Welcome back everyone! Thank you for your patience these past few months! Now that the Dobbs Saga has come to a close, it's time for Chris to get back to business. Let's see what adventures await him this chapter of Heart and Soul! Notes- Please Review and Subscribe!
Chapter 24
"What just happened?" Chris and his Pokémon continued to stare in the direction of the low-speed chase.
"Quil..." the Volcano Pokémon attempted to refocus the team, and after a moment, everyone finally returned to the present.
"...Right," Chris shook his head and mentally checked back in. "Great job today guys! I'll get the battlers to the Pokémon Center and we'll figure something out after that."
The trainer returned his Pokémon to their devices and dropped them off with the nurse. He decided to hit up a nearby grocery store to grab some more food for the road. On his way back to the center, Chris saw the Poké Mart nearby and decided to stop in to refill his Pokémon's vitamin supply. Once finished, Chris headed back to the center and retrieved his team.
The trainer decided that his team deserved a bit of time to check out the city. After the last, unusual battle, his Pokémon could use some enjoyable R&R. Training would be a better option once it cooled off anyway. The trainer released his Pokémon from their devices once they were outside the center.
"Alright boys,"Chris grabbed his recently released Pokémon's attention. "Let's have some fun before we hit training later!"
"Cro!" the Bat Pokémon took off into town, leaving his teammates to hurry after him.
The Poison/Flying-type led them into a market sale going on downtown. Tons of booths were set up down multiple streets. The roads were roped off, allowing for the pavement to be covered by roaming shoppers. After catching up with the dual type, the team began checking out different stations. Several vendors shouted towards him and his Pokémon, trying to entice them with special items and training equipment. Chris bought several of the vitamin packs from a pair of retired trainers. He spoke with the duo for almost an hour, asking questions about their success and motivations. After noticing his Pokémon's anxiousness, he bid the men farewell and continued shopping.
"I'm not much of an art critic," Chris looked over a set of beautiful paintings, "but these are fantastic." He picked up a landscape painting which depicted a massive jewel positioned by the sea. "Where is this at?"
"D'at 'iz from Anistar City," Chris raised an eyebrow, unfamiliar with the location. "It 'iz in 'za Kalos Region."
"Kalos, huh?" Chris mumbled. "Might be worth visiting sometime."
The group continued on their exploring. The summer heat radiated off the pavement, pulling sweat on to Chris' skin. The trainer was relieved when Scyther pulled the group over to a stand in the shade.
"Quil," the Volcano Pokémon jumped onto a chair beside the stand. "Lava!" the Fire-type reared back in surprise.
"Look at all of these evolution stones!" Chris was marveled by the brilliantly colored stones. He called over the woman working the stand. "How do prices work with these?"
"I just recently got into selling stones," she picked up a couple of stones. "The Fire, Water, Thunder, and Leaf Stones are the most common. These prices can be negotiated." She picked up a bright orange stone. "This Sunstone is much less common, but it can be yours for 8,000."
"That stone looks pretty interesting," Chris pointed towards a clear orb, which held a wave pattern inside. "I've never seen anything like that."
"Oh," she quickly snatched it off the table, "my manager told me that one wasn't for sell. Sorry. Must have accidentally mixed it in with the other stones. It's a special stone from the Kalos Region, I think."
"They like their jewelry over there," Chris thought back to the painting they had seen earlier. The trainer picked at the gold locket around his neck. "I guess I can't say too much."
"Here is the granddaddy of them all though," the woman pointed to a grey, jagged stone.
"Not a real impressive appearance," Chris remarked skeptically. It did not glow in the shade like the other stones.
Crobat landed on Chris' shoulder as Scyther stepped forward to peer at the stone. Not wanting to miss the rare stone, Nidorino jumped onto Quilava's chair. The two began to bicker as the vendor identified the rock.
"I know it doesn't look like much," she placed it close to Chris, "but this stone is from space."
"A Moon Stone," the trainer had never encountered anyone who had owned the rare rock.
"Precisely."
"Quil!" the Starter Pokémon smacked Nidorino with his paw, knocking the Poison-type off balance.
"Wait a minute," Chris had just picked up the stone, "aren't these the stones that Nidorino ev-"
The trainer was cut off by a commotion to his left. The brunt of Nidorino's weight came crashing down on Chris, sending both trainer and Pokémon to the ground. "C'mon Quilava!" Chris shouted, a little more harsh then he meant. "He just wanted to take a look as well."
"Quil," the Fire-type shrugged, hopping down from the chair.
Chris looked down at Nidorino to ensure the Poison Pin Pokémon was alright. The last thing the trainer expected to see was the horned creature encompassed in light. The trainer backed away slowly, always amazed by the evolution process. Chris had momentarily forgotten about the Moon Stone's power over Nidorino. The four legged creature shifted onto his back appendages, rising up as his arms became more dynamic and muscular. A long, powerful tail emerged, as his horn also grew. When the light faded, Chris' eyes fell on a large, bipedal, purple creature.
"My gosh," Chris was awe-struck. He slowly approached the reptilian-like creature. "You've practically doubled in height. How do you feel?"
"KING!" the roar knocked Chris on his back in surprise.
The Poison-type had apparently lost his mind. The trainer raised his arms, trying to defend himself.
"Nido," the muscular Pokémon also fell onto his back, but had done so out of laughter.
"What..." Chris looked on in shock as his Nidoking rolled along the ground, laughing profusely.
"Quil," after seeing Nidoking's intentions, the Volcano Pokémon also got a chuckle in at Chris' expense.
Before long, Chris' entire team was giving in to the humor of the situation. The crowds around them looked on in curiosity.
"Alright, alright," an exasperated sigh flew from Chris' lips, "I get it." He pointed towards Nidoking. "Very well done sir." He shot a nasty look towards his other Pokémon, holding especially long on Quilava. "The rest of you guys didn't catch on at first either. Don't act so wise!"
This just drove Chris' team into greater hysteria. It wasn't until a loud, attention drawing cough from the vendor, that the Pokémon settled down.
"You do realize," her voice was shrill as she pointed to the shards of Moon Stone on the pavement, "that you have destroyed that stone by using it. I'll need 10,000P for that!"
Chris shot Quilava and Nidoking the most menacing look he could muster, before bringing out his wallet. "Here you go, ma'am," Chris said, handing a wad of large bills to her. When he turned back to face his team, his eyes were large and pleading. He nodded toward the street and the trio took off at a brisk walk.
"Hey," came the vendor's annoyed voice, "wait a sec. There's only 8000P here!"
"You said the price of the stones was negotiable!" Chris shouted over his shoulder, before turning a bend and breaking into a full sprint. The team took off after Chris, who zigzagged through alleyways until he had found one deserted. "This should be far enough," Chris announced, collapsing onto the ground.
"Quil," the fire starter said in a haughty voice.
"Hey," Chris snapped back, wiping sweat from his brow, "that's all the money I had on hand. And besides," he glared at the Fire-type, "I was covering for someone who couldn't pay at all."
That seemed to kill Quilava's rebuke. The team dropped to the ground beside their trainer, their energy zapped by the noon heat and the marketplace excitement. Nidoking sat beside Chris, giving the trainer the chance to pet the Poison/Ground type's head. The creature still held his friendly smile and innocent aura, despite his former ferocious farce. the trainer brought out his Pokédex and pointed it towards his newly evolved teammate. Nidoking, the Drill Pokémon. It is known for its rock-hard hide and extended horn. One swing of its mighty tail can snap a telephone pole in half.
"That's a little unnerving," Nidoking chuckled after seeing Chris' questioning look. "Am I going to wake up tonight with your tail crushing me?"
"Nido!" the Drill Pokémon smiled, but shook his head adamantly.
"Alright," Chris examined their surroundings, "I guess we should probably get ready for training later. Let's head to the usual spot."
As the group headed towards the Burned Tower, Chris' Pokémon admired their taller companion. Quilava, whether he admitted it or not, seemed particularly interested by the new evolution. A scowl appeared on his face every time he had to look up at the Poison/Ground-type's face. The trainer could not believe how self-conscious his starter Pokémon still was.
Chris, despite his positive attitude, still felt he compared himself to other trainers too often. Perhaps his impatient, absolute desire for greatness was affecting Quilava negatively.
A conversation behind Chris, turned the trainer's attention towards Scyther and Nidoking. The two Pokémon seemed to be carrying on a lighthearted discussion. Nidoking was doing most of the talking, leading Chris to believe that Scyther was questioning the Drill Pokémon over evolution. The two teammates were at eye level, marking just how tall the Poison/Ground-type had become.
"Cro," the Bat Pokémon flew close to Chris, his eyes darting back at Nidoking.
"Just because you are both fully evolved Poison-types," Chris wiped a bead of sweat from his eye, "doesn't mean I'm going to get rid of one of you." Chris leaned in closer to Crobat. "I know you usually aren't big on socializing, but it would be awesome if you could help Nidoking with the transition." The trainer threw a glance back at the Drill Pokémon. "I just know he didn't handle his last evolution well, at first."
"Bat," Crobat nodded, somewhat reluctantly.
"I'm going to need you for a lot of battles in the future," Chris smiled. "If we keep working hard, no one is going to be able to match your speed."
This brought a grin to the fanged mouth of Crobat. He took off, shooting towards the tower they had almost reached.
"In light of the fact that it is miserably hot," all of Chris' Pokémon nodded in agreement, "it's probably best that we don't train for very long today."
Quilava and Scyther both exchanged looks. Nidoking was less subtle about his willingness to shake off the heat. He beat his chest with a clawed arm and smashed his powerful tail into the ground. Crobat looked less than excited to spend extra time in the sunlight, but he did not voice a complaint.
"We'll see after an hour," Chris shook his head and grinned. These Pokémon were crazy.
After an hour long training session, which included Magikarp holding his own against Scyther, the group took a short break. Chris fed his teammates and gave them each a vitamin. Making sure they were well hydrated, Chris jumped back into training at their approval. When they began again, Chris noticed a boy on a nearby bench. He seemed to be watching Chris and his team closely. The trainer quickly dove back into practice, pushing the one man audience to the back of his mind. By four o'clock, Chris and his team were lying face down in a pool of sweat. The dead heat of the late afternoon had set in, leaving the group gasping for breath. Chris rose up slowly, knowing the team should get out of the sun immediately.
"We may have pushed a little too hard," Chris realized he should return his Pokémon to their Poké Balls. "Really proud of you guys though." The trainer returned his team to their devices. "I'm in a bit worse of a position." Chris was out of water, leaving the trainer to mentally curse himself for being unprepared.
Pulling off his sticky shirt, Chris began to slowly move away from the tower. The trainer's judgement was clouded by the sun's intensity.
"Maybe this is karma for earlier," Chris thought back to the Moon Stone. He felt a tap on his shoulder. "Hm?"
"Hello sir," the on looking boy from earlier stood beside the trainer. Chris noticed a glass of water in his hand, but swore it must have been a mirage. "I noticed you looked a little tired."
He extended the water to Chris, who downed it almost immediately. The trainer felt life return to him. "Thanks man."
"No prob," he shrugged and cast a glance at the Poké Balls in Chris' free hand. "I also saw that you're a Pokémon trainer."
"Nah, I'm training them for the circus."
"Really?" the boy asked with false curiosity.
"No," Chris chuckled, pointing to a shaded bench. "Let's grab a seat."
"So you've got three badges," the boy had taken up Chris' offer to ask some questions. In fact, the trainer was beginning to think there was no shortage of them. "Which was the toughest to get?"
"Definitely my last one," Chris answered, flashing the Plain Badge. "Whitney's team was so strong and unpredictable." The trainer finally decided to inquire something of his water supplier. "You've asked me all the questions, but here's one for you; what's your name?"
"Ace."
"Is that really your name?"
"It's what my friends call me."
"No, they don't."
"Nah, I'm lying."
Chris tilted his head. "I gave you straight answers."
The boy lowered his head and mumbled, "Bulregard."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"Guess I understand your hesitation," Chris gritted his teeth. Seeing the boy's shoulders slump as well, the trainer changed subjects. "So what are you doing out here alone? You can't be more than eight."
"Ten actually," Bulregard said, a sad smile appearing on his lips. "My parents are out of town and my Nana is prone to afternoon naps."
"You speak well for your age," Chris was happy to see genuine happiness on the boy's face. "So I'm guessing you didn't have to travel far to get to the towers?"
The boy shook his head. "I live in the Sage Wise Community."
Chris' jaw dropped. "That's the wealthiest block in the city!" That explained the nice clothes and proper speech. Chris' family had always brought in good money. His father's position at the Radio Tower brought in a solid income, as did his mother's job with the police force. They had lived in a subdivision not too far from the Sage Wise Community. "So, what is that like?"
"Can't lie, it's pretty great," Bulregard laughed, tapping the sparkling watch on his arm.
"You know I could take you hostage and demand for a ton of money, right?"
"But you won't."
"No," Chris laughed.
"Yeah," Bulregard shrugged, "it's nice to not have to worry about money. On the opposite side, my parents are a little too protective."
"It doesn't matter the demographic," Chris grinned, "good parents are just like that. They should be protective!"
"I just don't want them to keep me from pursuing my dream!"
"And that is?" Chris asked, but he had a good idea.
"To be the best Pokémon trainer that ever lived!" he jumped from his seat as he spoke the words. Chris felt a serious wave of déjà vu hit him. "I'll train three times as hard as you and anybody else."
The trainer decided to bring the conversation back to the more important point. "I'm sure your parents want what is best for you."
"I don't care at all about being a doctor or CEO!" Bulregard's passion carried over to this declaration.
"Those are incredibly important decisions," Chris took a deep breath. He wanted to word this next sentence carefully. "But, in the end, what you end up doing, comes down to YOU. Just don't turn away other suggestions."
There was silence as both males stared into space. Chris knew the boy would give the topic serious thought later, so he changed the subject once more.
"Favorite Pokémon?"
Bulregard's face lit up. "Charizard, no doubt!"
"That's everybody's favorite!" exasperation filled Chris' voice.
"For good reason!"
"I mean, I love me some Charizard," Chris decided to give the claim some props. "He's a beast. Just not my favorite. Probably in the top ten though."
"What about your favorite Pokémon?"
Chris shrugged. "Well, I like all-"
"Cut the BS."
"You really do talk well for a young pup."
The two talked for almost an hour before Chris finally stood up. "It's probably best to get you back home."
"I guess so."
Chris sighed. "I'll walk you back a couple blocks, how's that sound?"
The duo worked their way to a gated community where Chris bid the boy farewell. Casting one last look towards Bulregard, Chris was once again hit by a nostalgic feeling. The trainer truly believed he recognized the boy.
The heat was most likely getting to Chris' head, so he decided to abandon his train of thought. Sleeping arrangements would be the team's next order of business. The trainer decided that the park would be a good place to relax and decide. On the way there, Chris stopped at the Pokémon Center to heal his team and quench his thirst. Chris knew the Pokémon Center would still have beds, but he was feeling a bit adventurous. Perhaps a bit of Luke had rubbed off during their travels. Further proof of this was his lack of a backup plan; Ecruteak's inns were family owned and very expensive.
The trainer found a nice bench in the park and released his team to have their fun. As they dashed back and forth, Chris' mind opened past places to sleep. In six days, the team would be going after their fourth Gym Badge. The thought sent waves of excitement through Chris' body. Any anxiousness he had felt after losing to Whitney seemed to have finally vanished. The issue would still be ensuring he took the challenge one day, and one Gym Badge, at a time. He needed to be as engaged and passionate about the coming days as he had been the day he left Cherrygrove.
"Quil," the fire starter tapped Chris' leg. The Volcano Pokémon nodded towards the rest of the team.
"Guess I can't let you guys have all the fun," the trainer patted Quilava gently on the head as both of them ran towards the group.
"You do realize we'll need to train a bit more today, right?"
The team had exhausted their energy, and collapsed beside a fountain. The afternoon was slowly turning to evening, prompting Chris to address their limited daylight.
"Scy," the Mantis Pokémon dismissed Chris' words with a wave.
"Cro!" the Bat Pokémon screeched a counter towards Scyther's objection. Soon, the rest of Chris' Pokémon had ganged up against Scyther.
"Woah!" the trainer tried to settle everyone down. "Guys, it's alright. Scyther is still getting used to how we do things." Chris stood up and helped Scyther to his feet. "Are you still okay with our goal of becoming the best team on the planet?"
Scyther paused for a second, but nodded strongly.
"Awesome,"Chris grinned. "Then we need to make sure we never stop improving. Every day we wanna be a little bit stronger and more cohesive than the last. Sound good to you?"
"Scy," the Mantis Pokémon nodded.
"But before we jump back in..." Chris brought out a large batch of food for his Pokémon to feast on. "Can't train on an empty stomach."
Chris had the team train near the pond. He did this partially so that his team could rehydrate when necessary, but more importantly so that Magikarp did not feel left out. Inclusion would be key in forming a well-trained, perfectly synchronized team. As Nidoking practiced dodging fireballs from Quilava, Chris pushed Magikarp harder than he ever had. Chris sparred with the Fish Pokémon, both in and out of the water. Afterwards, Chris began swimming laps with ferocious effort. The trainer challenged the Fish Pokémon to keep up. He eventually lost track of how many times he had circled the fountain. The muscles in Chris' legs began to scream at him, forcing the trainer to take a breather. As he waded to the edge, Chris felt a splash of water hit the back of his head. Upon turning around, the trainer saw that his Magikarp had not stopped swimming laps. It seemed as though the Fish Pokémon was swimming them even faster than before. A look of determination was etched on the Pokémon's face.
"Nido!"
"Quil!"
All of Chris' team had gathered around the fountain to watch the speed and endurance of Magikarp.
"Keep it up!" the words were not needed, but he did not want to see Magikarp's extraordinary effort end. After the impressive display, the Pokémon went back to work, with Chris' focus being on the physical battle between Scyther and Crobat. Both Pokémon were locked in a stalemate, with each side trying to push back the other. It appeared that Scyther had a slight advantage, until Crobat began to flap his wings harder. The Poison/Flying-type immediately asserted his full power, slowly backing Scyther into a nearby tree. After failing to muster up a counter, the Mantis Pokémon conceded the match.
Chris grinned. "We're shaping up nicely."
After the training had ended, Chris called the Pokémon together. "I've made up my mind about sleeping arrangements tonight." Night was fast approaching, forcing Chris to finally make up his mind. "We're going to sleep back at my house!"
"Nido?" the Drill Pokémon, along with his companions, did not understand his words.
"Quil," the starter Pokémon gave his trainer a skeptical look. The Fire-type had pieced together where Chris was referring to.
"I know it's been a while, " the trainer agreed, "but the house should still be there. If it's empty, I thought we could sleep on our old deck."
"Scy!"
"If people are in there," Chris scratched his head, "we can head back to the Pokémon Center, I suppose."
His Pokémon agreed upon the arrangements and so they set off. On their way over, the group passed beneath the Bell Tower. Chris' eyes became fixed on the steeple, which glowed with the setting sun.
"Quil?" the Volcano Pokémon had noticed Chris' fixation with the tower.
"We'll have to visit there sometime," the trainer flashed a grin to his starter, "if they let us."
It was night when the group arrived at Chris' house. No lights were on, and after ringing the doorbell and knocking, Chris was sure no one was inside.
"Just to be safe, we'll sleep in the backyard."
Once the group had settled in, drowsiness hit fast. Two sessions of training and a long hour of play had depleted the team's energy. Chris remembered looking up and seeing the same stars in the sky he had observed as a kid, and then he was out.
"What the hell are you doing back there?!" a booming voice echoed from a short distance away.
Chris' head snapped up. Through the early morning fog, Chris could make out a man on his old deck. He appeared to have business attire on.
"This is private property owned by Chase Insurance!"
"Duly noted," Chris jumped up, woke his Pokémon, and gathered his belongings. "We gotta get outta here," Chris whispered to his team as the man approached them. "Scatter and regroup in front of the Bell Tower!"
The Pokémon did as they were instructed, dashing in different directions through the fog. They left the business man cursing at the ground in disgust.
A short time later, the team was together again beneath the tallest structure in the city.
"Welp," Chris chuckled, "guess we better not sleep there again!"
"Scy," the Mantis Pokémon seemed less than pleased at Chris' indifference to trespassing.
"Cro!" the Bat Pokémon was quick once again to defend his trainer.
"Quil!" the Volcano Pokémon tried to calm his teammate.
Chris remembered that Scyther's species was very territorial. If any Pokémon understood the frustration of having its territory breached, it was the newest team member.
"We should have apologized," Chris said aloud, silencing the Pokémon. "You're right." The Mantis Pokémon seemed a little surprised, but gave his trainer an appreciative look. "Now, how about some lunch?"
The rest of the week flew by in a blur. Training and relaxation encompassed the majority of their time. The opening flat in front of the Burned Tower continued to be their training ground. Several local trainers approached Chris with battle offers, with the Cherrygrove trainer's team never denying. Much to the group's joy, they emerged victorious each time. These encounters just encouraged the young man and his team to train even harder. They blasted out several hard sessions in the blazing heat, pushing themselves past the benchmarks Chris had laid out. With each passing day, the team trained longer, but still pushed as hard as they could. Chris was in the best shape of his life by the end of the week.
Every day after training, the crew headed over to the shaded park they had previously visited. The group would occasionally jump into the deep fountain and see how long they could keep up with Magikarp. The Fish Pokémon blew away every competitor who challenged him, much to the excitement of the trainer. The Water-type Pokémon had also worked hard to become a formidable battler out of water also. There was a tremendous pride among the team about Magikarp's accomplishments. The fountain proved to be a very relaxing time as well, though Quilava always relaxed on a rock nearby. He would leave one eye open, amused by the competition and camaraderie.
Every night, Chris set up a sleeping bag by the Barrier Station that separated the city from the Bell Tower. Every morning, Chris would look up at the tower and consider visiting it. He just couldn't bring himself to enter the Barrier Station and ask. Folklore stated that only pure-hearted individuals were allowed in the tower. Chris knew such a requirement was most likely far above his level. He just needed to focus on his team and his own mental fortitude.
The trainer regularly visited the Pokémon Center during this time, finding out from the nurse on the last day of training that Morty had returned. Upon hearing the news, a rush of excitement filled Chris' Pokémon. "We have to make sure to keep our emotions in check tomorrow," Chris informed his Pokémon. "I know we're on a hot streak right now after beating Whitney," the team seemed to lock in after Chris name dropped their last great challenge, "but Morty battles very differently. His Ghost-types will push us to our physical and mental breaking points."
"King!" the Poison/Ground-type pointed to his head.
"Exactly," Chris was ecstatic to see the Drill Pokémon understand the focus of their training. The mental toughness of the team had never been stronger. "So let's get some sleep tonight." Chris' words were met with approving looks. As they settled in for the night, Chris shut his eyes, but thoughts stayed in his mind.
Morty isn't going to make things easy.
The trainer remembered hearing years ago about how talented the Ghost-type leader was. Now the trainer was considered one of the most powerful Gym Leaders in the world. If he didn't go on so many expeditions around the region, his power might have been even more frightening.
The soft flapping of wings landed on Chris' ears. He peeked through an eyelid and saw Crobat sitting on a lower tree branch.
"Can't sleep, huh?" Chris approached the Bat Pokémon, whose body language did not change upon the trainer's arrival. The Poison/Flying-type's sensory skills were even better than Chris had imagined.
"Cro," the Bat Pokémon seemed transfixed by the full moon overhead.
"Guess it's tougher for you to sleep at night," Chris smiled, throwing an arm around the bat. "Just a few weeks can't change an entire life style. I'm sorry about that."
The Bat Pokémon nodded and the two sat in silence for several minutes.
"Bat," Crobat grinned at the trainer before shaking his head.
"Nothing stupid about insomnia," Chris knew Crobat needed peace of mind. "I hope you aren't worried about tomorrow." Chris didn't get a response. "All we can do is give Morty our best shot. No need to worry or have regrets after that."
"Crobat!"
"I know I've hyped him up a lot," Chris acknowledged the point, "but I don't want us to make the same mistake as last time. We weren't mentally ready for how strong Whitney was." Chris took a deep breath, before looking up at the moon. "I don't know if we'll win tomorrow," the trainer felt sick as the words left his mouth, "but we can't worry about what happens if we lose. We can't beat ourselves."
The Bat Pokémon seemed to agree with these words. He patted Chris with a wing before flying higher into the tree.
"Try to get some sleep!" Chris quietly called after him. The trainer decided to take his own words to heart and dropped onto his sleeping bag.
A Gym Battle with Morty looms on the horizon for Chris and his team! How will they overcome the powerful Ghost-type Pokémon at his disposal? How will Magikarp be able to effectively battle if his more powerful attacks are unusable? These questions and others will be answered in the next chapter of Heart and Soul! See you soon and thanks again!
