Hello guys and bienvenidos to our next update! I'm also glad to announce that this story has officially gotten some cover art thanks to the ever talented Krolikb0t! Be sure to check out his ArtStation profile for more awesome work!
There's a lot to cover here, so let's get to it! I hope everyone enjoys the chapter!
Rian couldn't help but feel a bit taboo when he stepped through the cave's entrance. On one hand, the heat from the sun quickly disappeared, replaced by an inward damp breeze that caused him to shiver despite the muggy air. The salty smell of the sea was also changing to something musty and the visibility was dropping fast in absence of a source of light.
He groped around for his phone in the dark, thumbing the lock screen and remembering a button that could activate a small but powerful flashlight. Quick rapid footsteps echoed from behind the boy as Baron followed his trainer closely, eyes scanning the dark corners for threats.
At least I'll have something instead of walking through blind. Rian thought to himself as he continued to follow the path in front. Up ahead he could see the glow of the mysterious pokemon's twin engines as it explored further into the cave.
So where are the pokemon we were told in here that didn't like trespassers? Were those the houndour that the big guy scared off? They didn't look that tough.
"Hey! Rian!" He heard a girl's voice echo come from the top of the cavern that opened up. There was also faint traces of light from a pinprick opening to the outside. Sprinting up ahead, he saw that the path began to twist up in a circular spiral ending in a wide opening of light at the top. Blue sky behind.
The exit.
Two tiny figures of Nemona and Jules were up there by the mouth, trying to look down into the murk to find if he was anywhere to be seen. Rian held his Rotophone's light in front of him and waved it, hoping the blur of motion would attract their attention.
Hopefully nothing else.
"Rian! You sure you're okay?" Nemona was the first to spot his signal and it looked like she was the one shouting now. "You're not hurt right?!"
Her voice boomed and echoed across the cavern to the point where the words blended together to be shouted by six more "people".
"A few minutes ago I was!" Rian shouted back, his voice echoing similarly. "But I'm fine now!" Managing, I guess.
"Oh good! I was really worried since I was the one who got you into this mess when I said we should look around for whatever that thing is that made that cry!" Nemona shook her head. "Never mind that! We gotta get you outta there! If you can get close enough, I'll try pulling you up with one of my pokemon's moves!"
Trainer update: Name determined. Ree-in. Match for Trainer potentially found and noted for records. Protocol One established, enacted and upheld. Remain at my side and we will move out Trainer Ree-in. Name pronunciation unclear, visual of Trainer name spelling required.
Rian assumed that his best bet was to stay with the large purple pokemon. It hovered idly just ahead on the path, looking at him as he approached before continuing as he caught up to it. As he got closer; the jet blast from the leg mounted engines began to whip up at his uniform and he had to cover his eyes with a sleeve to keep dust from getting caught. After brushing sand out of them a few minutes ago, he had no desire to further irritate them.
"Hey, that's a really strong looking pokemon!" Nemona exclaimed, still watching as he made his way up from the top. "Could that be the thing that made a cry that powerful?"
"I wonder if this was the thing that made that loud noise this morning." Jules mumbled to herself. She kept scanning the dark, likely knowing that her brother and the mysterious pokemon were not quite out of the woods yet.
Rian and Baron kept pace until he was side by side with the large pokemon. The engines whined softly as he moved forward like oil over water. There were no differing movements or idle sway from side to side even from modern helicopters or the surveillance drones that her mother often worked alongside while on duty with the Armada. It was almost as if it had the flight capabilities of something both entirely alien and strangely familiar.
Oh mierda. Rocks.
He wasn't sure when it had occurred, but a large rock slide had buried the entrance in front of them with large chunky irregular shaped boulders. Some of them were as big as himself and probably weighed several times more. No way he was getting through on his own.
Scanning. Rocks obstructing path further in cave. Average mass, three tons. Destruction of one certain rock should cause the remainder of the pile to fall apart. Weak point found. Destroying target.
Rian cupped his chin in thought at the obstacle. Could backtrack. See if I can go along the shoreline until there's a spot where I can climb back up? Maybe this is where I can use my Pokémon to help.
"Okay, Baron." His quaxly standing next to him snapped to attention and proudly puffed his chest out. "Let's get through here. Try a water g-"
His thoughts were interrupted by a loud crunching noise. Jumping in fright, he and Baron readied for another battle, but were surprised that the mysterious creature had instead lashed out with its long silver tail, striking several of the boulders and cleaving them in half in a single stroke. The others on top of the blockage were no longer supported from below began to quickly collapse and roll over the edge into the previously unseen pond of water on the other side with loud splashes.
"Rian!" Jules cried. Fearing the worst.
"I'm okay sis!" He yelled back while waving the air in front of him to clear the dust away. "That pokemon just opened a new entrance and we're going farther!"
Glancing back at Baron, he gestured to their other compadre for the moment. "Let's go."
As they walked along the path that slowly began to spiral upwards, Rian saw that part of the passageway curled along the wall and he'd end up just underneath the cliff where Nemona and Jules were watching. Even if he made it to that spot, there were several outcroppings that he had to scale in order to completely get out, all of which were far taller than whatever he could hope to jump for.
We'll worry about that when the time comes.
Movement caught his eye up ahead and he saw something dart back into the darkness. Baron tensed, knowing they were being followed and about to be challenged.
Their intuition was right as a small brown quadruped mammalian pokemon growled at their intruders and leapt to attack. It had a stripe of yellowish brown fur that ran down its back and sharp teeth that were bared in a rather menacing grin.
"Baron, water gun!" Rian shouted. The very eager duckling thrust his head forward and expelled a blast of clear water that struck the pokemon in the midsection. It growled in anger and launched itself into Baron in a vicious tackle. The two pokemon tussled on the ground before separating.
"Pound!"
Baron sidestepped another flying tackle and slammed his wings into his foe's head. The attack was too much and the pokemon fainted.
"What was that?" Rian didn't have anything to scan afterwards, but he wondered if the dex app could have picked it up.
Searching…match found. Yungoos. Loitering pokemon. Normal type. It spends its waking hours in search of food. When yungoos is hungry, its ferocity gains a certain edge.
He knew that pokemon anywhere. Yungoos was the pre-evolution stage of Hector, the gumshoos that was his father's pokemon partner at the detective precinct.
Well done Trainer Ree-in. Your combat skills with pokemon Baron and overall as a trainer are improving.
"Rian heads up!" He heard Jules shout. "You two are about to have company!"
He heard them too, frenzied growls and barks from up ahead. The same ones from the houndour that were harassing the pokemon with him. Baron tensed, knowing a fight was right around the corner.
"Stay calm," Rian knelt down to look at his pokemon. "We're gonna get out of this okay?"
Just as they were warned, the houndour were back to confront them. Only this time there were nearly a dozen juvenile pups, all less than a couple feet tall. They yelped and growled, baring fangs of sharp teeth, some of which sparked with fire. While they were overall weak on their own, they had the advantage of superior numbers.
"We don't want any trouble." Rian stood behind the large pokemon but held his hands up to try and show that he wasn't a threat like he had done with the mysterious dragon creature next to him. "We're just getting out of here. Trust me, we want ourselves to be out of this cave as much as you do."
His words didn't seem to persuade any of the houndour, not like they would listen to him in the wild. They snapped their jaws in the air, the front three hunching down as if they were about to pounce.
Pokemon identified. Houndour. Appear to be juvenile stage. Threat status: slight, due to sheer numbers. Determining countermeasure actions. Accessing behavioral patterns for relevant information. Young houndour pups easily dissuaded and intimidated by show of force. Pack appears to obstruct Protocol Two. Enaction of Protocol Three a possibility.
Baron seemed ready to meet the confrontational pack's challenge. He stepped forward and Rian was about to utter a command when the large pokemon beside them roared once more. The revving synthetic noise echoed through the cave with enough power that he swore the ground trembled. The houndour pack's bravado was rapidly fading and their strength in numbers did little to the ones that stayed for just a moment. More than half immediately turned and hastily retreated, yelping in high pitched barks as they fled. The couple that remained quickly decided facing the intruders in the cave on their own was a bad idea.
"Let's not stick around for them to try their luck a third time." Rian told his pokemon as the pups disappeared further into the depths. The quaxly agreed.
"Hurry Rian!" Nemona shouted. "I think something's coming!"
He picked up the pace, jogging up until he finally saw both her and his sister standing at the top waving. Though they were much closer, it still felt so far away. In front of Jules, Basil crouched next to his trainer, no doubt ready to lend a hand.
"Aguas! It's behind you!"
Rushing footsteps from where they had just been caused Rian to spin around in time to see a much larger dog pokemon approaching with a taller, stronger frame that was built for chasing down prey. Like the houndour before it, its fur was primarily black and silver trim. Large horns curled along its back and it had a thin sharp tail.
"Oh no."
Scanning. His pokedex flashed in his hands. Match found. Houndoom. Final evolved form of houndour. Dark pokemon. Upon hearing its eerie howls, other pokemon get the shivers and head back to their nests. It was feared long ago that a houndoom's howl was the call of the grim reaper.
"Comforting." Rian's heart jumped when he saw the large pokemon still continued forward, not particularly paying attention. There was no telling how incredibly strong the houndoom confronting them was but he was determined to defend himself as the larger canine kept its focus on him.
He tried the reasoning first, knowing it was probably even more likely to not work as it hadn't with the houndour pups. "Look, I don't want trouble. Tell your pack mates I'm sorry for wandering in here and I'll be out just as quick."
The houndoom snarled and continued moving forward, causing the boy to be frozen in a moment of fear. At the same time, Baron jumped in between them, staring the much more powerful dark pokemon down and daring it to make a move.
Rian gasped at how his pokemon was undeterred by the wild hound's evident show of strength, yet stood his ground.
Baron?! He's got guts.
That behavior seemed to irk the houndoom as it reared its head back and roared loudly, enough that Baron was sent right back into Rian's poke ball. The boy blinked in surprise, a sudden feeling of dread creeping up.
Oh no. He was defenseless. The houndoom's eyes narrowed sensing its advantage and pressed forward, baring teeth that sparked with fire.
I survived a fall only to get burned to a crisp or ripped to shreds by some angry dogs. What a day.
Only for the large pokemon to spin around after hearing the houndoom. It studied the newly appeared foe with analytical eyes.
Pokemon identified. Houndoom. Evolved form of houndour. Threat status: mild…correction, imminent to Trainer Ree-in.
Warning! Trainer Ree-in endangerment likelihood increased to imminent! Enacting Protocol Three: Protect the Trainer.
Determining countermeasure actions. Accessing behavioral patterns for relevant information. Houndoom yield to superior shows of force. Offensive subroutines standing by. Status: combat ready.
The processes of the creature had gone through its system in less than half a second. Rian jumped as flashes of brilliant white light struck the ground in front, discharged lightning bolts. His mysterious ally suddenly appeared from above, landing between him and the attacking houndoom to roar back in equal ferocity as before and the long silver tail whipped about, causing the houndoom to hastily jump back in reflex.
"Can you just let us leave in peace?" Rian almost had to cough from the acrid burning smell that the electricity had left behind.
Meanwhile he could barely see the shadowy silhouette of the houndoom as the attack had thrown it further back into the dark recesses of the cave. The manner in which it moved its legs showed an apparent injury after getting struck by the beast's tail, but the way it glowered at the two intruders indicated that it had gotten even more displeased at their presence. Rian saw that it threw its head upwards in a bone-chilling howl, followed by a cacophony of more yips and frenzied barks.
Of course it'd have a backup plan. Rian cursed himself for tuning out the cries of the girls above him to use that opportunity to escape and start climbing up.
But something nagged away that had prevented that if he had listened anyway. After all he and this mysterious pokemon had gone through a dangerous cave together and stuck side by side. It would have been selfish for one of them to abandon the other if given the chance.
The growls of other houndour as they rumbled past the large houndoom told him the other side's answer. Rian threw his poke ball again and Baron stood ready to defend. The quaxly kept its proud stance, but was clearly worried and the reluctance caused him to look back at his trainer for guidance. The large pokemon was surrounded yet again by more houndour, but curiously it didn't seem to use any of those powerful electric type moves.
Warning. Outnumbered four to one. Drift Core advised to deter threats. Drift Core execution incomplete. Error code: Sneasel. Secondary offensive measures advised.
Rian moved to help it, but three of the houndour pack had quickly cornered him and Baron. This time, none decided to take their time to harass him from afar, one of which immediately ran forward, jaws open to snap at the duckling.
"Water gun again!" Baron leapt into the air and sprayed the three houndour from side to side, causing two to faint with a super effective attack. The third one barely hung on, rolling back onto its feet and growling in annoyance. At his trainer's command, Baron shot it with another water gun that sent it packing straight into the wall, knocked out cold.
Okay, maybe I'm starting to get the hang of this.
"RIAN watch out!" Nemona cried from above.
Her warning made Rian glance up just in time as he turned around to see the large houndoom making a break for him at a full sprint, bypassing the dragon that was preoccupied with trying to goad back several more houndour. He didn't have time to issue another command to Baron, instead grabbing the first poke ball on his belt and fumbling with arming the matrix.
The houndoom was mere feet away from sinking its teeth into his side when the ball activated, drawing the canine within its confines. Rian was already up and running with Baron at his heels when it hit the ground.
I doubt a poke ball is going to hold a fully ready strong pokemon like that for long.
To his surprise, the purple pokemon had spun around to look at him as he reached the edge of the rock wall before it launched itself forward with a growing lull of its engines. A huge arm suddenly wrapped itself around Rian's waist as it held onto him like a doll. For the second time that day, the wind was nearly knocked out of his lungs and he barely had time to scoop up Baron to hold him tight against his body.
The pokemon's limb felt hard and metallic, as if it were artificial armor, but up close with the extremely fluid movements and whirring of machines as it did move those limbs felt more like a drone.
"Hey! Up here!" Nemona shouts echoed from the top of the cave. Both him and the creature looked up to see her frantically waving her arms to get their attention.
Protocol Three enacted. Protect the Trainer. Objective updated. Cavern entrance beside human female suitable safety. Edge of hostile houndour and houndoom territory and will not follow.
Initializing flight mode. Primary thrusters online. Status: 65%. Warning! Power levels unstable…experiencing unexpected decrease. Approaching minimum self-sustaining levels. Replacement energy source will be required.
The pack of houndour had begun to regroup, now running to the wall where they'd be surrounded again in seconds. Rian saw the poke ball that he had thrown earlier burst open; the houndoom had effortlessly broken out and visibly angered that their prey was about to escape.
Instead of yielding, Rian saw its engines rotate on its body until they pointed directly at the ground. With a growing swell, the thruster output increased like a jet and they quickly ascended off the ground, leaving the furious houndoom and its pack behind. He felt the strap of his hat go taut against his neck, almost getting blown off. They accelerated up, slowing down to another idle hover at the mouth of the cave as Nemona and Jules rushed to greet them.
Rian felt the pokemon slowly release him and his joints were wobbly to the point he practically collapsed stomach first into the grass, barely able to inflate his lungs again with another croak. Anyone else listening would've assumed he was in the middle of suffocating.
"Rian!" Frantic footsteps were heard as Jules appeared ahead of him. She was visibly panting and out of breath while sliding by his side and turning over his prone form so he lay on his back. "Rian are you okay?!"
She got a pained moan in response. Baron nudged him with a wing.
"You're alive," his sister breathed with quavered relief. She remained distressed nonetheless. "I thought I was going to lose you!"
He finally found his wind again and practically gasped for air, sitting up abruptly and startling Jules.
"Sis," his breathing was still labored and his limbs shook as if they were made of gelatin.
"Rian I was so worried!" Despite normally having a fun-loving attitude, she looked like she was about to openly cry. Made sense given his recent life or death experience. He finally began to stand, wobbling slightly on his legs. Jules threw her arms around her older twin brother, hugging him fiercely which almost got him knocked down again.
"Please," she mumbled softly into his uniform shirt. "don't scare me like that ever again."
"I'll try not to sis." His words came out like a squeak. Despite his efforts, he couldn't help a few shedding a few tears of relief as he clung to her. Two near-death experiences he did not want to repeat at all.
"Rian!" He parted from Jules and Nemona swallowed him up in her arms as she embraced him as well. Despite meeting her only a few hours ago, he felt warm and relaxed as his arms gently snaked around her back to return the gesture.
I hope she can't see me blushing.
""I'm so sorry about that," Nemona whispered. "I didn't mean for that to happen to you."
"It's okay." Rian told her. "I'm…I'm just thankful that I'm alive."
Trainer Ree-in exhibiting an increase in heart rate when in close contact with fellow female trainer. Protocol Three enacted a possibility. Override. Trainer is not in any apparent danger.
He turned to the mysterious pokemon, who was inherently watching the interaction with a look of curiosity on its face.
"Thank you."
Trainer expressing gratitude. Unsure how to react due to merely carrying out Protocol Three.
He didn't see any indication that the creature understood. Instead its head pivoted towards the open path behind them and slowly moved towards the Luz Sur.
Must uphold Protocol Two. Seek safety within area of Luz Sur.
"Wait, where are you going?"
"That's one weird pokemon," Jules said, her and Nemona finally getting the chance to see Rian's savior up close. "It doesn't even look like a pokemon. Almost like a robot."
The older girl shook her head. "Yeah but those moves and power it had while in the cavern were amazing! I wonder how strong it will be if I battle it?"
Warning! Power depleted below self sustaining levels! Hadron Engine functionality 29% and decreasing! Status: Calamitous. Offensive subroutines offline. Error code: Sneasel. Replacement energy source required! Essential functions compromised. Emergency shutdown initiated.
The pokemon only made it halfway to the dirt path before it cried out. Its leg engines sputtered as if experiencing a flameout before it collapsed onto the ground in a mess of limbs. Energy began to burst free around its metallic body, the flashes of light reverting it back into the form when it had been originally found laying on the beachhead.
"Woah! What's wrong?" Nemona asked as the three of them ran to its side. The pokemon growled weakly, its digital eyes flickered before fluttering closed. "Maybe it used up all its power?"
"I don't know. Should we take it to a pokemon center to get looked at?" Jules asked.
"I'm confused at what this pokemon is anyway."
Nemona cupped a hand to her chin. "Yeah. What kind of pokemon is this?! If it's even a pokemon? It looks kinda like a cyclizar. But not like any I've seen before."
"Yeah it kinda does. The big throat sac, that reptile head." Rian scanned it with his dex app, but again like before, it showed that the data was inconclusive. Cyclizar were popular transport pokemon and used in his favorite PalMoto Racing. "It's like out of those movies where robots turn into people or pokemon to spy on us."
Jules groaned off to the side, knowing that those types of movies and races were her brother's thing and he annoyed her to no end.
"Ooh!" Nemona clasped her hands together and smiled. "You mean the Shifter series?!"
"Heck yes!" Rian's giddiness was contagious as he finally felt the stress and building pressure in his chest subside, but he tended to go overboard with things like this from time to time. "I got a poster of it in my room! The ending of the second one is soooo good!"
"I know! I can't wait for the fourth one later this year!" The student council president exclaimed. "That and the movies of Palafin: The Pelagic Protector!"
"Guys please," Jules sighed, knowing they would launch into a conversation that could last hours. Shifter and Palafin were among the most popular movie series in Paldea as well as much of the world. "It looks so much different than a minute ago when it took off like a jet to save Rian."
"He's tired." He gently put a hand on the top of its head. "It's hard to say if it's suffering from some illness or injury." The boy's eyes scanned it over, hoping he missed something.
If this thing even is organic. The whole time I felt it was cold like it was made of metal or some carbon fiber thing. Almost like those Shifters.
"You can't tell either huh Rian?"
No. But I feel like I at least owe it to help get better since it used what little power it did have to save me from those houndour. He glanced back at the mouth of the cave. It would be perfectly fine for him to never step foot in there again, now realizing that his parents' warnings over the years had a bit of merit.
"Well, I'm really really grateful that you and Baron are back up here in one piece." Nemona said to him. "I…don't know what I'd do when I'd have to face the rest of your family knowing I lost you under my watch."
Rian fought the blush that went across his face. "It's okay…Nemona. Don't worry about it. I'm really glad you care and all."
Jules smirked when he gave a nervous chuckle after silence fell over the group. He's like that all the time when he comes across a girl he has a crush on.
"You know Rian, that battle you did down there was really something." Nemona went on to him. "I'm starting to wonder if me winning against you back at my house was a fluke. Like you really know what you're doing and both you and this pokemon were perfectly in sync against that houndoom!"
Huh? "But I didn't even say anything."
"What?! You didn't even tell it what to do? I guess that makes sense, especially since you're not exactly its trainer."
"Does it even have a trainer?" Jules had asked everyone's thoughts aloud.
If it does, then where are they? Surely a pokemon this size would've been noticed missing.
Behind them, they heard the grass rustle and turned to see the pokemon in question had rolled back on its feet.
Jules sighed with relief. "Oh that's good. It looks like it perked up a little."
"Do you think this fella's the one that made that cry and that crash sound this morning?"
"Had to be. Hardly anything around here is that unusual sounding."
Critical system functions meeting minimum operating standards. Executing offensive subroutines. Failed. Status: Calamitous. Error code: Sneasel. Hadron Engine functionality: 33%
"Oh man, oh man, oh man!" Nemona smiled. "The more I look and be around this pokemon, the more mysterious it seems! If you do become its trainer, you gotta let me battle against it!"
I'm with Jules. Does this thing even have a trainer?
"Let's go ahead and exchange numbers so that we can get in touch in case we get separated again!"
Rian blinked as all of their RotoPhones whipped out of their pockets to hover in front of their trainers. A catchy chime sounded from each as their screens flashed with a notification that a new contact was added to their list. With RotoPhones being much more advanced and smarter than others, the days of having to read off individual numbers was a thing of the past.
This might be the easiest I've gotten a girl's number. Rian thought to himself as he opened Nemona's contact information. Her profile picture made him chuckle a bit; a pose of herself giving off a two-fingered peace sign and sticking out her tongue.
Nemona laughed a little at seeing his reaction. "I know...silly selfie! But seeing how you're only going to come across stronger opponents, let me give you a little something to help!"
She reached into her backpack and handed both of them a small silver disk object that was about the size of the one they used to play games on their consoles back home.
Are these Technical Machines? The things that can teach a pokemon specific moves? Or are we going backwards?
"Technical Machines," she said as if reading their minds. "It teaches your pokemon new moves if it's compatible. Not every pokemon can learn every move. And make sure you think twice before you use them though! TMs can only be used one time."
"We can get more right?" Jules asked. Rian was next to her, examining the new item he had received. TM032 which contained Swift. Now that they were starting to collect TMs, a good investment would be in a holding case to catalogue what they'd eventually obtain.
"Si. I'll show you how later. For now, we've all been through a lot lately. Let's just relax and take a breather at the lighthouse."
"Yeah, I'd rather not waste any more time." Luz Sur was just ahead, on the top of the slope. It was even taller than he had imagined, even though he and Jules had been close to it many times when they were younger. Currently it was off since it was well in the afternoon, but the beam it shone out to sea was incredibly powerful and sometimes when they saw it cutting through the night sky like a scythe. When they were younger, the twins wondered if it could also be seen by their mother at times when she was out to sea with the Armada.
The thought of her mother gone yet again made Jules feel just a little more homesick, but she shook that thought out of her head.
Not even a day in the Academy and I'm missing home. Can't think like that.
Nemona led the way as Rian and Jules followed closely behind with Basil and Baron in tow. Occasionally some more wild lechonk and scatterbug challenged them to battles, but like before their pokemon were already strong enough to deal one or two hits to take them out.
They did encounter another pokemon, an orange and gray bird that was originally native to the Kalos region located to the north. It chirped and was nimble enough to make itself a small target and a peck struck Basil and sent him sprawling on the ground.
"Jules watch out!"
She kept her poise as Basil rolled back onto his feet and swiped at the bird with another commanded scratch, knocking it out.
"Got it." Rian's phone scanned the pokemon as the rest of the bird flock had scattered after the battle, not wanting to be the next victims.
Scanning…match found. Fletchling. Tiny robin pokemon. Normal and flying type. This pokemon is normally calm, but once it enters battle, it's hormonal and it becomes aggressive. The flocks in Paldea have large territorial disputes with squawkabilly.
"Improving even more!" Nemona said, stopping to watch. "I like it! You'll be catching pokemon left and right. Just…make sure you don't beat them outright."
"I'm trying," Rian said as his quaxly went after another lechonk. He had hit it with a single pound, which was enough to send the small pig pokemon fleeing back into the brush. "But he doesn't want to stop fighting."
As much as I like Baron wanting to get stronger and level up, I can't rely on just one pokemon.
Not even at school and the twins were already loving their new adventure. Aside from the scare of Rian nearly dying earlier, the prospect of everything in their quiet life in Cabo Poco changing for the better was exhilarating.
According to Nemona at their current pace, they'd be reaching Mesagoza by nightfall. Though if they took longer, she had said that she'd be able to get them a place to stay for the night at Los Platos, which had small hostels that were free for up to two nights to students traveling on their journeys.
"Though if we don't make it tonight, we can most certainly start tomorrow morning."
"I wonder how much Mesagoza has changed since we were last there?" Jules asked aloud. "It's been years since we've last been."
Follow mode engaged. I will stick by your side Trainer Ree-in.
Strangely, the mysterious pokemon followed them loyally close behind as they returned their pokemon. It rumbled with content as Rian and Jules gave it head scratches and Nemona stood behind, gushing at how cute the two trainers looked taking care of a pokemon that seemed awfully friendly despite its incredible power transformation just a few minutes ago. As it trudged along, they noticed that it had a fixated gaze on the Luz Sur just up ahead.
What's it wanting with a lighthouse?
As they approached, they noticed someone was staring at the door to the left of the main building that had begun to turn around to leave. He didn't pay them any attention off a quick glance, but suddenly stopped and whirled around again to face them, his glare moved towards the mysterious pokemon that accompanied them. His expression turned into a scowl.
"Why that little!"
Analyzing. Recognized. Trainer Ar-
Before any of them could react; the boy took off across the ground and stopped right in front of the mysterious pokemon, jabbing a finger at its snout. "What do you think you're doing out here?"
They all got a good look at him. He was roughly Nemona's height, maybe a little taller with a mix of flaxen and blond hair that was rather messily cut with long bangs obscuring the side of his face. His jawline tightened in a grimace as he glared at the pokemon, muttering something under his breath.
Rian was still processing the fact that the pokemon that saved him was being scrutinized that he then noticed the tailored pants and dark gray polo with the Uva Academy seal on the shoulder. Though the difference in he was also wearing the yellow gold vest that went with the school's autumn issue uniform.
Another student?
The boy stopped and must've realized he had bystanders watching. He looked back at the three dumbfounded expressions.
"I'm not talking to you guys, you can shove off."
Rian saw his sister's eyebrow twitch in venomous anger and she was about to step forward when he slowly reached out and stopped her. He'd seen it too many times at recrero where Jules would get fired up coming to the defense of someone.
"Don't sis. He isn't worth it."
Jules opened her mouth to plead her own reasoning but knew he was right.
"This pokemon saved your life!" She hissed quietly, "And this jerk thinks he can belittle it like it's a kid after meeting it for just a few seconds."
That can't be all of it. The way he looked at this pokemon means they've got some sort of history.
"Hold on," Nemona ignored the twins for a moment to regard the boy with a curious expression. A hint of recognition flashed across her face. "I know you…you're…you're Arven? You're enrolled in the humanities track at Uva Academy right?"
The Student Council President folded her arms and gave off a rare frown. "And aren't you the son of that world renowned pokemon researcher Professor Turo?"
That elicited a much more of an angered reaction from him as Arven finally acknowledged them formally for the first time rather than flippantly telling them off.
"Yeah?" He seethed with clenched fists and teeth. "Well it doesn't matter shit who my father is! Why would the student council prez who does nothing else besides battle care anyway?"
Nemona gasped, unable to muster much of a reply. If anything, Rian thought she seemed more perplexed than offended.
"The real issue here is what is this brute doing out here! And what's with this form it's in?!"
"Brute?" Off to their side, Jules couldn't help herself this time and shook her head in disbelief. "It's thanks to this thing you call a brute that my brother is alive!"
Rian nodded in agreement. "Right." He said, barely loud enough for Arven to hear them. "This guy saved me from a tight spot. Some houndour and a big houndoom in the Inlet Grotto. Y'know, the cave nobody's supposed to go into?"
"Yeah," Nemona didn't seem too down about his earlier outburst or condescending behavior. "See we heard this strange cry and went to investigate. I was taking Rian and Jules here to Uva when I heard this mysterious cry. Rian accidentally fell off the cliff. That pokemon saved him, but it got itself worn out in the process. Kinda slumpy afterward."
Arven made an unimpressed "hmph" and crossed his arms. Jules once again squashed the urge to drop some sense into him.
And I know she's probably looking to deck this asshat in the jaw with a mean right cross.
"But you totally should have seen it earlier!" Her excitement was undeniable. "It looked way different and insanely strong!"
"Well yeah. As it should be. But it can't fight like this. About time it does something with its worthless self."
Who does he think he is having the right to say that?! "Hey!" Jules shouted. "That thing is not worthless at all. You take that back right now!"
Arven huffed. "Make me."
She stormed forward just as Rian finally grabbed her backpack. He immediately knew what was going to happen. "Sis, no! Enough! Both of you!"
"Rian what the hell? You should be helping me!"
"He's not worth wasting your energy. Someone must've put mayonnaise in his morning juice today."
"Wow, real mature you." Arven's grumble meant he had heard what he said.
"Speak for yourself." Rian shot back and gestured to the creature behind them. "But there is no way I'm going to stand idle if you're going to jab this guy for saving my skin like that."
To his surprise, the boy relented. "That's fair enough."
He gestured to the violet dragon. "But again, it's not supposed to be out here. The form that Miraidon takes in battle. That's its true form."
Miraidon?
"Wait, Miraidon?" Nemona glanced at the pokemon in curiosity. "Is that this pokemon's name? And how'd you know it?"
The aptly named Miraidon whined softly, but it turned towards the building.
Objective complete. We have arrived at Luz Sur. Attempting access to interior.
"Can't go into the lab. It's locked." Arven crossed his arms and turned to the twins beside Nemona. His frown never disappeared. "The student council prez is bad enough. You two have the Uva uniform, but I've never seen either of you around anywhere. You must go to the academy too."
"Well yes," Jules said while rolling her eyes sardonically. "We were on our way like perfectly normal students and then we got swept up in what seems to be no end to your drama."
Arven ignored her jab. "Miraidon isn't just some run of the mill pokemon that any trainer can hope to command. It's special."
"How is it special?" Nemona asked him. "What kind of pokemon is it?"
Her words seemed to fall on deaf ears as Arven put his hands on his hips and scrutinized Rian and Jules again. "You guys think you're up to ordering Miraidon around? Then how about I test your worthiness?"
I don't need to order it around though. I just need people to not treat it like dirt.
To his surprise, it was Jules that stepped forward, boldly facing Arven and brandishing Basil's ball.
"Alright jerk." Her face turned dead serious. "You're on."
"Look at you, a little buddy go-getter." Arven readied a poke ball on his side. Next to his sister, Rian and Nemona exchanged a confused look.
For a journey just starting, he had to admit that it was starting to be even more eventful than he had expected.
"You better let me battle it once it goes back to that true form Arven talked about." She whispered to him and gave him a knowing wink. "Once your sister kicks this pendejo's rear."
He nodded. Deal.
Miraidon stuck to Rian's side as Arven and Jules took up opposite ends of the dirt path that would serve as their brief fighting ground. Nemona stood in as a referee despite Arven's chagrin, giving a brief layout of the rules. Each contestant uses one pokemon and the victor is declared when their opponents' pokemon has fainted and unable to battle further.
She lowered her hand after the explanation.
"Jules, you don't have to do this. Again, if he wants to pout like that, let him. He got some growing up to do."
"To hell with letting him fester," Rian knew that his sister's temper sometimes got the better of her when she saw people getting picked on. Though they hadn't really encountered any bullies in school per se, there had been a member of their peers that had found themselves on the wrong end of how quick Jules was to snap at people if she believed she or someone else she cared about was being treated wrongly. "I'm teaching this jerk a lesson whether he likes it or not!"
Not to mention I'm not going to be a pushover when it comes to battle. Right Basil?
Her poke ball throw was smoother than his as she tossed Basil out of his ball. She threw with her right hand upward, which was more or less the main technique used by trainers. Basil landed in front of her, meowing softly and hunching down to a battle ready position.
"I've been feeling all out of sorts, so I'm gonna use this battle and blast these doldrums away!" Arven patted himself on the temple and stretched before throwing a poke ball of his own in the same throwing technique as Jules.
The device burst open to reveal a small tan rodent pokemon that had two sharp front teeth and a long brown bushy tail. Rian scanned it with his phone.
Scanning…match found. Skowvet. Cheeky pokemon. Normal type. It stores berries in its cheeks and tail. When there are no berries to be found, Skwovet will stuff pebbles instead to stave off cravings.
The sound of pokemon clashing brought his thoughts out of reading from the dex app. Basil and the skwovet, which was affectionately named Gordo, already had begun to battle on their trainers' orders. Basil spun around, unleashing a small flurry of leaves that hit the squirrel midair. Gordo staggered, but Jules gasped, still a bit surprised that her opponent was still on its feet.
"These memories are leaving a bad taste in my mouth and I want them gone!"
Jules said nothing, continuing to shout orders at Basil. Rian could tell that the latest jab had gotten into her head.
"Leafage again!" She refused to back down. Basil gave another cry and spun around, flinging a handful of glowing leaves. In response, the skwovet stayed low to the ground, darting from side to side to dodge the majority of the attack.
"Gordo, tail whip and then bite!"
At his command, Gordo had flicked its tail from side to side. The movement caught Basil's eye and he stopped to watch. Jules saw a downwards cascading aura before Gordo launched himself forward, sinking his teeth into Basil's left foreleg.
Oh no. Rian could see that Gordo had let go and Basil hissed in pain as he put pressure on the bit leg. The small cat had instead shifted so more weight was on its right side.
"Basil! Are you okay?" A cry of affirmation was all she needed so he could jump back into the fight. Though the injury caused a bit of pain, Jules' own pokemon was showing its resilience. "Use scratch!"
Basil winced as he had to run forward, but he lashed out with his good leg and swiped his claws against Gordo's front. The skowvet reeled back, snapping his jaws in a bite that Basil had avoided just in time.
"That tail whip from earlier means one of Basil's stats was lowered." Nemona explained to them. "If you ever see that in battle, you have to watch out. Tail whip lowers physical defense, so Basil getting hit by something like bite again is going to take slightly more damage."
This'll probably be taught more in some battling class at the Academy.
"I'm not giving up yet." Basil struggled to his feet as Jules pointed with her hand. "Leafage!"
""Again?" Arven almost laughed. "I guess you really don't know shit about battles."
Yes. Keep thinking that jerk.
Basil launched another flurry of leaves that both Arven and Gordo saw coming. "Move out of the way and close in with another tail whip and bite!"
Jules smirked, perfect. "Move to the side and attack with scratch!"
It all happened in a flash, Basil's attack finished and he quickly jumped down as the skwovet charged forward, unflinching as the leaves fluttered past. As it stopped; Basil lunged forward himself slashing with its forepaws and much quicker than Gordo could react with his bite attack. Arven gasped as Gordo stumbled and fell headfirst into the ground.
Jules' sprigatito proudly held his head high, walking back as she saw her phone chirp with a new notification on her trainer's app. Off to the side, Miraidon revved as he observed with rapt attention.
Trainers and linked pokemon sync in combat with one another. This appears invigorating. Trainer Jul-es' combat efficiency with pokemon Basil has increased.
"Oh look at you Basil, you learned bite!"
Automatically?
"Clover is incapable of battling further! Basil wins and the match is clinched in Jules's favor!" Nemona waved her hand as part of her officiating, though it was clear who was the victor. On the other end, Arven scowled again and recalled his defeated pokemon. Though she had won, Rian did appreciate that Jules had refrained from sticking it up to him in her victory.
"Seems you actually do know a thing or two about battling." He finally said and gave an annoyed huff. "Hmph."
"That was awesome to watch!" Nemona's professional demeanor disappeared and she smiled over at Jules. "You rocked out there!"
At her side, Jules smiled at the praise as Basil ran across the field and jumped up and down in front of his trainer. He winced again at his injured paw.
"Great job Basil! You're amazing!" She scooped him up and hugged him happily as he licked his injured leg. "We're gonna be so great together!"
She won. Rian thought to himself, a little bit bittersweet that his sister seemed to be getting the hang of pokemon battles quicker than him. I'm proud of you too sis, but this Arven kid doesn't seem like he knows much more about battling either.
The boy sighed and threw his arms up after pocketing the poke ball. "Ugh. I guess I was never going to stand much of a chance with a pokemon that I caught not three days ago."
"Thank you Basil." Jules petted him playfully on the head and returned him to his own ball. "You did great out there. I'll be sure to get you fixed up!"
"Well if you really think you can take Miraidon off my hands for me, you're gonna need this." Arven took out another poke ball from his rather large backpack and tossed it towards them. Rian caught the object and stared at the worn dings and scuff marks all along the smooth red and white surface. Compared to the mint ball that Baron belonged to, this one looked as if it had seen quite a bit of use.
The other boy seemed to read the question that went across Rian's mind before he could think of it. "Yeah it's a poke ball, more specifically the one that the brute's kept in."
"Its poke ball?" Nemona asked him, her tone taking on something a bit more argumentative. "So why did you even have it? And why are you giving away a pokemon if it's that strong?"
Arven shot her another uninterested look. "Y'know, not everyone is as obsessed with pokemon battling as you. Besides," he jerked his thumb toward Rian and Jules. "That thing's now your problem. Not mine anymore. Good luck."
"Hey!" Jules and Nemona shouted at the same time, but Arven suddenly had turned tail and ran down the north trail, not bothered in the slightest in passing on the responsibility of Miraidon to him. Rian was just as astonished, looking at the direction Arven disappeared without as much of a second thought. For a few moments, he believed it to be a prank and the boy with the odd haircut would come running back to them. Instead, all he got was palpable silence. Even the talkative Nemona was at a loss of words.
"Well." He broke the silence. "He seems like a real charmer."
"Does he not hear me or what?" Nemona asked, shrugging her shoulders. A look of realization flashed across her face and she cupped her mouth with her hands.
"OYE! FINE, GO BE THAT WAY! BUT YOU BETTER ACTUALLY SHOW UP FOR SCHOOL!"
Rian and Jules almost flinched at her shout and furrowed their eyebrows.
"You know him too?"
"I think so. Arven…uh…sometimes didn't show up to his classes. He's kinda a weirdo. Interesting considering he's Professor Turo's son."
"Turo?" Jules asked, a bit of curiosity in her voice. "I swear I've heard that name before."
"Yeah. Nestor Turo, the world famous pokemon researcher from Paldea. He's actually a graduate from Uva Academy as well." Nemona put her hands on her hips, still not fully over Arven's flippant behavior. "That Arven guy knows a lot more than what he's letting on for sure. Next time he and I battle, I'm wringing some answers out of him!"
Miraidon glanced back at the path Arven had run down before it made a soft whine and ambled over to Rian, who still held its ball.
"Heh!" The boy laughed when its long neck softly nuzzled him on the chin. He was amazed that such a powerful pokemon was this playful and approachable just several minutes later. "It's gonna be okay buddy. We'll get you checked out and back to that awesome battle form in no time at all!"
Your encouragement and positive attitude can only improve our situation. With Trainer Arven relinquishing possession of my poke ball and an establishment of Protocol One, I am obligated as a pokemon under your possession Trainer Ree-in.
Accessing Paldea La Liga Trainer database files. Match found. Florian Joaquim Almeida-Araújo. Age, sixteen years. Trainer Rank: Novice. Elder twin brother to Juliana Renata Almeida-Araújo. Age, also sixteen years. Trainer Rank: Novice.
Possible nickname? Ree-in derived from latter half of Florian's name. Rian. Name corrected.
Possible nickname? Jules derived from former half of Juliana's name. Jul-es…one word. Name corrected.
Saving Rian and Jules spelling and pronunciation for Trainer preference.
Accessing Paldea La Liga Trainer database files. Match found. Nemona Valerie Ozuna-Gurrerro. Age, eighteen years. Trainer Rank: Champion.
With its designations complete, Miraidon whined softly while maintaining closeness to the twins.
Still though. Rian thought to himself. If Miraidon is such a powerful pokemon, why doesn't Arven want it? Or rather me? I barely just started out as a trainer and now I guess I have this robot cyclizar looking thing as my own responsibility. It can't battle, at least not in this state.
"Thanks buddy. Back to your ball." Rian hit the return function and Miraidon was recalled inside. He slipped it onto his belt, but thought for a second and instead put it in a small pocket in the side of his backpack.
"Hey Nemona, uh if I have Miraidon and it can't battle…does it count as a pokemon in my party? Or can I have that maximum of six and still keep it?"
The class president cupped her chin in thought. No doubt she was still thinking about the cryptic encounter with Arven. "Hmm. Honestly, that might be something you'd have to take up with La Liga. If we can get that pokemon to its battling form like in that cave, then I'd imagine Miraidon would take up a spot on your team's roster. Otherwise, if it's like a companion…assuming that's what it is, I don't think so?"
"Like what?" Jules asked. They'd discuss it later, but considering Miraidon was bonding with both twins, her brother would be the primary caretaker as the one to hold onto its poke ball.
"Probably some special paperwork. Forms that give you permission to carry a seventh pokemon on hand. It's complicated and sometimes it takes weeks for it to get pushed through."
"I'm with you Nemona," Jules softly said as her hand clenched into a fist. "That Arven guy is a jerk for leaving and shoving Miraidon and all its problems on us like that. I'm gonna give him a piece of my mind next time I see him."
"Uh sis, let's not go there." Rian said. "Guy like that had made up his mind long before he ran into any of us. Though I agree with Nemona, there's definitely more to Arven and Miraidon's history than he was letting on."
And like you sis, I intend to find out what.
He looked up at the afternoon sky and then the clock on his Rotophone; it was starting to get closer to the evening and he found his stomach starting to rumble from having not eaten for a bit.
"But let's just focus on getting to the Academy or at least Los Platos, where we can get a bed. Didn't you say that it would take a few hours to get to Mesagoza anyway?"
"Depends on how fast you walk. Or if you want to stop and smell the roses. I remember doing that when I first started my own journey."
Jules rubbed her arms. "Sounds good. Let's do that and take our time."
"I have to get you to Mesagoza by tomorrow," Nemona told them. "The school year's opening assembly is the day after and classes will start next week. Not to mention a ton of other things."
She spun around to face Luz Sur, "But there is one thing I want to show you before we start heading out. Come follow me to the top."
Rian and Jules had never been there before, but they waited until Nemona had disappeared up Luz Sur's ladder before following.
Whew. Chapter done! The plan from here is to take a bit of a step back and focus on A Hui Hou Kākou for a little bit on getting a very important champion battle. Next update for this one might be a little while longer before I get it out. Appreciate everyone's patience!
Logged 'Dex entries: Yungoos, Houndoom, Fletchling & Skwovet
Spanish Translations
Aguas! - Watch out! While it literally also means "water" Aguas can also be referred to warn of potential danger.
Recrero - Recess
Pendejo - Idiot
Stay tuned for the next update! As always, thank you for reading and reviewing. You give my writing purpose.
Brav