"speech" - Human talking
"speech" - Legendary Pokemon talking
Chapter 22
6/25/0046/Morning
Route 45
"Alright Swablu, wrap this up with Air Slash!" Mari yelled to the newest member of her Pokemon team, a small blue bird with huge white, fluffy wings. Swablu is a Pokemon normally found in the Hoenn Region, but during their yearly migration to Kanto, Mari found a flock of them resting one night and managed to capture one before took of the next morning.
"Swa-blu!" The small bird shouted as it swung its wing, creating a ripple in the air that traveled toward the Gligar they had been battling for a little while, taking out the last of its health.
"Nice job Swablu!" Mari shouted as the small bird Pokemon landed on her head.
"Swablu." It said cutely, gaining yet another bone crushing huge from Mari who fell for its little pose every time it did it.
As Mari placed the small blue bird on her head again, she noticed the what sounded like the heavy stomps of an approaching Pokemon.
'Four legs, obviously on the heavy side and really fast.' Mari said mentally before a brown blur whizzed by her, her hair beginning to flow from the gust of wind that past through three seconds after it had disappeared into the rocky distance. 'That way leads to dead end, I wonder where it's going?'
Mari followed the incredibly fast Pokemon she had seen down into the canyon she had been traveling in for nearly a week, finding the tall Pokemon looking up toward the opening of the chasm they stood in, struggling to jump beyond ten feet into the air in its weakened state.
It possessed brown fur that looked soft and smooth with multiple gray triangles protruding from its back along with what looked like fluffy white smoke coming out of its back in between the triangles. Around each of its legs looked like what appeared to be an ankle brace, but Mari couldn't tell if they were natural or if someone had put them their purposely.
'It looks so, majestic.' Mari commented mentally as she took out her Pokedex to take a quick picture of the Pokemon to see what kind of information there was on.
"Entei, the Volcano Pokemon." The electronic voice began. "No further information."
"Aww…" Mari said to herself, taking a pause. "Wait, maybe I have to catch it to get more information on it. Swablu, use Air Slash!"
"Swablu!" It shouted, launching the Flying type attack at the Entei, the ripple in the air hitting it which sent a shiver down Entei's back before it turned back to glare at them.
It roared. Quite loudly. A sound wave exited its mouth, flying toward Swablu who instantly became frightened, returning to its Poke-ball without Mari's command.
'Whaa?' Mari said in confusion before Entei open its mouth, spewing a vortex of flames at Mari who was now defenseless without a Pokemon to help her.
In just a few moments, Mari became surrounded in a vortex of swirling flames that seemed to reach toward the sky, the intense heat on the inside of the cyclone suffocating her. Entei took a few deep breaths before the flames it had fired at Mari suddenly disappeared, getting its full attention.
The Fire Spin attack Entei had use was now getting sucked into Mari's left wrist, a strange marking in bright red swallowing up the flames. Entei jumped back, recognizing its Crest before it sighed, trotting over to the unconscious Mari where it picked her up using its head and tossed her onto its back.
With that, Entei felt a portion of its energy return before it looked up at the top of the chasm, using nine consecutive wall jumps to reach the top where it broke out into a full sprint through the mountainous region of Johto.
"Whoa, whoa. Lana slow down and repeat that for me." Nozomi said to Lana through the Phone feature on her Lana's Pokegear.
"I said I found Entei in Blackthorn City!" Lana shouted again as she sat on the back of her Dodrio, the three headed bird Pokemon sprinting through the rocky area of Route 45, currently in pursuit of the Legendary Dog Pokemon. "It was shackled to four Rhyperior's with a lot of people from Team Rocket surrounding it."
"How is Entei? Is it damaged in anyway?" Nozomi asked after she understood what Lana was saying.
"It looked like it had been battling for a while and had finally be captured by them." Lana replied.
"Looked? Can you see it now?"
"No. Me and Blastoise attacked the ground and freed Entei, but it instantly took of in a run down Route 45. I lost it nearly an hour ago."
"Hmm, if it was almost captured in Johto, I bet it'll head to Kanto for its own safety since there are so many Dark Crests in Johto." Nozomi said.
"So I should head for Kanto?"
"Yeah, that's your best shot of finding it."
"Alright, thanks Nozomi!" Lana said, ending the call. "To Kanto Dodrio! On the double!"
All three heads of the bird Pokemon roared before it increased its speed again.
6/26/0046/Morning
Kanto Region
Route 3
Mari's eye's fluttered open, taking notice of the tree she was resting under, the sun shinning through the cracks in the leaves.
'Wait a minute, there's no trees on Route 45.' Mari exclaimed mentally as she rose from the ground, noticing the flat area she was in with grassy plains and trees mixed in, but off in the distance she could see a mountain.
"Human, I'm gladto see that you're awake." A deep voice said, surprising Mari who began to took around frantically.
"Who said that?"
"It was I."
Entei walked out from the bushes, observing Mari who was currently gawking at the Pokemon. Mari recognized it as the Pokemon she had attacked her the last time she was conscious.
"So cool!" She shouted, latching onto Entei by its neck impulsively. Being this close to its, Mari could inspect Entei properly, and by the looks of it, Entei was in rough battle from the bits of gravel that was evenly spread throughout its fur.
"I do not appreciate these actions human."
Entei was did its best to try and find a way to look at Mari who was resting on its back, playfully rubbing her cheek against the smoke on its back that was actually solid and very soft.
"Oh, sorry." Mari said with a blush. "But I thought Pokemon couldn't speak in human languages."
"My lips aren't moving when I'm speaking to you. This is telepathic communication between the two of us who are bond together by fate."
"By fate? Does that make use a golden pair?" Mari asked excitedly, using the common term for what everyone called a trainer and Pokemon that match each other so perfectly that they can understand and work with each other on a different level compared to just any Pokemon a trainer may have captured.
"Not in that sense. You and I are connected for the sole purpose of protecting humanity as well as all Pokemon."
"Protecting humanity and humans? Why do they need protecting?" Mari asked, jumping off its back so that Entei could see her.
"The Dark Days have ended, the first battle between of the Crests of Light and Darkness coming to its close with a time of peace following, but now the Storm approaches, along with the final clash between the two fractions."
"Whoa, hold up, I'm confused. What does this all have to do with me?"
"You have my Crest. You will enter the Storm. You will fight alongside the King, or against him. The Legendaries have returned as well as the King. Do not fret Mari, the situation will be explained to you in due time."
Entei took a step toward her.
"Unite our Crests."
Mari stared at Entei as the long mane covering its neck split apart revealing a marking on the Pokemon's neck glowing in a bright red.
'Whoa…' Mari said as he left wrist lit up in the same color. "What do I do?"
"Place your left hand on it, and our Crests will become one."
"O-Okay." Mari said nervously before following Entei's orders.
As her hand came into contact with Entei's Crest, the two became surrounded in a red light that shot up to the skies. The bruises, scars and gravel covered fur on Entei disappearing as the Pokemon was healed by the light.
"Thank you for returning my power to me Human. Now I must take me leave, and prepare for the Storm."
"Where are you going Entei?" Mari asked before the Legendary Dog disappeared with in the light, leaving Mari by herself. "Hmph, meanie…"
The beam of light closed up around Mari, disappearing into her left wrist, or specifically into her Crest which sent a jolt of pain through her entire body.
'Oww.' Mari said before she fell backward, hitting the ground with a thud.
Johto Region
Lake Rage
Blake's Synchronism with Poliwrath broke as the Fighting/Water type Pokemon nailed the Gyarados it was currently battling on the forehead with a solid Ice Punch.
Blake dropped down to one knee, holding his right wrist where he could easily see the light from his Crest shinning through his jacket sleeve.
'Grr, why now?' Blake asked himself as he rolled up his sleeve, noticing another new color that filled up one of the triangles of the pentagon on his wrist, this one being a bright red. "Poliwrath, end it with a Break Break!"
"Poli!" It shouted in its newly attained deep voice, landing a chop on the dazed Gyarados' head, the power of the blow sending the large Water Snake Pokemon crashing down into the lake.
"Nice job Poliwrath." Blake said, ignoring the throbbing pain the shot through his right arm every three seconds.
'Another color filled in…' Blake said as he captured the Gyarados using a Lure Ball. 'Something is definitely happening.'
6/26/0046/Night
Kanto Region
Route 3
"Ugh, what happened?" Mari groaned as she rose from the ground, noticing some pressure on her abdomen.
"Pidgey?" The tiny Bird Pokemon said, staring at Mari while tilting its head. "Pid?"
"Hi there." Mari said energetically, hoping to become friends with it. The Pidgey spread its small wings and took off, flying toward the cluster of trees. "Aww…Whoa, it's nighttime already?"
Mari rose up from the grassy field she was laying on, observing her surroundings once again before the memories of Entei flooded back into her head.
"Entei?" Mari said, looking around for the Pokemon that had disappeared earlier. "It must've left, but where am I?"
Mari opened up her Pokedex, going over to the map function to check her current location.
"Route 3 in Kanto!" She screamed.
6/27/0046/Noon
Pewter City
The semi large city of the Kanto Region rested in between a thick forest and a decent sized mountain range. The city itself was about four miles long, filled with suburban houses around the border of the area while the center of the city was the core to the shopping district of the city.
The city also held a relic from the Old Days, the Rock type Pokemon Gym that had been converted into a museum showcasing the past Gym Leaders and their accomplishments.
Mari came sprinting into the city using the west exit, entering the residential district of the town with Swablu resting on her head.
'Hah, I made it.' Mari mumbled to herself, taking a moment to catch her breath.
The townspeople seemed nice, a woman wearing a bright yellow sundress gave her a smile and a wave as she led a little girl past her toward a park.
"Excuse me?" Mari called out to the woman, getting her to turn back to her.
"Yes?" She asked kindly, motioning for her daughter to go on a head to the park.
"Can you direct me to the Battle Dome?" Mari asked, approaching her.
"Oh sure. Just follow this road into town, you can't miss it. It's on your right." She explained, pointing down the street for Mari.
"Thank you so much." Mari said. "Say thank you Swablu."
"Swablu!" The little bird Pokemon said happily.
"It's no problem. A lot of foreign trainers have been stopping here to prepare for the IBF Tourney, will you be entering as well?" The woman asked.
"No, I missed the cut off date so I decided to do some traveling and training." Mari replied.
"Oh, where are you from then?"
"I'm from Johto, Cherrygrove City."
"Cherrygrove City? Is everything alright over there?" The woman asked, worry evident on her face.
"Yeah, the locals including me have been trying to scrap together some money to get the supplies for repairs." Mari explained. "Other than that last I heard, there's still a lot of people there who haven't had a home so I'm trying to increase my pay out in the Battle Circuit."
"That commendable, a young trainer like yourself working so hard for others." The woman complimented Mari who blushed. "My name is Jenny, it's a pleasure to meet you. What's your name?"
"My name is Mari, soon to be Battle Circuit World Champion." Mari declared to Jenny.
"Well then Mari, I wish you luck in getting the money for Cherrygrove City and for your battles in the Battle Circuit." Jenny said to Mari who gave her a nod and a wide smile.
"Thank you!" Mari said, waving to Jenny before she began to follow the directions she had received from her.
6/27/0046/Night
Pewter City Battle Dome
Stadium
"And now for tonight's nineteenth match between two C-Class trainers, Mari from Cherrygrove City in Johto with a record of 27-26-1" The announcer shouted as Mari took her place in the blue box. "And in the red box is Fredrick who possesses a record of 33-30-3."
The stands were crowded tonight for one match tonight, the main event featuring the Kanto Champion vs an IBF Ranker.
"Trainers, Clash!" The ref shouted, signaling the start to Mari's match.
"Let's do this!" Mari shouted as she used the new Clash she had spent the past month practicing for use in an actual match.
Mari pitched her Poke-ball high into the air, the spherical object making a wide arc as it dropped back down onto Fredrick's Poke-ball, meeting with a burst of sparks. Fredrick's Poke-ball was sent to the ground, bouncing once before releasing his damaged Slowbro while Mari's Bayleef landed on the field, ready to battle.
'The Arc.' Numerous critics identified Mari's Clash that completely over powered Fredrick's basic throw.
"Battle begin!"
"Bayleef, use Razor Leaf!" Mari ordered, kick starting the battle.
"Slowbro, use Withdraw." Fredrick said.
"Bay!" The Grass type Pokemon shouted as it swung its neck in a circle, releasing a horde of crescent shaped leaves that flew towards Slowbro. The shell on Slowbro's tall began to glow before Slowbro became glossy, signifying that its Defense stat had been raised.
Bayleef's Razor Leaf attack rained down on Slowbro, the attack being super effective but causing half the damage it normally would as they bounced off of Slowbro who yawned.
"Alright Slowbro, now use Confusion!"
The volley of Razor Leaf's Bayleef had launched at Slowbro came to a halt, a light blue outline surrounding each of the leafs as well as Bayleef who stared in confusion.
"Slo!" Slowbro said, Bayleef rising into the air.
"Bay?" It said, obviously wondering why it was floating before all of its Razor Leaf attacks were redirected at it, the sharp leaves cutting Bayleef's skin multiple times. "Bay!"
Once the Razor Leaf onslaught ended, Slowbro slammed Bayleef onto the ground, leaving it there.
"Nice Slowbro." Fredrick shouted to his Pokemon yawned in return.
"Come on Bayleef! Can you stand up?" Mari asked her partner, the Grass Pokemon jumping up to its feet to prove that it could continue.
"Use Confusion again Slowbro!"
"Quick Bayleef, use Grass Whistle." Mari said quickly, Bayleef nodding to her before it extended a vine from its neck to pick up one of the leaves on the field.
Once it brought the leaf to its mouth, Bayleef began to play a little tune that produced a sound wave that flew toward Slowbro before it began its attack. As the sound wave hit Slowbro, the Pokmeon became confused, its vision blurring as tried to spot Bayleef with its messy vision.
"Bayleef, use Vine Whip!" Mari shouted.
"Bay!" Bayleef shouted as two green vines extended form its neck toward Slowbro, wrapping around the confused Pokemon.
"Now give it a toss and use Energy Ball!"
Bayleef hurled Slowbro into the air, its vines retreating into its neck before Bayleef opened its mouth, a sphere of yellow and green energy forming in front its mouth.
"Bay!" The Energy Ball attack was fired at the airborne Slowbro who was still confused and unable to defend itself before it disappeared inside a cloud of white smoke that appeared once the Energy Ball made contact with it.
Slowbro came crashing to the ground, creating a small dust cloud on impact.
"Bayleef, finish it with Razor Leaf!"
Bayleef swung its neck in another circle, firing another wave of crescent shaped leaves at Slowbro who was sent tumbling out of the dust cloud it was previously hidden in, the last of its health being eaten away by the consecutive super effective hits which ended the battle.
"Slowbro is unable to battle! Mari and Bayleef are the winners!" The ref yelled, raising the blue flag.
The stands remained silent.
'Right, I'm a foreigner right now.' Mari said, realizing that getting applause was no ease feat as a foreign trainer trying to build up a reputation in a new region. Mari invited Bayleef to follow her as they made their exit, not receiving anything from the typical fans, only the die hard critics mentally complementing Mari on a job well done.
Lobby
Mari sighed as she took a seat on one of the small sofas in the lobby, trying to decide where she could go next since she was now in the Kanto Region courtesy of Entei.
'I don't know a thing about Kanto or where to go. And my Pokedex has no details on the cites so I'm basically a lost tourist.' Mari said flatly.
"That was a good battle." A calm female voice said.
"Mommy, is she the one with the Bayleef?" A high pitched voice asked.
"Yes Kayla, this is her."
Mari looked up, seeing Jenny who she had met earlier today along with her daughter standing in front of her.
"Oh, thank you." Mari said kindly, trying to cheer herself up.
"What wrong? That was great battle you had tonight." Jenny asked, dropping down next to Mari. "My daughter thinks so too. Right Kayla?"
"Bayleef went boom, boom, boom!" The small girl said, emphasizing the explosions by taking small jumps.
"Aww, that's so cute." Mari impulsively grabbed the small girl in a hug before releasing her, mumbling to herself. "...Sorry, I tend to do that without thinking."
Kayla was confused on why Mari was apologizing for hugging her while Mari shared what had happened to her in Goldenrod City when her old habit from when she was younger resurfaced.
"After that I was taken to the police station for questioning. Professor Elm bailed me out though. Since then I've been trying not to do that, but it's really hard sometimes." Mari explained sheepishly with a nervous laugh while Kayla went off, trying to reenact Mari's battle with Bayleef while Jenny gave her an odd stare.
"Is something bothering you?" Jenny asked, returning to the original topic of the conversation.
"Oh yeah, I think it's just because I'm in unfamiliar surroundings. I'm completely lost at the moment since the map feature on my Pokedex is a bit useless and I don't know where to go."
"Ah, what do you plan on doing here in Kanto. Why did you come here?" Jenny asked.
"Well to be honest I didn't even mean to come here, but now that I'm here I might as well have a few battles in the Battle Circuit and do some training." Mari responded before she realized that Jenny could probably help her. "Do you know any places I could do that?"
"Hmm…" Jenny took a moment to think about.
"What about Saffron City mommy?" Kayla said, surprising her mother.
"Saffron City, that's right Kayla." Jenny said with a smile, patting her daughters head. "Head to Saffron City, that's the core of Kanto's Battle Circuit so you could meet a lot of trainers to battle while your there. And Celadon City is also a good place to go."
"Celadon and Saffron City." Mari mumbled to herself, taking some time to search her Pokedex's map feature for the two cities. "Oh boy, that could take me over a week to travel to. But that's no problem, thank you Jenny. And I didn't forget you."
Mari ruffled Kayla's short hair, the girl returning her smile.
"Good luck Mari." Jenny said, waving to the girl that was headed for the Battle Dome exit.
6/28/0046/Twilight
Johto Region
Ilex Forest
Two dark figures clothed in brown robes quietly strolled through the thick mass of trees known as Ilex Forest, each of them carrying a large bell that matched the size of their head.
"You've done quite well delivering the Bells to me. I apologize for taking so long to arrive, I was caught up in my daily affairs." A rather old, weary voice said.
"It was no trouble at all, they practically gave them to me." The other figure replied as the trees parted, revealing the Ilex Forest Shrine. The older voice chuckled.
"Excellent, the preparations are almost complete. All most all the Equalizers have been collected." The old voice went on as they approached the Shrine. "Hang the Tidal Bell on the left side."
The two of them became quiet for a moment, latching the chains of the Tidal and Clear Bells to the side of the Shrine doors.
"Good, now open it."
The second figure pulled open the Shrine doors, revealing a shiny silver spoon, a black cylinder and a golden seed that was surprising large.
"The Twisted Spoon, Miracle Seed and Charcoal. Three out of five. Have you found any leads on the Magnet or Mystic Water?" The old voice asked.
"The Magnet remains an enigma, but the Mystic Water has been found and located, but capturing it has been rather…troublesome."
"How so?"
"Well the owner has deemed himself the protector of it, and our many attempts to take it has resulted in the detainment of our allies."
"I see...Alan, I want you to retrieve the Mystic Water yourself, the Storm is approaching, and I'd like to be fully prepared."
"Yes Master." Alan said, taking a bow to the older man who sighed.
"Please don't call me that, you know I don't like being called that. But the title King will be quite fitting once this is over."
I know there's a few people out their who've actually been following my fic and you have my thanks, and now after such a long wait, the plot will begin to move forward. Trust me, if I said that before, I mean it this time.
Read, Review and Enjoy!