Chapter Sixteen: The Phony Leader
"See y'all later, then," Brian said cheerfully, waving off Calvin and Dex, who'd taken their leave of Sapph's group upon reaching the Dinocanyon City limits.
Sapph, as he was determined to battle the next gym leader and claim his third badge before Kamren and Haley, due to the fact that she just wanted to sink her teeth into the nearest Cheesy Chicken Burger she could get her hands on, didn't say anything.
"What's up with y'all?" Brian asked tentatively as the trio walked up the bustling 'main street', which actually constituted of a roomy underground passage that was seemingly hewn from the earth by giant Onix (or moderately-sized Steelix). Doorways, carved out from the sides of the tunnel were spaced out evenly on either side, separated by two or three large square holes which were glazed with glass and looked like windows. Light from powerful fluorescent tubes shining out from the store windows they passed by together with those which hung from the roof of the tunnel illuminated their path, as they searched for the Pokémon Centre.
"Can't talk… must find food…" Haley droned in a scratchy tone of voice.
Brian sweat dropped. "What d'y'all, think, Sapph?" he said, turning his attention to the Johton boy who strolled along the street on Haley's other side. Gesturing towards the simple to elaborately designed yet snug blankets on display outside one of the stores' windows, he said, "Corei's got quite a fair few different cultures, eh? Never thought I'd see an underground city…"
Sapph, dodging around an ice cream cart that had parked a little off the middle of the road and the boisterously squealing children that surrounded it waiting for their turn to purchase some frozen milky goodness said in an absentminded mumble "Hmmm… You see anything that looks like the gym, Brian?"
Brian sweat dropped again.
***
"So," Sapph asked the local Nurse Joy as he received his Pokémon back after an hour. "Dinocanyon was created by dinosaurs?"
"So the story goes," the local matron said thoughtfully, after announcing that Sapph, Haley and Brian's Pokémon were 'all back to fighting fitness'. "The dinosaurs were raised by the first gym leader of the city, who created the two tiers of this city: the upper tier where the people live and the lower tier which is where the buildings of commercial and administrative importance are hosted."
"So the gym's down in the lower tier?" Sapph asked.
"That's right," the nurse agreed.
Sapph lapsed into thoughtful silence as he mulled this information over. "Hmm, I see… Dinosaur Pokémon…"
Meanwhile, at a booth sat his two companions, one preparing Pokémon food for their teammates, the other stuffing a mountain of what looked like chicken sausages in bread rolls with molten cheese and vegetable dressing into her mouth with wanton viciousness.
"Miss Haley," Brian said, his eyes enormous, "where the cotton-pickin' heck do you keep those things?"
"Doesn't matter," Haley said thickly through a bite of sausage. "All I care about is getting this stuff in!"
"Here, Brian," Sapph said, joining them at the booth and returning a solitary pokéball to the sweat dropping Kazutan. He went on and said, "I'd give Haley her Pokémon back too but she might eat them, judging by the rate she's going…"
"Shut up. Go away. Leave me alone," Haley mumbled, barely coherent behind a huge swig of fizzy Bluk berry juice.
The boys laughed and released their Pokémon to some well deserved refreshment. Talk broke out amongst the dozen Pokémon as they congregated onto the food.
Hey, y'all, Eaves greeted the others cheerfully.
Hey, Eaves, Anuvi and Crimson greeted back with equal gusto, grabbing a dish each and tucking in.
Blitzkrieg sat with Grandpa as he began to narrate the story of when he'd first snowboarded some eighty five years ago. Zen was sitting a short distance and whilst pretending not to care what the Geome said was paying rapt attention all the same.
Hey, Eaves, Mace said as he scuttled over to another dish with Ento behind him. Looking over at Pixy, who'd seemed to want to stay hidden behind Bubbles, he asked New team mate of yours, Eaves. Pretty cute… for a Fire type, he hissed a little vehemently.
Actually, Mace, Bubbles said, a note of hardness in her voice at the Urchin Pokémon's tone. Pixy's, like, your team mate.
Say WHAT?! Mace said skeptically.
Are you quite sure of your intelligence of the situation, Bubbles? Ento queried, rather shocked himself that his trainer would go to the trouble of catching a non-Water type. Silver hovered nearby, watching the scene warily.
Very, Bubbles said, still frowning at Mace. And while we're on the subject… she went on, only to be cut across by Mace who directed his next question at the Fire Fox Pokémon.
So, what's your story, hunh, Foxy? Played up the sympathy side on Haley? Well, let me tell you…
No, Mace. Let me tell you, Bubbles said coldly. Ento, Anuvi and Crimson flinched; they'd never heard Bubbles talk like that. Mace was likewise stunned into silence.
Pixy's your team mate and her story doesn't need to be discussed unless she wants to talk about it! You respect her as a member of your team, 'cause if I, like hear you disrespecting her, you'll be wearing your spines inside out! You hear me, Mace? she spat with a touch of venom that would make an Arbok's blood run cold.
Yes, ma'am, Mace said feebly, sweating profusely.
Good, she said coldly, shooting a last, incensed stare at her prickly team mate. Turning a kind eye to Pixy she said in a much more cheerful tone. Like, don't worry, Pixy. You don't have to answer to that jerk. If he gives you any trouble, like, just let me know.
Pixy was shocked into silence by her team mate's protective nature. It reminded her of… she couldn't even think it.
In a faint voice all she said was, Thank you, Bubbles.
Smiling a toothy grin as she passed a bowl of food to the Vulpix. Like, no problem!
Geez, Bubbs… what's with you? Keep that up an' all the handsome Water types will become intimidated, Anuvi teased with a laugh.
I dunno, Anuvi, Crimson said delicately after emptying his mouth. Reaching for another, well-measured morsel, he looked over cheerfully and went on, Your dating record usually involves you getting spazzed by an angry Chansey somewhere,
Only 'cause you were crimping my style, the Mongle said tetchily.
All the Mongle's best friend said nonchalantly was If you say so, before returning to eating his food.
Oh, yeah? Just watch this… Mongle said with a smirk as the resident Chansey nurse came out of the ward after checking on her patients.
I'd rather not, Crimson said coolly, turning to face Grandpa as he narrated his tales to Pixy and Blitzkrieg.
Hey, babe. Wanna scope the town with one of the Gatonda tourney winners? Anuvi said, turning on the charm.
Unfortunately, Anuvi's charm wasn't really that impressive on the lady Pokémon, especially Chansey.
Uh, eww, the Chansey said nonchalantly, walking on.
Give it up, private, Ace barked at her team mate, looking up from her food to glare at the Leaf Squirrel Pokémon. I heard that this Chansey has a…
A what? Boyfriend? Anuvi chuckled. Naw, she's only playin' hard to get. Besides who'd date a walking egg-shaped Pokémon? he laughed out loud as Ace shook her head and returned to discussing a new move Sapph had come up with to train her with later that day.
Chansey heard him. Her eyes teary, she yelled at the top of he voice. Mortimer!
Anuvi looked around to see what the Egg Pokémon had called out to. A large grey Pokémon with muscles that wouldn't look out of place on a five foot muscle builder lumbered over from the mirror in the corner near the video phone booths. The size of his pecs where comparable to paving slabs and his rock hard abs looked like grey, square cricket balls. A gold belt with a red letter P on the circular buckle circled his waist and would have seemed to hold up his tight black body builder sweat pants.
What's the matter, Toots? the hulking mass of solid muscle said in a gravelly voice.
Pointing at the uncouth Mongle, she sobbed That little rat disrespected me!
Oh he did, did he? the Machoke said viciously, cracking his knuckles with voluminous noise.
Mongle broke out in a cold sweat.
Er, guys? A little help here?! Anuvi said in a high-pitched voice as the Superpower behemoth bore down on him, flexing his soccer-ball sized muscles.
Don' look at me, bub, Zen said churlishly. This is your problem.
The Mongle looked up sheepishly and saw that Mortimer the Machamp had an evil glint in his eye. His ears drooped as his eyes widened.
Eheheh… kibble? Mongle said feebly, offering his bowl of half-eaten food to the fuming Chansey.
Mortimer cocked back his fist…
***
"Great… just great. Just what we need before a gym match tomorrow," Sapph groaned exasperatedly, looking down on the hospital bed where Anuvi lay, his entire body bandaged like a mummy and all four limbs suspended in the air. The Leaf Squirrel looked completely ridiculous, but Sapph felt the situation didn't warrant much of a humorous response.
"My star player put out of action by a rampaging Machoke!" Sapph went on, running his hand through his messy dark brown hair in an agitated manner.
Well, at least we were able to get that grey muscle head off him before he broke something important, Crimson said miserably, reflecting on the memory that it took himself, Grandpa, Bubbles and Blitzkrieg's combined strength to keep the Superpower Pokémon in check until its trainer got off the phone long enough to return it to the confines of its pokéball. By the time that had happened, Anuvi looked like a fuzzy, barely breathing rug.
"What was he doing this time?" Sapph asked exasperatedly of his Pokémon who stood gathered around Mongle's bed.
What else? Crimson said wearily.
Insufferable attempt at debauchery, Colonel, Ace said smartly.
Sufficient to say, the offender got his can kicked, Silver droned in what seemed to be a life less attempt at cracking a joke.
No one present cracked a smile.
Toughness of audience presently detected to have undergone exponential exacerbation, the Magnet Pokémon droned as an animé sweat drop formed beside his single eye. Currently reading diamond-hard.
Would waiting be inconvenient, Colonel? Ace said to her trainer.
"Yeah, it would," Sapph said shortly, not wanting to think about how far ahead of him Kamren had gotten. He got up off the chair on which he'd been seated as a guilty Nurse Chansey had administered relief under the uncomfortably stern gaze of Nurse Joy.
"C'mon, let's get some rest. We have a big day tomorrow," Sapph said wearily.
Haley stood outside the ward nervously and asked "Will he be OK?"
"He'll live," Sapph said slowly. Suddenly noticing that some party members were absent, he asked around, "Hey, anyone seen Zen or Grandpa?"
"They left soon after that Machoke splattered Anuvi," Brian said, showing up at Haley's shoulder.
"Where were you?" Haley said in surprise.
"Uh, training with Eaves," the Kazutan said evasively as Sapph ran out to look for his Pokémon.
Haley stared at Brian suspiciously. She couldn't quite place her thumb on it, but there seemed something dishonest about Brian's answer.
***
Grandpa stood alone in a rocky field with his eyes closed in meditation. The wind blew through the boulders that dotted the plain on which he stood. Behind him, crouched in the shadow of a particularly large boulder was Zen the Taebrawl.
What's he doing here? Zen wondered aloud, though apparently not loud enough for the Geome to hear him, his saffron eyes narrowed as the reddish glow of the setting sun glinted off his metallic arm.
As if to answer Zen's questions, Grandpa brought his bent elbows to his waist and his fists to his chest. The next few seconds blew Zen's mind.
The Geome's eyes fluttered open as he inhaled deeply. All of a sudden he let out a loud yell of concentration as his eyes focused on a single point on the ground and drove his fists into the ground at that point with earth shaking force.
WHOA! Zen thought in shock, grabbing hold of something as he struggled to keep his balance and stay hidden at the same time. He gave up as he saw the effect of the Rock type's technique and gasped, which admittedly would be anyone's reaction knowing Grandpa was a gentle Pokémon who on outward appearance would appear incapable of such power.
What looked like a tidal wave of rocks burst from the ground in a rhythmic ripple from the point his fist made contact running in a straight line for a good twenty, thirty feet.
Zen's jaw dropped so hard it was a wonder Grandpa hadn't heard it yet.
Holy ****! Zen swore under his breath. Ancientpower? He knows Ancientpower?!
Grandpa rose to his full three foot seven height and exhaled calmly. Then opening his eyes and without looking back he said, I know you're there, Zen. Why don't you come on out and tell me what's on your mind?
Zen's heart skipped a beat as he stepped out from behind the rock where he'd hidden behind. Building up his confidence, he approached the Rock Man Pokémon and said clearly, I have a request.
Let me guess, you want to learn how to do that, hmm? Grandpa said humourlessly, jerking his thumb at the wreckage which resulted from the onslaught of power.
Yes, sir, Zen said with uncharacteristic manners, going on his knee in a sign of respect.
I don't think so, Grandpa said shortly.
Wh-why? Zen spluttered, his eyes wide as he stared at his feet.
Grandpa breathed in steadily as he pondered his choice of words.
You're impatient, he said finally. Zen looked up, his eyes wide. You think a false show of respect will win me over? Forget it, kid, he said as he walked past the Combatant Pokémon, who'd bowed his head in horrified shame as to having been found out.
People like you just like to amass powerful attacks to stand above the rest of the pack, the Geome went on. Being in a team doesn't matter to you. You're only here because you feel you must defeat the one who defeated you, he went on, stopping as he glanced back at the Combatant Pokémon. Am I wrong?
Zen looked up fully intending to retort with a vehement denial but the words got caught in his throat as he stared into the Geome's eyes. In the Rock type's eyes he saw what seemed like a mirror, a mirror that reflected his inner soul's desire. True, he'd teamed up with the Ledian in the Relic Pass, but only in an unspoken challenge to see who was the strongest. Sapph had asked him to use Aura Sphere, but disobeyed. Sure, he'd said he was out of them, but that was a downright lie. Maybe the Geome was right… maybe he did want to surpass Crimson and break free of the human's grip. After all, the last time he'd trusted a human, he'd lost his arm, and as a result his home, the faith his comrades put in him and his first, truest friend.
Grasping the upper part of his metallic arm, he bowed his head, closed his eyes and admitted shamefully to the truth he'd sworn never to admit.
No. No, you're right, Zen said softly, tears oozing out of his tightly clenched eyes, and falling to the earth below.
Grandpa stared at the humbled Taebrawl and said Very well, Zen. I'll teach you how to use Ancientpower.
Zen choked as his teary eyes flew open in surprise. Staring up at the smiling Geome, he said H-honestly?
The Rock Man's smile was replaced with a stern expression as he said Only on two conditions.
Anything!
Firstly, you are to promise never to use this technique without being asked to, Grandpa said firmly, and by that, I mean without being commanded to by Sapph.
Zen bowed his head and said, I-I understand.
And secondly, the Geome said, his voice deadly serious. You must swear never to use this attack on any team mate. Not one of them. And in no circumstance.
I promise, Zen said softly. He felt strange; he'd for the first time since being abandoned in his greatest hour of need made a promise from deep within himself, one he felt he must keep.
Grandpa the Geome smiled. Then let's begin.
***
"C'mon, Brian, let's go! The Gym's waiting!" Sapph said loudly, literally bouncing off the fourteen-year-old's bed.
After Zen and Grandpa came back around half past midnight that morning, Sapph had to be put to sleep do to the strain worry had put on him. The following morning, though, Sapph was restored to full pep and ready to break in a new badge.
"You go ahead, I'll catch up," Brian mumbled sleepily, waving away his currently hyperactive roomy.
Sapph was slightly put out by this show of apathy. Eager to get going, he gave Brian up as a bad job and left, calling over his shoulder, "Your loss, pardner," Sapph said briskly as he opened the door and stepped out into the corridor. "It'll most likely be over by the time you get there!"
"Cool," Brian mumbled lackadaisically. "Break a leg, Sapph."
Weird, what's with him? Sapph thought, turning to run right into Haley.
"Morning, Champ," Haley said cheerfully. Apparently, she'd just had breakfast. Looking around as she offered Sapph Grandpa and Zen's pokéballs and some toast, she asked "Where's Brian?"
"Asleep," Sapph said with a shrug, gratefully accepting the food and equipment from the Coreian researcher.
"And Anuvi?" Haley asked again.
"Same there," Sapph said, a little mournfully this time. "Nurse Joy said he'll be all better by noon."
"Sure you won't wait?"
"Yeah," Sapph said coolly. "By the time Anuvi's ready to go, I could have racked the win already. Blimey, he won't like that..."
As their voices faded down the corridor, Brian sat up suddenly.
Sorry t' leave like this y'all, he thought sadly, looking around for his knapsack. But I can't tell y'all the truth… not to ya faces…
***
"The gym's on the lower tier, right?" Haley pondered aloud as the duo left the center.
"Two rights and a left," Sapph said slowly in reply as they trotted through the milling crowds.
"Ah, here it is!" Haley said cheerfully, spotting the large auditorium which served as the gym.
Having finally located the large structure that he was looking for, Sapph outside the gym with Haley, a bit more nervously than he normally was before a match.
"What are you all nervous for?" Haley asked in a slightly amused voice. "Haven't you done this before?"
"Yeah," Sapph said, his throat a little dry. He had done this sort of thing before, but that was about a week and a half ago, back in Nightspark City. Plus in both his last matches, he'd had Anuvi and Crimson to bail him out.
My team may be three times stronger in number, but in teamwork their still a little patchy, Sapph thought grimly, his mind going back to the disastrous episode in the Pokémon Centre the previous day.
"Hey, what're you doing here?" A loud voice said in sharp surprise, causing the pair to look up in surprise.
A boy of what looked like fourteen to them was walking briskly up the tunnel towards them, a couple of shopping bags in each hand, his lavender eyes and short matching hair gleaming in the bright sunlight. Tall and slightly built, he looked Sapph and Haley over suspiciously as he placed his bags on the ground at his feet and regarded them imperiously, his arms akimbo.
Realizing introductions were in order, Sapph moved forward with his hand outstretched and said "Hey, I'm Sapph Manson and this is Haley Kent. I'm from Cherrygrove Town, Johto and I'm here…"
"… to try and win a Jurassic badge," the boy said drily, not taking Sapph's hand. "Like I haven't heard that one before. It is new that a challenger should introduce his girlfriend too, but each to his own, I suppose."
At this junction both Sapph and Haley were red-faced.
"Whaddya mean, 'try to win a Jurassic badge'?!" Sapph said angrily.
"Who're you calling 'his girlfriend'?" Haley spluttered indignantly, although her red face was due more to embarrassment than anger.
Dropping the airy façade and laughing out loud, the boy smiled and said genially "I'm just kidding, you two. Your name's Sapph, right?" he addressed Sapph, who nodded. "The name's Slate. Well," he went on, bending down to pick up his bags again, "let's get inside then. Time's ticking, tick tock!"
Looking at each other, Sapph and Haley followed.
Once inside the building, Slate flipped some switches and lights that lined the short corridor that lead down to the arena, chatting animatedly as they made their way to the battle field, which had large boulders jutting out from the gym floor.
"Oh, I forgot," Slate said suddenly. "Our ref called in sick this morning. We can't officiate the match without him."
Sapph's eyes bugged out of his head in horror. "What?!" he exclaimed, throwing Slate an incredulous glance.
"Relax, Sapph," Haley said calmly. "I'll just officiate the match myself."
A tidal wave of relief crashed down on Sapph's horror. "You'd do that?" he said, feeling so giddy it was all he could do to keep himself from giving Haley something he'd never consider giving her before.
"Perfect!" Slate said jovially.
"We will have to tape the match though, right?" Haley inquired of the light purple haired youth who'd left the bags at the sidelines and gone off to fetch his Pokémon and was presently returning with two flags; one red, the other green.
"Here you go," Slate said cheerfully, handing them over to the girl researcher. "Camera's already rolling, so anytime you're ready, Sapph…"
Sapph smiled back. "You know I'm ready for this," he said, hardly able to keep a note of glee out of his voice.
Sapph, Haley and Slate assumed their positions on the rocky battle field as Haley announced the terms of the match.
"An official gym match between Sapph Manson and the Dinocanyon City Gym Leader Slate will now begin. If Sapph wins, he will earn a Jurassic Badge. Each trainer may use…" Haley paused here, with an unsure glance at Slate.
Slate, noticing this decided to pick up the slack and finished dictating the rules of the match. "Two Pokémon each. Double battle. A Pokémon is out of contest if one of them faints or if the Gym Leader recalls it in the case of his, that is to say, me. That's it," he said, passing the baton back to Haley.
Haley nodded slightly. "Let the match begin!" She called, raising both flags above her head.
Damn, double battle?! Sapph thought panicked. My only solid team players are Anuvi and Crimson! And to make things worse, Anuvi's in ICU at the Centre! Who to use?
Haley, thinking along the same lines, thought despondently, Man, looks like Sapph's old luck is finally back with a vengeance…
"Yo, Sapph! Let's get it on!" Slate called impatiently, picking two pokéballs off the top of his black trousers with his right hand.
Keeping his panic to himself, Sapph looked up and said snippily "Yeah, yeah… keep your hair on." Finally coming to a decision, he picked two pokéballs off his belt and threw them yelling "Grandpa, Crimson! I choose you guys!"
That was lame, Haley thought desperately.
Hella lame, Sapph, Slate thought exasperatedly, mentally gagging on the lameness of Sapph's opening remark as the Rock Man and Five Star Pokémon materialized to take their places on the challenger's side of the field.
Hey, Grandpa, the Ledian said cheerfully.
Why, hello there, Crimson! How are you faring today? the Rock type greeted back in fatherly fashion.
"Fine, I select Rustaur," Slate fired back, releasing two identical rock creatures onto the field. Both stood at nearly three feet tall and looked as though they weighed a total of seven hundred and twenty pounds. Their low-slung, stout bodies seemed to be covered with a bronze metallic substance that accentuated the colour of their golden brown eyes.
Great! Looks like we're teaming up, Crimson said looking back at the gym leader's side at the opposition as Sapph took out his Pokédex and scanned the new arrivals.
Rustaur, the Steel Edge Pokémon, the Pokédex droned. Although they look heavy, the special steel that serves as their armor is thin and hangs loosely on their hardened bodies. Rustaur are Rock and Steel combination Pokémon.
Yo, bro! How d'you like your bugs? One of the Rustaur asked the other, leering at Crimson.
Squished… flat, the other Rustaur said with a low chuckle.
Crimson didn't like that answer much.
Not nervous, are you, sonny? Grandpa said concernedly.
A bit, the Ledian replied tersely. He knew Sapph wouldn't deliberately put them at a disadvantage, but this was going to be hard to top.
"Ladies first, Sapph," Slate said with a grin.
Sapph was grateful for the outlet offer to push his nervousness into. "Watcha waitin' for then?" Sapph quipped back wittily with a grin of his own.
"Ha, ha," Slate droned. "Rust, Ore, let's start this off with Stone Edge!"
***
At Sterling City, home of the Pokémon League HQ and Corei League finals, several high ranking trainers and all the gym leaders of Corei were in conference.
"So we're agreed on the revision of the league rules and finalize its induction?" A man in a inky black suit asked the room in general. A long white scarf wrapped once around his stark white neck was the only piece of clothing that wasn't totally black. The sunlight that streamed through the window threw his pale face into sharp relief.
"All in favour of the motion say, 'aye'," Another man said curtly. This man was Clyff Endlethorn, the president of the Corei Gym Leader Coalition.
A loud chorus of 'AYE!' rang throughout the room as Clyff surveyed them imperiously through sharp lavender eyes which were half hidden under a fringe of matching light purple hair.
"Passed!" The man in the white scarf said.
"In absence of any further business, I, Cassandra Falton, move for the close of this meeting," a tall thin woman in a midnight black slit spangled with silver said, her beetle black eyes flashing ominously in the sunlight as she gazed outwards towards the sea shore, wistfully wanting to take a bit of a break before she had to leave for her hometown, Entover City.
"Seconded," said a woman considerably curvier than Cassandra, who wore a yellow jumpsuit that had the Emblem of the Nightspark City gym emblazoned on the left chest.
"Then this meeting is hereby closed," Clyff Endlethorn said, rising to his feet.
The others followed suit as he made his exit.
"Want to go to the beach for a bit of R&R?" Cassandra asked playfully of the man in black.
"Um… no thank you," the man replied tersely, a faint tinge in his cheeks. "I must return to training soon…"
"DUDE!" A loud raucous voice called out as a moderately muscled arm draped itself heavily around the man's neck. "All work and no play makes Raph a bloody duffer!" the voice belonged to what looked like a surfer who wore a flamboyantly coloured beach shirt and his shaggy light brown hair long. Long white beach shorts and bare feet completed the picture of a man who'd just stepped off an Olivine beach.
"Get off me, Taylor," the man implored, trying and failing to get away from being cornered.
"Dude, you're way too serious!" the man addressed as Taylor went on, flashing a toothy smile. "Lighten up. Enjoy the sun. Meet some chicks!"
"Taylor…" 'Raph' moaned, knowing it would be pointless to argue with his party-loving colleague.
"Hey, Clyff," A more heavily muscled man called over to the Gym Leader Coalition President. "There's an official match being beamed from your gym…"
"What?" Clyff said turned his bearded head towards one of the monitors that lined the wall opposite the glass pane wall that overlooked the Sterling City beach. "That's impossi- oh, CRUD! Slate!" He swore as he stared at the screen which showed a Ledian and Geome barely avoiding a pair of rushing Rustaur.
"Damn that kid!" Clyff snarled furiously. "How many… I've got to go!" He said suddenly in a rush, storming out of the room.
"Hey, Clyff! What about the constitution changes?" the man called after the running gym leader.
"E-mail a copy to Professor Yew in Olville and tell him to forward it to all registered PokéNavs and Pokédexs belonging to Gym challengers!" he hollered as he rushed down the stairs. Pulling a pokéball off his khaki trousers, he added in an undertone, "I have some family business to attend to!"
***
Brian stood in Sapph's room silently for a few minutes reflecting on the video message he'd received the other night. Exhaling heavily, he reached into his pocket and brought out a yellow stone that glowed faintly yet rhythmically… the Old Amber he'd discovered in Relic Pass.
"Looks like y'all have a better chance finding a good use for this, pardner," he said softly.
Pulling himself together, he left the fossil with a note on the desk with the Egg Pokémon and left the centre for the bus stop.
Couldn'tcha told 'em, Brian? Eaves, who'd been silent throughout Brian's masquerade that morning finally felt the urge to speak out.
"Nah, this is family business," Brian said heavily. "Ah can't weigh 'em down with my problems. They'd feel the need ta help me. That's why ah can't tell 'em directly like," he broke off as they reached the station, a bus up and ready to leave for Nightspark City waiting.
Paying his fare and climbing aboard, he looked out the window and thought, Y'all keep getting' stronger, Sapph… Miss Haley… I'll be cheering for y'all no matter how far away ah am…
***
"Stone Edge again!" Slate yelled, pumping his fist.
Rust and Ore complied, stomping the ground to cause huge rocks to rise from the ground on either side of the duo that were Crimson and Grandpa. Rushing at the rocks and slamming into them with tremendous power, they made the pillars of rock seem to slide across the battle arena towards their targets.
"Look out!" Sapph hollered back.
Crimson flew up quickly to evade the rushing monoliths, but Grandpa seemed too fatigued to move.
"Grandpa!" Sapph yelled, definitely panicky now. "Get outta there now!"
Crimson, thinking fast, crossed his arms together and charged up cosmic power in them. Spinning like a top as he built up power, the Ledian let out a tremendous yell and threw four Comet Punches at the fast approaching threats. Two smashed into each of the pillars, severely weakening them. Grandpa, catching on, crossed his arms as well and waited.
When the pillars got close enough, he let loose two earth-shattering punches which shattered the monoliths and sent them back at the offending Steel Edge Pokémon.
"Nice teamwork, guys!" Sapph cheered.
Thanks for the assist, young one, the Geome panted. Seems that's twice you've covered me today.
No worries. Crimson replied calmly in a fatigued voice. The Protect shielded us both, remember?
That was incredible! Slate commended Sapph mentally. But I'm not so easy to push out of the ring!
"Rust, Ore! Use the pillars to get up into the air, now!" Slate ordered his Pokémon.
Both Rustaur were losing strength too but still felt the desire to serve their trainer strongly.
Got it! they yelled in unison, running towards their returning failed attacks and using their sloping edges to run up the side and with agility that must be criminal for Pokémon of their size and weight launched themselves high into the air right at Crimson as the pillars smashed into the walls of the gym and exploded into clouds of dust and chippings.
"What the…?" Sapph yelled in shock, seeing yet not quite believing the Rock types were capable on jumping to such heights.
"Now I have you…" Slate muttered. Then he ordered his airborne Pokémon "Double-Edge the Ledian… now!"
"Oh, man… Crimson, lose air! Grandpa, Ancientpower!" Sapph countered on the fly.
Ledian was grateful for this order, he wasn't sure he could stay up any longer anyway. Leaning back as he stopped his thrumming wings beating, he fell back and watched the two Rustaur slam head first… into each other!
"Damn, too slow!" Slate yelled.
"You got that right, Slate!" Sapph replied. Then he yelled at his Geome "Now, Grandpa!"
It's over! the ancient Rock type exclaimed, throwing his fists into the air and sending two pillars of rock racing into the air into the slowly falling apart teamwork of the Dinocanyon representatives. The pillars slammed Rust and Ore into the ceiling from below with enough force to create a tremor.
The Five Star Pokémon in the meantime had flipped over and started up his wings again in time to stop himself from hitting the floor hard. Touching down lightly, he turned to his partner for the battle and said, Gee, think you killed them?
I'd reckon not, Grandpa replied with a grunt, raising his hands above his head in a circular manner and bringing them down to his chest with the palms down sharply, causing the rock pillars to shrink back into the earth, and leaving the Rustaur to follow painfully.
If you say so, the Ledian said tiredly. Smiling, he added, Thanks for the backup. Those two definitely were a handful!
Haley checked up on the Rustaur who had large X's where their eyes were and raised her red flag at Sapph and his Pokémon and announced "Both Rustaur are unable to battle! Geome and Ledian are the winners! The victory of the match goes to Sapph Manson from Cherrygrove Town!"
"YeeeeeeeESSSSSS!" Sapph exclaimed in jubilation, jumping up and down in triumph.
Slate looked beyond stunned: he looked mortified.
"We did it guys! We won a Jurassic Badge!" Sapph yelled ecstatically.
"Uh, Sapph?" Slate began nervously.
"What's up?" Sapph said cheerfully, turning to face his former adversary.
Slate opened his mouth, but before he could say a word, a tremendous BANG reverberated down the tunnel that led to the arena.
"Oh, crud," Slate muttered, going white. "He's home!"
"Hunh?" Sapph said nonplussed. "Who's home?"
"My…" Slate began only to be interrupted again by a thunderous voice that yelled "SLATE!"
A man with lavender hair and a stubbly beard stormed into the room, his light purple eyes flashing angrily, a young woman with pale blue eyes wearing an official referee outfit following in his wake.
"What… the… hell d'you think you're doing?!" the man yelled, rushing up to Slate and grabbing the scruff if the younger man's shirt. "How many times do I have to…"
Sapph didn't hear much more. His voice had gone numb with shock as a shocking wave of déjà vu hit him.
"Don't tell me," Sapph said faintly. "You're the gym leader?"
"That's right," the man said shortly, dropping Slate in disgust and turning to face Sapph, fixing him with his piercing gaze.
"President of the gym Leader Coalition of Corei and the official gym leader of the Dinocanyon City Gym… Clyff Endlethorn," he said sternly, "and I declare this match officially illegal!"
***
In a dark room bathed in reddish candlelight several shadowy figures where seated around a ebony black conference table with a platinum throne at the head. The shadows present seemed to be debating heavily on something that was making tempers rise the longer they kept discussing it.
"I say we find the kid and crush him!" A voice exclaimed accompanied by a thud which sounded very much like a fist had been pounded onto the table. These noises came from the largest of the shadowy figures, who took up a large portion of the table on his own.
"Sorry to disillusion you, Doracus," a snippy voice said in an even tone. "But the child has crossed me and I cannot let my failures rest as such. I'll find the brat and he'll fall by my hand."
"No, he bloody well will not, Atlas!" Doracus roared. "Anyway's, he crossed me first so I get first crack at him!"
"Oh, no you won't!" Atlas retorted.
"Oh yes, I bloody will!" Doracus raged back.
"Oh. NO. YOU. WONT!" Atlas thundered back, losing the cool his voice portrayed of him.
A shadow with wild green hair turned to its neighbor and said in a carrying whisper "Idiotic kids," to which her neighbor giggled girlishly.
"SHUT UP!" the two men roared at her in unison.
"Wanna try making us?" the voice that had giggled said, a feminine touch in her biting voice.
"Now, now," a sunny voice said lightly, trying to break up the arguing members of the sinister conference, but sounding like its owner was enjoying this war of words.
"Julius, honey… calm yourself," another female voice said softly, throwing a nervous glance at the throne, whose occupant seemed close to snapping himself.
"That will do," an icy voice said softly, issuing from the throne and silence reigned in the room. Even Doracus seemed cowed by this man, whose voice was laced with so much frigidness that even the candles stuttered.
"Pointless infighting is a stupid way to lose track of our goal," the voice went on, his silver eyes flicking from terrified face to terrified face.
"Where is the boy now?" it asked again, his eyes coming to rest on Doracus who looked highly uncomfortable that the man in the throne had focused his attention on him.
"We- uh… l-lo-lost him around Relic Pass," Doracus faltered. Despite being almost twice the man's size and three times his weight, the head of the meeting seemed to strike terror into his heart.
After a deeply unpleasant silence, the man's eyes turned to where the sunny voice had come from and said "Orion?"
He's currently reached Dinocanyon City, milord," Orion said calmly.
The man's shadowy face relaxed into a bestial smile. "Very well… we shall leave him room to move. Zula, Demetria… you two will pick up our… guest," it said the word with a sick and twisted pleasure, "in Greenhill City. Don't fail me."
"We won't, milord," the wild-haired shadow answered for the two of them.
"Doracus and Cleopatra will lead the first assault," the man went on calmly. "Orion and Atlas will stay and supervise the preparation of the second strike. Am I understood?"
"Clearly, milord," three voices said in unison.
"Atlas?" the man asked of the shadow who hadn't said a word with a trace of a threat in his already deathly cold voice.
The shadow, who'd regarded Doracus threateningly, lowered his gaze and said "Understood."
***
Signing out with your regularly scheduled Corei-Dex Entry!
Name: Rustaur
Corei-Dex Number: 180
Species: Steel Edge
Pronunciation: rust-ORE
Element: Rock/Steel
Height: 2'09"
Weight: 357 lbs
Name Derivation: RUST+ dinosAUR
Evolution line: Rustaur usually follow this evolutionary line:
Rustaur-(45)- Metatops
Author's/Artist's Note: Rustaur's what you might call another Aron - Porygon style. His tail is a little more prominent and his outward body projections more prominent.