Welcome to the Ikimono League
By Neko (Silver Tru-Neko)
Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon.
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Chapter 8 – The Challenger
Ash emerged from the narrow staircase into yet another dark room. He set Cyndaquil down, allowing the fire Pokémon to illuminate the way. The first thing he realized, as the room filled with the glow, was that there was no door. Ash's heart sank.
We'll just have to find this one, too, Ash thought, regaining his determination.
This room was a bedroom, with a four-poster bed against one wall. The drapes were moth-eaten; the covers looked as if they had not been cleaned for ages. Ash decided against sitting on the bed, tired as he was.
He turned and now saw the most impressive part of the room. The wall to his left was barren of furnishing, leaving room for the fine mural stretched across its length. Ash approached, entranced; Cyndaquil followed.
Pokémon took shape in the shadows against a backdrop of forest and clear sky. Ash walked along the wall, forgetting briefly what he was doing. He admired how the artist had captured each Pokémon in its natural habitat, at ease. He spied Nidorans female and male, nuzzling in a patch of flowers; Rattata and Sandshrew, searching for food in the treetops; Caterpie and Weedle spinning fine thread; and a flock of wild Pidgey and Spearow.
As Ash followed the birds' progress across the sky, he found a mysteriously darker bird leading them. Gesturing Cyndaquil over, he then took a closer look.
In the far right corner of the painting hovered a Murkrow, mischief in its eyes as it flew. Clutched in its talons was a golden key.
Ash stood staring at the Murkrow for a long time, trying to decipher what he needed to do now. There's no door in this room, like the dungeons, he reflected. Downstairs, he had somehow opened the door by turning the Murkrow statue.
His eyes flicked back to the Murkrow. Can it be the key, again? Ash smiled at his own pun.
He traced the Murkrow, not sure what he was hoping to find. There were no protrusions, no knobs to turn. Ash frowned, fearing his theory busted.
"Cynda." Cyndaquil nudged his leg, and Ash peered downward. The Pokémon prodded at an unusual bump in the carpeting.
Ash crouched beneath the Murkrow's image, feeling the lump for himself. His heart leaped – it felt just like a key. Swiftly he dug at the edge of the carpet with his fingers. It came loose easily in his hands, revealing the key lying on the floorboard below.
Ash snatched up the key eagerly, proud of himself. It shone golden, just like the key Murkrow held.
"Good job, Cyndaquil," Ash congratulated. He glanced around for some hole for the key, but just as before, nothing presented itself.
"We have to find the keyhole," he murmured, half to himself, half to his Pokémon. Pikachu clambered onto his head, observing the mural. Cyndaquil checked the bottom of the painting. Ash slowly walked back toward the staircase, eyes traveling the scene again. This time he was not simply an observer; he was searching, hunting…
"There!" Ash stabbed at a tree branch near eye level, where a neat hole was nearly hidden in dark paint. A bird's nest of some sort rested just above the hole; perhaps it was the Murkrow's, Ash mused.
Heart beating double-time, Ash slid the key into the hole and slowly twisted it.
Click.
A door swung open in the mural, invisible previously. Ash let out a breath, grin slowly crossing his face.
"Yes!" He peered into the darkened passageway; there were no stairs this time, only a long tunnel. He glanced at his Pokémon, who nodded.
Together they stepped into the passage.
*
Gary stiffened, instinctively reaching for a Poké ball. The intruder strode into the light, revealing himself to be a short man with a shock of black hair and dark eyes. He surveyed Gary a moment, smiling to himself.
"I must admit, you were one of the quicker ones to crack the puzzle," he said with a laugh. The sound was quiet, like his voice, though it radiated a sort of power.
Gary relaxed, allowing a smile. "You were watching?"
"I watch everyone come through here," concurred the man. "I am Violet Town's gym leader. You may call me Victor. Tell me, what did you think of the house?"
"I didn't think it was a gym, at first," Gary said, easing ever so slightly. "But the puzzle was very intriguing. I admit I probably couldn't have done it without Umbreon, here." He gave the Pokémon a scratch behind the ears; Umbreon purred.
Victor nodded. "A very good Pokémon you have there, boy."
"My name is Gary Oak, from Pallet Town," he corrected. Victor inclined his head but said nothing.
Gary suddenly thought of something. "The Murkrow…why did you choose them?"
Victor smiled pleasantly. "I have a soft spot for them. Legends say they are bringers of bad luck…" He turned, staring through the sun-splotched window. "…I do not believe it is true. No Pokémon is intentionally evil; Murkrow, I think, are simply misunderstood."
"I see," said Gary. He turned the conversation back to the gym. "So, if this is the gym, and I got through it…"
Victor laughed again, catching on. "Not so fast, Gary. First, you must pass the final test." He removed a Poké ball and held it up to the light. "A one-on-one battle against me."
Gary smiled. "I thought that might be the case." He took a step forward, allowing the door to snap shut behind him.
Victor tossed the Poké ball with ease. "I choose you…Murkrow!"
The crow-like Pokémon flared into the air, beating its wings with a wild cry. Slowly it settled back down on Victor's shoulder, examining Gary with beady red eyes.
Just as I thought, Gary noted, eyes narrowing. For all these puzzles to get here, the other trainer's choice was obvious; Gary knew exactly how to counter.
"Umbreon, go!"
"Reon!" Umbreon bounded forward, tail swishing. It crouched into position, battle-ready.
"Murkrow! Peck!" Victor swept his arm forward; Murkrow swooped upward, and then dived for Umbreon's face.
"Use agility!" ordered Gary. Umbreon leaped aside just in time, and Murkrow flared its wings to stop its assault.
"Now use tackle!"
While Murkrow struggled a moment, immobile, Umbreon charged. It twisted in midair, leaning in with its shoulder. As the Pokémon were seconds away from collision, Murkrow managed to dart safely out of the way. Umbreon hit the ground, skidded, and turned to face the Murkrow again with a low growl.
"Our turn," Victor said smoothly. "Murkrow, whirlwind!"
Murkrow flapped its wings steadily, summoning up a blast of air that knocked Umbreon aside. The dark Pokémon struggled to its paws, shaking its head.
"Follow it up with wing attack!"
Before Gary could intervene, Murkrow descended on Umbreon, striking speedily with its wings. Umbreon tried to bat it away, but every time the Murkrow swept aside and pummelled it elsewhere. Umbreon yowled in pain, ducking and flinching.
Gary's eyes widened; the Murkrow was so fast! He had thought the trainer's fondness for Murkrow was the only thing backing his choice. He had fallen into a trap, not expecting this display of strength.
"Umbreon! Get out of there!" he cried desperately. As Murkrow paused its onslaught, needing time to gain altitude, Umbreon staggered away.
Gary knew they weren't safe yet; in the air, Murkrow could strike at a second's notice. He needed to disable its speed somehow – bring it down to earth. That was the first thought running through Gary's mind. Now he focused on the execution. Umbreon couldn't match Murkrow's flight speed, so…
"Umbreon! Feint attack!"
"Murkrow, again!"
Umbreon squared its stance as Murkrow sped toward it. At the last possible moment, Umbreon disappeared. Murkrow slammed on the brakes, hovering inches above the ground and twisting about wildly.
Next Umbreon appeared, airborne, claws raised.
"Above you!" Victor yelled; Murkrow glanced up just as Umbreon tackled it, lashing out with all four paws. With a startled cry Murkrow tumbled.
The two Pokémon tussled on the ground, Murkrow beating its wings in vain to knock off its pursuer. Umbreon pinned it, yowling triumphantly.
"Now, finish it!" Gary was grinning now, back in control of the battle. "Bite!"
He didn't see Victor's secretive smile. "Use your feint attack, too!"
Just as Umbreon moved in for the final blow, Murkrow faded from beneath it. Surprised, the Pokémon sank its teeth into the ground.
Murkrow flickered, a shadow far above. Then it was hurtling downward, talons stretched forward.
"Umbreon, dodge it!" Gary watched, horrified, as Umbreon dislodged itself from the ground and turned. It was too slow; Murkrow's talons slashed downward and it was already powering back into the air as Umbreon let out an eerie wail, sinking to the floor.
"Umbreon! No!" Gary started forward; some small part of him restrained him, reminding that if he touched Umbreon he would automatically forfeit the match.
Heart pounding, he remained where he was, softly coaxing his Pokémon. "Umbreon, are you all right?"
The black mass on the floor shifted; slowly, the Pokémon raised its head and nodded. Twin lines scored down its back began to bleed, soaking Umbreon's fur.
With effort, Umbreon hoisted itself and turned to face Murkrow. Gary's heart wrenched; his Pokémon was in no shape to fight, yet it continued for his sake.
Gary gritted his teeth. Come on, think, he urged himself. They needed to finish this battle – fast. He glanced up at Murkrow and saw with a jolt that it was flying awkwardly, wings bent from its encounter with Umbreon.
Maybe that'll slow it down, he thought, hope rising in his chest. "Okay, Umbreon, quick attack!"
Umbreon darted toward the Murkrow at high speed; Murkrow tried to watch it approach, but when Umbreon finally lunged it was taken by surprise. Murkrow ducked aside, but one of Umbreon's paws still battered it as the Pokémon flashed by.
"Murkrow!" cried Victor as the Pokémon fell.
Murkrow hit the ground, rolled, and sprung to its talons. As it spread its wings, Umbreon swooped in for a second assault. It bashed its shoulder into Murkrow's small form, sending it flying across the room.
Murkrow flopped down by its trainer and lay still.
Victor was at its side in an instant, checking the Pokémon's status. He blew out a breath and stood, cradling Murkrow in his arms.
"Good fight," he said, smiling. "As I suspected, your Pokémon is very well trained."
Gary nodded, crouching beside Umbreon. The Pokémon was panting, sides heaving; that last attack had taken the last of its strength. It fell back on its haunches, and Gary scooped it gently into his arms.
"Good work, Umbreon," he murmured, holding the Pokémon in his lap. Umbreon leaned its head against his chest, eyes closing in exhaustion.
I pushed you too far, he thought regretfully, I'm sorry. As he stroked Umbreon's head comfortingly, his eyes traveled to the wounds it had sustained in battle. The cuts along its back still bled; he would have to find a Pokémon Centre soon.
Gary pulled out Umbreon's Poké ball and called it back. Then he finally rose.
Victor had been watching him. "You fight smart," he observed, in that same quiet voice of his. "You read the other Pokémon's weaknesses and take advantage of them. But you forget your Pokémon have weaknesses, too, and sometime they will reach their limits." Gary glanced up sharply; Victor regarded him impartially, not criticizing but only commenting. Slowly, Gary nodded.
"I know." Somehow, the words were hard to get out.
Victor stared back at him for a long moment; eventually, he lowered his gaze. "Nevertheless," he continued, "I am proud to give you this."
Victor held out his hand, and Gary instinctively stepped closer to see the badge shining in his palm.
"The Mind Badge," Victor stated.
Gary accepted it, and since it was the first time he had seen this badge paused a moment to examine it. The badge was square, chequered black and white in the shape of a crossword puzzle. He smiled thinly. "Mind Badge…for the puzzles, right?"
Victor nodded, stepping aside and gesturing Gary toward the second door. "Come. I will lead you out."
Gary slipped the badge into his pocket. Two down, two to go. A nagging part of his mind wondered, though, if it would only get tougher here on in.
To be continued...
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