AN: Hey everyone, I have the next chapter. This is the conclusion to their struggle against the poacher and his deadly Pokemon. It was a lot of fun to write and leads to one of my favorite designed characters at the end. Hope you enjoy this chapter, leave a review with your comments and questions, and have a nice day.
See the most recent Save State Chapter for Cover Art details.
Chapter 6 – The Will to Battle
Blake and N ran as fast as they could, but the Toxicroak chasing after them. The black-haired lady dodged a sludge wave, the gunk splashing against a tree. "That thing is too fast for us to get away." She said to N, "How do we fight back?"
"We can't," N responded, taking out a ball, "I need to send out a Pokemon of my own, Go-"
"Look out," Blake said as she tackled N out of the way of a Toxicroak's lunging jab. N fell into the bushes as Blake took the hit in her right shoulder, "AAAAAAA!" She screamed before crashing into a tree. Blake felt her right arm go numb as purple stain formed on her skin.
N got up from the bushes but gasped as the Toxicroak was intending to finish what he started, "Blake!" He shouted as the black-haired lady shut her eyes in fear. The poison frog Pokemon reeled back its right arm, chuckled while doing so.
Suddenly, the bushes rustled as something jumped out, "Es!" Espurr said as he landed in front of Toxicroak.
"Espurr?" Blake responded, "What are you doing here? Get our before you get hurt-" she warned before flinching in pain from the poison.
Espurr looked back at Blake in worry before turning back to Toxicroak, glaring back with a scowl. The poison frog Pokemon chuckled before reeling back its right arm again, this time aiming for Espurr, "Es!" the restraint Pokemon spoke as its ears slightly opened, revealing a green organ of some kind. The poison frog instantly stopped its motion, his body shrouded in a blue aura. Toxicroak had an uneasy chuckle before it was flung back into a tree, "Espurr." The restraint Pokemon said as its eyes glowed blue, Blake gasping in shock.
The Toxicroak got up before bloating its throat sack. It then unleashed a sludge wave. However, Espurr raised his arms as the ears opened more, "Espurr!" the restraint Pokemon said as a wall of pink light formed, blocking the sludge wave. However, the force of the impact created an exposition and smoke. Suddenly, Toxicroak was in front of the barrier, its left arm raised now with a brown aura. "Es?" Espurr panicked as the poison frog Pokemon chopped through the barrier, launching Espurr back into a rock. He bounced off it before landing on his stomach.
"Espurr!" Blake called out in panic as Toxicroak rushing in to finish off the restraint Pokemon. The black-haired lady began to panic, "You have to dodge it!" She called out but had no idea how Espurr could evade. In Blake's mind, she thought how her semblance could have saved them all but knew she did not have it anymore.
Just before Espurr was about to be hit again by the poison frog Pokemon, his body flashed white. Toxicroak's attack landing on its target, but that was just an afterimage. Suddenly, five more Espurr split from the original and circled his opponent. Blake gasped as Toxicroak could not find the real one. Suddenly, the one directly behind the poison frog Pokemon opened his ears more, causing a pink aura to fill the air. The aura condensed into palm-sized rocks that hovered above its target. Toxicroak looked up at the dozens of rocks made of psychic energy, causing him to let out an uneasy chuckle. The rocks crashed into the poison frog Pokemon from all angles, creating an explosion. As the smoke cleared, Toxicroak laid on the ground, fainted. The clones vanished as the real Espurr remained standing.
N watched on, letting out a sigh of relief. However, he gasped as a psychic pulse wave ran through the area. At the origin point, Espurr panicked as he could not close his ears. Another wave ran through the area, this one slightly pushing N back. He was about to make his way towards the restraint Pokemon, but Blake was already moving. She withstood another wave before being close enough to pick up Espurr, "It's okay, it's okay." The black-haired lady comforted, but Espurr still let out another wave. Blake flinched as she felt a psychic shockwave ring through her body, but she did not let go. "It's okay, I'm right here." She said while hugging Espurr. Slowly, the restraint Pokémon's ears began to close as it looked up at Blake. She looked down on Espurr with a smile, causing Espurr to joyfully smile back. N let out another sigh of relief but looked back towards the direction they ran from.
Meanwhile.
"Tyranitar use Dark Pulse." The poacher ordered as the green monstrous Pokemon fired a black beam from its mouth. Weiss evaded as best she could but was quickly getting tired. She knew with this monster's armor, there was no way she could damage it. After dodging another beam, the white heiress rushed the poacher, "Heh, thought you would do that eventually." He said as she gasped, "Tyranitar, Stone Edge." He said before the green monster roared.
Suddenly, jagged rocked emerged from the ground and collided with Weiss' body. This launched the white heiress across the road, rolling on the dirt. Tyranitar walked towards her body, the dark beam already charging as the white heiress gritted her teeth.
In the cage, the snow fox Pokemon looked on, now standing up, "Vul?" she said before seeing Weiss try to push herself up, "Vulpix!" the snow fox declared as its eyes focused. Suddenly, she opened her mouth, causing a floating yellow ball to shoot out. The ball made its way to Tyranitar, circulating his head while the green monstrous Pokemon tried to follow it. However, this soon confused him, causing Tyranitar to fire the beam in wild directions. Weiss had enough time to recover, dodging out of the way of the confused Pokemon.
"Tyranitar, snap out of it!" the poacher called out before looking to the cage, "Annoying Vulpix, you should behave yourself." He said in annoyance, walking over to hit the cage.
"Vulpix!" the snow fox declared before opening its mouth again. This time, shards of ice shot out a high speed.
The poacher blocked the shards with his arms but was forced the stand still for a second. He barely noticed the wild dark pulse in time to dodge, "Dammit! Tyranitar, return." He said before recalling the green monstrous Pokemon into the ball with a red beam, "That should fix his confusion. Now, Ty-" as he was about to through the ball. Weiss grabbed his left arm.
"Not this time!" Weiss said before sweeping his leg, forcing the poacher to fall onto the ground. the ball fell out of his hand before it rolled under the jeep. Weiss then adjusted her stance, pulling back on his left arm to break it. However, her body flinched in pain from the Stone Edge. The poacher overpowered her with a toss, launcher her a few feet away. The two assumed a fighting stance, while the Vulpix had a focused gaze.
"Vul!" she said before opening her mouth again. This time unleashing a thick mist that ran through the forest and road. Weiss was shrouded in the whiteness, causing the poacher to scan the area. Suddenly, the white heiress landed a jab on his right side. While he attempted a wild swing, all he hit was the misty air. Weiss landed another punch on his other side.
The poacher's rage was building as gritted his teeth, "That's it!" He said before running where he knew the jeep was.
"I won't let you get away!" Weiss said as she arrived at the diver side first. However, the poacher had made his way to the passenger side instead for a different reason. The white heiress gasped as he grabbed a new weapon. A type of launcher that he aimed with. Upon pulling the trigger, a metal net shot out at her. Weiss barely dodged it before trying to return to the mist for cover. However, her body flinched again at the pain she endured in this struggle.
The poacher aimed and fired another net. This time, it ensnared the white heiress as she was bound onto the ground. As she struggled to free herself, the poacher grinned as he pressed a button on the launcher. Suddenly, the net was electrocuted, "AAAAAAHHHH!" Weiss screamed as her body was shocked for a few seconds.
"Vul!" the Vulpix cried out before the shocking stopped. Weiss' body was somewhat burnt as twitched on the ground. The net still sparked as the poacher walked up.
"Heh, put up a decent fight." He taunted, "But I still win." The poacher side before kicking the white heiress in the abdomen.
"Vulpix!" the Vulpix cried with a scowl. It opened its mouth again, this time unleashing an icy wind into the poacher's back.
"Hey, will you quit it already!" the poacher turned around in anger, taking his eyes off Weiss. At that moment, the white heiress' eyes shot open. While the poacher was distracted, she found the exit to the net, "Huh?" The poacher said as he heard an odd noise but then gasped as Weiss threw the net on him. As he was ensnarled, the launcher slipped out of his hand. Weiss reached towards it and pressed the button on the launcher, "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!" The poacher screamed while getting electrocuted. The static overcharged the launcher, causing the net run out of power. However, the poacher's body was still smoking as his skin was charged. He fell over, unconscious, and unable to move.
Weiss panted as she stood near the poacher's body. She knelt to pull out the keys from his pockets. The white heiress then walked back to the Vulpix in the cage. While the snow fox Pokemon looked slightly scared, Weiss still smiled, "We did it." Weiss said before she unlocked the cage, "Now, you're free." She said before closing her eyes, falling over unconscious.
A few hours later.
"…. Uh?" Weiss said as she started to wake up, discovering it was daytime and she was leaning against a tree. To her right, Blake sat beside her, "Hey." The white heiress said with a half-smile.
"Hey," Blake said before she looked over to where the jeep was, "N called the police and they came to arrest the poacher and impound the vehicle."
"What about that Pokemon?" Weiss said before releasing the Vulpix was sleeping right next to her, "Huh?"
"It wouldn't leave you, no matter how much the police tired." Blake said with a smile, "N convince them that Vulpix would be safest at your side." She said as Weiss looked at the sleeping snow fox Pokemon, petting her with a smile, "It may have almost killed us, but we managed to save one of these creatures from a terrible fate."
"Yeah, we don't need our powers to be heroes." Weiss responded before holding her side, "But, I miss having an aura."
"I know," Blake said before looking at her bandaged right shoulder. "When I got poisoned, I thought it over for me." She said before reaching to her side, picking up a pink, heart-shaped berry, "Lucky, N told me these berries cure poison." Blake said before biting into it, "And they don't taste to bad either."
"That's good." Weiss said before looking around, "Where is he?"
"N said he wanted to stop the black-market meeting and left us to recover." Blake responded, taking out a note from her pocket, "At least, that's what he said in his letter."
"That jerk, trying to one-up us." Weiss scoffed off, "Wait, why did he leave a note?"
"I may have started to pass out from exhaustion. Remember, I took the first watch." Blake said with a giggle at the end, but then had a look of slight sorrow in her eyes, "I didn't get a chance to ask the police about Yang and Ruby."
"It's okay, if we could survive that ordeal." Weiss responded with a smile, "I know they'll manage in this world now." She then looked back to the black-haired lady, "So, what do we do now?"
"Well, N said he would contact an old friend of his to help us on our journey." Blake said as she read the note, "He also mentioned how we would meet again one day." She said before putting the note in her pocket and stood up, "It says we can meet her at the edge of this forest. All we need to do is follow the road. Can you still walk?"
"Yeah, I should," Weiss said as she tried to push herself up but struggled. She then saw Blake offering her left hand to the white heiress, "Thank you." Weiss said as she accepted the help.
"Vul?" Vulpix said as she opened her eyes, then yawned. The snow fox Pokemon then looked up to Weiss, "Vulpix!" She said with the white heiress smiling back.
"I heard you wanted to stick around?" Weiss asked while kneeling, petting the Pokemon on the top of her head, "Well, I suppose I can let you come with me." She said before smiling with glee, "You are just so cute!"
Blake smiled as she watched on, but then heard something in the bushes rustle. She walked over to find the restraint Pokemon looking back up at her, "Hey, I was wondering where you went. You save me life last night." Blake said as she reached out to pet Espurr.
"Es…" Espurr said as he backed up, a look of sorrow as he held down his ears. "Espurr."
"Oh," Blake said as she lowered her hand. However, the black-haired lady had an idea. "Hey, let me try something." She said as she knelt before Espurr, reaching into her pocket to take out her black bow.
"Espurr?" the restraint Pokemon said as Blake tied the bow around his head. The ears were safely secured around the ribbon as she tied it under his chin.
"There, that should help." Blake said before standing up, "They shouldn't irritate your ears and you can just tighten the bow to adjust how open you want them." She then smiled, "I don't need it anymore, and it looks really good on you."
"Es?" Espurr said as he touched the ribbon, slightly blushing, "Espurr!" the restraint Pokemon cried in joy.
"I'm glad you like it." Blake said before waving, "Take care." She said before turning around and taking a step away.
"Espurr?" Espurr asked, causing Blake to turn around. She looked back at the restraint Pokemon, seeing him slightly depressed.
"…Hey, you want to come along?" Blake offered.
"Es!" Espurr said with a smile, running up before jumping into Blake's arms. The black-haired lady hugged her Pokemon back, a smile on her face as well.
Weiss walked over with Vulpix at her side, "Looks like we got some new partners." She said with a slight smirk, "Hope Ruby and Yang won't get jealous when we find them." The white heiress said with Blake giggling. The duo of black and white walked down the road with their Pokemon.
After traveling for some time, they reached the edge of the forest. Stretching as far as the eye could see were grassy plains. In the far-off distance, a small town was vaguely seen. The two sighed upon knowing they would need to do more walking.
"I thought we were supposed to meet this girl halfway?" Weiss asked as they walked, "I don't see her anywhere down this road." She said before realizing something, "Did he even describe this her, or give her name."
Blake pulled out the note and reread it, "Not much of a description, just that we will know her when we see her." She said before putting away the note, "And it says her name is Hilda."
"Hilda?" Weiss said before sighing, "Great, when he said old friend, he meant old."
"Vul?" Vulpix said as she looked up.
"Es?" Espurr added on as he pointed at the same thing in the sky.
Weiss and Blake looked up to see something soring towards them. It was a massive bird Pokemon with a bluish-black body, red wings, and a white feathered head. However, they focused more on the girl holding onto the bird's talons. She wore a black vest over a white top and blue cutoff jean shorts. Her large volume of brown hair was held in a ponytail thanks to her white and red cap. Once she was close enough to the ground, she let go of the bird Pokemon and landed on the dirt road with her black boots tanking the impact. As she stood up, she placed her knuckles on her hips and smiled, "Sup girls, I'm Hilda."
"…" Weiss and Blake just stared as they looked at this hotheaded girl.
"Uh, you are the two N messaged me about, right?" Hilda asked, "Cuz, this would be really awkward otherwise."
"W-we are," Weiss responded, "We just weren't expecting someone…around our age."
"I know, my name is ancient, but I like it." Hilda responded as she took out a ball, pointing it up at the bird Pokemon, "Braviary, come on back." She said as the red beam emerged and reclaimed the bird Pokemon.
"What is that?" Blake commented, remember the one the poacher used.
"Huh, it's just a Pokeball." Hilda responded before putting it away, "Boy, N said you two didn't seem like you knew a lot." She said before reaching into her pocket, taking out two more pokeballs, "But he did say you were good people who loved Pokemon, so why don't you catch those two little cuties." She said while tossing the balls to Weiss and Blake.
"Catch?" Blake said as she and Weiss caught the pokeballs, "We're not poacher!"
"Not that type of catch." Hilda corrected, "This catch is so you keep your friends close by and call on them when needed." She said with her knuckles on her hips, "I promise, it's not like you're putting them in a tiny ball cage." Weiss and Blake looked at each other, then down at their respective Pokemon partners.
"Vul!" Vulpix said with a smile.
"Espurr!" Espurr added on in glee.
Weiss and Blake smiled back with a nod. At the same time, they tossed the ball at their first partner in this new world. After absorbing the creatures, the balls each shock three times before a click was heard. Weiss picked up the one with her Vulpix inside. While Blake held the one with her Espurr in it.
"Sweet, you two now have one Pokemon each." Hilda said before turning around, "Now, we're off for train for the Pokemon League for newcomers." She declared before walking.
"Wait, what?" Weiss asked, "We didn't agree to that?"
"Yeah, we're actually looking for a couple of our friends." Blake added on, "Then we need to-"
"Are you friends also new to the Pokemon world?" Hilda asked while turning around.
"Well…yeah," Weiss responded, knowing that statement was truer than Hilda would realize.
"Then, chances are we may meet them at the tournament." Hilda responded, looking back to the white heiress, "We're traveling the world after all, so we may meet them earlier." She said before clapping her hands, "Come on, no time to waste. Let's go already!" She said before turning back around and walking.
"W-wait," Weiss called out but Blake but her right hand her teammates left shoulder.
"We both know this kind of girl," Blake said as she and Weiss looked at Hilda, seeing blond brawler for a split second, "No use changing her mind once it's made up." She said before turning back to the white heiress, "Plus, she does have point."
Weiss sighed, "Yeah, I bet if Ruby or Yang heard of this tournament, they would think it's fun." She said before crossing her arms, "We'll keep the other world aspect of our situation hidden for now."
"I agree," Blake said before looking back to Hilda, "But once we know we can trust her, I don't think she will mind that much."
"Hey, come on now!" Hilda called as she was a few meters away, "We need to get going!" Blake giggled as she followed. Weiss sighed again, but a half-smile formed as she eager to see what else was in store for their adventure.
AN: There you go, the prologue for each pair is now complete. In this chapters, Weiss and Blake officially catch Vulpix and Espurr, respectively. While N will not actually be their traveling companion, he will come back in do time. For this type of journey, they need a veteran trainer who has tackled gyms before. With it, we get the high energy Hilda who I am excited to write in the future. Next to Leaf, this is my favorite female trainer design. Now, the next chapter will be what I call a Save State chapter. Basically, it will be a data page for everyone is the story so far with who has what Pokemon, what moves do they have, and so on. I am doing something like this in Lost to Dust, as it is a way for newcomers to see where the story is and jump in a lot quicker. Afterwards, I may take a small break as I plan out more of this series. I want each chapter to have progression in some way, weather that be a capture, gym battle, or even an evolution. Like I said, this series requires a lot of planning to make it work, so please understand if there are longer gaps now. That is all for now, thanks for reading, and hope to see you in the next chapter.