Note- Well fellow readers, we've come to another addition of Heart and Soul! Our trio of trainers have traversed the heat and the hills, and have finally arrived at Ecruteak! What new challenges and adventures await the trainers in this tradition driven city? What will be their path moving forward?! Buckle up, because you're going to find out today in the longest Heart and Soul chapter yet! Hope you enjoy! Please Review and Subscribe!
Chapter 40
Passing through the western gate of the city, the trainers found Ecruteak bathed in the dying light of evening. The orange glow reflected off the city's traditional blue tile roofs, poured through the open windows of homes seeking a respite from the high temperatures, and continued to spread warmth to the smooth stones that embodied most of the streets in the city. The shimmering blanket of light provided a gracious welcome to a young man who had eagerly anticipated his return from the moment he had departed west.
What little traffic the evening commute had brought had all but died as nightfall loomed. Small parties loitered around benches. Couples strolled. Scattered individuals bounced between restaurant entrances, their fickle minds and stomachs weighing all options. Black clad individuals slid smoothly between the ancient lamps placed down each street; with each fixture they visited, a small flame appeared and blossomed into a welcoming light. Decorative lighting laced many of the buildings together. Each wire held square, wooden chips polished with an oil that lit up in the warm light.
Luke was the first of the trio to speak after a near five-minute silence. "We need to find a place to crash for the night."
Chris had to tap dance his way around a Furret and two Sentret before he could speak. "No Ecruteak night life for you?"
Luke didn't reply, but David indulged him with a snort. "Not quite the same as Olivine, is it?"
"Thank Arceus for that," Chris replied.
David held an ear toward something in the distance, bringing Chris' attention to the soft strumming of a stringed instrument. "Sounds like someone's rocking the night away."
Chris listened for a moment longer. "That's Symphony for the North Wind, I think."
"North wind," Luke piped up. "As in... the embodiment of the north wind, Suicune?"
Chris nodded. "Musicians, both hobbyists and those hired by the city, would play it on the fourth night of the festival. It always followed after Rolling Thunder and Consuming Fire from the previous two nights."
"The Festival?" Luke repeated his words again.
Chris found himself turning to the north. He looked over the distant roofs of homes and businesses, to the less populated outskirts of the city. He scanned the dark horizon for the distinct marker. His heart nearly skipped a beat when he locked onto the shadowy foundation resting solemnly on its hill. "In remembrance of the burning of the second Ecruteak tower."
David and Luke followed Chris' gaze. After a time, the Violet City native was the first to speak. "Why on earth would you hold a festival to honor something so awful? Pokémon died in that fire."
Chris turned his attention back to the festivities in the street around them. Cloth figures, held by rope and string, swayed over porches. Protective incantations hung from cherry blossom trees. Paintings of lighting, roaring fires, and mournful rain filled the windows of nearby shops. Potato sacks painted black danced like Ghost-types in the starry night. He found himself looking back on the polished wooden chips hanging from the decorative lights. Even with all the lights in his face, he could see the figures engraved on each small tablet. The three beasts stared back at him, each painted with their matching primary color.
"To celebrate those same lives being resurrected," Luke answered for him, "and their connection to the life giver." The dark-haired trainer regarded Chris with a neutral stare. "That sound about right?"
Chris nodded. "In all the chaos of the past month, I'd forgotten about the anniversary of the Burned Tower." He ground his teeth together. "Darnit. I would have pushed to be here for the beginning if I'd just remembered. The opening ceremony is incredible. The food is unmatched; I'm talking about both quality and quantity! They used to recreate the burning of the tower at the Kimono Girls' open venue. The quintet would put on a free show. You'd get the history of Ecruteak and the past relationship shared by Pokémon and humans. They'd show this off while doing their awesome Eeveelution battle maneuvers. It was so cool to watch a Sage at full strength recreate the blaze that burned the tower using his…" Chris' mind silenced his mouth just in time. Images of the wise elder's Charizard flooded his thoughts, but the young man forced himself to remain silent.
"Guess you're all fanboyed out," David said with a laugh. "I love Violet City as much as the next native, but dang… that's some intense passion right there."
"You wouldn't understand," Chris replied, unconsciously wiping at his flustered cheeks. "The Sprout Tower is your hometown's only claim to faim."
"Nobody disses the Sprout!" David roared, grabbing Chris and pulling him into a headlock.
"I didn't diss it," Chris said between fits of laughter. "Who wouldn't love a lore built around a tiny plant?"
"Blasphemy!" David looked to tighten his grip, but Chris took advantage of the accumulated sweat on the trainer's arms and managed to slip free. The two companions took a step back from one another to regain their breath. "You just watch yourself next time you're in Violet City. Might be a stray Razor Leaf headed your way."
"Whatever you say," Chris replied, flashing a sly grin. "It may be awhile before I can actually make it back to Violet City. But for now, you're in my city." The declaration felt strange leaving his lips, but the longer he thought on it, the more Chris embraced the sentiment. Despite only having lived in the city for his first eight years, the young man had only now begun to understand how formative that time had been. His reverence hadn't dissipated. All the traditions and memories had stayed with him. He hadn't forgotten a thing—despite the move and all the time that had passed since.
As he went to turn away from the trainers, Chris found Luke's gaze on him. The Tohjo Falls native's reserved expression couldn't disguise the curious look in his eyes.
There had been few things in Luke's entire life as surreal or as tranquil as Ecruteak at present. The festival checked all his boxes: deep lore, connections to Mythology, the origins of three legendary Pokémon, and the relationship between them. All of this wrapped up in a city rich with tradition and a festival filled to the brim with beautiful artwork and an infectious atmosphere. But no matter how much he tried to get in to the festivities, Luke felt a rush of memories and uncontrollable emotion reach out and drag him back.
Since Charizard's departure, Luke's fortunes had only soured. Their multi day search in western Johto had yielded not even the tiniest whiff of a promising lead. He'd battled David to a draw using the most powerful Pokémon still left in his possession. After I fucking swept Jasmine's entire team, he grumbled silently. And then, he'd teamed up with the bruiser once more in his battle with Dobbs… only to lose to the bizarre trainer after seemingly having his Onix on the ropes. He'd sat through the humiliation of Dobbs' condescending denial of a handshake. Only shakes the hands of winners… the words stuck in Luke's craw worse than any before. And now, he had to linger in the same city as the man who had scorned and embarrassed him. But despite all the anger and tension pounding through his body, he felt he could not act upon it.
Something held him hostage. Guilt at losing the trust of his closest friend? Guilt at yelling at his family? Guilt at cursing his team, many of whom were new members? He wondered if it might be all three and then some. But worst of all, he could feel himself being pulled down an undesired path surrounded by painful questions.
Would he ever find Charizard? Johto was an awfully large region, and the fire lizard was a sole creature tucked somewhere away in it—if he'd even stuck around the region at all. Would his starter even be willing to team back up with him? Luke still believed himself to be a quality trainer. His record with Charizard had been fantastic, almost spotless, but that hadn't stopped the Fire/Flying-type from leaving. And if he was a trainer of quality, why had he been in such a slump? It had all seemed to start the moment he'd last met with Morty.
"That doesn't count," Luke growled through gritted teeth.
"What is it?" David asked.
Luke did his best to mask his anger. "Just thinking out loud." The explanation seemed to work based off David's expression. His eyes found the lights of a Pokémon Center several blocks down the street. He turned toward Chris a split second before the young man spun to face him. For a moment, they studied one another. "Looks like a Pokémon Center up ahead. May be worth looking into for lodging."
Chris waited a moment to answer, his eyes never leaving Luke's. "I doubt any rooms will be available with the festival going on, but it's worth a shot."
"Free is free," David chimed in.
Through a divine act of providence, the Pokémon Center still held one unoccupied room. This came with the caveat of a single night rental only, and the more immediate issue of only one bed, but for the moment, the trainers were content to have a roof over their heads and access to cleaning facilities. The trio healed their teams and set off toward the back corner of the large center. Festival decorations hung from the halls and ceiling, most looking as though they were done by children. The rudimentary drawings and mismatched colors momentarily brought Luke out of his introspection. He'd always found joy in drawing and he wouldn't think it a stretch to call himself an above average artist. There was a different kind of enjoyment to be found in works like these.
He chuckled at a crude drawing of Entei, one massive paw draped over his pal Raikou's shoulder, posing as if he were looking at a camera. At least, that's what Luke saw. The child had pressed down hard with the red and yellow colors, mixing them together in the middle, and making it nigh impossible to tell where one Legendary Beast ended and the other began.
The square room wasn't much larger than Luke's bedroom back home, but it possessed enough floor space for someone to sleep on; the only remaining question would be who. Chris, having made the sacrifice in their previous hotel arrangement, had himself a guaranteed spot on the queen-sized bed. Luke offered to take the floor, but quickly wilted when David put up a fight. In truth, despite his improving physical health, his knee had flared up after climbing Route 39, and a dull ache still lingered right below his kneecap. A soft sleeping surface and a good night's sleep could only help.
"I've got my sleeping bag anyway," David reminded them as he pulled out the thick sheets from his heavy duty pack. He tilted his head to the side, his eyes drifting to the ceiling as if lost in a memory. "This floor will feel like a bed of clouds compared to the nights I spent out on the wild safari land."
"But I thought you said no one could stay overnight," Chris objected, his cat-like grin making another appearance. "And I remember you driving us out of there pretty quickly once things got spooky in those woods. Kinda odd behavior from a master outdoorsman." He looked to Luke for support, and the Tohjo Falls' native managed to cast a pair of raised eyebrows at David in mock accusation.
"Well, it's just, I—" David fumbled through a stream of disjointed words, "I didn't want to get in trouble for having you two out there. And, uh, I figured you'd want to get back to your Pokémon." He crossed his arms and regarded his fellow trainers with a strong stink eye. "I have spent some nights in the Safari Zone."
"Probably by accident during your first few days on the job," Luke added dryly.
Laughter and defensive shouts carried the trio into the night until exhaustion drove them to sleep.
Chris awoke to a soft buzzing in his ear. He rolled over and nearly smacked his head on the nightstand. Reaching out, he fumbled through the darkness until his finger had found and swiped across his PokéGear screen. He'd set an alarm at its lowest possible volume as to not wake the others, but he now worried he'd slept through it and let the device ring for too long. He lay there for an extra couple of seconds, mustering all his strength for the day at hand. He didn't have an exact agenda yet, but he had a starting point—catching the Kimono Girls' closing day dance.
Sliding slowly from beneath his sheets, Chris threw on an old pair of clothes and grabbed some essentials for his team. Checking his PokéGear, he saw that dawn had not yet arrived. He still had a half hour to make it over to—
"What's up, man?" Luke's voice nearly sent Chris toppling onto David.
"What are you doing up?" Chris hissed back.
"Didn't sleep super well."
"Maybe you and David can trade places," Chris suggested. "I'm sure sleeping in the floor beats sleeping in the same bed as a journeyman."
"Journeyman?" Luke whispered back.
"Yeah, my mom always said I explored every part of my bed when I slept."
Luke grinned at that. "I wasn't a big fan of the elbows my right shoulder caught."
Chris shook his head. "Sorry man."
"Not a problem," Luke said with a wave. "Like I said, I wasn't getting much sleep regardless." He nodded at Chris' silver satchel. "What are you getting into this early?"
"The Kimono Girls begin the last day of the festival with a performance," Chris explained. "It always starts right at dawn."
Luke sat up. "Mind if I tag along?"
A thick fog still chilled the air as the duo made their way north along the quiet city streets. The low hanging clouds managed to obscure even the mighty Bell Tower from view. As they walked, the boys said little, which, surrounded by the tranquil Ecruteak morning, was just as well for Chris. It felt great to experience a peaceful morning in a city again. But as they continued on past the dark homes and still marketplaces, the trainer from Cherrygrove couldn't keep his eyes from drifting over to the silent trainer beside him.
Luke's steps were stiff, bringing Chris back to the initial fear he had felt when the Tohjo Falls' native had recounted his tale. The rest of the trainer seemed more relaxed at least, though Luke's vacant expression told Chris the trainer had checked out from his current surroundings.
"So this dance we're about to see," Chris' head snapped back at the sound of Luke's voice, "what will it represent?"
The young man fought to recompose himself. "It's called The Departure. It recalls Ho-oh's gifting of life to the fallen creatures... and then the departure of all parties involved."
"Kind of a sad note to end the festival on," Luke replied.
Chris tilted his head until he heard a pop. "Yeah. The fallout from the Legendary Beasts' resurrection isn't worth celebrating. All the folks that witnessed it weren't exactly heaping praise on the act. When Ho-oh left shortly after, I think it told the people of Ecruteak, and humanity in general, all they needed to know about the imperfect connection between us and Pokémon."
Luke sighed. "I wish I could disagree."
Chris knew well enough what he was alluding to. "Listen man… just because we screwed things up back then, it doesn't mean we can't course correct now." He paused, pleading with his brain to give him the magic words needed to lift Luke's spirits. "You know Charizard loves ya. He almost burned down an entire forest just to ensure your safety. He worked with you well enough that he evolved twice! You and him took down Jasmine's team single-handedly."
Luke's face twisted sourly at the mention of his sweep of the Steel-type user. "And after all that, I still let him down."
Chris worked his jaw muscles in silent frustration as the sound of their footsteps on the stone street continued to echo out. He glanced around at the thick fog and a memory took shape in his mind. "The morning before I battled Morty, I took a short walk by the towers." A grin slid onto his lips at the memory of his poorly suppressed excitement afterward and Nidoking's ridiculous guess of it stemming from an encounter with Ho-oh. "It was super foggy just like this. Well, as I'm walking I hear footsteps, and an instant later, the Gym Leader himself came jogging into view. He had his trademark Gengar with him, and let me tell ya, one look at those glowing red eyes nearly made my bowels release."
"Chris," came Luke's distant voice.
The Cherrygrove native turned to face his companion, but found no one there. He spun back to find Luke's dim outline standing motionless at the edge of the blanket of fog. "Luke," he replied evenly.
"I've battled Morty already."
The fog most likely obscured his expression, but even so, Chris tried to keep a nonchalant look. "Oh, okay."
"It… didn't go well."
"No shame in that," Chris called back. "Most interviews I've read have Morty right there near the top of skilled Gym Leaders."
"It wasn't a traditional battle," Luke added after a tense moment of silence. "Things have been… worse since."
Chris took a couple steps toward his companion. "I had something similar happen after Whitney beat me. That came right after losing in the first round of the Goldenrod Tournament. I remember thinking that I might be heading for a slump I'd never recover from. Same kind of thing that drove my dad out of the profession."
"This was different," Luke countered.
"Okay," Chris said, before hesitantly adding, "would you care to elaborate?"
"Not right now."
Chris thought about pushing the issue, but something held him back. He nodded. "I gotcha, man." He looked down and found a Poké Ball in his hand. "Care if I bring out a companion to walk with us?"
Luke slowly strode to stand beside him once more. He also held a Poké Ball in his hand. "I might just do the same."
The duo reached the same open space Chris and Dobbs had held their noon-ish showdown at. The rising sun had begun to make its presence felt as the fog rolled slowly back to reveal the building-less outskirts. One look told Chris there would be no battling here today. Not in the regular sense at least.
A good sized crowd had already gathered before a wooden stage. The platform sat low but stretched the entire width of the ruined tower behind it. A painted wall rested firmly as its sole background fixture. On it, Chris could see the story of the Burned Tower told through the broad strokes of a paintbrush.
"'Vee!" the Normal-type Pokémon exclaimed at the sight.
Chris had released Eevee to walk with him, despite his innate desire to walk with Quilava or an older ally. "Pretty amazing, huh? You're gonna be in for a treat today."
"We better keep moving if we want to get a decent view," Luke said. He held his hands in his pocket. His Duskull hovered just over his shoulder.
The trainers worked their way deep into the crowd. Chris brought Eevee onto his shoulder as the mass of people thickened. They managed to make it much closer to the stage than either trainer thought possible. Coupled with the tall builds of both trainers, they'd have themselves one hell of a view.
"Ladies and gentlemen," an older man stepped to the front of the stage, "I'd like to welcome you to the final day of the Tower Festival!" He waited for the scattered applause to die down. "My name is Satoshi Masuda. I am the owner of the Ecruteak Dance Hall and manager of the incredible performers you are about to observe. I'd like to first thank you all for participating in this week's festivities. Without your support and attendance, the history of our great city would eventually disappear." He paused and received another round of applause. "And to ensure the past is treasured and the future secured, we must look to those who strive for greatness. That's why we're honored to have the Head Supervisor of Construction in the region with us today. Since taking up office, Mr. Oliver has done everything in his power to restore and maintain Johto's most scenic sights. Even now, his team is working to restore the Burned Tower back to its former glory. So at this time, I'd like him to step forward to receive your warmest of cheers!"
A gaunt man with short grey hair stepped forward and gave the applauding crowd a slight bow. A gold pin in his suit pocket seemed to send a flood of memories into Chris' conscious. This was the same man who had escorted him out of the Trainer School in Violet City. He'd done the same in Ecruteak when Chris and Anna had tried to explore the Burned Tower. His battle against Oliver's Hawlucha still hung fresh in his mind—as did the words he spoke after. Never give your Pokémon a reason to doubt you. It still seemed such an odd piece of advice.
Oliver had left the spotlight, and now, as the first light of dawn fell onto Ecruteak, the stage lay bare. A gong sounded from somewhere out of sight. The remaining whispers in the crowd died on its echo. There was a long moment of silence where no one dared breathe. A small breeze swept through.
A booming sound issued from somewhere out of sight. Then a woman began to dance. She swayed gently, her soft footsteps gliding her across the stage like a ghost. The sleeves and bottom of her kimono trailed her movements, adding to the otherworldly effect. She stopped at center stage and brought one hand high over her head. A blinding flash of light filled the sky over her. The dancer brought her hand down, her entire body dropping to the ground with it. At that moment, Chris saw, through squinted eyes, a wicked bolt of electricity split the air and strike the stage where the woman had been. The concussive force from the strike nearly knocked Eevee off his shoulder.
"Holy hell!" Luke shouted from beside him.
Before the searing light had faded, a tower of spiraling flames materialized from the same spot the bolt had struck. The flames twisted and expanded, sending waves of heat into the crowd. The whirling wall of inferno expanded, and through the thinly veiled wall of flame, Chris could make out a woman spinning in its center.
"How is she still alive?" Luke voiced Chris' own thoughts.
As the fire soared higher, clouds began to slowly build above the stage. The collection of condensation expanded and darkened until, with a low rumble, the clouds opened wide, and a torrential downpour descended. Fire and water mixed with a hiss. Steam climbed into the air and spread over the crowd. A wide shadow fell over Chris and Luke as the morning light was obscured from view. The steam seemed imbued with a thick, dark energy, holding the vapor in place, and trapping the onlookers beneath the grey shroud.
Chris turned his gaze back to the stage and had to hold back a cry. Three creatures lay on their side in a circle, bodies completely motionless. It took him a moment, but he recognized the Pokémon as Vaporeon, Flareon, and Jolteon. Chris felt the bulk of Eevee's weight press down on his shoulder as the Normal-type leaned forward to get a better look. The sound of the gong being struck nearly sent both trainer and Pokémon stumbling into the woman in front of him. Scanning the stage, he caught sight of something moving beneath the darker shadows of the back wall. A red jewel lit up from its location a split second before a white light pulsed out.
By the time Chris had blinked away light, the three Eeveelutions had begun to rise. Each of them were accompanied by a Kimono Girl. As the creatures lifted themselves, the women swayed and twirled around them. Sparks began to emanate from Jolteon, fire from Flareon, and a frosty blend of water and ice from Vaporeon. The elemental discharges only increased as the creatures made it to their feet. The women picked up the speed of their synchronized maneuvers. Time itself seemed to speed up with them. The three Pokémon howled together as the morning sun ripped through the remaining steam, providing the scene with a low hanging rainbow. Each creature had become consumed with their element now. With one final ring of the gong, the trio sped off in a different direction. Two beams, one light and one dark, collided where the creatures had just stood, creating an explosion that covered the stage in a dark smoke. When it had faded, the platform now held all five Kimono Girls. A member of the classic five Eeveelutions stood in front of each. Chris could feel Eevee shaking on his shoulder.
The crowd roared their approval as each member of the production took a bow. The Pokémon were not exempt, receiving arguably more praise than their trainers.
"Hell of a show," Luke acknowledged after the applause had subsided.
Chris nodded. "They never disappoint. Their timing and synchronization are even better now than they were when I last saw the closing ceremony."
"How long ago was that?" Luke asked.
"Eight years, I think."
Luke shot him a stern look, made humorous by the vacant expression of the Duskull right behind him. "You think they would've gotten worse after eight years of practice?"
"Guess I didn't think about that," Chris said, trying not to crack a smile.
There was a tap on the shoulder not currently holding Eevee. Chris turned, but had to drop his head down to meet the newcomers' eyes.
"Nice to see you again," came the boy's proper voice. His tone and the expensive looking attire he had on sent Chris' mind back to his previous adventures in Ecruteak.
"Hey!" the trainer replied after a moment of further thought. He recognized him now as the same boy that had watched him train and asked him about the lifestyle. The boy's name escaped him, though. "Long time no see. How have you been?"
"Bored," the black haired boy responded, before yawning, "and tired. This ceremony made me more of both, I think."
"You didn't like it?" Chris couldn't keep the shock out of his voice.
"Old legends at seven in the morning don't really get me going," he replied.
Chris considered that. "Guess this sorta stuff isn't for everybody. I really dug it when I was a kid. Arguably more so now." An obvious thought hit Chris. "Wait, if you didn't like it, why did you come?"
The boy nodded over to a woman with short, white hair fitted in a gaudy cerulean dress. "My Nana won't let me out of her sight when she's awake. Especially after she found out about my trip out of the city during one of her longer naps. And so I'm forced to be her shadow now. And she loves to socialize."
"Just take this as a learning experience," Chris suggested.
"Speaking of a learning experience," the boy squeaked as his eyes lit up, "I got to watch some pro trainers battle in the Whirl Islands Tournament!"
Chris couldn't hide his grin. "You saw me battle?"
"Oh yeah!" the boy roared. "Your last two battles were so epic. I almost punched the T.V. off the wall when you and Gyarados knocked out that Swampert. I would have gone through with it when you lost in the Finals, but my Nana had a good hold on me at that point."
"I appreciate the support," Chris said with a chuckle. He reached over and grabbed Luke, who had been standing awkwardly silent beside the conversation. "This guy also participated in the tournament. He made it pretty far too!"
The boy's eyes shone even brighter. "Pleasure to meet you, sir." He extended one of his small hands. "My name is Bulregard."
How could I forget? Chris mused darkly.
Luke shot his fellow trainer a knowing expression before shaking the boy's hand. "Likewise. Name's Luke."
Bulregard turned back to Chris. "How goes the badge hunt?"
"I had, what, three when you last saw me?"
The young boy thought for a moment. "Yeah, that's right. You'd just beaten Whitney."
Chris threw up three fingers. "I've doubled that total since."
If it were possible, Bulregard's bulging eyes widened. "That's insane. It's not even been three months!"
Chris showed his teeth. "Yeah, I thought that was pretty impressive myself."
Luke let go a loud cough. "We may want to head back. David is probably awake by now and wondering where we are."
Chris looked over the excited boy and sighed. "You're right," he said, turning to face Luke. "We'll want to work out our plan moving forward too." When he looked back at the young boy, there was a sudden sadness in his eyes. "I'm sure I'll see ya again, man. We're two-for-two right now."
Bulregard sniffed, but managed a nod. "Sounds good."
"Until then," Chris said, shaking the boy's hand once more. He turned to speak to Luke, but found the trainer already making headway against the dismissing crowd.
Away from the crowd, Chris had gotten in touch with David and worked out a meeting point, but not before receiving a scolding so vicious Luke had to turn away.
"We'll make sure to wake you up next time," Chris soothed. "Anyway, we'll meet you in front of the Barrier Station."
"Yeah, yeah. Hey," David's voice cracked over a small burst of static, "wasn't this the last perfor—"
Chris ended the call and shot Luke a guilty expression.
The duo made their way east as the sun made its slow climb. They swung by a vendor stand and grabbed a quick breakfast along their way. The fog had vanished, replaced by foot traffic that might have rivaled some of Olivine's busier suburbs. Luke kept his eyes straight ahead, seeing but not processing his surroundings. His thoughts still remained entrapped by the Kimono Girls' performance.
The production had been spectacular, without a doubt, but it had been the synchronization that had captivated Luke. Every effect in the performance had been created by an Eeveelution's attack. And throughout it all, the Kimono Girls had danced alongside their partners without fear of injury. An unspoken trust existed between trainer and Pokémon. Luke shook his head. That comes from years of experience, he thought. Even so, he could still feel something gnawing at the back of his mind.
"What moves do you think their Pokémon used?" Chris' question snapped Luke from his trance.
"Hm." Luke thought back on the moves in succession. "I know Flash was used right before the electric bolt. The latter move was definitely Thunder."
"I agree," Chris replied. He held up two fingers. "I think Espeon used Flash again right before the beasts' resurrection. Thought I saw its jewel light up a moment before."
"Fire Spin from Flareon?" Luke proposed.
"For sure. I think it took off at the end using Flame Charge."
"Spark from Jolteon?"
Chris scratched his chin. "When it stood up, yeah. I think it used Wild Charge to dash off."
The discussion lasted the trainers the rest of their short trip. Upon arriving, they found an open bench across the street from the Barrier Station. Four white cloths hung from the front of the wooden structure. Each held an insignia: a bolt of lightning, a ball of fire, a cloud of rain, and a rainbow. A pair of bald, elderly gentlemen roamed the garden area beneath them, watering the foliage lining the walls and ground. David joined the trainers not long after.
"I thought we were traveling companions!" he started up again.
Chris threw his hands in the air. "I'm sorry, man. I was planning to just go solo, but Luke caught me sneaking out."
David placed both hands on his hips and puffed out his chest. "You could have woken me up."
"I could have," Chris admitted. "I just was in a hurry. We still haven't even eaten breakfast."
At the sound of a meal, Luke became suddenly aware of all the food vendors around them. The smell of something frying on a grill had him salivating, but his knotted stomach held any notion of eating at bay.
David tilted his head back and forth. "Alright, I'll give you this; I couldn't have made the trip and watched the performance without some breakfast. Some people need coffee. Some people need a good night's sleep. I have to have a full stomach to properly function in the morning."
"That would have made us late," Luke chimed in.
David gave an exaggerated sigh. "Alright, alright. I apologize." He stomped a foot on the ground. "I'm just mad that I missed something big, especially after all of Chris' hyping."
"You'll have plenty of opportunities to see them perform," Chris said reassuringly. "They do this every year."
The pain seemed to finally drain from David's face as he gave a slow nod. "Well, anyway, what's on the agenda for today, fellas?"
Luke thought about that. Outside of searching for Charizard, he had no real plans for Ecruteak. By the look on Chris' face, he didn't appear to either.
"We're already by the Barrier Station," David said. "Might as well pay Ho-oh a visit."
Chris shook his head. "You and Luke couldn't make it into the Barrier Station. You need the Fog Badge to gain access."
That led into the question Luke had dreaded since Ecruteak's gate had come into view. "Why don't you come support me and Luke while we whip up on Ecruteak's Gym Leader?" David asked Chris.
"It'll just be you," Luke clarified, trying to keep his voice even and his eyes away from Chris. "I'm going to hold off on tackling Morty until I've taken care of Goldenrod's Gym."
"Well damn, fellas," David huffed, real annoyance seeping into his voice. "At least make some suggestions if you're gonna shoot down my ideas."
The jovial sounds of the crowd seemed to fade in Luke's ears. A self imposed, but uncomfortable silence fell on the trainers. When Luke finally turned to look at Chris, he found the plain truth in his eyes.
"Our next step takes us all in different directions," he said. "I need to head east for my final two badges, David needs to take on Ecruteak's Gym, and Luke still needs to beat Whitney."
Luke nodded slowly. "And for all I know, Charizard may have headed further south than I guessed."
David looked first to Chris, and then to Luke. His incredulous expression melted into a frustrated acceptance. "Okay," he said quietly. "Fine. I just… didn't expect us to split so soon."
That led to another round of silence. Chris was the first to act. He took a step forward, most likely to shake the hands of his rivals turned companions.
"Before we go our separate ways," Luke heard himself say, "how about you two accompany me over to the east gate." He could feel Chris' eyes on him. He wasn't entirely sure why he'd made the suggestion himself. "I still haven't searched the northeastern part of Ecruteak and I could use some extra eyes. And besides," he continued, with a nod toward Chris, "that's where you'll be going anyway."
The Cherrygrove native gave him a warm grin. "Sounds like a good plan."
On David's suggestion, the trio released their Pokémon to walk with them. With no wild Pokémon encounters in the city, Luke figured it would just add helpful eyes to their search. Their progress was leisurely, maybe more so than the Tohjo Falls' native would have liked, but he didn't feel the urge to rush them. An ache had begun to spread through his chest that had nothing to do with Charizard.
"I wish those multi colored trees extended out to the city border," David said, tapping the trunk of an elm tree. His Pokémon had mostly intermingled with Chris', but Magmar had found his way over to Electabuzz's side. The electric bruiser was having himself a hearty chuckle at Magmar's rendition of his Fire Punch. The Electric-type threw a lightning coated fist forward in response, and the two were soon playfully quarreling. His Kangaskhan marched close to Poochyena's heels, driving the Dark-type forward with constant yelps. The more he watched his newest capture, the more he realized that her personality seemed to match, or possibly even exceed, her large frame. She'd create her own niche in the team's dynamic. Duskull hovered in the trainer's own shadow. His glowing red eye held on the playful interaction between Kangaskhan and Poochyena, the faintest trace of amusement in his menacing appearance. Riolu walked quietly on his left. It was strange to see the normally energetic creature keep his head down and his shoulders slumped. Luke shook his head and brought his gaze back to the tree line.
I have to be vigilant, he thought.
The slow search turned south with the road, but not before the trio were forced onto a minor detour. A wall of webbing, from a wild Ariados according to one source, had blocked off the main road leading south, forcing the trainers into a less populated alley behind the last row of buildings bordering the woodland. The path provided the trainers with an ever closer look at the forest, but it didn't seem to yield any advantage. Despite knowing the odds were well against them, Luke couldn't help but feel disheartened at the lack of any evidence.
"You think I should ask around about him while I'm in town?" David suggested.
"No," came Luke's sharp reply. He brought a hand up to try and dispel the tension. "I just… don't want this search to become a big deal. It's too personal for that."
"Alright."
David quickened his pace and searched on ahead, his Eevee and Nidorina joining him in short order. The rest of his team lingered in Chris' party, which had now successfully drawn Luke's gaze from the tree line. It still felt surreal seeing Nidoking's bulky frame and the monstrous figure of Gyarados after spending time with both creatures in their base form. Having seen the spunk in Nidoran during his first battle with Chris, Luke knew the little guy had some potential. But even knowing what he did about the Magikarp line, he could have never envisioned that dopey-eyed golden fish evolving into the same powerhouse he'd seen thrive at the Whirl Islands Tournament. Flaaffy's glowing tail pulled his attention away, and he was reminded of the creature's victory over Chuck's Poliwrath. It hadn't been the most impressive display, but Luke had seen the creature's raw strength. She'd be a tough customer by the time he and Chris had their rematch.
Eevee and Quilava kept stride on either side of their trainer. The trainer from Cherrygrove looked to be in discussion with his fire starter, a sight that sent a familiar aching pain through Luke's entire body.
"Shit," he muttered.
"Oh my gosh," came David's baritone voice.
Luke's head snapped around quicker than his neck would allow—a flash of white light filling his vision as a bolt of pain sliced down his neck. He heard hurried footsteps and, for the briefest of moments, he dared to hope. His heart fell upon hearing Chris speak.
"It is such an honor to meet you ladies."
Luke blinked back tears as the blinding light faded, and the sight of two women in ornate kimonos appeared. It was an unexpected sight, but not one that made him feel any better. He reluctantly strode forward and joined the halted party a short moment later.
The woman on the left brushed the magenta sash around her waist and bowed. "I am Naoko."
The other dancer made the same gesture with her black sash. "And I, Zuki."
Chris couldn't seem to contain his wonder. "I can't believe you ladies are out with the rest of us," he exclaimed. "After your performance this morning, I figured you'd make like the Legendary Beasts at the end of the tale and race off in a glorious departure."
The dancer named Naoko giggled. "We are regular humans, just like you!"
"It is true that we don't get out as much as we used to," Zuki acknowledged. As she looked over them, Luke took notice of her stern expression. "A lot of danger in the world at present. We have to consider the safety of our Pokémon and of ourselves. If even one of us falls, the balance of Ecruteak and her tradition will be thrown off." Her tone lightened, "That's what amazes me about you Pokémon Trainers. Despite all the uncertainty and danger, you push forward as a hope-filled team."
"Here's to hope," Chris spoke up suddenly. "Would you ladies care to battle?"
Luke felt his jaw drop. David spun back to look at him and the two trainers exchanged shocked looks.
Chris took a step toward the ladies. "My team has earned six badges so far," he said, brandishing the proof in one hand. He pointed to his Pokémon with the other. "We've had our fair share of wins and losses, but we've persevered with that same hope you spoke of. We've never stopped growing and learning. This would be another great opportunity for us."
"He's very confident," Naoko said through a poorly suppressed giggle. She turned to her companion. "It could be fun, Zuzu."
Luke looked over at Chris and found the trainer's legs wobbling beneath his weight. Either the Kimono Girls noticed this and were just being kind, or they were blind as Zubat.
"We'd like to keep a low profile," Zuki reminded her.
Luke stepped forward. "We're in a pretty secluded spot," he said. "Not going to find many more private battlefields with all the festivities going on." The trainer could feel both women's eyes on him now. His breath caught in his throat, his back stiffened, and he could feel his feet pressing painfully into the stone walkway.
"This would be the easiest way to give our partners a good workout," Naoko added with a hint of pleading in her voice.
"It'd be great for our Eevee's to see!" David added.
At that, both women's faces seemed to light up. They each shot a warm smile toward Chris and David's Normal-type companions.
"Well then," Zuki said, her smile twisting into a competitive smirk, "I might just be up for it."
"You wanna make this a one-on-one affair?" Chris asked.
Zuki shook her head. "We'll make this a double battle."
"A double…" Chris threw a confused glance at his traveling companions.
"Naoko and I will battle you and your friend," Zuki clarified, pointing toward Chris and David.
"Just make sure your Eevee's pay close attention!" Naoko exclaimed.
Luke blinked once, and then again. "What?"
Naoko turned her friendly smile on him. "We're planning on battling these two."
"I heard what you said," Luke made sure his tone held respect. "But I'm wondering why you can't make this a two-on-three battle." The two Kimono Girls shot him a perplexed expression. "I—" Luke stopped to rub the bridge of his nose. "You come from a group of trainers considered to be among the most powerful in Johto. I don't think it would be unfair to make this a handicap battle of sorts."
"It wouldn't be unfair," Zuki agreed. "But me and my friend have decided to battle these two gentlemen."
"Is it because they both have an Eevee?" Luke didn't attempt to mask the exasperation in his voice.
"It didn't hurt," Naoko answered slowly, "but there's more to it than that."
"And that is?"
Zuki stepped forward. "Now is not the time for this," she said. "If we are going to battle, we must hurry."
A hand landed softly on Luke's shoulder. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see it belonged to Chris. He went to shrug it off, but his body didn't respond. Despite his sudden numbness, he could feel his fellow trainer's grip tighten with a reassured firmness. "You're good, man. Just take a quick breather."
Luke could feel everyone's eyes on him now. He brought his hands up. "Fine."
As the other four trainers spread out to create their battlefield, Luke somehow found himself sitting beneath the shadow of a tall willow at the edge of the forest. After a hesitant moment, the rest of his team joined him, though he couldn't yet stand to look any of them in the eyes. In fact, he could barely focus on anything with the turmoil going on inside him.
His struggles with his Pokémon and his fallout with Morty… they had always felt like different issues. But now, Luke forced himself to reflect on his last few months. Getting lost in the ruins. Forcing his starter to save his life. His helplessness had nearly caused an entire forest to burn to the ground. His frustrating inability to properly command Charizard in the battle against Jasmine. He'd thought of the woman as a sore loser, but perhaps she'd genuinely been trying to point out an issue. And despite his quick bounce back from injury, Luke had only found scorn from a man he'd admired.
He glanced up in time to see Quilava's Flamethrower clash with Espeon's Psybeam. The two attacks seemed evenly matched, but the flames were eventually quelled by the Psychic-type assault, and Quilava sent stumbling backward. Nidorina didn't look to be faring much better against Umbreon. The Dark-type danced around Nidorina's kicks, countering smoothly with well placed tackles and confusion inducing moves. The Kimono Girls' Pokémon switched partners with one effortless transition, leaving Chris and David to scramble for a counter. Luke's eyes dropped back to the ground.
He'd been given so many hints… so much advice. He'd had every opportunity to slow down and work out the path ahead. He'd fallen behind by accident, but he'd done nothing to really improve the situation in the long term. In his rush to get back on schedule, he'd only stalled his team's progress further. Earning two more badges hadn't changed that.
Looking back up, he saw Chris wave his arm, and Quilava execute a striking combination on Umbreon, while almost simultaneously providing cover for Nidorina with Smokescreen. The trainer from Cherrygrove had always had a skill for adapting. It had been evident even from their first contest as inexperienced trainers, when Cyndaquil had managed to battle Luke's more experienced Charmander to a stalemate, despite the opposing trainer's lack of knowledge of his partner's moves. He'd seen it at the Whirl Islands Tournament, when the trainer's partner had evolved the morning of his battle in the semi-finals. The young man's battles against Faulkner, Bugsy, and Chuck had been testaments. And if he was to be believed, he'd led his Magikarp to knock out one of Morty's own Pokémon. All that success had driven Luke… too hard... if he were honest.
He'd let Chris' progress dictate the speed of his own. David's growth as a trainer and his success against Luke had only added to his growing insecurities. He'd let all this brew, and eventually fester, until even his closest companion couldn't take it anymore. Charizard, the name hung in his mind. If he'd reunited with the creature a day earlier, he might very well have driven him off for good. But now… now the words he needed to say were becoming clearer. Like a torch that had just been lit, a growing light was beginning to dispel the darkness that had clouded his mind. Luke suddenly realized that the glowing light had not just been in his mind. His eyes found the battlefield once more. "No way."
"Shoot," Chris hissed as Umbreon absorbed Quilava's Quick Attack and sent the creature staggering back with Confuse Ray. He risked a glance over at David and his Nidorina, but saw the two had found themselves in an equally unfavorable position. We need to change back to our original opponents, Chris thought. Espeon's Psychic attacks would make quick work of Nidorina if the matchups stayed the way they were. But Chris had no experience in this realm of double battles, and Zuki's Umbreon had proven to be well versed in disruptive tactics. "We need to switch back," he called to David.
"Absolutely," David replied through gritted teeth. "Any ideas?"
"Jump back!" Chris directed. Relief came over him at the sight of his partner shedding his confusion and dodging Umbreon's Thunder Wave. His eyes danced between their two adversaries, who had begun to charge in tandem. He felt himself be drawn to the space between the approaching adversaries. They talked about battling as if it were a dance, he thought. We'll have to break their rhythm.
"We've worked on your control for this exact kind of scenario," Chris told his starter in a low voice. "Aim your Smokescreen at the space between them."
"Quil," the Fire-type nodded.
Chris turned to David. "Have Nidorina follow the smoke. Umbreon will be on the left."
A new surge of fire erupted from the Volcano Pokémon's back. He stood up onto his hind legs and stuck out his stomach. "Lava!" A thin, but concentrated blast of smoke burst from the creature's mouth and sliced the battlefield in two. Espeon and Umbreon were forced to part further as the black curtain dropped between them.
"Into the smoke!" David directed. "Listen for Umbreon's footsteps on your left."
Nidorina's increased speed allowed her to dive into the cover only a couple of seconds after it had been created.
"Follow after her!" Chris instructed. "We can't let Espeon get back over to team up with Umbreon. Prepare a Flamethrower!"
The Fire-type raced into the dark shroud, the red glow of his flames lingering an extra moment amidst the blackness.
The Eeveelutions had continued their approach, but Chris knew Espeon wouldn't stay separated from her teammate for long. He couldn't see the Psychic-type from this side of the Smokescreen, but he had no doubt that the Kimono Girls already knew the purpose behind Quilava's cover. Umbreon would need his comrade's long range firepower to keep off a joint assault. If Nidorina didn't attack the Dark-type soon, she'd find herself in a two-on-one situation. At that exact moment, the Poison Pin Pokémon burst from the smoke just in front of the Zuki's partner. Umbreon pulled up but couldn't prevent Nidorina's Double Kick from landing square against the side of his head and stomach.
"There we go!" David had now sprinted over to Chris' side for a visual on his partner. "Hit 'em with a Fury Swipes combo while you're close!"
As the Poison-type brought up her glowing claws, movement from the smoke beside her caught the trainers' eyes. A flurry of star shaped energy sliced through the dark plume and smashed into Nidorina's exposed underbelly. Umbreon had recovered enough during the short opening to follow up Espeon's attack with a Feint Attack. The combo knocked Nidorina off her feet and onto her back.
Chris muttered a curse under his breath. Even when apart, and facing poor visibility, the opposing trainers and their Pokémon could stay in sync. They weren't wrong about their approach, Chris had to admit. They battled like they were performing a dance they'd known all their life. Adapting and countering didn't look like it would be enough. Espeon had emerged from the smoke now, her jewel alight with the energy she would soon unleash on David's vulnerable partner.
Nidorina's trainer had a pleading tone in his voice. "Where's Quilava?"
"He should be there any second," Chris answered. "I'm surprised he hasn't already reached her side. Unless—" The thought of Quilava bypassing Nidorina and attacking an exposed opponent struck him. That directive mindset—focused on winning at all costs—would certainly have been how his Cyndaquil and newly evolved Quilava proceeded. He's grown, Chris told himself. He vocalized his next thought loud enough for David to hear. "He'll get there."
Umbreon had dropped back to better recover, but Espeon proceeded with her attack. A multicolored ray burst from her jeweled forehead and darted toward David's downed partner.
"'Lava!"
The Volcano Pokémon blasted out of the smoke, landing in the path of Espeon's attack. A shimmering glow surrounded the fire on his head and back. As he released the Flamethrower he'd stored up, Chris felt a wave of heat wash over him. The Blaze Ability. The flames exploded from his mouth just in time to greet Espeon's multicolored ray. A crackling sound filled the air as the energies battled for supremacy. After a momentary stalemate, Quilava's flames began to drive back the psychic attack.
"Umbreon attacked too quickly," Chris shouted to David. "That Feint Attack took energy out of him that he hadn't properly prepped. He's open for an attack!"
David shook his head and pointed at his teammate. The Poison Pin Pokémon was still attempting to make it back to her feet. "No good. Nidorina's still recovering herself."
Chris could feel his teeth grinding together. "It's alright. Have her launch a Double Kick when she's ready."
"Your Quilava needs some—"
"We'll be fine," Chris assured, though he was sure his strained expression did little to sell the sentiment. "Me and Quilava can handle this." They were still winning the energy clash at the moment. The flames had almost reached Espeon, in fact. He could see her beginning to bow beneath the heat.
"Dark Pulse!" Zuki's voice called over the roar of the fire.
Umbreon had now recovered fully. The Moonlight Pokémon dropped low to the ground, sending a dark wave of energy rippling out in the process. The attack spiraled into Espeon's own assault and the energy centerpoint immediately shifted back toward Quilava. The Volcano Pokémon's flames, and the energy they struggled with, began to draw closer.
"Nidorina's good to go," David informed him. "Let her jump in and take some of the damage!"
Chris looked back at his starter, who appeared to face an eminent meeting with the mixed energy attack. At that moment, the Volcano Pokémon turned his head enough to meet his trainer's gaze. To maintain his attack, the creature couldn't speak or give Chris any physical cues about his opinion, but the young man understood the look nonetheless. Quilava's round eyes had changed… they'd sharpened.
"We've got this!" Chris shouted. "Go for Umbreon!"
David ended his arguing and called for a Double Kick on the Dark-type. Nidorina bounded forward, her speed reduced by the wear of battle, but she pressed on, and the maneuver had its intended effect. Zuki was forced to call off Umbreon's attack with a super effective move bearing down on her partner.
"Quil!" the Fire-type had struggled with the combined energy attack for too long. Even without the added force of Dark Pulse, Espeon's Psybeam continued to slice through Quilava's draining assault. Chris' partner remained on his hind legs, but his front paws drooped uselessly in front of him. He was spent.
The psychic ray cut through the last of the golden flames and poured over Quilava's entire front. The energy continued to surge over the Fire-type, but Chris could see his teammate's feet planted firmly. Like his eyes, they looked… different… stronger somehow. That's when the trainer noticed his Pokémon's flame. The fire on Quilava's head and hindquarters had all but vanished. Something now glowed near the top of his back.
An explosion of fire burst from the Volcano Pokémon's shoulder blades. The concussive force put Chris and David on their asses before they'd had a chance to react. The inferno spread and engulfed Quilava in a ball of red-gold flame. With each passing second, the flames grew taller, ultimately obscuring the rest of the battle from Chris' view. David's triumphant yell most likely signified the successful landing of Nidorina's Double Kick, but the Cherrygrove native wasn't watching.
We did it, the words whispered through his mind, across his body, and into his heart. He could feel his eyes water as a burning sensation ran through them, but he knew it wasn't from the heat.
The burning sphere faded, but the furnace-like conditions remained. Steam swam in the air between the trainers and their Pokémon. Amidst that heat vortex, a tall, badger-like creature stood on its hind legs. It brought its arms out, and it's head swiveled back and forth, examining them curiously. The Pokémon turned to look at Chris. It's face carried one of the widest grins the young man had ever seen.
"Alright Typhlosion," Chris finally spoke, wiping at his eyes as he did so. "We've still got a battle to win."
"'Phlosion!" came the creature's powerful roar.
Chris forced his gaze back to the battlefield, where he found Umbreon still recoiling from Nidorina's Double Kick. Espeon had yet to recover from her prolonged offensive assault. Control would now be paramount. That realization widened Chris' grin.
"We're going to aim a little bit behind Umbreon," he directed, giving both his Pokémon and David a nod. His newly evolved starter already had the attack primed. "Flamethrower."
Behind the boost from his Blaze ability, and the newly acquired power from his evolution, Typhlosion unleashed a stream of fire hot enough to cast a shimmering haze over the battlefield. As the flames approached the designated location, David called for a Fury Swipes. Nidorina's ferocious, multi angled assault left Umbreon with only one way to dodge.
"Umbreon!" Zuki called out as her Pokémon jumped back into Flamethrower's path. The Dark-type looked up in time to take the brunt of the flames head on. The fire erupted on impact. Umbreon was lifted off the ground by the collision and dumped unceremoniously a couple dozen feet away from the battlefield.
"One to go!" David roared.
Despite her prowess, Naoko and her Espeon had not the strength to conquer both adversaries. Her speed and powerful Special Attacks kept her opponents at bay, but Naoko seemed out of rhythm without her fellow Kimono Girl to synchronize with. Espeon launched another Swift barrage, but Typhlosion jumped forward to take the attack, providing his flameless back as a springboard for Nidorina to gain momentum from. The Poison Pin Pokémon dropped toward her vulnerable opponent and delivered the victory-sealing Bite attack.
"That's what I'm talking about!" David screamed, wrapping his arms around Chris' neck, and nearly choking the life out of him.
"Great—great job, man," Chris gasped. He tore himself free and sprinted to his starter's side. The flames had disappeared from his starter's shoulders, allowing the trainer to wrap his partner in the tightest embrace he could muster. "You're awesome, buddy."
"Ty," came the creature's hoarse voice.
Chris pulled back and studied the Fire-type's face. He could see deep lines in the Pokémon's cream colored snout. His red eyes were now slits. "My bad," Chris said, hurriedly digging out and applying a Super Potion.
"'Phlosion." Despite his fatigue, the Volcano Pokémon grabbed Chris' arm and brought the trainer's hand to rest on the top of his dark blue head. The Fire-type revealed a sly grin.
Chris returned the look. "You did grow a bit."
The sound of footsteps forced Chris' attention away from his starter. Both Kimono Girls were approaching now, as was David.
"Congrats on the evolution, man," the Violet City native said when he'd made it to Chris' side. He shot Typhlosion an appreciative look. "I don't know if we get that win without it."
"Celebration is certainly in order," came Naoko's cheerful voice. She stepped over to the fully evolved Pokémon's side and lifted her head to meet his gaze. "You certainly are taller!"
That only widened the Volcano Pokémon's grin.
"Was this your first double battle?" Zuki asked as she came to stand beside the two trainers.
David grimaced. "That obvious, huh?"
"At first," Zuki replied, her lip curling slowly up, "but you seemed to settle down and find a good rhythm as the battle wore on." She turned to Chris. "It's always exciting to witness an evolution in person. As Kimono Girls, we see them so often that their beauty can sometimes become lost on us." The woman took a step toward Chris and examined he and his partner. "Seeing the bond between trainer and Pokémon be reaffirmed and strengthened… that is where the power of evolution lies."
The next set of approaching footsteps belonged to Luke. His skin seemed tight against his face. "Guess I see now why you didn't want me to join the battle."
Zuki turned toward him, her expression suddenly cool. "May I wager a guess and say that this is your first year as a trainer?"
Luke shrugged. "It is for all three of us. Doesn't take away from all the work we've put in."
"Of course not. I just wanted to know before I spoke again."
Luke had already opened his mouth to retort, but he shut it again. He tilted his head toward her. "About what?"
"Did you enjoy our battle?" she asked.
"It was a well fought contest," Luke answered diplomatically. "Would have been even better if I could have battled?"
"Would it have?"
Chris watched, with wide eyes and clenched fists, as Luke's face reddened. "I still don't know what you're getting at," he said.
Naoko stepped forward. "We can see that you have been through much in your short time as a trainer," her soothing voice said. "You've fought for survival and wrestled with your identity… and I believe you still are." Her friendly expression hardened. "But despite your perseverance, your team hasn't that same experience."
"Wha―"
Zuki cut him off. "Most of your Pokémon have not had the chance to grow and learn. And they still lack that needed element of trust."
"Most of them are new captures," Luke countered. "Of course they won't trust their own abilities yet."
"That's not the kind of trust I'm referring to," Zuki replied, the sharpness in her voice pushing Luke back a step. She took a long look at each of his teammates. "Your Pokémon are eager for battle and to test their skills. They hesitate only because they are unsure of their trainer's trust in them."
"I don't…" Luke's mouth looked to have suddenly become dry. His eyes fell on Chris and his starter. "I've had to fight and work just as hard as them. My starter evolved fully long before his."
Chris' eyes narrowed, but not in anger. Luke's words were more confusing than hurtful.
"You weren't listening earlier," Zuki said.
Chris could see Luke's patience vanishing before his very eyes. "What? About the real strength of evolution? I heard you loud and clear."
"A part of you did," she agreed, "but not the part of you that will take it to heart."
Luke opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. He shook his head and tried again, but only a single, wavering word came out. "What?"
"Your soul is still split," Zuki said plainly. "And in that state, we couldn't in good conscious battle you. You and your Pokémon would not have been able to put forth your best effort."
"Our battle would not have been the beautiful performance it had the potential to be," Naoko added.
Luke's gaze darted back and forth between the two trainers. He looked to be on the verge of shouting, but he never opened his mouth. He turned to face his team. They still stood at the edge of the tree line. Each of Luke's Pokémon had their jaws clenched tightly, but none of them turned away from their trainer. A long moment of silence hung in the air as he studied their faces. "I…" he began.
A loud hissing sound overtook Luke's words and filled the entire street. Two globs of thick webbing shot from the tree line and covered both the alley's north and south routes. For a pair of seconds, the trainers watched the webbing grow until it had covered the tree line and effectively trapped them in.
"What's—" Chris never got to finish his sentence.
Two figures leapt from the tops of the nearest trees. One of them drew out an extra set of legs, adding six to its total. As it turned to face them, Chris recognized it as an Ariados. The Long Leg Pokémon dropped toward them with a menacing glow about its fangs. The other guest released a wave of electricity onto the webbed arena around the trainers. The surge of energy raced across the webbing and slithered toward the central party. Luke shouted something, and the Cherrygrove native saw Electabuzz leap forward to intercept the electrical current. Pidgeotto had also pounced into action, the swift flaps of his wings driving him hard toward Ariados.
Two flashes of light forced Chris to shield his eyes. When he looked up, he found an Espeon and Umbreon in their midst. One look at their muscular frames and hardened stares told the trainer all he needed about their strength. Espeon lifted up her head, the jewel atop it glowing a brilliant red, and launched an invisible blast of Psychic energy that left Chris' ears ringing. Ariados had no chance to avoid it. The attack struck the Long Leg Pokémon and sent it careening back into the trees. At the same time, Umbreon had disappeared and reappeared before the descending guest Chris now recognized as Galvantula. The spider-like creature didn't seem fazed, striking its adversary with a strange beam of green energy. As the attack struck, the golden rings around the Dark-type's body lit up, and with a fierce growl, Umbreon drove his body into Galvantula's. A sickening thud preceded the Bug/Electric-type's forced departure into the webbed woodland. It had all begun and ended before Chris could utter another word.
"What—what just happened?" he croaked. When he turned to face the Kimono Girls, he found they had ignored his question and were in quiet conference with one another. He heard them muttering about something not being in their possession. Seeing he would get no immediate answers, he looked to his traveling companions and found different responses.
Like him, David looked both confused, and more than a little worried. He had herded his Pokémon around him, and his eyes darted between the webbed trees lining the alley. Luke stood between Electabuzz, Pidgeotto, and the rest of his party. The Tohjo Falls native looked at his veteran teammates for a long while before giving them the most fractional of nods. After a brief moment of hesitation, the two Pokémon returned the gesture. Luke then turned to his remaining party, but the Kimono Girls pulled Chris' attention away from them.
"Are any of you hurt?" Zuki asked.
"No," Luke was the first to answer, "and the electrical attack Electabuzz countered wasn't a damaging move."
That fact didn't seem to ease the women's' tension.
"We're good," David replied. "We were closest to the middle. I don't even think a trace of webbing got on my squad."
As Chris checked over his team, he heard the crunching of leaves by the treeline. He snapped his head up, but only found Espeon and Umbreon on patrol. He turned back to their trainers. "We're all clear, here."
Naoko sighed. "That's a relief."
David managed a laugh. "That's gotta be the strangest wild encounter I've ever seen."
"I don't think it was," Chris replied quietly. He turned to the Kimono Girls. "What do you ladies think?"
Zuki's face grew hard. "It was too coordinated to have been a wild encounter," she said. "And both Pokémon held a type advantage over our own. Their Electroweb and Spider Web attacks were meant to trap us and slow our movements. Two Pokémon working together like that can only come at the behest of a trainer."
"Or more than one," Luke offered. "I was facing the woods when the attack occurred. I thought I saw a pair of individuals lurking in the shadows of the tree branches. They headed north the moment after you'd repelled the attackers."
Zuki directed her sneer toward her fellow dancer. "This is exactly why I didn't want us visiting the public. Evil has spread farther than you and the others care to admit.
"Evil?" Chris' eyes narrowed. "Are you talking about Ghetsis?"
The Kimono Girls stared at him with poorly suppressed amazement.
"How do you…" Naoko began.
"It doesn't matter how," Zuki interrupted. "You three will need to leave us as quickly as you can."
"Can't we help you?" Chris offered.
"You already have," Zuki answered. Her gaze caught Luke's, and the dancer gave him a curt nod. When she looked back at Chris her eyes had softened. "You and David gave us a fine battle. You displayed a strong rhythm despite having never participated in a double battle."
"It also helped that you didn't use your fully trained Eeveelutions," Chris acknowledged.
"Of course," Naoko said, her lighthearted tone still intact. "We would never battle first year trainers with them!"
Chris and David exchanged guilty looks, before the former spoke. "Yeah, what idiot would think otherwise?"
Zuki waved at them. "It was nice meeting you, but you must go. You paint a target on your back for every second you linger in our company."
The trainers made final account of their teams before returning them to the safety of their capture devices. In the short time that took, they found that the Kimono Girls had already disposed of the obstructive webbing. With a bow, the legendary dancers swiftly set off north. The trainers watched until the path bent left and buildings obscured them from view.
Chris landed a playful punch on Luke's shoulder. "Don't know where they went, but you showed some nice reflexes back there."
"With Electabuzz and Pidgeotto?" Luke shook his head. "I just happened to be facing the right way at the right time."
David shrugged. "It figures someone would try and assassinate the Kimono Girls while we were in attendance."
"We don't know if that was their objective," Chris replied, catching Luke's eye. The two trainers exchanged knowing glances. "They may have been trying to kidnap them."
David scratched at his chin. "Guess that's a possibility. Reminds me of Mr. Dervish's disappearance a few months back. That caused a real uproar in Violet City right before I left. Had to plead with my parents for them to let me go west by myself."
The group traveled in watchful silence for the short remainder of their trip south. The sky was clear, the temperature comfortable, and the sun at high noon when they arrived at Ecruteak's eastern gate.
Chris turned to preview his next step. The route ahead was split by several waterways. Gyarados would have him across those in no time. He knew Mahogany Town would lie not further beyond. But as he sought out signs of the distant town, his eye caught hold of Mt. Silver's shoulders on the horizon. In the bright light and fair conditions, Chris could make out a white layer on the sloped edges just beneath the cloud-obscured peak. And as his vision pulled back to the route directly before him, he found himself drawn to its northern edge, where Mt. Mortar's wide, multi peaked range dominated the landscape. He looked back at Ecruteak and found himself grin at the sight of a nearby Pokémon Center.
"I'm actually going to make a change before I set off," he said, with a nod toward the facility.
"Happy badge hunting!" David said. He knocked away Chris' attempt at a handshake and brought the trainer in for a hug. "Thanks again man for helping my team prep for Jasmine. Picked up some pointers that I think I'll find useful in my future battles."
Chris gave him a warm smile. "I hope so." He patted the young man's chest as they separated. "And I should be thanking you for leading us through the Safari Zone."
A guilty look came over David's face. "But you didn't catch anything."
"All the guidance in the world can't make a Golem fly."
"Fair enough."
As David backed away, Luke came forward. Chris grabbed the trainers hand and brought him in for an embrace. The Tohjo Falls native returned the gesture, though Chris found his grip shaky at best. When both men stepped away, the young man from Cherrygrove kept hold of his rival's hand.
"You're gonna kick this slump," Chris told him quietly, "or I'm gonna kick your ass."
A wide range of emotions swept over Luke's face, and for a moment Chris wondered if his companion might swing at him. He got a slow nod instead. "Be careful out there," Luke said. "You're gonna be near the same territory where… well, you know."
Chris nodded. "I'll call you the minute I catch wind of any evidence."
"Good."
"Hope your journey south is productive," the Cherrygrove native said with a smile. "Just be ready for Whitney's secret weapon." Luke managed to grin at that as he stepped back to David's side. "Well boys," Chris said, giving the trainers a salute as he began to backpedal toward the Pokémon Center, "I'll hopefully see ya sooner rather than later. Never hesitate to call me for some trainer tips!" And with that, he spun around.
"Guess this is it," David said once they'd reached Ecruteak's south gate.
Having made it to nearly the opposite side of the city, the Violet City native had released his team to walk with them once more. Luke had seen Magmar watching him from the corner of his eye, no doubt hoping the trainer would release Electabuzz. It had been tempting, but the trainer had restrained himself. He wanted to make this split as painless as possible for everyone.
"Guess so," Luke answered. He fidgeted with the strap of his golden backpack. He had to say something. He went with the first question he could find. "What're you gonna do with the rest of your day?"
"Uh," David hesitated, "I guess I may check out the Ecruteak Gym. I know Morty's pretty tough, but I'd like to see what exactly I'm up against."
"Don't take him lightly," Luke heard himself say. "He's even tougher than they say."
David opened his mouth, and Luke suddenly realized what he'd just revealed. But the Violet City trainer closed his lips and stepped forward to embrace him. Luke returned the gesture, his grip extra tight in appreciation.
"Your work with Magmar really saved the day back in Olivine," David said as they drew apart. "I won't forget that."
"That's what trainers do," Luke answered. "And that's what friends do"
David managed a smile through his tightly clenched jaw. "You take care of yourself down south."
"I'll try not to fight anymore Kangaskhan. You just promise not to rush into anymore volcanoes."
David laughed and gave one final wave. Luke returned the gesture and passed beneath the southern gate.
The Tohjo Falls trainer had just mounted the daunting hill to Ecruteak's south when he felt something tug at his shoulder. Luke turned and his eyes fell once more on the city where history flows. The sun had slowly begun its descent toward western Johto. It hung in the sky just behind the ruin of the Burned Tower. The structure had once been as mighty and revered as the Bell Tower opposite it. But even as he looked over the remaining foundation, he could see dozens of moving figures entering and exiting the building. The tower would be rebuilt.
Another tug came at his shoulder, but the culprit this time was a small, greyish-green claw.
"Holy shit!"
With trembling hands, Luke sat down his backpack and fully unzipped the pouch that housed the flailing arm. The trainer reached into the compartment and gently scooped out the egg Drayden had given him. The shell had fractured in several places, notably in the top right corner where the clawed arm extended out. One of Luke's hands brushed against the top of the egg and a curved horn pierced through a moment later. A short, rounded snout and a pair of tusks followed suite. The creature's eyes stayed shut against the midday light. But at Luke's touch, the eyelids crept open, and the young man found himself staring into the red eyes of a dragon.
Though two of the trio's stay in Ecruteak has come to an end, the short time there has been eventful! Seeing the closing day performance, battling the Kimono Girls, and narrowly avoiding a mysterious surprise assault. What could that last event play herald to? We leave on a heartbreaking split, but also on a potential-filled future! Chris heads east, and it sounds like an old friend may be traveling with him! David stays in Ecruteak, with the challenge of Morty and his Ghost-types looming overhead. And Luke heads south, with potential breakthroughs of both the literal and figurative kind at hand. Get ready to experience the exciting and thought-provoking adventures of these and other trainers to come! Tune in for the next chapter, where we'll check in with a promising young trainer and his legendary tale. I hope to see you then! Please Review and Subscribe!