I hope y'all like another long-ish chapter lol.
"Cameron! Cameron, wake up!" somebody yelled into my ear. It felt like someone was yelling with a bullhorn in my ear.
"Get up!" the voice yelled again. It sounded familiar. I struggled to open my eyes as the setting sun blinded my eyes. My head hurt so much to top it off.
"Caleb?" I ask trying to focus my eyes on the figure in front of me.
Someone else came into view and said something that I couldn't make out. It was a female. She grabbed my head and put something under my nose. The smell that came off of it sent my senses into overdrive. It caused my blurred vision to clear up.
It was Olivia. She had something in her hand but I couldn't make out what it was. Caleb was standing behind Olivia with a frantic look on his face.
"What happened?" Olivia asked calmly contrasting the frantic pacing Caleb is doing.
I tried to remember, but my head hurt. It took me a few seconds to get my mind together.
"Castor. Team Skull. They took Skitty."
Olivia looked up at Caleb who's expression went from frantic to anger.
"Come on, let get you up."
Caleb and Olivia helped me up from the ground. I placed my hand at my waist and felt my belt to make sure my Pokeballs were there. Thankfully they were. Even my bag was untouched.
By the way, I totally forgot I had my backpack on until Caleb mentioned it.
We wanted to get going to look for Skitty but we had no clue where to start. Caleb was growing agitated while I was just worried.
"Let's just go and look all over the island. They have to be somewhere!" Caleb was visibly shaking.
Olivia looked at him but said nothing. I walked up to him as he frantically looked around. I watched as he tapped his leg repeatedly with his right hand.
"Caleb, relax. We're going to find Skitty and those jerks."
Was I really trying to calm down Caleb, right now? Shouldn't it be the other way around?
He nodded and took a deep breath, however he continued to tap. I grabbed his hand stopping his incessant tapping. "Relax," I say calmly.
He took a deep breath and nodded his head.
"Let's go to Route 9 and see if anybody saw them. It's likely they went up through Diglett Tunnel. We'll just have to ask around."
So we left the outskirts and made our way to Route 9. Nobody had seen Team Skull so we went into the tunnel. It was easy to rule out them going to Konikoni City because that wouldn't make sense.
It took us nearly 20 minutes in the tunnel to find someone who had seen a Team Skull grunt. This young man told us that he saw a couple grunts messing around on route 6. Olivia told us to go off to Route 6 and look around while she asked people in Heahea City. She thought it would be better to do it this way.
Caleb and I scoured the route looking for signs of Team Skull but we didn't see any. We asked around and nobody saw them.
I began to get anxious. I hope they don't hurt Skitty.
I'm battling a mix of emotions to be honest. I'm trying to remain calm but I keep looking over at Caleb and he looks like he's battling his own emotions. It's like we are feeding off of each other's own anxiety and not in a good way.
As we continued our way up the Route we came up to Royal Avenue. Just as we were passing it I spotted 3 grunts spray painted a house. I grabbed a Pokeball and ran towards them. My adrenaline was in control.
"Where is Castor?" I barked at them. They turned around and looked shocked. Then they looked at each other and laughed.
Caleb charged at one and tackled him. I was briefly stunned by this unnatural aggression from Caleb. When I regained myself I sent out my Mudbray just in case he was needed.
"Where is Castor?!" Caleb yelled at the grunt he held down to the ground. Mudbray quickly dashed in between Caleb and the other two grunts.
"I don't know. He went up north when we decided to come here." The young grunt was starting to cry causing Caleb to get off of him. The other two grunts looked down at their peer in shock.
"Yo, why ya cryin?" One of the grunts asked.
"Bro, you are weak," the other said. The two of them quickly ditched their supposed friend and ran towards Route 6. They'll probably warn Castor.
"Why did he go north? What is up north that he would go to?"
"I don't know!" the boy pleaded.
I placed my hand on Caleb's shoulder and motioned for him to take a step back. I then held out my hand in front the crying grunt. He looked up and wiped away his tears. He hesitated to put his hand out.
"Cameron, what are you doing?" Caleb asked me. I didn't answer him.
The young boy grabbed my hand and I pulled him up.
"Are you sure there isn't anything up North of importance? Anything at all?"
The boy sighed.
"The motel on Route 8. That's where he is."
I looked towards Caleb and nodded. I thanked the young boy, who I hope learned a lesson, and left with Caleb and Mudbray.
We didn't run to Route 8. Caleb wanted to but I wasn't in the mood. Something was bothering me from the confrontation with the grunts.
"Caleb, what is going on with you?"
His steps stuttered as he looked at me. I glanced back, briefly, then looked ahead.
"What do you mean?"
"You behaving in such a way that isn't like you. Violent? That's not you"
He stopped in his steps. I looked back and stared at him.
"I just want to get Skitty back."
"So do I but we have to be calm about it. I'm freaking out inside, you know, but that's not going to help Skitty."
He sighed. "Sorry."
"I'm not trying to criticize you. You don't need to apologize. I'm just concerned."
"So am I. Um, was. So was I," he said as his face dropped. The wind zipped through the air as if it could cut paper. "I freaked out when I saw you on the ground. I thought the worst and, uh, I guess it's just sticking in my head."
He tried to meet my glance but couldn't. His eye began to be covered with a glint. He took a deep breath and coughed.
"Okay, well, I'm fine. Skitty is going to be fine. And I need you to be fine too, okay?"
He looked at me with shock on his face. "I don't like this role-reversal we have done this evening. I prefer being the emotional car wreck," I say with a laugh.
It gets a small chuckle out of him.
...
Route 8 is mostly empty. That is until we spot the motel in the distance. There is quite a large group of Team Skull grunts gathered and what seems to be some employees.
Caleb and I run towards the group and let out a couple of our Pokemon. I already have Mudbray out so I send out Dartrix. Meanwhile Caleb sends out his Torrecat and Jangmo-o.
"Look what we have here boys and girls," Castor says calmly as he approaches us.
"Where is my Skitty?"
Castor laughs.
"Ay, you don't talk unless spoken to you hear me, yo?" A grunt says to me as he tosses out a Drampa.
I hear a loud screech from inside the motel. It sounded like Skitty. I try to run towards the door but the Drampa slithers in front of me blocking my route. Meanwhile, Caleb's Jangmo-o is attacked by a Passimian out of nowhere. I watch as Jangmo-o slams into the Motel wall.
"No! Jangmo-o!" Caleb screams.
The grunts laugh.
"Skitty is no longer yours. He is Team Skull's property."
"Pokemon aren't property," I say trying to calm the boiling blood in my veins.
Castor rolls his eyes. "Don't give me that sappy crap about Pokemon are our friends and whatever."
I shake my head.
Another loud screech and then a bang is heard from the motel. Castor looks at Iwika, concerned. Then Caleb makes a beeline for the door when Drampa swings it's lower body into Caleb knocking him down.
"Dragon Pulse!" the grunt barks.
Drampa opens it's mouth an unleashes a massive shock wave towards Caleb. Caleb's Torrecat jumps in front of Caleb as I lunge and grab Caleb to bring him out of the path. The attack hits Torrecat in critical fashion.
"Again, Drampa."
Caleb had the wind knocked out of him so getting him up seems impossible. Mudbray quickly jumps in front of us as Drampa unleashes the attack. However, after doing so Dartrix unleashes a powerful Solar Beam on Drampa knocking it back quite a bit.
Then in the blink of an eye a Pokemon jumps in front of Dartrix and takes the hit. I couldn't see the Pokemon well before looking away, but it seemed to have scales on it's back.
When I turn my head I look and see a Hakamo-o hunched over with it's hands up covering it's face. Drampa's attack hit the scales on it's head and arms causing little to no impact on the Hakamo-o.
Hakamo-o approaches us and helps Caleb and I up.
"You evolved?" Caleb said causing me to look in the spot where Jangmo-o hit the mall. There was a large dent in the wall but Jangmo-o was not there.
Hakamo-o just looked at Caleb and Caleb reacted as if he understood the silent stare.
"Lycanrock, Accelrock attack now!" I hear Iwika yell.
Her Lycanrock comes out of the pokeball and spots Hakamo-o. Her Lycanrock is different than Castor's. She has the midday form.
Just as Lycanrock is about to attack one of the doors to motel comes flying off the hinges after a loud blast startling all of us. Skitty quickly pops out of the room and bangs into Lycanrock just as it made it half way towards Hakamo-o.
Skitty then turns towards the Passimian and charges causing a few of the grunts to gasp.
"Passimian, Take Down!" Castor yells.
I didn't know he had a Passimian.
I watch Skitty and become worried. He can't take on a Passimian. Skitty continues it's charge towards Passimian and begins to glow as if electricity was bouncing off of it's skin. Skitty jumps over Passimian, who whiffs on it's attack, and then quickly turns around and charges at an electrifying pace. The impact sends Passimian flying into a tree and ultimately fainting on the spot.
Skitty then turns towards Drampa but before it can attack a Probopass quickly levitates in the middle of everybody.
That's when I spot Olivia walking over towards us with Professor Burnet and Kilo.
"You Team Skull punks are becoming quite the headache, I see." Olivia glares over at Castor who scoffs.
"Listen honey, mind your business." Castor gestures his hand telling Olivia to go away. Instead Olivia glares at him.
"Leave my island, now. Go to Po Town where you scum belong."
Castor laughs.
Iwika throws a Pokeball letting out her Steenee. There was another laugh. This time from Professor Burnet.
"How sad." She reaches into her pocket and send out a large Pokemon. Hydreigon. "Battling would be pointless. This is pointless. I suggest you gaggle of losers leave now. Go run to Guzma."
I fear things are going to escalate more so I slowly make my way and grab Skitty. It tries to fight out of my grasp until it looks and sees me.
"Relax, it's just me buddy."
Skitty's demeanor goes from anger to calm in a flash. "You're okay," I say as I rub it's head.
I bring him back to where Caleb is standing. He's still a little groggy but he is gonna be fine. He's tending to his poor Torrecat.
I can tell Castor is thinking about escalating the situation but when a group of trainers come out of nowhere with their Pokemon he hesitates. He whispers to Iwika and a grunt standing next to him.
"As you can see, those here on Akala Island are done with your reign of terror. You kidnapped a Pokemon that belonged to an Island Challenge goer. You committed a grave mistake and we cannot let that go unpunished." Olivia's voice was crisp and threatening. Her tone did not break, her voice did not quiver, she was resolute in her words.
Castor nodded towards a grunt.
Team Skull picked up their belongings and left down route 8. The trainers that showed up followed them as if they were escorting Team Skull.
Caleb touched my arm to get my attention. When I turned to face him he held something out for me. It was a chocolate bar.
Not going to lie but it was an odd time to hand me a chocolate bar but the smile on his face made it impossible for me to decline.
Olivia, Professor Burnet and Kilo walked towards us.
Olivia let out a sigh. "Hala told me you two were promising. Standing up to Team Skull like you have has shown me he was right. That's why I can't wait to face off against the both of you tomorrow."
Caleb and I looked at each other with wide eyes. We thought only one of us would get to battle Olivia tomorrow and then the other in 2 days.
Olivia smiled.
"I have more than 3 Pokemon. I don't typically use other Pokemon than the standard 3, but this is special. However, the trainer who faces me last will not have the luxury of knowing what he is up against."
"I will battle you last," I say almost automatically.
I thought Caleb would object but he didn't. Instead he said he looked forward to facing off with Olivia first.
"Well then, go rest up. I'll see you two tomorrow."
Professor Burnet turned and followed Olivia out of Route 8. Kilo on the other hand hanged back and handed us a couple Dusk Balls. He told us there's a Pokemon in Lush Jungle worth catching and that they would help us tomorrow. However, he didn't tell us which one.
When we made our way to Lush Jungle looking for Pokemon to find.
Caleb told me Olivia specializes in Rock Pokemon. Lush Jungle has plenty of grass Pokemon. There are Fomantis and Paras all over. There are even Bounsweet lurking about, which Caleb jumps on. So he is set for tomorrow.
I didn't want another grass type Pokemon. I already had Dartrix.
That's when I spotted a wild Passimian. I initiated a battle using Oricorio. After the round of attacks an Oranguru came out of some bushes. Oranguru are peaceful Pokemon or so I was left to believe. This one was not. She was not happy.
She attempted to attack Oricorio making it a 2-1 battle. I looked back at Caleb who nodded and sent out his Charjabug.
The two wild Pokemon worked together in a way that proved to be very difficult. Watching them work together showed me how close these two wild Pokemon were. Every time we tried to attack one the other did something to either negate the attack or take it themselves.
Eventually Caleb and I were able to take down Passimian. I captured Passimian but after doing so something strange happened. Oranguru didn't want to fight any longer. It looked at Caleb, nodded, and sat on the ground.
Caleb smiled and tossed a dusk ball. Oranguru wanted to be with her friend. That meant she had to join my friend and knew it. She was okay with that.
It's kind of amazing really. It's just like Caleb and I. You come after 1 of us you are going to have to deal with the other. We'll defend each other too. Today has proven that. When Castor bullied me, Caleb was there to defend me. Caleb was so upset when I told him Skitty was kidnapped by Castor. Then just a little while ago I moved to cover him when that Grunt used Drampa to attack Caleb.
But it goes much deeper than that. From that moment on the beach in Hau'oli City something between us just clicked. It was like we were reaching out to the other secretly because we so desperately needed to.
We latched onto each other with no plans to let go.