The Corei Quest

by Soraryu

The Trigello Tournament finally begins and Haley's first trial is against the master of Poison types, Mekki. Can she rise above the toxic wave, or will she be pulled under on the first hurdle? And is she alone?

17. Chapter 17

Chapter Seventeen: Rolling Stones Gather No Moss

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 of 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 déj?* 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!"

Sapph was dumbfounded.

"What d'you mean, illegal?" Haley spluttered in surprise, staring from Slate to Clyff and back again.

Slate looked like he wished he were anywhere on the face of the Pokémon world than in the arena where he was subjected to Haley's shocked, Clyff's furious and Sapph's stunned stares.

"Come along, you," Clyff said shortly, beckoning to Slate imperiously. "We're leaving…"

"Wait one freaking minute!" Sapph blurted out.

All those present in the room (human and Pokémon alike) turned to stare at him.

Clyff arched an eyebrow in surprise at him and said "You still here then, are you?"

A nerve snapped at Sapph's temple. In an angry voice, he half-yelled "Of course I am!"

"Oh," Clyff said imperiously. "Why's that?"

Three more veins popped out all over Sapph's head as he began to lose it. "Are you freaking stupid? You haven't given me my badge yet!"

"You must be stupid yourself, young one," Clyff said calmly. "Badges aren't given away. They're earned."

Uh, oh, Haley thought nervously as she saw Sapph seem to ignite in fury. The sight seemed to even cow the Coreian researcher whose rages tended to become exponentially violent. He shouldn't have said that…

Sapph was shaking visibly in pure fury as he hissed, "Say that again, you…" Sapph then let off an extremely offensive word that had Haley, Slate, Crimson and Grandpa's eyes swell to the size of saucers.

"Hmm, are you deaf? I said…" Clyff began in a nearly sardonic voice but Sapph angrily cut him off.

"I know what you ******* said!" Sapph screamed angrily (Haley, Slate, Crimson and Grandpa's eyes now looked like circular hot air balloons) "I just beat Slate for this badge! If you want to ******** someone, save it for later!"

Sapph's companions started edging away from him as his rant escalated into a full-blown rage.

Clyff wasn't impressed, nor was he seemingly perturbed as Sapph stared a hole through him. "I admit that if you beat my nephew, you are an opponent worthy of consideration… even if he is a slacker. All I'm merely telling you is that I'll considering battling you tomorrow…"

"Keep spouting crap like that an' your Pokémon won't be the only ones beaten up!" Sapph roared.

"Big talk for a rookie," Clyff said indifferently.

OK, that's low, Crimson thought worriedly as Sapph stopped trembling and an evil aura seemed to envelope him.

This is so not good! Haley thought tremulously.

"So you're basically saying that you won't give me a badge unless I beat you?" Sapph said quietly with his head bowed.

"That's a good way to sum it up, yes," Clyff said calmly. "But the gyms all across the region were officially closed today for their leaders to attend a conference at Sterling City to…"

"Well then, let's go!" Sapph yelled, pulling off a red and white capture capsule off his belt and enlarging it.

Everybody except Clyff's jaws hit the rocky ground underfoot.

"Were you listening?" Clyff said, starting to lose his composure to anger at Sapph's impertinence.

"Perfectly. Your official referee is here. So are your Pokémon. Or have they come down with the Pokérus?" Sapph said calmly.

"You are in no position to make demand on the Gym Leader Co-," Clyff began only to be overridden by Sapph.

Sapph began with a smirk, "Or is it the-," At this point, he stuck his hands behind his back and strutted around in front of the leader, flapping his elbows, "-cluck…cluck…CHICKENpox! I hear it's contagious in Pokémon, and usually passed on from their trainers…"

Now it was Clyff's turn to lose it.

"Very well, you young upstart. You've thrown down the gauntlet? I accept! Rosalyn, let's begin!" he snapped, turning to the referee as he made his way to the leader's box. Pausing as he passed Slate, he added, "I'll deal with you later."

"Are you sure about this, Sapph?" Haley whispered to Sapph as she made her way to the stands with Slate.

"Yeah," Sapph said quietly, his eyes locked on the purple haired man who stood across the rock field, also holding a red and white pokéball in his hand ready to begin.

"Think you'll use Crimson and Grandpa again?"

"Nah, they're exhausted. Take them up with you into the stands and watch the show." Sapph said, smiling reassuringly at the two Pokémon who looked ready to fight again despite their injuries.

You sure the others can handle it? Crimson said worriedly. I mean, I know Ace, Silver and especially Zen are strong… most likely stronger than me, but…

But nothing, young 'un! Grandpa retorted. You're plenty strong! Get a bit of self confidence already!

"Grandpa's right, Crimson," Sapph said quietly. "We'll wipe the floor with Mr. Stuck-up, you just watch!"

Don't lose your cool, young Sapph, Grandpa told him seriously. Keep a level head, and winning is easy!

"No pressure, Grandpa," Sapph said with a small smile.

Good luck, Sapph! Crimson nodded to his trainer, fluttering after Haley and the Geome into the stands to sit next to Slate.

The referee raised her flags into the air and announced, "An official gym match between Sapph Manson and the Dinocanyon City Gym Leader Clyff will now begin. If Sapph wins, he will earn a Jurassic Badge. Each trainer may use three Pokémon apiece. The challenger may substitute Pokémon, but the leader may not. A Pokémon is out of competition if it is unwilling or unable to battle. Are both trainers ready?" she added, looking at both trainers for confirmation of the rules.

Both nodded silently, not breaking eye contact.

"Be careful, Sapph," Haley said softly.

"Well, begin!" the ref yelled, bringing her arms down.

"Let's do it, Silver!" Sapph yelled, throwing the Magnet Pokémon into the fray.

"Come forth, Kabuto!" Clyff yelled, hurling his sphere into the ring as well.
Both pokéballs broke open on the rock field releasing a small metal sphere with two horseshoe magnets and a single, staring eye which levitated in front of Sapph as what looked like a large, flat rock with two small black dots which resembled eyes on it materialized on the field before Clyff Endlethorn.
"Uh, oh," Slate said worriedly, staring at his uncle's choice.

"What's the problem?" Haley asked him. "Kabuto's part Water type, after all. Sapph has the advantage!"

Still gazing transfixedly at the ancient Pokémon, all Slate said was, "You'll see."

Scanner's detect type advantage in our favour, Silver droned.

Preparations for reception of battle protocols complete.

"Couldn't you just say, 'Ready when you are'?" Sapph said with a grin.

Requesting repetition of last command prompt protocol, Silver droned on, earning a king-sized animé sweat drop from his trainer.

"Never mind… let's end this match quickly! Silver!" Sapph ordered the Magnemite, pointing at the rock that was Kabuto. "Hit it with Zap Cannon!"

Power reading acceptable… initiating attack… Silver rambled on, creating a black sphere which crackled with golden yellow sparks before sending it flying forward towards the Pokémon.

Clyff looked unfazed as the sphere of electric destruction came careering in.
"Whoa!" Slate yelled. "Who'd have guessed Sapph's taught his Magemite Zap Cannon already?"

"It's over!" Haley said fiercely.

But why isn't Clyff ordering any countermeasures? Crimson asked his teammate worriedly.

Grandpa, however stayed in his seat, watching the Magnemite's attack come closer.

His arms folded and a lazy look in his lavender eyes, his only response to Sapph's offensive was a muttered "Camouflage."

At this, the Kabuto seemed to fade out and for a heart-stopping moment vanished from Sapph and Silver's view.

"Where'd he go?!" Sapph gasped.

Illogical… does not compute… Silver droned, working itself up into an overheated state.

The confusion on the pitch was matched only by that in the stands.

I see… Grandpa said with a small smile.

Where'd he go, Grandpa?! Crimson cried out, his blue-visored eyes scanning the field frantically for the Kabuto.

The Rock Man Pokémon smiled as he muttered a single baffling word.

Nowhere.

The Zap Cannon crashed dead center at the point where Kabuto stood hidden, sending up a humungous cloud of dust.

"Did we get him?" Sapph asked frantically.

"Yes… and no," Clyff said coldly. "Kabuto! Use Mud Shot!"

In the stands, Haley stared. "Did I hear him right?"

Slate nodded gravely. "Silver's done for," he agreed.

Does not compute… does not compute… does not… Silver droned, suddenly getting struck by a stream of wet, sticky mud from what seemed to be a plain rock which drove Silver forcefully into the ground with earth shaking force.

"Silver! Talk to me, buddy!" Sapph yelled in worry.

Health down one hundred percent… continuation, negatiiiivvvve… The Magnemite groaned in its deep, slow voice, a big X on his face in place of his single eye.

The Shellfish Pokémon flickered back into view as the referee raised her green flag and called out, "Magnemite is unable to battle. This round goes to Kabuto!"

"What the hell happened?!" Sapph exclaimed, staring at Clyff. "Was it Double Team?"

"As if I'd resort to such lowly techniques," Clyff snorted. "Don't you know that no matter how powerful the attack, it's totally useless if you can't land a hit with it?"

"That makes no sense," Slate said.

Haley, who'd flopped back into her seat in hopelessness turned to stare at the lavender-haired youth and asked, "What doesn't?"

"Silver's attack definitely hit Kabuto," Slate began to explain slowly.

That's true, Grandpa nodded.

"But when he used Camouflage, Kabuto briefly discarded its water attributes and became a pure Rock-type Pokémon, thus cutting the damage down greatly," Slate concluded.

"No way!" Haley said incredulously, looking down at Sapph as the boy returned his fallen combatant.

"Well, hurry up, Sapph! I haven't got all day!" Clyff called cheerfully.

Sapph's got to go with Zen, Crimson said in his worried tone of voice. Against Rock types, a Fighting type's his best bet.

Hmm… maybe you're right, Grandpa said thoughtfully. But I'm of the opinion Sapph'll want to save Zen for last.

Apparantly, Grandpa was right for when Sapph threw his second pokéball forward, the Swoop Pokémon burst out in a momentarily shapeless flash of red light, flapping her wings to gain some altitude.

"What's Sapph thinking?" Haley said in a far away sort of voice.

"It's almost as if he's asking to lose," Slate muttered in wonderment.

They're resuming, Grandpa said, his attention raptly focused on the battle before him.

"OK, Ace, fly in slowly and use Wing Attack!" Sapph said quickly.

Roger! Ace agreed, flying in with her wings spread wide to attack.

What on earth is he thinking? Clyff asked himself, surprised. Not only does he choose to put himself at a type disadvantage, he orders his Pokémon to fly in slowly and directly, making an easy target!

"I don't know how you beat Cassandra and Arlene," he told the Johton youth. "But you appear to have become rather rusty."

"Why don't you just shut up and attack, then?" Sapph called out mockingly.
"Big mistake," Slate muttered from the stands.

I hope Sapph has a plan, Grandpa said in a worried voice.

This time, it was Crimson who remained relaxed. Don't worry, Grandpa. Sapph's got a plan. I know it, the Five Star Pokémon reassured the audience.

"As you wish… Kabuto, use Rock Throw attack!" Clyff countered swiftly.

The Rock/Water hybrid complied by ramming straight into a rocky stalagmite that rose from the gym floor, creating and explosion of dust and small, sharp stones that flew straight for the steadily advancing Swoop Pokémon.

Sapph's mouth curved into a grin as he said, "Psyche. Ace, Aerial Ace, now!"

Just as the rocks reached the Flying Pokémon, she put on a huge spurt of speed, diving straight for the ground and avoiding the rocky shower.

"No way?! A feint?" Slate yelled excitedly.

Haley nodded. "But at the speed she's going, she's going to crash!"

"What the hell?! I thought I had you!" Clyff gasped aloud.

"It's way too early to be surprised, Clyff Endlethorn," Sapph smirked back.

The surprise indeed wasn't over there. Ace pulled out of her dive and with a spare half inch of space separating her belly from the rocky floor, rocketed along the arena, zigzagging in between the stalagmites so fast she vanished form sight, throwing the Kabuto and its trainer into a panic.

"What's going on?" Clyff demanded of Sapph. "Is this Quick Attack?"

"As if I'd resort to such lowly techniques," Sapph echoed in a mockingly pompous voice.

Ace suddenly reappeared only as she made contact with the Shellfish Pokémon's right side at about eighty miles per hour, sending the Kabuto flying out of the ring as though thrown by a slingshot and into a wall with a sickening thud and enough force to make the walls quake.

The referee had seen enough. "Kabuto cannot continue! Litaire wins!"

"And just like that, it's tied again," Slate said, looking awestruck at the sudden turn of events.

"I still don't know which is harder to believe," Haley said in wonder. "That Ace was able to pull out of the dive so perfectly, or that she used a Flying move to KO a Rock type in one hit!"

She sure was named well, eh, Grandpa? Crimson grinned.

At least some of us are, the Geome muttered darkly.

The Ledian sweat dropped as he chuckled nervously.

"Looks like Clyff's pulling out his Kabuto…" Slate said, watching his uncle return the Rock/Water type Pokémon, and bring out a second capsule-shaped device. "Next up should be his… there we go," he smiled grimly as a considerably similar Pokémon took the stage. With a flat, ovoid shell and three red-tipped white appendages sticking out of each side, it looked like a blue Ledyba being stepped on by a Golem. What really got Sapph and Ace's attention was the pair of dagger-like claws that protruded outwards beyond its 'face'. They looked sharp at the tip and none too desirable near them.

"An Anorith," Sapph muttered, scanning the Pokémon with his Pokédex, this time with the device audio muted. "According to the Pokédex, it's a part Bug type… what to do…"

Clyff seemed to take Sapph's musings as an opening and quickly ordered "Anorith, use Stone Edge!"

"OK, first order of business… DODGE IT!" Sapph yelled as a huge pillar of rock seemed to shoot out of the earth in front of the Anorith. As Rust and Ore had done in the battle before, the prehistoric Pokémon slammed the pillar with its claw, sending it sliding across the floor toward Ace at terrifying speed.

Roger that! Ace countered by looping the oncoming monolith as it passed and going into another dive, her focus on the opponent as the pillar exploded into chippings behind her, raining dust and pebbles on Sapph.

"Hey!" Sapph yelled indignantly. "Watch where you're aiming those things! Ace, Aerial Ace!"

Roger! Ace yelled again as she began to speed up.

"Don't let them, Anorith! Hyper Beam!" Clyff yelled, getting worked up.

"Hyper… Beam?" Haley stammered, shocked.

"That's not good…" Slate agreed as they watched Anorith charge up a sphere of pure Megacite energy and send a golden beam streaked with red rushing towards Ace, whose eyes had widened behind her flying goggles.

"Ace! Use Double Team!" Sapph yelled worriedly.

"Too slow!" Clyff yelled triumphantly.

Time stood still as the beam of Megacite energy slammed into Ace's lightweight body, sending the Normal and Flying type specie flying sky high and into the ceiling in an explosion of rock.

Haley and Grandpa's eyes widened in horror as Slate let off a few choice words. Sapph gritted his teeth as his fingernails began digging their way into his palms, his focus absolute.

"Looks like that's it for the Litaire," Clyff said, regaining some of his arrogant swagger back. "You'd better call it, Rosalyn…"

"Don't you even think this is over!" Sapph yelled angrily, staring at Clyff.

"My dear boy, your Pokémon fought well, but not even your precious Litaire could have survived a point blank Hyper Beam at full strength directly," Clyff said in a patronizing voice.

"Yeah, well," Sapph said, looking up and grinning. "Who said Ace took it head on? Ace! Use the stones around you and show this loser your Cyclone attack!"

"Cyclone?" Clyff gasped. "What type of attack is Cyclone?"

The gym leader wasn't the only one surprised at Sapph's statement. Up in the stands, Slate turned to Haley and asked dubiously "'Cyclone'?"

Haley shrugged back as Crimson yelled Look up there!

The four spectators looked up at where Ace had ended up after Anorith's attack and saw a swirling mass of dust and loose stones swirling around, forming a tornado in the air. The tornado twisted around in midair like a humungous serpent with no eyes or mouth before speeding in towards the Bug/Rock Pokémon.

"No! Anorith, move it!" Clyff yelled in panic.

"It's no use, Clyff Endlethorn," Sapph said smugly. "Your Anorith used up too much power in that Hyper Beam. It's too tired to move for now."

"Damn it all," Clyff spat in disgust.

The spinning vortex smashed Anorith into the ground with so much force that the Claw Pokémon bounced upwards from the recoil, spinning miserably as it rose.

"Yes! Now, Ace, double back and use Wing Attack to end it!" Sapph cheered loudly.

Sir! Yes, Sir! Ace said, although her voice sounded muffled by the spinning.

At Sapph's command, the twister which had ricocheted off Anorith's back upon contact made a wide turn and raced back to where the Anorith flailed helplessly in midair. Before colliding again, the Swoop Pokémon brought her wing down hard on Anorith's underbelly, sending it speeding for the arena floor again.

After the crashing collision of Bug on rock, Rosalyn looked down into the small crated the impact had created, and raising her red flag at Sapph, said, "Anorith is unable to battle! Litaire wins!"

"All right!" Sapph yelled happily as Ace broke the spinning winds around her by spreading her wings out sharply and floating over to Sapph for the boy from Cherrygrove to check it its condition.

"Nice flying, girl! Are you up to another round?" Sapph praised his Pokémon as he held out his arm for Ace to perch on.

Of course, General! Ace said briskly. Thanks to your quick thinking, I was able to guard myself from the Hyper Beam with two clones in front of me and from the collision with one behind, and keep the damage taken to a minimum.

"I see I don't have to pull any punches with you do I, Sapph Manson?" Clyff called out. Sapph and Ace looked up to see he had already returned his fallen Anorith and had his third pokéball out.

The gym leader seemed to have regained his composure as well as he went on to say. "But the fun ends here. Go… AERODACTYL!"

His third pokéball broke open on the gym floor spilling out a beam of white light that took shape in the air. Large, terrifying wings spread out from a belly that seemed too small for its huge wings and head. Two digits arose from the elbow joints of each wing, like fingers as a strong looking tail arose from its rear. Its beady eyes surveyed its opposition imperiously as it opened its mouth and gave a mighty roar, showing dangerously sharp sawlike teeth. Two horns and strong-looking legs complete with three digit feet completed the dull grey flying monstrosity.

"OK, Ace," Sapph said a little worriedly. "If you don't feel up to this round, Zen can cover for you…"

Thank you for your concern, General, Ace overrode him. But I can handle him. Or at least make it easier for Sergeant Zen.

"But…!"

I'll be all right, Ace smiled. You just keep your head on the battle.

Sapph closed his eyes for a moment, exhaled and said, "OK, Ace, you're up. Just don't strain yourself. You still received damage from the Hyper Beam attack earlier on, no matter how minimal it may have been."

Yes, sir, Ace replied as she took the air to resume the battle.
In the stands, Slate and Haley's shock about seeing the Cyclone attack's power was replaced by the horror of Clyff's final choice.

"Do you think Ace can take that thing?" Haley asked Slate.

"Dunno… he trained that Aerodactyl in Sinnoh before he took me in three years ago," Slate mused.

"So it should have new attacks on it, hunh?" Haley asked.

Slate nodded as the referee raised her flags and yelled "Begin!"

"Ace, use Cyclone, one more time!" Sapph yelled.

Yes, sir! Ace hollered as she flapped back to get some room and began to spin like a top, gathering vicious winds around its small body and sped off once more towards her target.

Clyff smirked and called out his next order. "Aerodactyl, Agility."

"Uh, oh," Slate said worriedly.

The Aerodactyl closed its eyes momentarily and suddenly vanished, leaving Ace to blitz past without making contact.

"Darn it! Ace, stop the Cyclone!" Sapph cried out.

Ace complied by flipping over and breaking the winds around her by flaring her winds out wide, breaking her momentum.

Right where I want you, Clyff thought viciously.

Aloud, he said, "Show no mercy, Aerodactyl! Ice Fang!"

Sapph's blue eyes opened in shock. "'Ice Fang'?" he repeated, unsure if he'd heard right.

Ace barely registered Clyff's command before Aerodactyl's serrated maw clamped down hard on her outstretched right wing hard. However, the horror didn't end there, for when Aerodactyl's icy blue toothed mouth pulled away, ice crept up Ace's wing to the joint until it had encased her entire wing, taking her by surprise so badly she began to scream.

"Now, Aerodactyl! Wing Attack!" Clyff screamed.

"Ace! Use your frozen wing to block with Wing Attack!" Sapph answered frantically.

Roger! Ace grunted, regaining control long enough to swing her ice-encrusted wing around and slam it into the Fossil Pokémon's wing that had stiffed in the hopes of clothes lining the Litaire. The force of the blows exchanged broke the ice off her wing, sending shards flying. Both Pokémon were stricken with shards of ice, causing both sides discomfort.

Sapph, quick on the draw as always, hollered," Ace, if you can use Aerial Ace!"

Roger that! Ace grunted again, the strain of fighting three battles back to back finally starting up on her. Regardless of her fatigue, however, she flapped her proud wings once causing her to rocket forward and slam into Aerodactyl's right shoulder joint. The winged ancient screamed in agony as it felt its shoulder dislocate.

Despite the turn of the tables, it was still a fact that between the multiple teeth marks that gashed her right wings and that her rapid avian metabolism rate, Ace couldn't keep airborne for much longer either. Both fliers spiraled towards the ground, slamming into each other as they fell the forty foot drop to the gym floor below. Despite Ace getting in more hits as they fell, the Aerodactyl's attacks hurt a lot more. Both hit the ground with simultaneous thuds and lay down, breathing heavily yet still able to fight.

Aerodactyl pushed his legs under his two hundred pound plus bulk and heaved himself into a standing position, glaring at the Swoop Pokémon with a mixture of pain and intense hatred.

Unnghhh, Ace groaned trying to follow suit but failing as her right wing kept giving out under her. Sapph saw, under closer inspection, that her eyes were sliding in and out of focus and her muscles shook furiously under her battered body.

Sapph exhaled heavily as he closed his eyes and raised Ace's pokéball. A beam of red light shot out and engulfed the Litaire, returning her to the confines of her spherical holding device.

The referee, noticing this, turned to Sapph and asked into the silence that had filled the gym. "Are you substituting?"

Sapph shook his head slightly and the ref understood. Raising her green flag towards Clyff and Aerodactyl, she announced to the stunned audience, "Ace is unable to battle. Aerodactyl wins!"

"Wow… those were some intense battles!" Slate said softly.

"I still can't believe Ace was able to beat two Pokémon at a type disadvantage, and still put up a decent fight against an Aerodactyl," Haley replied, stunned.

That Ace really tries hard, doesn't she? Crimson said admiringly.

Indeed, Grandpa nodded sagely.

"Sapph, must have really trained her hard, hunh?" Slate pondered aloud.

Haley nodded and said, "Day in and out. Sapph takes training more seriously than anyone I've met. I guess he has something to prove. To whom, I'm not sure. All I know is that he's proved how tough he can be to me," she went on, oblivious to the fact that Slate, Crimson and Grandpa were staring at her.
Hmmm… anyways, thanks to Ace crippling Aerodactyl's wing, he can't fly and that'll level the playing field greatly for Zen, Grandpa said, watching his trainer pull his last pokéball off his belt.

Back on the battlefield, Sapph raised his voice and called to his opponent,
"I'd advise you to forfeit now, Clyff Endlethorn… for your Pokémon's sake."

"Don't play me for a fool, Sapph Manson," the gym leader spat. "What're you going to bring out next? A Gyarados?"

"No," Sapph said evenly, although grinning broadly. "But this guy sure has enough power to rival one. Go, Zen!"

And at long last, the Taebrawl took the field. Crouching down to stretch his bandaged feet, he turned his white-hared head towards Sapph and muttered Geez, it's about time! What took you so long, kid?

Sapph smirked and said, "Sorry, Zen. At least you get to end this battle."

Yeah, well, Zen said, stretching his natural right arm with his bionic left.

As light streamed from the lighting fixtures of the gym and glinted off the metal that his pseudo-appendage was made of, Clyff's eyes widened in shock. Raising his hand he recalled Aerodactyl and said loudly, "Sapph Manson has brought an illegal Pokémon into play. According to the new league legislation, Article fourteen, Section nine-D: 'no Pokémon, bearing artificial appendages may not be used in any official league match without prior examination by a league renowned researcher. Offenders will lose the eligibility to compete for the badge for the rest of the season and the Pokémon will face a two gym match ban.' Rosalyn, call it."

Shooting an apologetic glance at Sapph, she raised her green flag and said, "Taebrawl is disqualified. The winner by default is Clyff Endlethorn, gym leader of Dinocanyon City!"

Clyff nodded curtly at Sapph, said in a cool voice, "Have a nice day, Sapph Manson," and beckoning to Slate and Rosalyn, turned and left the arena.
Sapph and Zen were so shocked at the turn of events that neither one could open their mouths to stop the plum-haired man leaving.

Up in the stands, shock ran rampant through the foursome's minds.

"He's lying… got to be," Slate said in a voice boiling with rage. "He's got to be."

Haley had in her shock reached for her PokéNav and flipped it open to see a small icon resembling an envelope blinking in the top left message of the screen, meaning…

Opening and scrolling down the message, her eyes widened as they fell upon the section that Clyff had quoted and slumped back helplessly.

"Well?!" Slate said sharply. "It's a lie, right?"

Haley, numb with shock at what impatience had caused Sapph, could only shake her head helplessly.

***

Anuvi wasn't happy to hear that at all.

The Leaf Squirrel Pokémon, although fully healed, was in a horribly sour mood. Staring at Sapph in a hurtful way, (as the other four Pokémon were currently being treated by Nurse Joy – Sapph had sent Zen to Prof. Yew's lab via wireless transporter to have his Combatant Pokémon's false arm cross-examined for gimmicks upon returning to the Pokémon Center) Anuvi found he had to do something to avoid beating himself up.

Sapph in the meantime was slumped in a seat staring hopelessly at the pristine walls of the Pokémon Center, trying and failing to find an honest outlet for his slowly building rage.

He tried to blame Anuvi, but knew he couldn't- Anuvi wasn't to blame for lying in ICU as he battled two opponents without him (OK, so maybe it was, Sapph thought), but Anuvi had never failed him when he needed him the most.

He tried to blame Slate – but Slate was trying to prove something to his incorrigible uncle. He could relate Slate's emotions to the ones that had gotten him carted off to Corei. He couldn't be angry at Slate, not even after all that had transpired- for Slate hadn't refused Sapph the badge, he knew the lavender-haired teen didn't have the badge on him, or the access to the badges available… Clyff would have made certain of that.

He then tried to find cause to hate Zen. And despite the friction the two had experienced since their lives intertwined with each other, he could find no fault with him- it was, after all, no fault of the Psychic/Fighting Pokémon's that he'd have to live his life with an artificial limb.

Sapph even tried blaming Clyff Endlethorn, the man who'd brought his Gym League challenge to a seemingly abrupt end with his stupid change in the rules. Even there, Sapph hit the snag that Clyff himself had asked Sapph to rest up and come battle the next day.

In the end, Sapph realized inside that he was the one to blame… he was the one at fault. It was his impatience that had cost him everything, lost him everything. He thought of his father Justin (he'd skin me alive if he knew, Sapph thought dejectedly), his mother Katherine (she'll be so disappointed in me, she must have had high hopes, and I crushed them all, Sapph thought dejectedly), his brother Rubin (he'll never let me live it down, never, Sapph thought in panic) and Emma (I failed her… she's probably the only one at home, along with my mum who had utmost confidence in me, Sapph thought…)

"Hey," Haley said softly, slipping into the seat opposite Sapph and placing a couple of Spicy Chicken Sausage rolls in front of him. "You doing OK?"

Sapph didn't answer. Anuvi just pouted.

"Uh, he left a letter and a parcel for you," Haley went on tentatively, placing the mentioned items on the table in front of him. "Brian, I mean… seems he's returned to Kazuto."

Sapph looked up and picked up the letter and scanned it frantically, looking for some reason why their friend had left.

"'Family reasons'? What d'you think he meant by family reasons?" he asked Haley.

Haley shrugged despondently as Sapph reached lethargically for the parcel and unwrapped it.

"And what the hell am I supposed to do with this?" Sapph asked in frustration, holding up the Old Amber to the light.

Then a familiar voice broke in on the gloom settling at the table. "Revive it into an Aerodactyl."

Both looked up and saw the forlorn form of Slate standing there, looking nervously from one to the other.

"Hey," the teen said softly. "Mind if I join you?"

"I don't think so," Haley said irritably, looking away. Sapph shrugged, scooting over to give Slate space to sit.

"Thanks," Slate said gratefully, taking the space offered him. Taking one of the wrapped-up snacks from in front of Sapph and taking a bite of chicken, cheese and bread, asked "Do you guys hate me?"

"Yes," Haley said in her irritable voice.

"No," Sapph said honestly.

"R-really?" Slate said in surprise. "Why not?"

"'Cause you did what you had to do to try and get your uncle to recognize you," Sapph said quietly. "I did the same back at home and my dad sent me here to learn responsibility."

Haley and Slate stared.

Sapph looked over at Slate and asked "If you don't mind me asking, why do you stay with your uncle? Where are your parents?"

"Sapph!" Haley said, astonished. "How insensitive can you get? Of course he doesn't…"

"Orebourgh City, Sinnoh," Slate said, surprising Haley. "My pop's a miner there. My mom raised me. Pop always worked hard to support us, and my mom didn't have to worry about anything as far as food and finances were concerned. I couldn't have been luckier."

"Things were good, 'til my Pops had an accident in the mine. Some idiot went down there to have a smoke during his break and the explosion left my Pops crippled from the chest down and burned badly all over. I was ten at the time."

"Looked like the end of my parents marriage to the rest of Orebourgh. They said my mom wouldn't want to support a crippled man with multiple burns and a kid who spent all his time with Pokémon and not with his dad mining. But she stayed right by Pops. Said he was the luckiest man alive to have Mom. I agreed."

"Seemed like mom would be the bread winner for a while. And I knew I was expected to be a miner like Pops, but that wasn't my dream. I wanted to be someone Orebourgh and my parents could be proud of. So I left home a year later with Rust and Ore to come and train here."

"What was your dream?" Sapph asked, in a lazy yet interested voice. Anuvi and Haley leaned closer in spite of themselves.

"To become Pokémon League Champion," Slate said softly. "And use only Rock Pokémon to do it."

Sapph stared at Slate steadily for a minute and said "Nice. I'll definitely be looking forward to facing you some day!"

"Thanks," Slate said gratefully.

Sapph returned to his musing as he studied the Old Amber from different angles. Not looking at Slate, he asked," This thing can be used to resurrect Aerodactyl, you said?"

"That's right," Haley agreed. "Professor Yew told us once during our lecture on Prehistoric Pokémon."

"I see," Sapph said quietly. "And you want to use Rock types to accomplish your dream?"

"Yeah," Slate said slowly. "I was thinking of giving up and going home to Orebourgh. Help my mom care for my Pops and bring home a little extra cash."

"Why?" Sapph asked calmly. "Why give up?"

Slate fell silent, staring at his knees.

"Well?" Sapph prodded.

"Sapph!" Haley warned.

"Cause my uncle'll always be better!" Slate blurted out, shaking in mortification.

"Stupid," Sapph said coolly. "You're already better than Clyff 'Blowhard' Endlethorn… you wanna know why?"

Slate, Haley and Anuvi looked up at Sapph amazed.

"Cause you can accept defeat," Sapph said evenly. "Clyff hides behind his legislation, but you fight for yours. I may have been a trainer for less than three weeks, but I know that defeat isn't the end of the world. So I lost to Clyff, no deal! I'll just have to get stronger for the next opponent to roll around so I can beat him!"

Sapph stood up as Nurse Chansey came waddling back with his Pokémon.
Picking one off the tray, he shoved it and the Old Amber into Slate's limp hands.

"Here," he said shortly. "They're yours. You need some extra firepower if you want to be champ. And some wisdom from a rock who has two centuries' worth to tell. I'm going for the league finals, someday. I dunno where now, but I do know I can't give up because of one setback. I guess this will be a learning year for me. Just remember, Slate…" Slate and Haley stared at Sapph as he headed for the sleeping quarters in the centre. Anuvi scampered off the chair and scrambled up onto his trainer's shoulder as he paused in the doorway that led down the corridor to his room.

"What?" Slate asked, still unsure if Sapph had just given him a Geome and an Old Amber for free.

Smiling a dangerous smile, Sapph announced," When I win that championship, I'm gonna challenge you to another match! Get ready for it!"

Slate stared for a moment then grinned back. "Hmph," he said in a bemused way.

"Haley, how's leaving after breakfast to you?" He asked his travel companion.

Smiling, Haley nodded her assent.

"Well, g'night then," Sapph said, yawning as he turned in for the night, knowing tomorrow would be brighter than today.

***

The next day, Sapph and Haley awoke earlier than usual. After a full breakfast during which Anuvi had cooled off and become cheerful again, (although he kept his distance from Nurse Chansey) Sapph went to buy supplies from the vending machine for the two of them as Haley returned her Pokémon and studied the map of Corei, checking where they had to go next.
Sapph returned from the machine and had just been handed his four pokéballs when Clyff Endlethorn came storming in, apoplectic with rage.

Seeing Sapph, he made a beeline for the boy trainer and bawled out, "Where's my nephew, you little…"

"Slate?" Sapph asked indifferently, stuffing his hands into the pocket of his bright red cagoule. "No idea. Why's it your business?"

"You… I'll…" Clyff spat.

"Keep it up," Sapph said in a bored voice. "Maybe next time you'll speak a language I understand."

Haley swiftly stepped in between the two and asked Clyff quickly, "Why're you looking for Slate? Didn't he come home last night?"

"If he did, I wouldn't be asking you idiots these questions!" Clyff yelled, spit flying from his mouth. "All I know is that after finding you delinquents, he used my fossil regenerator without permission and left home! When I get a hold of him, he'll regret soiling the good Endlethorn name!"

"Clyff, please calm down!" Nurse Joy, who'd come from the back room now held Clyff's arm back as Sapph, sensing danger, grabbed Haley's wrist as a nerve snapped at her temple.

"About Slate… who knows?" Sapph replied rudely. "I really couldn't be bothered about your family issues. Besides," he added evenly, staring the gym leader in the eye. "Slate doesn't soil the Endlethorn name… you do that fine on your own. Just make sure you keep that as the only stained thing here, don't add our faces to the mix. Now please excuse us. We'll be off now, Nurse Joy," he added in a light voice to the pretty matron, steering Haley for the door before she slugged Clyff Endlethorn into the vending machine.

***

Three days of trekking through lush green hill country and natural reserves brought Sapph and Haley to the next stop on their tour of Corei: Green Hill City. As Sapph had hinted, the name was "so original he'd have never guessed where it was".

Haley giggled at this, surprising Sapph slightly. It was true that the journey to Green Hill had been peaceful as opposed to boring and that neither one of them had added a single Pokémon to their teams, it was altogether surprising they weren't biting each other's heads off. This hadn't passed unnoticed to their Pokémon either, and more than once had Sapph caught members of both teams holding whispered conferences whenever they camped, staring at Haley and Sapph coyly.

"Says here Green Hill's well-known for its contests," Haley said as they wandered the cobbled streets which separated the white washed, red-roofed buildings into neat blocks. Tulips of a thousand hues burst from balconies and flower patches on both sides. "And its local Honey is to die for!"

"In that case," Sapph said as they reached a fork in the road. "You go on ahead to the Contest Hall and I'll go buy some Honey and other provisions. We're running low, anyway."

"OK, see you soon… Honey!" Haley said the last road a distance down the road, giggling as she saw Sapph blush as he swiveled back to stare at her.

Must be the fresh air, Sapph thought, shaking his head as he marched on to the convenience store (Green Hill had no Pokémon Mart, as it was mostly a haven for coordinators, not trainers).

Entering the small store, he saw that there must have been a sale: there was only one jar of Honey left in the entire store!

Exhaling exasperatedly, he walked forward to pick up the Honey jar when somebody beat him to it.

"Sorry, mac," Sapph said cheerfully, "but I believe I was going to… YOU!" he yelled furiously when he recognized his rival shopper.

Light brown eyebrows looked relaxed as the boy who wore a green bandana looked into his twin brother's furious blue eyes and said, "Oh, it's you."

Without another word, he went up to the counter and began to pay for the honey. Sapph stormed up to his brother and grabbing him by the scruff of his green fleece jacket yelled," Are you listening, jerk? I said I'm taking this honey!"

Rubin Manson brushed his brother's hand off him and said, "They receive more honey everyday. Wait 'til tomorrow, will you? I'm in a hurry."

Sapph stood there seething as Rubin paid for it. As Rubin left, the old manageress said in her feeble voice, "I could hold onto some for you when it comes tomorrow, young man. Wouldn't that be OK?"

Staring after Rubin's retreating back, he said in a low, almost inhuman growl, "Sorry, but no."

He then rushed out into the street and shouted after his brother's retreating back, "Hey, let's you and me throw down right here, right now! I win, I get the Honey! You win, you keep it!"

Rubin stopped and turned around. "No, I don't think so." Then he turned around and walked on.

"Yeah, sure you don't, coward!" Sapph yelled back. "What kind of dead beat trainer rejects a challenge from other trainers?! Hunh, you yellow coward?!"

Rubin stopped again, turned around and said, "Very well, brother. Four-on-four sound good to you?"

Sapph smirked dangerously as he pulled off his first pokéball. "Prepare to lose!"

***

Meanwhile at the grounds outside the Contest Hall, Haley admired the multitudes of well-bred Pokémon that practiced their appeal moves before the contest. Lost in wonder, she didn't look where she was going until she ran smack into a random coordinator.

"Sorry," Haley grunted, raising her head to get a good look at the trainer she'd bumped into, and gasped. There was nothing random about this coordinator to Haley… neither was there anything random about Haley to the blonde girl she'd knocked down.

"Well, well," the girl sneered, drawing herself to her full height as she threw a haughty glance at Haley. "Who do we have here? Little-Miss-Behind!"

Haley turned red as she spluttered "'Little-Miss-Behind'?! Behind what?"

"Why, me of course!" Carla laughed. "Let's face it… you've always been in my wake, never able to over take, and all together, quite the flake!"

Haley's red face at this point was attributed to anger now. "Really? How so?"

"Hmm, let's see…" Carla said thoughtfully, raising a hand to tick off points. "You're behind me on looks, fashion style… heck you've been behind me this entire journey!"

Haley snapped off a pokéball off her belt and, enlarging it, yelled, "At least I'm not the one behind on brains and skill!"

Carla stopped laughing at this point.

"You'll regret that, you b…"

"Hey, Carla! Your block's being called in for the battle rou-, oh, I see you have company," another voice that was very familiar to Haley called.

The researcher from Olville looked up and saw her brother Kamren walking up to the two girls.

"Thanks, Kamren! Well, looks like we'll have to save our fun for later, Hales!" Carla sneered, shrinking her pokéball and running off into the building.

"Hey, wait! We're not done yet, you!" Haley hollered after the retreating girl's back.

"So, what brings you to Green Hill, dearest sister?" Kamren said airily, approaching the reddish blonde girl with an arrogant swagger. "Lost your loser boyfriend?"

"Sapph's NOT my boyfriend!" Haley yelled at the top of her voice.

"Apparently. So, the whole blush thing's a trick of the light?" Kamren sneered, making Haley go scarlet.

"About time too, sis," Kamren went on. "The smell of poor trash like those Manson kids is enough to make even your nose turn. Well, let's g-"

"I'm not going anywhere with you 'til you apologize for what you said about Sapph!" Haley yelled, pulling her arm away from Kamren.

Kamren laughed a cruel, cold laugh and hooted, "Hmm, let's see… I don't feel like apologizing and Mummy's not here to make me. So what are you going to do? Make me?"

Any sane trainer who knew Kamren's reputation would say it's safest to avoid conflict with him, for human happiness and Pokémon safety.

Too bad Haley was way past sane at this point…

A reckless daring took over as she hissed, "Pummeling you is going to make my day, dear brother!"

***

Sorry, there's no Corei-Dex this time, guys. I thought I'd do a short piece on each of Sapph's teammates to round off this time! Consider it a change of the ending theme… Heh, heh…

Name: Anuvi

Pokémon Species: Mongle

Classification: Leaf Squirrel

Element: Grass

Captured in: Chapter Three: The Price of Trust

Author's/Artist's Note: Loud-mouth of the team. Egotistical to the point of irritation, the Mongle is however never self-centered. Loves anything cinnamon and a good battle to boot, his main contemporaries are Crimson, Bubbles and (before he left) Eaves. Currently knows Leaf Blade, Razor Leaf, Quick Attack and Growl, although the only growling he's ever done is flirtatiously towards every Chansey he sees. The Chansey population are not impressed…

Name: Crimson

Pokémon Species: Ledian

Classification: Five Star

Element: Bug/Flying

Captured in: Chapter Four: Sapph's First Capture

Evolved in: Chapter Twelve: Hurried Hunting

Author's/Artist's Note: Modest, model team mate on Team Sapph. Crimson started off as a nervous, self-doubting and ever-apologetic Ledyba who didn't want to hurt anybody, even if they deserved it. Another bothersome aspect of hanging around Crimson when he was young was his tendency to accidentally blow off a Supersonic attack when excited. Crimson knows a useful plethora of attacks like Protect, Supersonic, Mach Punch and Comet Punch, which he's developed into Comet Punch Thunder Style, in which one hit can correspond to five, instantaneous electrifying jabs. Further experimentation with the Comet Punch will open new doors for the Ledian, possibly making it Sapph's strongest team member…

Name: Silver

Pokémon Species: Magnemite

Classification: Magnet

Element: Steel/Electric

Captured in: Chapter Twelve: Hurried Hunting

Author's/Artist's Note: Have any of you guys read Animorphs©? Remember Ax the Andalite? Anyways, cross him with Omega from Sonic Heroes. That's Silver. Captured after a battle with Sapph's old Mogshex, he fills the role that many over-serious competitive battlers know as the tank. Virtually unfunny and mechanically sounding, he's an analyst to the last degree, accurately calculating the amount of damage received and dished out. Silver presently knows Thunderbolt, Zap Cannon, Sonicboom and Thundershock.

Name: Ace

Pokémon Species: Litaire

Classification: Swoop

Element: Normal/Flying

Captured in: Chapter Twelve: Hurried Hunting

Author's/Artist's Note: Ace is presently the only female on Sapph's team. Don't let that fool you… Ace is tougher than about ninety percent of all the Pokémon of her element she's faced, losing only one battle to date, and that was narrowly. Extremely self-confident and rigidly militaristic, she's the kind of Pokémon who'd brush her teeth at 0700h every day… if she had teeth to brush. She packs a powerful punch with the wealth of Flying attacks at her disposal, including Wing Attack and Aerial Ace. She's also learnt Double Team and a new technique of Sapph's design; Cyclone.

Name: Zen

Pokémon Species: Taebrawl

Classification: Combatant

Element: Psychic/Fighting

Captured in: Chapter Fourteen: Off the Chains

Author's/Artist's Note: Zen's one Pokémon who knows the meaning of the phrase 'a dog's life'… Formerly a member of the Pampa City dojo, he lost his dojo's and personal honour after losing a battle (and his left arm) to a challenger's Scyther. His trainer, faced with the choice of leaving Zen or the dojo forever, chose the former for reasons best known to himself. Zen was left to wander the region of Corei, during which he met a passing scientist who fitted him a false arm that occasionally jams up. Determined to forget his past and remain free, he's forgotten all the moves his first trainer taught him, and learnt new techniques, which so far consist of Aura Sphere, Confusion (around which he still has a block), Rolling Kick and Ancientpower (which he learnt from his only contemporary at the time, Grandpa). He has currently failed in staying free after being captured by Sapph after a fierce battle with Crimson for the fate of his former home, the Pampa City dojo, which he'd overrun with a horde of Rumboo for revenge.

Until next Post, mon amis!

Ler!