After Lapis lost his first Pokémon to the Winstrates, he was interrogated by two members of the International Police due to his outburst. Although the senior investigator seemed to have a grudge against him, the other appeared to have a past with the delinquent prior to his time as a Trainer. This left him wondering about what his true past was. However, Lapis became trapped in the house they interrogated him. After breaking free from the residential restraints, Lapis continued his way towards Fallarbor Town. But with the change in the Nuzlocke rules, the Trainers seemed to be more aggressive. Will Lapis be able to make it to his destination safely?
Lapis' Pokémon:
Zuli (Lvl. 25 Marshtomp, male; Item: Soft Sand): Impish Nature, Torrent Ability, moves: Tackle, Strength, Mud Shot, Water Gun
Citrine (Lvl. 23 Makuhita, female; Item: Quick Claw): Timid Nature, Guts Ability, moves: Tackle, Fake Out, Arm Thrust, Vital Throw
Onyx (Lvl. 24 Mightyena, female; Item: Exp. Share): Mild Nature, Intimidate Ability, moves: Tackle, Rock Smash, Sand Attack, Bite
Kyanite (Lvl. 24 Electrike, female): Mild Nature, Static Ability, moves: Spark, Howl, Quick Attack, Thunder Wave
Moonstone (Lvl. 24 Swellow, female): Naive Nature, Guts Ability, moves: Peck, Double Team, Focus Energy, Quick Attack
Amethyst (Lvl. 23 Gloom, female; Item: Miracle Seed): Quiet Nature, Chlorophyll Ability, moves: Absorb, Acid, Stun Spore, Sleep Powder
Pokémon sent to the PLA: Tiger Eyes (Linoone, male)
Chapter 20: Bases and Ashes
Lapis burst out of the interrogation house without looking back.
"Are you sure you don't need more rest?!" Mrs. Rūpu shouted.
"HELL NO!" he screamed. Once he got a good distance away, he bent over and panted.
That old lady's crazy! Why can't she take no for an answer?!
Onyx let herself out of her Poké Ball. "Thank goodness you were able to escape, Lapis."
"I was in there so long, it must've been days!"
"Um, actually. It was only three hours."
He gave her an incredulous look. "Let's…just get goin'..."
The pair walked north until they saw a teenager standing in front of a very tall tree. He wore some unusual outdoor clothes consisting of a black one suit, black hiking shoes, and a red jacket and cap. His equipment included a black bag and a coil of rope attached to his black belt. Next to him was a confused Trapinch.
"Why are we standing here, Aarune?" the Ant Pit Pokémon asked. "Don't we have to scan the desert?"
His Trainer sighed and relied in a relaxed tone. "Patrolling's been getting boring lately, Peri. Nothing much happens around here… What's the point of being a Pokémon Ranger if there's no action?"
The stranger then noticed the Nuzlocker with his puzzled Mightyena. "O-Oh! Don't mind me, fellow teen! I wasn't complaining about my dull and monotonous life."
"Whatever. Come on, Onyx."
"Wait, you're that Nuzlocke Trainer, aren't ya?"
"Yeah, so?"
The Pokémon Ranger fished out something from his handbag. It was a CD with the words "TM 43" on it.
"I was told to give this to you if I ever ran into you during my patrols. It's the TM for Secret Power, which allows you to make Secret Bases."
"You mean those small, cramped hideouts?" Lapis stared at his new gift. "Why the hell would I need one?"
Aarune wagged his finger. "Don't mock its potential! It can be a great resting place, a storage area for any accessories and plushies you buy, oh, and even a perfect hide-and-seek location. That's why Pokémon Rangers tend to use it to get shelter or find a place to rest. Just like what I'm about to do now. Peri, use Secret Power!"
"Really, Aarune?!"
"Come on. Do it for our guests here."
The Trapinch sighed. "Fine…"
The Ground type released a beam made of blue triangles at the tree. A thick vine extended from the branches, allowing the duo to climb up.
Aarune grabbed it and smiled. "Safe travels, kid."
As they disappeared from sight, Lapis retorted, "I'm around the same age as you, lazy bones!"
"I don't think he's really lazy, Lapis," Onyx argued. "Bored, yes, but not lazy."
"Whose side are you on, Onyx?"
She shrugged. "I'm just stating the facts."
"Whatever, let's get the hell outta here."
After a short walk and another Slugma named Bloodstone, they arrived to find gray dust sprinkling onto the grass.
"What the?" Lapis pondered as he put his hand out to catch the falling powder.
A brown-haired, blue-eyed man wearing a white T-shirt and brown pants protected by a white apron approached. "That there's ash from nearby Mt. Chimney," he said in a cheery tone.
Lapis pointed to the aforementioned landmark. "That volcano over there?"
"Yup. You can collect the soot that gathers around here to make glass objects."
"Why would I need them?"
The man stroked his chin. "Well, since you look like a Trainer, you can make flutes that affect Pokémon."
Lapis crossed his arms. "Guess you got my attention…"
"Follow me then."
The man led them down the route, but they kept stopping due to the Trainers Lapis had to battle along the way. For some reason, these Trainers seemed to be more strategic than normal in the battles. The Nuzlocker was a little concerned but was able to easily defeat them all.
After a while, they reached a large log house at the center of the path. Once inside, Lapis was surprised at the numerous array of glassware lining the wooden shelves. But then, his focus turned to a display showing five different colored glass instruments.
The man cleaned his hands. "Welcome to the Fallarbor Glass Workshop. The name's Hai. I sell the wares my brother and I make and teach classes on glass blowing."
"I see… What's with those flutes?"
"Oh, yes! Our most popular items! These Red, Blue, and Yellow Flutes help with status conditions, like infatuation, sleep, and confusion. These Black and White Flutes, on the other hand, either deter or attract wild Pokémon to you. Plus, they can be used as many times as you like, so they are quite valuable."
"Huh, that's pretty OP."
The owner raised an eyebrow but continued, "I can give you this Soot Sack if you want to collect the amount of soot needed to make them."
He handed the Nuzlocker a large brown burlap sack. "Whenever you step on the ash-covered grass, the soot that flies up will automatically be sucked up by the sack. And this is a newer version, so you just need to keep it in your bag."
After putting the new item away, Lapis asked, "So how much soot do I need to make these Flutes?"
"Hm… About 3,250 steps all together, but about 1,250 for the three main flutes."
The teen frowned. "Hard pass. Besides, my Pokémon are the ones walkin' 'round more than me."
"W-Well, all right then. Thanks for visiting."
Lapis exited the workshop. As he felt the ash raining down, he let out his Pokémon for their training session and let them roam around.
He walked over to a nearby tree and stared at the gray landscape, mulling over the last few days.
Man, what a crazy week… Losing Tiger Eyes, getting yelled at by the cops, escaping someone's house… And I'm not at the halfway point yet. I can't tell if things will get better, or worse…
Suddenly, a frantic Onyx ran over. "L-Lapis! Citrine got ambushed by a Ninja Boy!"
"They still have ninjas 'round here?! Where is she?"
She guided him to a clearing where the Makuhita stood frozen in fear. The rest of the team were there to aid her and their Trainer. Lapis returned everyone except for his Fighting type.
"There you are, Nuzlocker!" the young Trainer clad in black clothes gleefully shouted. "I, Ninja Boy Lao, have been waiting for you under this pile of ash for two hours!"
Lapis gave a confused look. "Why the hell would you do that?"
"It's the way of the ninja, duh!" After repositioning the sword behind his back, he shouted, "And now, I'm gonna do what no other Trainer on this route has done yet! Go, Koff-Ichi!"
A Level 17 Koffing materialized, emitting smoke from his body.
The delinquent cautioned, "You don't have much you can do against a Poison type, Citrine. You still wanna battle?"
She pumped herself up, surprising him. "Let's do it, Lapis!"
He nodded. "Use Fake Out!"
She charged forward and hit the Poison Gas Pokémon so quickly, he didn't have time to react.
Ninja Boy Lao gritted his teeth. "What skill!" But he smirked. "However, we will have the last laugh!"
Lapis became wary. I don't like how this is going. But I have to trust Citrine. "Citrine, use Tackle!"
She nodded and hit Koff-Ichi with a decent blow. But when she was about to retreat back, Ninja Boy Lao screamed, "Selfdestruct, Koff-Ichi!"
The teen's heart sank. "Selfdestruct?!"
Lapis could only watch in horror as the Poison type concentrated all of his energy into his body and released a large explosion. He blocked his eyes from the wind and ash that sprayed into the air. When it was calm, he lowered his arms and saw the Makuhita spread out on the ground, unconscious.
"C-Citrine…no…"
"Hahaha!" his opponent gloated as he returned his first Pokémon. "I did it! I'm getting the reward now! Go, Koff-Ni!"
Another Level 17 Koffing appeared.
As he returned his fallen Pokémon, Lapis felt the same anger from before boiling inside. No…I…I have to resist it… I can't let anyone else suffer because of me!
But before he could select his next Pokémon, Zuli emerged.
"Zuli! Wh-What're you?"
The starter was distraught. "Lapis, tell me what to do! I want to get revenge for Citrine!"
Zuli… Lapis clenched his fists. "Okay, be careful. Zuli, Strength!"
The Marshtomp glowed white, and he created a boulder above his head. He then grabbed it and threw it at Koff-Ni.
"Koff-Ni, Smog!"
The Poison type released a dark purple smoke from his mouth before the boulder hit him. Zuli inhaled the smog, but it didn't do much damage due to his Ground typing.
"Use Strength again!"
The second boulder slammed into the Koffing so hard, he deflated under the crashing weight.
Ninja Boy Lao frowned as he returned his Pokémon. "You're not going to stop me! Koff-San!"
The final Level 17 Koffing floated above the grass.
Lapis shouted, "Zuli, Strength!"
"Koff-Ni, Sludge!"
Although the Water type landed another powerful hit, the purple gooey liquid hit his face. He wiped it off and growled.
He's really focused. I better be too.
"Water Gun!"
Zuli shot a stream of water at the Poison Gas Pokémon, knocking him into the ground. The Koffing deflated, ending the battle.
Ninja Boy Lao shrugged. "Oh, well. At least I got one Pokémon to faint."
"What the hell's wrong with you!" Lapis screamed as he snatched his prize money from the ninja-in-training. "Why do you care if-"
"Because of the new change in the rules, duh! It says any Trainer who knocks out at least one of your Pokémon gets a special prize and extra money. Now, to claim my reward!"
Ninja Boy Lao ran away, leaving his opponent in the falling ash.
Lapis bit his lip. Cowden… You really are a piece of Muk…
"Lapis? What happened here?"
The teen turned around to find his acquaintance, Weldon Leland, panting.
"Oh, it's you, Leland. N-Nothin' happened here, just the usual trainin'."
"I don't think you have any Pokémon who know or is willing to learn Selfdestruct or Explosion."
Lapis sighed. "Guess I can't keep it from you… Yeah, I lost another Pokémon due to a stupid Koffing doin' Selfdestruct."
Weldon gave him a soft smile. "Do you…um…want to…talk about it?"
"Whatever…"
The boys and Zuli walked west.
Lapis groaned as he brushed his hair back. "What the hell am I doin' wrong?! I went from having no Pokémon lost to two within a week! I…I'm a terrible Trainer…"
"That's not true, Lapis!" Zuli countered. "Even though you're abrasive and mean-spirited, you care about all of us. And we know the risks of joining the team."
"Apparently no one else cares about that… Everybody's out to get me…all so they could get some stupid reward…"
Weldon looked at the sky. "It's funny how we have so much in common."
"What'cha mean?"
"Well, I was kind of like you, personality wise, when I started on my journey. I was bullied by my former classmates and my…relatives, so I felt the only way to belong as a battling family member was to look down on regular Trainers and constantly win. But…it all changed when I met Summer."
Lapis crossed his arms. "Scorcher again? Don't know why she keeps poppin' up in your stories…"
The younger Trainer chuckled. "I'm not sure myself. But she's a very important person to me. Interacting with her slowly broke down the emotional barriers I've kept up for most of my life. She…She changed me for the better. And I believe you're doing the same with the Pokémon on your team."
"How so?"
"Well, when we first met, you despised Zuli being around you. But now, I can see that you're fine with him walking by your side."
The Nuzlocker glanced at his starter. "Well, he has been less annoyin'…"
The Marshtomp grinned. "'Cause you haven't been too loud lately."
Lapis rolled his eyes, but he could tell the Water type was joking.
The group finally made it to the agricultural town where the Pokémon Center was the tallest manmade structure around.
Once in front of the building, Lapis gripped the door handle. "Leland… Th-Th…"
Unable to get the words out of his mouth, the teen ran inside, took out the Poké Ball that will replace Citrine's, and fled towards the back of some old houses.
There, he let out a hurt Citrine. She was panting hard, but otherwise fine.
"C-Citrine…" he stuttered.
She gently touched his face, wiping away his tears. "L-Lapis…are you copying me now?"
He forced a laugh. 'I'm really sorry, Citrine. I shoulda expected that Koffing to know Selfdestruct."
"That's in the past, Lapis. I hope you don't run into that situation again."
The rest of the team emerged, including the new member, SmokyQuarz the Numel.
The Makuhita waddled over to the Fire type. "Good luck, SmokyQuarz. I have a feeling you'll help Lapis out through many tough situations."
He pondered her words and said slowly, "I'll do my best, Citrine."
After the Numb Pokémon read the information card and accepted the terms, Lapis fetched a dark brown-orange gemstone pendant on a gold chain and placed it around the Numel's neck. "Welcome to the team, SmokyQuarz."
He smiled as his Trainer removed the Exp. Share from Onyx's head and placed it on him. After everyone said their goodbyes, Lapis sent Citrine's Poké Ball to the PLA and rested at the Pokémon Center.
Questions for the Chapter:
What did you think of the Glass Workshop?
What did you think of Lapis' battle against Ninja Boy Lao?
What did you think of Weldon's story?
How will SmokyQuarz do on the team?
