Note- Never let them say I wasn't a man of my word! Here we are, with Chapter 39 a little less than a month later! I'm excited for Spring and I'm even more excited to continue Heart and Soul! When we last left our heroes, Chris and David had just picked up their 6th and 3rd badges, respectfully! Luke still sits at four, though he may be looking to change that with a pair of upcoming city visits! Today we find the trainers making their way to Ecruteak City, while keeping their eyes peeled for a certain fire lizard! Let's get to it! Hope you enjoy! Please Review and Subscribe!
Chapter 39
Many trainers loved the scenic trip from Ecruteak City to Olivine City. The grasslands that surrounded the route, as well as the maple and oak trees that bordered the edges, made for a calm and beautiful visual. The path was entirely downhill, allowing for a relaxing, yet fast route to Olivine. Heading west also gave one a beautiful view of the distant shoreline.
None of this applied to travelers heading northeast.
Chris and his companions had set out from Olivine in the early afternoon. The temperature at that time flirted with 'hot.' Just a couple hours later, the trio found themselves roasting beneath the unforgiving evening sun. They had purposefully taken their time advancing up Route 38. The three trainers had meticulously combed the path for any traces of Charizard. During this time, their uphill path had not leveled off once. The wide scale searching had also led the trainers in to some patches of heavier grass. Unsurprisingly, this resulted in a gratuitous amount of wild Pokémon encounters. Every one of Chris' teammates had battled at least a half dozen times after only a couple hours. When they stopped for a breather around four o'clock, the trainers' Pokémon looked on the verge of fainting. The trio sat out plenty of food and water for their teams before collapsing on to their backs beneath a large maple.
"Are we near the edge of Route 39?" David hissed through heavy breaths.
Chris slowly shook his head and wiped a thick layer of sweat from his forehead. "We still have a good way to go. This route isn't super wide, but it's long. And the next route is the exact opposite. It'll take us at least another day to reach Ecruteak at this pace."
Luke downed an entire bottle of water in one go. "It has to be close to a hundred degrees right now." He glanced at his Pokégear. "Ninety-eight… fuck."
"We just have to make it a few more weeks," Chris felt his sunburned lips sting as he spoke. "Fall is coming."
Luke gave a weak nod. "One of the many reasons it's my favorite time of the year."
The trainers ate a big lunch to help sustain the rest of the day's journey. Afterwards, the trio and their Pokémon continued north. The trainers spread themselves out over the route and repeated the process from earlier. Luke and David had taken the western and eastern edges of Route 38, leaving Chris to handle the middle. This resulted in fewer wild battles for the Cherrygrove native and his team. On a miserably hot day like this one, Chris and his Pokémon considered that a blessing.
"We saw enough wild Pokémon earlier," Chris mumbled to himself as they trudged uphill. His eyes drifted toward the trees that bordered both sides of the route. "I might battle a few extra Pokémon if it meant some shade though."
The young man passed several trainers, but none looked eager to battle in the suffocating heat. As the sun dropped behind the trees to the west, the evening temperature decreased somewhat, but the setting star took with it what little breeze there had been.
The cloudless sky had taken on a slight orange tint when the sound of an engine fell on Chris' ears. The sound brought the entire team to a halt. Cars were prohibited on trainer routes, but the motorized drone was unmistakable. A small shape appeared at the top of the distant hill above him. He squinted his eyes to try and make out the object. It didn't take long to identify the quickly approaching machine as a motorcycle, its exact features only becoming more visible with time. A white paint job gave way to patches of blue along the front and sides. He saw a red ribbon looped around the left handlebar and a slow grin slipped onto his face.
Chris stepped over to the edge of the dirt path and waved his arms. His team watched him with perplexed expressions. The trainer smiled back at them. "I hope I'm not wrong about who this is."
The bike slowed several hundred feet away from the trainer. Chris saw the motorist's head turn to examine him. Red and blue lights flashed to life on the machine's front and sides. The bike turned towards him and increased its speed. His body naturally tensed at the sight of an oncoming vehicle racing toward him. Once the distance had been closed, the driver backed off the accelerator. The bike came to a smooth halt only a few feet short of the team. The rider stepped off the bike and removed her police helmet. Long, curly red hair fell down the driver's shoulders. The woman gave him a warm grin that somehow made him forget about the suffocating heat.
Chris stepped forward and hugged her tightly. "Hey, mom!"
She held the embrace for several extra seconds before speaking. "Goodness, you're sweaty."
Chris rubbed a hand across the back of his shirt and shrugged. "Wish I could turn the outdoor AC on." He turned his head to look at the eastern and western sides of the route. Luke and David were nowhere in sight. He turned his attention back to his mom. "What brings you out this way? I didn't think you patrolled anywhere north of Goldenrod?"
His mother stepped back to her bike and brought out a water bottle from a cooler on the rear. She handed it to him. "Make sure you're staying hydrated out here."
Chris pursed his lips, but tried to keep his tone light. "I appreciate it, mom. Now, how about my question?"
It was his mother's turn to frown. "You know I don't like talking about my work." She sighed. "I've been called over to help investigate and monitor some suspicious individuals and their movements. Upper management believes something big might be passing between Olivine, Ecruteak, and Goldenrod. Good chance it's just a false alarm."
"I've seen reports of some of the missing people." Chris watched his mother's expression for any change. "I bet you think something is going on behind the scenes."
"It's possible. We're trained to never assume anything though. There are dangerous people everywhere you go, ya know."
The young man smirked. "Well, thanks for the warning."
"Hey now," his mother countered, her hands dropping to her hips, a universal sign that he'd struck a nerve. "Never question how much I want to protect you! If I knew something was going on, you'd have been the first person I contacted. I just don't see this turning out to be much more than a small operation built up by the rumor mill and exaggerated police tips." Her stern look killed any more thoughts of teasing. "And anyway, I didn't want to bother you with it while you were preparing for your Gym battle. Your father and I were happy to hear you'd won it. How many badges does that give you? Five?"
"Six," he gingerly corrected. "I've picked up every badge west of Mahogany."
Her eyebrows lifted. "You've gotten around! And all in four months, my goodness." She laughed suddenly. "And here it took your father at least that long just to earn a pair of badges!"
"We all know I got my battling skills from you."
"I'll take credit for ninety-eight percent at least. I'll split the remaining two percent between your brother and father."
Chris smiled at that, but felt his mind push back against pursuing that thought. He instead chose to focus on the two Poké Balls attached to his mother's work belt. "Who's your backup, today?"
"I've got Jolt and Webhead," she replied, running a hand over the two devices. "Jolt's been giving me some problems the past couple days. The Jolteon species as a whole always seem eager for some action."
"I'd love to get some of those nerves out with a battle," he said, a tinge of anxiety creeping beneath Chris' skin at the continued absence of Luke and David, "but I'm actually traveling with a couple guys right now. I think they've headed north without me."
That drew a look of realization from his mother. She pulled out a blue Poké Gear from a pouch in her navy police top. She swiped the device's screen a few times. "Their names are David and Luke, right?"
Chris nodded.
"How are they doing?"
"They're doing fine," Chris replied slowly, attempting to recall some of the details about his comrades' recent exploits. "Luke has four badges. David just earned his third. They've caught some new Pokémon these past couple of weeks too. I feel like they're still trying to train them up and get in sync with their teams, which—why are you smiling like that?"
His mother laughed. "You can't turn it off, can you?"
Chris gave her a puzzled look.
"That trainer mindset of yours." His mother studied his face. "It's the same competitive fire your brother had. And it seems like your passion to be a trainer has only grown since you set out."
"I am Jennifer and Ben's son." A soft smile found its way on to the trainer's face. "I don't know anyone who is as dedicated to their job and works as hard as you two."
She squeezed his shoulder. "I'm glad we've passed that on to you. Don't forget what really matters though. Let that passion go beyond your training. Bring that love to everybody you meet." She smiled at Chris' team. "And make sure you give plenty to your Pokémon."
"Would you like to meet the crew?" Chris knew he'd have to head north soon to catch up with his companions. Still, the desire to show a parent how far he'd come was too much to pass up.
"Quickly," she answered. "I know you need to meet back up with your friends. I don't want you to be in a rush."
Chris motioned for his team of six to step forward. The group approached their trainer's mother, but seemed... strangely timid.
Chris laughed. "She's not going to challenge you to a battle." He scratched the back of his head. "When I met dad in Goldenrod, I didn't have a chance to introduce him to my team. So you can hold this over his head."
"This is a promising crew." She gave each creature a warm look. "I guess this will be the closest I get to grandchildren."
"Don't start on that again."
His mother turned her attention to the Volcano Pokémon at the front of the pack. She knelt beside him. "I take it you're Quilava?"
The Volcano Pokémon did a double take upon looking into the woman's face. After a second of hesitation, he nodded.
She extended a hand to him. "Thank you for taking a chance on my son. Now that he's away from his parents, I hope you can teach him some lessons about life."
"'Quil." The Fire-type nodded slowly and grasped her hand with a paw.
Her gaze held on him for another second before a second teammate stepped over to her side. She turned and found Flaaffy admiring her closely. The two exchanged a knowing look and smile that made Chris believe his mother already knew the Electric-type's backstory. "This lady looks awfully kind."
"She's a mother of her own," Chris said after some hesitation.
Jennifer nodded. "She seems like the type that'll keep you out of trouble. It's a pleasure meeting you."
There was a deep rumbling sound and a shadow passed over Chris' mother. She looked up and found Gyarados eyeing her closely. Her hand inched toward the Poké Balls on her waist, but she stopped upon studying the serpent's eyes. Strutting forward, she placed a gentle hand on the Atrocious Pokémon's underbelly. The towering serpent's posture relaxed.
"H-how did you know Gyarados wouldn't attack you?"
"I've dealt with countless calls about Gyarados being in close proximity with humans. Ninety-nine times out of a hundred, it's the humans who have initiated the conflict. Thoughtlessly entering a Gyarados' territory, ignorantly challenging the creatures to battle, or even hunting them down for sport, Gyarados are rarely in the wrong when a conflict begins." She shrugged and flashed a nervous grin. "Now once they start rampaging, the Johto Police have an issue with them."
A strange look flashed on Gyarados' face. Chris could have sworn it was the creature's version of a smirk.
His mother walked back over to Chris and jabbed a finger into his chest. "You best be heading north."
"Right."
The warm look on Chris' face faded when he suddenly remembered where his mother was going. "Be safe, mom." The trainer's thoughts drifted back to Drayden's words about Ghetsis. "I hope this all turns out to be nothing."
"Me too," she replied. She gave him one last glance. "You be extra careful also. As the months get colder, you're gonna' need to change out your wardrobe." Her eyes flickered toward his short, unkempt brown hair. "And don't forget to get a haircut."
Mother and son embraced once more before the police officer stepped back to her bike.
A thought sprang into Chris consciousness. "Hey, mom? As you're traveling, would you care to send me a message if you see or hear of any wild Charizard's?"
His mother frowned at the strange request, but did not pursue the topic. She nodded.
"Have a good day," Chris added as she put on her helmet.
She waved at him and powered on the bike. It only took a few seconds for her to be out of sight. Chris' eyes stayed south for an extra moment.
"Quil," the Volcano Pokémon's soft tone snapped Chris back to the present.
The trainer knelt beside his starter. "What is it, buddy?"
The creature's eyes looked over Chris' face and grew large. He brought a paw up to touch his trainer's nose. "'Lava."
"My face… oh, yeah, you noticed the resemblance, didn't ya?"
Quilava nodded slowly.
"Wait till you meet my dad." Chris rose back to his full height and turned his father's eyes north. "We've got some ground to cover to catch up with Luke and David. The limited amount of battles today should mean we're fresh—fresh enough to see who can catch up to those two first."
Despite the miserable heat, Chris' Pokémon roared their approval in the face of competition. The crew sprinted northward on the empty, uphill path. Quilava kept the pace fast, refusing to show any signs of temperature fatigue. After only a couple of minutes, Chris could feel his calves burning as he fought to keep up with his team.
"Oh, thank Arceus," Chris muttered in between pants once his companions came into view.
The group slowed and eventually came to a halt. Trainer and Pokémon each took a moment to catch their breath. Chris squinted at both trainers and realized they had probably not noticed his absence. Once his team had recovered from the sprint, Chris tasked them with searching once more for signs of Luke's fiery companion.
After another hour and a half of travel, the path began to drift eastward. A sign beside the road signified they had crossed into route 38. The sky had continued to darken as they progressed, but a line of trees at the edge of the next route brought nightfall on them at once. Feeling mentally and physically drained, the trio settled on a flat spot beside the route's main path.
"Should we work on a fire?" David asked.
"Hell no," Luke answered.
"We've dealt with enough heat today," Chris added. "Let's not add to our tormentor."
David shrugged. "Just hope you boys aren't afraid of the dark."
The trainers spread out their supplies and fed their Pokémon. Even as he sat out water for his teammates, the young man from Cherrygrove could barely keep his eyes open. And if the trainer who normally had an infinite supply of energy felt drained, the other two were damn near out on their feet. As Chris flopped onto his sleeping bag, he passed into sleep before his head had even hit the pillow.
The trainer from Cherrygrove woke in a pool of his own sweat. He'd had a dream that one of Quilava's Flamethrowers had strayed too close to his body and set him ablaze. Seeing the condensation droplets along his legs and arms, he let a quiet sigh pass through his lips. The sun hadn't yet peaked over the eastern skyline, leaving the horizon to glow with a mix of pale pink and blue. Chris sat up and found all six of his Pokémon asleep by his side. The sight almost convinced him to lay back down for a short while longer. The heat ultimately made the decision for him.
He tiptoed around his sleeping teammates and strode up the nearest hill, desiring a preview of the road ahead. He passed by the still sleeping forms of Luke and David and continued up the climbing route. The path plateaued and Chris let his feet give out, his body plopping into the dirt. The view east revealed a mercifully level path for the remainder of the route. In the misty haze of dawn, a stoic tower pierced the fog, its top glowing warmly with the fast approaching dawn. The sight filled Chris with both hope and anxiety.
How have my heart and soul held up?
Chris hadn't forgotten the words the Bell Tower sage had spoken. The trainer's path had been acknowledged as pure and beneficial, but could the same still be said? Had his heart changed since their dialogue? Did he still cherish his team and the journey they were on? The trainer's eyes turned back to his companions and he noticed they had begun to stir. Quilava stretched and looked around the campsite. Chris could see the panic in his body language as the Fire-type realized his trainer was missing. The Cherrygrove native rose to his feet, the movement catching Quilava's focus. Trainer and Pokémon locked eyes for a brief moment. Quilava attempted to hide his previous anxiety with a cool nod and smirk, but Chris could see the relief in eyes. The trainer felt his natural optimism returning.
Our potential isn't set.
Chris made his way back down the hill. Luke had set out food for his team and was currently packing up his gear. David had already packed up his gear and prepared breakfast for his team. As he closed in on the camp, the smell of food greeted Chris' nostrils, pushing the trainer to quicken his pace.
David was the first of the two trainers to see him approaching. He had just taken a large chunk out of the sandwich in his hand. "Wha' da' re' of the ru' loo lik'?"
"Uh, it looks pretty smooth," Chris replied. "I think that answers your question."
The trainer cringed as David swallowed down the glob of food he'd been chewing on. The black-haired trainer patted his stomach before nodding at Chris. "You did good, kid."
Luke stepped over to stand beside the trainers. "It's good to hear we're through with uphill travel."
"Now you sound like me," David said with a grin.
"My leg may be close to one hundred percent," Luke answered, eyes flashing sharply toward David, "but walking uphill isn't helping it feel any better."
Chris wiped several beads of sweat from his temple. "Especially in this heat."
"We'd better get a move on then," David said. "I'd like to get to Ecruteak before that evening sun takes our souls again."
Chris threw down some food and vitamins for his team as he gathered his belongings. The team had finished eating by the time he'd packed, giving the trainer little time to scarf down a pair of granola bars.
"To Ecruteak!" David declared as the trio began their march east.
The group trekked up the last hill standing between them and the city. The top of the knoll presented them with several possible paths. A decision came quickly once the trio realized the northern path was shaded. They'd have to sacrifice their path's current width, but it seemed insignificant in the presence of shade.
After a short amount of walking, the trees began to grow and close in around the path. This forced the trainers to return most of their team as they continued east. Chris decided to keep Quilava, Scyther, and Eevee out of their capture devices. Luke opted for Electabuzz, Poochyena, and Pidgeotto to stay at his side. David decided on Nidorina, Kadabra, and his own Eevee. The woods around them brought the trainers in contact with several wild Pokémon. Chris' Scyther flew from branch to branch along the trees that bordered the path. The Mantis Pokémon struck down any challengers he encountered without his trainer's guidance. Quilava sniped creatures brave enough to leap from the underbrush. Eevee battled, under Chris' direction, against a few wild Pokémon. The Normal-type spent the rest of his time observing Quilava.
Noon came and went while the trainers trudged beneath the woodland's tall branches. As late afternoon approached, the trees thinned, and the last stretch of route opened before them. They decided to stop for a short lunch while they still had some shade.
"You know," David said as they began to eat, "I feel like I've only sweated a half gallon today."
"This shade is a blessing," Chris added.
David turned his head to look at the growing shape of Ecruteak in the distance. "We can't be more than a mile from civilization."
Chris looked out of the corner of his eyes and found Luke eating silently beside his team. The trainer from Tohjo Falls had his head down, but Chris could see his brown eyes locked onto the nearby cityscape. The trainer wished he felt comfortable asking his companion about his prior experience with the city.
"Have you made any progress with Eevee?"
Chris nearly jumped at Luke's question. The young man from Cherrygrove paused to regain his composure. "He learned Swift yesterday. Outside of that, I don't know a whole lot more than I did when he first joined."
"That's my little guy's go-to move," David replied from behind Chris.
"Guess that's the dilemma you Eevee trainers face," Luke mused.
They finished eating and prepared for the final stretch of Route 38. Chris chugged the last bottle of water his mother had given him. Loading up on drinks would be a priority in Ecruteak. Even with fall approaching, the young man knew better than to underestimate summer's staying power. The weather in northern Johto could be as unpredictable as a confused Clefairy using Metronome. Despite his mother's suggestion of a wardrobe change, Chris would keep a couple summer outfits handy. Besides, if he had the choice, he'd wear something comfortable over seasonally appropriate any day.
The path dipped slightly, bringing the trainers to another grassy plateau. Only a few hundred meters away, just beyond a cluster of pine trees, Ecruteak's western gate glowed in the afternoon sun. Something else glowed brightly beyond the city entrance. Chris' eyes drifted up, past Luke's gliding Pidgeotto, to trace the Bell Tower's stoic figure. The blue plated tile seemed to shake with life; a stark contrast to the unmoving golden spire at the top. His eyes narrowed as he searched for any sign of movement within or atop the structure. It was wishful thinking, but he couldn't help it.
David's voice put an end to Chris' staring. "Johto's main attraction is gonna have a massive hole in it if you keep that up."
He felt Luke's gaze before he heard his voice. "Did you try to check out the Bell Tower while you were in Ecruteak?"
"Yeah," Chris replied.
David jumped in before he could elaborate. "Don't you have to have the Fog Badge to get in?"
"You do to get into the Barrier Station. It takes a heck of a lot more to get in to the Bell Tower itself."
David's eyes widened. "Would you fellas want to pay a visit after I win my badge?"
Chris let out a nervous laugh. "I'd go with you, but I'm not sure they'll want me back after the trouble my Pokémon caused last time."
"You guys try to break into the tower?"
Chris shook his head. "I didn't. Nidoking on the other hand…"
David cut him off with a question aimed over his shoulder. "What's up, man?"
Chris turned and noticed the Tohjo Falls' native had fallen behind. His steps were slow and his gaze remained fixed on something ahead. His unwavering stare didn't seem perturbed by David's question. Electabuzz and Poochyena remained at his side, looks of confusion etched into their faces. A gust of wind whipped Chris' short tangled hair around as Pidgeotto passed over his head on the way back to his trainer.
"You good, Luke?" Chris asked.
Luke's gaze slowly drifted back down to his companions. The glazed over expression in his eyes faded after a few blinks. "Sorry. Zoned out there for a bit."
"Well, me and Chris were talking about visiting the tower. He said he'd already been. What about you?"
Luke worked his jaw. "I may pass."
"You need the Fog Badge too?" David joked.
Luke smiled weakly, but didn't answer. He instead quickened his pace and passed between his fellow trainers. Pidgeotto glided ahead of him as Electabuzz and Poochyena jogged to catch up. The trainer and his team led Chris and David in to the final cluster of pines.
"Pidgeo!"
The Bird Pokémon's cry brought the rest of the party to attention. Chris, David, and their Pokémon raced through the tight thicket of trees and emerged back into the grassy plain. The open air surprised Chris with a cool breeze, the first of its kind since early that morning. Luke had halted just ahead of them, with Pidgeotto grounded at his side. Someone stood just beyond, obstructing their path.
The sun had begun its evening decline, casting a soft orange glow on the surroundings. The lighting was perfect to reveal the perpetrator's face, but Chris noticed the person had their back to them. A blue burlap bag shone proudly in the sun, one of its drawstrings wrapped around the owner's shoulder, the other blowing freely in the wind. After a quick scan of their figure below the pack, Chris recognized them as a male.
"Hey man," Luke did a poor job of hiding his annoyance, "we're trying to move on to Ecruteak."
The man didn't turn around or speak. He brought his right arm out and turned his palm toward them. A Poké Ball rested in his relaxed grip.
"I'm not in the mood for theatrics," Luke barked. He pointed at Electabuzz. "If he doesn't move in the next five seconds, use Thunderpunch."
The man's shoulders snapped to attention. He waved wildly with his left hand. "Woah there, broski."
Broski.
Chris watched the man turn toward them, recognizing the short hair, the spiked bangs, and the dark brown chin stubble. "Dobbs?"
Luke's head snapped toward him. "You know this guy?"
Light reflected off the young man's glasses, momentarily shielding his eyes from view. "Who's asking?"
A grin found its way onto Chris' lips. Laughter followed. "Oh my gosh. How have we crossed paths again?"
"Wait a sec'." Dobbs adjusted his glasses in an entirely unnecessary manner. "Weren't you that trainer I beat at the Bug Catching Contest?"
"We also battled in Ecruteak," Chris reminded.
"Can't say I remember that, bro," Dobbs said, turning his gaze to the empty field to his right. "Life's been a blur for me these past couple of months. But I definitely remember my Volbeat taking first place in the contest."
Chris nodded, his smile not going anywhere. He looked over the trainer and was surprised to find a slimmer, more toned Dobbs. The young man's face and gut still carried some added weight, but there had definitely been some weight loss since Chris' last encounter with the unique youth. Perhaps travel beneath the hot sun had burned off some of the padding he had built up before his journey. "I can't disagree with that. What brings you this way, Dobbs?"
"It's just the path of the one who walks toward fame," he answered cryptically.
Luke stepped forward. "I've listened long enough to know you two have met before. Would you care to tell your friend that we need to keep moving?"
"We are kinda on a mission," Chris acknowledged to his old acquaintance. "And I think I speak for all three of us when I say we'd like to make it to Ecruteak before nightfall."
Dobbs frowned. "What's the rush?"
David stepped forward before Chris could answer. "We're looking for a Charizard. It headed this direction several days back."
"Bro," Dobbs' tone carried disbelief, "if I saw a Charizard flying around here, you think I'd just let it go on by? I would have captured it, plain and simple."
"That would have been difficult to do seeing as he already has a trainer," Luke countered, shooting a steely glare at Dobbs.
"It's yours?" Dobbs asked.
"Yeah."
Dobbs scratched at his chin. "Huh. It must have been a wild scene for a powerhouse like that to get away from ya." He nodded to himself. "Tough to lose a cool Pokémon like that."
If it were possible, Luke's stare grew more icy. His hands clenched tightly into fists, his anger barely contained underneath his contorting face.
"How goes the Gym Leader challenge?" Chris quickly asked, stepping between the two trainers as he did so.
Dobbs turned his relaxed gaze on Chris, having clearly not sensed Luke's building anger. "It goes. I've taken out all the Gym Leaders who've dared impede my progress."
Chris did a poor job of hiding the humor he found in Dobbs' overly dramatic declaration. "Is that so? How many have fallen?"
The young man ran a hand threw his gelled back hair and dramatically brought up four fingers with his free appendage. "Bugsy, Whitney, Faulkner, and Morty have all met defeat," he said, dropping a finger with each name.
Luke started suddenly. Chris held his position as the Tohjo Falls' native approached. He eyed him for any signs of an impending physical confrontation, but Luke stopped a couple feet short of the middle man. His voice was shaky. "You've… beaten Morty?"
Dobbs kept his expression nonchalant. "Of course. He stood between me and the the remaining four Gym Leaders. His ghosts were spooky, but we showed them what real fear was." He flexed a bicep at that.
"Then show me," Luke said. The words caught everyone by surprise. Chris and David both trained their raised eyebrows at their fellow trainer. Dobbs' slowly lowered his arm, but still kept his bicep flexed for some undisclosed reason.
"A battle, broski?" he asked.
"I'm damn well not asking for a dance off."
"That's good," Dobbs said with a nod, "cause you'd have no shot against me in that. As far as a Pokémon battle goes… how many gym badges do you have?"
"Four, same as you."
"Okay," Dobbs replied, repeating the word beneath his breath. His eyes flickered toward Electabuzz, who still stood at his trainer's side. "I might could go for a one-on-one battle."
"Only one-on-one?" Luke asked.
"You're in a hurry," Dobbs said with a shrug, "you said so yourself."
Luke worked his jaw at that, but kept his mouth closed.
"Sounds reasonable to me," David added, plopping down in the shade of a tree behind them. "As long as I've got shade, I'm good for whatever."
Chris turned toward Luke. "You sure you wanna do this, man?" The black haired trainer gave him a stiff nod. He sighed in resignation and slowly backed out of his center position, though his eyes never left Luke. He still wasn't sure where the young man's head was.
"I'll let you go ahead and chose your 'Mon," Dobbs announced.
Without any prompting, Electabuzz stepped forward to place himself in the battle. Poochyena and a grounded Pidgeotto looked on a short distance behind their trainer, their concern poorly masked. The Electric-type continued to march forward until he had come to the halfway mark between the trainers. The edge of the larger boy's lips curled up.
"Come on out, big guy!" Dobbs beckoned, tossing a Poké Ball into the air.
The device split open, a white flash of light revealing the hulking presence of a massive rock snake.
Of course, Chris thought.
Dobbs' teammate slithered along the path, the boulders segmenting its body rolling and pitching, kicking dirt every which direction, and sending brown puffs of cloud into the red glow of evening.
"May be better if you didn't battle on the one good path connecting the route and Ecruteak," David suggested.
The two trainers looked at the defined trail beneath them and came to the same conclusion. They and their Pokémon moved a safe distance away from the path—over to a field of shin high grass. Chris stepped over to David's side, but found he couldn't sit; over the years he had realized it came from the excitement of watching Pokémon battles.
"Good thinking on moving the battle," Chris acknowledged.
"I've seen what an Onix can do to established trails in the Safari Zone," David said with a chuckle. "Trying to save the grounds crew the work of fixing an entire route head. And besides," David leaned back, popping his neck to the side as he stretched, "this gives me a better view of the battle."
The two Pokémon met a moment later—Electabuzz's Brick Break smashing into Onix's glowing torso. Chris recognized the move to be Harden. Luke will have a tough time breaking through Onix's already tough defense, he thought. He'd need to pile on the damage early and often. Luke seemed to agree, as he had his Pokémon follow up the strike with a Low Kick. This time however, Dobbs had Onix slither back, narrowly avoiding Electabuzz' sweeping kick.
"Rock Tomb!" Dobbs called.
As Onix swung his tail against the ground, dislodging and launching a cluster of boulders at the Electric-type, his trainer threw his hands out as if imitating the tossing of rocks. Chris had to crack a smile at that.
Electabuzz had over pursued and now found himself unable to avoid the oncoming rain of stones. Luke quickly called for Thunderpunch to dispel the rain of earth, but some of the debris still made it through, slamming into Electabuzz's leg and nearly knocking the creature off his feet.
Dobbs' flexed his pecks, though his loose fitting shirt revealed no definition. "Harden again!"
The rock snake capitalized on his opponent's hesitation and took on a silver glow once more.
"Brick Break!" Luke directed.
Electabuzz charged forward once more, but Chris thought he could see a slight limp with each step the creature took with his left foot. By the time the Electric Pokémon had closed the distance, Onix had finished with it's fortifying move.
"Rage on 'em!" Dobbs' howled.
Onix swung it's bulky head around to meet Electabuzz's sweeping chops. The first swipe bounced off the dome of the rock snake's skull, stopping the mammoth creature's progress. The next strike knocked Onix's outstretched head backward. Electabuzz also recoiled slightly, clutching at the fist that had delivered the second blow.
"Brick Break again!" Luke yelled a millisecond later.
Chris grimaced. "Electabuzz isn't ready for that," Chris muttered to himself. From the corner of his eye, he saw David's ears perk up.
It took an extra second for the Electric Pokémon to fight through the pain and swing forward with his good hand. That short delay had given Dobbs the chance to counter.
"Bulldoze over 'em!" he roared, both his arms pressing down on an invisible object.
The ground around Onix leapt up as if expelled by the earth's crust. An earthen segment of grass, dirt, and rock smashed into Electabuzz's gut as he hit the rock snake's base with another chop. Both Pokémon shuffled back awkwardly.
"Rock Tomb!"
"Low Kick!"
Onix swept its tail across the earth once more, tossing up debris that Electabuzz ducked and dove around, Luke's Pokémon searching all the while for an opening to deliver his kick.
"You also noticed that Electabuzz hurt his hand," David spoke up suddenly. Chris turned to see the trainer looking him over expectantly. "You thought he should have gone with another move."
Chris shrugged. "It's tougher to process those sorts of things when you're actually in the heat of battle. I would have gone with a Low Kick to give his hands time to recover and to deal the maximum amount of damage… but that's just me."
"Not sure I'd have been able to adjust quick enough to make up the difference in that delay before Brick Break," David admitted. "Adjusting moves and strategies mid battle isn't the easiest skill in the world."
"No, it isn't it," Chris said, his mind drifting back on the days he spent watching his brother train. More than any video or book on training, he'd found watching battles in person did more to prepare him. Seeing the Matt's Gengar and Jolteon dodge attacks had put the speed of Pokémon battles into a sobering clear perspective. Commands and attacks at the highest level of the craft required execution and adapting ato be like twitches in the human body: indiscernible in speed and virtually involuntary. Despite the speed from the previously mentioned creatures, and the sheer power of his Machamp and Feraligatr, Matt had still lost in the finals of the Silver Conference. The abilities in battle you could see and measure were not enough. An intangible element separated the great trainers from the legends. Chris would find it.
A boulder the size of a microwave caught Electabuzz in the shoulder, but the Electric-type spun off the blow and struck out with a low swinging kick. A crack rung out as Dobbs' Pokémon fell, its lower half giving out, and the unsupported weight of its upper half crashing into the grass. Chris thought that might signal the end of the battle, but Onix's lower half continued to turn and rumble—his stony face still showing the desire to fight. Electabuzz bounced on his toes, ready to break through and put the rock snake down for the count. The fight wasn't over.
"Bounce back and rock em with Bulldoze!" Dobbs directed.
Chris was surprised to hear the next command come from the trainer whose partner was on the ropes. Luke's hesitation could not have come at a more important moment. The trainer seemed taken aback by Dobbs' command.
Had he thought the battle was over?
It took a pair of crucial seconds for Luke to find a counter. "Brick Break!"
"He's got the power of Rage behind him," Chris said through gritted teeth.
"It's still active?" David asked as Electabuzz approached the rock snake with a glowing palm.
"Yeah," Chris growled. "And Electabuzz has been hit three times by speed reducing moves."
David nodded. "Between decreasing his opponent's speed and increasing Onix's defense, this Dobbs' guy has been pretty impressive."
"He has," Chris quietly agreed. The boisterous trainer had apparently improved more than just his physical appearance. "But I feel like some of his success has come from a lack of recognition on the part of Luke and his partner. They still seem a little… out of sync."
As if on cue, Electabuzz found himself launched into the air by a swinging platform of raised earth, his glowing attack having not made it to his foe. The Electric Pokémon fell back to the earth, landing spine first. The bruiser shook and trembled, his fighting spirit still strong, but his body could not continue.
"That'll do it!" Dobbs declared, already shuffling over to the Rock Snake Pokémon.
Luke grabbed the Poké Ball and went to return his defeated teammate, but froze. He stood there for a long moment, his eyes fixed on his fallen partner, who, in the short amount of time since the battle's conclusion, had managed to sit up. Slowly, almost painfully so, Luke approached his Pokémon.
David stood back up, and Chris rose from his squatted position a moment later. The two approached Luke, but the latter trainer stopped the former when he noticed the Tohjo Falls' native had knelt beside his partner. It didn't look like the trainer had any words for his teammate, but there was… comfort in the way Luke held his hand on the striped Pokémon's shoulders. He nodded slowly before finally withdrawing Electabuzz into his capture device.
"Tough battle, man," Chris acknowledged as they came to stand at Luke's side.
"I thought you had him there at the end," David added, stepping around Chris' shoulder.
"I guess I thought so too," Luke's hollow answer came, "but I didn't." The young man's entire body shook as Dobbs slowly made his victorious approach. The hefty trainer had an extra spring in his step as he casually worked his way over to the three trainers.
He ran a hand through his spiky, gelled hair. "Nice battle, broski."
Chris didn't know whether he should step between Dobbs and Luke, or just go ahead and grab the latter trainer. The dark haired boy's convulsing arms and back could only mean trouble. Luke brought his head up, and Chris could see anxiety and rage bubbling over all at once. The trainer went to spin toward his victorious opponent, but froze. His eyes had caught something off in the distance… Pidgeotto and Poochyena. He regarded them for a time, the anger and stress still coating his expression. But slowly, the intense emotions seemed to fade. When he turned to face Dobbs, a look of resignation had taken the place of any remaining hostility. "Same to you." Luke expected the trainer to extend a hand, and when he didn't, the Tohjo Falls' native took the initiative.
Dobbs looked down at his former opponent's hand in confusion. "I only shake the hands of winners, bro. You can ask your buddy over there. That's just how I roll."
Chris agreed and gave a nervous laugh. Dobbs' code would do nothing to dismiss any remaining tension, but at the moment, Luke didn't seem to take offense to it. He pulled back his hand and gave a curt nod. "I see."
"Nothing personal, I assure you," Dobbs safely added. He then turned his attention to the other two trainers, his eyes sticking on David. "How about you, man? How many badges do you have?"
"Three at the moment."
Dobbs' face lit up. "Then how about a battle?"
David hesitated, his gaze drifting over to Luke. "I appreciate the offer, but we need to keep moving. Like we said earlier, we want to get to Ecruteak while there's still some light left."
"Your loss," Dobbs said with a shrug. There was a sudden twinkle in his eye. "Though, I suppose it would have been your loss either way."
David had to fight back a snort. "Gotcha."
"Good luck on your battles in the west," Chris said, extending a hand.
Dobbs regarded it with contempt. "You know my code."
"So you're still not going to acknowledge our battle in Ecruteak?"
"I remember it now. And I remember us never finishing."
Chris grinned. "Whatever you say."
Dobbs gave him a thumbs up before returning his Pokémon to his capture device and slinging his satchel over his shoulders. "Fate brought us together once more, but just know that the only way it's guaranteed to happen again is if you make it to the Silver Conference."
"Sounds about right," Chris replied.
"Until next time." Dobbs gave the three trainers a loose wave before spinning through the cluster of trees behind them. There was the snap of branches breaking and a grunt… and then silence.
"Gotta admit," David said, shaking his head, "I love the theatrics."
Ecruteak is on the horizon, but the path to it has not been smooth! Between suffocating heat, run-ins with family, training, and a glorious encounter with Dobbs, the trainers have gotten their money's worth out of the two routes between each city. As evening fades and Ecruteak looms, what new adventures await our heroes! Find out next time on Heart & Soul! Please Review and Subscribe!