Slowly and steadily, we ended up watching King and Sasuke walk to the edge of the bridge. Filled with uncertainty and grief, you could just see the millions of invisible sweat drops running down their heads as they approached the bridge. With a deep breath, Sasuke immediately looked back at us.
"Okay... we're going over now... wish us luck," he said as he slowly took a gently step forward.
With no crumbling and a solid ground to walk on, the Buizel slowly skidded his feet gently to make no wrong and sudden footsteps. After he got a certain distance, King pounded his fists together.
"All right, no cowardice!" he shouted to himself, "I can do this!"
Soon, the Charmeleon decided to do a series of gentle steps and walk across the bridge. Both were extremely terrified in secrecy, and come on, could you blame them? Here they are, walking across an unsafe and untested bridge that they made of hardened mud, attached to an already unsafe, unstable bridge. There were a few moments when I was scared they'd fall, like when Sasuke's left foot nearly slid off, or when if it weren't for him, King would've ended up falling backwards off. But both soon made a sweeping halfway mark to where both looked back and realized that we weren't following.
"Hey, guys, come on. You're supposed to follow us," Sasuke said, motioning to us.
"Wait, you wanted us to come after you? I thought you were testing the bridge," Naruto asked.
"It's not like we're gonna go halfway and then just turn back for testing!" King snapped at him as he growled a bit at the sheer stupidity of that statement.
"He's right, Naruto," Sasuke agreed as he slowly skidded his feet a bit more, "You guys need to start making your way over too. I don't want this bridge to collapse before you get over here."
"Or before we still are trying to go over," I said a bit, staring at the gorge with my timidness beginning to kick in.
"All right," Naruto said, nodding as he took his first baby steps on it, "I'll go first."
With a slight exhale that sounded more than a mere whimper, the Poochyena made his way across the bridge. As I watched him, I could feel Batsu and Zev's eyes on me and thus turning my body, actually saw that both of them nodded for me to go next. Suddenly, panic, anxiety, calmness, and courage swirled to get the major spot of my emotions. As I walked over, I placed a foot on the tiny bridge and began to do what Sasuke did: skid and shuffle my feet without picking them up. I crouched while I did it, because I didn't feel confident enough in myself to do this by standing. As I got a good distance, Batsu followed behind me, and soon after, Zev did too.
It was really freaking scary the whole time I was there. I mean, this bridge wasn't as narrow as a tree limb, but you could see down below you if you just turned your head only a tiny bit. And it wasn't helping that I was so terrified, I could envision my death. You know when you get so scared, you can actually see yourself falling to your death or getting killed, because the thing you're doing is just that impactful to you? Not to mention my back started to give out because it stayed bent for so long. It hurt every time I moved more.
About soon to the point where I was at least three fourths of the way done, I suddenly heard Sasuke's voice up front, "Heads up, guys. Someone's here."
I didn't take the time to look up, for I was sore and still really freaked out that I kept making my way across. But suddenly, something did make my attention perk up. I heard Sasuke gasp as I finally lifted my head to the same time he asked a question.
"Huh? Who are you?"
As I saw in front of me, King and Naruto were almost near the edge and Sasuke had already crossed. But the thing that made me surprised was he was facing a Bagon who had a white scarf wrapped around his neck and he had this humungous sword with him that had a black handle and was incredibly sharp. He had a strong and hard air about him as he suddenly raised his sword and came down.
"! LOOK OUT!" Sasuke yelled as he jumped out of the way.
Since they were so close, King and Naruto were able to jump right over as the sword came down and struck the bridge. This caused it to start falling apart completely as the remaining three members suddenly gasped at this. I understood that there was no time for taking it carefully; I had to make a break for it. I soon stood up, slightly flinching at the sudden pain of my back, and then ran as fast as I could over the bridge. As the others followed me, I accidentally stepped too hard on the middle part of the bridge and ended up with my right foot going through the bridge. I suddenly gasped in total fear as I realized that I was going down into the gorge. And it wasn't just me who was in trouble; Zev did the exact same thing and grunted as he began to fall backwards.
But, once again, in a flash, unable to see with a normal eye, I felt myself tackled in the front as I was falling in a turn. I winced in pain as the wind was knocked out of me, but noticed as during in motion, I was being rescued by Batsu, who also had grabbed Zev's arm and pulled him. Not that he didn't have a case of whiplash, but at least better than falling to his death. Batsu landed right near the behind of the three already safe, as I gasped in trying to regain some air into my lungs. Too bad that when you get the wind knocked out of you, you lay there helpless and sound like a dorky sick whale for thirty seconds. Literally, I was gasping like a fish out of water as I laid on the ground. Soon, after about five painful and eternity-feeling seconds, I gasped in oxygen and noticed everyone was staring in focus at this Bagon who attacked us. Even Zev, who was rubbing his sore shoulder from being yanked, was devoting his attention. I tried to stand, but I was still out of it from losing my breath that I couldn't.
"Thanks, Batsu. I can't thank you enough for saving Zev and my brother," Sasuke said to him, and when he was awarded with a silent nod, looked at the Bagon with an angry glare.
"All right, what the hell is wrong with you, you punk?" King snapped as he pointed at the guy who nearly killed us, "You wanna piece of us?"
"Hold on, we don't need to fight this guy if we don't need to," Sasuke said, motioning King to stop.
"Indeed. There is nothing specific about having to fight any Bagon in this cavern," Batsu said, analyzing him with his eyes, "and it's rare to find a dragon-type in a rock and ground environment."
"Heh... nothing less of a perfectly truthful and detailed analysis from you, Batsu," the Bagon said, smirking as he held his sword and rested it against his shoulder.
"Huh?" Naruto said as everyone, especially Batsu, perked their heads up and looked at him with confusion, "How do you know Batsu?"
"Simple, Naruto; the same way I know about your little cheerful self who always is happy to lend a paw to anyone in need," the Bagon said, causing my brother to gasp, "Let's just say my job is to be watching you a bit."
"And you would be?" Sasuke asked, hoping to get a name.
"The name's Leon, and that's all you need to know," Leon said as he scoffed at us, "And you all look like the sorriest bunch of Pokémon I've ever seen."
"Eh? Care to repeat that, shrimp?" King said growling, as the other four joined him in an angry stare.
"Oh, of course, and I'll even explain it for you," Leon said as he looked at Sasuke and began to actually tear us apart with words, so to speak, "You try to act like a leader, but you fail short of controlling your emotions."
As Sasuke kept an angry look on his face, Leon turned to Naruto and said with a shrug, "Do I really need to say anything?"
This caused Naruto to be a bit taken back and looked down as he continue to Batsu and said, "Eh, you're alright. If you consider dull and headstrong as alright."
With no reaction from Batsu, he looked at King with a scoff, "You're pathetic. You can't control your temper and that's gonna kill you in the end."
With smoke coming out of his nostrils and a death growl coming from him, I was surprised Leon wasn't scared of King as he went on to Zev and said with a grin and tilting his head backwards, "I wonder how a pickpocket became an explorer... Ah... that's right... You're related to the little one I saw on the roof... It'd be a shame of something... happened."
Zev immediately gritted his teeth, obviously angered by the threat of his little brother Sorren being in danger from this guy. As I struggled to breath and get to my feet, I then noticed Leon turn his head to me with more of a interested look on his face.
"And you..." he said as he began to walk forward to me, "You're not... supposed to..."
It was then he went silent and tried to get closer, but suddenly sensing Sasuke and Naruto about to jump in front of him, he stopped and looked at them. Seeing that they wouldn't let him get any closer, he then backed off, took a few steps back, and looked at all of us again.
"Hmph, not yet. I honestly don't see what's so interesting... or why they are 'interested', especially into that Pikachu of yours," Leon said, looking away into the corner of his eyes, "Eh, I guess that's not my call. ...Not that it matters, mind you."
"Wait, who's interested?" Sasuke asked, trying to get some answers, "Are you saying these individuals you call 'they' are interested in us?"
"Like I said, my name is all you need to know right now, but I will give you a little extra," the Bagon said smirking, "I happen to know this cavern a little bit well. I know that the reason why you were given three hours is because you have a ton of challenges like this flimsy bridge to get past that you'd only have one hour by the time you get to Gabite. But instead of having fun and purposely holding you all off for the rest of your time limit by myself, I happen to know a short-cut that can get you there in under ten minutes."
Okay, wait, rewind. Was this Bagon honest about being able to hold us back for more than the remaining two and a half hours we had by himself? I could sense a comeback swirling in King and Zev, and heck, maybe all of us. But why would he just trash us and then want to help us?
"What!? You say all these hurtful things and then expect us to just trust you!?" King roared as he growled, "What, you freaking mental or something!?"
"King! Stop!" Sasuke ordered as the Charmeleon growled at the Bagon's smirk, "If we were interested in your short-cut... where would it be?"
"Right behind me, exactly," Leon said as he slowly turned around and knocked on the wall.
It slowly crumbled and soon showed a secret passageway. All of us gasped as we looked into it and back at his grinning face.
"Of course, it's up to you whether you wanna trust me or not, that's up to you. But now, I'll be taking my leave," Leon chuckled and then instructed as he pointed his sword at me, "Oh, by the way... keep your Pikachu alive for me? Somebody I know is REALLY wanting him to pass this exam; you all better not disappoint her."
With that, he quickly swung his sword down and caused a huge flash that temporarily blinded us. As I finally got to my feet and we were all able to open our eyes, we saw that Leon was gone... leaving us in a foul mood and distaste for him.
-