Chapter 9: Small Battle with N

Spring Burrow was a place that was highly known for its famous hot spring, taken from a nearby cave. The spring was for both Pokemon and people, and was cleaned by the water-type gym leader there. He was said to be a kind hearted man, and had some of the spring water running through his gym, or so it was said.

Aria and I decided to lay low in a Pokemon center in the town. We had already given our Pokemon to Nurse Joy and had them handed back to us. We looked at the map and tried to figure out how far we were from course.

"We're not too far off, in fact we're really closer." Said Aria, looking at the map. "We just need to get through this mountain with Spring Cave, then through Sakura Town, and then through a mountain range of the name Havendrift, then we'll be at out last stop."

Eevee laid on my shoulder as I slouched on the couch of the restaurant area of the hospital. Both of us exhausted from the heat.

'You guys really need to adapt to the heat' murmured Latias' voice in my head.

'We both lived in the mountains for years,' I thought, and expected her to read my thoughts. But she didn't reply.

Spring Cave was a road that wasn't too long, if we didn't get lost. The first owner, was from the age of the war on this island. He had it mined so often that the inside of the cave was like a labyrinth or so it was told in books. Now the people who mined it or traversed it was forced to keep a map on them, and if there was an uncharted route, they were told to map it out.

The Chansey brought us three glasses of what was called , or so Aria said. She said it was a tasty and common drink in the outside world. The Chansey put them on the table beside each of us, and then I quietly thanked her.

My drink was dark brown, but more black. Small bubbles flew to the top of the drink from the bottom endlessly. The ice inside crackled quietly and sunk deeper into the drink. A clear straw sat in the pool of darkness.

I stared at it; the drink didn't look all that appetizing. Aria quietly sipped at it and kept an eye on the map. I looked at it and looked at Latias, who was drinking it normally, had she had it before?

'No I didn't, it tastes good,' she intruded.

'Latias, please stay out of my thoughts,' I begged.

She smiled at me mischievously and continued to drink from the cup.

"I think we should go 'around' Spring cave," said Aria.

I looked down at the map and insisted," We're walking through the cave, from there it shouldn't be too long. Besides maybe one of the miners in the cave may help us get through if that's the problem."

"Yeah, I suppose so. It shouldn't be too hard with the help of a miner." Sighed Aria, was that what was really wrong?

"What's up," I asked.

"Our journey ends soon, and it really is a lot of fun." Said Aria.

"I suppose so, running from enemies, off to save a life; I feel like we're heroes from a novel!" I said.

Then right then and there I had completely stopped thinking about the fact that there was a different liquid in my drink, I brought it up to my lips and started to drink. The drink was sweet and cold, but it also burned my tongue in a strange way, making me yearn for more. Yet there was a strange pepper like taste in it, but it wasn't spicy or bitter, it was sweet like candy. Hence they were made out of the same material sugar.

"This is good," I quietly muttered to myself. I rose it to my shoulder and let Eevee sip on it.

"Eev!" said Eevee, her voice finding enjoyment in the foreign drink.

"Isn't it?" Aria said. "But anyway, I just hope the miners are alright with helping their fellow trainers."

"I'm sure it isn't too much of a problem for them," I said taking another sip.

"Yeah I guess so, we better head to a store for equipment first. According to the map there's a store further down the block. I have to go to this other one so do you mind if you buy some supplies for me to cut down on the time it takes?"

"Sounds easy," I said, picking up my bag. "Latias stay with Aria. Let's meet back here in about 30 minutes."

"Hold it, I haven't even told you what needs to be bought."

She pulled a pen out of her bag and wrote down a list on a nearby napkin.

"Hear take this," she said, after she was done writing.

I pulled the napkin off the table and looked at it. She wanted some water, some rope, and some repellent.

"That should be all I need from that store," Aria said. She grabbed her bag and stood up. "I have to go to the other store. Give me 30 minutes and we'll meet you back here."

"Sounds good," I said, and the three of us walked out the door. We split and entered a store that was at the exact end of the block. It was a two story building that read 'Trainer's convenience'. It was simple in design and was fairly short, and was made of gray bricks.

The door entrance was a simple pair of glass doors. I walked into the store and felt the air conditioning hit me like a wall of ice. Goose bumps crept up my skin and made me shiver. I could then feel Eevee's warmth on my shoulder against my suddenly cold skin.

'At least it's a temperature I'm used to,' I thought to myself. To my left and right were a few employees working at the cash registers. Speaking of which, I took out my wallet from my backpack quickly and proceeded into the aisles before me.

"Hello again, Roukou, right?" said a man from behind me.

I quickly turned around surprised and saw a slightly taller young teenager staring me down.

"N…" I silently muttered. Why are you here, I calmly wondered to myself.

"Hmm… Your Pokemon is very attached to you." He said, not really paying attention to me.

"Eev!" said Eevee from my left shoulder.

"Let's battle!" said N.

"What, but I have other things to do and well I'm not a big fighter." I started to say to excuse myself.

Eevee jumped off my shoulder ready to fight.

"C'mon it'll be good practice for both of us." Said N.

"Umm…" I started to say getting thrown out of the conversation.

I followed him outside where he said," Let's go to a nearby park where we won't be in the way of other people."

I was forced to follow him to a park that was a couple blocks from the front of the store. The park was large and seemed to be built so kids or teens could battle here. After all there was a large empty square of short grass that was neatly trimmed and maintained. The square was about 15 yards long and wide. For an amateurish battle orchestrated by children it would be a good size. I went to one end of the grass patch and stood there, thinking 'I really don't have time for this.'

Then I remembered what Latias said,' 'I smelled the strong stench of Pokemon. But that's not all. He had the stench of an old creature. Something powerful, sort of like that Pokemon that was chasing after me.'

He slipped his hand into his pocket and my body tensed. Eevee seemed to be calm, standing beside me as if there was nothing to worry about.

I was expecting him to pull out some other ball than a standard Pokeball, but that's what he was using. I sighed lightly and waited for him to send out whoever it was.

He sent out a sneasel onto the field.

I stared blankly at it, I was expecting something from Metagross, Tyranitar, Agron, and e.t.c to a sneasel.

Eevee was about to walk onto the field when I said," Hold it this isn't your battle. It will be Zorua's."

Eevee looked at me angrily and returned to my side.

I took a Pokeball from my pocket and released Zorua onto the field, who laid there. He didn't get up after a few seconds of waiting.

Wait was he injured from the last battle, but I could've swore I gave him to Nurse Joy when I made it to town.

Then he lifted his head and quietly yawned, and stood up. He frowned and looked around the field as if he were lost. He saw me and stared at me blankly as though he were saying, 'what have you done 'now' you stupid human.'

"Zorua, just do me a favor. Will you listen to my orders and fight with me." I begged, to him.

He gave me the face that obviously would've read, 'You are such a pain, but just this once.'

Before he turned around to face the sneasel he lightly smiled at me and got ready to fight.

"Are you ready?" asked N.

I smiled and said," We're not going down easily!"

"Sneasel, Metal claw!"

"Zorua, Sucker Punch!"

Zorua quickly ran up to the Sneasel and slammed into him before he had a chance to strike. Sneasel clawed at Zorua and hurt his right front leg before Zorua can retreat back.

"Nice play, but don't think that you're going to beat me with priority!" N said enjoying the challenge.

"It's on!" I said.

"Sneasel Ice shard!" Shouted N.

"Sucker Punch!" I shouted.

But this time Zorua didn't strike first instead he was hit with pieces of ice to the face that was created by sneasel. Zorua jumped back in surprise, forgetting to listen to me.

"Zorua listen up, use Sucker punch, if you could survive a few more shots, the game is in the bag!" I shouted.

He growled and started to run at the sneasel. Sneasel simply smiled and shook his head, insulting Zorua for his foolishness.

"Metal Claw!"

He jumped into the air suddenly, at a speed that made Zorua look around in confusion. I could see him spin around in mid-air for additional strength before he came down.

"Zorua above you! Dodge it and hit him with any move you can!" I shouted.

He looked up and he raced to the air with him, but as soon as he got into the air he got smacked with sneasel's open hand, pushing his face straight to the ground.

"Zorua back out!" I shouted.

But he ignored me and tried to tackle Sneasel, who simply dodged him and tripped him. Zorua tumbled to the ground and tried to stand back up again.

"Return!" I shouted pulling out my Pokeball and pressing the button on it.

The sneasel started to laugh as Zorua disappeared back into the ball.

"I respect you for your attempt," said N, smiling sympathetically.

"Thanks…" said, unsure of what to say.

"Would you like to have a rematch with a different Pokemon," asked N. "I have someone else other than Sneasel to make the game fair."

"What do you say Eevee?" I asked looking down to her.

She looked up at me as if the answer were obvious.

"Let's avenge Zorua!" I said. She ran to the field ready to battle.

"Awesome, alright then I'll take out another Pokemon!" said N, pulling out two Pokeballs. He returned Sneasel into one and took out a growlithe.

Alright this fight is going to be better, I thought to myself.

"Growlithe, use ember!" N said this time.

The growlithe breathed sparks of flame that were no bigger than the sparks from a dying cinder in a campfire.

Eevee dodged out of the way without even thinking. She ran forward and I shouted," Show them what where made of! Return!"

She rammed the growlithe and sent him flying back to N.

"Wha-" he said shocked. He looked down at his growlithe in pure shock. The growlithe stood up and stumbled around for a few seconds dazed. "What did you feed your Eevee?"

"Close bonds," I said smiling. Eevee was still ready to fight, as she waited for the Growlithe to get back up and get ready to fight. Then the growlithe shook his head and stared at Eevee who was about two yards away.

"Growlithe quick attack!" shouted N.

He ran forward to Eevee who sat there tensing her muscles. She was planning to take the move head on. The growlithe jumped up when he was close enough to her and rammed her with all his weight upward. Then for some strange reason, I felt the pain lightly, almost as if I were Eevee.

Eevee quickly recovered and simply knocked him back down with a half-hearted return.

The growlithe flew down and laid there, knocked out.

N looked at me stunned, was he that surprised that Eevee was this strong?

"Have any other Pokemon?" I asked. "We need a tie breaker!"

"Agreed," said N, pulling out two Pokeball. He put Growlithe back into the ball and took out his Sneasel again.

"Sneasel!"said Sneasel ready to battle.

"Are you sure?" I asked, it was after all unfair to fight a Pokemon that was already injured.

"The question is who will survive longest in this slug fest. Besides she took growlithe's quick attack head on." Responded N.

He had a point, the question was not even who will win; it was who will last longest? I would estimate that Eevee would win in endurance, but she took a quick attack from a growlithe. But then Sneasel also took a sucker punch from Zorua. There's no point in wondering, all we can do is battle.

"Hold on, let me take out Zorua." I said, to N.

"Wait you're planning to switch out?" he asked.

"No, I just want to set an example to Zorua."

I pulled out another ball and let Zorua out. He sat this time, he was beaten but he seemed to at least have calmed down.

"This time, Eevee's going to battle Sneasel." I said. "Eevee let's show him how it's done!"

"Eev!" shouted Eevee.

"Sneasel, ice shard!" said N.

Eevee nimbly rolled out of the way and stood back up.

"Sneasel get closer and repeat!" said N.

The sneasel ran forward at lightning speed that would've made anyone wonder why he needed priority. His movement was so fast that all I could see was a blur of black.

"Eevee, get away and get ready to strike on my say-so!" I shouted.

She jumped back a couple of times but it was nothing compared to Sneasel's wind repelling speed. He was 5 feet no 4 feet away from Eevee. No but now's not the time for me to counter.

Eevee clenched he paws, nervously waiting for me.

"3 feet," I started to mutter. "2."

Then time slowed as Sneasel was just about to go air-borne.

"Sneasel Metal Claw!"

"Now!" I practically screamed.

Eevee rammed forward at the same time, just before sneasel can use Ice Shard, but at the same time, as Sneasel's claws started to shine. Eevee smashed into Sneasel at the same time as Sneasel slammed Eevee with a full does of metal claw. Eevee was slammed into the ground, but Sneasel was thrown back and landed onto his feet, but quickly fell to his knees.

They stared at each other both waiting for the other to fall. Eevee stood there but then she started to fall with Sneasel. But then as Sneasel fell face-flat to the ground, Eevee simply fell back and sat down.

"Great, fantastic job Eevee!" I shouted running to her. I scooped her up into my arms and she fainted.

I looked down to Zorua, who was looking up at me. He had a small smile, he most likely enjoyed the match, but was trying his best not to show it.

"Hey you're not a bad Pokemon, you just need to stay calm in a match," I said patting his head while balancing Eevee in one arm. I put Zorua back into his ball and looked over to N.

"Good job sneasel!" said N, he returned him into his ball with a small smirk.

"Good game N," I said, looking down at Eevee.

"Good game Rokou!" said N. "Let's go to the Pokecenter to heal our Pokemon!"

Which reminded me, Aria must be worried about me.

"Say Rokou what do you train for?" asked N.

"Me?" I asked, I wondered to myself. "What do I train for?"

I lightly chuckled to myself and shrugged. What was my meaning of life, what was the meaning of everything I did?

"I have no idea, what do you train for?"

"I train to find out how strong the bond between Pokemon and people affect everyone. I felt I never understood it, and so I was easily defeated before." He sighed and looked to the sky as if he were remembering old memories. Then he said," These aren't my first Pokemon, I had a much stronger team before. Everyone was fully evolved, but I was defeated easily by another trainer... I guess part of the reason why I wanted to understand the bond between Pokemon and people so badly was to understand why this one trainer was so strong."

With that said we left to the Pokecenter.

Sure enough Aria was worried, waiting for me as she tapped her foot by the same table as we sat earlier. I had brought Eevee and Zorua in for care and had just walked into the restaurant with N.

Aria and Latias looked at us with fear, as if I had just brought some psycho with me.

"Hello… I can see I'm unwanted so, I'll see you'll later. May our paths cross again Rokou." Said N disappearing.

"Wait," I started to say, but he was out the door and gone.

"Hey Roukou, are you okay," asked Aria.

"Yeah, we just had a match, I won." I said.

'You beat a legendary with an Eevee and a Zorua?' asked Latias.

"No!" I said.

"Yeah, I think you need to go get more sleep," said Aria.

"No, I mean no to latias not to you Aria."

"So, how about the items," asked Aria.

"Let me got get them now. The nurse shouldn't take long in healing my Pokemon, the damage wasn't too bad after all." I said.

"So you had a battle, and your Pokemon were beaten up?" asked Aria.

"Yeah, the win was more of a tie though," I admitted. "Anyway I'm going to get the things you requested."

"Wait, you'll need money," muttered Aria.

But money wasn't much of a problem, or at least not yet. I ignored her attempt to stop me and continued down the path to the store. Halfway through a random man stopped me. He wore a long brown trench coat and baggy khakis to go with a pair of dark boots. He was an older man maybe in his late 30's?

"Hello young boy! May I ask you if there has been any incidents of The Wizards in this town?" asked the man.

"Sorry sir, but I'm not from around here," I said. "And, may I ask; who are you?"

"Oh sorry, my name is Handsome!" said the old man.

'Okay,' I thought to myself sarcastically.

"Then may I propose another question," he asked.

"You may," I said.

"Has Team Wizard been bothering you or anyone you know?" asked the man.

"Yeah," I muttered lightly.

He took out a notepad and pencil," Do you know their motives, or anything about them?"

"I think they're going after other people's Pokemon, sometimes. They hunt in large groups and corner people. They seem to be alright with attacking in the middle of public too!" I told the man, bringing back memories of the past.

"Hmm… I know who you are!" shouted Handsome.

"What?" I asked.

"You're that kid on T.V the Wizards have been hunting!"

"What? Me, I have noth-" I started to say, but Handsome leaned closer to me and said, "I'm part of the International Police, and I have some things to ask you."

"Go ahead," I said.

"Was that a Latias in the room with you and another girl?" asked Handsome.

"No sir, it was most likely dust or static," I said.

"No way, then what did you ride off the balcony," asked Handsome.

"A Staraptor."

"Er… I'll be keeping an eye on you," he said, making the hand sign.

"Yeah," I muttered.

We parted ways and after I couldn't see him I was tempted to run but I kept my legs stiff, and forced them into a slow motion walk. I entered the small store that I had entered earlier and felt as though I was hiding again. I was nervous, was that man really in some sort of police organization? There's no point worrying about it now, all I could do is just to wait for anything to happen.

I quickly scouted the store for whatever was needed and returned to the Pokemon center.

Aria remained at the same table with Latias sitting beside her. It was 6:00 P.M already and we haven't even set course to the mountains.

"The nurse gave me your Pokemon," said Aria, trading in my Pokemon for her goods.

"We best get going," I said, pocketing my Pokeballs.

Everyone nodded and we raced out of the Pokemon center and made our way to the mountain.

The road that lead into the mountain was old and had grass growing in the dirt. A weathered wooden sign stood in the dirt beside the cave.

"Enter with caution. CAUTION: you may get lost. Ask Miner for assistance." I muttered what was on the sign. "Shall we proceed without a miner, or wait here for one, or even go in to search for one."

The list of suggestions increased as I thought about it.

"Let's go in, we don't have too much time due to a certain 'someone' having a battle," said Aria.

'Named Roukou…' Latias quietly telepathied.

'Okay, okay, my bad.' I lightly thought to myself.

"Let's take out our flashlights," said Aria. "Hold it you have one right?"

"Yeah I do, but Latias, do you need one?" I quickly asked.

'Yeah, sadly I don't have any abilities necessary to see in the dark,' she said sadly.

"Yeah we're down a flashlight." I said.

"It's very cool how you can do that… Anyway, um, Latias can take my flashlight. I'll use my Shinx instead." Said Aria.

"You had a shinx?" I asked surprised.

"I had one, I just kept him in my Pc." She said.

"Why?" I asked, surprised.

"Um… Well I lent him to my cousin who studies Pokemon," she said, quickly.

"Cool," I said.

"Come out Shinx!" said Aria.

The Shinx came out onto the field and looked around confused by its surroundings.

"Hey Shinx remember me?" asked Aria.

"Shinx?" asked the Shinx.

"Of course you do!" said Aria. She quickly hugged him but it seemed the Shinx didn't like that. The Shinx quickly zapped her with a spark of electricity causing her hair to rise. Aria let go in shock and ran to Latias side for protection.

"What's going on?" I asked Aria.

"Well my cousin and I traded Pokemon so yeah." She said, once again. She patted down her hair and stood up.

'Hm. This Shinx says he was never in any contact with humans before.' Latias' voice echoed in my head.

"Are you sure it's from your cousin," I asked.

"Y-Yeah!" stammered Aria.

"Latias is disagreeing, she says that the Shinx is saying that he never was in contact with a human before, that looked or smelled like you," I said.

"No we're completely different people," said Aria.

"If you say so." I muttered, how strange.

"Whatever the case, we should get another flashlight, that Shinx is probably not going to listen to you at first." I said.

"Agreed," sighed Aria.

'The more I watch Aria, the more suspicious she is.' Said Latias.

'No need to be so suspicious of her. Sometimes there are people in life that you just don't want to talk about, this must be one of those moments for Aria.' I thought.

'If you say so,' Latias said calmly.

"Come one back to the store." I said walking bock down the road.

'Hold it.' Said Latias.

I stopped and quickly told Aria in a hushed voice," Hold on, says Latias."

Aria's eyes opened wide with shock. She stayed put and looked at Latias and back to me.

'I sense multiple people and Pokemon heading towards this cave. Most of them are evolved.' Said Latias.

"Latias, you sure they're not the miners?" I asked.

"I don't sense anyone who can dig, but I sense a lot of Pokemon that can battle," said Latias.

"Then inside we go and hope for the best," said Aria.

We quickly ran into the tunnel and Shinx followed after Latias.

{Setsuna Damius' note: HANDSOME = LOOKER is the first thing that I must say before I'm asked who in the world is Handsome. Why is he called Handsome? I don't know I just got used to calling him Handsome, because in Japan, he's known as Handsome, don't ask. Anyhow, I was originally supposed to lead them into the cave, this chapter, but deadlines. *Hisses and squints eyes.* Anyhow umm… so yeah now N and Handsome *looker* is now in the series. Today I present you with where Roukou originated!

Roukou's Profile:

Really Roukou, I guess was supposed to be me. The blue hair was really just something I wanted to do, but the one thing that's different is that I'm much less talkative and he is really the opposite. His name originates from Japan, and means 6, does this have a meaning? Hehehe you will find out soon… However not for a while. Roukou is really that guy that I originally had as my avatar and is now this fanfic's cover! It may say Xerxes *Pronounced Zer-ex-zes* , but the whole cover was a draft, and well Xerxes was originally supposed to be named Xerxes. But then I started to get tired of the name and so if you read through the first few chapters you'll notice how his name doesn't appear for a long time.

NEXT I'D LIKE TO GIVE A THANKS TO 'Anon' AND 'Archsage328' FOR THE REVIEW, Really thank you!

Tip of the Week: Creating the team that's based off of weather!

There's sun teams, rain teams, Sandstorm teams, and Hail teams (Although they're not that good in my opinion)! They each have one Pokemon that must be in the team. Tyranitar for Sandstorm, Ninetails *must be from Friend Safari or Dream world * for Sun teams, Politoad * must be from Friend Safari or Dream world* for rain teams, and finally Abomasnow for hail teams. Each of them can cause a change in weather by appearing. Teams based off of weather can sometimes be very hard to stop, and sometimes there are Pokemon who have abilities revolving around the weather, like Swift Swim and Ice Body. Some moves revolve around Weather, such as weather ball, and wow was I surprised to find a Roserade kill my Cloyster in one hit with Weather ball in the sun. Also Hurricane and Thunder work well in the rain, Solar beam in the sun, Blizzard in hail, and I don't think anything changes in the sandstorm. Right now in my opinion the hardest to stop is the Rain team and the second hardest to stop is the sandstorm team. Figure out which team works better for you!}