Kidd blinked twice as he looked around at the hotel suite. Nothing changed from last night, that's a relief. He smiled as he looked to his right: Benedict and Tank were curled up tightly, pressed together under the thick blankets.
He stretched before rolling out of bed, heading into the bathroom and slamming the door. Despite his slamming, nobody woke up from the loud noise. Well, that's a relief, Kidd thought to himself as he rummaged through his messenger bag. Oh, there it is!
Kidd tried on several outfits in the mirror, but felt dissatisfied with all of them. They were all nice outfits, sure, but none of these would be fitting for a toughness contest! But what would fit…
Something caught his eye from the pile near the floor: a familiar white hoodie with a lavender hood. Oh this was too perfect. He got dressed, threw on the hoodie instead of his peacoat, and strolled to the windowsill. "Oh, good morning guys!"
Benedict groaned as he looked up from the covers. "Mornin' Kidd….Why are ya wearin' my hoodie?"
Kidd sat down on the radiator and crossed his legs, "Oh, no reason, just that I have a contest today."
"And that involves my hoodie because…?" Benedict pointed out.
Kidd interrupted him, "It's a toughness contest, so I figured I'd dress as the toughest guy I know~"
"Kidd!" Benedict's entire face glowed pink.
Tank snickered, "I'd say get a room, but it's too late for that. So, what time's the contest?"
"It's at one o'clock,"
Kidd explained. "The contest building's on the other half of Mauville, so it's not too far from Crossing Rider Con, non?"
"One o'clock?" Tank asked as he looked at his phone; sheesh, nine-thirty already?! Looks like most of the fun stuff was yesterday; pictures with the original Crossing Riders, Totakeke's spontaneous performance, and someone getting kicked out of the convention for trying to shoplift from the adult section. There was a cosplay contest at one-thirty, but this was much more important.
"Yeah, we can make it!"
Kidd tisked, "I knew you two would."
"So, where are you going now?" Tank asked. "Isn't it too early for the contest hall?"
"Not really," Kidd shrugged as he adjusted his hood. "There's a new contest store I wanted to check out, so I'll be there for a while"
Benedict yawned as he curled up closer to Tank, "Sounds pretty fun."
Kidd wandered around the small contest store. Unlike the one in Lavaridge Town, this one had everything a coordinator could ever want. They even imported Poffins from the Sinnoh region!
He wandered around the store, stopping to check out the Sinnoh section. He picked up a six-pack of transparent capsules along with an assortment of colorful stickers. These would be nice to have for the future.
The clerk, a brown chicken with a flower in her slate blue hair, flashed a peace sign. "Ya lookin for somethin, dude?"
"Oh! Yeah, I was" Kidd gasped. "I'm entering my Marshtomp in a toughness contest, what do you recommend for her?"
"Marshtomp huh?" The hen crossed her arms. "Fantastic choice! Here, just follow me."
She led him to one of the sections. Bright yellow balloons and ribbons hung from the walls. Colorful posters lined the wall, along with an assortment of imported merchandise.
Kidd looked at a package of Poffins. They looked so delicious that he wanted to eat one too. He asked, "Is there a difference between this stuff and Poké Blocks?"
The hen clapped her wings together, "Yes, there is. While both are great for Pokémon contests, evolved Pokémon prefer Poffins due to being more filling than Pokéblocks."
Kidd thought to himself. Aquarius would probably like them. But has a coordinator tried Pokémon contest food for themselves? Or perhaps it was designed to only appeal to a Pokémon's palette.
As if she knew, Aquarius popped out of her Poké Ball and posed next to her trainer.
She looked at the contest store with a childlike wonder in her eyes. Posters of musclebound Pokémon caught her attention. "Marsh-TOMP!" she roared as she flexed her flippers.
"Here, Aquarius" Kidd showed her a pack of lemon-flavored Poffins.
"Mar?" Aquarius tilted her head, then clapped her flippers in delight. "Marshtomp, marsh!"
Kidd looked back at the clerk. "Well, I think we're both ready."
Aquarius nodded as she grabbed a yellow ribbon from the accessory section.
The duo went to the counter. Kidd looked closer at the clerk; her nametag read 'Plucky'. Well the name certainly fits her personality, he thought.
"Say, I've never seen a purple Marshtomp before" Plucky noted as she rang up the goods.
"Oh, yeah, she's a shiny Pokémon," Kidd explained as he pulled out some cash.
Plucky said as she rang up everything, "Well this is my first time seeing one up close. I've met trainers who had some but insisted on keeping them tucked away in their Poké Balls."
"She's pretty special" Kidd nodded. Once everything was paid for, he took the bag and checked his phone. Seriously, was it eleven already?! He returned Aquarius to her Poke Ball, then headed out to the Mauville streets.
Several animals walked into the nearby contest hall. Kidd held onto his bags as he rushed to the entrance. After making it inside, he made a b-line for the counter.
Cleo looked up and waved, "Oh, you made it early, congratulations!"
"Yeah," Kidd sighed in relief, then handed her his contest pass.
Cleo scanned the card, then handed it back. "Good luck out there!"
"Thank you" Kidd nodded. He went to the lobby and set his bags down. Instead of dreadful anxiety, self-assurance flooded his mind. This contest was going to go well, and if he loses? Oh well, there's always another city ahead!
Aquarius popped out of her Poke Ball. She jumped onto the seat and hugged her trainer, nuzzling her cheeks against his hoodie.
"Aww, Aquarius!" Kidd laughed as he hugged her back. He looked into her eyes, "We can win this!"
"Marsh-TOMP!" Aquarius yelled as she let go and saluted her trainer.
"That's the spirit," Kidd cheered as he tied the yellow ribbon around her head.
Aquarius adjusted the ribbon so it stayed above her eyes, then grabbed the pack of Poffins. She scarfed down all six poffins, positively delighted from the tart lemon taste and light fluffy texture. Small yellow sparkles surrounded her body.
"Thirty minutes to stage!" someone announced.
Kidd and Aquarius got up and headed back stage. Three other coordinators joined him, followed by their Pokémon.
More and more animals came into the contest hall. Some of them were still dressed in Crossing Rider cosplay. Kidd could spot Benedict and Tank from a mile away. Aw, did they seriously get bubble tea without him?!
The coordinators hung out behind the stage. Kidd's personal anxieties melted as he peeked from the curtains. It was a smaller than usual crowd, definitely due to Crossing Rider Con.
Two pairs of hands waved to him. Oh thank goodness, they didn't blow him off!
He walked away from the curtains then joined his fellow coordinators. It's showtime!
The curtains lifted up. Energetic pop music played over the speakers as Lottie walked in front of the coordinators. She waved hello before stopping at the speakers with a bow.
"Welcome to today's Toughness Contest!" Lottie winked and announced to the crowd. "Our competitors today are…."
"Kidd Chavignol from Lumiose City and Aquarius the Marshtomp!"
Kidd waved to the audience, while Aquarius flexed her arms like a bodybuilder she saw earlier that day. She used Mud Shot in the air, then punched the balls of mud to create a flurry of beige rain.
"Pamela 'Puddles' Boonchuay from Hau'oli City and Jewels the Clamperl!"
A pink frog in a sleek green dress walked to the stage, holding out a blue clamshell Pokémon in her arms. The clamshell Pokémon jumped out of her spot, then used Iron Defense in front of the spotlight. Her shell glimmered as a thin metal surface gleamed across her.
"Kaitlin Felinus from Mauville City and Kochi the Mawile!"
A yellow cat in a pale green gown bowed to the audience, while her Mawile snapped her jaws to the crowd. Kochi's pearly white fangs glimmered under the harsh yellow lights.
"Last, but not least, Bangle Cumulus from Mauville City and Fluffy the Growlithe!"
Bangle walked to the stage, wearing a floral tie-dye shirt and short pink shorts with shiny white go-go boots. A small dog Pokémon yipped behind her, before leaping out and roaring to everyone. He took a deep breath in and used Incinerate on the stage. Crimson red and goldenrod yellow flames formed in a large ring. The ring of fire flickered before disappearing into thin smoke.
The audience clapped in approval, watching as Lottie sauntered back on stage.
"Another round of applause for our coordinators, everyone!" she cheered.
The red curtain fell to the ground. While the staff set up the stage, the audience talked amongst each other.
"Want some?" Benedict asked as he held up a bag of snack mix.
"Sure!" Tank said as he grabbed himself a fistful from the bottom of the bag. The salty chips and sweet chocolate made for an oddly delicious combination.
Libra and Aries chattered with each other, while Gemini and Scorpio watched the stage. The four Pokémon stopped when they heard footsteps on stage.
"Our first round, everyone!"
Lottie lifted the curtain to reveal the contest's challenge: each Pokemon stood behind a tower of sixty wooden boards.
A neon yellow clock revealed a timer set at one-hundred eighty seconds.
"Whoever breaks the most boards wins this round. Go!"
The timer started ticking.
Kochi threw her head backwards and started headbutting wooden planks into two. Aquarius tightened the yellow band around her head, then karate chopped the boards at lightning speed. Jewels closed her shell, then used her body to break apart her boards. Fluffy used his mouth to pick up one board at a time, threw them in the air, then caught the board and snapped it in two with his jaws. Sweat beaded down everyones' foreheads, trailing down and falling towards the ground.
The timer buzzed like a horde of Beedrill. All four Pokémon stopped before they could destroy their last block.
Lottie counted how many planks the Pokémon destroyed; fifteen for Jewels, twenty-one for Fluffy, forty-four for Kochi and… forty-eight for Aquarius?!
She announced, "The winner of this round is Aquarius the Marshtomp!"
"Stay tuned for the next round!" she said as the curtain fell in front of her.
While the contest hall staff set up the stage, the four coordinators gathered behind the stage.
While Bangle and Kaitlin gathered near the water cooler, Kidd and Puddles sat together as they snacked on some berries.
"So, what are you evolving Clamperl into?" Kidd asked as he looked closer at her Pokémon. Jewels happily snapped her shell, letting out a light chirp.
Puddles placed a hand on her chin. "I'm not sure. I've entered a few contests with her, but I can't tell if she wants to evolve into a Gorebyss or Huntail"
Kidd placed his chin on his hoof, "I've known someone like that." He smiled as he tugged on his hoodie string. "Except it was his Kirlia. Other trainers recommended a Dawn Stone for Gallade, but Makoto insisted on Gardevoir. It's really all about what Jewels wants."
"A Kirlia named Makoto?" Puddles asked. "Wait a minute…. you know the Red Gyarados trainer?!"
"On an intimate level, yes" Kidd sighed in relief. Geez, how was he getting so comfortable already. It has to be the hoodie. Was this how Benedict felt when he did gym battles?
"No way, that's awesome!" Puddles said, as her eyes sparkled in delight. "Some of my friends follow the Hoenn League, and they're hoping to watch him battle Apollo someday!"
"I'll make sure he knows that," Kidd assured her.
"Thirty seconds to stage!"
The yellow clock was reset to one-eighty seconds. This time, the stage was decorated like a traditional gym. Each Pokémon stood behind a red punching bag. A small timer was attached to each punching bag.
"Ready? Go!"
Kochi and Aquarius landed flurries of punches against the soft bags. Jewels took an unconventional approach and used Water Gun to propel herself in the air before using her shell to smack the punching bag in its spot. Fluffy, however, turned around and repeatedly used Iron Tail against the bag, panting as he kept up the pace.
Seconds ticked on the timer as the crowd kept watching. Even though Jewels' technique was one-of-a-kind, it was too slow to keep up with her competitors.
Three, two, one.
As the timer buzzed in its spot, Lottie crossed her arms in the shape of an X.
The four Pokémon stopped before they could land another hit. Kochi tripped and fell on her feet before picking herself back up.
The results were tallied: sixteen for Jewels, nineteen for Fluffy, forty-six for Kochi and forty-nine for Aquarius!
"And that was our last round, everyone!" Lottie announced.
Several minutes later…
A drumroll echoed through the contest hall. Some audience members looked at each other with dread.
"And the winner is…." Lottie opened an envelope. "Kidd Chavignol from Lumiose City, and Aquarius the Marshtomp! Congratulations, you two!"
Multiple animals hooted and hollered in the crowd. Libra and Aries hugged each other and spun in a circle, while Gemini and Scorpio jumped in their seats and roared.
Kidd and Aquarius held each others' hands, then walked up to the microphone.
Lottie handed them their prize; a yellow and red ribbon with a fist engraved in the badge.
"So," she asked. "This wasn't Aquarius's first contest, right?"
"Right. Our first contest was back in Slateport City, yes," Kidd explained. "We lost pretty bad, but nobody just wins their first contest. And besides, Aquarius is one tough cookie, right?"
Aquarius flexed her biceps to the crowd. She grinned as someone tossed a purple rose to her.
Lottie held on tighter to the microphone. "So, where do you plan to take on your next contest?"
Kidd tugged on his hoodie string, "That'd be in Lilycove City. Last I checked, Fortree City doesn't have a Contest Hall."
"Well I can't wait to see what Pokemon you'll use next!" Lottie cheered.
Some of the audience members whispered to each other. Kidd's hoodie looked familiar, but few knew exactly why.
Back at the contest hall lobby…
"Hey do you have a minute?" Puddles waved.
Kidd looked up from his seat. He was in the middle of brushing loose scales off Scorpio's hide. Aquarius and Libra played a game of poker, while Aries and Gemini munched on a bag of Lavaridge Cookies.
"Yeah, what's going on?"
Puddles clasped her hands together. "You said you were headed to Lilycove?"
"I was, yeah" Kidd explained. "Are you going there too?"
"Yeah, I was actually wondering" Puddles placed a hand behind her head. "Would you wanna trade Pokémon with me up there?"
"Trade Pokémon?" Kidd asked. "What for?"
Puddles looked closely at Libra's spoon. "Well, I know Jewels wants to evolve, and I was thinking maybe Libra wanted to evolve too!"
Kidd looked over at his Pokemon. Libra's psychic attacks would be much stronger if she evolved, and she might be ready by Lilycove City. "Yeah. If she wants to by then."
Puddles held on tightly. "Great! In that case I'll see you there!"
She held out a pastel pink Rotom Phone.
Kidd gently held the phone, then typed his number in. "It's a promise!" he said as he handed it back to her.
Puddles beamed in pure joy. She skipped back to the streets of Mauville City.
Kidd stood up, but before he could return his Pokemon to their Poké Balls, someone ambushed him.
Shiitake tackled him in a surprise hug, while Fern took Aquarius by her arms and spun her around.
"Hey! What's that for!" Kidd laughed as he hugged the mushroom Pokemon back.
Benedict and Tank walked up to him.
"It's just Shiitake's way of saying congratulations," Tank explained. "Oh and Fern too!"
"I tried to let Jojo out," Benedict snorted in laughter. "But he tried to throw hands with Kochi so I had to send him back."
Kidd chuckled. "Why am I not surprised. Oh, do you guys wanna get lunch before we head out?"
"Heck yeah I do!" Benedict cheered. "Where are we goin?"
Tank pulled out his phone. "Professor Nook invited us for lunch at this curry place!"
"Curry, hm?" Kidd asked. "I've never had Hoenn-style curry. It's not really a thing in Kalos."
Tank wrapped an arm around Kidd's shoulders. "Oh you'll love it!"
The gang went outside and headed near the western half of Mauville City. Pictures of beautiful red curry lined one of the lots. The orange sign read, "Yoshoko Delight."
This had to be the place, Tank thought to himself as he led the way inside.
The savory smell of curry rice flooded the air. Countless customers sat at either tables or bars, all of them gulping down curry like they hadn't eaten in days.
Professor Nook sat at one of the booths, holding open a large menu. Multiple curry styles stood out: Vermillion with thinly sliced Tauros, Veilstone with tender Stantler meat, Rustboro with a baked egg in the middle, and Cherrygrove with crispy Spearow cutlet on top. A dark green vase of sake sat on the table, along with five ceramic cups arranged in a neat circle.
The waiter, a beige monkey with a dark brown face and wide eyes, waved towards the boys. "How many will it be?" he asked them.
"Oh, they're with me!" Nook called out.
"Right this way then," the monkey said as he led the boys to Nook's table.
Tank grabbed a seat next to Nook, while Benedict and Kidd sat on the other end.
"I'm glad you three could make it" Nook nodded. "Yes yes, I've been meaning to try this place for a while. Do you three eat curry much, hm?"
Tank poured a glass of sake for Nook. "I do, yes. My mom made it a lot if someone got sick at home."
"I've had Galarian curry a couple times" Benedict said. "It's alright though, but I should like Hoenn curry."
"Galarian curry?" Kidd cringed. "It's awful. Most of it is way too sweet, and some chefs have the nerve to dump in things like pineapple or whipped cream."
Professor Nook chuckled before sipping his sake. "Trust me, Kidd, Hoenn curry is nothing like that," he took another sip, his cheeks pink in happiness. "This is delightful. Yes yes, it has to be imported from Olivine City!"
"And you'd be correct!" the waiter yelled as he took another order. "All our alcohol's imported from Johto!"
"Wonderful to hear!" Nook yelled back, tickled pink from the fact. "Yes yes, I have fond memories of Olivine City. Anyways, what have you boys been up aside from the convention?"
Benedict pulled out his badge case and opened it. "I just got my fifth one, an' I'm lookin' forward to my next one. It's in Fortree, right?"
"Yes yes" Tom Nook nodded twice. He looked at Tank before explaining. "That'd be a flying-type gym. Celia's the current leader; I've met her before for coffee."
For a brief second, he touched the stone on his pendant.
"Flying types, huh?" Benedict got fired up. "Then I know I can handle it!"
"I know you can," Nook assured him. "Perhaps we could battle some day, hm?"
"That's be pretty fun" Benedict said.
Before the group could keep talking, the waiter came back with a large blue-wave teapot and five small teacups. He set the pot and cups down before pulling out a notepad. "I'll take your order if you're ready!"
"Yes yes," Professor Nook's nose twitched. "I'll take the Vermillion style with extra Tauros slices and scallions."
"Cherrygrove-style, please," Tank nodded.
Kidd took the menu next, "Veilstone-style if it's available"
Benedict leaned over to look at the menu, "Rustboro-style, but can I get sweet potatoes added to that?"
"Certainly," the waiter said as he finished writing their order. He underlined "add sweet potatoes" and folded the notepad shut.
"Deli!" another waiter yelled. "We have a table for twelve over here!"
"I'm coming!" he hollered back. "I'll be back with your orders, okay?" Deli took a deep breath and ran back to the front of the restaurant.
"Anyways, what kind of battles have you three been getting into?" Tom Nook continued.
"We did a lot of triple battles," Kidd explained as he looked at the menu's dessert section. Mochi looked quite delectable. "Including the Mauville Food Court."
"It was fun!" Tank added on. "We battled a guy named Elvis and he used a bunch of Pokémon I never saw before!"
"Oh yes, Elvis Crimson," Professor Nook noted. "I've met him several times in Galar, he's quite the character, isn't he?"
"You seem to know everyone, Professor," Kidd noted.
"When you put it that way, then yes," Tom Nook chuckled. "My research spreads like...hmmm...moss on a stone pillar. That makes sense, hm?"
"Excuse me lads!" Deli yelled. He used his tail to carefully balance the large tray.
The guys lifted up their green tea, watching as Deli placed each plate of curry in front of them. The rich scent of curry powder flooded their faces.
"Let's eat!" Professor Nook declared.
Like a pack of Mandibuzz swarming carrion, the four animals dug into their lunch. Thick sauce dripped down everyones' faces, splattering into the rice below them.
Benedict gulped when he saw the Chansey egg, but dipped it in more roux before swallowing it. Now it tasted good; the sweet potatoes helped sweeten the curry roux!
Thirty minutes later, the boys cleared off their plates. Professor Nook was only halfway through his lunch. He picked up a napkin and patted his mouth dry, then went back to his curry. The carrots and onions were as tender as the fatty Tauros slices, melting in his mouth like pure butter.
"Yes yes, this is delectable!" Nook gasped before he finished it off. "Ah how I missed a good bowl of curry."
After paying for everyone's meals, Nook led the boys out on the streets. Jubilife Delight played in the corner, jamming their hearts out.
"Were you three heading to Fortree by chance, hm?" Nook asked as he bought some dessert for himself: blueberry crepes with lemon zest on top.
"We were, yeah" Tank asked. "How come?"
"Oh, well, I have a small favor to ask you" Professor Nook explained. "Would it be possible to do some research on Tropius? It's a species that can be found there, yes yes."
"What kind of research are you looking for?" Tank tilted his head.
Nook sent some notes to Tank's phone. "A few things: Several pictures and to sample its' fruit. My colleague in another region claims Tropius' fruit can change flavor!"
Tank thought to himself. Fruit and photography? That sounded worth it! But if there's fruit, there's another grass type!
"I'm in!" he cheered.
"So pleased to hear that," Nook smiled. "Oh! I'd like to stay longer but I need to get to Littleroot before my lab catches on fire."
"It's all good," Tank waved. "We'll see you later!"
Professor Nook called out, "Safe travels!"
The boys threw their backpacks on and charged out of Mauville City.
Route 118: Bridging the Hoenn seaside together. A vast beach lined one end, while endless grass covered the other end.
Tourists flooded the western beach. Cat girls in revealing swimsuits took selfies for their Pokégram feed, while younger animals played in the sand. A white sign stood in the sand, showing a graphic with a Wailmer silhouette crossed out.
Benedict frowned as he looked at the sign.
"Aw man" he sighed. "Asuka was gonna have fun here! Now how are we gettin' to Fortree?!"
Tank nudged his elbow. "Over there, dude!"
"Oh!" Benedict jolted up.
A small dock was set up at the beach. Several types of boats lined the dock, ranging from simple canoes to sleek motorboats with fresh coats of paint.
"That one's cute" Kidd pointed at one of the boats; a white paddle boat shaped like a Swanna.
"Yeah, but I heard this rumor," Benedict explained. "That if a couple rides a Swanna boat, they'll break up."
Tank placed his hooves on his hips and rolled his eyes. "Benedict, that's only a thing in Saffron City! Anyways, Kidd, that boat can only fit two of us."
Kidd shrugged his shoulders. "Oh well. How about that one instead?" He pointed at another boat.
The boat in question was a white rowboat with a blue stripe on the side. It could comfortably fit three animals, and had three pairs of oars laying on top of the benches.
"Aw heck yeah!" Benedict yelled as he hopped into the boat first. "Come on, I'll row the whole thing!"
Kidd and Tank looked at each other for a minute. Why the heck not, they thought to themselves.
Tank led the way to the boat, holding Kidd's hoof as he helped him inside.
After untying the rope, Benedict grabbed a pair of oars and started rowing. At a Shuckle's pace, the boat sailed over the Hoenn ocean. Tank pulled out his sketchbook and started sketching a flock of Wingull. Kidd leaned against Tank's shoulder, watching intently as the page flooded with drawings.
"Tank, do y'all wanna help out or keep flirtin' with Kidd?" Benedict snarked.
"Hey, I was NOT flirting!"
Tank closed his sketchbook, then put it back in his backpack. He grabbed a pair of oars, then joined Benedict in rowing. The serene ocean water gently waved in its spot. Wild Magikarp and Tentacool jumped out of the ocean, narrowly avoiding a large Pelipper in their way.
Minutes passed before the boys slowed down their rowing. Thick clumpy sand clung to the edges of their oars, gradually slowing them to a halt.
They stopped at the beach's shore, climbed out then tied the boat to a nearby rope.
"Oh, excuse me lads!"
A pink octopus scuttled up to the trio. She wore a pastel-colored dress and a yellow barrette on her left side.
"I don't mean to be a bother, but" she asked. "May I please borrow that boat? I have some friends in Mauville City, and my Remoraid is much too small to surf on!"
"It wasn't our boat, but heck yeah y'all can!"
Benedict handed her the pair of oars.
The octopus beamed in joy. "Oh, you're so sweet," She scuttled to the boat and set the oars down. Next, she pulled something out of her dress pocket and handed it to Benedict.
"Heh, thanks so much," Benedict grinned as he looked down at the item. It was a small fishing lure shaped like an Octillery.
"Aw, it's no problem," the octopus assured him. She bowed to him before getting into the boat.
The boys watched as she rowed across the Hoennian ocean.
Tank looked closer at the lure Benedict received. "That looks pretty nice!"
"Agreed," Benedict nodded. "Who knows, we might need it at some point!"
He carefully placed it in his backpack, nestling it in the soft fabric of a spare hoodie.
Kidd adjusted his scarf before leading the way through Route 118.
Towering grass enveloped them whole, hiding them from the rural trails. The grass, despite its razor-sharp appearance, was gentle on the boys.
After running through the grass, Tank jumped out first.
Benedict leaped out next, then Kidd slowly stepped out of the grass.
A cool breeze flew through the air. A loud thud echoed from the ground. Someone else was in the area.
Footsteps rustled through the thick grass. The boys turned around and stopped walking.
Apollo popped out of the grass, looking as chipper as ever.
"Oh, hello boys" Apollo smiled as he looked at the group. "So, how's the Hoenn region been treating you three?"
"It's been goin' great!" Benedict got fired up. "I've got five badges so far, an' I'm lookin' forward to gettin' my sixth one!"
"Wonderful to hear," Apollo nodded. "Tank, Kidd, how about you two? How's the contest scene and research going?"
"Um, Apollo?" Kidd asked as he crossed his arms. "How do you know all this?"
Tank yelled, "Kidd! Don't you remember? We did that interview for Wolfgang! You're close with him, right Apollo?"
"We're very close, yes" Apollo whispered. "But please don't spread rumors about us. Those pesky fangirls would wreak havoc on all of Hoenn."
"Shyuuuuuuuu!"
The group turned around to see what was making that noise.
A blue draconic Pokémon hovered about the beach. He purred under his breath as he looked at the four animals; a familiar friend, and three soon-to-be friends.
Apollo gasped as he walked up to the Pokémon, "Latios?"
"Shyun?" Latios cooed as he rubbed his cheek on Apollo's wing. His downy feathers were gentle to the touch.
"We're in good company" Apollo assured him before turning around, "Oh, boys. This is my old friend Latios."
Tank's eyes sparkled as he yelled "You're friends with a legendary Pokémon?! How?!"
Latios flinched from the sudden yelling, but calmed down soon enough.
Apollo reached out to gently scratch Latios' chin, "I met him years ago. You see…"
Weeks passed since Apollo was crowned champion. As part of his promise to explore Hoenn's arcane mysteries, he flew south towards Route 130. Rumor was that a strange island appeared and disappeared on will. Apollo read through some faded notes: the only inhabitants on said island were cheery Pokémon that faintly resembled Wobbuffet. But did they count as a Johtonian or Hoennian species? Were they just distinct relatives like Emolga and Dedenne, or more like Pichu?
A warrior's howl vibrated through Apollo's bones. His Metagross stopped flying, hovering in its spot like a UFO.
"Servo? What's going on, pal?" Apollo asked as he crouched down and wrapped his wings around Servo's face cross.
A pair of bird Pokémon fought in front of the duo. The taller bird, a heroic eagle with red and blue plumage, karate chopped his opponent with powerful wings. His opponent, a scrappy vulture with choppy brown and tan plumage, screeched before she pecked at his feet.
Servo opened his jaw and screeched at both Pokémon. The flying-types stopped their skirmish, then turned to glare at the robotic Pokémon.
Apollo shuddered as he clung tighter to his Pokémon. Was it wind or combat?
The vulture Pokemon cawed and screeched as she launched a flurry of Dark Pulses at the duo. Black and purple rings exploded in Servo's face. It closed its eyes and flew backwards from the impact.
Unfortunately, Apollo lost his grip and screamed as he fell to his doom. Nothing could slow him down, not returning Servo to its Poké Ball, not the pillowy cumulus clouds, not even another trainer in the air.
In a wake of shock, Apollo crashed on a bed of downy blue and white feathers.
He looked down in surprise; obviously, this was a Pokémon, but this wasn't one he'd seen before. The jetlike Pokémon turned his head up and chirped, "Shwa?"
Apollo reached a wing out and gently rubbed the strange Pokémon's head.
"Thank you so much."
"Hyaaaa!"
Apollo turned around. Another one?
Another Pokémon, similar to the one he fell on, hovered behind them. Instead of a stoic face and sapphire blue feathers, she had a cheerful demeanor and ruby red feathers. She chirped and cooed as she rubbed her face against the other Pokémon.
In perfect harmony, the two Pokémon raced across clear Hoenn skies. Apollo smiled as he watched the world around him. This was the Hoenn he loved.
—-
"And this was before the days of Rotom Phones" Apollo finished his story. He looked back at Latios. "Say, where's Latias at?"
"Kyu…" Latios sighed and looked down at the ground.
Apollo's blood turned cold. "Something's wrong, isn't it?"
"Shwa," Latios closed his eyes and nodded. He lowered his body down, his claws brushing against the water's warm surface.
"I see," Apollo noted to himself. He climbed on top of Latios and comfortably sat behind his neck. "Boys, how'd you like to come along with us?"
Tank looked at the rest of the group. "We're gonna need a minute if that's okay."
"Nothing to worry about," Apollo assured him.
Tank nodded. He whispered to his partners, "I think we should go. This might be our only chance to see these Pokémon!"
Benedict shrugged, "I don't see why not. My next badge can wait another day!"
Kidd looked uneasy. "I'm not sure about flying though."
Tank winked at him, "Hey, I'll hold you the whole time!"
"Well?" Apollo asked.
Tank jumped up. "We're in! But I don't think Latios could fit all of us, and our own Pokémon are too small to fly on."
"I've got that covered," Apollo held out an Ultra Ball and released one of his Pokemon. "Say hello to Servo."
"MeTAAAA!" A silver Metagross popped out of the Ultra Ball, carefully hovering above the water. Blue and gold stars exploded around its body.
"So beautiful…" Kidd whispered under his breath.
Tank climbed on top of the Metagross, comfortably sitting on the surface of its body. He held a hoof out, then helped pull Kidd on top.
Kidd blushed as he pressed his back against Tank's body. For a split second, their hooves brushed up against each other.
Servo hummed as it formed a faint pink orb around its body.
Meanwhile, Benedict jumped onto Latios' back. He tried to grab onto his feathers, but frowned as the silky smooth hide slipped out of his grip.
Apollo warmly chuckled as he turned around "You know you can hold onto me, right?"
"Yeah. I knew THAT!" Benedict's face glowed pink. He took a deep breath in, then wrapped his wings around Apollo's waist. This was unusual; Apollo had his leather duster zipped up instead of flowing free. Then again, flying was always cold.
The two Pokémon hummed in perfect sync as they soared into the air. Sharp cold wind blasted into everyones' faces, as fur and feathers flew backwards.
"Hey? Apollo?" Benedict asked. "Can I ask y'all somethin?"
Apollo looked over his shoulder. "Yes, what is it?"
Benedict tilted his head as he looked at the colorful rock. "So what's with that big stone on your collar?"
"Do you mean my Key Stone?" Apollo explained as his eyes twinkled with delight. "It's a stone that allows my Pokémon to Mega Evolve."
"Mega…Evolve?" Benedict tilted his head. "I don't know much 'bout that. I mean, I've seen it in movies an' comic books, but it ain't much of a Unova thing. What is it, exactly?"
"Mega Evolution is," Apollo took a deep breath in, "a beautiful phenomena. When a trainer and their Pokemon have a tightly knit bond, certain Pokemon can unlock a temporary form of evolution. Even after centuries since its discovery at the Sky Pillar, there's still questions to be answered."
"Wow," Benedict gasped. "Hey, what was the first Pokémon that ever Mega Evolved? 'Cause I heard a rumor at school that it was a Lucario that wanted to protect its trainer in a war!"
Apollo warmly chuckled from Benedict's enthusiasm. "That's an old Kalos myth. In the aftermath of humanity's extinction, a great Pokémon known as Rayquaza descended from the skies. Rayquaza Mega Evolved in order to both stop the war and help animalkind rebuild civilization."
He looked over his shoulder; Route 118 was nothing more than a faint blur on the skyline. The group had to be close, as few Pokémon filled the skies.
A red ball of light flickered in the distance. Latios howled before nose diving through the troposphere and towards the flickering aura. Servo followed his trail, slowing down so as not to throw its passengers off.
The two Pokemon landed at shore. White sand and triangle-shaped shells lined the beach, with crystalline water softly ebbing back and forth. Latios and Servo looked at each other as the four animals climbed off them and landed on the beach.
Apollo looked at the duo and bowed like a prince, "Thank you both."
"Shyu-kyuuu" Latios chirped as he saluted his dear friend.
"Meta-meta!" Servo roared as it high-fived its trainer. Without asking, the steel-type Pokémon returned itself to its Ultra Ball.
Southern Island: A veil of mystery. Unlike other areas in the Hoenn region, the grass grows in a dreamy shade of pink. Cherry blossoms always fall from the trees, while whimsical pastel hues flooded the daylight skies. Faint white mist billowed in the air. The water is as clear as glass, sparkling under the afternoon sun. Iridescent bubbles floated above a small stream. Despite the peaceful nature, not a single Pokémon was to be found.
Tank took several pictures in a row. Some featured the skies or flora, others included the river. While he wanted to send some dried flowers to Professor Nook, his subconscious told him to take only pictures and leave only footprints.
Several cherry blossoms fell on Benedict's head, getting tangled in his ponytail. Kidd carefully took the petals out, holding his hoof out to let the petals fly back into nature.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Apollo smiled as he led the boys through the island. As they kept walking, the stone on his jacket glowed brighter.
"More like gorgeous," Tank squeed. He noticed something peculiar; floral wreaths lined every single tree. The red and blue wreaths were tied into triangular shapes, just like the shells he saw earlier. It reminded him of Latios, and perhaps the other Pokémon.
As the group walked into the heart of the forest, something felt off. The white mist faded away into nothing, and the forest canopies blocked away every passage of light. A faint howl echoed from the island's core. Apollo's heart grew heavy; somebody's trespassing, and it's not a Pokémon.
The howl grew louder, rattling the trees. Petals floated down the trees and landed into the rivers.
"We have to go," Apollo commanded. "Hurry!"
The group dashed through the Southern Island forests, leaving behind only firm footprints. They stopped in their tracks at a horrifying sight.
Pastel.
A red and white draconic Pokémon howled as she clawed in her spot. Thick white netting trapped her in her spot. Despite her razor-sharp talons, the net refused to break under her pressure.
A blue unicorn in a sea captain's uniform approached the Pokémon. His long curly blue hair flowed behind his shoulders, loosely tied in a messy ponytail. With a calm tone to his voice, he held his hoof out,
"Latias. Please, stop struggling. It's for your own good!"
"Julian Galassia!" Apollo shouted.
The unicorn turned around, his cheeks burning indigo purple. He glanced at Apollo, looking at his six-pack more than anything else. "O-oh! Apollo! Funny seeing you here! It's, it's not what it looks like!"
Apollo took a deep breath in, "Don't play stupid with me, Julian. What are you doing to Latias?"
Julian turned his chin up, his ponytail whipping in his face. "It's Pastel business," he explained. "I don't need you or your fan club getting involved!"
The boys facepalmed.
Apollo took a deep breath in, trying to keep his composure steady. "What is so 'pastel business' about attempting to kidnap a Pokémon like Latias"
Julian huffed. "Fine!" he stomped a foot on the ground. "Judy promised she'd promote me to Pastel's co-leader if I could get her a Pokémon that can Mega Evolve. And I don't back down on anything she says, even if I might die. You'd do the same for someone you care about, right?"
"So if she told you to stab someone, you'd do it?" Apollo pointed out.
"Well, yes, do I look like an idiot?" Julian held up one of his hooves and chuckled like a shoujo villain.
Kidd whispered, "Talk about desperate."
"There's no way she likes him back" Benedict snarked to him.
"I heard that, you two!" Julian snapped. "How is it desperate to risk your life!"
"And here you are, in the middle of nowhere, by yourself, trying to kidnap a Pokémon to impress a woman who is also one of Hoenn's most wanted criminals" Apollo deadpanned "Got it."
Julian gasped. His eyes turned white and his face burned up. "Oh, you may be an incredibly handsome champion, but you are just getting on my nerves!"
"Is there anyone or anything that doesn't get on your nerves," Apollo pointed out. "Now let Latias go!"
"Never, bitch!" Julian shouted.
The boys whipped out their Poke Balls.
Apollo pulled out an Ultra Ball, "I'm asking you one more time, Julian" his voice grew tense. "Let. Her. Go."
Julian gulped when he saw the Ultra Ball. There was no way he was backing out now. He pulled out a shiny Love Ball and tossed it in the air.
"Kingdra. Fight for the glory of Team Pastel!"
The red light dissolved into a blue seahorse Pokémon. The water-type Pokémon whinnied and turned his head up, darting his snout back and forth.
Apollo held up his Ultra Ball and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Going beyond evolution. Servo, it's time to SHINE!"
A white light exploded in front of him. "METAAAAAA" Blue and white sparkles exploded around its body. It scanned its opponent with ruby red eyes, analyzing the best battle strategy.
Apollo turned around and smiled, "Boys? Please join me."
"Anythin' for you, Apollo!" Benedict shouted as he grabbed his Poke Ball and threw it in the air. Jojo flew out and cawed as he saluted his trainer.
"Of course, Apollo!" Tank jumped up. He held his Poké Ball in front of him. Fern popped out and snarled at Kingdra.
Without saying another word, Kidd nodded at his Poké Ball before tossing it in front of him. Aquarius stomped twice and clapped her flippers three times, raring to battle already.
Julian pointed ahead, "Kingdra, use Dragon Pulse!"
Kingdra threw his head back and spewed a rainbow-colored energy beam from his snout. The blast of energy formed into a reptilian shape and zigzagged through the air.
"Servo," Apollo commanded. "Freeze it with Ice Punch!"
Servo's front left leg glowed arctic blue. It threw its fist back and punched Kingdra's attack. Pure ice pulsed through the core, freeze-drying it in its spot. The ice sculpture shattered and exploded into a flurry of razor-sharp ice crystals.
Tank yelled as he pointed right at Kingdra, "Fern, use Dual Chop!"
"Scep-TILE!" Fern howled as he lunged through the frigid air. His arms glowed bright purple as he chopped twice at Kingdra's stomach. The super effective hits threw Kingdra backwards, but only just meters in front of his trainer.
"Aquarius" Kidd said as he tightly gripped his Poké Ball, "use Mud Shot on Kingdra!"
Aquarius roared and posed like a martial artist. She held out her flippers and hurled multiple mud balls at Kingdra's face. The dragon Pokemon whinnied as he shook the mud off his face. Just feeling the mud on his skin made him slow down in battle.
"Jojo! Low Sweep on the net, hurry!" Benedict shouted.
Jojo cawed as he jumped over the other Pokémon and landed behind the net. He swung his right leg backwards and snapped the cables. Unfortunately, the cables reattached themselves and burrowed into the ground.
Julian turned around and smirked, "Nice try, Unovan boy. But we learned from your little stunt at Petalburg City!"
Benedict rolled his eyes as he ran away from the battle and headed to the net. He and Jojo would find a way! While Jojo used Blaze Kick to try to set the net ablaze, Benedict pulled out his switchblade and used it to start slicing apart the cables. Thank Arceus that these cables were only immune to Pokemon attacks, he thought as he snapped the first cable.
"Now, Kingdra, Scald!" Julian commanded as he flipped his hair over his shoulder.
Kingdra howled before he blasted a stream of boiling hot water. Servo lifted itself into the air, but flew backwards as small red and yellow flames flickered around its legs.
"Servo, over here!" Apollo hollered as he pulled something out of his pocket: a clear bag with a brown rice cracker. He ran up to his Pokemon, gently holding out the snack.
"Boys, cover me!" he yelled as he tended to his Metagross.
"Yes, sir!" Tank hollered back. "Fern, use Leaf Blade!"
Fern jumped in the air and slashed at his opponent, throwing him backwards against the net. The seahorse Pokemon bounced on the net's surface and flew through the air like a bullet.
Kidd commanded, "Aquarius, Muddy Water!"
Aquarius curled in a ball and rolled underneath Kingdra's body. She popped out behind him. A geyser of murky brown sludge erupted from the earth, throwing Kingdra in the air like a water balloon. He dived through the air, stopping just meters before crashing into the ground. The dragon Pokemon threw his head back and whinnied.
Julian flashed an arrogant smile, "Kingdra, use Aurora Beam!"
Kingdra roared. He glared down at Fern, then blasted a multicolor beam from his snout. The grass-type felt frozen in his spot, unable to move an inch until–
Aquarius jumped in front of her teammate. She turned around and nodded at Fern, before facing down the icy attack with a confident smile.
Aquarius grunted as the Aurora Beam struggled to push her backwards. She skidded backwards against the pastel pink sand, trying not to get caught in the earth beneath her.
"Marsh-tomp! Marsh-TOMP!" she barked as she slapped the beam twice. She turned her head up and howled, her entire body glowing blue.
Her body doubled in height, while muscles formed around her limbs. The fins on her head split into two, while the spikes on her cheeks fanned out. Her tail fins joined into one, widening out behind her.
The blue light gradually dissolved. Compared to her allies, Aquarius was a few heads shorter, but what she lacked in height, she made up for in pure raging muscle.
"SwamPERT!" she roared as she boxed the air. The mudfish Pokemon stood on all fours, wagging her tail as she glared at Kingdra.
Kidd gasped in awe, "Aquarius! I'm so proud of you!"
Aquarius blushed as she turned around and stuck her tongue out at her trainer. She drummed her right arm against the ground.
Kidd asked, "Oh, do you know a new move?"
"SwamPERRRRT!" Aquarius howled as she got on her back legs.
"Got it!" Kidd nodded before shouting. "Now, Aquarius, use Hammer Arm!"
"Swampert, swamp!" Aquarius pulled her right arm back and charged towards her opponent. She leaped in the air and punched Kingdra's throat, throwing it forward in the air.
Apollo yelled, "Zen Headbutt!"
Servo barrelled through the air, with a blinding blue and purple aura enveloping its entire body. The psychic-type tucked its legs backwards, then headbutted Kingdra into the ground.
The seahorse Pokémon crashed into the ground. Pink dust billowed into a mushroom cloud, floating into the forest canopy.
Kingdra weakly whinnied as he laid flat on the ground.
Julian took a deep breath in as he returned Kingdra to his Love Ball. "This was a waste of time," he muttered under his breath.
Apollo crossed his arms as he walked up to Julian. "Tch" he scoffed. "What would Judy think of your stunt now?"
Julian lashed out. "I don't have to tell her anything about this battle! She can't know I got my ass kicked by a hottie like you. Maybe your meddling friends, sure, but she'd roast me alive! So THERE!" He held out another Dream Ball, releasing a tiny green bird Pokémon.
"Doot?" the bird Pokémon chirped.
"Natu, use Teleport!" Julian yelled as he cradled the bird close to his chest.
Tank rushed towards Julian, but yelped as he tripped on a cragged boulder. Kidd walked to the boulder and held out his hooves, helping Tank get back on his feet.
A blinding pink and white ball of energy engulfed both trainer and Pokémon, then disappeared into tiny white sparkles.
Apollo threw his wings up in frustration, "Great. He left before I could rip him a new one!"
Benedict waved as he held some net in his arms, "Hey, I got Latias free!"
Latias trilled as she nuzzled her face against Benedict's hoodie. For some reason, Benedict felt closer to Latias than Latios. Maybe it was because of how Jojo sliced the net, he thought to himself. Or perhaps it was tied to those dreams he kept having. He brushed it off, laughing as Latias knocked him down.
"Shyuuu!" Latios howled as he flew to the group.
"Hyaaaa!" Latias squealed as she tackled the other Pokémon into a group hug, nuzzling against his neck. The two eon Pokémon let go, then chased each other in the air.
Tank watched for a few moments, then started taking pictures of both Latios and Latias.
Latios stopped to notice; what was that strange Pokémon doing in a device like that? He flew to Tank's face and sniffed the Rotom Phone's camera.
"Yeah, there's a Pokémon in there," Tank explained. "Do you want to say hi to it?"
Latios shook his head no.
"Oh, you want a picture!" Tank gasped. "Of course you can take one!"
Latios nodded. He took the phone out of Tank's hands, then gently tapped the screen with one of his fingers. The eon Pokémon chirped and cooed as his picture got taken.
Latias flew behind his shoulders, squeaking in curiosity at the modern device. She grabbed it and took a picture of herself instead. Her cheerful yellow eyes sparkled in the daylight.
Tank had an idea, "Hey guys!" he yelled to everyone. "How about a group picture?"
"That's fine by me" Apollo smiled at him.
The group gathered underneath one of the trees. Apollo wrapped his arms around Latios and Latias' shoulders, pulling them close like the old friends they were. The boys sat on a nearby log, sweetly smiling to the hovering Rotom Phone. Tank grabbed onto Benedict and Kidd's wrists, pulling them up so the camera could zoom in on them.
Click.
The Rotom Phone took several pictures in a row. After the last picture, Tank let go of his boyfriends' wrists and stood up to grab his phone. Every picture was breathtakingly perfect, from the gentle smiles to the petals fluttering behind them.
Benedict looked closer; at some point during the battle, his hair came loose and some strands hung around his shoulders. It felt right; he looked much more relaxed and easygoing, like the reliable girl-next-door. Wait, girl next door, how did that one come up!
Kidd asked, "Is everything alright, Benedict?"
"Huh?" Benedict snapped out of his trance. "Oh, yeah, I'm fine, just surprised at how great that photo looks!"
"It does look nice," Kidd commented. "Hopefully we can get it printed and framed at some point."
"I was actually thinking that!" Tank explained. "I know a great place in Mosdeep for that stuff"
"Oh, before I forget" Apollo grinned as he looked at the trio. "Boys," he said. "After seeing what an amazing job your Pokémon did? I think a reward is in question."
Apollo set down his duffel bag, then pulled out a small green and blue pouch. He dug inside and pulled out three round stones, tenderly holding them in his wings.
He handed them each one stone. The iridescent stones glimmered and sparkled under the Hoennian sun. Black strands of pigment swirled in the core, forming a strange shape.
"Apollo!" Tank gasped in surprise. These were the exact same stones he saw in a dream once! "Are you sure about this?! I mean—oh my Arceus, I, I can't believe this–"
"Merci beaucoup" Kidd bowed.
Benedict beamed in happiness as he tenderly held the stone. Just looking at it made him feel more level headed. "Y'all are the best, Apollo!"
"That's not all" Apollo pulled out three more stones: a pale yellow one with a red and black core, a green and red one, and a blue one with orange and black streaks. He whistled to the three Pokémon. "Fern, Jojo, Aquarius!"
The three Pokémon stopped playing with each other, standing still as Apollo gifted them the stones that matched their colors.
A faint pink and purple energy glowed from the stones.
"Apollo?" Benedict asked as he walked up to him. "Is there another reason y'all gave us these Key Stones?"
Apollo placed a wing on his chest. "Let's see….you three are phenomenal at the art of Pokémon battling. Your bonds with your Pokémon are as clear as a Dawn Stone, and seeing your determination makes me want to see where it goes in the future. Perhaps, someday in our battle?"
"But wait," Benedict asked. "Why didn't you Mega Evolve your Metagross back there?"
Apollo turned his head up. "I could Mega Evolve my Pokémon whenever I please, but I prefer to save Mega Evolution for the battles that truly count. That's when I feel closest to my Pokemon, if that makes sense."
"Yeah," Benedict nodded. "Yeah, it does!"
Apollo looked back at the two Pokémon. "I'd love to stay, but I have to get back to Lilycove City. Would you two be kind enough to take us back to Route 118?"
"Shwaaa!" Latios howled at the top of his lungs. He hovered close to the ground, staying still as Apollo climbed on his back and in front of his wings.
"Hyuuu!" Latias chirped and bobbed in her spot. With her powerful arms, she grabbed Benedict and hoisted him up on her back.
Benedict looked down at the eon Pokémon. Her friendliness was much appreciated, and she was soft to the touch.
Apollo waved to Tank and Kidd, "How'd you two like to fly me with me?"
"Are you sure Latios can handle our weight?" Kidd asked. "I mean, three animals on one Pokémon sounds like a lot!"
"Don't worry," Apollo assured him. "Latios can handle you two just fine"
The two boys climbed onto Latios' back, comfortably nestling themselves behind Apollo. Once the gang returned their Pokémon to their Poké Balls, both eon Pokémon cried out,
"Hyaaaaaa!"
"Kyuuuuuuuuuu!"
With a roar like jet engines, the two eon Pokémon took to the skies, racing each other into the stratosphere. Latias stuck her tongue out as Latios charged ahead of her. Benedict held on tight and screamed in joy as Latias did a barrel roll. Clouds ripped apart in the duo's wake, as Southern Island became nothing more than a flickering blur of red light.
Apollo chuckled to himself as he watched them have fun. He pulled something out of his bag: a brown flute with a red orb at the end.
Kidd and Tank watched intently as Apollo played a short melody. Latios chirped in delight from the tune, before speeding up to join his sister.
More and more Pokémon joined the skies, flying out of the way to allow more room for legends galore. Apollo recognized them all; carefree Swablu and Pelipper, bristly Skarmory, timid Drifloon, aggressive Rufflet, even a brave Pidgeot…wait a minute, a Pidgeot?!
The Pidgeot stopped in her path and chirped, "Pijyo?"
Apollo looked closer at the bird Pokémon. A trainer sat on top of her back, with a glazed look in his eyes. He yelled at the duo,"...Frank?!"
Latios and Latias stopped in their tracks, their wings humming peacefully.
Frank snapped out of his trance. His cigarette fell out of his beak and fell through the skies, never to be seen again. Was this some sort of lucid dream again?
"Apollo!" he gasped. "What are you doing up here?!"
"I'd ask you the same!" Apollo hollered. "I texted you weeks ago and you didn't write back?! Did you block my number or something?"
"No, Apollo. It's not that" Frank sighed. "It's because I've been trying to defeat Team Cottage, alright! I know they're not responsible for Belladonna, and neither is Pastel, but I needed something to get my life together again!"
Apollo's feathers bristled in the cold wind. "You're working to fight Team Cottage? I've been taking on Pastel myself, in fact the boys and I just fought one of their admins today"
Frank blinked twice. "Any luck with him?"
"No, of course not" Apollo shook his head. "He used a Natu to teleport away before I could even confront him."
"What a shocker," Frank deadpanned. "Apollo, if it's too much…can I fly back with you?"
Apollo gulped. Frank, actually reaching out instead of closing himself off from the world? Who or what inspired him to think this way? "Of. Of course you can! I'd never turn down family!"
Pidgeot trilled as she flapped her wings closer to the eon Pokémon. She smiled at the other Pokémon, before the group flew together in tandem harmony. Silence engulfed the air, before breaking like fragile glass.
"I should stop scaring you like that, Apollo," Frank confessed. "But it wasn't just Cottage business I was busy with. I was in jail"
The boys gasped in surprise. Frank had a criminal record?! Surely there was a good reason for this!
Apollo's face went blank. "For what?"
Frank explained, "Trespassing. I broke into the Team Cottage base to find anything else on them, like how they're planning to summon one of the super-ancient Pokémon. But all I found out was a murder they committed in Fortree City."
Tank wanted to throw up, and not from the skies. Kidd wrapped his arms tighter around his waist, hoping it would calm him down a little.
"Let me get this straight," Apollo noted. "Even though Cottage are ruthless criminals with blood on their hands, YOU'RE the one that got arrested?"
"Yeah" Frank deadpanned. "Hoenn clearly has their priorities, am I right?"
"Tell me about it," Apollo snarked back.
The group landed on the grassy shores of Route 118. After climbing off the three Pokemon, the gang waved goodbye as Latios and Latias flew back home. Pidgeot hovered next to her trainer, keeping an eye out for anyone suspicious. The group gathered at a large tree stump with a star carved in the base. The boys sat on top of the tree stump, scrolling through the pictures Tank took on his Rotom Phone.
"So," Apollo asked as he pulled out some disposable shot glasses and a bottle of whiskey. "Care for a drink?"
Frank sat down next to him., "Yeah. I'll take one. Oh, pour the boys one too."
Apollo rolled his eyes as he poured some whiskey into two shot glasses, "I have iced tea in my bag."
Frank rummaged through Apollo's duffel bag, "Jubilife green. Of course you'd pick a Sinnoh brand!"
"Green tea?" Tank perked up. "I'll take some please!"
"Sure" Apollo handed some whiskey to Frank, then tossed three bottles of Jubilife green tea to the boys. The boys set their phones down and cracked open the bottles.
Apollo and Frank clinked their glasses, then gulped down their whiskey.
The smooth taste and lack of burn was pleasant on the throat.
Frank cracked a rare smile, "So, did Wolfgang get this for you?"
"No, it was sent as a sponsorship from Ever Grande City" Apollo shrugged. "He did order some red wine from the Battle Chateau in Kalos, but it's back in Mossdeep City."
"I see," Frank looked at the whiskey bottle. "Saving it for a special occasion, huh?"
Apollo blushed as he looked away from the group. "Maybe. How are things between you and Rooney?"
Frank sighed, "It's rough, but I'll talk to him again when either I'm ready or he is."
Benedict gulped. He met Rooney back near Petalburg City, but didn't want to bring him up. No wonder the guy got so defensive over the photo he dropped.
"Understandable," Apollo affirmed. "Boys, any luck in your department?"
"Well, actually" Tank whispered to Benedict and Kidd, then tightly held both their hands. "Yeah."
Apollo looked for a minute, then smiled. "Congratulations."
The boys looked at each other and blushed. This was a lot more pleasant than expected, they thought to themselves. Maybe Apollo was more lax than the average Hoenn citizen.
Frank crossed his arms, "Just don't fuck it up like I did"
"Frank!" Apollo yelled.
"What?" Frank laughed. "It's good advice to have, AND I'm speaking from experience!"
Apollo felt twisted. On one hand, it was good to see Frank slowly getting back to his old self, but on the other hand, did he really need to say something like that? Or maybe that was the whiskey talking. At least he wasn't lighting up cigarettes until his lungs gave out.
"Anyways," Frank relaxed in his spot. "Benedict, how's that gym challenge going?"
"It's goin' great!"
Benedict explained. "I already got five badges, an' I was on my way to get my sixth until Apollo came an' got us after we went to Mauville/"
"Nice going, Apollo," Frank snarked. "You made him miss his gym battle!"
"Hey, I politely asked all of them to come with me," Apollo snorted. "What, do you think I'm sort of a kidnapper?"
"Only if you think I need more whiskey" Frank rolled his eyes. "You boys agree, right?"
"That depends"
Kidd joined in the fun. "If I agree, you won't make me drink whiskey, right?"
Apollo gasped like someone accused him of a heinous crime, "Frank, you are NOT giving him a single drop!"
"Please" Frank scoffed. "These boys don't need whiskey. Now, cocktails with little umbrellas in them and cherries on top? THAT'S a different story!"
Apollo was exasperated, but wanted to burst out in laughter at the same time. "...I missed you."
Frank cracked another smile, "I did too."
Apollo wanted to say something else, but was rudely cut off the vibrating phone in his jacket pocket. He yanked it out and swiped left,
"A meet-and-greet at Lilycove City?! When did I sign up for that!...Last week? Oh, this is in the Venus district? Well I'll be there like a college kid on finals week."
Apollo hung up, then shoved his phone back in his pocket. "Sorry, everyone. Champion signing."
"No, it's fine, just leave when the party started, that's fun" Frank deadpanned.
"I'm going too. I need to go to the Venus district more anyways."
"Oh, so the all-so-mighty Frank is going for a little rebound action?" Apollo taunted him.
"No, I'm going to steal Wolfgang from you," Frank snarked back. "While you can have any guy you want in the Hoenn region!"
The boys snickered from their banter.
Something felt nice about seeing those two together for a change.
Pidgeot whistled as she rubbed up against Frank's sleeve.
"Okay, okay" Frank assured his Pokemon. "Apollo, are you ready?"
Apollo threw his duffel bag over his shoulder, then grabbed an Ultra Ball, "I'm ready when you are," he said as he released Crow from his Ultra Ball.
"Skra?" Crow chirped as he looked at his trainer.
Both Apollo and Frank mounted their Pokémon, ready for takeoff.
"Take good care out there, boys," Apollo smiled as he waved to them.
The boys shouted their goodbyes,
"We will, Apollo!"
"Thank you for the Key Stones!"
"Have fun in Lilycove City!"
As Apollo and Frank disappeared into the skies, the boys looked at each other.
"You guys ready for Fortree City?" Tank asked the other two.
Kidd flipped his hair, "I've been ready since we left Mauville City!"
"We've got this!" Benedict cheered.
The boys high fived each other and yelled, "Let's GO!"
With newfound spirits full of blazing ambition, the boys raced into the deep jungle of Route 119. What bizarre adventures await them as the journey continues!