Gardevoir: The Embrace Pokemon.
Solitary and lonesome creatures, Gardevoir and their kind rarely bond with others outside of direct familial relationships and their trusted trainers. They are often cold and dismissive to those they don't know, yet endearing to those they like. So much so, that for their trainers or loved ones, they would cripple their psychic power or even kill themselves to create miniature black holes.
The horn-like organ on their chests are actually physical manifestations of their hearts; if damaged or destroyed, the shock may be enough to kill the pokemon. However, these organs can be manipulated to become as hard as steel, used as a close-combat weapon or defense, or soft enough to be compressed into the chest, avoiding fatal danger. Outside of fighting, the horns can be retracted during mating, and is a sign of absolute trust if a Gardevoir exposes its chest to another in close proximity.
Gardevoir in general can read the future and speak telepathically to others, but is often at a limited basis, usually from several minutes in the near future and to humans who have bonded with them. Their psychic power are inferior to that of Espeon, or Alakazam; however, their dual typing allows them to use a wider variety of moves such as [Moonblast] and [Dazzling Gleam], as well as gain an immunity to dragon-type attacks.
Some local principalities of Kanto and Johto refer to Gardevoir as "Sir Knight", an intriguing allusion to its capabilities as guardians, despite their relative Gallade, who could be described as the epitome of gallant and are much more associated to the chivalric orders of historical regions.
"Hey! Wait! Don't go out! It's unsafe! Wild Pokémon live in tall grass! You need your own Pokémon for your protection. I kno-ackk!"
The memories of me punching the professor in the gut roused me from my slumber.
The sun was sparsely poking through the leaves of Route 1 as the jeep busted its way through overgrown paths of entangling vines and foliage. The pokemon that lived in the vicinity had all but fled, as if the image of a giant bird nesting on the back compartment platform burned into their retinas didn't arouse terror. If anything, Blue was good for his pokemon, which were all images of large, imposing predators. The person himself, was more of a dunce, though, lacking in everything except battling skills. It might have been a miracle for him to even make it to league champion before me without getting killed by the scores of angry people he's pissed off.
"..."
"Sorry to intrude in your beauty sleep, dearie, we just had to leave early to get to Viridian in time for the blimp ferry."
"Blimp ferry?"
"Ah yeah, I guess you hadn't known about it. They built a new facility back a couple years ago, after you blew up that Team Rocket's leader's gym, ahahaha. There's even a new strip mall I and Daisy often go too...anyway, the Professor was kind enough to get us some tickets to get to Vermillion."
"..."
"Oh my, I guess I forgot to tell you. I'm going on a vacation in Unova with you guys! At least, part of the way. I'll reach the port city, Castelia, with you guys, and go sightseeing. I always wanted to visit the four big bridges of Unova." Her abashed look was contrary to the inner plotter...
Well, at least I don't have to apologize for leaving. And addition to that, I don't have to suffer on Charizard for the trip.
"Hmm?"
A rumbling sound came from ahead of us, towards the end of Route 1. The smell of charred wood and smoke began to waft from above, leaving a fudgy stain against the backdrop of morning.
"Could that be a pokemon battle up ahead? Whatever it is, we might have to detour around it."
"...A pain. I'll go deal with it." I unbuckled myself from the seat, standing up, and flung a pokeball up ahead of the car. A dull red flash emanated, and a roar sounded.
"Charizard. Let's beat up some fresh meat." A roar echoed in response, and I jumped off the side of the jeep, and a red blur swooped under me, lifting me aloft.
"We'll meet you there, honey!"
We zoomed to the sight of the conflict. Two Ace Trainers were duking it out, their signature red coats flapping behind their pokemon. Ivysaur and Starmie on one side, Absol and Alakazam on the other.
From the looks of it, the Ivysaur was almost out of it, streams of green ichor leaking from its right hind leg. It roared, lobbing balls of [Sludge Bombs] at the Absol. Wherever the poison touched, the ground and plants immediately began to corrode, sizzling and bubbling.
"Back, Absol! [Psycho Cut] on Ivysaur, Alakazam, follow up with [Psychic]!"
Absol growled, its dark horn glowing purple, before it shifted its head, flinging a blade of psychic power at Ivysaur. From behind, Alakazam lifted up a heavy rock, intending to smash it on the pokemon from above.
"Starmie!" the female cried. "[Blizzard], and follow up with a [Thunderbolt] at Absol!" Her Starmie used its appendages to rapidly get in front of the injured Ivysaur, and with a red glint in its core, generated a large wave of ice and snow, heading towards the enemy attack. Successive chunks of ice broke down the [Psycho Cut]. and the Absol was hit with chilling cold, ice forming on its horn, at its feet and tail, hanging off its coat as icicles. Alakazam was hit as well, the large boulder cracked and broken before falling back onto the ground. Starmie blinked, and then with a crackle, lightning burst out from two of its arms and jolted towards the Absol.
The Absol couldn't move, and was hit by the [Thunderbolt]. sparks sizzling off its now charred fur, falling onto the ground. It yowled, swaying, before staying upright, resolute. At this point, both the Starmie and Absol were unable to launch any attacks, tired out. The whole area stank of burnt flesh and pungent fumes.
"[Solar Beam]!"
"[Focus Blast]!"
"Charizard, [Blast Burn]."
Two beams of energy charged towards each other, causing the wind to screech and tear. However, a large shadow suddenly dropped onto the ground, and with a heavy stomp, pillars of flame rose up to intersect both attacks. They immediately vaporized, leaving the blinding fire that raged outwards and then disappeared. Within the resulting steam, I and Charizard stomped out, glaring at the two trainers.
"..."
Both of them cringed, their faces turning as pallid as bleach.
"Get out."
"Hiee!" They quivered, and withdrew their pokemon, dashing to hide behind the protective cover of the canopy. Within a few moments, all that was left was me and a big, hulking crimson beast, standing before a charred warzone.
"Hmph."
We sat down on the burnt dirt, continuing to glare at two frightened faces hiding in the canopy. Soon after, the jeep passed through the clearing, and I was once again in the passenger seat, feeling the wind tousle through my hair.
"Honey, why are you sweating so much?"
"..."
By midday, we reached the gates at the end of Route 1. It was quite bucolic, actually, bringing back past memories of a worn out guardhouse, staffed with ruddy-faced guard who gave out candies… The floor was often covered in faint, dusty pawprints, and the local poochyena ran in and out during play.
Now, the floor was swept clean, mottled carpet replaced with gleaming tile. The outside had been refurbished and repainted a iridescent turquoise. Yet the inside was staffed with potted plants, little caterpies resting on broad leaves that dipped to the floor. It seemed that the old man was still working here... a portrait of him and his Rudolph nose was hung up on the left side of the building, and a Thundurus snoring could be heard from a distant room…
I quickly went in, accessing the ticket vendor. Normally, people came on foot through here, but for vehicles one would have to open up the wide-hinged, rusting gates outside. Or, you could always try to drive through the forest, which has coagulated up to the point that you'd have to hit a tree just go a meter forward.
*Ping*, and a ticket popped out, recording the time and event of the arrival. As weird as it sounds, to need to get a ticket to pass through simple route gates, it was required by the national Kantoan government at all gates to record the movement of large shipping. Nobody wants any illegal import goods flooding in and whatnot.
I went back out, where the jeep was quietly puttering, using the ticket to open the gates. At this point, Old Man Oak was up, groggily stretching his arms. Gold and Blue; however, were still knocked out as if hit by a Venusaur's [Sleep Powder]. Wait. Nope, my pokeball is still here. I guess that wasn't me.
"Are we here yet? My old bones are giving me hell again… gotta start back up that yoga class. Hm? We never had a yoga class? Red, why don't you open a yoga gym in Pallet, it would get plenty of support from me, haha. And while you're at it, go become a chiropractor... " The rambling went on for ages until Blue's Pidgeot almost pecked his eyes out.
By then, we had passed the gate and entered into the main streets of Viridian City, people bustling about with errands and work and play. The city had certainly become livelier than before; high rise buildings grew from the ground where little homely houses used to stand, a large square had been built in the center of town, growing a bountiful garden of fruits and vegetables that were open to the public and pokemon, and previously remarkable places, such as the Viridian Gym, home to the previous Rocket leader Giovanni, having grown four stories with wide ranging balconies and sheet glass covering previously stone walls.
A large plasma screen monitor was displayed prominently on the front side of the building, highlighting a match between a trainer and the gym leader, a blue colored [Fire Blast] striking against a Steelix with startling force. Hmm, I might have to check out the gym later.
"The blimp leaves around 8, dearie, so make sure you're there in time- or we'll leave you in the dust!"
And so, I and two sacks of luggage (Blue, Gold) were left alone to venture in the city.
The first destination for any trainer visiting a bustling town is the Pokemon Center. From the same old outdated map hung on the back wall since forever, to the identical nurse joy in every town with the same hairsty-wait.
I guess the Pokemon Center doesn't change ever. Oh wait, I was wrong. There's a new potted plant at the front entrance. And it makes the aesthetics allll better. Not.
After a quick checkover of my pokemon by the Center- not like any of pokemon aren't already in perfect shape with my overabundance of hyper potions and max revives, we went over to the Poke Ma- OI. What the crap is that thing!?
The Poke Mart became a Poke Mall, gaining three stories and giant rotating neon sign on the roof. If not to one-up the outside appearance, the inside was filled with gaudy products, medicines, and trainer items. Uh, did someone find gold nuggets around here or something? Did Viridian become a boom town when I was away?
Aisles and aisles of stuff just littered the place, creating an utterly confounding maze of capital. I could see the Gold's eyes glittering, and he was about to run to the plush section- hundreds of types of pokemon plushies, topped with a giant Snorlax a meter and a half tall and twice as big. Children were climbing and jumping on top of it like some sort of bounce house- and karate chopped him in the head. He looked at me with tears in his eyes and I snorted.
Johto Champion, my arse. Don't be fooled by such obvious marketing schemes! I wound around the labyrinth of merch and headed straight to the back, eyes ripped away from temptation and staring right at the golden piles of full heals. Ah, status-free life!
We left after we had found out that corporate con men doubled the already previously exorbitant price of full heals.
Next, the gym!
Inside, I was shocked at the futuristic interior, which was previously covered in bright surgical lamps and broad, imposing stone walls. DJ music was blaring out of giant speakers imposed into the ceiling. A wide lobby set in darklights was filled with people either dancing under multicolored strobelights or sitting at a bar towards the back wall. Sleek obsidian stairs grew from the sides, leading to the second and third floors, highlighting large, wall-sized plexiglass, one-way windows. From outside, one could see the flashing, disorienting lasers and neon flashes painting the walls, and large spotlights highlighting the wide berths given for the battles between the challenger and the staff.
Another set of stairs up, and everything became completely dark except for the inside wall; all the walls covered by a blindingly 360 degree monitor. It was like were standing in the midst of the battlefield! I assumed that we were in the gym leader's battle room, because it hoisted large, royal velvet banners above a shadowy figure, opposite of him was a trainer who was fiercely shouting out commands to his pokemon. The camera panned closely behind the movements of a Typhlosion, hurling [Lava Plume] at a heavyset Rhyperior, fiery magma smashing against the whole field. It responded with a [Hammer Arm], smashing the flaming rocks that came its way with disdain. It roared, and dashed towards Typhlosion, bashing it while twisting its body in a [Drill Run]. Typhlosion was flung against the ground, and didn't get back up.
The monitor changed to a battle set screen, and an ultra ball faded from the trainer's six balls. The score was 4-2, the challenger on the losing side. The match then switched over to the face of the gym leader recalling his pokemon, with the AI referee sounding out for a thirty minute halftime break. I gasped.
The gym leader's face was more aged than before, wrinkles layering over a similarly grim face, yet with a trace of a smile. His black suit stood out against the illumination of the battle chamber, his short cropped hair slicked back.
Giovanni!
Why is the ex-Rockets leader back as the Viridian City Gym Leader?!
I heard a soft chuckle, and turned and glared at Blue, who was supposed to be the current gym leader.
"It seems that good ole Sakaki is doing a good job of running this place, huh?"
"..."
"What? He may be ex-mafia boss, but he does a pretty damn well job making money. I designed the renovations here, and yet was in deficit for years. But then Sakaki showed up out of the blue, and volunteered to pay for all of it and take over management! Now I'm just gym leader in name of this place, it's kinda sad now..
"And you know what's more? He even volunteered to give out part of the profit to the city as donations! No wonder Viridian built up so quickly when I was out."
"...so you ended up selling off your job because you were too lazy to take care of the responsibilities as gym leader?!"
"...well, I guess you can put it that way."
"No wonder the Professor wants you dead."
"Hey, hey! I'm still his favorite nephew! Don't go killing me off yet!"
"You're his only nephew, imbecile."
We left the screening room, slightly disoriented by the black backlight of the lower floors. I looked back and wondered, maybe I should pay the gym leader a little visit and a battle to boot..
While I was thinking that…
"Hey, Red? I think we lost Gold."
"...What?"