You can find more of this on by Subscribe/Star (dot adult slash KajaWilder), it's posted past Ch. 110 there. You can find the same on my new (via Discord per their ToS), under /WildErotica. The DISCORD is at h-t_t-p_s-:_/-/_discord-._g-g_/-N9yDASt6Cw (taking out hyphens and underscores, 'cause FFnet). If you prefer direct links, go to my Discord and follow the 'links in general' section to find the ones you want. All of my fics are well ahead of what I post here, often 10-30 chapters ahead.

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Enjoy!

Chap. 83: Tram(pled)

"A two hour queue? That's ridiculous," Elle muttered darkly, "And for a whopping thirty minutes on the fields?"

"Makes sense, at least," Robin shrugged, "the Gyms are popular, and people want to train. Apparently every six months there's a huge surge in training field usage- usually corresponds to the locals starting a League run. They only run the Championships every other year, but in theory anyone can challenge the Champion any time. The hurdles are harder, though. Doing the brackets takes longer but it's basically an open field if you've got the twelve Badges required to enter."

"What's the big deal about being Champion, anyway?" Megumi asked.

"Champion's basically like the Chairman of the Mega-City Board," Alex replied quietly, "and Chief of the Security Patrol, too. They are apparently the source of all the political and military power in the Region. Gym Leaders are more local, but similar."

"Makes sense while people would want to be Champion, then, but I wouldn't want to. To much paperwork," Megumi chuckled.

"Same," Robin giggled, "But Alex and Elle both seem to want it, so… whatever, I guess. I'll support them. There's other options for training, though. These are the only official fields, but there's areas outside of town. North up the river past the waterfall- I think that tram way over there heads up that way. Some further south, or further east. We're closer to the northern one though."

"And if we go west, we'd have to climb the hiking trail, and there's a fucking wild Charizard up there," Elle shuddered.

"Not fighting that monster any time soon," Alex muttered. "Ah… let's go north, we're closer to that direction, anyway."

"Fair enough. I've been up in that area before, at least, though I never took the actual tram."

Megumi looked from their group to the queue that Elle was still the last member of. "I… I think I'd rather stay here. It might take two hours just to get up there, and who knows how popular that'll be as a training area, too. Might have hundreds of people still. The tram's moving, at least."

"Yeah, I don't think I wanna walk up there for maybe nothing," Kinta agreed, "I'll stick with Megumi. We can train down here against whoever comes at us. It'll at least be a double battle."

Alex nodded, "Alright. Well, be careful. I don't think Rocket will try anything, but keep your Pokégear handy to call one of us if you need help. We'll be here as quickly as we can if there's a problem."

Elle grinned as the three of them split off from their friends, heading for one of the busier streets in the area that they'd already seen had trolleys running north and south. It might not get them to the tram station, but it should at least get them closer. Once they were out of earshot of the Sugimoto's, she asked the others quietly, "Do you think something's up with Megumi? And Kinta too, maybe?"

"Not really," Alex replied softly, "but I think she's scared."

Robin nodded, "That's what I'd say. You two know her better than I do, of course, but her body language tells me that she's anxious. About us, about Rocket, about everything. Wondering if she, or if they, are doing the right thing… not sure about what. Kinta, or Rocket, or Game Freak… any of it. Hard to say for sure, of course, but that's what I get."

"And Kinta's just being a kid his age," Alex agreed too, "He's trying to find his boundaries. Pushing things, figuring out how far is too far. It should help that he and Megu came up with a compromise about him getting more time with women, that seems like a powerful motivator for him. I just hope he stays safe, because I wouldn't put it past any of the women he might sleep with to be fishing for information if they know who he is. And if they're Rockets, it's a fair bet they do."

Much of the rest of their walk, and then ride, was passed with more inane small-talk. Frankly, Elle was kind of glad. Her brain already spun with the plans they had made, what they had learned at the Sea Dragon's Bounty, and what it might mean for them. Elle thought of herself as a rather intelligent young woman, and had a few test results to prove it.

Still, the layers of deception, double-talk, carefully hidden lies in a slew of mostly-true, was enough to confuse just about anyone, and that was just from Ariana Cooper! What Robin may or may not have been telling the truth about remained very much an open question. Her acting ability seemed at times to be abysmal, aside from being able to look like anyone given time, and at others said the most outlandish, impossible things as if they were well-known fact, and full sincerity.

Not that Elle had any great trust for Game Freak, not after what they'd always done. Everyone, everyone, who grew up in the Mega-Cities, Pacific at least, knew how corrupt the MegaCorps that ruled them could be. Game Freak might have altruistic intentions, yes, or at least want the species and their world to survive… but she had no doubt they were also in it for the money, power, and control that being the saviors of an entire planet, an entire species, would bring.

Would they lie, cheat, steal, kill, for that kind of power? Game makers or not, they would hardly be the first corporation to do so.

Really, there were only two people she trusted entirely: Herself, and Alex. Even Loki, her beloved Starter, had been a bit more withdrawn and quiet since he had Evolved into a Haunter. But Alex had been there during her darkest times, when all she'd wanted was to escape the reality she had been born and raised in. Since meeting him, she had seen so much, done so much, learned so much… and Elle felt, very strongly, that this was still just the beginning.

Hopefully, after leaving Cerulean, things would calm down a bit, and they would be able to focus on fucking and Training. She wanted to get stronger, to travel, to see all that this world had to offer. And yes, to have a lot of fun, too. That, at least, she trusted was genuine about Robin. The rosette had made no bones about really wanting to get off again and again, in whatever way and with whatever she could.

If nothing else, it was something they had in common, though perhaps the Combinant was a bit more extreme in that regard. There were some Pokémon she wouldn't fuck, at least, and she had standards in humans, too. With Robin, she really wasn't sure there were any limits at all.

Eventually, they were packed into a tram that held twenty people, and was half-full. It was, she thought, the same model as the one that had taken she and Alex high up Mount Fennel to The Aerie Gym in Pewter. It certainly looked similar, if the upholstery was a different color, light blue instead of pale gray. The ride was much longer, though, nearly half an hour instead of a mere fifteen minutes, though it was far less steep.

They disembarked at a small, but crowded station that seemed to intersect with an east-west train track that moved over the northern waterfall a half-mile to the west, then into a slot canyon in the east, as well as a few roads that ran in three different directions. West, alongside the track at least as far as the bridge, north into the hilly forests and eventual mountains, and northeast, following along the valley the river had cut over eons.

"Excuse me," Robin asked one of the workers as they helped secure the tram for boarding, "I heard there was a training area up here. Could you tell me where it is? Or how to get there?"

The older woman, dressed in a uniform that looked a fair bit like the Water Gym employees, only more practical for outdoor work than to show off one's figure, sighed. "More of you suckers, huh?"

"What do you mean?" Alex asked as Elle turned her full attention that way.

The woman shook her head, "Every damned day we get about thirty of you. Idiots… yes, there's an unofficial training area a few miles up the valley. It's a tourist trap, and I mean trap. You have to pay to enter, and do you know how many people actually 'win'? Damned few, that's for sure. Whoever's running that operation is making a killing on it, even if it's not as popular as it was a few weeks ago."

"Why?" Elle asked, "What's going on?"

The older woman sighed again as she finished tying off the line, then stood up and stretched. "Fine, if you want to go lose money and risk losing more, go ahead. Don't blame me if you lose again and again, and maybe lose your lives or Pokémon."

"Didn't answer the question," Robin reminded her, "We aren't from the area, so we're genuinely curious."

Another long-suffering sigh followed, and the woman waved a hand toward the northeast road, "Fine… Up that way, there's a famous cape, the Cape of the Maiden. It's a long way, a couple weeks on foot. But it's something of a good tourist spot. I've been, and it's quite beautiful. Lots of people go there for love, or whatever, because of some local legend. But on the way, there's a far worse tourist trap. See, there's a bridge that crosses the Grand Blue River just over those hills, a foot bridge for Trainers on that 'pilgrimage of love'. That's where the other trap is."

"What trap?" Elle asked, genuinely interested now. A tourist spot for lovers sounded kind of fun, actually. Her face totally wasn't warming up thinking about Alex's embarrassment at what she might do to him there. But if this trap was first…

The woman shook her head, "Team Rocket. They're up to something, up there. Standing guard over one of the old water-caves connected to the river, one you can only see when the tides or flow is low, which is pretty rare. But they've got submersibles, and construction crews up there, along with other things. Whatever it is, they're keeping it really secret… but their guards are making money, too."

The woman didn't stop, this time, only frowned, "See, they started this rumor about a year ago that there was a super-dangerous area in the cave. That part is true enough, it's been off-limits to anyone without the Champion's written permission for a couple hundred years. No idea what Rocket wants with it, but even their own higher-ups don't go in there, and they're pretty dangerous. They're doing something though. And the bridge is their first line of defense. The rumors go on about a challenge: Pay the entry fee, fight five Trainers, and then one last guardian. Each one's stronger than the one before, and you have to do it consecutively. You can rest between fights, if you want, but it all has to be done in one day, and if you go back, it starts over. Winning supposedly wins you a gold nugget.

"And don't get too excited, I know how you young folk are. Always thinking you're the exception. I've heard tell some folks have gotten a nugget. But I don't know of one damned person that's entered the cave beyond the final Trainer and come back alive. Not one. The nugget? That's real enough, some people have shown them to a few of my coworkers, and I've seen one myself. But the number of Trainers that actually win one and are smart enough to turn around then are… small. Sure, plenty go on to the cape, I know. There's other Routes from there.

"But damn it, you kids better listen up. Rocket is getting worse, and if you know what's good for you, you'll just waste your money and go on up to the cape. That cave is a death trap, and that's if Rocket doesn't bilk you out of all of your money, or steal your Pokémon, or worse."

Alex nodded seriously, obviously considering the woman's warning.

But Elle could see Robin's reaction to the tram-worker's story was similar to her own: Excitement. Maybe he just had the benefit of experience, being a little older than either of them, but she wanted to test herself against these Rockets. The ones under Mount Moon had been tough, but not insurmountable. She was stronger then, Elle was sure of it. Maybe not equal to the pair at the exit, those two nut-cases, but still stronger. And she wanted to find out just how strong compared to how they were before. "Thanks," she replied, grinning, "We'll definitely avoid the cave. But that bridge… forget the money, I just want to beat up some Rockets. This is technically outside of Cerulean, right?"

The woman groaned, "Idiots… yes, it is, but this is still the same group. I think it's a joint-op, maybe, but Rockets are Rockets, and the different factions mostly work together alright. If you mess with one…"

"We'll be careful, then," Robin told her. "Thanks for the help."

The worker shook her head sadly, "Idiots… don't say I didn't warn you. Go on, then. If you're gonna ignore my advice anyway, don't waste my time."

It took about two hours for them to reach the Grand Blue Bridge, and Elle, Alex, and Robin were feeling pretty good about their chances by the time they got to the southern side. Six Trainers had come back sullen, moping, or in one case, sobbing as she ran past them. One had come back triumphantly, bragging to everyone he saw that he was rich, now, and proudly showing off his golden lump of metal.

Alex was actually impressed. Not by the braggart, though his clothing and bearing showed a fair bit of both competence and confidence, but because as far as he could tell, the half-inch, rough circle of metal was, in fact, actual gold.

He was less impressed after they had crossed the long, yellow-painted bridge and saw their first challenge.

They were kids.

Not just teenagers, but actual children, ten, eleven, or twelve at the most. There was someone older, perhaps twenty or so, wearing a suit off to the side with a lockbox. He was tall and slender, blonde with slicked-back hair, and a smarmy grin. "Here for the Nugget Challenge, are you? That's thirty each- pay up here, and give me your names. I'll radio ahead if you beat the first tier, so the rest can keep an eye out for you."

Robin paid for each of them, and the man gave her more than a small look after he'd counted the money out and stowed it away in the box, then locked it. She gave him their names, too, after glancing at Alex. He personally didn't care. Let Ariana know where they were. If they were right, she would have had eyes on them anyway, after destroying or circumventing their listening devices.

Of course, there would be more when they came back, and in different places… but they could just clean those up, too. Right?

Still, they had a few fights to get through, since it seemed both of his female traveling companions were dead-set on doing this, though he still wasn't sure about the reasons. "I'll go first, then. Who's going to face me?"

The oldest of the three, a young man with a wide-brimmed hat that slapped onto his head with one hand, while the other loaded a bug-catching net with a Pokéball for some reason, stepped forward eagerly. "I'll take you on. Name's Cale."

"Alex," he replied, "And I suppose I'll go with…" His fingers trailed over the balls on his belt slowly. The kid was obviously a bug catcher, given the outfit, which was almost certain to mean he had a Bug Pokémon loaded up. Weak to Fire and Rock… strong against Psychic and Dark, and I think Ghost? And Grass. Oh, and weak to Flying, which I don't have. Both Surtr and Spike could use some more experience, but they won't be good against the Water Gym, and Spike's gonna have a hard time in the Ice, too. So… Surtr it is, I guess.

The Ponyta appeared in its customary red-orange flash, stamping and whinnying with excitement. "Po-nyta!"

"Hey, buddy," Alex grinned as he reached down to pet the very warm, fiery mane.

Cale groaned, "Of course… I haven't even shown you what I have, and you had to have a Fire-type."

"At least he's not my Starter," Alex chuckled.

"Yeah, yeah… Go on, Venonat. Show this guy you're no pushover! Hit him with a-"

"Now, hold on," the blonde man called, "You know the rules, Cale. Make it official."

"Oh, y- yeah, right, sorry," the young man chuckled sheepishly. "I, Cale, Challenge you, Alex, to a Pokémon Battle! One on one, first to knockout wins!"

Yggdrassil wavered in Alex's eyesight, as the now-familiar battle HUD fell over his vision, displaying a rough estimation of his and his enemy's health bar, and showing that Cale only had the one Pokémon to battle with, anyway. His Battle Rank wasn't terrible, twelve, but Surtr had been roughly that strong when he'd been caught.

"Sorry, kid," Alex murmured, "I'm just gonna make this quick. Surtr, open up Flame Wheel."

"Venonat, hit that overgrown, uh, er, baby, Rapidash with a Confusion attack!"

His Ponyta spun, tail and mane flashing, bursting with flames, that formed into a rolling, spinning, whirling disc of fire that roared through the air toward the Venonat.

The Venonat itself, a small, fuzzy purple spheroid with small, sharp-looking mandibles, long, then antennae, and large, multi-faceted red eyes, flinched. Then the eyes glowed brightly, flashing purple, green, blue…

A ripple of energy flew outward, impacted the flames, and both attacks dissipated, blasting outward in all directions, but harming neither Pokémon.

"Good job, Venonat," Cale chuckled, "See? I can use Confusion's telekinetic abilities to block most attacks like that! He's well trained, y'know? Now, Venonat, hit him with a Supersonic!"

Alex shook his head, "Nah. If distance attacks won't work, just trample him down with a Flame Charge, then."

"F- Flame Charge?" Cale shouted, "No, Venonat! Dodge it, dodge it, don't-"

It was too late.

Whatever the high-pitched screech Alex could barely hear should have done, it didn't seem to work. Surtr only knickered, and the hooves flared with golden-yellow fire before he began to gallop straight at the opposing Pokémon in a straight line.

The Venonat stood its ground… for about three seconds. Then it turned to run, red-segmented eyes wide, "Veno!"

It got three tiny little steps, before the much larger Ponyta's hooves, bursting with fiery energy, trampled straight over it, sending the Venonat tumbling, burning, smoking, and bouncing along the ground.

"Venonat… darn it! I lost… Fine!"

Alex grinned once more as Surtr cantered toward him, tossing his head. He reached down to pat him, "Good job, buddy. You handled that really well."

The blonde laughed, "He sure did, Mr. Ward. Alright… which of you lovely ladies is next?"