After Blaze's heart-wrenching loss to his rival, Saenchai, Summer learned her Pokémon had to rest for a week to allow for a full recovery. She still felt guilty about his injuries, but when the two talked under a starlit sky, they reaffirmed their promise to grow stronger together. They began their training under Jayden's tutelage and met another young Trainer, Harry, who participated in the Hoenn League a few years ago. Though Summer and Blaze were getting stronger, there appeared to be tension between her and Weldon. Will they be able to reconcile?
Chapter 14- A Sign of the Past
After the arduous first day and the more painful recovery the day after, the training was becoming easier for me to handle just after two weeks. Along with the new training clothes, a red sports bra paired with a thin orange shirt and red sport shorts trimmed with yellow and orange, my motions became quicker and more flexible. As I practiced both the physical and mental sequences, I could feel my bond with Blaze getting stronger.
However, it seemed my relationship with Weldon appeared to be strained. Ever since our discussion two weeks ago, he seemed quieter, almost distant, during our regular training sessions. I kept trying to talk to him about this, but he only told me what I should be working on with Lightning and Errol, ignoring Blaze entirely.
As we finished the regular training on the beach, I got a call from Jayden. After we talked for a bit and I hung up, Weldon looked at me with disdain.
I frowned. "Okay, that's it, Weldon! You haven't been acting like yourself lately. What's going on with you?"
He crossed his arms. "Nothing, Summer. Why can't you leave it alone?!"
"Because you've been acting like this since I started training with Jayden! And it's been getting worse when Harry occasionally helps out. Not only that, Blaze is part of the team for the Gym battle, but you've been ignoring him during the regular training sessions."
"So what?" he growled. "This is my role for this Gym training. I don't care what they're doing with you and Blaze!"
Then it hit me. "Are you-" But I stopped.
He bit his lip. "Am I what, Summer?"
He may not like it, but I have to say it. "Are you jealous of them?"
His eyes grew wide, and he glanced down. "No, I'm not."
But his real feelings pulsed through my heart. "Weldon, you know I can feel your jealousy. You don't have to lie to me."
He winced, then forced a smile. "I know, but I have to. After all, you have feelings for Jayden."
I was taken aback. "Wh-What are you talking about?! I...I don't have feelings for him. He's just my instructor, nothing more."
Weldon brushed his hair back and sighed. "The way you stuttered, and from what I've seen… Guess my suspicions were correct…"
"What you've seen? Wait, you were spying on those training sessions?!"
He became silent, not denying his actions.
I added, "I don't know what you interpreted, but Jayden and I are just friends!"
But he retorted, "I don't care, okay! You need them more than you need me!"
I gasped, and my heart sank. "W-Weldon… What are you-"
Not letting me finish, he brushed past me. "I think my job here's done. I'm...not going to help train you anymore!"
He stormed back to town, leaving me and Lightning alone.
Her mouth was agape. "D-Did Weldon just quit on us?"
I clenched my fist and placed it against my chest. "I...I think so…"
Her ears drooped. "Aw… I thought we were all getting along…."
"I thought so too. Come on, we should rest up. Blaze and I are doing a new kind of training with Jayden tomorrow."
We ventured back to the Dewford Town Pokémon Center and into the welcoming cold air.
"Welcome back, Summer," Nurse Mura greeted as I approached the counter. After giving my Poké Balls to her, she asked, "Did something happen with Weldon?"
I rubbed the back of my head. "K-Kind of… Why?"
"Well, when he got back, he went to your room and checked out. He told me he was going to find a room at a nearby hostel before leaving the island."
A hostel?! He really is serious! "D-Did he say how long that'll be?"
"I'm sorry, he didn't say."
"Do you know which hostel he went to? I need to talk to him."
She pulled out a map of the island. "Hm… I believe he went to the Trendy Town Hostel, just a few blocks north of here."
"Thanks, Nurse Mura. Can you watch my Pokémon while I'm gone?"
"S-Sure…"
I ran out of the building, remembering her directions. After a few minutes, I found the large two-story rectangular building. The sign, "Trendy Town Hostel" was illuminated in lights that alternated between red, blue, and yellow, along with the colors in between. I caught my breath, then passed through the glass doors.
A young man wearing a flashy T-shirt and ripped jeans greeted me with a toothy smile. He adjusted his glasses and said, "Welcome to the Trendy Town Hostel. The name's Ryder, owner and proprietor. Are you looking for a room tonight?"
Ignoring his weird fashion statement, I replied, "No, I'm actually looking for someone who recently booked a room here."
Ryder looked at his computer. "Let me see… I only checked in two people today, a pair of honeymooners. Are they the people you're looking for?"
That's strange… I could've sworn Nurse Mura said he came here… I shook my head. "I guess I must be mistaken. Thanks anyway."
"You're welcome. Oh, and spread the word, 'Rock Head Water Veil'!"
"Uh… I'll do my best."
I exited the hostel and returned to the Pokémon Center, distraught and worried.
Weldon peeked out of the corridor leading to the Trendy Town Hostel's lobby. The owner noticed him and said, "She's gone, Weldon."
He breathed a sigh of relief. "Thanks, Ryder. Sorry I had to make you lie for me."
"Hey, man. It's not the first time I've done it. Is she an ex or something?"
"Hardly. She's...my friend…"
Ryder sensed the uneasiness in the boy's response. "I see. Well, it's not really much of my business, but I'm always here for a good chat."
The Kantonian smiled. "Thanks. See you later."
"Good night, Weldon. And don't forget, 'Rock Head Water Veil'!"
Sighing, he replied, "I know…"
The next day…
Blaze and I finished warming up just as Jayden approached us.
"Morning, Summer," he said. "Ready to train today?"
I feigned a smile. "Yeah, what are we doing?"
He raised an eyebrow. "Is everything okay? You don't have your usual optimism."
I sighed. "Weldon and I had a big fight yesterday. He even moved out of the Pokémon Center to stay at the hostel."
"Oh, that sounds really serious. I'm guessing you haven't been able to patch things up with him?"
After I shook my head, he frowned and rubbed the back of his head. "I'm sorry, Summer. I didn't mean to ruin your friendship with Weldon."
I sighed. "No, he may have said that, but I know it's not your fault. He's got some things on his mind."
"Thanks for telling me that, Summer." Jayden stroked his chin. "Hm. Since you're not much in the mood for the regular exercises, why don't we change things up a bit?"
"What do you mean?"
"You and Blaze should go to the deepest part of Granite Cave and come back without using any sources of light." He pointed to the cave entrance. "That cave's known to be one of the darkest in the region. Master Brawly and his students use the cave to practice honing their senses with their Pokémon. It's also cooler and quieter than training on the beach."
I crossed my arms. "That sounds doable. But what are you going to do in the meantime?"
Grinning, he pulled out a pair of sunglasses. "Actually, Hariyama and I haven't been able to enjoy the beach since we got back. We'll just hang out here."
I chuckled. "I guess martial artists do need breaks once in a while." I turned to Blaze. "Ready?"
He gave me a thumbs up. "Let's go."
We walked into Granite Cave, which had that familiar musty cave smell. The walls were lined with brown granite stained white from the salty air coming from outside. We ventured down the tunnel until we reached a ladder descending to the floor below.
"That must be where the cave gets darker," I surmised. "Well, let's get this training started."
Before I grabbed the sturdy wooden frame, Olive appeared out of her Poké Ball.
I tilted my head slightly. "Oh, Olive. What's up?"
She nervously looked at us. "I-Is it okay if I join you two?"
Blaze asked, "How come, Olive?"
"Well… I want to contribute more to this training… After all, I'm not going to be in the battle."
He smiled. "Sure. Jayden mentioned not using any light sources, but not a Pokémon who can't."
I smirked. "Look who's being sneaky! That's okay with me too. Thank you, Olive. You can hang out on my shoulder."
She happily crawled up and rested on my left shoulder. We then descended into the first basement floor, where the darkness welcomed us.
"Wow, Jayden was not kidding!" I exclaimed. "I can't see anything in front of us. And the only light source is from the floor above."
The Treecko trembled slightly, but she relaxed when I petted her head.
Blaze said, "Let me lead, Summer."
"Sounds good. Let's go."
We walked forward, relying only on sound and touch. The path was quite wide, but damp. Also, the slow drip of the sea water seeping through the thick walls was the only ambient noise around us. As Blaze guided me with his voice, I followed every direction he instructed. After about half an hour, I felt the ground slope downward.
"Hey, the ground feels different here," I said.
Blaze responded. "Maybe that's where the other ladder is. Let's look for it."
I put myself on all fours and searched for the hole. But when I moved my right hand forward, I fell right through it. I quickly grabbed Olive and pulled her close to me and screamed, causing Blaze to jump through the hole and catch me before I hit the ground.
When my heartbeat slowed down a little, I said, "That was close. Thanks, Blaze."
"No problem, Summer."
"How about you, Olive?"
She loosened her grip and returned to my shoulder. "I-I'm okay."
Loud footsteps approached us. We froze, but relaxed when Harry, who was holding a flashlight, came into view.
"Oh, it's you, Summer!" he said. "When I heard someone screaming, I hurried over. I'm glad Blaze was able to catch you before you got seriously hurt."
Blaze let me down, and I waved hello. "Hi, Harry. Thanks for coming over to check on us. What are you doing down here anyway?"
"Oh, Dad left something at his secret training spot, so I went to get it for him."
"His secret training spot's down here?"
He laughed. "No, it's an island near Dewford Island. But the way to get there by land is through a secret passage at this floor of Granite Cave."
"I guess that makes sense since the cave is naturally dark and beneath the sea."
"So, what brings you to Granite Cave? Oh wait, let me guess. You're doing that blind training, aren't you?"
"Is that what you guys call it?"
"Hah, I knew it! Well, that's what Dad calls it. Only he and his students would be crazy enough to walk around here in the dark without a flashlight."
He noticed Olive, who hid behind my head. "I-Is that a Treecko?"
"Yeah, I just got her a few months ago. Her name's Olive."
"Olive...that's a beautiful name." He slowly approached her, and her yellow eyes peered out. "I'm sorry I scared you. C-Can I pet you?"
Sensing he had no malice, she slowly nodded. He stroked her head, and he smiled. I thought I saw a tear in his right eye, but he wiped it away.
"S-Sorry," he said, blinking fast. "It's just… I had a traumatic experience of losing my Treecko a long time ago."
"Oh, I'm sorry."
"No, don't be." He looked down the tunnel. "Actually, you don't have much farther to go to get to the bottom of the cave. If you don't mind, can I tell you something personal? I know we haven't talked to each other much, but...I think it'll help if I get another opinion on this. Jayden told me you're an understanding person."
"Sure, but...don't you have to get back to Brawly?"
"Eh. He doesn't need it right away, so I still got time. I'll even turn off my flashlight so you and Blaze can keep training."
I turned to my partner. "What do you think, Blaze?"
He smirked. "Well, we're already bending the rules. It won't really hurt if we bend it some more."
"That's true," I responded with a chuckle. "All right. Thanks for the offer, Harry."
"Sweet!"
He turned off the flashlight and the room returned to its pitch-black darkness. I let Blaze march forward with us following close behind.
I turned to my left, assuming Harry was there, and asked, "So, what is this secret?"
He hesitated, and I could hear his hand go through his hair. "Well… Before I started my journey, Dad gave me a Treecko as a present for doing so well in school. The two of us were the best of friends, and I could even tell him apart from a group of Treecko. But then…" He heaved a sigh. "A storm came over the island, and…he was blown away by a large gust of wind. I tried to save him...but I couldn't do anything. He was just…gone."
"G-Gone?" Olive muttered. "Why do storms always tear people and Pokémon apart?"
I said with a soothing voice. "It's okay, Olive. We wouldn't have been together if that was the case, right?"
"Y-Yeah, I guess so…"
"Oh, sorry," Harry apologized. "Did I upset Olive?"
Remembering that he couldn't understand her, I replied, "No, it's not your fault. She was abandoned by her previous Trainer during a storm."
"Wow, that's awful…" Then he was silent for a moment.
"Is...everything okay, Harry?"
"O-Oh, yeah. It's just…my situation is the opposite of that."
"What do you mean?"
"W-Well…" He paused, then continued. "I guess...I turned out to be the opposite. After I lost Treecko, I decided to be cruel to my Pokémon, to avoid getting emotionally hurt like that again. But I was wrong, and someone I bullied during my journey taught me how to regain my compassion towards my Pokémon. Heh, I don't know if it was coincidence or not, but he actually has the Treecko I lost all those years ago. Not only that, he's evolved him into a Sceptile."
"Wow, that's incredible. Not the cruelty thing, but the Treecko thing."
He laughed. "I know what you meant. But now when I think about it, he deserves to be with him. He brought out Sceptile's, or should I say, Woody's full potential."
Woody? Why does that name sound familiar? Wait...
"Woody? Are you talking about-"
"We're here," Blaze interrupted.
We arrived at a large opening, where there was light streaming through.
I shielded my eyes. "I didn't expect there to be light down here!"
Harry chuckled. "That's because there's a large opening from above. It also helps aerate the room where the murals are."
"Murals?"
"Yeah, I'll show you."
The surfer guided us into a large chamber covered with clay-based paintings. I marveled at the hand-painted stories.
"This is incredible! These drawings are so realistic! These show different scenes of the Legendary Pokémon from the Hoenn Region!"
"Yes, quite a sight isn't it?"
Startled, I turned to the source of the voice and saw Steven Stone waving at us. "Summer Scorcher and Harry Waves. It's good to see you both again."
"Thanks, Steven," Harry said with a big grin. "It has been a while. But how did you and Summer meet? I thought you've been traveling."
"I actually met her not too long ago; I watched her battle against Roxanne."
Wow, Steven knows so many people. "So, what are you doing here, Steven?" I asked.
He waved his hand. "Looking for rare stones, a lifelong hobby of mine. Though, I always like to come here to see the Granite Cave murals. It reminds me to be aware of the past to chart the way forward. Take this mural for example."
He pointed to a large one in the center, depicting a battle between a large red Pokémon with black lines crisscrossing all over his body and a large blue Pokémon with white spots and red stripes along its fins. The former was standing on newly formed land while the latter emerged from the ocean.
I recognized its depiction from the scrolls I studied in Johto. "This is the battle between Groudon and Kyogre, right?"
The former Champion smiled. "Correct. This was the battle that was the beginning of Hoenn's recorded history. The balance, if you will, of land and sea."
"Oh yeah," Harry noted. "Dad mentioned Dewford Island was born from that battle. It's kinda amazing to know those two Pokémon were the ones who did that."
I analyzed it, and I noticed something strange. "Is it me, or does it look like the mural has a second layer to it?"
Curious, Steven looked at it once more. Then, he gasped. "You're right. There's a very thin coating of granite over the bodies of the Legendary Pokémon. It's barely distinguishable from the actual mural. Not only that, the second coating's also covering the sky portion. I wonder what the ancient people were hiding."
Harry crossed his arms. "I've never seen it before either. I'll let Dad know; he can contact the Archaeology Foundation at Fallarbor Town to investigate it."
"Thank you, Harry."
The teen looked at his Pokégear. "Crap, I gotta meet up with someone. Sorry, Summer. I have to head back to town."
"No worries, Harry. Thanks for coming with me for part of the way."
"No prob. Bye!"
He waved and ran out of the room.
Steven then turned his attention to me. "And thank you, Summer. Your insight was most helpful."
"Oh, no problem. I'm glad to help."
But his eyes were still focused on me, or to be more exact, my neck. "Though, I wonder how you were able to discern that second layer. I noticed this when we met, but didn't have the chance to talk about it."
I had an inkling of what he meant. "Are you talking about my necklace?"
A small smile crept over his face. "You're just as perceptive as they said you are."
"They?"
"The Kimono Girls and the new Johto Lorekeeper. And they also told me about...your role as a Legend Guardian?"
I nodded slowly. "I didn't know you were so interested in that, Steven."
He placed his cupped hand on his chin. "Well, it was something I found while researching about the Spirit Necklace. After all, the stones on it were reportedly fashioned by the Legendary Pokémon whose essences are within them. Pretty remarkable, isn't it?"
I rubbed each of the stones around my neck. "Yeah, it is..."
"Anyway, enough of my hobby. I noticed Weldon isn't with you. Is he preoccupied with something?"
"Uh…not exactly…"
He raised an eyebrow then stroked his chin. "Hm… I don't mean to pry, but can you tell me what's happened to him?" After I explained to him about our argument and his planned departure, he sighed. "I was afraid of this."
"What do you mean, Steven?"
"I'm sure he told you about his battle in Cutter Park, yes?"
"In Rustboro City? Yeah, he did. But how do you know about that?"
Steven gave a soft smile. "Because I watched it in person. I could tell he was still relying too much on his battling ability rather than the bond with his Pokémon. I gave him some advice while we were watching your battle, but it seems something must've happened to lower his confidence more."
"The battle against Hamestrin…" I murmured.
"Hamestrin? Who's that?"
Startled, I replied, "Oh, did I say that out loud? Sorry, it's just…" Should I tell him about that? He seems trustworthy, but still…
He noticed my hesitation. "You don't have to tell me if you're not comfortable, Summer. I respect your relationship with Weldon."
"Right…relationship…"
He chuckled. "I guess I made things worse. But I have to say, not only are you perceptive, but you're also a reliable person. I'm sure Weldon will come around. He appears to be at a crossroads in his path as a Trainer, so give him some space."
"I…I hope so too." I looked at my Pokégear. "Oh, it's getting late. I should be heading back."
"Do you want a ride back to the beach? My Metagross, Warrior, can carry you back up through the opening."
I politely shook my head. "Thanks for the offer, Steven, but I'm actually training right now. I have to head back the way I came in."
"I see. Well, I hope your training goes well. I'm going to stay here for a bit longer; I'm actually supposed to be receiving a letter, but it hasn't arrived yet."
"Oh, well hopefully it'll come soon."
He nodded. "Thank you. Until next time, Summer. And when the time comes, I look forward to having a battle with you."
Unsure of how to answer him, I nodded in response. As Blaze and I walked back to the surface, I mulled over our conversation. What did Steven mean that Weldon was at a crossroads? And does he know more about the Legend Guardians than what he's told me? I guess I'll find out soon enough.
Summer's Pokémon:
Blaze (Blaziken, male): Brave Nature, Blaze Ability, moves: Fire Punch, Flamethrower, Blaze Kick, Sky Uppercut
Errol (Noctowl, male): Rash Nature, Keen Eye Ability, moves: Psychic, Confusion, Hypnosis, Air Slash
Aurora (Dewgong, female): Calm Nature, Thick Fat Ability, moves: Water Pulse, Ice Beam, Aqua Tail, Aqua Ring
Lightning (Raichu, female): Adamant Nature, Static Ability, moves: Thunderbolt, Quick Attack, Iron Tail, Thunder Punch
Rocky (Steelix, male): Lonely Nature, Rock Head Ability, moves: Stone Edge, Crunch, Dragonbreath, Iron Tail
Olive (Treecko, female): Timid Nature, Overgrow Ability, moves: Pound, Growl, Absorb
Weldon's Pokémon:
Venusaur (male): Serious Nature, Overgrow Ability, moves: Solarbeam, Body Slam, Sludge Bomb, Vine Whip
Fearow (male): Adamant Nature, Keen Eye Ability, moves: Drill Peck, Steel Wing, Fury Attack, Aerial Ace
Golem (male): Bold Nature, Rock Head Ability, moves: Rock Slide, Earthquake, Rollout, Double Edge
Gyarados (male): Sassy Nature, Intimidate Ability, moves: Surf, Ice Fang, Payback, Waterfall
Arcanine (male): Naughty Nature, Flash Fire Ability, moves: Hyper Beam, Extremespeed, Flare Blitz, Fire Blast
Electabuzz (male): Rash Nature, Static Ability, moves: Thunder, Mega Kick, Thunder Punch, Shock Wave
Questions for the Chapter:
What did you think of Summer and Weldon's argument?
What did you think of Harry's story?
What is behind the mural?
What do you think the crossroads is for Weldon?
