Chapter 17

Route 44, East of Mahogany Town

"Aww, who's my good little man!"

"Swi! Swi!"

"That's right!" I kneel down to let Junior push himself into my hand. "It's you! You're the one!" Swinub wiggles himself back and forth, an endless ball of nuzzling zoomy energy. Baby Pokémon have always been susceptible to praise, but Junior seems to be a rather extreme case of it. It almost reminds me of owning a Golden Retriever again.

Swinub: Lv. 14
Nature: Jolly
Potential: A-

There's a sigh from Ace Trainer Cybil as she recalls her downed Mareep. Also a recent capture. Probably came from that same Route where I saw the Flaaffy the other day. "Well that went about as well as I expected..." she mutters a bit under her breath and I throw her a great look of thanks.

We didn't have to send out our two youngest to duke it out first. That was a request on my part. A bit of an unfair one since we both knew I was going into it with a type-advantage. Still though, she honored it like a good sport. Swinub now has his first win in a proper battle and her electric sheep has its first loss.

By Cybil's own admission, Mareep was starting to get a big head from all the Spearow and Poliwag she was having it bully around here.

"So," My impromptu travel buddy continues. "Now that that's done with, are we gonna battle for real or what?"

"Bell! Bellossom!" her companion chimes in from her shoulder. An impatient little cry that could almost be described as 'haughty'.

Bellossom: Lv. 30
Nature: Hasty
Potential: B

That's how Cybil and I met you see. Two trainers traveling the same Route, both with a Pokèmon perched on their shoulder -Vlad on mine, 'Maple' on hers- it only made sense to say hello.

"Yeah sure," I return Swinub back to his ball and let my hand rest atop Krokorok's. "On count of three then?"

Cybil grins viciously. "Who even needs to count?" her arm spins out. "Dance on the wind! Go, Butterfree!"

Ice Path, Under the Blackthorn Mountains

Ho-ly fuck is it cold in here!

Like goddamn, I'm even wearing three layers and everything!

A pair of Sneasel peek out from behind a crystal and seem to chitter to themselves. A Dark glint enters their eye and it's only an audible growl from Ma Ma that sends the duo scurrying away. Off to find a softer target to harass I imagine.

To be completely technical about it, this isn't the only route available when attempting to travel to Blackthorn City. There's a Flying service that'll take you over the mountains from Route 44, but they positively charge out the nose for it. In a way that's not even subtle about you being price gouged.

'I did it once a year ago. Not three or four weeks after I first got here. Never again. Those pricks aren't swindling me a second time. Never again.'

Alternatively, you could also choose to approach from the south. Go all the way down to Route 29 just outside New Bark Town and start climbing. An absolute slog uphill through Routes 46 and then 45. You could cut some of that out if you choose to shortcut through Dark Cave east of Violet City but…that's not exactly a pleasure trip either.

In addition to ruining your shoes with all the Zubat poop, it's also the location where I captured Ma Ma. And while that might mean I'm more protected than most from all the hostile critters who live there, that still leaves the fact that the place is an absolute nightmare to navigate.

As unimaginative as the name 'Dark Cave' is, it's certainly not an inappropriate descriptor.

A deep shiver passes through me as the chill seems to cut straight through my clothes. I think I might be experiencing the first wholly negative aspect of being an aura user. Or more specifically a Ground aligned one. The walls, the floor, the very air of this place is laced with Ice energy. So much so that Vlad demanded to go back in his ball after the first few minutes of it. Behavior that, if you've paid attention to how much I've said he prefers not being in there, is most unusual.

'This shit can't be natural.' I loose a hot breath into my hands and rub my palms together as we march, trying to get some warmth back into my fingers. 'Water and Grass are Super-effective against Ground too, but I've never had any problems going swimming. Never felt a thing from laying down in a meadow and taking a breather.'

So what makes this place different? Why is this place so charged with type-energy when other places are not? Is it an accumulation of centuries of Ice attacks never melting? Was this cave the home of a Regice in ancient times? There has to be some explanation. Aura hotspots -coldspots?- don't just come into being without a reason. There's always an origin.

Ma Ma's paw blocks my path as she suddenly tenses up. Her nose sniffs at the air twice and her teeth bare as something approaches.

"What is it girl? We got trouble inbound?"

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"...nx...ynx..."

A gaggle of Jynx -four of them to be precise- all round the corner up ahead and seem to be engrossed in a deep conversation. "Jynx! Jy Jynx!" The second one from the left is telling some story, wild hand gestures and everything, whilst the other three are laughing it up like a group of gossiping housewives all out at brunch.

Ma Ma announces herself. A deep rumbling of the throat that anyone with good sense knows to steer clear of. At the sound the bevy of ladies all freeze up…and then slowly swivel in our direction with panicked eyes. When the queen grizzly then takes a threatening step forward the girls scatter. Flailing over themselves in their haste to get away as fast as -well not as humanly possible- but you get the idea.

The last one even faceplants for a moment. Tripping over a floor crystal in their hurry.

Despite my teeth chattering, I do manage to loose a chuckle at the scene. "Nice work Ma Ma. Though you don't need to be so aggressive to everyone that-"

A flipper touches my hand. "HOLY JEEZUZ!" I nearly spring out of my clothes as Ma Ma wheels around to attack. Her swipe -fully empowered and shining with Normal energy- travels down fast before pausing just inches before hitting the face of an innocent-looking Delibird that's staring up at us.

'How in the fuck- How did it sneak up on us!?'

"Deli?" The Ice/Flying type tilts his head past the claw, seemingly totally oblivious to the fact it almost just got maimed. "Deli!" He brings his bundled up tail to the forefront and begins rifling through it like a bag, seemingly looking for something in particular.

"Del!" The little two-foot Pokémon hops up to slap something into Ma Ma's paw, a bulbous purple thing covered in -Oh it's a Wiki Berry, that's kinda rare for Johto- , and for the first time since I've known her…my Ursaring seems unsure of how to proceed.

"Urs?" A confused 'thank you?' rumbles over her lips and the Delibird tweets to himself with a satisfied chirp. Turning then to me, the Pokémon rummages through his white sack again 'Still can hardly believe it's actually his tail' and then proudly presents to me…a dusty grey rock.

"Oh, uhh…thanks I guess?" I manage to speak, accepting the item with a weak smile. 'Would it be weird to make a Charlie Brown reference?' "Do...do you want something from us in exchange?" I offer for lack of anything better to say. "I might have some Berries in my bag?"

"Del Del, Delibird." The festive Pokémon waves me off with a cheerful chirp. Smiling at us that such things don't matter. 'Ah ok then. I guess it really is just a gift.' Ma Ma and I watch a little dumbfounded as the strange bird tucks the opening of its bag under its arm and then begins to waddle off. A little spring in its step as it wanders back into the cavern.

"Ursa?" Ma Ma turns to me confused, holding the Wiki Berry out with a question of what she's supposed to do with it.

"Give it a bite I suppose." I eventually say. "Some Pokémon don't like their flavor. Not sweet enough. But, hey! At least you got something edible. All he gave me was this-" My words pause as something tweaks my senses about the item I'm holding.

A twinge of my aura.

Giving it a dust off, a few brushes of my gloved fingers, I can see the underside actually shines a bit in the light. The rock isn't…holding energy or anything. At least not in the conventional way. With things like evolution stones you can almost feel the power in your hand. This is slightly different.

I clean it up a little more and my eyes widen.

This isn't a rock.

Not a stone either.

This is a Razor Claw.

The Held Item used to evolve Sneasel into Weaville.

'Where in the hell-? Not even Lori's had the time to hunt down-?' "Hey! Where did you get-" I call out to the Delibird but it's far too late for that. The Christmas themed bird has already turned a corner and disappeared completely. No sign of it all among the glittering crystals that make up the cave.

'Did...did I just get visited by penguin Santa?'

What even is this world sometimes?

Blackthorn City

Oh sweet sunlight! The life giver! How I missed thee!

Would it be too much to drop and kiss the ground? That'd probably be too much right?

Shedding my winter gear, I take a moment just to bask in the sun's rays, feeling all that lingering chill of the Ice energy melt away.

I have two main goals while I'm here in Blackthorn. They could be done in either order though I think I might try and accomplish the second one first.

Goal #1: Defeat Clair and obtain the Rising Badge. Since it'll only be my sixth, we might get lucky and not even have to face her Kingdra. Though I'm confident my team can handle it even if we do.

Goal #2: Find a Razor Fang.

Not 'look' for one. Not 'keep my eyes open'. Not 'well I gave it the old college try' and then push it off for later. No. We are staying until it's done.

This mountain range is the singular habitat for Gligar in Indigo. There is literally nowhere else that they live. Fourteen months ago this is where I caught Vlad and back then we were both too inexperienced -too green- to go out exploring the entire area proper.

If that Delibird can randomly pick up a Razor Claw then I can find the Fang. The occurrence of one being present in the wild all but confirms the existence of the other.

I just have to find one.

And it doesn't matter to me if I have to scale every cliffside into the clouds to do it. Vlad has been working as the backbone of my party for over a year now. Training up the youngin's. Handling fights I couldn't trust to others. Having my back when things got dicey. I owe him that evolution.

Walking into town I find that the usually tranquil scenery is in a bit of an uproar at the moment. The Blackthorn I remember from a year ago was quiet. Serene almost. What one would expect from a settlement who's situated up in the mountains. Right now though there seems to be a ruckus. Whole crowds of trainers -both old and young- are crowding into the Pokémon Center, trying to push themselves to the front.

"Move it!/I wanna see!Get outta the way!/Shove off grandpa!/Please everyone! Settle down!"

Heh. I think that last one might be the Nurse Joy who's on duty. Poor girl. Making my way to the back of the crowd I grab the attention of a local who's doing his best to frantically peer over someone's head. "Hey man, what's all the commotion about? Someone fish up a shiny Dratini or something?"

He turns to me with a wide look. "Didn't you hear! Prof. Oak just published an article about some new Pokémon evolutions! They're saying it's related to that news about Piloswine from two weeks ago! It just hit the Net twenty minutes ago!"

I let the man go and raise an impressed eyebrow at the news. 'Hot damn. Already? Shit that was fast. I figured people would figure it out quick, but I didn't think it would be that quick. Make a mental note to never underestimate a Pokémon Professor I guess.' Mixing myself into the crowd, I stand around patiently waiting for the herd to thin a bit. Very slowly moving towards the front as individuals cycle in and out of the building.

'I wonder which one they figured out first? The Tangela or the Yanma? I'm curious to see if it was entirely Oak and his people or maybe someone else who put the pieces together?'

Getting a little closer to one of the Poké Net computers, I catch a brief glance of a picture and get an answer to my question. Two Tangrowth in the Celadon City Gym high-fiving each other with their eyes turned up in a smile. In front of the two bulky Grass-types is Gym Leader Erika and…some other woman who I can't say I'm familiar with. Probably one of her Gym Trainers or something.

Erika is beaming at the camera, joy and pride blooming across her features while her subordinate is… so embarrassed that it's kind of adorable to look at. Hands folded in front of her, posture all rigid and face so red you almost expect steam to issue from her ears. It's down right precious. Makes me want to reach through the screen just to tease her.

The person manning the terminal exits out of the screenshot and begins scrolling down through the article again. There's a flash of another photo, one with two trainers - one with long red-hair and the other blue - and I shake my head in a double-take. "Hey! Hey! Scroll back up!"

My voice doesn't reach them -not that I'm surprised what with everyone around us still jabbering on excitedly- and I start being a little more forceful in pushing my way to the front. I make it to just behind one of the three computers and soak in the text of the digital screen.

Pokémon Discovered to evolve from Ancient Power

-Piloswine - Mamoswine (Credit: Gym Leader Pryce and Ex-Gym Trainer Bradley.)

-Yanma - Yanmega (Credit: Bug Catcher brothers Chaz and Andrew.)

-Tangela - Tangrowth (Credit: Gym Leader Erika and Poké Lass Bridget.)

-Arbok - Adnokana (Credit: Poké Fan Club Members Jessidaia and Jackson.)

My mouth falls slightly open at the last line. "...what?" I whispered out.

Forcing my way through the remaining crowd I -more than a bit rudely- snatch hold of the mouse and furiously double-click the hyperlink next to the last entry in the list. Immediately the screen is overtaken by a photograph of Jessie, James, and Meowth -all poorly disguised per usual- standing sheepishly in front of a Poison/Dark type that all my cheater cheat mccheat face meta knowledge rather adamantly says shouldn't exist.

"...what?" I breathed again.

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No seriously,

W h a t?