Pokemon: Virus Version
Hey guys, so Chapter 12 is here a day early. Now this chapter is pretty long and a lot of events will happen that will affect Seth's development these next few chapters. Now I really don't like depending on canon characters for my stories, but I decided to add a canon character anyway as a treat. Canon characters will only be a once in a while thing with the exception of Wes, Rui, and the gym leaders. So that's all I need to say. Enjoy and please be sure to review and let me know how I did.
Chapter 12: Deception
Seth's POV
The epitome of deception had met my eyes. The leader of these pokemon was a rather short pokemon with two black bangs. It also had a set of black jaws on it's head. I scanned the pokemon on my pokedex.
The pokemon read: Mawile, the Deciever Pokemon: Mawile uses it's docile-looking face to lull foes into complacency, then bites with it's huge, relentless jaws.
"So, may we proceed?" I asked calmly.
"Maw Mawile Maw," Mawile cried.
My facial expression had a huge question mark written all over it.
"I translate what she says," Slowking said.
I simply nodded.
"You see, a few years ago, a trainer who traveled the Johto Region once vetured in this cave. He carved a path in which trainers can come and go as they please. Trainers were free of obstacles, but being able to wander further in the deep, Dark Cave also meant that more trainers would lose their way. A few weeks ago, the first missing case was reported. The trainer had entered through the other side of Dark Cave, and when he lost his way, he sent out some of his newly caught Dragon Type Pokemon to cover more searching area. When the trainer mysteriously disappeared, the Dragon Type Pokemon had nowhere else to go, so they started to inhabit Dark Cave. Those Dragon Types attracted more Dragon Types, and soon, Dragon Types became a majority population in this cave. These Dragon Types came from Blackthorn City, located just outside the other side of Dark Cave." Slowking translated in a lengthy story.
"But Dragon Types still don't solve why so many trainers have went missing," I said.
" Chico Chico," Chikorita was crying as if she had an idea.
"Chikorita says 'then we'll just find the trainers'," Slowking translated.
"Why don't you just let it be?" I said to Chikorita.
Chikorita turned her head away from me in disagreement. That moment was the beginning, of what I felt, Chikorita and I drifting apart. We had never disagreed on anything before.
"Ugh, come on! This has nothing to do with us!" I yelled as Chikorita and I both grew frustrated.
"But you don't even know if Mawile will say yes or no," Slowking said.
"Mawile," Mawile cried as she nodded yes to Chikorita. Mawile then gestured as if she wants Chikorita to follow her.
Chikorita turned her back and followed Mawile along with the Graveler, Marshtomp, and Skarmory. Even Slowking followed Mawile.
"Hmph, I'll do it for you, Chikorita," I said to myself as I followed everyone.
We had entered Dark Cave. I guess Dark Cave really does live up to it's reputation. It was pitch black in here.
"No worries, Flash shall solve this problem," Slowking said as he used Flash.
Slowking and I were still behind all of the other pokemon.
"So why are you here?" I asked Slowking calmly.
"I am a traveler, just like you," Slowking said.
"Huh?" I said confused.
I didn't want to sound like an idiot because pokemon travel without humans all the time. So I did what I do best: act like I have no heart.
"I do have a trainer, whom I'm sure you'll be battling in the near future," Slowking said assuring himself. "I'm also sure this won't be the last time we cross paths before then."
"So, who is your trainer?" I asked calmly.
"Now I wouldn't want to spoil a surprise," Slowking said.
I gave no reply. Slowking and I both went silent as we faced foward. The other pokemon were still aheadof us when Slowking spoke again.
"You should apologize to her," Slowking said referring to Chikorita.
"Did I hurt her?" I asked.
"You really have no clue about others' feelings," Slowking said calmly.
What exactly did I do? Was Chikorita frustrated because of me? Or was I frustrated because of Chikorita? Our goal of becoming stronger on this adventure became a mere sidequest with all the problems that must be solved today. I thought Chikorita and I were supposed to come closer together in our relations, but we're only drifting apart as our frustration is setting in. I remained quiet, deep into my thoughts yet again...
After thirty minutes of walking, we had all approached a lake bed and stopped to take a break.
"Why stop here?" I asked Slowking.
"You know, you voice is rather deep for someone so young," Slowking said.
I said nothing.
"This lake bed separates Dark Cave into two halve. The other half on the other side of the lake bed is inhabited by the Dragon Types. That half also leads to Blackthorn City on the outside," Slowking said.
I nodded, implying that I understood.
"You know, you're an awful quiet one," Slowking said.
"So Dark Cave is basically a shortcut between Cherrygrove and Blackthorn?" I asked.
"Correct," Slowking said.
"Maw Maw Mawile," Mawile said as she approached me.
Mawile then opened her hand and revealed a Rare Candy.
"She says 'take it because you're gonna need it. Think of it as a thank you for agreeing to help us search for the missing trainers'." Slowking said.
I then walked up to Chikorita, standing alone by the lake.
"Mission accomplished," I said calmly as I showed her the Rare Candy.
"Chico." Chikorita cried as she turned her head away from me.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
Chikorita then walked ahead of me without a reply.
"What's wrong with her?" I asked myself.
"I'll give you a familiar hint: You need to apologize!" Slowking yelled as he and Mawile approached me from behind.
I'll asked myself again: What did I do to Chikorita? Was I supposed to feel guilty about something? I then looked ahead and realized the Gravelers, Marshtomps, and Skarmory have disappeared.
"Where's everyone else?" I asked.
"They were here just a minute ago," Slowking said.
"Maw Mawile," Mawile cried as she looked around.
"It's likes a game of hide and seek. Except you never find who's hiding," A voice said, coming toward us from the other side of the lake bed.
I looked at the man and instantly prepared the rest of my pokemon for battle. The man wore the same uniform 25 wore. This man was a member of Team Neo Snagem.
"Codename: 24. And this game has finally gotten boring after weeks of scouting this cave," 24 said.
This guy is talking as if life all together is a video game. Well, if you play as Ethan, life probably IS a game. But I remembered 24 mentioning hide and seek. I realized 24 was hiding the missing trainers.
"Where are all the pokemon and trainers?" Slowking asked.
24 then rushed over and grabbed Chikorita, who'd just crossed to the other side of the lake bed.
"You'll just have to follow this game's objective : Don't lose sight of a fleeing 24," 24 said as he started to make a run for it with Chikorita.
Slowking, Mawile, and I all followed 24's gaming objective closely. After a small distance, a group of Dragon Type pokemon that resided on the other side of the cave had ambushed us. There were four medium sized green and black dragons, and Gible who were waiting for us because they tried to attack 24 a well, but missed. We were all hit by Gible's Flamethrower attack and blacked out.
When I came to, Mawile, Slowking, and I were - okay? What just happened? We were back at the lake bed.
"If you're finally awake, can we go rescue everyone now?" a female voice said.
"Mawile?" Mawile cried confused.
We all stood up. I looked around and saw the four green and black dragons sitting on the ground. I also looked at a girl who looked to be ten year's old. She had brown eyes and brown skin. She had long, brown hair with two giant pigtails. She wore a white long sleeve shirt and white leggings.
"Who are you?" Slowking asked the girl.
"I'm Iris, Dragon Master in training. I'm here because their were rumors in Blackthorn City about trainers and pokemon disappearing. So that guy you were chasing-" Iris said
"-24?" I said.
"Yeah, he took my Axew, so I'm here with these Fraxure and Gible to rescue Axew and the other pokemon and trainers as well." Iris said.
"Maw Maw Mawile Maw ?" Mawile asked.
"She says ' so you know where they are?'" Slowking translated.
"No, but the Fraxure and Gible do," Iris said.
"Hmph," I said as I held up a pokeball. "Elekid, battle stane!"
Elekid was called from his pokeball.
"Wait, what are you thinking?" Iris asked in an annoyed tone.
"That Gible knocked out a Mawile, a Slowking, and a human using just Flamethrower. I can't pass up the chance to capture a pokemon capacle of THAT kind of damage. I went on this adventure to get stronger, and capturing Gble is where getting stronger starts," I said.
"You're coming at this like such a little kid," Iris said with a smirk.
I simply closed my eyes. "Hmph. Elekid, go!"
"El," Elekid cried.
"Electric type moves won't work on Gible. We'll see what he tries," Slowking said.
"Now, Brick Break," I said as Elekid charged to Gible.
Gible quickly launched Flamethrower. Elekid was hit and Brick Break was cancelled out. Gible then chargerd straight for Elekid and struck it with Slash. After Gible made contact with Elekid, static quickly surrounded Gible as it became unable to move.
"On the first hit too," I said with a smirk.
"Gible was just paralyzed by Static, right?" Iris asked.
"Indeed. Seth knew he couldn't paralyze Gible with an Electric Type attack, so he worked his way around that physic to give himself in advantage," Slowking said.
"Mawile," Mawile cried as she nodded in agreement.
"Now Brick Break," I said.
Gible was paralyzed and couldn't dogde or counter. This time, Elekid's Brick Break landed. But something weird happened when Elekid made contact with Gible. Elekid actually took damage.
"Uh, what just happened?" Iris asked with a curious look.
"Rough Skin, and ability of Gible's that damages an opponent the makes physical contact," Slowking said.
"Like that did anything at all, Brick Break again," I said as Elekid landed a second consecutive Brick Break, hurting himself in the process due to Rough Skin.
"Brick Break, one more time," I said.
Hmph, Elekid's stronger than I remember. I guess father time's gift to him is power.
"Now, Pokeball, grab it," I said as I threw a pokeball.
After rolling a few times, the pokeball clicked shut. I simply walked up and grabbed my newly caught pokemon.
"Man, are you the quiet one. You could at least do a celebration or a cool pose saying 'I got a pokemon!' , but nothing," Iris said.
I then turned to Elekid.
"Not bad, Elekid," I said calmly.
Elekid knew I could trust him even with a type disadvantage. Tha's how well I could relate to Elekid after the years we've spent together. But that's when it hit me. If I could establish the same connection with Chikorita as the one I have with Elekid, I could understand why Chikorita was upset with me. I had hyped going on an adventure to get stronger with Chikorita, only to turn her away when I disagreed initially about going in Dark Cave. But Chikorita didn't back down, just like in her battle against Noah. My frustration had gotten the best of me, and I had abandoned Chikorita when she needed me most. I realized Chikorita had been mad at me because I had given up on her. I had to rescue her from 24. I had to apologize to her so we could get stronger together.
"The Fraxure will lead us to where 24 is hiding the missing pokemon and trainers," Iris said as she followed the four Fraxure.
I recalled Elekid as Slowking, Mawile, and I all followed.
After about twenty minutes of walking, we had approached the end of Dark Cave as a scene of the exit was approached. But as we neared the exit...
"This game blows now. I might as well give you everyone who went game over," 24 said as he entered the cave through the exit.
"What are you talking about?" Iris asked.
"Maw Mawile?" Mawile cried.
"She asks 'would you happen to be talking about all the trainers and pokemon you've captured?'" Slowking translated.
"Alright, I'll tell you. There's a giant boulder to your right, Slowking. If any of you have learned Rock Smash by now, then smashing the boulder should be no problem," 24 said.
"Why are you helping us rescue those you've captured?" Iris asked.
"We were forcefully recruiting the captured to be members of Team Neo Snagem. But so few passed. Those who went game over are on the other side of that boulder. Those who leveled up are with Neo Snagem now, like this sucker right here," 24 said as he held up a pokeball.
"Go," 24 had sent out the Skarmory that had went missing.
We were shocked.
"You snagged Skarmory?" I asked.
24 nodded yes. "It's about time you flew me elsewhere," 24 said as he and Skarmory took off in the distant sky just outside of the cave.
"Hey, wait," I said as I attempted to run after 24.
24 got away, but when I exited the cave, I had caught sight of Blackthorn City just about a mile away.
"Wait! We need to save the others first, Seth," Slowking said as he stopped me.
"I nodded in agreement as I reentered the cave.
"Frax Fraxure Fraxure," Fraxure cried.
"It said 'the Gible you just caught know Rock Smash'," Slowking translated.
"Kay. Gible use Rock Smash," I said as I sent out Gible.
Gible had disintegrated the huge boulder. Behing the boulder was a chamber crowded with trainers and pokemon. There was food there so 24 made sure not to let them starve. The Marshtomp and Graveler were the first to exit the chamber. The a green pokemon with huge tusks came out. It looked alot like Fraxure, but smaller.
"Oh Axew, it's so good to see you," Iris said as Axew jumped into her hair. I didn't pay no mind to that weird feature though.
So after everyone cleared the chamber, we all headed toward the Blackthorn City Pokemon Center to regroup.
Location: Blackthorn City Pokemon Center
A parade of trainers and pokemon were at the Pokemon Center. I attempted to go to the Blackthorn Gym to power up my pokemon, but Iris insisted not because the Gym Leader was more powerful than ever. So I called Yumi and Althaea, letting them know I was in Blackthorn City. Slowking, Mawile, and Iris all approached me like they were expecting me to do something.
"What's with you guys?" I asked calmly.
"Chikorita just got healed and is now in the lobby. You've got some apologizing to do." Slowking said.
I then approached Chikorita, who was staring out a window into the distance. She looked at me with an indifferent facial expression.
"Uh, I don't know what to say. I shouldn't have aboandoned you when you needed me most," I said.
"Chico," Chikorita said blissfully.
"I guess that's Seth's way of apologizing," Iris said.
"Mawile," Mawile cried in agreement.
I didn't want to get too cozy with Chikorita, so I changed the subject, holding out the Rare Candy Mawile had given me. Chikorita stared the Rare Candy for a split seconde, before swallowing it whole.
"Umm, was she supposed to eat the Rare Candy with the wrapper still on it?" Iris asked.
"No one said she wasn't," I replied.
After eating the Rare Candy, Chikorita was full of energy. She jumped into my arms. I could tell she instantly got stronger because she forced me into Mawile, whose Maw stopped me from falling on the floor.
I finally noticed the look on Mawile's face when I turned around. Mawile looked depressed.
"What wrong, Mawile?" Iris asked.
"Well, she told me that she was beginning to question her ability in the leadership role. Mawile has only been leader of Dark Cave for a short time. And in that time, the half the cave had been taken over by Dragon Type Pokemon, the cave developed a fearsome reputation for trainers going missing, and her friend, Skarmory was recently captured because she wasn't a very good leader. So Mawile is deciding to step down as leader and go on her own journey to become stronger. Which is why she wishes to go with you, Seth, in you don't mind." Slowking translated.
"Wow Seth, today's your lucky day. You have a chance to capture you second pokemon in the same day," Iris said.
I actually didn't hesitate to accept because Mawile has the exact same goal as Chikorita and I. Before I answered to Mawile she grabbed my Pokeball and intented for me to catch her.
"I thought pokemon would rather be free than to forcefully travel with humans," I said.
"With different pokemon come different state of minds. Some pokemon enjoy companionship and traveling the world with people," Slowking said.
"Are you sure this is what you want?" I asked Mawile.
Mawile nodded yes. But before I caught Mawile, she went to tell the Graveler and Marshtomp her announcement. After I caught Mawile, we all said our goodbyes to the pokemon and back to Dark Cave.
We said our goodbyes to Slowking...for now because Slowking seemed pretty sure we'd meet again.
Location: Pokemon Center near Dark Cave entrance
We were back to where our adventure started, and I had told Yumi and Althaea everything that happened.
"Whaaat?! You went and caught even more pokemon without me?!" Yumi asked abnormally loud like always.
"Yumi, just let it be. Aren't you glad for Seth?" Althaea asked.
"Well when our journey first started, I promised Seth I'd help him capture his first pokemon. But he caught all his pokemon while I wasn't even with him," Yumi said.
Yumi then smiled. "Well, we needa break form all these Seth episodes. Next episode will be about me, the Princess of Pokemon, just you wait," Yumi said as she started rambling, annoying as ever.
So, what else do I have to say. It was a long day. I don't know if I should call myself a hero for rescuing everyone. I honestly couldn't care less how people view me. But some of my frustration is still with me because I couldn't defeat 24. I wonder if I'll even see 24 again, and how many people and pokemon he recruited for Team Neo Snagem. I know these questions will solve themselves in the near future.
To Be Continued..
So Seth has two new Pokemon. Seth had also gotten stronger through his adventure, along with Chikorita. Iris made a special appearance in this chapter and will appear again when Seth returns to Blackthorn City. Ethan's actions 5 years ago have already started to take it's toll on the first of many features in Jhoto. 24 and Slowking are sure to cross paths with Seth again. Mawile shares the same goal as Seth and Chikorita, and Gible is sure to be a powerhouse if it's Flamethrower is capable of major damage. Yumi partially spoiled the focus of the next chapter when she broke the fourth wall. So stay tuned and be sure to write a review telling me how I did.