Pokemon Virus Version Chapter 43: Disappointment
Okay, so all I have to say is Chapter 43 is here early, and the Bug Catching Contest is finally here.
Seth's POV
Location: Ship to Lily of the Valley Conference
"Tell me Zero, what does disappointment feel like?" I asked.
The two of us were alone on the ship's outside. Rosen was also on board the ship, while Flora remained in Sunnyshore, of course she never really leaves the villa during the day.
In the middle of the night, my brother was just out here to ease the stress that's gotten to him on such a bad day.
Back in Sunnyshore, Zero was quite upset with how Volkner was just leaving badges for trainers to take. Sure because of this, Zero had all eight of his badges weeks earlier than most trainers, but was Volkner really THAT bored with battling inept trainers?
And to top that off, Zero also lost a high stakes battle today in a 'winner gets the first chance to capture the wild pokemon'. A high level Gastrodon was on the line as Zero and his Lucario were completely overwhelmed by a Staraptor under the ownership of some trainer named Reggie, who was also on his way to the Lily of the Valley Conference.
"Disappointment..." Zero starred at his 'free' badge, while I looked at the wild Murkrow passing by in the distance. "Disappointment is when something doesn't go the way you want, and you more than likely just want the day to be over."
Zero clenched the Beacon Badge tightly.
"But for me, the day is always far from over." Zero started. "Even after tomorrow comes and goes, people will always see me as a guy who has to live of to the name of a Rosen who isn't even my real father. I don't have any problems with Rosen, but I often wonder about the expectations people would have for me if I was still with my real father, Atticus."
"Atticus?" I questioned flatly.
"Our Mother's former husband, before she met Rosen." Zero replied. "After she and Atticus split, I never heard from Atticus again."
"Don't you think I'm a bit young to know all this?" I asked calmly.
"Please, sometimes I forget I'M the older brother with the way you act." My brother let out a slight chuckle, but soon after he spoke after a moment of silence. "...After the Pokemon League, I'll only be home for a short time. It's just, I've decided that I'll go on one more journey, in search of my real father, Atticus."
This would be the last night Zero ever acknowledged Rosen as his real father...
Location: National Park Pokemon Center
My goal to destroy Team Neo Snagem remained in tact after Wes refused to reveal our 'common enemy' due to our lack of power.
But today was the day of National Park's Bug Catching Contest. I assumed that both Noah and Dustin would also be participating in the contest, given their appearances yesterday. I believed Wes, Lance, Naoko, and Whitney were all on their way out of here, without any further reasons to remain at National Park.
I was in the lobby of the Pokemon Center at about 6:00 AM. The lobby was near empty, with few people up and about this early in the morning. I was only accompanied by Chikorita, who was on my shoulder, and a Mawile who was still outside of her pokeball, not leaving me alone for reasons I'm not sure of.
"Wile! Mawile!" Mawile wouldn't stop crying.
"What is it?" I asked.
"Mawile just wants your attention." I was approached by Chapel.
"Hmm." I simply started outside of the Pokemon Center, but that wouldn't stop Mawile from bothering me.
"You may not know it Seth, but you have quite the stubborn streak when refusing to showing affection." Chapel giggled.
I looked at Mawile, and then back at Chapel. "Chapel, for me, showing any emotion at all is a sign of weakness. This journey has been just one battlefield after another. I only wish I could remain with little or no emotion at this point."
Chapel paused for a moment, while an upset Mawile's shoulders drooped.
After her brief pause, Chapel prepared to say something before-
"Oh, you two?" The female voice wasn't too familiar, but I knew I heard that voice once before... "I remember you. You are Seth, correct?
Both Chapel and I turned around to find that we'd been approached by this blonde haired, pink eyed girl. Do I remember this girl? Hmph, should I even care?
"Ummm." Chapel was guessing.
"Alice." The pink eyed girl answered. "We met back in Bloomingvale (Chapter 31), remember?"
"Alice." I started to remember now. "The girl with the Dragonair that could use Extremespeed."
I was not familiar with Dragonair being able to learn that move.
Alice giggled as she looked into my eyes. But eyes narrowing, she put on a serious face as she asked one specific question. "Is SHE with you?"
"Huh?"
"Who's SHE?" Chapel asked.
"When the two of you left Bloomingvale, SHE wasn't with you." Alice replied.
Bloomingvale? I get it now: SHE, is Yumi.
"I believe she's on her way back to Olivine right now." I said as I was now outside of the Pokemon Center.
"I wouldn't be surprised if we never saw her again, sadly." Chapel added as she and a still saddened Mawile followed Chikorita and I.
"Wait!" Alice said as she too followed. "If you're entering the Bug Catching Contest, I'll join you."
I'll ask myself again: Just who WAS this girl?
"Well, there isn't any reason for us to say no..." Chapel started.
"And you, Seth?" Alice asked as she looked at me with fluttering eyelashes. "AH!"
Before I had a chance to reply, Alice was suddenly struck down by a familiar second set of jaws.
"Um?"
"Mawile!" Mawile was yelling at an Alice who's face was red after being slapped.
"You no good lowly peasant!" Alice shot back.
"What's with you?" I asked Mawile annoyed.
Mawile turned her head away from Alice in annoyance as Chapel ventured to reply.
"I swear, Seth. You're so dense when it comes to girls. Do you even realize that our journey could be considered a harem?" Chapel asked.
Oh please. As long as Missingno is concerned, Chapel and I are basically the same person. Yumi's no longer with us, and Rose is my little sister. I may not have a heart, but I know very well that I don't see Yumi, Rose, OR Chapel THAT way.
"I have a feeling Mawile wants a little moret han just your attention." Chapel said with a smile.
"-Hey Seth!" I sighed as yet another familiar voice was approaching us. "Seth!"
It was Dustin attempting to catch up to us.
"What now?!" I was getting slightly annoyed all the much unnecessary company around me. In fact, I didn't even wait for Dustin to reply to my question as I continued on my way.
"Um, who's THAT lowly peasant?" Alice questioned with apparent disgust toward Dustin. Dustin simply glared at Alice as a result.
Not even Chapel stayed to reply as she and Mawile continued on, just as Chikorita and I did.
Despite trying to separate myself from the 'little crowd', I was still followed by Chapel, Mawile, Alice, and Dustin all the way to the Bug Catching Contest's starting point. The sun was fully awake, but there was less people present for the start of the contest than I initially thought. Noah was present, and just a few feet away, I even saw a female Neo Snagem grunt.
"Neo Snagem..." My eyes narrowed as only Chikorita and I left our unwanted company to approach this woman.
The woman looked at me very casually for a moment before speaking up. "May I help you?"
"Keep in mind that the only reason I haven't tried to destroy you yet is because you're a worthless grunt who doesn't pose as much of a threat as her higher ups." I replied calmly, antagonizing the grunt.
"So you know about who I work for. Quite perceptive of you. To be honest, you really don't look like some kid who's just saying those words while trying to be a 'baby faced' hero. Ah, I see it in you eyes, you wish to annihilate me as we speak. Rather than dreams and friendship, you thrive off of your own nightmares and hatred for that organization, though your friends choose not to accept it, and try to make you into a 'nice' person as a result." The female grunt explained.
"You?" I questioned.
"I also know who YOU are. Your older brother has quite the big mouth. But Neo Snagem aside, I can honestly tell you that I pose no threat to you right now as long as I don't have a single pokemon on me, which is why I've entered this stupid contest in the first place." The woman then looked at me. "Say, why-"
"-Hey Seth! The contest is starting!" Chapel called out to me as Mawile waved to Chikorita and I. Dustin had sent out what I believed to be a recently caught Zangoose, and Alice was quickly walking up to me.
"The name's Lucy, and this won't be the last time our paths cross." The grunt then turned away as Alice quickly grabbed my arm.
"Come on, you're about to miss the introduction!" Alice said.
Chikorita hopped off my shoulder as I was being pulled away from Lucy. I laid my eyes on a Mawile glaring at Alice as she huffed and crossed her arms.
Besides Lucy, Noah, and those following me, there were plenty of other trainers who were finally awake and readying for the contest as they too all gathered at the starting point, waiting to be adressed and given further instructions by the master of ceremonies.
"Ahem!" The master of ceremonies was now in place, wearing a formal blue suit and tie. "Before the Bug Catching Contest gets underway, I shall go over any and all rules. First of all, all participants are only permitted the use of one pokemon of their own. Secondly, all bug pokemon captured must be caught using National Park's Park Ball." The master of ceremonies presented to us a tel colored pokeball decorated with four leaves around the center. "Only one Park Ball will be issued to each trainer to catch one bug pokemon at a time, and when you feel you've caught a strong enough pokemon, you may keep it until your time is up, when the judges will decide the winner. Are there any questions?"
Everyone's attention was turned toward Noah, who raised his hand.
"Are there any pokemon beside bug types? And if so, must a Park Ball be use to capture them too?"
'Well, there Are other types of pokemon that lurk, and Park Balls aren't required since the said pokemon aren't bug types. But trying to capture other pokemon will automatically disqualify you from our final judging, even if you manage to capture a bug type as well." The master of ceremonies explained.
Hmph, since when is winning this pointless contest more important than capturing a pokemon capable of destroying an entire organization?
"Now, without further ado, let the Bug Catching Contest begin!" And with that, the master of ceremonies completed his routine, and almost every trainer, including Dustin, was racing into the forest in search of pokemon.
Lucy and Noah took their time as calmly started into the forest at their own pace, leaving only Chapel, Alice, my pokemon, and I at the starting point.
"So, what pokemon do you plan on using?" Chapel asked me.
"Hmph," I took out a pokeball and readied to release my decision, "Elekid, battle st-"
"-Mawile!" Mawile was tugging my leg, attempting to grab my attention.
"Ugh, why won't you leave me alone?" I asked annoyed.
"Maw Mawile!" Mawile made a pathetic attempt at using words to explain herself. But I did get a hint once she pointed to herself.
"She want to be your partner for the contest," Chapel said. "As long as you leave Mawile alone, she WON'T leave you alone."
"But why?" Alice was still holding on to my other arm, but I calmly pulled away once I realized this.
"You're 'gratitude' toward Mawile for earning the Plain Badge yesterday," Chapel started," Girls will remember when you're extra nice to them Seth, whether dense guys like you realize it or not. And that might be just enough for some to develop 'emotions' towards those guys. I guess that applies to female pokemon as well."
"You know Seth," Alice started, "I've developed some 'emotions' for you and those blue eyes of yours."
"Uh..." Chapel and Chikorita's words wouldn't come out. While Mawile looked at Alice intensely.
"Do YOU have emotions for me?" Alice asked.
"I don't have emotions..." I answered flatly.
There was a brief pause, and could hear a faint giggle coming from Alice. "Well, do you at least think I'm pretty?" Her eyes were fluttering again.
My pause continued as I heard something in the distance, but what? Was it a pokemon? I was almost certain because there was another sound that came closer to us, the sound of rapidly flapping wings became more and more audible.
"Helloo?" Alice did not want her question to go unanswered. "Seth, do you think-"
"Shh!"
The pokemon was nearing the starting point, and I called for Mawile to get in her battle stance as I readied for battle.
Once past the trees, the unidentified yellow pokemon with green wings flew right past Chapel, and stopped right in front of Chikorita before coming Mawile's way.
"Mawile, Iron Head!" In an attempt to prevent the yellow pokemon from getting away, I commanded an Iron Head that would hopefully cause it to flinch in fear.
"Maw!" Mawile jumped right in front of the green pokemon and smirked as she sent it crashing down into the grass field using her second set of jaws.
"Hmmm." I was finally able to identify the green pokemon aas a Vibrava.
"It certainly looks like a bug," Chapel started," But looks can be deceiving, I see."
"Don't think about avoiding my question, Blue Eyes." Alice said. "It'll be waiting once you capture that thing."
"Vi..."brava." The wild pokemon attempted to get back up, however-
"Use Bite, and don't let go." I crossed my arms, expecting quick work to be made out of the wild pokemon.
"Wile," Mawile was able to grab a hold of Vibrava's tail using her second set of jaws.
"Va!" Vibrava was struggling to free it's tail, but to no avail.
"Now use back to back Power-Up Punches, and don't stop until it's down." I said calmly with much confidence.
"Wile..." Mawile moved the containing the struggling Vibrava right in front of her. Calm she was, as she stared at Vibrava for a few moments before readying Power-Up Punch to be used nonstop. "Mawile." Mawile's eyes narrowed as she quickly struck a struggling Vibrava with the first punch, halting the wild pokemon's struggling and raising Mawile's Power stat in the process. The second punch was just as long and dragged out, with Mawile's power being increased even further.
"Yes." Chapel said to herself. "Seth's victory is certain at this point. There's just no way Vibrava can escape Mawile's assault."
The Power-Up Punches eventually increased to normal pace, and Mawile certainly didn't stop until Vibrava was unconscious and injured. After realizing that Vibrava was in this condition, Mawile simply threw the pokemon to the side when told that she'd done enough damage.
"Mawile," she looked at me and smiled, prompting me to get out a regular pokeball because Vibrava wasn't a bug type.
"Pokeball, gra-" I was interrupted.
"Pokeball, go!" I looked back to see a Noah who ran up and threw a pokeball at the downed Vibrava.
"What?!" Chapel and I certainly didn't see THAT coming.
Once Noah's pokeball made contact with Vibrava, Vibrava was sucked in by a red arc of energy before the pokeball landed in the grass without any bounce or movement as the pokeball's center was simply blinking red before clicking shut, indicating that Vibrava was successfully captured.
We all just stood and watched as Noah approached the pokeball containing the Vibrava that should've been mine.
"Vibrava, is mine." Noah said as he picked up the pokeball.
"You cheater!" Alice yelled. "That was supposed to be Seth's capture!"
"Please allow Seth to answer me this," Noah looked at Alice, that at me. "Does an emotionless person like you even give a crap?"
"Well." I started. To be honest, no, I didn't give a crap. But what got my attention was why Vibrava would leave the forest.
"National Park's forest could've been Vibrava's home. But why would it be flying AWAY from it's home so fast? Could Vibrava have been fleeing from something?" Chapel finished.
"I heard the sound of something or someone briefly before the sound of Vibrava's approaching wings." I said.
"Me too," Alice added.
"Could it be-" Chapel was interrupted.
Someone else was approaching us...
"Zan..." Both Zangoose and Dustin had emerged from the forest. They both looked critically injured. But how? And why?
"Dustin?" Chapel questioned. "What happened to you?
Dustin gave no immediate reply as both he and Zangoose collapsed on the grass field, breathing heavily and struggling to remain conscious.
"Dustin!" Chapel and Chikorita rushed to Dustin's aid. Mawile and Alice both remained by me as we both slowly approached the downed duo. And Noah made his exit into the forest following no direct answer to his question.
While trying to aid Dustin and Zangoose, everyone besides me gasped once they had caught sight of the apparent heavy poison that had been inflicted on the two.
"Who did this to you?" Chapel asked.
"Er..." Dustin struggled to give a brief reply, cooghing heavily, "A-a pokem...on s-s-surrrou-nd'd by... a, dark a-aura."
"A dark aura?!" I said to myself, eyes widening.
"Dustin and Zangoose immmediately lost consciousness, as their poison had become too much for them.
"These two need some help!" Chapel said. "I'll stay here and call for medical care."
I had to piece it all together: A could have been fleeing in fear of a pokemon surrounded by a dark aura, and Vibrava tend to be a fairly mid to high level pokemon.
I believe a very powerful shadow pokemon could be near., a very powerful shadow pokemon that will soon be mine.
To Be Continued...
So how do you like the return of a few rivals. I hope you like Lucy as well, because she WAS introduced in chapter 29. And with her abandoned Ninjask now traveling with Alhtaea, she's entering the Bug Catching Contest to have at least one pokemon on her team.
I've noticed the lack of shadow pokemon in this fic, and so I'm working of including more.
Anyways, please review, and stay tuned for next chapter.