AN: Hey everyone, I have the next chapter here. We are now switch to the LNY team as they arrive in Unova. However, you will quickly see that someone else has come with them. This chapter was a lot of fun to write and is the first half of a two-part storyline. With it, you will see a lot of high-tension moments and battles as we explore this new territory. Overall, this is still my favorite group to write for, and I really am enjoying getting back to these characters and Pokemon. 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 36 – Melting Ice Cream
Near ashore by a small town, a large cruise ship docked with its passengers leaving. In the crowd, Yang led Neo and Leaf, "Finally, we made it." The blond brawler said with a stretch and a yawn, then looked around the area, "So, where's that gym?"
"It's not in this town, it's about two towns over. We just docked here in Undella in the Unova region." Leaf responded as she checked her map, "I was checking this region, it looks like we have another gym that is only a town over from here. But it's in the other direction." She turned back to Yang with a smile, "If we want to optimize our trip, we may want to split up so that both of you can get a badge from here."
"Makes sense," Yang responded, "What's the other type?"
"Water," Leaf responded, then had a look of worry, looking to Neo, "On second thought, that might be a hard battle for either of you with your current teams."
"…" Neo remained quiet but took out an empty Pokeball.
"I agree, if that's the case," Yang responded, taking out an empty Pokeball as well, "Then we just need to catch some new teammates."
The trio continued through the town, walking towards an outdoor table. However, at the back end of the cruise ship, the waves crashed to reveal something attached to the vessel, "Craw," the Crawdaunt spoke with a glare in its eyes, its claws denting the ship, "Craw," it said before letting go and falling into the water, lurking in the deep.
At the table, the trio gathered at a table with the map laid out before them, "Okay, we have a few options." She said before pointing at the map, "One of you can catch a Tangela on our way to Opelucid City, where the dragon gym is. Then double back to Humilau City, were the water gym is."
"That's the same Pokemon Erika used. I know those blue vines can be pretty strong." Yang recalled, "Still, it's a bit out of the way for the gym we would want one for."
"The other option is an Emolga," Leaf added, she said before showing an image of a black and white flying squirrel Pokemon on her Pokedex, "They can be a bit mischievous, but have pretty good typing for a team."
"…" Neo smiled at the image, then pointed to something on the map, "…?"
"Huh, looks a mountain?" Yang commented.
"Reversal Mountain." Leaf read, "But it's more of a volcano than a mountain."
"Oh, that's hot." Yang said with a smile, "Might have strong Pokemon there."
"Yeah, but not a lot that would help for gyms." Leaf commented.
"Come on, this is the closest to us, let's try here first and see if we find something rare," Yang responded.
"…" Neo nodded.
Leaf sighed, "Fine, we can see about maybe finding a fire type." She said before rolling up the map, "We can always try the next town past Opelucid, that one has an ice-type gym." She said before sighing again, "But I heard their new leader is a tough one. Not someone you want to get on his bad list."
"Cool," Yang said with a smile before getting up, "Let's go." The trio left the table and walked down the beach. However, Neo's eyes caught a small white stand at the shoreline. It showed a type of blue ice cream cone with vanilla flavoring. The mute girl pointed at the stand with the two turning to sight with a smile, "Maybe a treat would help for the trip."
"I did hear this region has a city that's famous for its ice cream." Leaf commented, "They must have expanded their brand to here."
"…!" Neo smiled and glee as she ran over to get in line, standing behind one person.
"Hehe, guess she likes ice cream," Yang responded with her hand's hand in her head.
"Who knew?" Leaf responded as she and the blond brawler stood inline
"…" Neo waited.
"…" Leaf waited.
"…" Yang waited.
"…" Neo waited, her smile fading.
"…" Leaf waited, crossing her arms.
"…" Yang waited, starting to scowl.
However, the woman at the front of the line was not moving. Her blond hair stretched longer than Yang's, while also having a few black accessories in it. She wore an all-black long coat, pants, and heeled shoes. But had a large silver tear-shaped accessory at the center of her chest, "Hmm, what flavor to choose?" she said while looking at all the options.
"Uh, you have been standing here for almost thirty minutes." The ice cream vendor said, "Shall I make a recommendation?"
"No thank you, I should be any minute now." The good-natured woman spoke.
"That's what you said twenty minutes ago." The ice cream vendor said.
"Thirty minutes!?" Yang said before sighing, "Screw this, I'll just get mine on the way back."
"I agree," Leaf responded, "Come on Neo."
"…!" Neo pouted, then tugged on the person's coat.
"Hm?" the good-natured woman said as she turned, showing her grey eyes to the girls, "Oh, hello." She said before Neo walked past her.
"Excuses me, can you please wait in line?" the ice cream vendor said, but Neo responded with a cold stare, "…W-what can I get you?"
"…" Neo tapped on the different tubs of flavor and then pointed to each of the girls in line.
"I-I think I understand." The ice cream vendor before preparing the treats. He gave her the four cones the mute girl who handed each flavor to the others.
"Lemon?" Yang said at her cone.
"Mint?" Leaf commented at hers.
"Neapolitan?" The good-natured woman said as hers, which was a combination of vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry. She then took a lick before her eyes lit up in joy, "So tasty." She said with a smile.
"Yeah, this is good!" Yang commented after tasting hers, "I don't normally get this flavor, but wow, I might need to start."
"I think you have a talent for picking this for people," Leaf said as she smiled while enjoying her mint treat.
"…" Neo smiled as she held her cone of simply vanilla ice cream. She turned back the vendor to pay, leaving him with a tip and wink, causing the vendor's face to go red.
"Thank you as well." The good-natured woman said with a smile, "I might have been here for another hour."
"..." Neo bowed before walking away, causing the good-natured woman to wave goodbye.
"Let's get going," Leaf added, but looked to the good-natured woman with a raised eyebrow, "But… why does she look familiar?"
"Who cares, we can head to that volcano," Yang said as she followed Neo with Leaf close behind. However, the good-natured woman stopped as she looked back at the girls in slight confusion.
The trio made their way to the end of town, discover a small incline that lead to a cave, "I guess that's our entrance." Yang said before taking the last bit of her ice cream, "Time to find us a new Pokemon."
"You act like it's that easy." Leaf commented as she finished her ice cream, "Like one will just come out and jump right in front of your fa-" Suddenly, a Pokemon flew out of the cave and landed straight on Leaf's face, "MMMM!" she screamed as her face was hugged by the Pokemon, flapping its wings at high speed.
"Hang on!" Yang said as she pulled the Pokemon off the shrewd trainer's face. In getting a better look, the blond brawler saw the Pokemon as a large dragonfly. Its wings and eyes were green, but its body was a sandy tone, "What's this one's problem?"
"Vibrava!" the new Pokemon shouted.
Leaf caught her breath before taking out her Pokedex, "Vibrava, the vibration Pokemon. To make prey faint, Vibrava generates ultrasonic waves by vigorously making its two wings vibrate. This Pokémon's ultrasonic waves are so powerful, they can bring on headaches in people."
"Yeah, no kidding." Leaf said as she held her head in pain, "I already feel like my brain was just scrambled."
"Vibrava!" the vibration Pokemon shouted while expelling a green fire. Yang and Neo jumped to avoid the flames, "Vibrava!"
"What was that?" Yang asked.
"Dragon Breath." Leaf responded, reading the details of the pokedex, "It's a ground and dragon type."
"Oh, in that case," Yang said with a smile forming, "This one's mine." She said before looking back to Neo, "That okay with you."
"…" Neo nodded, still enjoying her ice cream cone.
"Thanks, you got the next one." Yang responded, then took out a Pokeball, "Okay, Larvitar, time to show your stuff!" she said as the rock skin Pokemon emerged from the ball.
"Lar," Larvitar said as she glared at her opponent.
"Vi!" Vibrava said before its eyes glowed blue. Suddenly, the sand around Larvitar's legs ran up her body, encasing the rock skin pokemon's lower torso.
"Sand Tomb." Leaf commented, "It looks like it wants to limit your mobility."
"Oh yeah, let's see about that." Yang said before pointing, "Larvitar, us Stomping Tantrum!"
"LAR!" the rock skin Pokemon screamed before thrashing out of the sand tomb, then leaped into the air. However, Vibrava dodged out of the way as Larvitar landed on the ground.
"It may not be flying type, but ground type moves are not going to work on that Pokemon." Leaf commented.
"VIBRAVA!" the vibration Pokemon screamed with a green pulsate radiating off its body.
"AAAAAAHHHH!" Leaf recoiled from the noise, "It knows Bug Buzz."
"In that case, Larvitar use Screech!" Yang yelled over the noise.
"Wait, please don't-" Leaf tried to warn but was too late.
"LARRRRRR!" Larvitar screeched as her soundwaves crashed with Vibrava's.
"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!" Leaf screamed as she held her head in pain.
Yang turned around, seeing Leaf on one knee as Neo was patting her back. "Whoops," she said while scratching the back of her head, "That might not have been the best thing for your headache."
"Yeah," Leaf said as stood back up, but still held her head in pain, "I think I need to see if Nurse Joy has any ibuprofen."
"…?" Neo looked to Leaf in worry.
"Don't worry, I can make it back myself." Leaf responded, "Just focus on catching some Pokemon."
"…" Neo nodded, causing Leaf to leave while still holding her head. The mute girl turned back to the battle, seeing Vibrava dodging the rocks thrown from Ancient Power. She then sighed before taking another lick of her ice cream, smiling at the flavor. She then examined the area again, noticing some construction machinery nearby, "…?" she walked over to the machinery, examining it to discover it was out of use. However, she gasped as a group of Pokemon suddenly appeared.
At the battle, Vibrava unleashed another Dragon Breath attack. The green flames engulfed Larvitar, but she managed to run out of them before landing on the ground. However, she became paralyzed from the attack, shutting her eyes from the static. Vibrava then crashed in with its body colliding with Larvitar, the rock skin almost smashed on impact.
Suddenly, Vibrava realized its opponent was not finished. Larvitar opened her eyes with a red glow. "Got you, the seems to have activated Guts." The blond brawler said before pointing, "Now, Payback!"
"Lar!" Larvitar said as her body was encased in a dark aura before she started trashing into Vibrava, sending the vibration Pokemon into the air.
"Nice!" Yang commented before turning around, "Did you see that, I finally got a good hit off-" she said before realizing nobody was there, "Neo, where are you?" the blond brawler said before seeing the vanilla ice cream cone on the ground.
"…!" the sound of a flailing was heard from above. Yang looked up to discover it was Neo, whose arms and legs were bound by four purple balloon Pokemon, "…!"
"NEO!?" Yang screamed in panic, then pointed, "Quick Larvitar, hit those balloons with Ancient Power." She said with Larvitar doing so, launching multiple stones at the targets. However, each one avoided the attacks. As well, the balloon Pokemon repositioned Neo so that one stone collided with the side of her head, "OH, sorry!" Yang called out before realizing the mute girl was rendered unconscious, "What do I what do I what do I do what-"
"VI!" Vibrava ascends before unleashing another Dragon Breath. In response, one of the balloons Pokemon turned to the green flames, unleashing a mystic fire of its own. The two attacks collided, canceling each other out. Vibrava drifted its teeth before continuing to ascend.
"Vibrava's trying to stop them?" Yang commented before seeing the path of the balloon Pokemon, "They're going up the volcano, but why- oh crap!" she said as the image of what these Pokemon were planning came to her mind, "Oh no! This is bad, really bad!" the blond brawler said before running towards the volcano, "Hang on Neo, I'm coming!" she said as she started to climb with Larvitar. Suddenly, she had an idea, "Hitmonlee, come on out!"
"…" The kicking Pokemon emerged with his arms crossed, then looked up at his trainer in confusion.
"Quick, go back to the Pokemon Center and find Leaf. Point to the top of this volcano, Neo might be dropped into it!" Yang said as Hitmonlee's eyes widened in shock, "Please hurry!"
"…!" Hitmonlee nodded before running down the beach toward the center.
"Good, I hope she can get the message," Yang responded before continuing to climb.
Hitmonlee ran down the beach as fast as he could. However, something jumped out of the water and into his path, "Craw!" Crawdaunt said while snapping his pincers, "Crawdaunt!" Hitmonlee scowled, assuming a fighting stance, but knew he did not have time for this.
Yang continued to climb but was soon getting out of breath, "Come on, I have to keep going!" she said before reaching for her next stone. However, it gave way as she began to fall backward, "Eh?" she said in shock before getting tackled to the rock wall from behind. After regaining her grip, she looked back to discover it was Larvitar, "Thanks."
"Lar," Larvitar said with a smile.
Suddenly, Yang had an idea, "Larvitar, I need you to make climbable rocks for me with Stomping Tantrum." She said while moving the rock skin Pokemon in front of her. "Can you do that?"
"Lar!" Larvitar nodded before jumping onto the volcano, "LAR!" she said before beginning her charge, leaving grabbable stones for Yang as she climbed behind as fast as she could.
After a while of climbing, Yang started to see the summit, "I think we almost reached the end." She said before noticing something at the edge.
It was a massive red camel Pokemon with mini volcanos for humps, "Camerupt!" it spoke before stomping one of its legs. Suddenly, the volcano began to shake before erupting at a chunk where Larvitar was.
"LAR!" Larvitar screamed as she was blasted into the air.
"Larvitar!" Yang screamed in panic, but then saw Vibrava swoop down to catch the rock skin Pokemon. The blond brawler watched as the vibration Pokemon carried it back to her, which she then recalled to its Pokeball, "You saved her?" Yang said before realizing something, "You were trying to save all of us from getting close to this volcano."
"Vi," Vibrava said with a nod, then looked up the volcano.
"Right, we can't stop now," Yang said before she resumed her climb. However, she looked up at Camerupt glaring down at her, then looked back to Vibrava, "Can you keep that thing busy until I make it to the top?"
"Brava!" Vibrava said with a nod before it ascended at high speed. Camerupt was about to stomp again, but its legs were incased by sand. It scowled towards the vibration Pokemon, who then unleashed a dragon breath attack. However, the flame camel Pokemon responded with its own flamethrower. The blasts collided but the fire pokemon's attack emerged victorious. Vibrava was engulfed in flames before settling at one of the rocks.
"Camerupt," the flame camel Pokemon said before opening its mouth again, ready to unleash another flamethrower.
Suddenly, the big eater Pokemon slammed his body into Camerupt's head. thin beams of fire spilled through the flame camel pokemon's mouth as its eyes widened in pain. "Munch!" Munchlax said while jumping off the head and landing near Vibrava.
"Cam," Camerupt said with a scowl before noticing Yang made it to the top of the volcano.
"Nice job, I'll leave this one to you!" Yang said before running off, "And watch Vibrava's back!"
"Lax!" Munchlax said before reposing his stance with a scowl towards Camerupt.
Yang looked to the sky, quickly finding the four balloon Pokemon still holding Neo. However, they remained stationary in the air before their sting arms loosed on the mute girl, "NO!" Yang shouted as she saw Neo was free falling towards a pit, the bottom of which contained lava. The blond brawler then sprinted and dove towards the edge of the cliff, extending her arm as she reached for Neo's hand.
"…?" Neo's eyes slowly opened as she regained consciousness. Her head was still aching from the ancient rock that collided with it. However, she was suddenly experiencing intense heat. In looking down, her eyes widened to discover she was however a few feet above a pit of lava, "…!" she gasped in horror before realizing someone was holding onto her hand.
"Hey, it's okay," Yang said as she held onto Neo's right hand, "I got you, and I'm gonna pull you up."
"…!" Neo was still in shock at the situation. However, she looked up to discover the balloon Pokemon firing balls of shadows at the blond brawler.
"AAAAAAAHHHH!" Yang screamed in agony of the attacks.
"…!" Neo scowled as she reached behind her back, pulling out a Pokeball. In throwing it, the tricky fox Pokemon emerged.
"Ze," Zorua spoke before her eyes went red, unleashing a lash out that wiped all the balloon Pokemon.
"Nice one," Yang said, but then felt the edge of the cliff starting to give out, "Oh no, not now."
"…!" Neo looked up to Yang in worry.
"No, I'm not letting go!" Yang said in a panic, "I just need to-" she said before the cliff gave away more, making a larger crack behind her, "Come on, just hold out a bit longer."
"…" Neo looked up with a smile before reaching behind her back. She then placed both her hands on Yang's, "…"
"Good, now just hold on and I'll-" Yang was saying until Neo let go of her, "NO!" Yang screamed as she watched the mute girl plummet towards the lava. However, the blond brawler felt the rocks on her cliff crack more. She quickly stood up and leaped out of the way of the collapsing foundation. Her breathing was sporadic, but she was on study ground as the fallen rocks mixed with the lava below, "Neo…" Yang said in remorse at the sight, tears forming in her eyes. However, she then noticed something in the lava.
In the pool of molten rock was a green orb. There, Neo held on Hattrem, who was focusing on keeping the Protect maintained with all her mental effort, "…" the mute girl looked up with a smile.
"Hehe, clever girl," Yang said with a smile, wiping the tears from her eyes. In doing so, she realized she had something in her hand now. It was a Pokemon, which opened to reveal Goomy in her arms, "I get it now." The blond brawler said as she held the gooey Pokemon.
"Goo!" Goomy said before firing a water gun into the lava. The water turned into steam near-instantly but was creating a slate of cooled rock for Neo to move to.
In the distance, Camerupt was pushed back before noticing the sight, "Cam," it said with a scowl, "CAMERUPT!" the flame camel roared as if to call something.
"Nice, keep it up!" Yang cheered Goomy, who continued to shoot as much water as she, "Just a little more and she can-" Suddenly, the volcano shock, "What was that?" she said before another tremor was felt.
"…!?" Neo felt the pulsation even through the Protect. She looked over the area, then discovered a small tunnel at the edge of the pool of lava. However, her eyes widened a something was walking out of its dwelling.
Its four legs walked on the molten rock as it if was nothing. Rather, its body was made of the same material, but with bits of steel as well. On its face was a metal plate of armor, but its eyes still glowed a burning red, "Gwogobo gwobobobo!" the molten Pokemon roared, causing the volcano to shake even more violently than before.
AN: There you go, this section is already starting with a heated chapter. Or should I say, a Heatran chapter. Before all of that, the trio arrives at the beachside city, but with the ruffian Pokemon having hitched a ride to follow them. The gang sets up a plan to catch some Pokemon at the nearby volcano but not before a small ice cream break. It is a head cannon for me that Neo's hidden talent is knowing exactly what a person's ice cream preference is, that's just me and how I see her. With that, I wonder who that good-natured woman was? Eh, probably nobody important…probably. Yang gets into a battle with a Vibrava while Neo gets kidnapped by balloon. I do like that now the two are more casual with each other to put the others safety as I high priority. Thanks to some teamwork, they managed stop Neo from becoming molten ice cream. However, I think their fight on top of the volcano just got a lot harder. That is all for now, thanks for reading, and hope to see you in the next chapter.