Note- As Summer turns to Fall, Heart and Soul returns! Hope all of you are doing well and staying dry after all this stinking rain. Thankfully, Chris is staying dry as he makes his way toward the Lake of Rage. Having just spent a week working with Kamon at his Mahogany Gym, the young man now forges ahead toward the Winter Classic tournament. What new and familiar faces await him to the north? What battles will the crew face? Let's get some answers today! Hope you enjoy! Please Review and Subscribe!
Chapter 45
"Sorry I didn't answer earlier. Late lunches are becoming the new norm." Ben's laughter echoed around the tree-filled path of Route 43. "It killed me to have to hold off on eating this exquisite peanut butter and jelly sandwich."
"Did you not have time to grab something better?" Chris asked.
"My lunch break has gotten a bit… shorter since we last got food together."
"Yeah, when I talked to mom earlier she said things had been sorta crazy around there." A bang echoed over the speaker, followed by the sound of something metallic smacking the floor. "You alright?"
"Oh yeah," came his father's quick reply. "Some of the guys are just running some wires through the break room's ceiling."
"It sounds like they're really trying to live up to the room's name."
A short burst of laughter followed. "That's my boy. Don't let anybody tell you that you got your wit from your mother."
A smile crept on to Chris' face. "Not everybody appreciates our comedic genius," he replied. Indeed, he'd nearly run his travel companions off with some of his more truly egregious puns. Waz' own head had almost shaken off his tree trunk thick neck. He'd seen Luke's eyes nearly roll back into his skull on multiple occasions.
"They're just not up to speed. And speaking of getting up to speed," Ben paused to let a nearby drill do its thing, "I want to hear about your journey. The message you sent a week ago helped calm my nerves, but it didn't have a lot to it. And now it sounds like you've already caught mom up!"
"I called her when I saw the news about Route 39," Chris clarified. "I'd met her there a few months back. Just wanted to make sure she was okay." He could hear his father chewing on the other end. At least he's actually taking time to eat, Chris thought.
"She'd told me about her station in Olivine when we spoke last week," Ben said. "Sounds like their holding up, despite the chaos." A metallic squeal echoed over the speaker, drawing strange looks from Chris' nearby teammates. He shrugged and pointed at his Pokégear.
"There hasn't been anything strange happening around Goldenrod, has there?" Chris asked.
"I don't think so. Then again, I haven't really had a chance to investigate the local rumor mill. I did see a couple wanted posters outside the tower." His father coughed and cleared his throat. "But don't worry too much about us. I want you focused on your path. It already has enough pitfalls to look out for."
"I think I've done pretty well to avoid them so far. I only have two badges to go."
"That's not your main goal though, right?"
Chris lowered his wrist. "No."
"You want to be the strongest, right?"
"Maybe someday," Chris answered, his voice wavering. "Right now I'm looking to be the best in Johto."
"Why not go ahead and set your goal higher? I know you have the skill." He paused as a hammer came down. "Look at your brother."
"Dad."
Ben pressed on. "He had a talent for battle that I could only dream of. But he got himself distracted."
"He was runner up in the Silver Conference," Chris quietly countered.
"Nobody should have beaten him," his father said. "As unfocused as he was, his team still managed to steamroll the competition. I know your team can do the same. You just can't fall into the same trap. He focused so much on pleasing his sponsors and arguing with me, that he wasn't prepared to take on someone who had fully committed to the craft. He lost that championship battle the minute he refused to push everything else into the background."
Chris went silent. His father's words flew in the face of much of what he'd seen recently. Luke's struggles with his team seemed to counter this. Kiyo's resolution and Kamon's actions stood in stark contrast also. "I'm not sure, dad. Look at what happened to Matt after the Silver Conference."
"We still don't know what happened," his father corrected. His voice sounded strained as he continued. "I'm hoping he got his act together and actually reached his ceiling."
In the weeks following Matt's last contact with the family, Chris had watched the Battle Network religiously. Highlight after highlight, tournament after tournament, he'd watched for any sign or mention of his brother. He didn't falter, even after the search party at Mt. Silver returned with nothing. It sounded as though his father hadn't lost hope either.
"When you first started, I wanted you to feel things out. Even when we met after your loss to Whitney, I knew you were still in your infancy as a trainer. Maturity and confidence were the building blocks back then. But now," his voice grew more firm, "you've had a chance to travel around the region, participate in some tournaments, and get six badges under your belt. You need to expand your confidence to aim higher than before."
"Right."
A stranger's voice suddenly passed through the speaker, "You finished with the wiring over there, Aedan?"
The speaker crackled and static hissed, followed by a muffled response from Chris' father. He picked up on the words 'almost' and 'multitasking.' That's when all the pieces finally came together.
"I'll let you go, dad."
After a short delay, his father replied, "You don't have to…"
"I know you're busy." So busy you can't just eat or talk to your kid, he added silently.
"Well, I appreciate you calling to check up on me," his father replied.
"Same."
"Be safe out there, son. Don't forget what we talked about."
"I won't." And with that, Chris ended the call. His eyes never wavered from the screen, even after it had faded to back.
"Cro'!" the Bat Pokémon screeched.
Chris finally looked up and found that they had nearly reached the top of the gradual incline. The team had stopped and now faced him expectantly. Well, all of them except…
"Where's Gyarados?"
Ampharos pointed at a tree back on the route. She then traced a line along the ground from the cedar to the top of the hill. "Amph'."
"Cro'!" came the Bat Pokémon's second shriek. From his aerial position, the Poison/Flying-type pointed a wing at something over the top of the hill.
Chris broke into a sprint, but the stiffness in his legs soon forced him down to a speedy jog. He and the rest of his team topped the hill and nearly collided with a host of fleeing humans.
"The monster has returned!" one woman screamed. Her flailing left arm nearly took the trainer's head off.
"Scy'!" the Mantis Pokémon screeched, pouncing forward to ward off his trainer's attacker. Chris just managed to get both arms around him, pulling his teammate backward, and inadvertently sending them both to the ground. Looking up, they found the crowd already scrambling their way down the hill.
"She wasn't attacking me," Chris hastily explained. He took the Bug/Flying-type's offer to help him back to his feet. "It looked like they were fleeing from something." A light bulb went off in Chris' head at the sound of a nearby roar. "Or someone."
The team turned in unison and found Gyarados slithering through the crystal clear water by the bank. The sight brought a grin to Chris' face. Talk about memories, he thought, his mind wandering back to the day his school teacher had put on live coverage of what would come to be known as "The Rocket Radio Wave Incident." It was eerie just how much this moment reminded him of that scene. "There's no actual beast to quell this time," he muttered under his breath.
But as Chris drew closer, he realized that another aspect of the historical moment was being played out.
"Now!"
A winged creature fell from the sky and delivered a full body tackle to the back of Gyarados' head. Chris immediately recognized the sentient, flying fossil. He traced the voice back to the bank and found the trainer who had just secured his Glacier Badge the day prior.
"Waterfall!" Chris called out.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the trainer whip around to face him. Chris kept his focus on the battling Pokémon. As Aerodactyl began to fly away, Gyarados twisted around to follow him. As the Atrocious Pokémon's lower half slid through the lake's surface, the water swirled to life around his serpentine figure. Aerodactyl clearly hadn't expected the counter, let alone for it to come so quickly. Gyarados shot upward like a coiled Ekans and bludgeoned his attacker with an aquatic headbutt. The blow knocked the Rock/Flying-type from the sky, dropping him unceremoniously onto the bank beside his trainer. The trainer's attention snapped back to his fallen teammate. The Fossil Pokémon didn't stay down for long. He quickly rose back to his feet and prepared to launch a counter, but his trainer grabbed an outstretched wing. When the young man turned back to Chris, his brown eyes were a mix of confusion and intrigue.
"You always like to make a scene?" he asked, his tone not matching the antagonistic words.
"First impressions are everything."
The muscles in the young man's face relaxed. "I thought Dialga had sent me back in time for a moment. Mean looking red Gyarados. People running and screaming. About had me fooled."
"Yeah," Chris said, dropping his straight-faced routine, "guess I didn't think about what would happen if I brought him here. I just knew he'd love having a big pool to swim in." Chris looked around and found no one else in sight. Panic momentarily took over. "Was anyone hurt?"
The young man shook his head and gestured at the flat land around them. "There weren't many people to hurt. What few there were managed to scramble south right as I showed up. The big guy over there didn't look too concerned with them anyway."
"Then why did you and your Aerodactyl go after him?"
"He's a red fuckin' Gyarados!"
Chris burst into laughter. "Guess I can't argue with that."
A shadow passed over Aerodactyl and his trainer. Everyone looked up and found the red serpent back by the bank. His ferocious stare fell squarely on his former attackers.
"Ty'!" Chris' starter shouted.
Crobat reached Gyarados' side a moment later. The Bat Pokémon circled his teammate, waving his lower wings in a calming gesture. The teammates' attempts did little to alter the Atrocious Pokémon's perturbed look.
The crimson haired boy met the creature's gaze and slowly nodded. "Looks like this guy is still itching for a battle."
"It's been a while since he's had one."
"Then why not let him and Aerodactyl finish theirs?"
Chris turned to his towering teammate. "What do you think?"
"Gya'!" came the creature's deafening roar.
Chris and the rest of his team moved to the left and settled at the edge of the lake. Seth took several steps in the opposite direction, giving them a wide battlefield that accompanied both the land and sea. When they both looked to be ready, he shouted, "Since we got the jump on you earlier, we'll let you guys return the favor."
"Fair enough. Let's start things off with Waterfall!"
"Show them your Iron Head."
Despite Gyarados getting the jump, Aerodactyl had already prepped his attack and closed the gap by the time the Atrocious Pokémon had summoned the lake's surface around him. The Water/Flying-type seemed to sink as he approached his incoming opponent. As Aerodactyl lowered his glowing skull, the Atrocious Pokémon rocketed back to his full height, bringing a tumultuous swell of water with him. The two creatures' elementally charged skulls collided with an echoing thud. Aerodactyl's wings beat furiously, but Gyarados would not be denied. He surged forward, driving his opponent back toward the bank.
"That's a perfect opportunity for Rock Slide!" Seth suggested.
As he spun toward the ground, Aerodactyl managed to turn back toward his opponent. He flapped his wings hard, slowing his descent, and giving him enough time to get his feet under him. He kicked hard the moment his claws touched the ground. The earth cracked at the point of contact as a barrage of rocks broke free. The rush of earth caught Gyarados head on as he pushed to follow up his previous attack.
"Can't get greedy," Chris hissed. He'd seen Aerodactyl's speed first hand. Thoughtless follow ups would only leave his teammate exposed to a counterattack. "Get away from the bank!"
As he was already reeling from Aerodactyl's attack, it took little effort for Gyarados to continue his backward momentum.
"No chance," Seth announced.
Aerodactyl was back in the air an instant later. The Fossil Pokémon had already begun to prep for Wing Attack before his trainer's command. Chris could only watch as Aerodactyl delivered a one-two combo to the right side of Gyarados' skull.
"Keep up the momentum with Crunch."
No time to counter with an actual attack, Chris realized. He dropped his gaze to the lake. "Hit the water with your tail!"
As Aerodactyl reached to chomp down with his dark fangs, the Atrocious Pokémon swung his tail around and smacked the lake's surface. Water sprayed upward, creating a super effective geyser that held Aerodactyl at bay.
"Ice Fang!" Chris roared.
The Atrocious Pokémon burst through the spray, his frozen fangs outstretched. Aerodactyl met him with his own energized jaws. The two stayed locked together after the initial collision.
"Pull him into the water!" Chris directed.
"Free yourself with Iron Head!" Seth instructed.
As Gyarados dragged him toward the lake's surface, Aerodactyl's skull took on a grey glow. His wings beat furiously as he attempted to hold off his stronger adversary. Just as his underbelly touched the water's surface, Aerodactyl lashed out with an energy enhanced headbutt. The blow caught the Atrocious Pokémon square between his eyes, and created enough separation for Aerodactyl to escape.
"Let's get back to land," Seth guided.
Chris and his teammate attempted to cut him off, but the retreating Pokémon's speed proved too great. He watched as Aerodactyl shot through the space between the two trainers. The Fossil Pokémon continued to soar across the grassland—away from the trainers and his adversary. In a ranged battle, Aerodactyl holds the clear advantage, Chris reminded himself. With his strength, Seth's Pokémon could strike Gyarados from a distance with Rock Slide. Chris' teammate could utilize Earthquake to a similar extent, but it would have no effect on their Rock/Flying-type opponent. But that doesn't make it useless…
"Get back to the bank!" Chris directed.
Gyarados wasted no time in closing the distance..
"Swing back around!" Seth called.
Aerodactyl executed a swift 180 degree turn. As he spun back around, Chris took note of his decrease in altitude. The trainer's head snapped back around to face his teammate. "Swim as fast as you can!"
Both creatures barreled toward one another, a collision seemingly emanate. That changed when Gyarados managed to reach the bank first. Both trainer's commands were simultaneous.
"Earthquake!"
"Rock Slide!"
Aerodactyl's claws found the grass covered plateau. One swift motion brought about a thunderous swarm of tumbling stones. As the attack reached the bank, jagged segments of earth blasted up to halt its progress. Gyarados' tail had found land, and his attack had risen just in time. The fractured earth extended up to completely block Seth from Chris' view. Staring at the earthen wall, Chris realized that neither Pokémon could see the other. That hadn't kept Aerodactyl from continuing his approach.
Seth's firm command echoed from the other side, "Iron Head!"
He won't waste time or energy attacking through the debris, Chris told himself. If Aerodactyl got around the raised mound of earth, and Gyarados wasn't in position, Seth's Pokémon would have a clear path for a direct attack. That'd spell disaster for Chris' obviously exhausted teammate. He gritted his teeth. It'd come down to a prediction.
"Waterfall!" Chris commanded.
The water twisted up Gyarados' long figure. Aerodactyl's skull glowed with a familiar grey light as he reached the earthen barrier. His eyes flashed toward his trainer. Chris twisted and found Gyarados' pupils fixed on him.
"Up!"
Gyarados whirled out of the lake like a water spout. As the top of his body cleared the green wall, he found himself face to face with Aerodactyl. The two collided.
Chris felt two pairs of arms wrap around him. He looked down and recognized Scyther's bladed appendages and Typhlosion's cream colored legs. Then he felt himself be jerked backward.
A ringing sound filled Chris' ears, followed swiftly by a roar. Something resembling rain pelted his skin. The downpour strengthened and remained constant for several seconds. A surge of water smashed into Chris' right side and completely submerged him. The cold liquid took the air from his lungs and made his muscles convulse. Then, the world grew still.
Chris blinked.
He lay on his stomach. A blade of grass tickled his nose. He attempted to get up, but found Typhlosion and Scyther laying over each shoulder. He tried lifting his head, but found someone holding down his skull. His heart beat against his ears like a gang of rampaging Tauros.
"Is everything alright?" At the sound of his voice, the weight lightened from his shoulders. He heard a flapping sound, and the unseen figure left the back of his head. He twisted around and found Crobat circling just above him. That explains that, he thought. Eevee and Ampharos stood over him, their eyes filled with worry. He turned back around and found Scyther and Typhlosion. "Why did you do that?"
Both Pokémon nodded back to the battlefield.
"What about—" Chris froze.
The battlefield had transformed into a war zone. Small chunks of rock lay scattered across the bank. The earthen wall forced up by Gyarados' Earthquake had crumbled—its remains scattered across the grass. The swarm of rocks Aerodactyl had kicked up now peppered the space around and on top of the displaced ground. One particularly large boulder resided where Chris had stood only seconds before. Aerodactyl now lay against the stone on the side opposite the trainer. The Fossil Pokémon looked to be unresponsive.
As Chris' hand pressed into the dirt, he felt the spongy ground sink beneath his fingers. He looked toward the lake and found that a large quantity of water had overrun the bank and crashed down across a good portion of the battlefield. As he followed the receding liquid, his eyes fell on his teammate.
"Gyarados!"
Chris popped back to his feet, ignoring the stab of pain in his knees, and sprinted over to the edge of the lake. The water serpent floated on his back, his body completely uncoiled. One look at him told his trainer he was unconscious.
"Looks like a draw."
Chris spun around. Seth knelt beside his winged teammate. He ran a hand gently over the creature's neck as he sprayed him with medicine. Without looking Chris' way he asked, "Do you need any healing items?"
"No." The trainer from Cherrygrove had stopped by the defacto general store in Mahogany. The shop had been locally owned, meaning higher prices, but Chris had found some unique, natural supplements for his team, and also himself. They had sold herbs, but his teammates had suffered enough from them in Mt. Mortar. He took off his backpack and added, "I have some in here."
He brought out a Super Potion and stared at the water that lay between he and his fallen teammate. The distance was too far to jump, and he'd come down with hypothermia if he tried to swim. He thought about returning the Atrocious Pokémon to his Poké Ball, but the team would want to console and congratulate the water serpent on his battle first. Chris would as well.
"Hey, Crobat," he called. Once the Bat Pokémon had flown over, he continued. "You think you could fly me to him?"
Crobat nodded, and extended a talon to the trainer. Chris grabbed hold and waited with baited breath as Crobat gently rose into the air. As his feet came off the ground, the trainer squeezed even tighter, but his weight didn't seem to stress the Poison/Flying-type. A short moment later, Crobat had set him down on Gyarados' upturned belly. He carefully maneuvered his way up the Atrocious Pokémon's long frame, spraying the serpent periodically with the potion. When he reached the creature's gaping mouth, he brought out an item that the merchant in Mahogany had said would instantly revitalize a worn down Pokémon. He carefully dropped the edible medicine between his teammate's fangs and waited. It took less than a second for him to get a response.
"Gyaaa'!"
The Atrocious Pokémon swung up to his vertical base, launching his unsuspecting trainer into the air. The cold water rushed up to meet him, but his momentum came to a screeching halt. He found a pair of bladed arms wrapped flat around his chest.
"Scy'," the Mantis Pokémon said, dropping him on the bank an instant later.
Chris nodded to his teammate. "Nice reflexes, Scyther. Though, as a rescuer, your arms kinda made that scary." He chuckled to try and alleviate Scyther's melancholy expression. "Don't take it as an insult; embrace your biology!" He couldn't tell if the words really hit home because his attention quickly shifted to the approaching trainer. Seth walked with Aerodactyl who, like Gyarados, looked to be pretty banged up.
"Hell of a battle," the long haired boy said. The trainer's previous intensity had completely vanished from his face. He bore a lopsided grin now. "Your Gyarados looked strong before the battle, but damn… can't say I was expecting that."
"I'd say the same about Aerodactyl," Chris answered, extending a hand, "but I already knew how strong he was."
"How's that?"
Chris did a double take. "At Mahogany's Gym… I was cleaning the room while you battled Kamon. I thought maybe you saw me when you left."
Seth shook his head. "I'm sure you were there, but I was probably still in the zone."
Chris nodded. "I get that. You'd just finished a crazy intense battle."
"So you work at the Gym?"
"Not… really. It's—it's a bit of a long story."
"Wish I could stick around to hear it," Seth said, shouldering his backpack. He turned to look at the grassy plateau. "Unfortunately, I've got a date with the Pokémon Center."
Kamon's words began to reverberate through Chris' head. He threw a glance at Gyarados, and an idea sparked to life. "So there's a Pokémon Center up here?"
"Pretty sure. My Pokétch showed one east of the lake."
"You care if I tag along? My whole team has battled their way up here, and Arceus knows Gyarados could use some extra treatment."
Seth's lips tightened, but he replied with a quick, "Sure."
They set off east along the grassy plateau—Chris with his team of six, and Seth with his Aerodactyl. They hadn't gotten far before Seth spoke again.
"What were you getting at earlier? About the Mahogany Gym?"
"Oh, yeah." Chris scratched at a patch of dry skin on the back of his neck. "Well, the Gym Leader helped me out of a tough spot. To repay him, he suggested I help him out around the Gym." Chris shook his head. "I never knew how much was required of a Gym Leader. Even with my help, he stayed busy the entire week."
"That's pretty rad, though. So had you already won your Glacier badge, or did you wait to get it till after you'd paid your dues?"
Chris replied with a guilty smile. "I... actually haven't won it yet." When he saw the utter confusion on Seth's face, he decided to elaborate, though he omitted a particular detail. "I wanted to wait until after the Winter Classic. Thought it could give my team the extra training they might need to get over the challenge Kamon represents."
"He and his team were definitely a challenge. That Gym battle was without a doubt our toughest."
"Oh yeah?" Chris thought back to the day prior, and the calm before Seth's Gym challenge. "Your team has seven badges, right?"
"Damn," Seth said, giving him a vicious case of the side eye. "You saw the beginning of our battle too?"
Chris held both hands up. "I was still clearing off the battlefield during introductions. I promise I didn't sit there and analyze everything!"
Seth flashed him a toothy grin. "Just fuckin' with ya." Despite his smile, and the dismissive words, the wrinkles on the trainer's forehead didn't go away. "So how many badges do you have?"
"Six."
Seth nodded and turned to stare straight ahead. Chris waited for him to say something, but the young man's mouth stayed closed.
The grassland sloped slightly up as they neared the lake's eastern edge. Chris looked over his shoulder and found most of his team following close behind. Typhlosion walked on all fours, his attention seemingly on the path ahead. Scyther and Crobat carried on a quiet conversation behind him. Ampharos and Eevee brought up the rear. The two chatted it up as they pointed at the lake on their left. Chris followed their eyes and found Gyarados slicing through the water by the bank. The Atrocious Pokémon also looked to be focused on someone. The water serpent swam parallel to Aerodactyl, who strolled between the lake and his own trainer. A jolt of panic struck Chris at the thought of Gyarados attempting to continue his battle with the Fossil Pokémon. But the longer the trainer studied his face, the more he saw past his teammate's intimidating visage. With his head cocked sideways, the Water/Flying-type almost looked more curious than perturbed.
The Pokémon Center sat atop an overlook. The expansive view of the lake made the water look as though it stretched on well into the western horizon.
The trainers returned their Pokémon as they passed through the sliding doors. The waiting area was relatively empty, save for a few trainers lounging around the counter. A few minutes later, Chris and Seth had dropped off their teams, and stepped back outside at Chris' suggestion. "No way we're waiting inside when this is our alternative!"
The duo found a small, unoccupied table by the center's entrance. The partly cloudy sky brought about broken rays of the evening sun, which poured down on the calm water. A light breeze fanned the trees bordering the lake further north. The partial sunlight, and surprisingly warm temperature, made it a pleasant evening overall.
"Johto never fails to surprise me," Chris said.
Seth leaned back in his chair. "What do you mean?"
"The scenery."
"It is beautiful," Seth agreed. He looked over the water. "This spot reminds me a bit of Lake Verity, but a whole lot bigger"
"That's Sinnoh, right?"
Seth nodded, but said nothing. He leaned back and turned to look at a brochure taped to the inside of the door. His eyes scanned it for a few seconds, then he turned back to Chris. "You mentioned the Winter Classic earlier. You did say you were planning on entering, didn't you?"
"For sure. How about you?"
"Wouldn't be up otherwise."
Chris' head tilted to the side. "Really?"
Seth shrugged. "I appreciate the scenic beauty as much as the next guy, but me and the team have a mission. Can't waste a ton of time sight seeing."
Chris felt as though he were eight years old again, inquiring about his brother's travels. He blinked, and the spell was broken.
"You good, man?"
"Yeah," Chris quickly replied, shaking his head. "Just zoned out."
"Glad to hear I'm not the only one who does that," Seth said. "It usually only happens to me before important battles, though."
Chris chuckled. "Battles are about the only thing that keep me focused."
The two talked for a bit longer before hearing their names called over the center's PA system. As the nurse handed back their teams, she asked them if they'd like to go ahead and sign up for the Winter Classic. Once registered, both trainers made for the door.
As soon as they stepped outside, Seth waved to the trainer and took a step back. "I guess I'll see you here in a couple weeks," he said.
"Hey," Chris said, holding up a hand, "would you want a training partner till then? My team hasn't gotten much in the way of trainer battles lately. And I know I could use some more practice—especially with somebody who took down Kamon using only three Pokémon."
Lines appeared on Seth's freckled forehead. He stared at the ground, his mouth twisting every direction imaginable. When he looked back up, he extended his fist toward Chris. "I can't. Sorry, man."
Chris tried to hide his surprise. He threw on a smile and bumped fists with his fellow trainer. As he pulled back, he took note of the white and black bracelets around Seth's wrists. He instantly recognized the names on each. Sponsors, he silently acknowledged. Neither sponsor name matched the reps that had approached Chris after the Whirl Islands Tournament. Being under eighteen, Chris had directed all such inquiries and opportunities through his parents. He realized at that moment that they'd yet to mention a sponsor getting in contact with them. That seemed a bit odd after what seemed like genuine interest at the tourney. He'd have to ask them about it in his next message. "No worries, man," Chris finally said.
Seth nodded appreciatively and began to backpedal. "Hope to see you in a couple weeks."
Chris gave him a short salute. "Maybe then we can settle our draw."
The northern path sloped down, bringing Chris back to the water's edge. The clouds overhead had thickened as he descended. Night would come quicker with the sky covered, but Chris still gauged it to be an hour off. A cold breeze rolled off the water as he strolled along the bank. Small waves began to slap against the grassy border. Moisture gushed from the grass beneath his feet.
What's my gameplan, he silently asked. Reaching back into his backpack, he withdrew the pamphlet the nurse had given him upon signing up. He read over it and grimaced. A second and third reading did nothing to remove the pained expression. "A double battle tournament," he said aloud. Chris' experience with this format spanned across the entirety of two battles. He'd teamed up with Luke just south of Violet City. David had been his partner in Ecruteak. But neither of those battles had seen him directing both Pokémon, as would be required by the Winter Classic. So he had, effectively, no actual double battle experience. I can't be any worse than Matt, Chris thought. For all his brother's skill, Matt had always struggled with this particular format. Even before the losses, he'd always dismissed them as a gimmick. On paper, Chris had no umbrage with double battles, but he might think differently after experiencing a real one. Directing two Pokémon at once had always sounded so daunting.
"Guess I better decide on which two to use," Chris muttered. He was tempted to exempt Crobat and Scyther due to the event's name and its icy implications, but he reminded himself that this would not be like the last tourney. With the event taking place in December though, he didn't doubt he'd see quite a few Ice-types looking to take advantage of the climate.
A strong gust of wind nearly ripped the paper from his hands. He glanced up and found a grey sky. Pushing on with his current course, the trees on his right drew closer. To his left, the lake's surface had become choppy, with waves striking the bank in increased number and ferocity. On the far, haze-covered shoreline, the trainer could make out a band of rain. As he watched, he noted with some exasperation that it was heading his way.
Squelch. Chris looked down and found himself in ankle high water. He took a second to praise Arceus for the recently purchased boots he now wore. The lake had flooded its bank here, and turned this section of the shore into a bog. And with oncoming rain, Chris knew he could easily find himself drifting in a newly extended branch of the lake if he stuck around. A quick survey of his surroundings provided him with only one option for increased elevation. He glanced back at the oncoming rain. Once he was sure there would be no lighting, Chris turned east and began his trek up the wooded hill. What little light of day still existed vanished once he stepped beneath the crisscrossing branches.
The rain caught him soon after. Without leaves, the freezing torrent surged through the woodland and dowsed the trainer. Chris stumbled through the pitch-black downpour, tripping over numerous roots and nearly bashing his skull against a half dozen tree trunks. He finally gave up, and stuck a hand into his pocket. A moment later, a flash briefly illuminated his dark surroundings.
"Would you care to give me a light?" Chris asked.
A red glow pierced the darkness, and soon, its glow had illuminated the entire space. Ampharos stood at his side, a perplexed look on her face. The trainer grabbed hold of Typhlosion's device, but slowly let go. No need to make him miserable, Chris told himself. They could handle the damp chill till they found respite. That shelter came in the form of a pine grove. This clustered patch still held its leaves and provided a serviceable roof for the trainer. That prompted him to finally release the rest of his team.
"Scy'," the Mantis Pokémon hissed.
"We're not in any trouble," Chris quickly explained. "Storm caught me as I was heading around the lake." At the sound of a crack, Chris snapped around. Several branches bounced off the ground beside Gyarados. His eyes worked their way up the serpent's long frame, stopping once they'd made it halfway. The Atrocious Pokémon's upper half had vanished among the pine branches. "Gyarados!"
The Water/Flying-type shifted his base to give himself enough room to lower his head. There came another snap as his massive skull dropped back in to view. Two more large branches tumbled to the ground, followed by a sudden rush of water. The cascade burst over Typhlosion, putting out the fire on his neck, and sending the Volcano Pokémon onto his hind legs with a rigid spine and a look of shock. That surprise quickly turned to anger, manifesting itself visibly in the form of a fang-bearing scowl. It was a look Chris hadn't seen since his starter's defiant days as a Cyndaquil. Thankfully, the Volcano Pokémon didn't aim it toward his guilty teammate, instead choosing to wield it at the vacant darkness. It took the Atrocious Pokémon several seconds to realize what he'd done, but upon seeing where his entire team's focus lay, he shot Typhlosion an apologetic look.
"Gya'."
Without looking at him, Typhlosion brought up a paw and dismissed the apology. The fire starter gritted his teeth, and flames spun to life on his neck once more.
He may have grown a lot mentally and physically, Chris acknowledged silently, but some things you just can't change.
"Now I know not to pair you two up for the Winter Classic," Chris interjected. All six of his teammates turned toward him, a sudden realization in their eyes. "We're only two weeks away, guys. And we have a lot to learn." Confusion came over the six Pokémon. "You must not have caught what I said a second ago; every one of these matches will be a double battle."
The Volcano Pokémon pointed at himself. Crobat did likewise with one of his wings.
Chris shook his head. "Unfortunately, it's not like those battles. We won't be teaming up with other trainer's Pokémon. Two of you will be battling together. And I'll be directing both." He could almost see the gears turning in the minds of his teammates as they lowered their heads. That moment of thought was quickly broken up by his newest Pokémon.
"'Vee," the Normal-type growled. He pounced back and forth, a confident smile etched on his face.
"I'm not worried about our strength," Chris clarified, returning a less assured grin. "I'm just a little nervous about my own ability to direct you guys."
All six Pokémon seemed to gravitate toward their trainer at that moment. Ampharos was the first to provide a reassuring hand on her trainer's shoulder. He soon found Eevee's comforting paw on his shin. Crobat circled the air around him. Scyther and Gyarados came to stand beside him. Then came Typhlosion—the assured, now fully evolved leader of his Pokémon teammates. He stepped in front of his trainer and opened his mouth to provide the supporting words he had slowly come to embrace.
At that moment, Gyarados shifted his body, and the back of his head caught a set of low hanging branches. A second, equally full, torrent of water fell… solely onto Typhlosion.
"TY'!"
The next two weeks expended every use of creativity in Chris' brain. He trained with all of the possible combinations his team provided. To test their conditioning and his own ability to adapt, Chris had his other Pokémon rotate constantly until they had faced every pairing. Though he struggled to adjust to the new format, double battles weren't unenjoyable. The timing and spacing proved difficult for both trainer and Pokémon, but it was impossible to deny the versatility and increased strategy that came from battling with two partners. It wasn't hard to understand why leagues like the Global Double Battle Circuit and the Pokémon Duo Scramble were so popular. Even so, Chris wouldn't be switching trainer paths any time soon.
After nearly a week of experimentation, the duo was finalized. Through a well rounded combination of skills, Typhlosion and Scyther looked to make the best pair. Their speed could allow them to maneuver out of any danger their trainer might unwillingly send them into. Typhlosion could also provide cover fire while Scyther fought for an opening at close range. And if they gained the number advantage, the Volcano Pokémon could also swoop in to help his partner physically overpower their remaining opponent. With his Fire-type attacks and his improving Focus Blast, Typhlosion could hit most Pokémon that held an advantage over Scyther hard. And though he didn't say it aloud, Chris also felt compelled to choose these two for personal reasons. For Scyther, the Mantis Pokémon had been loyal and worked hard despite not participating in a Gym Battle since Morty. Chris could sense that this latter nugget had dug its way beneath Scyther's skin. Desperate to display his strength, the Mantis Pokémon put everything into each of his attacks. For Typhlosion, it was as simple as wanting to see how much stronger his starter had gotten. In the darkness of Mt. Mortar, against Kiyo's stronger teammates, it had been difficult to gauge just how much evolution had improved his attack power.
The following week saw more of the same in the area of training. They started each day with breakfast and a scenic trek by the lake. The first wave of practice usually took them to noon, after which they would settle down for lunch. Another session, this one involving partners getting used to the spacing and quick, verbal communication. A Pokémon Center visit was in order afterward. Once healed, Chris would bring his team back to the same pine grove he had sought shelter in during the storm. With rain still on and off again in the area, and flooding along the lake very unpredictable, Chris appreciated the elevated, leaved cover. His team did as well, with the exception of Gyarados. The massive creature often made it known just how cramped the space was for him. Chris would periodically take him to the lake to remedy this, though the trainer had to keep a watchful eye on his fear-inducing Pokémon. He didn't worry about the water serpent attacking anyone, but someone getting hurt in a panicked attempt to escape was the last thing he needed on his conscious.
For sleep, Chris had his team gather wood and build a sizable bonfire. The periodic rain quelled any fears of the inferno getting out of control. With temperatures cooling, especially at night, multiple layers of clothing and his cozy sleeping bag simply didn't keep him warm enough. The added heat and the natural roofing, along with Typhlosion's fire and Ampharos' light, were the key factors in allowing Chris to sleep outside. At night, he could occasionally hear the squeal of drills and the repetitive thud of a hammer impact. Each time he returned to the Pokémon Center to heal his team, he'd examine the source of the noise in the grassland below.
Makeshift buildings had begun to spring up around the flatland that bordered the lake. The construction stretched all the way to the edge of the downhill slopes of Route 43. The structures were spaced in a way that left a good chunk of untouched grassland at its center—with no buildings obstructing the view of the lake. It wasn't hard to figure out what would occupy this space. Several camps had appeared on the outskirts of the pop up town. With each day that passed, those gatherings grew, as did the number of trainers occupying the center. Chris bumped into Seth a couple times in the week leading up to the tournament, but other than pleasantries, the two never carried on a formal conversation. The fair skinned, redhead's stare usually carried past Chris, confirming what the young man from Cherrygrove already suspected; it was game time.
The morning of the tournament brought with it a heavy frost. Once the team had put out the fire and gathered their belongings, Chris had his team circle him. The trainer didn't speak at first. He slowly turned to look at each Pokémon as he waited for the right words to come.
"We've been in two tournaments," Chris finally said. "We've had two opportunities to gauge where we stand with the competition. We've found ourselves out in round one and we've fought our way into the finals. I can't say for sure that either of those aren't possibilities for this tournament." His breath appeared as frozen condensation and mixed with the other puffs of vapor put out by his team. "I just know that we've worked hard. All we can do now is let that effort take us as far as we currently can go." Chris turned to face the two Pokémon he'd be directing. Typhlosion and Scyther stood beside one another. The trainer let a grin show. "Let's show 'em what we can do."
Chris had his team accompany him through the fog until the Pokémon Center came into sight. "Don't want to give our first round opponent a chance to scout us," he explained as he brought our their Poké Balls. When they'd nodded in agreement, he returned them to the capture devices. As he continued south, and began to scale the hill that housed the Pokémon Center, he became aware of distant voices. Reaching the center, he found dozens of people entering, exiting, and lounging around it. He was grateful to have healed his team the evening prior. If this traffic was any indicator, he might have missed the whole tournament waiting in the center's current line.
He passed the facility and started downhill once more, with trainers flanking him on all sides. Each of these men and women descended back into the remaining fog, their eyes fixed on the floating building tops just visible above the mist. Through the slowly retreating cover, Chris could make out seven painted rectangles at the pop up town's center. The battlefields were spaced so that together they formed what looked like the tip of an arrow—with the layout naturally pointing toward the lake. The battlefield atop the arrowhead formation lay only a dozen yards from the waterfront. As the hill leveled out and the nearest buildings drew close, the crowd began to grow. Chris looked around at the growing mass of humanity, and was surprised to see so many Pokémon lounging around. He could understand seeing a few, but surely none of the competing trainers would reveal even a single companion. Doing so could, in Chris' mind, unintentionally reveal the typing of a teammate not currently present. If he had Ampharos walking with him, an attentive trainer might surmise that the Electric-type's presence meant Chris was looking to cover one of his other teammate's weakness to water. That could lead to an educated guess about Chris having and possibly using a Fire- or Ground-type in the tournament. Then again, it would only really matter for the first battle, when the trainers could use whatever two Pokémon they wanted. Past the first round, the trainers were stuck with their previously chosen teammates, meaning future type-advantages would just be the luck of the draw.
Chris shook his head. His first tournament had shown him just how easy it was to be bounced in the first round. Staying focused on his own team and their first round matchup—that would give him enough to worry about.
Someone bumped into his shoulder. Chris turned to apologize, but the initiator beat him to the punch.
"I am so sorry," the young woman said. She looked to be about his age. As she ran a hand through her long hair, an apologetic smile appeared on her clear, fair face. "I didn't realize you had slowed down."
Chris blinked. Then again. He put on what he thought was his most charming smile. "It's not your fault. Dumb on my part to stop in the middle of traffic. Especially when everyone else is focused on getting where they need to be."
"Well, it looks like your focus is on finding the check in station," she replied, pointing at a numbered sticker on her chest. One of her hands came down on his shoulder as a sudden energy filled her voice. "Let me show you where!"
Chris could see the station directly in front of him, no more than 20 meters away. Even someone who'd never participated in a tournament could spot the desk and interpret why a line of trainers stood in front of it. He looked down and found her hazel eyes radiating enthusiasm. "I'd appreciate it."
She grabbed his arm and half led, half pulled him through the crowd. With each step she took, her purple scarf swung up to smack Chris' chin. She didn't seem to notice, and Chris, in the clutches of a pretty girl, wasn't about to complain.
"So have you competed in many tournaments?" she asked.
"Two so far. How about you?"
"A few. How many badges have you earned?"
"Six."
"Cool."
Chris could see the gears working in her head as they walked. Her smooth face didn't show it, but he could see a glimmer in her eye. He cleared his throat. "You've kept the conversation about me, so here's one for you: what's your name?"
"I just like getting to know the people I help," she said, brushing back her light brown hair with her free hand. "Sarah," she added in passing. She'd continued on before Chris could introduce himself in kind. "Any thoughts on the Pokémon you're using today?"
Chris came to a halt. He stopped so suddenly that Sarah nearly ripped his arm out of its socket. She turned to look at him. "What's up?"
Both of the young man's eyebrows rose. "Oh, nothing." He nodded toward the check in line ten feet in front of them. "I just realized we'd made it to my destination."
"That doesn't mean our conversation has to end!"
"I'm afraid it does."
She tilted her head. "That's how you treat someone who helped you? No gratitude? No pointers or insight before I go?"
Chris lowered his head and gave her a knowing look. "Just win," he said.
Her aghast expression tightened into a twisted smirk. "Of course."
He went to extend his hand, but she'd already spun and headed away from the line. "Chris!" he shouted. "Ya' know, just in case you actually cared."
When Chris made it to the counter, the official asked for his Pokédex and identification card. He also asked to see his Gym Badges. The man let out a relieved sigh upon seeing the six objects.
"You're in," he said, typing Chris' name into a list.
The trainer noticed another list of names on a sheet of paper atop the desk. He pointed at it. "What's that list for?"
"Backup," the man quickly explained. "We recently received a selective mandate from the head honchos. They want this tournament to be a bit more competitive than the last. Number of entries have been slashed to 56, and a priority for those with five badges or more." He handed Chris' Pokédex and ID back, before giving him a white pin. "You're number forty-two. The bracket will be revealed in around an hour. You'll report to the buildings on the opposite side of the battle zone for that."
Chris thanked the man and made for the line of buildings behind the desk. An officially licensed merch store caught his eye. He entered into the makeshift establishment and scanned the small, packed room for anything interesting. Most of the stuff seemed incredibly overpriced, but a forest green toboggan caught his eye. He thought the color matched well with the light tan of his jacket. And the red text reading 'Johto,' etched into the folded edge of the beanie, matched perfectly with the scarlet hoodie he wore underneath.
"Nice choice," the woman at the counter said as she rang him up. "This is made from synthetic fibers and the finest wool you'll find on a Flaaffy. You've got to keep your ears warm up here!"
As he stepped back outside, Chris tore off the tag and slid the knit cap over his head. Having forgotten to get a haircut, Chris' messy locks made the beanie fit a bit tight, but the trainer couldn't deny how comfortable the material felt. He passed a short, lamp-like fixture that rested between two buildings. Several people were gathered around it, their hands pressed up to a glowing cylinder. Even twenty feet away, the trainer could feel the heat the device was putting off.
The smell of food pulled Chris' other senses away from the warming lamp. He wasn't much of a breakfast guy, and so had packed while his team ate. But with noon fast approaching, Chris' stomach had finally come to life. He swung into the next building—a sandwich restaurant—and emerged with a pair of sandwiches he'd already halfway gobbled up. He'd finished them off before he'd even reached the first battlefield.
Numerous trainers stood in this open space, looking out toward the lake or over the battlefields. A few spoke with their Pokémon, but most stood alone. A crowd was forming at the far end of the battle zone, near the opposing line of buildings. They looked to have circled around a raised monitor. A roar erupted from the group as names and faces started to slide across the screen. Despite the cold, Chris' hands began to sweat. His body buzzed with a familiar anxiety. His heart felt like it was pounding in his throat. His hands fumbled into his backpack and had procured Ampharos' Poké Ball before his brain regained control. As he went to put away the device, his finger managed to 'accidentally' strike the release mechanism. The Light Pokémon appeared with a frown on her face. She tilted her head up to give her trainer a confused stare.
"Nerves," he muttered through chattering teeth.
Some confusion remained on Ampharos' face, but she still placed a comforting paw on his shoulder. "Amph'."
"I've just never been in a legit double—ow!" His body seized as a small electrical current zipped through. He blinked back a tear, before turning a scowl on his teammate. He retracted the look when he caught sight of the Electric-type's firm stare. He gave her a weak thumbs up. "This is about getting better," he reminded himself. "No harm in participating." Her stern expression didn't soften, but she gave him a nod. He looked up and saw his image slide across the screen, trails of stars dancing behind it. "Looks like it's about showtime."
Things are ramping up as the Winter Classic is about to begin! With a focus on tougher competition, and a new, talented trainer to look out for, it seems like Chris will have his work cut out for him in this tournament! How will Chris and his team's first outing go in a true double battle? What familiar faces might he encounter? You won't have to wait long to find out! I look forward to seeing you again soon in the next action packed installment of Heart and Soul! Please Review and Subscribe!