It's been a while since I updated once every other day...I've got to at least get my momentum back up so I can keep going.

All right, Chapter 18!

Chapter 18
Another Cave

The late evening sun sat snugly in the comfortable western horizon of trees, spilling orange and pink hues into the sky. Soft cries and chirps echoed and responded to one another, interrupted by the occasional shudder of branches. Winds from the sea flowed calmly onto the land bordering the bay, fearless even against the boy Trainer that looked out at the water.

Jackson checked the time on his black-gray PokéGear and gave a belated gasp. "Oops, it's already that late? We were only supposed to take a break for ten minutes..."

He stood, putting it away as he walked off the wooden dock toward the nearest tree, where Marina napped soundly. The girl had her backpack wrapped loosely in her arms, and her head nodding from time to time. Jackson knelt, grinning, and shook her shoulder.

"Marina, time to wake up!"

Marina snuggled into her bag. "But I dun wanna battle you..."

"...What? Come on, wake up. Nap time is over!" Strangling back his laughter, Jackson continued to shake her a little. As Marina kept mumbling nonsense, he turned and pointed at an empty patch of grass. "Hey, Marina! What's that over there?"

"A fluffy... pink Pikachu... " Upon saying this, the girl's eyelids fluttered open. She drowsily looked to where Jackson was pointing. Turning back at her laughing friend, Marina came to and sat up. "Wait. What's so funny?"

"Nothing, you were talking in your sleep!" replied Jackson and stood. "Something about a pink Pikachu."

"Really?" she giggled.

"Yeah. Well anyway, we're heading out again. The Pokémon Center's right nearby, according to the PokéGear. So if you're still tired, we can rest there."

"Oh," Marina paused, "That's good!" She quickly stood, stretching her stiff limbs before slipping on her pink backpack.

The two continued on their way. They walked along the docks built firmly on the seashore, Jackson leading by a good few steps. They passed a few patient fishermen with fishing rods in hand, waving at one another as the young Pokémon Trainers passed. Marina gazed at the bay, not minding the salty breeze tugging whimsically at her hair. For a few minutes, she fiddled with her PokéGear and then turned it on.

"It's really quiet here," Jackson commented. When there came no answer, he looked over his shoulder at his friend. The girl's face seemed to hint worry, but when she felt his gaze, she attempted to stash it away.

"Yeah," she replied, smiling as she took a look around her, "It is pretty quiet, isn't it?"

"Are you okay, Marina?"

"Of course I am!"

Jackson's chocolate brown eyes did not leave her, and a small frown creased on his face. "Are you sure—WAGH!" Before he could finish, his foot caught an uneven plank of wood and he stumbled, smacking face-first onto the dock.

For a few seconds, Marina stared blankly, leaning over him. "Are you okay?"

"Fine! Completely fine! The best I've ever felt!" Jackson called out as he scrambled back on his feet, dusting himself off and hurrying ahead.

Marina watched and giggled, sending another glance to her PokéGear before letting it go. Her head perked as she saw a vibrant set of red shingles peeking over the trees ahead. "What's that?" she asked, catching up to her friend.

"That must be the Pokémon Center," Jackson looked back at her, though only for a second this time, "See? I told you there was one!"

They two of them soon traversed the docks and made a beeline for the rural Pokémon Center, which was smaller compared to the one in Violet City. Nonetheless, they entered the familiar lobby, Marina glancing behind her through the glass doors as they closed.

"It's never good to travel on an empty stomach," Jackson declared as he chomped down on his second cheeseburger. He glanced around the Pokémon Center's little café, which was mostly empty.

"Uh huh."

When he'd gulped down his food, he continued, "Good thing there isn't anyone else here to make us wait longer."

"I guess so, haha…"

"Hey," Jackson suddenly looked at Marina, who sat across from him, "Are you sure you're feeling alright, Marina?"

"I am, I am!" Marina said, looking up the rotating ceiling fan above them. Her plate of steak and mashed potatoes before her was practically untouched.

"You're not, you're not. I can tell!"

Her distant green irises descended to meet his. "I'm just spacing out," she smiled.

"Thinking a lot? Tired still?" Soon after the question, Jackson continued wolfing down his food as he listened to her.

"Well…." Marina frowned, and her eyes were earnest. "Do you think we'll be able to get to Azalea Town by tonight?"

"Is that all you're worried about?" scoffed Jackson with a grin. "If you want, we can stay the night here at the Pokémon Center and leave first thing tomorrow."

"Really?" Her face brightened, and she grabbed her fork that lay in her half-eaten plate. "Thanks! I feel a lot better."

"See? That was easy." Easily moving to grab his third cheeseburger, Jackson gave her an optimistic nod. "So, first thing tomorrow!"

The following day, both Pokémon Trainers left the Center before noon. As they departed the crimson-roofed building, Marina stared ahead at nothing in particular. Beside her, Jackson beamed as brightly as the sun. They were left without much conversation, traveling down the path that gradually grew rockier.

"We completely missed the Ruins of Alph," Marina pointed out, looking at her PokéGear again.

"Sorry about that, but we'll have to make the trip on the way back," Jackson replied, enthusiastic, "So for now, we'll have to go through Union Cave first."

Marina flinched. The pitch-black, damp atmosphere of the Dark Cave reemerged from her memories. Disdain tingled through her as her eyes met the rocky cliffs that surrounded a gaping wide cavern, which promised an abundance of darkness inside.

Oh no.

"It won't take long," announced her friend, "And once we get through this cave, Azalea Town is practically a few steps away!" He halted just before the entrance of the Union Cave and turned to her, his smile fading immediately. "What?"

Marina had stopped a good distance away from him, and stared with the same hesitant expression she had donned since the day before. "So...We're really going in there?"

"Yeah, it's the easier way. Why?"

"No way," Marina refused, shaking her head. "Last time I got in a cave, I had to get a wild Pokémon to help find my way out!"

Jackson's face twisted into surprise. "Really? I don't remember that. When did it happen?"

"Right before I got to Violet City..."

"Ah. Well, there's no need for you to worry about getting lost with me around!" Reaching into his yellow backpack, he pulled out a flashlight, confident. "I have this! So we'll be just fine, okay?" Jackson questioned without a hint of doubt in his words.

For some time, Marina stared at him with a new look that was hard to discern. She let her hands fall to her sides and hesitated, her sight now lingering on the cavern.

But on a dime, she whirled around and began to run. "No way!"

Jackson, reacting quickly, caught her by the arm, struggling to yank her back. "Marina! Come on, I've got you covered! We'll be fine!"

"I'm not going in another dark, muddy cave full of Zubat, Zubat and more Zubat!" she shouted.

"This cave isn't long, and we'll be in Azalea by today if we go this way!"

"No, I don't want to!"

"Marina, come on!" Jackson argued, not giving in as he pulled her.

"No! No matter what, I'm not going in that cave!"

I can't believe I'm in this cave, thought Marina moments later.

Trekking inside Union Cave, she reluctantly followed Jackson as close as she could. Her paranoid eyes scanned her surroundings, which were far brighter compared to the Dark Cave thanks to Jackson's flashlight. It did make everything slightly less unnerving, but Marina was still uneasy. Not because of the pool of water nearby, or the rocks that jutted out of the ground. The issue was over their heads; she twitched as she looked up at the haunting figures of bat-like Pokémon that hung from the ceiling like stalactites.

"Are you doing okay back there?" asked Jackson, whose face seemed surprisingly happy.

"Zubat," she muttered, shivering. "Geez, oh my god, there's a lot of Zubat up there like you won't believe. Do you see those things? Ew, I think that one's going to move...!"

"Just don't scream; you remember what happened last time you did that, right? When you, me, Kenta, and Chris played in a cave like this?"

"...They flew everywhere. And I screamed more... And they flew more, and I screamed more, and..."

"And everyone just about had a heart attack, right?"

"Uh huh…"

Jackson made a light laugh. "So just don't do that, and we'll be just peachy keen."

They silently continued through the darkness, Jackson keeping a hand on the wall. Occasionally, dripping could be heard echoing in the distance.

I really don't like this, Marina stated inwardly. She grasped her PokéGear and turned it on, able to see the screen as it lit up. She sighed a little. May would probably wake the Zubat anyhow, since she'll be mad.

Just then, her foot snagged on a large rock, and she suppressed a gasp as she grabbed onto a large stalagmite beside her. For a few seconds, she smiled in relief, but immediately paused. The rock in her arms felt oddly warmer, fuzzy, and—was it moving? Marina, frozen on the spot, turned her head to meet a small, blue Pokémon with smiling vampire teeth. It began to chatter wordless sounds and wiggle its wings captured in Marina's grip.

Her eyes widened, and at this point a freak out was necessary for her.

"Aaaah!"

"What is it? What's wrong—Agh!" Jackson called out as he turned around at once, only to have a Zubat breeze past him and smack the flashlight out of his hand. The light and shadows flickered as hundreds of little Zubat detached themselves from their resting spots, flying blindly about the cavern with a flurry of fluttering wings and screeches.

Trying to fight through the swarm to obtain his light source, he shielded his face. When most all the Zubat flew further away, their screeches heard as echoes. Jackson, looking around frantically, pointed his flashlight all around him.

"Marina?"

However, the blue-haired girl was nowhere to be seen.

Panting, Marina collapsed onto her knees, still covering her head and waiting a few moments before she had gained the breath to speak.

"Geez, that scared me to death!" she gasped. She looked up and a hint of panic leaped in her heart. No sign of light could be seen; the shadows nearly engulfed everything around her.

"...Jackson? Hello?" No one replied. With wobbling legs, Marina managed to stand, looking hard to distinguish her surroundings. In utter disbelief, she limply leaned against the cavern wall.

Not again, she thought with an uncertain frown, I knew this would end badly!