During Lapis' journey to Fallarbor Town, he encountered a strange Pokémon Ranger and a young ninja hiding in piles of ash. But when the Ninja Boy's Koffing used Selfdestruct, Citrine didn't survive the deadly attack. Lapis vented his latest frustrations to Weldon, who ran over to investigate, and they shared another deep discussion. The Nuzlocker then switched out the Makuhita for one of his latest catches, a Numel named SmokyQuarz. As he prepares for his next round of training, he gets interrupted by a woman looking for her missing husband. Who is the missing man, and will Lapis be able to find him?
Lapis' Pokémon:
Zuli (Lvl. 25 Marshtomp, male; Item: Soft Sand): Impish Nature, Torrent Ability, moves: Tackle, Strength, Mud Shot, Water Gun
SmokyQuarz (Lvl. 19 Numel, male; Item: Exp. Share): Gentle Nature, Oblivious Ability, moves: Growl, Tackle, Ember, Magnitude
Onyx (Lvl. 25 Mightyena, female; Item: King's Rock): Mild Nature, Intimidate Ability, moves: Tackle, Rock Smash, Sand Attack, Bite
Kyanite (Lvl. 25 Electrike, female): Mild Nature, Static Ability, moves: Spark, Howl, Quick Attack, Thunder Wave
Moonstone (Lvl. 25 Swellow, female): Naive Nature, Guts Ability, moves: Peck, Double Team, Focus Energy, Quick Attack
Amethyst (Lvl. 24 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), Citrine (Makuhita, female)
Chapter 21: The Cave of Meteors and Villains
Lapis stepped out of the Fallarbor Town Pokémon Center and breathed in the cool air.
"Who knew wakin' up early could actually be helpful? Well, guess it's time to find a new Pokémon on the route west of here."
He walked on the main path and passed by a large convention center where people were setting up for what looked like a card event.
But as he moved past a small white building with lots of windows on the second floor, a woman with black hair tied in a bun ran out.
"Takao! Takao, where are you?!" she cried out as her green dress rippled in the breeze. Then she saw the teenager and ran towards him. "O-Oh, you're that Nuzlocke Trainer…Lapis, right?"
Lapis tried to step back. "Yeah… Why're you yellin' and disturbin' the peace?"
"M-My husband, Dr. Takao Cosmo… He's missing!"
"And I should care…why?"
"Because he's the lead meteorite researcher in Hoenn, that's why! Not only that, our largest meteorite sample has gone missing as well! I sent the Pokémon League Association my missing persons report, and now you appear, like a guardian Gardevoir. Please, you have to help me find him!"
Lapis groaned. "Look, lady. This should be handled by the cops, not a teen. Especially a delinquent who ain't gonna care 'bout all this."
He tried to leave, but a messenger Taillow slapped him in the face.
"Y-You!" he groaned as he tried to swat the Tiny Swallow Pokémon. "You're that Taillow who-"
The undeterred Flying type dropped its delivery onto the ground, took a Pokédollar from Lapis' pocket, and flew off.
"Damn you, Taillow," he muttered under his breath. His anger grew as he read the note.
By order of the Hoenn Pokémon League Association, Lapis Eurig is required to assist in the search efforts of Dr. Takao Cosmo from Fallarbor Town.
Signed,
Kyushi Hōfu
Damn them too! So much for morning training… Lapis rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Fine…looks like I gotta help after all. Tell me where you think this guy could be…"
"Oh, thank you!" She recollected her thoughts. "Let's see… The last time I saw Takao was yesterday night, maybe around 9pm. He was studying the meteorite I mentioned earlier, and he kept mumbling to himself."
Lapis tried to pay attention, but he was growing bored. "Uh huh…"
"I couldn't make out most of the words, but I did hear 'meteor' and 'red'."
"You do realize that could mean anything, right?" he replied with a sigh.
"I'm sorry, but that's all I could remember!"
She began to cry, making the teen uncomfortable.
"Ugh…fine… I'll see what I dig up."
"Th-Thank you, Lapis! I'm not sure if this would help, but I have his favorite paleontology brush."
She handed him a thick brown brush with gray bristles.
"Uh…okay…" What the hell am I supposed to do with this?!
"I'll search around the town and see if I can find him here."
After giving her a curt wave, Lapis headed to the entrance of Route 114. It was a route separated by ponds and grassland leading towards the mountain range. The only connection between the water and land was a wide wooden bridge.
After he crossed the manmade structure, a Swablu landed on top of a rock and looked at him curiously.
"A Swablu, huh? Well, better than nothin'. Go, Amethyst!"
The Gloom emerged from her ball but was confused by her opponent.
Looks like she's more aware about type matchups. "It's fine, Amethyst. Use Poisonpowder!"
The Grass type sprayed the purple powder over the Flying type's wings. The Swablu's face turned purple but she growled at her aggressor.
Unfazed, he shouted, "Absorb!"
With a few weak Grass type attacks and the added effect of poison, Amethyst was able to get her opponent's health down to red. Lapis threw a Great Ball at the hurt Swablu, and three shakes later, she was caught. He picked up the Great Ball and examined her on the tablet.
So, Level 16, Gentle Nature, and Natural Cure Ability. Her color's really close to the celestite necklace I have. Guess that'll be her nickname. She may be useful if Moonstone gets into trouble, but do I really wanna put in all that effort for an Altaria? Eh, I'll figure it out later.
After sending the ball to his PC, he turned to a proud Gloom. "N-Nice work, Amethyst." Man, why does giving compliments have to be so hard?
After she returned the compliment with a grin, he let out the rest of his Pokémon. "All right. We gotta find this guy named Takao Cosmo."
Moonstone scratched her head. "Um…what does he look like, Lapis?"
"Ugh, I don't know… I never got a picture, just this lame brush."
"Oh, let me sniff it, Lapis!" Onyx said with excitement. "I can see if I can track his movements."
"Good thinking, Onyx!" Zuli praised. "You're so much smarter than Loud Lapis. I bet he didn't even know what to do with the brush."
Lapis rolled his eyes. "Anyway…here, Onyx."
She smelled the object, then pointed her nose towards the sky. It twitched, and she looked at the steps leading towards the mountains.
"It looks like he went this way."
"Huh. Let's go then, Onyx."
He returned the rest of his team and followed the Mightyena into a large opening. There, a large yellow cavern with stalactites and stalagmites reflected its potentially ancient age. A large waterfall carried water from further up the mountain towards an underground river.
But before they headed further in, they were spooked by a Zubat, the most common enemy to cave wanderers everywhere. Kyanite easily neutralized the threat, and after one Great Ball, Lapis caught the Poison type, which he nicknamed Sugilite, and sent her to the PC.
Now with the location capture over, Lapis and Onyx noticed some men dressed in red and dark grey clothes huddling around a spiky-haired man in a lab coat. Not wanting to be seen, the pair hid behind some large rocks.
The Dark type sniffed the air coming from the strangers' direction. "No doubt about it, Lapis. That Professor Cosmo person is within that group."
He peeked over the boulder. "I could kinda guess that, since he ain't dressed like the others…" Then he grimaced. Man, those are some ugly outfits… Horns and warmers? They're almost as bad as the striped shirts and pants on those Team Aqua Grunts.
"Now what?"
Lapis sat back down. "We ain't gonna barge right in, that's for sure. Anyone who does otherwise is just plain stupid."
"Well, well, well… Looks like the Magma scum are here!"
That voice… Lapis peered from the side and saw Archie and his Team Aqua goons. "This complicates things…"
A Team Magma Grunts wearing a medium length cape snarled. "Archie! How dare you show your face here, you sea loony!"
"Bwahahaha! I could say the same to you, Tabitha, and your floundering landlubbers! Grunts, get the professor!"
"Grunts, stop them!"
The two teams of minions let out their Poochyena, and the Dark type Pokémon fought each other ferociously. Professor Cosmo tried to sneak away, but Tabitha latched onto his arm. Archie grabbed the professor's other arm and they began a human tug-of-war.
Onyx whispered. "We should take advantage of this commotion!"
"Won't they notice us?"
They watched the Team Magma and Team Aqua Grunts engrossed in the Poochyena pummeling.
"I don't think they'll bother with us too much, Lapis."
"You're…probably right."
Lapis and Onyx emerged from their hiding spot and walked towards the two fighting over the pained professor without the Grunts noticing.
"S-Sirs, please!" Professor Cosmo screamed. "I'll give you the Meteorite if you just let me go!"
Tabitha smirked. "Oh, really? I think I can agree to those terms."
Archie growled. "Don't be swayed by that landlubber, Professor. I can offer you a much better deal for your Meteorite."
"Oh, please! You don't have a use for it like we do!"
When Lapis got close enough, their argument stopped.
"Y-You!" Archie exclaimed as he saw the teen. "What in Davy Jones are you doing here?!"
Sensing the Team Aqua Leader's guard was down, Tabitha grabbed a medium-sized object from the professor's bag and shouted to his minions, "Fall back, grunts! We got what we came for!"
Cheers echoed throughout the cave as the men clad in red returned their Poochyena and ran after their supervisor. The Team Aqua Grunts felt defeated as they returned their injured Pokémon.
"Why the hell did you show up now!" Archie scowled. "Thanks to you, those Magma landlubbers are gonna succeed in their plans to shrink the seas!"
Lapis rolled his eyes. "Like I care about that. I just want the guy you were fightin' over."
The wannabe pirate shoved the professor towards the teen. "Here, happy now?"
The Nuzlocker shrugged. "Eh, not really, but it's what I gotta do."
Archie relaxed a bit. "You seem…different since we last met. It's good to know that you ain't affiliated with those Magma landlubbers, but you ain't on our side either. Why get involved in all this?"
The Nuzlocker shrugged. "I wonder about that myself, honestly."
Archie turned to his grunts. "Men, let's return to our hideout to regroup." As they left, he added, "Watch your back, pup. I have a feeling you'll run into those landlubbers soon."
Don't worry, I most likely will.
Lapis and Onyx were about to leave when he felt they were being watched. He looked at their surroundings, but he couldn't see anybody.
"Everything okay, Lapis?" she asked.
"Y-Yeah, guess so. Come on, let's get back to trainin'. It better not be hot outside."
A young woman with long purple hair watched the teenager and his Mightyena leave the cave from the top of the cave near the waterfall.
"I'm happy that the conflict was resolved, but…" She brushed her hair back and sighed. "Should I have interfered? It didn't have to do with my role as Lorekeeper, but still…"
She felt a slight gust enter Meteor Falls. "No matter. It appears the prophecy will come to fruition, no matter my presence in all this. Whatever happens from now, I will not hesitate to act."
Questions for the Chapter:
What did you think of Takao Cosmo and his wife?
What did you think of the fight between Team Magma and Team Aqua?
Who is the person watching the action in Meteor Falls? (no spoilers from those who are reading Hoenn: A Trio of Fates)
