Note- The summer rolls on! Welcome back, Heart and Soul readers! July is in full effect and I hope all of you are enjoying the sun and heat! Unfortunately for Chris, he finds himself spending the beginning of fall in a damp cave. Kiyo has relented and is attempting to mold the trainer into a stronger being, both physically and mentally. That is where we pick up today! Once again, thank you for joining me on another action packed adventure of Heart and Soul! Hope you enjoy! Please Review and Subscribe!
Chapter 42
The echo of Scyther's beating wings filled the cavern as the Bug/Flying-type raced across the stone battlefield. An ear-splitting clang echoed out as Scyther's X-Scissor met one of Conkeldurr's pillars. As the Mantis Pokémon looked to press forward, Kiyo's Fighting-type brought up the other black column and drove it into Scyther's abdomen. The blow knocked the scythed creature back, but Chris knew his teammate could still fight.
"Ice Beam!"
Nidoking wasted no time in stepping up to take Scyther's place. The Drill Pokémon rolled his shoulders, before firing off a concentrated blast of ice. The beam of frozen energy passed by Conkeldurr's outstretched arms and struck the creature in his chest. As the attack dissipated, Chris found that the targeted spot had frozen over. Fortune was with him today.
"Wing Attack!" Chris directed, nodding to the Mantis Pokémon. "Aim for the ice!"
Scyther surged forward, his wings aglow in a pale light. Conkeldurr brought up his pillars, but he looked to be moving in slow motion. The Mantis Pokémon twisted around each of his sluggish swings and drove both wings into Conkeldurr's frozen chest. Shards of ice scattered into the air and smashed into the ground. Kiyo's teammate staggered backward, before falling to a knee.
"Not bad," came the martial artist's raspy voice. Kiyo stood on the other side of the battlefield with his arms crossed. Despite his best efforts to conceal it, Chris could see a small smile tugging at the edge of his lips. "You've finally managed to overcome one of my fighters."
Chris chuckled. "And it only took me having a two-on-one advantage with types that resisted Conkeldurr's!" Scyther turned to give him a side-eyed stare, while Nidoking roared his rebuttal. Chris brought his hands up. "I'm just being honest. That doesn't change the fact that you guys put in awesome work!"
"That'll finish our session for today," Kiyo announced.
The rest of Chris' team finished up at their workout stations and met their trainer at the heart of the cavern. Each Pokémon received a portion of food, a vitamin from Chris' quickly depleting supply, and a herbal root. With food sitting in front of them, and an intense day of training recently behind, the teammates scarfed down the meal. Typhlosion ate closest to his trainer. The Fire-type didn't speak, but tilted his head slowly back and forth. Scyther and Crobat carried on an inaudible conversation not far past him. Farther still, Nidoking shook the earth with his hunger, bashing the ground over and over as he scooped up his food. Eevee was positioned just to the left of his trainer. Flaaffy picked at her food beside him. As Chris turned to find Kiyo's teammates, he caught a slight wave from his starter. The trainer followed the Fire-type's eyes to Flaaffy, who nodded to Typhlosion.
"Flaaff'," the Wool Pokémon said to the Normal-type beside her.
Eevee looked up, clearly confused. "'Vee?"
Flaaffy began speaking as quickly as her trainer had ever seen. She made several big gestures with her arms and leaned in close to the wide-eyed Evolution Pokémon. Chris was just as confused as Eevee, until another subtle move by his starter caught his eye. Typhlosion had moved and retracted his paw from the ground beside Eevee. At that moment, Flaaffy wrapped up her conversation with the Normal-type, giving the Evolution Pokémon a pat on the back. As Eevee turned back to his food, both he and Chris found an extra assortment of berries hastily stacked together. Eevee looked up, and then at Chris. The trainer shook his head, but couldn't completely hide his grin. That brought the Normal-type's gaze to Typhlosion. The Volcano Pokémon now had his back to him, and ate with his head down. Eevee began to move toward him, but stopped. A small smile made its way onto his face. He sat back down and began to eat once more.
As they finished, Chris found himself watching Kiyo run through a cool down set. As he finished a set of stretches, the martial artist made his way over to the pool. He passed Pangoro on the way. Neither met the other's gaze, but Chris noticed the Dark/Fighting-type's head turn slightly toward his trainer. Then... the two had passed. As Kiyo dove into the pool, Pangoro made for the cavern's back exit.
Chris found himself on his feet and moving after Kiyo's withdrawn teammate. "Hey." Pangoro either didn't believe Chris could be talking to him or didn't care. Either way, the trainer had to burst into a jog to finally gain an edge on the lanky creature's large steps. "Pangoro," Chris spoke again once he had reached the Daunting Pokémon's side. The bipedal bear turned his head and stared down at him. What little confusion he had felt was all but masked by the annoyed snarl he gave the trainer. Chris pointed to the bag in the Dark/Fighting-type's claws. "I wanted to thank you for all the food you've brought us."
The massive mammal's clenched jaw didn't relax, but some of the animosity left his eyes. "'Goro," he growled back.
"I also thought I'd see if you would like to train with us."
Pangoro tilted his head to the side. He wiggled his black nose at the trainer. "Pan'."
"My team is still looking to improve," Chris admitted. "And you look pretty dang strong. A couple of my Pokémon could really benefit from going blow to blow with you. It'd be the quickest way for us to build up our stamina!" Pangoro's broad shoulders had relaxed. The Daunting Pokémon's arms began to lower. "It'd be great to have some one-on-one battles. Even though we've mostly lost, it hasn't felt right battling with a two-on-one advantage. Maybe this way I can finally get Kiyo in the trainer role."
Pangoro's eyes seemed to flash red. His ears pulled back, his nose crinkled tightly, and he flashed his sharp teeth. "Pangoro," came his low snarl.
Chris shook his head. "What did I—"
One of Pangoro's tree-trunk sized arms reached out and shoved Chris away. The Dark/Fighting-type turned to walk away.
"Wait a sec."
The Daunting Pokémon's arm stretched out again—his meaty paw now curled into a fist. The action happened too quick for Chris to get an arm up. Instead, a pink arm reached out to absorb the punch. Flaaffy cried out but held her ground, even as a bruise began to form on her forearm. "Flaaffy!" she roared. She brought up her uninjured arm and pointed it at Pangoro.
"'Goro!" he roared, swinging another punch at the Wool Pokémon.
Chris pulled his teammate back and instantly felt an incredible weight smash into his upper arm. Stars burst into his vision as a burning sensation rippled through his shoulder and down his back. His knees would have buckled had he not had Flaaffy to lean on.
"Flaaffy!" he heard his Pokémon's warning, but it sounded distant.
Movement beside him momentarily refocused Chris' vision. Pangoro's third blow had been met by an equally large arm.
"That's enough."
Kiyo stood between Pangoro and Chris. He held his Pokémon's fist in his white-knuckled palm. The two didn't move or speak. Pangoro's dark eyes had narrowed to slits. Kiyo stared back with his usual neutral expression, except for his mouth, which hung ever so slightly open. It looked as if he were on the verge of speaking. But before Kiyo could say anything, Pangoro withdrew his arm and turned away. He strode toward the back exit without another word.
"Pangoro!" Chris called after him. His fists shook as the Daunting Pokémon ignored him. "You may not be in a good place, but that's no reason to hurt others!" Pangoro had reached the exit now. "What's hurting the people who care about you going to solve?" Chris watched as the Dark/Fighting-type passed through the opening and disappeared into the darkness. The trainer's breathing had grown shallow now. Lightheadedness had also set in.
Kiyo spoke, but the low voice entered Chris' ears like it had been filtered through a Muk. He felt himself be guided to the ground by the martial artist and Flaaffy.
"What's happening?" Chris heard himself ask. Among Kiyo's short response, he made out the words 'drain' and 'punch.' A berry passed between Chris' lips and he was instructed to chew it. His lethargic jaw muscles struggled to split open the fruit, but eventually he gulped it down. A couple minutes passed as feeling and life slowly came back into him.
"That was stupid," were the next words Chris heard.
"I didn't know."
"I had told you it wasn't important."
"At least I tried crossing the divide," came Chris' heated response.
Kiyo stared back at him with a look of confusion. "Why are you so concerned about this?"
"Because Pokémon and humans aren't meant to exist like this."
"What?"
Though the sluggish feeling hadn't completely left him, Chris managed to jab a finger at Kiyo. "You're his trainer, right?"
Kiyo lowered Chris' finger with a firm hand. "Exactly. So this is my issue."
"Then why aren't you handling it?"
Kiyo worked his jaw in response. When Chris didn't immediately get an answer, he continued.
"If you don't plan on resolving whatever this is… then you should release him back into the wild. He's more of a prisoner than a teammate right now." The trainer's team had fully surrounded him now. Machamp and Conkeldurr had also stepped over to their trainer's side. All were silent.
Pangoro didn't appear again for several days. In that time, Chris trained with a renewed focus and vigor that ignored the growing fatigue in his muscles. He wanted to dedicate most of his remaining time toward strengthening the team, but in the back of his mind he never really stopped thinking about Pangoro. Despite their bruised arms, Flaaffy and her trainer pushed forward without missing any daily routines. The other Pokémon trained hard to match their motivated spirits. Eevee spent added time after a finished workout strengthening his Swift attack and bettering the aim of his Shadow Ball. He paired with Crobat, and together the duo managed to battle to a draw with Machamp. Crobat's speed and double resistance to Fighting-type moves had been the key decider, but the Normal-type seemed to earn some credibility with the rest of his teammates after battling so well against his major weakness. The Evolution Pokémon had undoubtedly earned major props when he jumped in front of Crobat to take Machamp's Thunder Punch. It had been the same move that had one-shot the Poison/Flying-type during his initial encounter with the Superpower Pokémon. That action left Machamp exposed to Crobat's super effective Wing Attack.
Later that same day, Chris had sparred with Kiyo as the other Pokémon finished up their workouts. The trainer had thrown multiple punches but found no one there. After his fifth consecutive miss, two massive arms had gripped beneath his armpits and pulled him backward. An added bit of force lifted him off the ground and deposited him flat on his back. Chris had tried to gasp but found no breath left in his lungs.
"You take your eyes off me every time you swing," Kiyo explained. The martial artist stood over Chris with an arm extended. He took the man's hand and Kiyo lifted him back to his feet in one swift motion. "It's not wise to lose sight of your opponent in battle."
"What about in the case of Smokescreen?" Chris asked, nodding at his boulder carrying starter.
"That can work if you need time to recover," Kiyo answered. "Or if you have a move that won't miss like Swift." The martial artist looked over at the Fire-type. "The past month and a half have given me a pretty good sample size of your battling style with Typhlosion. Smokescreen probably helped you a lot when your starter was unevolved, slower, and weaker in general. With your Typhlosion's speed, and the powerfully precise strikes you guys prefer… I think Smokescreen breaks your flow."
Chris thought about that. Smokescreen had led Chris to his first win in his battle against Luke's Poochyena. It had helped him take down Falkner's Murkrow and Pidgeotto. He had used it to avoid Miltank's Attract, but it had also given Whitney's Pokémon a chance to recover. It had come in handy when avoiding Stone Edge from Jasmine's Steelix. But those battles had all involved a slower, more vulnerable version of his starter.
"And you have to think about Typhlosion's current moveset," Kiyo added. "How versatile and effective can he be?"
Chris considered that. His starter's current moves consisted of: two Fire-type attacks, one physical and the other ranged, a swift strike in the form of Quick Attack, and then the aforementioned Smokescreen. Chris knew the next Gym specialized in Ice-types, but many of that element shared the Water-type. If he made it to Blackthorn, the team would have to take on the powerful Dragon-type. And if he were to make it to the Silver Conference, what if Typhlosion were to run in to a Rock, Ground, Water, Dragon, or other Fire-type? Luke and his Charizard came to mind. If the young man reunited and made amends with his starter, how would Typhlosion take the powerful Fire/Flying-type down?
"We need more versatility in our moveset," Chris finally said.
Kiyo nodded. "With your Typhlosion's control, and the strength of his Special Attack, there's a move I can teach him that could add some real versatility."
"What do you have in mind?"
It was perhaps a week after the violent incident that Pangoro finally returned to the cavern. It had come at the end of another intense training session. Typhlosion had taken the time normally dedicated to his most hated station—swimming in the pool—and split it so that he could finish the day working with Kiyo on developing a new attack: Focus Blast. Chris had just finished carrying his boulder around the cavern when a moving shadow caught his eye. He looked over at the back entrance and saw the Daunting Pokémon's towering figure pass through. Pangoro dropped his bag of food at the cavern's center and turned to leave the way he had come. Chris stepped into the Dark/Fighting-type's path.
"Before you leave," Chris began, displaying his open palms, "I have a request."
Pangoro gave the trainer a terrifying snarl, and brought his right arm up threateningly. Chris found Flaaffy at his side a second later. The Wool Pokémon's body crackled with electricity. Her determined stare burned brightly in the dim light.
"Flaaff'," she calmly announced. Pangoro watched her closely as she lifted an arm and pointed. He followed her gesture and found the open battlefield not far off.
"'Goro," he growled.
"The same offer as before," Chris explained. "You versus Flaaffy. I'll be in her corner." Pangoro still looked agitated by the offer. "You'll battle alone." At that, the Daunting Pokémon spun to fully view the cavern. Chris knew what he was looking for, but the trainer had seen Kiyo leave not long after Pangoro had returned. Upon realizing this, the Dark/Fighting-type lumbered over to the battlefield. Chris and Flaaffy followed at a distance. The three individuals involved were soon in their appropriate positions.
"You want the first move?" Chris asked. When he received a cold stare in reply, he gave a slight nod. "Guess we will." Flaaffy stood slightly hunched, her arms bent forward, and her tail glowing with its pale blue light. The air around her still crackled with the surging electricity in her body. That didn't leave many options for the duo to start the battle with. "Let's open things up with a Thunderbolt!"
Flaaffy wasted no time in discharging the electricity. Pangoro stood his ground as the attack closed in. He brought up a glowing arm to take the brunt of the shock. Once the attack had passed, Pangoro began to walk forward.
"Power Gem!"
Flaaffy summoned her energy and molded it into the sharpened projectiles. She fired the barrage at her slowly advancing opponent. Pangoro lifted his arm once more to take the attack, before continuing his methodical march. Despite landing the attacks, Chris could see no serious damage on the Daunting Pokémon's appendage. As Pangoro drew closer, the trainer couldn't see any change in his cold stare either.
With Cotton Spore as Flaaffy's only other move, the trainer found himself in an odd situation. He could use the speed-reducing move on Pangoro, but the creature was already incredibly slow. He could continue to fire away with a barrage of attacks, but those didn't seem to be doing any real damage. After quickly weighing his options, he opted for the latter strategy. The trainer called for another Thunderbolt and Flaaffy delivered. Pangoro continued to advance, absorbing the electricity into his glowing forearm. Another Power Gem resulted in the same outcome. Pangoro stepped into striking distance moments later, prompting Chris to call for a hasty retreat.
As Flaaffy stepped back, Pangoro's arm lit up once more. The Daunting Pokémon swung his forearm forward before Chris could warn his teammate. The blow caught Flaaffy around her wool-coated neck, propelling the Electric-type off her feet. She landed hard on the ground beside her trainer. Chris' mouth dropped open when the Wool Pokémon managed to lift herself back up. She bore a grimace on her face, and a red mark on the skin beneath her blunted wool, but she could still fight. Pangoro had covered the majority of the battlefield now, effectively slicing the battlefield into a third of its original length. He continued to regard her with his unwavering cold stare.
"We're not done yet!" Chris roared. "Show him another Thunderbolt!"
Flaaffy fired her most powerful bolt of electricity yet. The energy struck Pangoro square in the chest this time. As the current surged across his body in the form of brilliant golden arcs, he regarded his opponent with the faintest look of intrigue. Flaaffy's shoulders now drooped and her breathing had become shallow. Pangoro watched her for a moment longer, before striding forward—no longer taking his lumbering steps—and striking Flaaffy with a second glowing forearm. He brought his arm down, driving the Wool Pokémon into the stone floor. Her back hit flush against the hard battlefield and she remained still.
Chris sprinted the short distance between them and knelt beside his teammate. He was overjoyed to see her eyes already open. "I'm glad you're—" Chris stopped himself when he saw her determined stare. He followed her gaze and found their opponent still towering overhead. Pangoro looked over trainer and Pokémon before turning to depart.
"Flaaff'!" At the Wool Pokémon's firm voice, the Dark/Fighting-type looked their way once more. Chris was shocked to find a smile on his teammate's face. "Flaaffy," she calmly added. Pangoro stared at her with the same neutral expression his trainer often bore.
"Thanks for the battle," Chris echoed.
They received a curt nod in reply. As Pangoro lumbered out of the cavern through the eastern exit, Chris felt another presence at his side.
"That was not wise."
Chris didn't turn around. "We're trying to get stronger, right? Battling a powerful Pokémon can only help."
Kiyo knelt down beside the trainer and pulled out a small bag from his gi. "What did you learn from that battle?"
"That there's always someone stronger."
"I need to hear something tangible."
"Flaaffy needs to learn a fourth move for better coverage."
"That's all well and good, but teaching her a new move will take some time. What could you have done differently in that battle?"
"We…well, we could have..."
Kiyo waited an extra second to accentuate the silence. "There was nothing you could have done to win. Your Flaaffy still doesn't have the strength or the stamina to beat Pangoro. I should know—I trained and witnessed him beat down much tougher opponents in Kalos. It was foolish for you to even engage with him after what happened last time." Kiyo opened up the bag and brought out a root. He extended his hand toward Flaaffy, but the Wool Pokémon slapped it away. "You're hurt," Kiyo reminded her.
"Flaaff'," the Electric-type answered through gritted teeth. She brought both arms down and slowly lifted herself off the battlefield. She'd just made it to a vertical base when her legs gave out and she fell once more. Chris moved closer but Flaaffy waved him off. She took a deep breath and tried to stand again. She pushed off and managed to reach her feet once more, but this time she stood tall. "Flaaffy." The pink creature pointed at Chris, then to her congregating teammates, and then to the root in Kiyo's hand.
The next few days of training saw a stiff and physically struggling Flaaffy. The bruises on her back and arms were too visible to hide. Her gaunt and pained expression never faded during this time, but the Wool Pokémon never complained. She only took the medicinal roots when her teammates would.
Ten more.
Five.
One.
The muscles in Chris' arms screamed for him to fall onto his stomach as he lowered himself close to the ground. A bead of sweat slid into his eye and a burning pain flared up, forcing him to close it. His teeth grinded together like long separated lovers. His teammates were yelling encouragement from close by, but the noise echoed and sounded faint in his ears. With trembling arms, he managed to lift himself and complete the final push-up of the day. A roar went up at the site. Chris pulled his arms out from under him and rotated his body so that he landed on his side. He got a pair of seconds to rest before Nidoking scooped him up in a celebratory embrace. He felt Flaaffy's gentle pat on his back. A weight pressed onto his shoulder and he found Crobat grinning back at him. The heavy bat sent a pulsing pain through his exhausted shoulder, but he forced himself to return the grin. Nidoking's embrace would keep him stationary anyway.
"Only took you two whole months," came Kiyo's raspy equalizer.
"Hey," Chris replied, struggling to find the martial artist with only one open eye, "I wasn't exactly wearing out the upper body machines back home."
Kiyo managed to grin at that. "At least you've stuck with it. That's what I wanted to see more than anything." The warrior turned to look over Chris' team. "And even better, your teammates have stomached your weakness throughout. They've even managed to make some real gains in the meantime."
Chris followed his tutor's gaze. It was amazing to see some of the physical changes in his party. Flaaffy and Eevee had perhaps been the biggest benefactors of all. Being the two newest and most out of shape members, their stamina and physical skills had started behind the rest of the team. Looking at the Wool Pokémon, Chris could see toned muscle where stomach fat and skinny arms had once been. Eevee's toned legs and the muscular curvature of his back demonstrated the application of that same dedication the Normal-type had displayed atop the mountain two months prior.
"So what now?" Chris asked.
Kiyo tossed the trainer and his Pokémon pieces of medicinal root. They downed them without any complaint. The Fighting-type user then placed his hands on his hips. "Now… you move on."
Chris blinked twice at that. "We… move on?"
"You and your Pokémon have grown strong and learned all you can from a washed up fool like myself."
The trainer stared back at him, not quite sure if he believed the man. Chris' teammates held no such reservations; Nidoking grabbed Typhlosion and Flaaffy and the trio began to rock back and forth. Eevee yelped his excitement and sprinted around Chris' feet in an impressive display of speed. As his teammates continued to celebrate, Chris gathered his gear into his backpack. Something about Kiyo's announcement felt… off. He got the sense that it wasn't quite time to pack his belongings. At first, Chris thought it must have been the strange feeling of leaving a cavern he had called home for two months. But the more he thought about it, the more he believed it was something else. His eyes found the eastern exit. It would begin the route that led out of the mountain. It was also the exit that Pangoro had last passed through. That's it, Chris thought. Looking over his shoulder, he saw Kiyo having a quiet conversation with Typhlosion and Scyther. His other teammates still celebrated the martial artist's declaration. This would be Chris' final chance to try and make things right.
He grabbed a flashlight from his pack and quietly slipped through the east exit. Chris thumbed on the flashlight upon finding himself in absolute darkness. The beam of light shone brighter than almost any light Chris had seen in two months. Blinking back the pain, his eyes followed the concentrated stream of light. The passage appeared to be as wide as the cavern that had led him to Kiyo's domain. He inched his way along the path, making sure every step fell in a revealed location. He hadn't gone far when a pair of eyes gleamed back from the darkness.
"Pangoro?" Chris called.
The eyes drew closer as a large figure stepped into the flashlight's beam. The figure was tall, but also round. Chris felt his free hand tighten into a fist. The creature suddenly sped up its approach. As it did so, the ground began to shake. The trembling light in his hands revealed the bottom of the figure, which had no observable feet. That's when he realized that a living boulder was rolling right at him. The trainer dove to his right as the massive rock spun by him. He brought the light back up as he staggered to his feet and found the creature circling around to strike at him again. Chris instinctively reached for his Poké Balls but remembered that his entire team resided in Kiyo's cavern. It would be his turn to battle.
Drawing from the combat drill, Chris brought his arms up and jumped just as the creature reached him. The trainer managed to springboard himself over his attacker. He came down hard on his knees and swung the flashlight around. The living boulder had stopped rolling, and he now could identify it as a Graveler. It was the largest of the species he'd ever seen. Chris threw a glance over his shoulder. The Rock/Ground-type no longer stood between him and the nearby exit. With that knowledge in mind, he took off at a dead sprint toward the cavern. With each step, he could hear a growing rumbling behind him, but it sounded as though he might make it.
That's when something swooped down from the darkness and struck Chris in the head. Stars filled his vision and the flashlight's powerful glow suddenly became his worst enemy. He staggered forward, ducking just in time to avoid a second pass from his aerial assailant. As his vision began to clear, he could see the cavern only a few dozen feet away. He opened his mouth to yell, but felt a large fist sink into his stomach. He attempted his scream but found no air left in his lungs. He fell onto his side and instinctively swung the flashlight in the direction of his newest attacker. The beam fell on the face of an infuriated Machoke. The Fighting-type took a step back and shielded his eyes. That gave Chris the opening he would need to escape, but the young man's muscles wouldn't cooperate. I already spent almost everything during training, he silently bemoaned. But knowing that doesn't help me now. Focus.
His vision shook with the ground beneath him as Graveler drew close. Machoke shielded his eyes with one arm and reached for him with the other. Chris managed to bring up his fist, but he had no idea what good it would do.
That's when a bolt of electricity slammed into the Fighting-type's side. Machoke roared in pain and stumbled out of view of the flashlight's beam. Flaaffy stepped into the light a short moment later.
"Thank you," Chris said, though it came out as an inaudible whisper.
"Flaaffy!" the Wool Pokémon warned.
The Electric-type jumped away from her trainer as Graveler rolled between them. Another bolt of electricity shot into the air above them, narrowly missing the Golbat that had struck Chris earlier. The trainer managed to make it back to his feet. Three attackers, his brain told him. They'd need to take one out as quickly as possible to better even the odds. Chris decided on the Golbat Flaaffy had just narrowly missed. With Graveler attempting to turn around in the distance, and Machoke still recovering from Thunderbolt, the passage had quieted enough for Chris and Flaaffy to better hear their surroundings.
"Listen for Golbat's wings!" Chris directed, having finally regained his voice. Flaaffy lowered her head and lifted her conical ears. A moment later, she looked to have a lock. "Thunderbolt!"
The focused blast of electricity found its mark and dropped Golbat to the ground. Graveler had circled back around now, though. And Machoke was back on his feet. Chris stepped between Flaaffy and the approaching Graveler. "Give Machoke another Thunderbolt! I'll handle this guy!" Chris brought his flashlight up and found the rolling boulder nearly on top of him. The trainer pressed off the ground and kicked out with all the strength left in his leg. The blow didn't knock Graveler back, but it did manage to stop his spinning. The trainer could feel the electrical discharge from Flaaffy as she unleashed another Thunderbolt. He had to trust that she could handle the Fighting-type. But as Chris saw two of Graveler's earthen hands reach for him, he understood that he would stand no such chance.
A large crack echoed out and Graveler suddenly vanished. A tall shadow now occupied his space. Tilting the flashlight up, Chris found two black, ruthless eyes staring back at him.
"'Goro!"
The Daunting Pokémon passed the trainer by in two large strides. Another sharp echo bounced off the walls as Pangoro's fist met the occupied Machoke. The punch dropped the battle worn creature instantly. That brought a temporary silence.
"Let's get back to the cavern!" Chris yelled.
As he and Flaaffy turned to sprint, the Wool Pokémon's tail light flashed to life. The blue glow revealed a bipedal creature blocking their path. Chris' flashlight further revealed it to be a Fighting-type—this one possessing girth that even put Pangoro to shame. One look at its bulky legs and massive hands revealed its identity. Chris had no idea that Hariyama could get so large. He and Flaaffy came to a stop just outside of its reach. "Move him with Thunderbolt!"
Hariyama brought up a massive palm and swatted away Flaaffy's attack. The sight sent shivers down Chris' spine. "Get back," he warned his teammate. As she began to take a step back, the Fighting-type suddenly reached forward with his glowing hand.
"Pangoro!"
The Daunting Pokémon leapt in between the two and grabbed on tight to Hariyama's outstretched hand. He began to push off with both legs in an attempt to drive the Arm Thrust Pokémon off his base. Hariyama's beady eyes narrowed. He swung his other arm around and delivered a thrust to Pangoro's chest. The blow sent Pangoro staggering back into Flaaffy and Chris. As both teammates toppled to the ground, they looked up to find Hariyama already following up. Pangoro attempted to counter with a quick jab, but the wild Pokémon caught it. Hariyama swung his free palm forward. Pangoro brought a glowing arm up, but Hariyama caught it once more. With a grip on both of Pangoro's arms, the Arm Thrust Pokémon lifted the Dark/Fighting-type off the ground and tossed him over his head. The Daunting Pokémon smacked the ground back first, creating a small explosion of pitchstone at the crash site. Hariyama examined the motionless Dark/Fighting-type before turning back to Chris and Flaaffy. He seemed surprised they hadn't left during his tussle with Pangoro.
"This is do or die time," Chris reminded his teammate. His flashlight found the Daunting Pokémon's motionless form. "And we're not leaving Pangoro behind."
"Flaaffy!" came the Wool Pokémon's determined cry.
"Thunderbolt!"
Hariyama caught the electrical current with one hand and continued his slow march forward.
"Again!"
The electrical current coursing through Flaaffy flared to life. She let loose her strongest bolt of electricity yet. Hariyama caught the attack with one palm, but began to slide backward. He brought up his other hand and his sliding ceased.
"Don't let up!" Chris encouraged.
The electric assault didn't lose its strength, but instead grew increasingly more unstable. Bolts of electricity arced off and struck the ground. The current racing through Flaaffy sparked to life on her skin. A stray bolt leapt from the Wool Pokémon and struck Chris in his shoulder. The nerves there immediately went numb.
Despite her strength, Hariyama had still managed to muscle his way into striking position. He reached out and grabbed Flaaffy's arms, willingly taking the full brunt of the electrical shock. His massive hands squeezed down and Flaaffy cried out in pain. Her continuous assault fizzled, and then died. Chris found himself running. Adrenaline pushed the pain from his muscles, allowing him to plant his feet and drive a punch square into Hariyama's jaw. A crack echoed through the passage, but a pulsing heat in Chris' knuckles hinted that it might not have been a positive sound. Before he could decide on his next course of action, Hariyama's skull smacked into his own. Chris fell backward as stars once again filled his vision. He wiped at his eyes and searched for Flaaffy through the haze. The flashlight's bright beam stabbed at his eyes like knives so he flipped it off. The cavern didn't go dark, however. Flaaffy's tail still glowed with a brilliant light. And as Chris' vision cleared, he noticed that the normally blue glow had turned a bright green.
"Fire away!"
Despite having her arms restrained, Flaaffy managed to twist her body around. As her tail swung forward, a peculiar beam of green energy launched from its orb. The ray struck the surprised Hariyama in his face, and forced him to momentarily relinquish his hold on the Wool Pokémon.
That's when Kiyo slid into the light from Flaaffy's tail. The martial artist delivered a pair of kicks to the stunned creature, driving it back even more. "Drain Punch!" he called into the darkness. Silence was his reply. Hariyama went on the offensive once more, driving Kiyo back with a series of Arm Thrusts. "Shit," Chris heard the warrior mutter. He dropped to the ground and attempted to sweep the creature's legs out from under him. Hariyama caught the kick with a massive calf and let out something resembling laughter. He brought a palm down to strike Kiyo, but Flaaffy suddenly stood between the two. The strike knocked the Electric-type over Kiyo's head and deposited her by her trainer.
Darnit, Chris seethed.
The fading light from Flaaffy's tail revealed the next series of events. Hariyama brought his other palm down as Kiyo swung up with an uppercut. The blows collided with a wicked slap. At first, it appeared to be a stalemate, but Chris quickly saw Kiyo bending beneath the weight of the burly fighter. He glanced down at Flaaffy but found her to still be rocked. He could charge in once more, but it would make little difference. That's no excuse, he silently chided. You're all there is.
Chris willed his muscles to take a few more steps. If nothing else, he could serve as a distraction. It was the least he could do after all the effort put in by Flaaffy. Just get there, Chris silently screamed. Get...
Hariyama let out a roar and staggered sideways. Kiyo rolled away from the creature and came up on his knees. Chris found his flashlight and thumbed the switch. The imposing figure of Pangoro came in to view—his fist now occupying the space that Hariyama had previously inhabited. The Daunting Pokémon turned and found his trainer's eyes. Pangoro pulled his gaze almost immediately back to Hariyama upon hearing the creature's thunderous steps.
"Iron Head!" came Kiyo's command.
Pangoro insteam fired a forearm at the approaching creature. Hariyama swiped it away with his palm and delivered a forearm shot of his own into Pangoro's ribs.
"I said Iron Head!"
Pangoro roared in reply before being blindsided by a slap to the side of his head.
"You two are going to get us all killed!" Chris yelled.
Kiyo dashed forward and caught the wild Pokémon with a pair of straight jabs. Pangoro barreled in next, knocking Kiyo aside as he swung with another Drain Punch. Hariyama saw the move and managed to sidestep the attack. The Arm Thrust Pokémon brought his arms around and clapped Pangoro's skull with his palms. Kiyo had already begun to charge once more.
"You have to work together!" Chris pleaded, slowly approaching them. His right leg felt like jello, but he continued to drag it behind him. "Pangoro is weak to Fighting-type moves! Think!"
Kiyo came to a complete stop beside his Pokémon. He looked at Hariyama, then over his shoulder at Chris, and finally Pangoro. The Daunting Pokémon met his gaze and slowly his snarl faded. An almost somber look replaced it. A knowing look. The martial artist said something that Chris didn't hear. At that moment, Flaaffy managed to sit back up. Her tail pulsed back to life and illuminated their immediate surroundings. That's when Chris saw Hariyama charging once more.
"We have to do something," Chris said. He nodded to Flaaffy, who managed to do the same. "We may have used up the energy in you, but we still have the wool outside!" Without another word, Flaaffy pushed herself back to her feet and began to violently shake, launching a barrage of fluffy spores into the air. The swarm rained down on the Arm Thrust Pokémon, slowing his already tedious movements further. That didn't stop him from throwing another palm strike toward Pangoro.
"Crunch!"
Pangoro opened his jaw and a dark set of fangs appeared. The energy produced teeth clamped down on the reaching hand and drew a painful cry from Hariyama.
"Iron Head!" Kiyo directed.
Without missing a beat or releasing his enemy's hand, Pangoro launched his energy encased skull into Hariyama's. The blow knocked the Arm Thrust Pokémon off his feet and ripped his hand free from the clutches of Pangoro's jaw. Hariyama landed hard on his rear but still looked like he could fight.
Kiyo threw his arm forward, his hand clenched into a fist. "Hammer Arm!"
With a roar, Pangoro took two powerful strides and clotheslined his vulnerable foe with all the strength he could muster. The blow lifted Hariyama off the ground once more and sent him tumbling into the darkness. Silence descended over the cavern once more, broken only by the heavy breathing of both parties. Kiyo stared at his teammate, but the back of his head blocked his expression from Chris. Pangoro turned around and the two locked eyes once more.
Chris tried to wait several seconds before squeaking, "We may want to get back to the cavern."
The group returned to homebase without any more wild encounters. Upon stepping back into safety, Chris' team swarmed he and Flaaffy. Nidoking nearly jabbed them both with his horn as he ran up to check them out. He touched Flaaffy's bruised arm with one of his clawed hands, drawing an annoyed look from the Wool Pokémon. He quickly withdrew and apologized, which brought out an exhausted grin from the Electric-type. Though he didn't outright ask, Chris quelled any fears for his health that Typhlosion may have held.
Kiyo swung over to give the trainer and Flaaffy some medicinal roots, before excusing himself from the group. The trainer watched as he met with Machamp and Conkeldurr. As they talked, Chris scanned the cavern until Pangoro's hulking form had been found. The Dark/Fighting-type leaned against one of the cavern walls not far from Chris and his team.
Chris gently pulled Flaaffy away from her swarming teammates. When she looked up at him with a questioning stare, he nodded toward Pangoro. Flaaffy's face softened, and she nodded back. Pangoro heard the duo coming before he saw them. His eyes had been on Kiyo and his fellow Fighting-types, but they soon turned to face the approaching duo.
"Pangoro," Chris said, dipping his head.
The Daunting Pokémon looked between Chris and Flaaffy with the same neutral stare as his trainer. .
"Flaaffy," came the Wool Pokémon's hoarse greeting.
"We didn't have a chance to really speak after all the chaos," Chris said. He shifted his feet nervously and turned so that he could see both Pangoro and Flaaffy. With a slight bow, he began again, "I wanted to apologize to both of you. I rushed into danger and nearly got the three of us killed. And all for such a… needless reason."
"I thought it was needless too."
Chris turned and found Kiyo watching the trio carefully. Standing beneath the flames along the wall, Kiyo's injuries could be better seen. His gi had been completely torn at the knee, revealing several streams of red liquid. He held a cut on one cheek, a bruise on the other, and a swollen left eye.
"I'm sorr—"
"I thought it was," Kiyo interrupted. "The precedent was there. You had gotten your team lost and stumbled upon my lair. You'd needlessly pushed to learn from someone who let a mere type disadvantage drive him from his Gym in Saffron City. You'd needlessly stuck around for two months despite not knowing what or when the end result might be. During that time, you'd needlessly tried to befriend a Pokémon that wanted nothing to do with his trainer, let alone you. Despite being physically rebuked and stomped in battle, you idiotically continued to reach out to Pangoro, even to the point of nearly getting yourself killed. All this toward a Pokémon that wasn't even yours." Kiyo met the Daunting Pokémon's gaze. "But through your unnecessary pressing… it became necessary." He came to stand before Pangoro. "I don't know if we'll be able to get back to where we once were. It's been so long… and I don't even really feel like your trainer."
"Flaaffy!"
Everyone looked at the Wool Pokémon, who now gingerly pointed her bruised arms toward Kiyo and Pangoro. She shook her head toward the passage they had just escaped from.
Kiyo nodded back. "Fighting Hariyama… it did remind me of our victories in Kalos. But I ultimately failed there too."
Chris was floored to hear the reserved warrior speak so freely. What changed? he wondered.
"There may be too much pain and separation between us," Kiyo continued, "but I'm willing to continue your training… for as long as you'll have me."
Pangoro closed his eyes. His massive fists slowly unclenched and his breathing slowed. When he opened his eyes again, his expression hadn't changed, but the anxious edge in his stare had vanished. "'Goro," he quietly replied, before pointing at the exit they had just escaped though. "Pangoro."
Kiyo nodded, but said nothing.
At the martial artist's suggestion, Chris and Flaaffy spent a couple days recovering from the tumultuous affair. The trainer sensed the rest of his Pokémon were also grateful for a break. They hadn't escaped from their fair share of bruises and exhaustion. When the morning came that Chris' entire body no longer screamed with soreness and pain, he made the call. He slid the straps of his backpack gingerly around his shoulders and gathered his team.
"Thank you all for sticking with me these past couple of months," Chris said. "I didn't exactly give you any heads up, but you agreed without any hesitation. That… meant more to me than you may realize."
"Scyther," the Mantis Pokémon said, bringing a scythed appendage to rest beside his trainer.
"Looks like you're ready to go," came Kiyo's raspy voice. The martial artist now stood among Chris' team.
"I think so," Chris confirmed. He gave a light shrug and felt a twinge of pain shoot through his shoulder. "Hopefully we can find our way from here."
"You won't get lost with me as your guide."
"You're leaving the cavern?"
Kiyo let a grin show. "I'm leaving the mountain."
With a party of nine Pokémon, and a physical specimen like Kiyo in attendance, few wild inhabitants chanced an encounter with the group. Pangoro led the squad, with Flaaffy serving as a visual aid beside him. Machamp and Typhlosion served similar roles at the rear of the party.
The route stayed wide, but proved to be quite extensive—changing elevation more times than Chris could keep track of. They passed through several caverns of similar size, but none were as flat as Kiyo's domain. The trainer shuddered at the thought of having to carry a boulder around some of these more uneven caves.
Eventually, the faintest trace of light appeared in the distance. The sight sparked a sudden thought in Chris. He gently slipped off one of his backpack's straps and unzipped a pouch, making sure not to bend his cracked knuckle. He withdrew his PokéGear and wrapped it around his wrist. Having kept the device off, it should last him till Mahogany Town. He pressed the power button and shielded his eyes from the boot up screen
"It may feel strange to connect with the outside world after taking a two month break," Kiyo said.
"Not nearly as strange as it probably will feel for you," Chris answered with a laugh.
"It's only been a couple of years. I spent three years in here during my first exile."
"What brought you out that first time?"
"I thought I had grown strong enough," Kiyo answered. "I wanted a fresh start to show it. I chose Kalos as my proving ground and decided to spread my renewed fire in a new region. Me being in this cave tells you all you need to know about that quest."
Chris nodded, but something still bothered him. "What's different now?" he asked.
"Some stubborn kid and his equally stubborn Pokémon."
As the light grew, the damp air of the cave slowly disappeared. The group rounded a corner and the flood of light that met them forced Chris' eyes shut. His legs kept churning, bringing him to the edge of the cave. As the sun's warmth washed over him, all fatigue and soreness momentarily faded. He stepped out and felt the stone floor he'd grown accustomed to soften into dirt.
Kiyo waited to speak until the trainer's eyes had adjusted. "Weird to see lakes and trees at their actual size, eh?"
Chris thought back to the last time he'd been outside. "Guess I'm not going to be stepping over these puddles or using the trees for toothpicks."
Kiyo smiled at that and turned toward the trainer. Pangoro had stepped over to his trainer's side and also faced the Cherrygrove native. Kiyo brought his hands together and bowed low. "I wish you well on your Johto journey."
Chris felt his PokéGear vibrate, but ignored it. He bowed back. "Thank you, Kiyo." As Chris rose back to full height, something smacked him in the chest. He brought a hand down to catch a small, round object. The sunlight revealed the image of a band—not unlike the headbands often worn by martial artists—engraved onto the flat disc.
"Swing by the dojo if you're ever in Saffron."
Chris put the badge in the pouch containing his other six. He ignored another buzz of his PokéGear. "You heading there?"
"It's our first stop."
Chris looked over and met Pangoro's gaze. "Make sure you give him a good beating if he starts to doubt himself again."
The smallest of smirks slipped onto the Daunting Pokémon's lips. "'Goro."
"Make sure you don't lose sight of what brought you this far," Kiyo countered. "I've lived enough of a life of failure for the two of us."
Chris knew better than to counter or add to that. He simply nodded.
"See ya', kid."
Kiyo and his Fighting-types set off south. They didn't rush, but walked with purpose. The trees they made for had lost the majority of their leaves, but those that remained glowed in a myriad of colors.
"This thing won't stop," Chris said quietly, flipping open the buzzing device on his wrist. "What's the—" A message appeared on the display. Followed by another. Then a third. A steady stream of messages soon filled his inbox. The first couple had been from his mother. The next half dozen had come from his father. Apparently the two had done research on Kiyo after Chris' last message. The words 'legendary,' 'Gym Leader,' and 'master trainer' were scattered throughout each message. Upon reading the last message, and seeing a new title, Chris looked back up. Kiyo and his Pokémon had reached the woods that bordered the route's southern edge. None of the party were looking back.
The Karate King.
Chris' training comes to an end, and with it, the realization that he had been partnered with a legend! As the Karate King takes his next step forward, Chris must do the same. He finds himself not far from Mahogany Town—home to one of the final two badges he needs! After two months of training, will Chris be ready for the Gym challenge that awaits him? How will he and his team be after the grueling training camp? What will late fall bring? The answers will come to light in the next thrilling installment of Heart and Soul! I hope to see you then! Please Review and Subscribe!