AN: Thanks to those who review! Please continue to show support that way. Really helps me gauge what parts of the story go over well and which parts to exclude in the future!
Just a bad Writer For Fun: Definitely the best kind of tournament. Even better if I get to participate.
KedharS: Yup, that gym battle does show some promise of skill. Let's hope it keeps going! (Chapter 4 review)
This time we focus on a different character following a different Journey- Alastor Dent. Hope you enjoy a little mix-up!
May 24th 2021 (Granite Cave, Outside Dewford Town)
Alastor Dent could not have been having a better time, his past two weeks had been splendid.
First, he was able to get an endorsement from the famed Professor Cozmo, expert on all things space. Then, he'd travelled all the way to New Bark Town and successfully gotten his starter, Chase the Treecko. After which he was able to quickly hop on a ferry to Dewford where he was able to successfully get the Knuckle Badge after training up the pokemon he'd caught- Icarus the Wingull and Creed the Makuhita.
After all that he was now waiting for a chance to catch a ferry to head for Rustboro. The schedule said it'd take another day so Alastor decided to explore Granite Cave and get a bit more training in. That was better than being hammered by the townsfolk asking him what the latest trends are.
The cave's top floor was well lit with sunlight being reflected by the walls laced with granite (or at least that's what Alastor assumed it was). It was where he caught Makuhita. He spoke with the Hiker who had given him the TM for Flash and then made his way to the end of the room where the entryway to the bottom floors of Granite Cave lie.
The change was instantaneous. While the room above was brightly lit, this (and Alastor suspected the next as well) section of the cave was pitch dark. He could hardly see in front of him, let alone get any sense of direction to navigate.
It got his blood pumping. Sure he had the TM for Flash and he could teach that to Chase, his Treecko.
'But where's the fun in that?' he thought as he walked through the cave with nothing but a flashlight to guide him.
The adventure guided him. He roughly knew the floor plan and route he needed to take, he wanted to go in blind but still had enough sense about him to not want to get lost. Each footstep echoed in the seemingly empty chamber. Not a single wild pokemon seemed to come out to engage him.
Until they did. Until they all did.
Out of nowhere there was a horde of wild pokemon surrounding him. A couple Sableye, two Zubat and multiple Geodude. He was completely surrounded. Alastor's eyes lit up- this was going to be fun.
"Hah! Come at me ya punks! Chase, Icarus, Creed- let's get 'em!"
The three pokemon dutifully stood around their trainer waiting for orders.
'First the Zubat- Supersonic will be a pain'
Just as he'd thought it, the two Zubat began sending out sound waves to confuse the three pokemon. Alastor was ready.
"Creed, Fake Out on the Zubat. Icarus, follow up with Wing Attack! Chase, get the Geodude with Leafage!"
After the two Zubat were successfully stopped by Creed, the Wing Attack knocked out one while heavily damaging the other. Chase even got one Geodude out with a critical Leafage.
The wild pokemon were a bit stunned to say the least. There were two Sableye, one (injured) Zubat and three Geodude remaing. None of which seemed to be expecting such a coordinated counter.
"Icarus, Creed- Water Pulse and Arm Thrust on the remaining Geodude! Chase-"
He was agout to order his starter but the wild pokemon seemed to have ganged up on the grass-type 6v1 to great effect. The Zubat had successfully confused Chase and the Sableye were using Astonish, a move that had a chance to flinch the opponent and it seemed they were successful. Chase wasn't going to hold very long.
'Damnit, I was too focused on Creed and Icarus!'
The Wingull and Makuhita carried out their orders, reducing the enemies further, it was now a 3v3 with one on each side being heavily injured.
"Chase, Quick Attack your way out of there, NOW!"
But his orders didn't get through in the pokemon's confused state. He'd have to use other means to save his starter. He'd need some kind of trick that would move remove his pokemon from that position. Then it struck him- Creed knew Whirlwind, a move that forces the opponent to retreat!
"Icarus, Water Pulse on the Zubat- stop that Supersonic! Creed, Whirlwind on the Sableye- send 'em back to the depths of the cave!"
In the midst of panicking, Alastor did not notice a man silently judging his battle. As soon as the two Sableye were out of sight, he called out his pokemon. A huge silver monstrosity with a yellow X on it's face.
"Metagross, Flash!"
Instantly the room lit up and Alastor ran to his Treecko, feeding it Oran Berries. He returned his Makuhita and Wingull, focussing his attention on his starter. Not even paying attention to the man in a suit walking toward him.
"Hello there! What's your name?" asked the man.
"Alastor," he answered without even looking up from his injured pokemon. Alastor was not in the mood for pleasantries.
"You should be careful Alastor- not using Flash down here often leads to these situations."
No answer.
"If I were you, I'd have instead had all three doing the same job- separating your pokemon like that only works when your pokemon can handle multiple pokemon ganging up on it."
No answer.
"While the Whirlwind was certainly a genius move, I'd have thought that simply returning your Treecko to it's pokeball would've sufficed. Why did you let him suffer so long?"
"Oh will you keep your opinions to yourself already! It's easy for a nobody like you to-"
Alastor lost his cool and finally looked at the stranger, and it was certainly not some nobody. The man who stood behind him giving him advice was none other than Steven Stone. The Champion. (Though Wallace and him did share the title).
"Hmmmm, it seems you've got yourself in quite the bind. You should probably go to the Pokemon Center soon."
"Ya, I'll do that." Slowly, he got up, carrying his pokemon in his arms.
"You're a good battler Alastor. It isn't easy for trainers to keep up with ambushes like that easily. Everyone makes mistakes. Today you made yours- don't dwell on it, only learn from it."
"Um, thanks ."
"Please, call me Steven," he said, smiling warmly.
"Oh, ya, uh sure Steven. So I'll go now, see you around I suppose."
"Very well then, I shall continue my expedition- running around caves is a favourite pass time of us both it seems like."
The two trainers went in opposite directions. Alastor towards the exit and the Hoenn champion went deeper into the cave.
"Hey Steven!"
The champion a bit startled turns around. They're a bit far away now but he can see it. The Alastor who called him was not the weak trainer he'd found a couple minutes earlier. There was something different.
"I only have one gym badge so far, and this may be presumptuous of me. Probably is. But don't be surprised when I show up in Evergrande City to challenge you for your title. I'm coming for you."
Immediately Alastor turned around and made his way out of the cave. Leaving behind a smiling Steven Stone.
'Let's just hope that happens Alastor, let's hope it does'
AN: With Alastor having gotten encouragement from the champion himself, how far will he go? Will he be able to make good on that promise? We'll have to wait and see.
With all that said, leave reviews to let me know how to improve/which parts you liked the most! Every review helps me improve in some way.