Chapter Twenty
"What? No Riley," Colby yelled.
He was standing there, wet from the sprinkler, between them and the Team Lunar grunts. His pale skin was almost…death pale and he was still swinging his shirt around like a lasso for a cowboy.
Riley glanced at Ronan and gave her smirking grin, "But Tootsie, what about him? He looked ready for a party-"
"No," Colby said firmly.
Ronan was now glaring at Riley, seeming to recognize them from the first time they all met.
"Oh, and who might this beautiful lady be?" Riley cooed, seeing the dark headed girl grunt.
He walked over to her, getting down on one knee and grabbing her hand. The girl looked uncomfortable and glanced at the other grunts for help. Scar face looked like he was going to murder Riley, and Ronan seemed disgusted by the behavior. The blonde was glaring up at Subway furiously, not paying any attention.
"What is your name beautiful?" Riley asked, kissing her hand.
The girl had her lip curled in disgust, "My name is Sarafine, and you'd better let go of my hand," Sarafine told him, trying to pull away.
"Why would I do that?" Riley muttered, looking into her eyes and seeming to have hearts radiating off of him.
"Because my boyfriend Monty is right there you pest," Sarafine hissed, nodding towards scar face.
Riley kept a hold of her hand and turned his head slowly to the right. Scar face, and all six feet of him, was standing there with his heavily muscled arms crossed over his chest. Riley blanched, giving him a nervous smile.
"Oh…I'm so sorry for the misunderstanding. I-I have a girlfriend anyway-" Riley said extremely quickly, patting Sarafine's hand and running over to Colby where he proceeded to hide behind her.
"You're such a wuss Riley Giaden," Colby hissed through gritted teeth.
Riley didn't say a thing, but peeked out from her shoulder blade, seeing the close was clear. Scar face's lip twitched in annoyance and shot Riley a death look. Riley came out and stood beside her, looking confident once again.
"I believe that is a battle. Josh has won and Sneasel is his," Amanda called to Ronan, who had put his shirt back on.
Ronan shot them a nasty look, "Fine. You can have that useless Pokémon. It's your baggage to carry around, not mine. But you mark my words you are going to wish you never brought out this stupid whale. You're going to pay for this."
Colby gave him a blank look that goes along with an empty threat. He had said the same thing last time and look what happened.
"Now get out of here," Ellis told him firmly.
Ronan growled with annoyance but recalled the Duskull that reappeared. Taking his team of soggy grunts, Ronan ran off behind a farm house and disappeared. Everyone exhaled a sigh of relief and looked up at Subway. "Maaaa!" He called, flapping his flippers around.
"I thought I would never say this…but thank you Subway. You saved Mr. Mime and Sneasel's lives," Josh told his Pokémon.
An actual compliment from Josh? This day was just full of surprises. "Maaaa!" Subway called happily, seeming to understand.
"Get a well deserved rest," Josh told him, recalling the huge Pokémon into the Poke Ball.
Josh rolled the Poke Ball around in his hand and smirked, putting it back in his pocket of which Subway resided.
"You two are now friends?" Colby asked, shoving Riley off her shoulder.
Josh hesitated, "I didn't say that…"
Colby rolled her eyes, hearing the uncertain tone in his voice.
"Sneasel won't wake up," Amanda told them sadly.
She was on her knees beside the Pokémon, trying desperately to revive it. Was it too late? Had they wasted too much time?
"I have a revive…" Someone said, coming out from the bush.
The little boy and his sister crept out and brought their two small Pokémon. He was holding a crystal shaped, tan object.
"Oh! That would be wonderful," Amanda smiled, taking the revive and giving it to Sneasel.
The Pokémon swallowed the medicine and seemed to flutter to life almost instantly. His eye opened the slightest and he held his side with one clawed hand, letting out a whimper.
"Josh, he's hurt really badly. We need to get him to Sanville to get healed," Amanda told him, sounding more and more like a doctor every day.
"Sanville doesn't have a Pokémon Center," the little boy told her.
"What do you mean it doesn't? Every town does," Ellis told him.
"Except Afron Village," Josh added with disdain in his voice. Ellis shot him a sour look.
"It doesn't have a Pokémon Center. For some reason they are late building one and construction is underway now. Our mother is an ex nurse from Johto, so maybe she can help you!" The little boy said proudly.
Amanda smiled, "Thank you! We'll follow you into town."
The little boy's sister smiled attentively up at Amanda and reached for the boy's hand which he took.
"My name is Nicolas and this is my sister Abbey. We just want to thank you for saving us."
"Any time, because it's our job to help fellow trainers in need," Ellis smiled.
Josh's lip twitched at the comment, probably not liking the idea of helping little kids all the time and he forced his face to be the normal blankness. Colby for one didn't mind helping others out. In the end it would work out well for everyone. She especially wouldn't mind rescuing kids from Team Loser…woops, Team Lunar.
Abbey smiles at them all, holding her Bellsprout tightly to her chest. Brown curls fall down her back with pretty green eyes to compliment the look. Nicolas has light brown hair and a paler version of his sister's eyes, definitely brother and sister.
"So…this means no party?" Riley asked, from where he has creeped up behind Amanda, trying to put his arm around her which she is feverishly batting away. Colby looked irritated, "No Riley, there was never a party in the first place. Subway was spraying Ronan and his gang of grunts to get out of here."
Riley looked dejected but perked up at the mention of Subway.
"We get Subway-" He started.
"My Wailord," Josh interjected, crossing his arms over his chest.
Riley's eyes bulged and his mouth practically dropped open.
"You have a Wailord?" Riley squeaked.
Amanda pushed his arm off again and went to go stand by Colby and Josh, leaving Riley next to Ellis along with the two little kids and everyone's Pokémon. Colby shot Josh a smug look in which he returned, smirking.
"Who do you think that Wailord belonged to?" Ellis asked, probably wondering what was wrong with Riley.
"I figured it was Twix or Tootsie's," Riley told them still looking baffled.
"Why do you think Josh recalled it?" Amanda added.
Riley sighed, "I don't know, but that just shocks me that he would-"
"Own the biggest Pokémon?" Josh finished.
Riley nodded, inching away from Ellis like he had a disease or something. Sometimes the guys were so childish.
"It all worked out well in the end, so what does it matter?" Colby laughed.
She then glanced at Amanda who was looking around, fear sparking in her eyes. What could be wrong?
"Where are the kids?" She asked.
"Are you guys going to catch up? Sanville is just up ahead!" Abbey yelled to them, from the top of the hill where the two were already to the top.
Colby grinned at everyone, recalling her Pokémon and grabbing her knapsack where she stuffed the two Poke Balls in. Amanda recalled her three Pokémon and picked up Sneasel, struggling under its weight.
"Here, let me get that," Josh told her, taking the injured and very drowsy Pokémon from her arms.
"It's now my Pokémon so I'm responsible for it," Josh added, cradling the Pokémon in his arms.
"Sne…" The Sneasel murmured.
A smile played at Josh's mouth and he started to walk up the hill with everyone else. Ellis recalled Charlie and kept Emmera out who rubbed against his leg as he walked. Amanda was between Colby and Riley who yet again forced himself into her company. Riley was looking smug and nonchalantly draped his arm over her shoulder.
Amanda seemed tired of this and just tried to ignore it as he played with her brown hair that was falling over her shoulders.
"I've been thinking," he told her, trying unsuccessfully to be quiet.
"About what?" Amanda replied monotonously and trying to hide the irritation in her voice.
"You," Riley said, grinning devilishly.
Amanda sighed deeply and shoved him off, standing on the other side of Colby. Almost immediately Riley slid over closer to her.
"So…come here often?" He asked.
Colby rolled her eyes and kept going up the hill, engaging Amanda in a conversation of just small talk. Riley and Josh seemed to be doing the same while Ellis was trying not to step on Emmera who was constantly getting under his feet as they walked. The siblings had taken the lead, continuing down the hill and towards the city of Sanville which was really close.
All around it was like a sun baked desert, grass growing in little burnt clumps and even a few Cacturne to complete the picture. Some dust bunnies rolled around across the landscape as the hot wind blew, giving it the feeling of a true desert.
"You think this is hot? It gets worse after Sanville," Ellis told Amanda and Colby.
He was now holding Emmera and wincing in the middle day sun that was burning bright, cooking the landscape like an oven.
"Ellis Corona, navigator extraordinaire! All knowing of every terrain in Aurora," Amanda laughed.
Ellis grinned, "You know it! Actually, I know all this because I did a bunch of research on Aurora in hopes that I would find a group to travel with."
Colby returned his smile, "That you did Ellis that you did."
They arrived in the heart of Sanville around three that afternoon, still following the siblings. The place wasn't near as big as Portsburg, which was huge, and didn't have as many people out in the middle of the day. Could you guess why? On one of the big signs the thermometer said 99 much to Colby (and her dark blue t-shirt's) dismay. She was baking practically! What about Josh though? He seemed to be forcing contentment in his black cloak. He was going to get major heatstroke if he wasn't careful.
Colby sighed and looked around the city some more. They were passing medium sized, sandstone buildings that appeared to be apartments. All the houses were on the outskirts along with some small farms. What would grow in this weather was a mystery to her.
The cobblestone street was wide, sporting a few walkers and even fewer bikers or joggers. Still, there was a few that were hardcore, like an older guy running with his Hitmonlee down the sidewalk.
"We are almost there, just to the end of the street," Nicolas called, taking his sister's hand and swerving left to a small side street.
At the end of the street was a simple brick house that they were climbing up the stairs to. Everyone hurried to catch up to the kids who were knocking on the door. Glancing at Riley, Colby was glad that he had finally put his Riachu shirt on…because that was a bit disturbing. At least he had the basics of manners, kind of.
A young woman that seemed to be the spitting image of Abbey answered the door in an orange sundress with a white apron. She wiped her hands on a towel that she was holding and her eyes lit up when she saw the kids.
"Nicolas! Abbey! I'm so glad you two are back! I was getting worried," the woman exclaimed, grasping them in a huge hug.
"Mommie! It was so terrible, some people in purple uniforms tried to steal my Bellsprout," Abbey whimpered in her mom's shoulder.
"What? Baby are you alright? I told you not to go very far-" The mother told them, worry plastered on her face.
"Mommie, it's okay because they saved us," Abbey smiled, pointing at Colby and their group.
The mother looked at them from over her daughter's shoulder and a smile spread to her face.
"Did you protect my babies from Team Lunar?" The woman asked eyes bright. "Yes ma'am, it was no big deal," Amanda told her, smiling sheepishly.
"Oh! What is that you've got there? Is that Pokémon injured?" The woman asked, taking notice of the Sneasel in Josh's arms.
"Yeah, that's the thing…Nicolas and Abbey said you might be able to help since there is no Pokémon Center in Sanville…? He's horribly hurt," Ellis told her.
The mother picked up Abbey and motioned for them to come inside.
"Say no more! You saved my children from harm so the least I can do is help your Sneasel. Come in; come in, all of you. The house isn't very big but if you would like to sit in the living room while I get to work then be my guest," the mother said.
"Thank you," Josh muttered, everyone climbing up the steps and filing into the house which was rather small.
It was simple with wooden flooring and a small living room with a couple couches, a coffee table, book shelves, an end table, lamp, and a tan rug that covered the floor.
"You can just have a seat right there. It shouldn't take too long with Sneasel. My name is Sasha by the way," Sasha told them, ushering Josh into another room with the Sneasel.
Colby took a seat beside Ellis and Amanda on the couch, sandwiched between them both. Riley took a seat on the other couch, looking at them. Nicolas and Abbey came bouncing in, running through the house and into another room after one another, probably playing a game of some sort. A few moments of silence later, Josh came in and sat down beside Riley, looking perky. "Is she able to fix Sneasel up?" Amanda asked.
Josh nodded, "Yeah, she's bandaging his broken ribs now…"
Silence fell over the room and Colby looked at the floor, remembering the horrible scene of Ronan abusing Sneasel. It was a terrible sight to see, but at least they had rescued Sneasel from it. He was in good hands now.
"You ready to challenge the Sanville gym?" Riley asked, jerking everyone out of their thoughts.
"Yeah, I think we're pretty prepared," Amanda told him.
"His name is Smithers and he's a ground type. I beat him already, easy," Riley gloated, seeming proud.
How was he always one step ahead? It was mind boggling! For all they knew he could already be a member of the Elite!
"How Riley…? How are you always one step ahead of us?" Colby asked.
Riley winked, "That is for me to know, and you to never find out."
Colby sighed irritably, he was weird. Amanda rolled her eyes and Colby wouldn't have been the least bit surprised if she was thinking the same thing. "Hopefully we will head there after we get Sneasel fixed up!" Ellis added.
For once no one yelled at Ellis for talking! This could be a leap in the direction of positive. Colby's thoughts rambled as they made small talk, willing the time to pass and Sneasel to be okay. This reminded her of the time that Nicksy was getting healed by the nurse. That was just amazing that he had pulled through. But he'd made a full recovery and was kicking like never before. Nicksy was here to stay for a while hopefully.
After twenty or so minutes, Sasha came back out with a smile on her face, carrying Sneasel who was unconscious.
"He is perfectly fine now! I've bandaged the ribs and cleaned his eyes, with a bandage for that as well. The poor little guy, he's been through some stuff," Sasha told them, putting Sneasel in Josh's arms once again.
"Thank you so much! Sorry we can't stay but we have to go challenge the gym," Josh told her.
"You're very welcome. Thank you for saving my children again and have a safe trip!" Sasha said, watching them go down the stairs and into the street from the doorway. Colby and Amanda waved as they all continued on their way towards the gym.
"It's on the right," Riley told them, gesturing to a big brick building on the corner.
The sign in sandstone read 'Sanville Ground Gym' and was carved into the rock. The building was a round and dome shaped, seeming huge compared to Josh's Psychic gym…and his gym wasn't necessarily small either.
"Good luck, I've got to go girl watching. See you guys later," Riley told them, running off without failing to wink at Amanda.
She shuddered and rolled her eyes, seeming not surprised by this Rileyness anymore.
"Ready everyone?" Ellis asked a bright smile on his face.
Amanda turned her unknown cap to the side, "Always Ellis, let's go beat the Sanville ground type gym!"
"Uh…sorry to interrupt your little moment of jubilance…but Smithers is not here right now…" A tall, lanky boy with light blue hair said, coming out of the double doors in the gym.
"What do you mean? Where did he go?" Colby asked a bit startled by the stranger's random appearance.
The guy gave her a funny look, "He's in the mine…training like usual. Sorry, sometimes I forget that challengers wouldn't know this."
Josh looked irritated, "Where is the mine?"
The blue head guy pointed down to the end of the road where the cobble turned to dirt again was a clear trail towards…what looked like nowhere.
"I could take you there if you like, because it's just down the road. I was going to the mines anyways," the guy told them.
"Sure! That would be great thanks!" Amanda told him.
The guy smiled at her, "Anytime, my name is Jeremy. I'm Smithers trainee as of right now. Mostly I just try to keep him together because he is a mess. Always forgetting things and you know how that goes."
Everyone was beginning to walk to the end of the street and there was a pause before Jeremy looked a Josh with a quizzical look on his face.
"Aren't you psychic gym leader Josh Hershey from Ft. Jonova?" Jeremy asked.
"I was the gym leader. Obviously I'm not anymore," Josh snapped, always getting defensive about that subject.
Wait…his last name was Hershey? Colby couldn't help but giggle.
"Your last name…is Hershey?" Ellis asked, trying not to laugh.
"Shut the hell up Corona. You've got a nice last name as well," Josh retorted.
Obviously the heat was getting to him. Poor little Hershey will melt inside his black cloak of a wrapping. Ellis glowered and Jeremy seemed uncomfortable and not because of the heat.
"Guys…please," Colby told them, trying to cool tempers that seemed as hot as the blasted sun above them.
Josh said nothing but Ellis nodded very reluctantly. At least someone knew how to behave, jeez.
"We are almost here, it's just past this brush here-" Jeremy started but was interrupted by a boom.
A puff of smoke came up over the top of a hill that the mine resided in. "For heaven's sake! What did he do this time…I just left him for an hour!" Jeremy exclaimed, running towards a hole in the front of the hill which had to be the entrance.
Out ran a tan guy with sandy blonde hair wearing cargo pants and a grey tank top. He was coughing furiously from the amount of smoke pouring through the entrance.
"Smithers! Are you alright?" Jeremy called as Smithers approached.
Smithers coughed again and blinked the smoke from his eyes, rubbing at the black soot on his chin stubble furiously.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. Would've thought the whole damn mine exploded. Some dummy got the tracks switched around and the cart of explosives went kaboom with some rocks," Smithers choked out between coughs.
Jeremy still look startled, "You're fine then?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Don't think it did the mine much good. After all that blasted thing as been trying to collapse for years," Smithers told him.
"Oh and who are these people? Friends of yours Jeremy?"
Jeremy shook his head, "No, they are challengers. We came to look for you." Smithers looked irritated, "Not again. Great Stellar Spirits that last red haired trainer that always wanted to take his shirt off about made me want quit my job. Speaking of quitting your job, what are you doing here Josh Hershey?"
Josh looked expressionless but Colby could see the anger beginning to build up.
"He doesn't like to talk about it…" Colby told Smithers, hopefully not causing Josh to explode.
Smithers raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything more and turned back to the mine.
"Well…nothing more we can do here until this baby cools down. Let's head back to the gym I guess," he said with a sigh.
"So we are just going to leave it…smoking?" Ellis asked.
"Yep! That's the way I do things around here. You want a gym battle? Follow me kiddies," Smithers smirked, marching back towards town while the mine continued to smoke in the background.
A/N: Hey guys! Sorry it has been a while XD busy as all get out. Sadly school is starting pretty soon so I had to get chapter twenty done for everyone before that craziness happens. So…as I said, school will be starting soon. For the fresh start of a new year I am in need of a background for my laptop. That is my challenge to you guys! Whoever can draw the most awesome scene from this fan fiction (any scene you like the most!) gets a prize! *gasp* Yes! A prize. This prize is going to be customizing a character as either a member of the Elite or a Team Lunar member! So all you artists get out your awesome drawings and make an amazing background for meh laptop! :D I would prefer it colored and you can add words and such if you wish. Good luck! Just send me the link to your entry in a pm message :) Until next time! Oh and the deadline is September 1 :P Plenty of time! The winner will be posted on whatever chapter I'm at by then. Too-da-loo!
