- N - = Nicky's part
- J - = my part
Chapter 017 - More training and research!
- J -
As soon as Roark left, Amethyst turned to Riley and Stephanie, a serious expression on her face. They had been chatting before, while Amethyst conversed with the miner. What would have they been talking about?
Well, she would find out later, asking Stephanie.
"Uh, you're right." The woman said, when Riley pointed out the dim light of her hard hat. "Then, can I take it off? It looks ridiculous on me!"
At first, Amethyst wasn't very impressed by the dark tunnels. She had been in darker caves, after all. She walked near Riley, but somewhat keeping the distance... The thought of the hug from before just wouldn't get out of her mind. Why did it mean? Would there be... something else after that?
Not to mention the stupid beast! Questions, questions, questions!
"I don't see anyone else but us. It's like there's no one working here."
The teen's scared words somehow frightened Amethyst. She was right. Everything was totally dark, and the air was thin... All she could cling to was the light of Aura Riley was creating.
Thoughtlessly, Amethyst grabbed Riley's left arm. She didn't stop looking around... And, finally, a few, long minutes later...
"We're here."
"Phew." Amethyst sighed, definitely not enjoying the experience.
However, she blushed when Riley took her for her hand. It was slightly annoying the fact that he treated her like a damsel in distress... then again, he was the only one that treated like a real lady. And she loved that...
"Th-thank you, Riley..." She stuttered. "But I... umh, can walk by myself..."
Amethyst selected her softest tone since she didn't want to sound rude.
Suddenly, Stephanie's discovery caught her attention, her purple eyes rested on the flashlight.
"Oh, so someone actually DOES use this cavern, after all." Amethyst said, flickering repeatedly when the teenager pointed her with the flashlight.
"Whoever used the room before us sure was violent. Look at this."
The woman went to look. Claw marks... then fingernail scratches... Amethyst gulped, believing they were playing with fire. However, that time she decided to hide her emotions.
The chestnut-head noticed Riley at the other side of the cavern, examining the walls along with Laelaps. Amethyst felt the urge to go to ask, but she didn't want to be a pest...
"Looks like something slept here."
Amethyst looked at the blankets... and the toy Stephanie had just picked up. A... Rampardos toy...
"Hehe, yeah, it's cute." Amethyst giggled, softly; she picked up the plushie as the teen handed it to her. "I wonder who's its owner...?"
Of course, Roark was the one who appeared in Amethyst's mind. But did it have to be Roark, anyway? She was sure that most of Roark's workmates had children, and some of those children believed Roark was an idol? That would be a good reason for a kid to have a Rampardos toy. And the reason for being there... Well, maybe the father had taken his son to the mine as a tour or something? Questions! Questions!
"Is everything okay, Miss Amy? Do… do you think we should start training here?"
Amethyst flinched and shook her head.
"Uh, oh... Yeah." She finally said. "We have to hurry a bit. Lunch time will be in two hours."
The purple-eyed woman gave Riley a last glance before sitting on the ground and opening her bag.
"Alright." Amethyst said. "We finished the lesson about in-battle and regular items, remember, Ms. Brown?"
She took a small basket out from her bag. After opening it, she showed the blondie a bunch of fruits.
"Now, berries!" Amethyst announced. "Berries don't get a lot of attention, which is unfair because they're more useful than they look..."
"Picking them is a pain in the neck, which is the main reason why people don't collect berries." Amethyst added. "But thanks to my brother, who acquires a lot of different berries by winning competitions, I have a bunch of berries at your disposal!"
Amethyst handed Stephanie a tiny, red berry.
"That's the cheri berry, which heals paralysis." She explained. "Remember that Roark's Rampardos knows shock wave." She took a bigger, yellow berry. "Mmh, this is a sitrus berry, which can make your pokémon get back some energy..."
"I'm sure you already knew these two berries, but oh well." Amethyst said, taking a tiny, yellow berry along with a bigger berry. "Ah! These are the charti berry, which decreases the power of rock-type attacks, and the shuca berry, which lowers the power of ground-type attacks."
"You could make Rodent hold one of these berries in your match against Roark." Amethyst said, handing them over Stephanie. "They're very rare... but oh well, you need them more than I do, definitely."
Amethyst rubbed her chin before taking a small. purple berry out from her basket.
"Mmh... This is quite a 'desperate' berry." She explained. "When held, it increases your pokémon's defense if it has few HP left."
"There are a lot of 'desperate' berries, as I call them." Amethyst added. "They can increase attack, speed, accuracy, and they even can help your pokémon to make a critical hit... but only if your pokémon is at its last."
Amethyst digged in her basket, as if looking for something.
"Mmh, I used to have a berry that would have helped you against Roark." She said. "The jaboca berry, which makes the enemy take damage if they attack you with a physical move. But I used it. Too bad."
"Well, these are all the berries you can use in battle, Ms. Brown." The woman said. "Along with the items I just gave you, they should be enough if you use them properly... Do you have any question?"
- N -
"Of course," Riley chuckled softly as Amy took off her hard hat. "You look better without it, anyway,"
Reluctantly, he released her arm as they began to explore the cavern, he illuminating the room with a glowing aura sphere while Brown brandished her flashlight and hardhat.
"Do you want a light, too, Miss Amy?" Riley noticed the teenager offering the flashlight to Amethyst. "I already got a hat,"
He turned to the Lucario, a look of annoyance marring his chiselled, statuesque features.
You didn't have to do that, you know, He thought, the Lucario understanding him perfectly. Roark's a friend – you know that as well as I do.
The enemy of my enemy is my friend; the friend of my enemy is my enemy, Laelaps simply replied. Roark is hiding something. He's tainted with the fox's smell and don't for a moment think I'm going to let something as trivial as a friendship get in the way of this hunt.
Riley didn't look at the pokemon, instead opting to bend down and inspect another torn piece of clothing. It felt like trouser material.
I'm not going to stop you, He answered. But I am going to insist you keep your vendetta to yourself if it means upsetting my friends. Are we understood?
Laelaps glowered at him, but nodded in compliance.
Good, Riley darted a glance at Amethyst, who was now showing Brown a Sitrus berry. The teenager looked bemusedly at the fruit in her hand, obviously confused at the brightly-coloured thing. A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. The thought of the beast clearly had upset Amethyst. Everything was perfect, peaceful, even, without this stupid Zoroark ruining it. If he could just give up the hunt…
No. Oreburgh was being plagued – things were being killed – he had at the very least a duty to stop the monster. Even if it meant having to defer some… pleasures… while he was at it.
What is it you wanted to show me? He turned to his Lucario. The dog held out its forepaw in the air, both eyes closed; Riley followed, tapping into the Aura of the room.
It was dark, but Riley could hear a voice. The light from the flashlight came into view, held by a thin hand.
'Roark, can you hear me?' The voice was heavily accented with what, Riley realised, was typical Unovvain enunciation. 'It's Serena."
Something whimpered in the darkness, a cross between a growl and a human voice.
'It's Serena,' Serena Joy came into view, shining the light on herself. 'See? It's just me. Nothing to be afraid of. I brought more blankets,'
True to her word, she had several blankets in her draped over one arm. She turned to face the corner where Riley knew the bedding had been. Out of formality, she didn't shine the light on the bed, probably trying her best not to upset the creature.
Where was Roark? Riley wondered, searching the room in his mind's eye. Serena was alone – not even with her Audino.
'You okay?' Serena trod cautiously, quietly, as if one wrong move would send the creature upon her. 'It's okay if you don't want to come see me or anything; I'm not leaving. I'm staying right here for you.'
She settled by the exit, taking out a small notebook and writing by the light from her torch. In the darkness, something breathed heavily, laboured and tired.
'You're hurt, aren't you?'
The darkness shifted, something big ambled towards her, a limp in its gait. Riley stared, fixated, as the Zoroark stepped into the light Serena held. The creature was gigantic, barely smaller than an Ursaring and muscled liberally, dark fur covered its body, barely concealing its admirable musculature. A mane of curled, dark red hair ran down its back, the colour of copper, or dirty blood.
With a pained growl, the beast tilted its body, letting the Joy get a view of something it had on its arm. Riley craned his neck, but couldn't get a good view of it.
'Poisoned again?' Serena sighed, a tired smile on her face. She looked almost matronly, like an actual nurse, as she pulled an Antidote from her bag. 'That's what you get for trying to hunt Zubats, you goof,'
After she applied the medication, the creature leaned in, touching its forehead to her. They stayed like that for a long, tired moment, before it loped back to the darkness, the spare blankets Serena brought hanging from its mouth gingerly.
Serena watched his leave.
'What are you going to do without me?' She laughed softly…
…And then the scene vanished. The room blurred and reformed itself.
It must've been another day, a little later; Serena's hair had grown longer. Part of her dress had been torn, and her arm was bleeding from a cut running along her shoulder. Her other arm was preoccupied with a tortoiseshell hand mirror. She staggered backwards, fell, and scrambled on her bum backwards.
The flashlight rolled on the ground, illuminating, for a brief second, the pad-pad-pad of clawed feet making their way towards her.
She was sobbing uncontrollably.
'I know… I know you can recognise me,' Her voice was steely, but shaking slightly. 'And… I know, tomorrow morning, you are really really going to regret this…'
She held the mirror in front of her like a shield.
'Look! Look! Can't you recognise yourself?' She cried, sounding ragged and desperate. 'Think! Remember who you are!'
The sound of claws clicking intensified, as the creature gave of a hungry bestial growl that sounded far from human. Serena's voice was gasping for air as she sobbed. Riley noticed she'd been crying.
'Please,' She whispered, tears were staining her face, tugging makeup in strands down her cheeks.
The creature stopped as it approached her, staring long and hard at the monster in the mirror, before smacking it down to the floor in an anguished cry. Serena stared, her chest heaving, at the pieces of glass strewn across the floor, before looking back at the Zoroark, which was quickly running, howling, back into the darkness…
Riley blinked, clutching his head, not with pain, but with the realisation of something bigger. Serena had been with the Zoroark, she even cared about it, but it… it didn't know better. It was still a danger, but it was also something she loved.
This… changes things, He muttered in his mind. Laelaps nodded. We're going to have to be a lot subtler now. Serena's obviously going to protect that thing with her life.
And Roark? Laelaps arched a brow.
I have a suspicion, but… no. Riley shook his head. I won't believe it. At least, not yet.
He walked up to Brown and Amethyst, who were still reviewing berries.
"We don't have this sort of thing in Jhoto," Stephanie stared at the different fruits before her, as Rodent gnawed happily on the Sitrus. "All we have are Apricorns! This… this is incredible."
"Well, if you ask me," Riley attempted to sound chipper, squatting down to meet the seated blonde in the eye, "it might be a good idea to test them out, first," He pulled a 'desperate' berry from the pile.
"How about you try the Ganlon berry?" He placed it in the blonde's hand. "Rodent could use a defence boost if his HP got too low,"
Brown shook her head. "No thanks, Mr Riley," She turned to her Raticate. "Rodent already has a hold item, and we're not going to get rid of it yet… but we do need to find some berries we can use in battle."
Riley looked up at the purple-eyed trainer, the very image of sagely divinity as she taught the younger trainer what she knew. He was quite impressed – her knowledge was profound. A smile involuntarily took over his face.
"Maybe… Maybe it's a good time to show her how you use in-battle items, Amethyst?" he suggested. "I think Rodent's ready for another battle,"
The Raticate nodded enthusiastically. "Raticate!"
Brown mirrored the gesture, nodding, "Okay, then, but… Which items can I use for the battle, Miss Amy? And which ones will you be using?"
- J -
Amethyst brandished the highlight Stephanie had just given her as she showed the blondie the most useful berries. However, she couldn't help but give Riley and Laelaps some random glance from time to time.
"I wonder what they're seeing..."
Stephanie was absorbed with the explanations, Amethyst noticed. She had never seen her so attentive... The purple-eyed woman felt somewhat proud when the teenager displayed so much interest in the 'training'.
"If Ms. Brown is liking this," Amethyst thought, a light smile on her face. "then I can't be doing it 'that' wrong..."
"Well, if you ask me, it might be a good idea to test them out, first."
Amethyst flinched. She hadn't noticed Riley was bending over them. When had he approached them?
The young woman looked at the man and the teen alternatively. For a moment, she believed she was at Iron Island and, instead of Stephanie, there it was Emerald... Just like happened eight years ago. Everything was so familiar!
"Oh, I had forgotten about that 'mysterious item' of Ms. Brown's!" Amethyst exclaimed, winking at the blondie."I can't wait to see which kind of item you're talking about!"
"Maybe… Maybe it's a good time to show her how you use in-battle items, Amethyst? I think Rodent's ready for another battle."
"Already?" Amethyst asked; then looked at Rodent, who was nodding. "Ummh, okay."
She stood up and stayed at the other side of the cavern, giving Stephanie time to go to the other corner.
Which items can I use for the battle, Miss Amy? And which ones will you be using?"
"You're free to use whichever of the items I've given to you." Amethyst answered, gently. "You can even give Rodent a boll of Iron, to see its effect."
"As I said before, vitamins are incredibly powerful and also make pokémon friendlier." Amethyst added. "But I don't want Rodent to get an indigestion so, in case you want to give him some Iron now, just give him one boll."
Suddenly, Amethyst took a diary out of her bag and wrote down something.
"I'm annotating that we have to go buy some X-Defense when this training is over." The chestnut-head explained. "Also, we'll try to find the pink bow and the silk scarf, the items that boost the power of normal-types moves."
Amethyst kept the diary in her bag again.
"I'm sorry." She mumbled, as apologizing for taking her so long to write down everything. "I won't be using any item this time."
"This is a training to polish your defense skills, after all." Amethyst said, seriously. "The training from before turned into a 'speed training', and that's not what you need. I'll just tell Toge to attack Rodent with different moves, and we'll see how you manage to keep your defense up."
The young woman sent Toge out of his pokéball.
"Toge, it's training time again!" Amethyst exclaimed. "Come on, Ms. Brown, let's see how you put into use all I've taught you today!"
Toge flapped his strong wings and started to fly. For being several levels over Rodent's, he had the first move.
"Mmmh, this time I'll use some different moves." Amethyst thought. "Toge! Use aerial ace!"
"Aerial ace is another move that never misses." Amethyst kept thinking, looking at Stephanie. "I know Stephanie wants Rodent to dodge all the possible moves, but it's not their speed what the have to improve, not their defense..."
"And if they want to improve their defense, they have to take some damage!" Amethyst got prepared for another turn. "Now, use air slash!"
Amethyst wasn't using her strongest moves. That way, Rodent would have more chances to improve at the battle kept going.
Toge formed a ball of blue light and threw it to Rodent.
"Ms. Brown!" Amethyst exclaimed, then. "Keep in mind that this is your last battle before your match against Roark! Please, choose your moves/items carefully and remember that it's defense what you have to improve!"
"Toge!" Amethyst exclaimed. "After air slash, try using your sky attack!"
Toge was still waiting to see if his previous attack hit Rodent when he started to glow in the air. A white aura surrounded his chubby body.
"Sky attack might be the strongest flying-type move," Amethyst thought, frowning. "but it takes a lot of time to be formed and executed -that's why I'm using it! Let's see how Ms. Brown overcomes this..."