lucas returns the kiss as much as possible, placing his hands up on her cheeks as she does the same with him. The passionate kiss ends as quickly as it starts though as Cheryl removes her lips from his. "I love you."
"You…do…" Lucas realizes, mostly from that kiss. "I'm glad."
"You are?" Cheryl replies with tears slowly coming down her eyes. "Does that mean…"
"Yes. I have feelings for you...I'm not sure if they're as strong as yours but it's still positive." Lucas says to her. Cheryl leans in and hugs him, planting another kiss on his cheek.
"Good, because I love you too." She replies, holding onto him and not letting go. "This gives me more reason to sleep with you…"
"Fine…Let's go to sleep." He says, hugging her as well. Together they slip underneath the covers and fall into deep slumber. Unbeknownst to them though his mother watched them from the slightly opened door, and quietly tiptoes away as they rest.
Dawn breaks within the mid-western sky, or the eastern. I don't know, one of them!
Lucas opens his eyes to see Cheryl pressed up against him. He quickly blushes when he realizes that he was getting that morning feeling again, and with her on him it wasn't helping him keep it down. It's been like this ever since she started sleeping in the same bed as him, but all those other times he has done a decent job in hiding it. Each time has gotten harder though.
Lucas quickly snakes out of her grasp and tiptoes downstairs. He heads towards the fridge to grab breakfast, when he hears, "Good morning."
He gasps out a lot of air when he hears this, so much so his breath takes the shape of a heart. He quickly turns around and sees his mother sitting at a table with a smile plastered on her face. "Mom?! When did you get up?"
"A while ago. Riley left a while ago. But now I would like to ask you what you'll be doing now?" She says while opening her eyes.
"Well, we're about to go to Snowpoint City and stop by Lake Acuity. Do we have any snow suits left around?" He asks at the last sentence.
"I have one for you, but your friends might have to get their own. Sorry." She says while staring at the closet.
"That's okay. We'll stop by a nearby store before going to Mount Coronet." Lucas says as he rises up to walk to the fridge. He takes out a yogurt shake and begins drinking it. As he does he notices a plaque hanging up on the wall stating how Johanna won the Master Class competition of Pokemon Coordination. He then says, "Hey mom, do you know of someone named Fantina?"
"Fantina…no, can't say that I have." She replies to him.
"Oh. Well she's the gym leader of Hearthome and a coordinator as well." He states. Lucas then sits down saying; "I figured you would know her since you two are into that sort of thing."
"Well I don't." – Johanna
"Lucas," Riley says as he enters the house. Both Johanna and Lucas turn to see the aura guardian in his clothes. "You ready?"
"Not really, I'm still like this. Hold on." Lucas rushes up to his room to change his clothes.
Riley sighs as he leaves their presence, and sits down in a chair to await his return. Upstairs Lucas heads into his room, and sees Cheryl pulling up her skirt. All her clothes are on her as well. She turns around to see his arrival and blushes, "Lucas."
"Cheryl. Excuse me while I change." He says to her as he enters the room.
"Sure. I'll wait downstairs." She says to Lucas while kissing him on the lips. "Don't take too long…"
"Okay." And with that she heads downstairs while he undresses. Lucas dresses up in a red striped shirt with black jeans. He wraps a white scarf around his neck and grabs his red cap as well as a blue sweater-jacket to put on. It looks to be a much more traditional version of his previous clothes. Lucas finishes his clothes and heads downstairs after tying up his running shoes and grabbing his bag, Pokeballs and Poketch.
He hits the last step and appears before everyone, saying, "Yall ready?"
"Uh huh. Just waiting for you." Cheryl says as she heads out the door with Riley.
"Okay." Lucas gets ready to join them, when his mother approaches him with a plastic shopping bag. "Mom?"
"Here's your snowsuit. Good luck on your journey." She says as she hands him the bag and kisses him on the forehead.
"Mom, please. The others might see this." He replies wiping his forehead clean.
"What kind of a mother doesn't want to kiss her son on their forehead?" She questions.
"You just don't get it; oh well. Love ya!" He heads out the door with the bag in his hand, preparing to stop Team Galactic and continue his journey.
"That son of mine acts just likes my husband." Johanna mutters with a smile.
"All right first things first; we drop by Eterna City and get some snow gear for you guys. Then Cheryl can visit her sister and we can continue towards Mount Coronet from there." Lucas says as he regroups with his friends.
"Well actually, I prepared for this occasion. Your mother told me she had a snowsuit for you so I went and purchased two for me and Cheryl." Riley says as he holds up two bags.
"Wow, thanks Riley." Cheryl thanks him as she takes hers.
"Then this visit will be shorter than I figured." Lucas says as he grasps one of his Pokeballs. "Go Tropius!"
"Go, Salamence!" Lucas and Riley send out their flight Pokemon, and all three hop aboard. In unison both trainers shout, "Onward to Eterna City," and they were both on their way to the city where Cheryl joins Lucas on his Pokemon journey officially.
--
Elsewhere Paul finally reaches Lake Acuity, and looks around to see nothing out of the ordinary about it. In his snowsuit he pockets one of his Pokeballs and plops on the snow. "Where are they? Those Galactic guys haven't gotten here yet?"
Kenshin: And that ends that. In the next chapter we meet Gardenia again, and she tells only Lucas how she and Cheryl really met. Then our three heroes head up Mount Coronet and out it to reach Snowpoint where another gym leader meets Lucas and afterwards a gym battle. But before that Lucas gets some skiing lessons.
Yusei: Skiing lessons?
Kenshin: Let's just say it isn't pretty; funny, but is not pretty.