Episode 20: Niko's first triple battle!
After dealing with the odd Zoroark in the Lostlorn Forest, Niko and his friends continued on towards Driftveil City, the site of Niko's next gym battle. To get there, they had to traverse route 5 and then cross the Driftveil Drawbridge. Along the way, Niko continued training with his Pokémon, hoping to toughen them up for whatever type of Pokémon the Driftveil Gym would use.
Since his practice battle with Servine, Rufflet sat on the sidelines, much to his dissatisfaction. Niko didn't want him to get further injured, which at times enraged the young Eaglet Pokémon. Instead, Servine and Roggenrola trained with one another. Generally, Servine would show her superiority to the Mantle Pokémon, but wasn't invulnerable either. Roggenrola managed to kick sand into Servine's face and land a series of headbutts and a rock blast before Servine gathered herself once more.
Occasionally, Warren would join in and help Niko out with his training, usually to give his Pokémon a wider range of types to train against. It was during this time that Servine and Swadloon began to develop a sort of rivalry with one another, each trying to prove themselves superior to the other. Meanwhile, Smeargle primarily watched. It never really expressed interest in battling unless it had to. The exception was during Niko and Charlotte's adventure on the Battle Subway, when Smeargle and Snivy engaged in a double battle. Since then, the Painter Pokémon and Servine became better friends, often eating together.
Finishing up his training, Niko sat down and began eating with his Pokémon. Rufflet—still angry with Niko for not letting him battle—sat away from his trainer, turning his back on Niko.
"Still mad at me?" Niko asked. Rufflet nodded. "I get that. I just want you to be safe, that's all." It didn't seem to help. Charlotte, who seemed to understand why Niko said this, turned to her friend with a look of admiration, smirking a little to herself as she ate. "So, I think if we keep walking for the rest of the day, we might make it to the Driftveil Bridge early tomorrow morning." Niko added.
"Looks like it. I've noticed the river near us has gotten a little larger." Warren said. When Niko and Charlotte both looked at him with curiosity, he shrugged. "I don't know, I'm just trying to be optimistic."
Warren then finished his food and turned to his bag, opening it and pulling out a small booklet. When he pulled out a pen and began writing in it, Niko tilted his head a little. "What're you doing?"
"Oh, in my spare time I chronicle our journey. Been doing that since we left Castelia City—the third time, mind you. I've gotten most of the Zoroark incident written down, and I might write about your training session today, Niko."
"Really now?" Niko asked. "You gonna write a story about us or something?" He wasn't trying to be serious.
"Oh, maybe someday. Who knows." Warren then hunched over and began scribbling in his booklet while Niko and Charlotte finished eating.
The trio continued walking until sunset, when they noticed a collection of trailers and trucks lined up alongside a road at the bottom of the hill that they were standing atop. There were roughly a dozen different vehicles in varying sizes.
"Woah…what's that?" Niko asked, pointing down to the trucks.
"Looks like a bunch of food trucks." Warren said. "Not sure what the trailers are, but I recognize those food truck brands. They had some of those at Castelia University."
"Yeah, I recognize the Red Emboar. They've got some really spicy foods." Charlotte noted.
"That's pretty good, too!" Warren said. "Wanna check it out?"
Niko shrugged. "Sure, why not? We won't make it to Driftveil City until tomorrow anyways." He said. The trio then found a safe way down to the bottom of the hill and approached the food trucks.
There, they noticed that the food trucks were the only attractions there. People of all professions were performing in a variety of arts. In front of one trailer, there was a man and his Pokémon—Niko didn't recognize it, but Warren identified it as a Sigilyph—painting; a pair of people and their Pokémon were breakdancing—Charlotte noticed the Pokémon were Scraggy; and some other people were playing music with a Maractus.
"Wow, it's like some sort of performance festival!" Charlotte said excitedly. "I've seen some of these at Castelia University, but never really involved myself in them. One year, Smeargle wanted to try and paint something, but she got nervous and we backed out at the last minute…"
"You're an artist, Charlotte?" Niko asked as they walked towards the painter and his Sigilyph.
"Well, no. Not really. Smeargle is—was. When we left she kind of gave up on it. Maybe when we get back home we'll try it out again." She said, almost in a sad tone of voice. Niko noticed this, but didn't say much. They were at a social event—they should at least try to enjoy it.
Warren had quickly picked up a conversation with the musician playing a guitar with his friend, who was on a harmonica. Niko smirked as he saw how animated his friend got, especially after formally meeting a Maractus for what looked like the first time. He then felt someone tap his arm and, turning around, saw Charlotte standing there.
"Want to get something to eat?" She asked. Niko nodded, and she took him to the Red Emboar to grab some food. It wasn't as spicy as Charlotte said it was, but Niko seemed to enjoy it. As did his Pokémon—particularly Rufflet.
What Niko found most interesting about the Red Emboar, however, was the tiny little green Pokémon floating around it. He quickly deduced that it was a psychic type, judging by how it had a light purple aura around it whenever it moved something around in the food truck. It was a spherical, pale green Pokémon that was surrounded by a darker green, gel-like substance. Its inner body had two dark, oval eyes and a red diamond-shaped mouth. On the upper left side of its head was a curly, yellow hair-like growth that curled a little. Niko found it adorable.
"Solosis, the Cell Pokémon. Psychic type. Because their bodies are enveloped in a special liquid, they are fine in any environment, no matter how severe."
"So, it's a Solosis…" Niko said, looking from his pokédex up to the Cell Pokémon, who had just then noticed him. "Hello there." He said as Solosis approached him. "How are you?"
The Solosis made a quiet gargling sound before picking Rufflet up and wobbling him around in the air. It seemed to enrage the small Eaglet Pokémon, who instinctively went to attack Solosis just as the psychic type was finished with him.
"Rufflet, calm down." Niko said calmly. However, this didn't stop Rufflet, who was on a rampage after the Solosis, eventually flying through the food truck itself to get in a peck or two onto the Cell Pokémon, and nearly ruining the kitchen. "I'm…so sorry!" Niko said, running to the back exit of the truck to grab Rufflet, leaping through the air—nearly a foot off of the ground—to catch the Eaglet Pokémon. "Listen to me, Rufflet! When I tell you to calm down, especially when you're hurt, you don't just go and attack other Pokémon!"
Rufflet went completely silent, and then nodded, recognizing that Niko was right. He then fought his way out of Niko's arms and flew off, perching himself on a streetlight, watching his trainer and friends from high above.
"I'm really sorry about this. I can help clean this place up—"
"NO!" The cook in the Red Emboar shouted. "You've destroyed everything! Get out of my face!" He said, "Shoo! Shoo!"
Niko nodded cordially before spinning on his foot and turning to walk away, with Warren and Charlotte not far behind. "Well…that was something, wasn't it?" Warren said.
"Guess so." Niko said silently. "I wanted to just say hi to that Solosis, but then Rufflet had to go and attack it!"
"Well, to be fair Solosis did provoke Rufflet." Charlotte said. Niko nodded, as if just remembering this. "But I suppose you're right, too."
"That Solosis was kind of mean. It's like it wanted Rufflet to attack it and destroy everything…" Warren said. But before Niko had a chance to respond, they heard a collection of loud sounds coming from behind them—from the east. "What the…?" Warren said, turning towards the sound and seeing a collection of motorbikes riding towards them.
"Let's get out of their way…" Niko said, motioning for his friends to step out of the bikers' way. They did, but it hardly helped, as they all scowled at Niko, Warren, and Charlotte. "What was that for?" Niko asked, slightly offended by the collection of expressions. Unfortunately, Charlotte and Warren weren't the only ones that heard him. The lead biker turned his motorcycle around, causing it to come to a screeching halt several meters away from him. All of the bikes stopped as well, with each of the bikers glaring menacingly at Niko and his friends.
"What did you say, kid?" The lead biker said. He didn't look happy. When Niko didn't answer, primarily out of fear, his scowl darkened. "I asked a question. Answer me!"
"I—ahem—said…'what was that for?'" Niko said nervously.
"And why did you say that? Was I looking at ya funny or something?" He asked, now dismounting his motorcycle and taking slow, powerful steps towards Niko. He was tall and wide, with a black leather jacket and ripped up black jeans. His hair was a greasy mixture of brown and gray gelled back to reveal a rather large forehead. On his jacket was a picture of a crocodile with black glasses. Niko once more took a while to answer, which seemed to anger the biker. "How many times do I need to ask you something?"
"Just…once." Niko said, gulping midway. He felt the breath of the Biker inch towards his face as the man's overwhelming size leaned into him. "Why—why do you ask?"
"Because no one talks to Charles like that."
"I take it your name is Charles, then?" Warren asked.
"Did I ask you to speak, boy?" Charles said, snapping his head to Niko's right to glare at Warren. "NO. I did NOT!" He then turned back to Niko. "Listen, kid, you better apologize to me, or else you'll be praying to Arceus for mercy."
"I—no." Niko said, standing straight up. He never felt this sort of rush of confidence and courage. "I won't apologize for something you said to me."
Charles cracked his knuckles. "Very well, then. I challenge you to a Pokémon battle."
Niko raised an eyebrow in genuine surprise. He thought Charles was going to physically harm him. "A…battle?"
"Yeah. That's how our biker gang settles the score. However, we've never been beaten before, so your Pokémon are in for a world of hurt. That is, if you accept, but you don't really have much of a choice in the matter."
"Well, if I don't have a choice, then sure." Niko said. "One-on-one?"
Charles let out a loud, obnoxious laugh. "No boy. Triple battle."
"Triple battle…?" Niko asked. He had never heard of these before. And…judging how long it took for him to learn double battles back in Hoenn, he didn't expect this to go well. However, he noticed Charlotte and Warren looked particularly nervous, and he nodded. "Of course. Triple battle it is." Luckily I have three Pokémon. He pulled out Roggenrola's pokéball just as Servine joined his side. "Rufflet!" Niko said, calling up to the Eaglet Pokémon perched on the lamppost. Rufflet noticed Niko, but then turned away, huffing a little. "…Really? I guess I don't have three Pokémon…"
"Looks like you lose by forfeit!" Charles said, again with a hearty, maniacal laugh. Niko scowled at Charles before turning to Servine and Roggenrola.
"I'm sorry, guys…" Niko said, just before he felt something press against his mind. "Oh! What the heck?" He said aloud, but no one knew what he was saying. Suddenly, he jerked his head towards the Red Emboar food truck and saw the Solosis from earlier floating towards him. "You—you're that Solosis that got me in trouble!"
Solosis nodded before pressing against Niko's mind once again. Then, he seemed to understand, as images of battling flitted through his head. Niko then responded with a silent "oh" in Solosis' direction.
"I don't forfeit." Niko turned to Charles. "I've got my third Pokémon right here." He said, pointing to Solosis.
"Niko, you know nothing about this Pokémon!" Warren said.
"It's fine. Whatever will help me. And Solosis clearly wants to." He then turned back to Charles. "So? What'll it be?"
Charles lifted up the left side of his leather jacket to reveal three pokéballs. "It's on. Sigilyph, Archen, Tirtouga, let's go!" Charles said, unleashing the now-familiar Avianoid Pokémon. To Sigilyph's immediate left was a Pokémon with a mixture of bird and reptilian features. Its head had scales on it, but its neck and wings were covered in feathers, all in primary colors. To the bird's left was a blue sea turtle with a dark blue shell.
"Archen, the First Bird Pokémon. Rock and flying type. It was revived from an ancient fossil. Not able to fly, it lived in treetops and hopped from one branch to another."
"Tirtouga, the Prototurtle Pokémon. Water and Rock type. This Pokémon was restored from a fossil. It swam skillfully and dove to depths beyond half a mile."
"Alright then. Servine, Roggenrola, Solosis. Let's go." Niko said, thrusting his hand forward. "Leaf tornado on Tirtouga, Rock Blast on Sigilyph! Solosis…attack Archen!" Niko shouted, unsure of the Cell Pokémon's attacks. Charles commanded his Pokémon to all attack Roggenrola and Servine with air cutter and ancientpower. However, Solosis leapt forward to block the attacks with a bright pink transparent wall, which Niko recognized as light screen. "Thanks, Solosis. Servine, Roggenrola—attack!"
"Sigilyph, use psybeam on Roggenrola! Archen, agility! Tirtouga, aqua jet on Roggenrola!" Charles commanded. The six Pokémon leapt into action, with Solosis using rollout to attack Archen, who was far faster than the small psychic type. Meanwhile, Servine protected Roggenrola from Tirtouga's attack with a defensive leaf tornado, but got hit by Sigilyph's psybeam, knocking her to the ground. "Now Sigilyph! Use air slash!" Charles called out.
"Roggenrola, block the attack with rock blast!" Niko shouted. "Servine, jump and use leaf tornado on Tirtouga! Solosis, rollout on Archen!" He commanded. Servine somersaulted through the air, over Roggenrola's intercepting rock blast, and launched a leaf tornado from the tip of her tail, which buffeted Tirtouga, knocking the Prototurtle to the ground. "Now, finish Tirtouga off with vine whip!" Niko commanded.
Meanwhile, Sigilyph spun and weaved through the series of rocks hurled at it before launching a psybeam up close, directly hitting Roggenrola at his feet and launching him through the air. The Mantle Pokémon luckily landed back on his feet and used rock blast once more, this time successfully hitting Sigilyph just as Servine defeated Tirtouga. Charles—now enraged—commanded Sigilyph to use whirlwind on Roggenrola. However, due to Roggenrola's weight, he managed to remain sturdy on the ground, unable to move.
"Roggenrola, finish Sigilyph off with rock blast! Solosis, use rollout on Sigilyph as well! Servine, leaf tornado on Archen!" Niko commanded, just as Charles commanded Archen to use agility and Sigilyph to use air cutter on Solosis, who took the attack and was repelled backwards. Niko, who managed to notice the attack, leapt forward to catch the Cell Pokémon in his arms. "You alright, Solosis?"
Solosis nodded before getting back into the fray, conjuring a light screen around Roggenrola to protect him from the oncoming psybeam. Solosis then used a psychic attack—Niko believed it to be psywave—on Archen, knocking the First Bird Pokémon backwards and at a high speed. Sigilyph then changed targets and used air slash on Solosis. Instead, Servine intercepted the attack and slammed into Solosis from the front, knocking both Pokémon to the ground. Solosis bounced a little before rolled across the empty street. Servine simply lay there, presumably unable to battle.
"Servine…return." Niko said, pulling out the Grass Snake's pokéball and returning his faithful Servine. "Roggenrola, use rock blast on Sigilyph!" He shouted, noticing that Solosis was struggling to get up. He turned to the Cell Pokémon while Roggenrola took attacks from Archen and slammed Sigilyph with another round of rock blast. "Solosis, can you get back up? It's okay if you can't…I appreciate the effort. I really do."
Just then, Solosis shot up from off of the ground and began spinning through the air, slamming into Archen and launching it past the biker gang, nearly hitting a food truck. Roggenrola, noticing his chance was open, pelted Sigilyph with rock blasts before charging forward and delivered a finishing headbutt to the Avianoid Pokémon, knocking it to the ground, knocking over a motorcycle.
Charles stood there in shock, staring first at Sigilyph and then backwards towards Archen. He then turned back to Niko with a mixture of rage and surprise. Niko then kneeled down to pet Roggenrola and Solosis, who had responded by picking Roggenrola up and throwing him around playfully, which seemed to piss off the Mantle Pokémon.
"I guess I win." Niko said. "What does that mean for you?" He asked, even though it sounded more sarcastic than genuine.
"I—I'm sorry, then." He then turned to his gang and made some sort of hand motion. Every member of the gang then got on their bikes. "Have a good night." Charles said plainly before getting onto his own motorcycle and riding through the street and west, presumably in the direction of Driftveil City.
Stunned, Niko turned to his friends, who were congratulating him and his Pokémon on their win. The crowd from the performance festival—even the owner of The Red Emboar—was cheering for Niko. Solosis, seeing this, flew over to the owner, and the two seemed to be having a conversation.
Meanwhile, Niko felt something perch on his right shoulder. Turning, he saw Rufflet sitting there without emotion on his face. "Hey, buddy. I'm sorry for how I yelled at you. I know you were just being defensive. But you should apologize to Solosis for ruining The Red Emboar. It seems that Solosis is the owner's Pokémon."
Just then, Niko felt something familiar pressing against his mind. Turning in the direction of The Red Emboar, he noticed Solosis staring at him, projecting images into his mind of a pokéball and some blackened-out Pokémon being caught. Niko then interpreted the message, and turned to Rufflet and Roggenrola.
"How would you two feel about having another companion with us?" When his Pokémon expressed bemusement at this, Niko explained. "Solosis doesn't actually have an owner, and wants to join us. She—Solosis is apparently a female—also apologizes to you, Rufflet, for provoking you. Apparently she likes to play pranks on others…" Niko said, relaying the images from Solosis and trying to quickly translate them. "Yeah, that's it apparently." He then noticed Warren and Charlotte's bizarre expressions. "Solosis is sending me messages telepathically. Didn't know Pokémon could do that, but it doesn't surprise me."
"That's really weird, Niko." Warren commented. Charlotte nodded in agreement.
"Well, that's true. Anyways Rufflet, Roggenrola, would you want Solosis joining us?" Niko asked. Roggenrola—who seemed to appreciate the Cell Pokémon's efforts during their triple battle—was an easy "yes." Rufflet, on the other hand, took more time to consider it, but also nodded. "Great. Solosis, come on over here!" He said, waving to the psychic type. Niko then pulled out a pokéball and tossed it to Solosis, who intercepted it, started to turn red, and went into the pokéball, which fell to the ground like a heavy weight. Finally, the pokéball wiggled around before ultimately clicking, signaling the capture was successful.
"Take good care of Solosis, please." The owner of The Red Emboar said. "She's a prankster, but means well."
"I got that from our 'conversation,' but thanks. I'll do my very best!" Niko said. The owner nodded, eventually expressing a smile. "Well guys, want to enjoy the rest of the festival?" Niko asked to Warren, Charlotte, and his Pokémon. All of them nodded affirmatively, and the ever-growing group continued to peruse the variety of entertainment and food offered at the festival before continuing on with their journey towards Driftveil City.