A/N: Well, in the face of zero votes cast, the poll was a total bust. Still, it didn't hurt to reach out and see if anyone was interested. That being said, for people re-reading from the original, you'll catch a few new faces for the subplot soon! I'll also be going right back to bi-weekly uploading from here on out until I catch up to ao3 here. I appreciate anyone that's reading more than you know!
This chapter was originally posted to ao3 on 24-02-23
If Virgil hadn't had nightmares about burning alive, Falkner's glare might have done just that. A second trainer–one of the monks– had come with him and that was a good sign. Virgil hadn't seen any blood in the tower, but he also hadn't seen any bodies, which had to mean that the monks were okay.
Alright. So no skin off my bones...
"Don't you know that this is a sacred space?" That was Falkner, and a fever pitch rang against his ears. "The-"
" 'The Sprout Tower are the grounds in which all beings learn that harmony exists through cooperation'. I already know that," Virgil responded irritably. He kept his eyes forward and on Marus, and Marus did the same. Victreebel sat agonizingly still, and Ampharos bounded in a flash of light and sizzling electricity. They were ready, and they were going to put the Pokemon, and Marus down for good this time. There was a groan from behind Virgil.
It was Jaret.
"Ugh… Uh, Mr. Elder, sir, I–" He took a sharp inhale. "Yo! H-hey Virgil, what the heck are you doing!?"
"What does it look like I'm doing? Get over here and help me!"
"Help you? …With what?" And then Jaret's voice sharpened. "That's the Elder! He hasn't done anything!"
"Like hell he hasn't! If you gotta; know, that's him!"
"Him?"
"The one causing all of my problems!" Jaret was up and at Virgil's side the next instant, a ball snapping open as he did; Arcanine was always at the forefront, but Virgil saw the both of them slump from the corner of his eye.
"Virgil, I think you made a mistake." Arcanine barked in agreement. "I don't know what happened, but maybe you should call back your Pokemon so we can figure all this out." Virgil snapped to Jaret with a glare.
"Jaret. He's. Right. There. What do you mean 'back off'?" Jaret was supposed to be on his side. They were friends, weren't they?
"It's just the Elder. An old man can't have you that spooked, can he?" Something shook him, and Virgil's heart sank.
Defeat.
"But…you gotta believe me…" Virgil turned to Ampharos. The current in his body had fallen back some, but still vigilant. Dewott had leaned himself up against one of the Bellsprout statues furthest from the Elder, watching coolly. Both of his Pokemon had seen it, but they each figured that it didn't matter. Virgil's attention fell, inevitably, to the monk and Falkner standing in the entrance. Falkner's scowl grew deeper, and the monk's fingers busied about his beads just a margin quicker.
"The first floor is the only floor open to the public. To be up this far is prohibited." His tone grew grim. "I hope you understand that the destruction of a landmark like the Sprout Tower is grounds for heavy punishment."
"Attacking!? Are you kidding!? I'm from here!" He spun back toward Marus. "He's the one that's…" His voice tapered off. Jaret had been saying something that didn't quite register. It was too far and distant. The forked gaze he held toward Marus flagged, and Marus shrugged with an especially demeaning chuckle.
"It's an excellent question, Virgil. Why are you attacking the Elder?"
You smarmy little…! Thunder rattled against his ears and his shoulders, and Virgil twisted backwards with a yank; Jaret's hand dug into his shoulder.
"Virgil," Rolling thunder; Virgil stared, blinking at the lightning he hallucinated in Jaret's eyes, then stared again.
What is happening…?
"He's just an old man," Jaret finished.
"No," Virgil's voice was small. "He's… not…" Why won't he believe me…? He turned back to Marus. The derisive confidence that he had been expecting never came. Instead, Marus snickered before he burst into a cloud of black smoke. It washed over Virgil the next instant, lodging into his eyes and coating the inside of his throat. The sensation of the dust clumping against his pores left him swatting. It reminded him far too keenly of Mira. The cloud smelled too close to death. Jaret had grabbed hold of him for the third time then, and then the smog was suddenly gone.
The tower creaked weakly in protest and Virgil sank to his knees. The inside of the tower was out of focus, ethereal and unreal. He had lost his body for a moment, shaking his head then clenching his eyes tight for a few seconds then opening them the next. A body was crumpled into a heap where Marus had been standing, dressed in the same robes that Marus had been wearing. The wild hair had vanished without a trace; Virgil had at least expected all to shed onto the wood. It was all gone. The monk that had entered with Falkner rushed to the Elder's side, and after a few moments, he sighed with relief; Virgil grimaced.
When is this going to be over…? His eyes hung heavy almost immediately; Virgil was exhausted.
Rolling sound.
Grumbling thunder. It came louder and more defined.
Jaret.
"Virgil!" Virgil's eyes flickered to life. He stood, wobbling as he did so. A hand twisted into Jaret's shirt for support, an afterthought of sorts.
"...Did you see him," Virgil asked quietly.
"You keep asking me that, but I only see the elder of the tower." Jaret frowned; Virgil didn't look at him.
"I know you saw him. He was right there…" he muttered. He needed sleep. Strange things only happened when he slept, not when he was awake, but the lines had been blurred a long time ago; they just never had been this confusing. At the very least, he was always able to lie to himself when he woke up from one of the nightmares. Virgil went to stand, Jaret helping hoist him back to his feet.
"You clearly saw something or, someone different than I did, unless you're just making this all up." Virgil turned to him with sharp eyes. Jaret's face was impassive; it didn't falter. "Was it Mira again?" They softened.
"No," Virgil ceded, "...Marus…"
"Marus, huh? That's a new one…"
"...You're awfully open to all of this. You don't think I'm crazy?"
"Well, I saw you freak out in Happy Town, scream about it and get us kicked out. You then told me that your main reason for wanting to win the league is to kickstart a project for a dream-based research center over in Unova; you sound traumatized if you ask me." Jaret sighed. "And, I've already told you, since things have gotten worse after the conference, the least I can do is help you out. So, whatever you put out there, I can at least consider it, y'know?"
Virgil was quiet at first, mouth slightly ajar and his eyes dropped to his feet. The word "thanks'' came up like bile, and left something noxious in his chest. The thump of Jaret's hand on his shoulder jolted him to attention, up to a beaming grin that he was already getting used to.
"Don't mention it! Come on, we're gonna figure this out."
He remembered Falkner just then.
"You!"
Ah damn it…
"Answer me," came a demand. "What are you two doing here?"
"Oh, shut up…" Virgil hoped his voice wasn't as shaky as he felt; the tight curl on Falkner's lip told him otherwise.
"You do know who I am, don't you?"
"You're a gym leader, why wouldn't we know who Falkner is?" Falkner shifted his eyes over to Jaret, and Virgil caught the recognition in them.
The gym leaders know him too…?
"Well, at least one of you knows something about the region." Virgil bit back a retort and turned for the stairwell, slightly surprised when his Pokemon followed after him without a word, and also surprised when an arm came out to bar his way; Falkner's eyes weighed on him.
"Still not going to answer?" Virgil registered the sound of a poke-ball growing to size but didn't turn to look.
"I already told you, he wasn't just some old man, he was…" His voice shrank again. "Someone else..." The edge in Falkner's voice dissipated, eyes moving past him and to the monk.
"Jin, how is he?"
"The Elder is going to be fine…He'll just need to rest…" Falkner relaxed at that.
"You said that there was a malicious spirit attacking the tower?" The monk nodded. "Tell me, are you still able to sense anything?" The monk shook his head.
"No, nothing. The last l had been able to sense was near the time we arrived…" There was a thoughtful look on Falkner's face.
"I saw him," Virgil blurted, and Falkner turned to him.
"You…saw him?" Virgil nodded astutely, desperately. He ignored Falkner's skeptical brow raise.
"Okay, so you saw 'him'. Can you tell us why 'he' isn't here now?"
"I…I don't know why," came Virgil's harried retort. "I just… I fought him and not your stupid elder or whatever…"
"Who is 'he' supposed to be?"
"Marus," Virgil snapped angrily. "I don't know how he got here but that's who I saw and I don't know why–" Falkner held up a hand and Virgil sucked in a breath; Falkner's voice shifted; the question that followed was softer.
"Do you know where he went?" Virgil let out a strained whoosh of breath.
"I don't know…! He just…he just turned into smoke and was gone…"
"Any smell to it?" The glower that Virgil gave him was murderous.
"Are you serious…?" Falkner nodded. "Like burned bodies and fucking ash! What else would it smell like!?" Virgil wanted to strangle that gym leader then. He knew something, and was holding back whatever it was that he needed. Why else would he ask so many questions about Marus. If he knew something, then didn't he understand? In fact, he would do it right now. How dare Falkner fuck with him the way he did!
The heavy clasp around his shoulder was familiar; and the thought faded immediately. He had refused to turn to look at him at first, but when he did, Jaret fixed him with the same set of furrowed brows and half-frown of concern that made his skin crawl and mind shake.
They weren't supposed to be friends. Virgil turned slowly back to Falkner. There was a stifled "I see" from Falkner before he said anything else. Falkner was looking past him again, back at Jaret.
"Looks like you might be in for more than just a gym challenge, Jaret."
"I was wondering when you'd recognize me." Jaret's voice was surprisingly grounded and solemn.
"Trust me, I noticed the moment I stepped in. I'm sure the other leaders will recognize you too. But that can wait. I want you two to come with me. I have few things I wanna as-"
"Falkner," He turned back to Virgil. "On your way up here…did you see a Lucario…?" He shook his head.
"No, I can't say that I did. But, my goal was to get here as soon as possible, especially after what Jin reported." Falkner offered him a wry smile. "Did you lose a Pokemon he–!" Virgil bolted past him, clipping Falkner and knocking him to the ground. Falkner turned to Jaret, who shrugged as Virgil's Pokemon lined up next him.
"We'd better go get him."
Virgil rushed down the stairs. He nearly slipped down one of the flights when the tower swayed again. That was the last thing that mattered. How did Falkner not see Lucario? Marus had sent the Pokemon from almost 100 feet down to the ground level. There weren't many Pokemon he could think of that could've survived a fall from that high. He was back on the second tier and had just made his way to the first.
He ran smack into someone, and they had gone low so that he had actually flipped over them entirely, and the air left his chest with an all too familiar thud; he was getting damn tired of that. He tried to shake away his daze; he needed to get back to his feet and find Lucario! He rubbed his head as he groaned.
He felt a timid shuffle of feet through the wooden floor, toward him. A face came into view:
Dark hair.
Thin brows.
Pale skin and eyes that would have terrified him if he hadn't noticed the guilty frown as she peered over him; his eyes worked their way down to the edges of flat and manicured hair skittering at her shoulders.
Virgil shot up and she drew back with a yelp. He rolled to a stop, hand at his waist and thumb over one of the two remaining balls he had. He was shocked when her hands went up in surrender.
"Hello…" She paused for a short moment. "I, er, sorry about that…" she added timidly. "I was just on my way here becau–"
"Have you seen a Lucario," he interrupted. Her face drew back in first surprise then, in slight annoyance despite her best effort to not be so obvious. "He was thrown from the top floor here…" She gawked.
"Is that what happened to him?"
"You've seen him!? Where is he!?" She was smaller than he was, much smaller. He had been expecting her to fold when he brought his voice up, like Dewott had done; he was wrong.
"The real question is," she replied sternly, "what exactly happened that caused that Lucario to fall 100 feet…"
"You think I threw him from up there? Then why did I almost take your head off coming down the stairs!?"
"Maybe because you were rushing to get away from the scene?"
"That has got to be the dumbest thing I've ever heard!" She wasn't backing down, and Virgil grew impatient. He was sure that his body was shaking with the thought; Clouds rolled back into his mind.
"Then, tell me what you're seeing then." And then, they were gone. The way they had left reminded him of Jaret's voice of thunder, or the strength of a firm hand on his shoulder that left the clouds roiling from his mind and staved away somewhere else. The rage would be repressed, but always there.
But this woman's voice had dispelled them completely.
With a clear mind, he stared at her again, silent so he could take everything in. The manicured hair at her shoulders was still there, and so were the clear eyes and angled face. Still impossibly short, but the glimmers of ice near her caught him unaware. Of course he would find something strange about her.
"I am sorry about bumping into you like this," her voice was soothing and the exhale he let out was calm. "But lashing out at everyone about Lucario won't bring you any closer." Cold air pricked his skin as she said that and for a fleeting second, the air around her shimmered green, an aurora.
Of course she was going to be like Jaret. Of course she was going to be different. She pushed a poke-ball forward.
"He's here." Virgil looked down at the mix of pink and cream.
"Where did you find him," he finally asked. She pointed toward the beam.
"There's a ground zero, and…I just sort of had a hunch that someone might have lost something…So, I looked." He took the ball, latching it to his belt.
"Well…thanks, I guess…" She bowed, more so out of the fact she had nothing else to say. She turned to hurry up the stairs. "You're too late. All the action is done up there." She stopped.
"So something did happen? What was it?" Virgil looked away bashfully. "It's…a long story."
"Well, I think I might have time," came a smooth retort. Virgil drew back in response, eyes washing over her a third time. His eyes followed the flush coming in from her throat to her cheeks. "You're staring."
"Yeah,' Virgil said with a nervous laugh. "I guess I am…sorry…" and then a quick quip. "What are you doing here? You don't look like you're looking for a fight."
"Well…nothing in particular…"
"Are you with Falkner?" She pinked.
"He definitely doesn't seem like the type to spread rumors and…I turned him down and he–"
"Uh, that's not what I meant…" Her flush deepened.
"O-oh…R-right…"
"Have people really hit on you that much?" She gave him a small smile.
"Well, not back home. I'm from outside the region and I never would have thought that men from Johto could be so…"
"Crass?" She twinged.
"That might be too strong a word."
"But the way you looked at me when I looked at you said something different."
"A person should be aware of their surroundings if they're going to travel alone. Also, eyes scanning head to toe is…obvious."
"Maybe I was sizing you up."
"And not in the best way, I'd assume," she remarked laughing; his face tightened indignant. Was she laughing at him? A fourth scan over her told him that she had no right to. She was short and boring looking anyway. At least the Dragonblood from his nightmares looked like she could and did carry her weight.
"Yeah well, don't flatter yourself. Maybe Falkner liked what he saw, but I have better taste. Who'd want some fire-head from Hoenn anyway?"
He felt the sting of her hand against his face, then ran his fingers over it as his eyes came to meet hers. She was fuming, and Virgil shrank away.
"You Johtoans really make terrible first impressions," she snarled, stomping away from him, and disappearing out of the tower.
Why…did I say that…?
"I think we really need to figure out what's going on with you" He whipped around, finding Jaret and Falkner coming into view, with his Pokemon in tow. "And, no worries, I've already kind of talked to Falkner a little bit about what I know. And, that's…basically what you've told me…" Virgil's eyes flicked over to Falkner, who's expression then looked especially grim.
"If you don't mind, I think a discussion might really be in order."
Virgil leaned back into the bed. Falkner had offered them a place to stay other than the Pokemon Center, a historical boutique hotel that served as one of the city's most comfortable lodgings down the way from the main district Virgil had passed through, dubbed Avila Square. Some of the staff were awe-stricken at Jaret's presence, and the vast majority of them, when looking Virgil's way, fixed him with a look of pitying concern, and that could've only meant one thing. Falkner had taken up the space at the desk while Jaret had waited expectantly on the other bed. Virgil sat upright.
"Jaret must've told you a lot if you're just hanging out here with us personally. We couldn't have this talk out in the lobby?"
"Absolutely not. Jaret tells me that you haven't been getting enough sleep for weeks now since the Indigo Conference. How are you feeling now?"
"Like I could die," Virgil clicked back. "But, I've gotten pretty okay at running on three-ish hours of sleep. Everything feels like a constant haze of everything hurting, but I manage."
"The nightmares…what are they like?" There was a hesitant pause, then a sardonic grunt.
"...'Like death and fucking ash'. Can't you remember anything?" Falkner ignored that.
"How many times did you see them die?" Virgil hesitated again. His arms were folded across his chest, a set of fingers rubbing into his side. He thought of his mother; he had asked her a question similar to that before he left. Did they really have to talk about this?
"Too many times to count," was all he managed at first. He took a shaky breath. "But the same face I saw on the Elder at the tower was the same as Marus's in the nightmares. But when the black smoke happened, he wasn't the elder anymore. I don't even know where he went…"
"Do you know anything about the Silver Mountain Massacre? Or the City of Sigils?" Virgil perked up.
"SIlver Mountain Massacre…?"
"I think I've heard of that," Jaret interjected. "Isn't that the reason why the Silver Conference has the commemoration like it does? But…it was a war, not a massacre." Falkner's expression darkened.
"I'm not surprised you would think that. You're from Kanto, and Pallet Town at that."
"What's that supposed to mean?" It had been the first time Virgil had heard something different in Jaret's tone, Falkner waved a hand.
"It means that we're taught two very different narratives. There wasn't a 'battle' of Silver Mountain, only a massacre, coinciding neatly with the razing of the City of Sigils."
"But Johto hadn't made due on their promise to cede New Bark and Cherrygrove. There had been all kinds of mistakes with the map-making anyway. Both regions wanted to lay claim to it and neither of them had the ability for diplomacy." Jaret's voice came down to a murmur. "Every place has their bad people, but…I've only ever met really nice ones from Kanto, and from Johto too…"
"Power and conquest do weird things to people. The Blackthorn Historical Archives have deep analysis on the subject and have even reached out to Kanto for a more robust picture of the event, but the memo tends to be lost in rural areas." Falkner replied sharply, then gave a rise and fall of his shoulders. "But a massacre is a massacre, and local Pokemon were incited and used for extra pressure. All of that chaos led to Ho-oh coming down to quell the fighting and restore the area,then leaving an eternally burning fire as a reminder of the event."
"You think it might be a ghost messing with Li and Virgil is what you're saying," inquired Jaret. Falkner nodded.
"Virgil mentioned a 'Marus' from earlier. That's one of the names that the historical society and Kanto historians were able to confirm, along with 'Inaya', 'Sateyu' and 'Mira'. I hear that those last three names garnered a kind of popularity in Blackthorn, but are also rare to find so as to not enrage their spirits or something like that."
"Do you think there's a way I'd be able to go and take a look at the archive itself?" Falkner shook his head.
"The Blackthorn Historical Society is rather exclusive. Blackthorn is reclusive enough as is and it would be wishful thinking to think they would part with their knowledge so easily." He sighed, then stood with a stretch. "I've also heard that the most astute scholars have been taking trips to other regions, but that's really only a rumor I can't confirm." Another sigh. "But I wish there was more I could do. All I really have is the history, and this fancy accommodation for you two. At least this way you won't have to worry about getting kicked out." Jaret chuckled at that; it came off hollow.
"That was a little rough, but we made it here at least."
"And at the very least, I can put in a word for Morty to let him know you guys are coming. So no worries there. I can only hope that'll be enough." A wave of his hand and he was out the door. Jaret stared at the door after Falkner had left, catching wind just then of Virgil's snoring.
Virgil jolted awake and his eyes scanned over the room. The heal ball that that girl he had met at the tower across from him. It was flanked by two other balls: Dewott and Ampharos. Besides the travel equipment sprawled about the floor and some on the other bed, the room was empty; Jaret was nowhere to be found.
Didn't that boy learn anything?
Virgil was up, showering and dressing quickly. He was a bit worn from the Sprout Tower yesterday but was glad that the entire thing had settled down; Marus's appearance and the following fight was still something he couldn't quite wrap his mind around and the same question came to him.
How did he get there?
Were him and Li the same person?
And how, exactly, did he get a Bellsporut to evolve the way it did? Ampharos and his well timed Electro Ball had turned out to be his saving grace. The two of them worked well together, and still they hadn't been able to put the Weepinbell down. They hadn't even managed an attack against Marus; he had essentially run away from them. Virgil shook his head; he was thinking far too harshly about it. Besides, he needed to go find Jaret…again. He snagged the three balls on the desk dresser and was out the door.
He came down into the lobby and found no signs of Jaret there either, and that made sense; he was always on the move. His mind came back to Falkner as well, and in particular, the Silver Mountain massacre he had been talking about. It was basic history that most Johtoans knew, or at least, the ones that were waist-deep in the history of the region, but Falkner's knowledge had taken the whole notion further.
He had never known that the fighting had landed as far as Violet City, especially with it being so far from "Blue Moon Country", as the old name went for Cherrygrove and its surrounding spaces. It had also been the first time he had seen indignation written into Jaret's face, and it was disquieting to say the least. He thought for a moment that the two of them might have actually got into a fight right then and there; It was also disquieting to see the effects of something from so long ago. It was a good thing that his exhaustion had snuck up on him.
Falkner vs Jaret…
It struck him as an epiphany. Falkner was a gym leader, and Jaret was Jaret. The league challenge had taken a back seat, but if there was time… He was up and moving, passing through the hotel lobby and out into the city. He grinned; his body and everything else brimmed with light. He needed to head to the gym.
Virgil paused mid-stride, reaching into his pocket to check his PokeGear; the time read 1:57pm. Their lodging had been set up speedily and the three of them came together in that room sometime in the evening, and after five; it wasn't too much longer after that before Virgil had found himself waking up to an empty room. He blinked slowly, and the humming haze of soreness that always sat behind his eyes and through his body was gone, Or at least, very subtle.
He had actually slept a full night. He remembered the girl from the tower just then, and how she had, for lack of a better word, cleansed the rage, or him, whichever one was more accurate. And, of course she did; he was always drawn to the weird ones; Jaret's unbridled optimism was just that, and the impulse to find that girl a second time was all the more so. It would have to wait until after the gym battle; he hoped that she wouldn't have left by then.
Virgil had come into two Pokemon locked into battle, a Leavanny leaping just out of range from a lash of air with perfect precision. It was one of Jaret's Pokemon for sure. She held her ground, bladed hands poised at the ready. A brown shadow swooped by her, Virgil catching the sand shaded crown over its eyes and spotted chest as it came down; Leavanny twitched to the side, and a pulsing blade came down, catching the Pokemon and forcing her opponent into the dirt. Leavanny made space between them, and left a Noctowl sprawled flat and defeated.
"Noctowl is unable to battle! The first round goes to Jaret King of Pallet Town," the referee pitched. Virgil moved closer and Jaret came into view then with a thumbs up and goofy-looking grin toward Leavanny. Falkner stood across from them, focused and a little bewildered.
Whoa…
"That's… impressive. It's not often I'm beaten with a type disadvantage on the challenger's part let alone a double disadvantage," remarked Falkner. He recalled Noctowl. "But you are who you are, and it looks like you've brought your main team with you. So that means from here on out, you'll be seeing my real team as well!"
"Wouldn't want it any other way," Jaret shot back. Jaret glanced over in Virgil direction, his confident grin breaking open into a toothy smile; he was waving excitedly.
"Heeey! Virgil! You made it! I didn't think you'd be up this early, so I thought I'd come to the gym while we had the extra time!"
Just like Virgil had figured.
Virgil shrugged and made his way to the stands. At least from there, he'd get a better understanding of how to beat Jaret's Pokemon, even if Leavanny's win with a double type disadvantage made it seem all the more impossible. Virgil grinned; he really was starting to like Jaret.
"We got the time," he called over to him. "So let's see what Alice Tonelia sees in Jaret King." Virgil rolled a poke-ball between his fingers, letting it come to size and snap open. "Oh, and Ampharos too." Jaret shifted, posture taut with excitement. Virgil blinked in mild surprise when the air crackled with lightning as Jaret's focus, and all of his ferocity fell back on the battle.
"Yeah, you got it!" He stood tall, eyes honing directly on Falkner. "I'm ready when you are! Who're you bringing out next?"
"No worries," replied Falkner. "We're just getting started." Another ball, mixed green and gray, came to size. A Dusk Ball was designed for Pokemon at night, and he could only think of a few Pokemon that would flock around at night. It popped open with a "click!", and another bird took to the skies, large, sleek and onyx in color. It circled high, probably trying to intimidate Jaret and Leavanny.
"A Honchkrow," inquired Jaret. "I actually expected Pidgeot by now." Falkner grinned, then shrugged.
"We have battled before, and as they say, expect the unexpected. Honchkrow!" The Pokemon screeched overhead. "Dark Pulse!" A red light snatched Leavanny just as the blast tore into where she had been standing. The switch had caught Virgil off guard. "I hadn't expected a substitution so quickly. Impressive ability on Leavanny's part, but it's just about spent if you ask me."
Jaret didn't respond, but Virgil picked out the near imperceptible air of frustration. He had gotten too carried away with her, more than likely wanting to test gauge her ability. It was a novice mistake on his part and one that Virgil couldn't quite believe Jaret had actually made. But Jaret had honed in, holding a second poke-ball forward, but a separate click came from his waist, and the Pokemon that emerged took its space in the sky too. It had been the second surprise so far.
It was Jaret's Pidgeot.
"P-Pidgeot!?" Jaret shook away his surprise. "You're gonna battle? Now?" Pidgeot assented, chirping as it brought its attention squarely on Honchkrow. "Alright, then let's do it!"
"I thought as much," Falkner mused. "It's why Honchkrow is here to begin with! Honchkrow," His Honchkrow soared upwards, even higher than Pidgeot. "Brave Bird!" Honchkrow burst into blue light and drove down, faster than a normal Honchkrow and Virgil braced himself for the impactand gawked when Honchkrow hadn't struck Pidgeot, but passed through him. Pidgeot faded into nothing seconds later just as a subtle breeze began to blow: A dodge.
Jaret's Pidgeot was fast, and the second Pokemon that he had seen in action that was such. Jaret's style was to hit fast, and hit hard. Honchkrow spun whisking away fire as it opened its wings, a seeking attempt to find Pidgeot. Honchkrow's wings sprawled outward. Its wingtips were turned inward.
"Whirlwind!" Honchkrow flapped once, then twice as air began to spiral. Falkner planned to simply force Pidgeot into sight with wind alone. Honchkrow flapped a third time but was caught mid-flap as Pidgeot fazed into form before him, another intense burst of speed that struck the first blow against Honchkrow. Honchkrow trilled, flapping backwards to catch its bearings. Falkner grimaced.
"Double Quick Attack!" Then the second blow rang true, and then Jaret called for a barrage, knocking Honchkrow to and fro; Jaret was going to have his badge in no time. Another Quick Attack hit its mark, and Honchkrow shifted and leaned into Pidgeot, sifting overhead; Honchkrows talon skittered by Pidgeot's crest of feathers. Virgil caught on the same time Jaret did: Too late.
"Foul Play!" Honchkrow's talon bit down around Pidgeot's plumage, somersaulting thrice over before casting him away. Pidgeot hit the dirt with a loud crash, hard enough to kick up a screen of dirt and debris. Honchkrow doubled back, coming to a hover before Falkner. Honchkrow prepped its wings again, and a second Whirlwind came forward.
The Whirlwind swept Pidgeot from the debris and into a wall with another slam. It had taken Virgil a closer look to realize that Pidgeot had bounded from the wall, deflecting damage through Steel Wing, all without the order from Jaret; Virgil had to admit, it was a strong play. Virgil could see the visible exhaustion in both Pokemon when Pidgeot had swooped back into vision. Jaret's rapid attacks had left their mark, but so did Foul Play. As far as Virgil was concerned, Jaret had the upper hand, and was going to win. Even so, the ferocity in his eyes and stance were…different. The practice matches in Happy Town weren't gym battles, but they were battles all the same, and Jaret always brought his best self and skills forward. But here, Jaret was frustrated, even at an advantage.
Was Jaret really that serious about total victory?
Virgil looked to Falkner between the two, both completely focused, both unwilling to lose, and the battle had definitely lasted longer than either of them had thought it would.
"That Tailwind was an interesting choice, but we'll be putting a stop to that."
"We'll see about that!" Virgil flinched. The heart in Jaret's tone wasn't quite there like it usually was, like earlier. There was a want–a need– to prove something. "Pidgeot, another Tailwind!"
"Self-Harm! Thunder Wave!" Jaret's face matched Virgil's thoughts.
He…What!? Honchkrow's caw was closer to a cackle. The full extension of its wings brought a weak surge of popping static and yellow light; the Pokemon grounded itself; lightning crackled through the Pokemon's body as it forced itself to move. Honchkrow had never been one of the faster birds to begin with, and it had only taken a single Tailwind for Pidgeot and Jaret to apply their pressure. Self-paralysis was only going to make it worse, and the only justification for it would've lied in an attack like Facade, or an ability like Guts, and Virgil knew Honchkrow to be capable of only one.
He's trying to draw Pidgeot in…
"Air Slash!" Virgil smirked; Jaret had gotten the read on that too.
Smart choice.
"Dark Pulse!" Virgil frowned; the attacks clashed then burst into nothing. Falkner had been expecting that very move. Jaret was cautious, but he also needed a decisive win; there was still a third Pokemon in the running on Falkner's end, and Virgil could tell that Jaret was attempting to maintain Pidgeot's attacks to secrecy; He had battled Falkner just last year and that meant Jaret needed to choose his tactics wisely. "Dark Pulse again!" Jaret's eyes widened in shock. Honchkrow had powered through its paralysis twice now. Pidgeot passed by the shot, then dashed in close with another burst of speed; a final Quick Attack. Close quarters wouldn't allow Honchkrow's paralysis to be so lucky so often and a second barrage of blistering speed on top of that would be the end of it; hitting hard and fast was a staple of Jaret's style. Pidgeot fit that style to a tee and was far too fast, like his Arcanine and that made both Facade and Thunder Wave useless. The epiphany struck him then: Splitting. Virgil turned to Jaret, and something left him; Virgil saw the realization strike Jaret in real time.
"Wait! Pidgeot!" Falkner smirked.
"Got you! Psycho Shift!" Honchkrow flickered, from onyx to violet, an aura ballooning into a sphere before sweeping outward, the radius omni-directional and wisping over Pidgeot. Pidgeot shrieked in pain, body bursting with electricity and turning to a tailspin toward the dirt.
"Pidgeot!"
"We end this now! Brave Bird!" Honchkrow burst into familiar blue light, cutting toward Pidgeot, this time making full contact. The flames burst into smoke on impact, and Honchkrow emerged from it seconds later, visibly winded. Pidgeot spiraled into the ground and landed with a resounding thud.
"Pidgeot…!" Virgil's throat ran dry; Jaret restrained himself from bolting across the battlefield through sheer will. Virgil didn't understand how he had managed. A hand went up.
"Pidgeot is unable to battle! The victory goes–" The referee paused to look in Pidgeot's direction just as a splitting screech cut through the gym. The referee froze, and everyone's attention came to rest on a beaten Pidgeot quavering as he fought to stand. Jaret balled his hands into fists, and Virgil caught the subtle tremble in his stance too. Jaret's hand shot open and a ball came to size in Jaret's hand.
"Pidgeot…return…" The red light cast out and Pidgeot slapped it away, extending his wings with a screeching kree. Static rippled and punched across his frame, and Jaret winced. It was the first time Virgil had seen Jaret hesitate about anything. "Pidgeot, you're gonna get hurt…" Pidgeot turned to him, uttering a set of low, soft clicks as sand-colored light took hold and rose from Pidgeot's feet. He turned back toward Honchkrow and Falkner. Pidgeot shrieked in defiance a second time; he wasn't going to lose. Jaret smiled gingerly. "Alright. I trust you."
Virgil glanced over in his Ampharos's direction. He watched closely, unflinchingly. Virgil was certain that Ampharos saw a lot of himself in Pidgeot. He had even showcased it when they fought Marus.
"He's pretty gutsy, don't you think?" Ampharos kept his eyes on the battle, but a strobe of flashes along his tail had let him know that he had heard, and that he agreed. "We'll get back to our level, okay?" His tail flickered again, this time a longer, contemplative pulse. 'We'll see' was Ampharos's response.
Pidgeot was covered in that orange light that burned it into something brighter, flicking sparks of gold from his feathers; the energy crested over and erupted into an outlining whirl of flames and shimmering light. This was going to be his final bout against Honchkrow, and both trainers understood.
"Honchkrow, Brave Bird is the only thing we have that can match that attack. Foul Play will be too slow. Can you handle that?" Honchkrow cawed, bright flares of energy washing over it. "Good." Falkner's eye settled on Jaret. "I hope you're ready."
" As ready as we'll ever be." Falkner nodded.
"This is it! Honchkrow, use Brave Bird!" Jaret responded in kind.
"Pidgeot, Sky Attack!" Both Pokemon burst forward. The following clash had been so strong that the impact warped the air around them, energies of orange and blue swirling together over locked air. The half-second after saw the energies fold into each other, coruscating a shimmering purple before everything burst into smoke.
It had taken the next handful of seconds for everything to settle. Both Virgil and his Ampaharos peered in close, leaning a little too deeply forward and nearly toppling over. But it was worth it; the screen thinned just a little more, and Pidgeot, even while shaking under his own weight, stood tall. Pidgeot let out a triumphant screech with wings spread wide, ignoring the pulse of static lightning skittering across his frame as he did; everyone looked on in disbelief. The referee stumbled.
"Ah–er, ahem!" An arm went up. "H-Honchkrow is unable to battle! The victory goes to Pidgeot!"
"Alright!" Virgil was grinning, smiling even and Ampharos erupted into a series of flickers and dancing lights. Clashes like that were in battles he had thought he would only see at a world-class level, and never during the gym circuit. It had reminded him of exactly how strong the gym leaders actually were when they weren't sanctioned. But Jaret had pulled through, and even with two exhausted Pokemon, Virgil was sure that whoever Jaret had in waiting would be more than enough for Falkner's final Pokemon. This was why his mother had been keeping an eye on him, and why Virgil knew Jaret could win; he was strong.
And they were friends.
"Jaret!" He tossed a look his way. "One more to go, and you got the badge! Hurry up and knock this guy down! We'll do a practice round when everyone's all rested up!" There was a small smile, and a half-hearted thumbs up.
"Yeah," he replied, a little flatly. He was bothered, and Virgil felt his energy slipping, his smile flipping. "I'll hold you to that…"
Jaret quickly turned back to Falkner and his gaze remained focused.
"This will be the last match. If you win, you will receive the Zephyr Badge…" Jaret nodded. Falkner's last poke-ball snapped open to reveal not the Pidgeot he had anticipated, but a different Pokemon entirely: a Staraptor. Jaret's hand rested over a ball at his waist but another caught him flat-footed as it snapped open. The immense mane was the first thing Virgil noted and the only thing he needed to see.
Arcanine…
"Arcanine? What are you doing here?" Arcanine gave him a lick before readying himself for battle,turning to Pidgeot with a low rumble and a toss of his head back toward Jaret. Pidgeot had done more than enough. Pidgeot fell forward when he tried to glide his way over and Arcanine hazed into action, catching Pidgeot on his back. That led to a back and forth of concerned barks and stubborn twitters. "Aw, come on, Arcanine," Jaret could feel his mind coming back to him. His chest felt open and his shoulders winded a little less tighter. "Don't badger him too much. He had a heck of a fight.." Arcanine turned to him with a warm smile, gingerly tugging Pidgeot closer before leaping to lick him affectionately again. Jaret laughed, and then was smiling. He had gotten a little too caught up in the battle and it was a good thing Arcanine was there to pick him up. He would enjoy the rest of the fight with a clear head, so long as he had his Pokemon.