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The morning fog still lingered in the cool air. Stretching, I felt an all too familiar stiffness in my muscles from yesterday's trek. The air was crisp, filled with the scent of damp earth and pine. Looking out over the edge of the cliffside path we were about to take, the view was breathtaking, the sun just beginning to peek over the horizon, casting a golden hue over the landscape below.
Smiling to myself as I started packing away my tent and supplies, I checked the map. We shouldn't be too far off from the Pokémon Center on this route, just a half day's travel or so. Sliding my belt on and putting my PokéBalls on it, I was finally ready to make my way to the only place I'd be able to shower properly… It's a wonder any businesses let trainers in when they wander into town.
Hearing my team start to get rowdy, I glanced over and noticed they finally finished up their breakfast. Sliding their bowls into my bag after a quick rinse, I called back my team. No need to risk anyone sliding off on this narrow cliff. Nova, however, hopped onto my shoulder, his small body radiating warmth.
"You ready for the trek, Nova?" I asked, scratching behind his ears. Nova chirped in response, "Cyn-DA!" patting me with his paw as if I were his steed.
Eye twitching slightly, I huffed at him, drawing out a laugh from my partner. "One of these days, bud…" Shaking my head at him, I started the trek towards the 206 Center.
Around an hour later, the path had become so narrow I could see down to the bottom of the chasm below, with only a tall cliff face to my right keeping me from moving further away from the steep drop. A sense of unease grew in my gut every time my eyes glanced toward the sheer drop only a few feet from me. While the view was great, I couldn't help but clench my jaw. The Pokémon world has given me more than enough sheer drops; I really do not want to experience another.
I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. "You can do this, Rusk. It's only several hundred feet," I snarked, more to myself than anyone else.
The close call I had during my arrival to this world hadn't done me any favors when it came to heights. The path ahead opened up to a breathtaking view of the Sinnoh region, and I couldn't help but pause to take it all in. The landscape stretched out before me, a patchwork of forests, rivers, and distant towns. Far off in the distance, I could even see a town nestled at the foot of another mountain range.
"We've come a long way," I murmured, a sense of awe washing over me. "We've climbed about a quarter of the way up the mountain range. Look at that view."
Nova popped his head onto my shoulder, calling out to the rest of my team who had been trailing behind me, while Aster had been flying on the cliff side making sure I couldn't fall.
I glanced up and saw a flock of Swablu flying way overhead, led by a majestic Altaria. "Maybe one day we'll add one of those to our team," I said, half to myself and half to Nova. "What do you think, Nova? Wouldn't it be useful to have a powerful Dragon-type like Altaria with us?"
Nova's flames flickered as if in agreement, and he gave a determined chirp. "Cyndaquil!"
"Yeah, I thought you'd like that idea," I muttered, more to myself than to him, knowing my partner would want to use its wings as a bed. "Aster's doing a good job, but having more flying Pokémon could be helpful, and who knows what other cool Pokémon we might find along the way."
Rukia looked up at me with her big silvery eyes, and I crouched down to give her a gentle pat. "And you, Rukia, we need to find teammates that complement our strengths. Maybe a strong defensive Pokémon to balance our team."
"We're doing great, team," I said, standing up and looking out over the landscape once more. "But we've got a bit further to go before we can rest."
Their enthusiastic cries lifted our spirits even higher. We continued our trek, the path hugging the cliffside with sheer drops to the river below. I led the way carefully, making sure my team followed closely, keeping a steady pace.
After another hour of hiking, I found a wider part of the path and decided it was a good spot to take a break. As I sat down and stretched out, I saw an older man walking down the path toward us from the direction we were heading. He was well-dressed and carried himself with an air of superiority.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" he said, eyeing my team. "A trainer with such rare Pokémon. I'm surprised you can handle them."
I frowned, already not liking his tone. "They've been with me for a while. We manage just fine."
The man smirked. "I'm Derek. And you must be quite the trainer to have such rare specimens like that Alolan Vulpix and a shiny Staravia. But I wonder, are you truly fit to handle them?"
My grip tightened on Nova, feeling my temper rising. "They're part of my team, and we take care of each other. If you're trying to imply something, just say it."
Derek chuckled, a condescending sound that made my blood boil. "Very well. How about a battle? Let's see if you're worthy of such rare Pokémon."
"Fine," I said, standing up. "You're on."
"Excellent," Derek said, taking a step back and releasing a Pokémon from its PokéBall. An Ivysaur with a jeweled collar emerged, looking well-groomed but with an air of arrogance, much like its trainer.
"Rukia, you're up," I called, and my Alolan Vulpix stepped forward, her silvery eyes fixed on the Ivysaur.
"What a poor specimen," Derek sneered. "Ivysaur, show them how it's done."
"Don't listen to him, Rukia," I said, my voice steady. "Let's show them what we're made of. Start with Icy Wind!"
Rukia nodded, her eyes narrowing in determination. She opened her mouth, and a chilling gust of wind shot out, hitting Ivysaur directly and slowing it down.
Ivysaur grunted in discomfort, shaking off the frost. Derek's smirk widened. "Ivysaur, use Vine Whip!"
Ivysaur's vines shot out, aiming for Rukia. She managed to dodge the first strike, but the second vine caught her off guard, smacking her to the ground. She quickly got back up, shaking off the worst of the hit.
"Rukia, use Confuse Ray!" I called out.
Rukia's eyes glowed, and a ray of eerie light shot towards Ivysaur. It struck true, and Ivysaur staggered, its movements becoming erratic.
"Snap out of it and use Leech Seed!" Derek ordered, his voice cruel and commanding.
Ivysaur hesitated, looking confused, but managed to fire a cluster of seeds towards the general area of Rukia. She tried to dodge, but one of the seeds stuck to her leg, immediately sprouting vines that began to drain her energy.
"Rukia, shake it off and use Ice Shard!" I called out.
Despite the vines draining her energy slowly, Rukia summoned her strength and formed sharp shards of ice, launching them at Ivysaur. The attack hit its mark, making Ivysaur flinch and stumble back.
"Ivysaur, use Razor Leaf!" Derek shouted, a note of impatience in his voice.
Ivysaur slowly stood back up, sending a flurry of razor-sharp leaves flying towards Rukia. She dodged as many as she could, but a few of the leaves struck her, leaving small cuts on her.
"Hang in there, Rukia! Use Fake Tears!"
Rukia's eyes softened, and she gave Ivysaur a tearful look as they started to stream down her face, lowering its guard a bit causing Ivysaur to hesitate for a moment, confused by the sudden change in Rukia's demeanor.
Derek's eyes narrowed, and his tone turned harsher. "Ivysaur! finish this now with Vine Whip!"
Ivysaur, despite its confusion and lowered guard, lashed out with its vines once more. This time, the vines wrapping around Rukia, lifting her off the ground and slamming her back down. She tried to stand, but the continuous drain from Leech Seed had sapped her remaining strength, as the energy trickled back to Ivysaur.
"Rukia, return," I said quietly, feeling a pang of guilt as how she had lost. "You did great."
Derek's smirk returned, full of arrogance. "Looks like your Vulpix wasn't up to the task. A poor specimen indeed."
I clenched my fists, trying to keep my cool. "Nova, you're up!" I called, releasing my Cyndaquil. Nova's flames blazed brighter, reflecting my own determination.
"Let's see if this one can do any better," Derek taunted. "Ivysaur, Take Down!"
Ivysaur shook off the lingering confusion from the previous battle and charged at Nova with surprising speed, its eyes locked onto its target. The ground trembled under its weight.
"Nova, dodge it!" I yelled.
Nova leapt to the side just in time, Ivysaur's powerful tackle missing by inches and crashing into the ground, sending dust and pebbles flying.
"Now, hit it with Ember!" I ordered.
Nova's back flared up, and he launched a series of small fireballs at Ivysaur. The embers struck Ivysaur squarely, causing it to recoil in pain. The grass-type Pokémon was clearly hurting from the blast, its leafy body singed by the flames.
"Ivysaur, don't let it beat you! Use Leech Seed!" Derek's voice had an edge of frustration now.
Ivysaur attempted to launch another cluster of seeds, but Nova was already on the move. He darted forward, weaving through the seeds that missed their mark.
"Nova, Quick Attack!" I called out.
Nova blurred into motion, striking Ivysaur with a rapid and powerful tackle. Ivysaur stumbled back, visibly weakened by the swift hit.
"Stand your ground, Ivysaur! Razor Leaf!" Derek yelled, his facade of confidence cracking.
Ivysaur launched a barrage of sharp leaves at Nova, but Nova leapt into the air, avoiding the attack entirely. He landed gracefully, his flames burning even brighter.
"Nova, Smokescreen!" I commanded.
Nova exhaled a thick cloud of smoke, enveloping Ivysaur and obscuring its vision. Ivysaur thrashed about, trying to clear the smoke and locate its target.
"Finish it with Flame Wheel!" I called, feeling the rush of adrenaline.
Nova curled into a ball, engulfed in flames, and rolled at high speed towards Ivysaur. The impact was fierce, and Ivysaur was thrown back, hitting the ground hard. It struggled to get up, but its movements were sluggish and weak.
"Get up, Ivysaur!" Derek shouted, but there was no mistaking the panic in his voice now.
Ivysaur attempted to rise, but Nova had already positioned himself for another attack. He launched another Ember, and this time, Ivysaur couldn't withstand the assault. With a final groan, it collapsed, unconscious.
"Yes! Great job, Nova!" I cheered, my heart pounding with pride.
Derek's face twisted in anger as he recalled his Ivysaur. "You think you're so clever, don't you? Let's see how you handle this!" He threw another Poké Ball, and a massive Abomasnow appeared, its presence imposing and intimidating.
Derek's smirk returned, more arrogant than ever. "This is my prized Abomasnow," he boasted. "I bought it off a top-tier trainer who used it in his eight-badge challenge fight against Volkner. This Pokémon is leagues above anything you could ever handle."
The sheer size and power of the Abomasnow were intimidating, but I refused to let Derek's words shake my confidence. "We can do this, Nova," I said firmly. Nova's flames flared up, showing his readiness to fight.
"Abomasnow, let's show them what real power looks like. Use Ice Shard!" Derek commanded, his voice dripping with condescension.
Abomasnow moved with surprising speed for its size, launching a barrage of ice shards at Nova. "Nova, use Double Team!" I shouted.
Nova blurred, creating multiple copies of himself, causing the ice shards to pass harmlessly through illusions. Abomasnow growled in frustration, its attack failing to connect.
"You're just delaying the inevitable," Derek sneered. "Abomasnow, use Ice Punch and clear those fakes!"
Abomasnow charged forward, its fist glowing with icy energy, swinging wildly through the copies. "Nova, Flame Charge!" I called out.
Nova ignited and sped towards Abomasnow, slamming into it with fiery force. Abomasnow roared in pain, the flames causing significant damage, but it quickly retaliated with a powerful Ice Punch that sent Nova skidding back.
"Don't let up, Nova! Use Will-o-Wisp!" I urged.
Nova summoned ghostly blue flames, sending them towards Abomasnow. The flames hit their mark, inflicting a burn that would gradually weaken the giant of a ice and grass type Pokémon.
Derek's eyes narrowed in anger. "Abomasnow, end this now with Rock Slide!"
Abomasnow roared, summoning large boulders, and hurling them towards Nova. The attack was brutal, and despite Nova's best efforts to dodge, he was hit hard, the rocks pinning him down.
"Nova!" I called out, my heart sinking as I saw him struggle to rise.
Derek's laugh was cold and mocking. "Your little Cyndaquil is no match for my Abomasnow. This is the difference between a true trainer and a wannabe."
"Nova, are you okay?" I called out, concern edging my voice as I watched him struggle to stay on his feet. Nova glanced back at me, his eyes filled with defiance. He refused to be recalled, shaking his head, and standing his ground.
I shook my head, a mix of pride and concern washing over me. "Alright, Nova, let's give it everything we've got. Use Flame Charge!"
Nova's body became engulfed in bright flames as he charged forward, his sheer determination to win evident. As he rushed toward Abomasnow, something incredible happened. The intense drive and the battle's pressure sparked his evolution. Nova's form began to glow and shift, growing larger and more powerful. When the light faded, Nova had evolved into Quilava.
"Yes! You finally evolved, Nova!" I shouted. "Now, finish this!"
Nova, now a Quilava, continued blasting forward, barreling into Abomasnow with even greater force. The impact was powerful, knocking Abomasnow back into the wall of the pass. I waited a moment, watching the dust settle, hoping that this would be the end.
"Good job, Nova! You look so cool now!" I called out in excitement, but my early celebration was a mistake.
With a roar, Abomasnow emerged from the small crater in the wall, its eyes blazing with fury. It barreled towards Nova, ignoring Derek's commands entirely. "Abomasnow, stop!" Derek yelled, but his Pokémon was beyond listening.
"Nova, watch out!" I screamed, but it was too late. Abomasnow used Wood Hammer, slamming Nova against the ground with brutal force. There was a sickening crunch as Nova was hit, and he let out a pained cry before falling silent, knocked out cold with extensive injuries.
Abomasnow's rage quelled, it looked down at what it had just done in terror, slowly backing away from my partner.
I stared in horror at my fallen partner. "Nova, no..." I whispered, rushing to his side. I recalled him to his PokéBall, cradling it as if it were about to shatter in my hands.
Rage coursed through me, but I forced myself to focus. I turned to Derek, my voice low and intense. "You may have the money to buy power, but you'll never understand what it means to truly earn it."
Ignoring Derek's furious retort, I turned and started to rush along the path towards the Pokémon Center. "Hang on, Nova," I murmured, my heart pounding with fear and determination. "I'll get you looked over properly. You'll be okay."
As I sprinted down the path, Derek's voice faded behind me, his shouts of anger and confusion drowned out by my single-minded focus on getting Nova the help he needed. The world around me blurred, my only thought on reaching the Pokémon Center as quickly as possible.
I burst through the doors of the Pokémon Center, my heart pounding in my chest. "Nurse Joy!" I called out, my voice frantic. "I need help, now!"
Nurse Joy looked up from the counter, her expression immediately turning serious as she saw the desperation on my face. "What happened?" she asked, her tone calm but urgent.
"It's my Quilava, Nova. He took a heavy hit, and I think something broke. And Rukia, my Vulpix, she needs help too," I explained, holding out both PokéBalls to her, panting as I caught my breath.
Nurse Joy nodded, her determination clear. "I'll do whatever it takes to get them and the rest of your team healed up. Please, hand them over to me."
I handed over Nova's PokéBall with trembling hands and handed over the rest of my team, passing them to Nurse Joy. "Please," I whispered, my voice breaking. "Take care of them."
She gave me a reassuring smile. "I'll take good care of them. Wait here, and I'll keep you updated." She hurried away with my team, disappearing behind the doors of the treatment room.
Left alone, I collapsed into a chair in the waiting area, my mind racing with worry. The minutes ticked by slowly, turning into hours as I waited for news. I couldn't sit still, pacing back and forth, glancing at the clock, and staring at the doors, hoping for any sign of Nurse Joy.
Dark thoughts crept into my mind, unbidden. I wondered if this was how Dawn, Ash, and Brock had felt when I had been taken by Team Galactic. The helplessness, the fear, the gnawing worry that something terrible might happen to those you care about. It was a feeling I had never truly understood until now.
I buried my face in my hands, trying to block out the memories and focus on the present. "Come on, you guys... you have to be okay," I whispered to myself, clinging to the hope that Nurse Joy would bring me good news.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the doors to the treatment room opened, and Nurse Joy stepped out. I jumped to my feet, my heart in my throat as I rushed over to her.
"How are they?" I asked, my voice barely more than a whisper.
Nurse Joy's expression was tired but relieved. "They're stable. Nova had some serious injuries, but we've managed to treat them. Rukia is recovering well too. They'll need some time to rest and fully heal, but they're going to be okay."
I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding, a wave of relief washing over me. "Thank you, Nurse Joy. Thank you so much."
She nodded, giving me a warm smile. "It's what we do. You can see them now if you like."
I followed her to the recovery area, where Nova and Rukia lay resting. Their breathing was steady, and the beeping of the medical equipment provided a reassuring rhythm. I let out a sigh of relief, feeling some of the tension leave my body.
Nurse Joy gestured to a nearby chair, and I sat down, my eyes never leaving my Pokémon. "Thank you again, Nurse Joy. I was so scared..."
She gave me a reassuring smile. "It's our job to take care of them. Can you tell me what happened? How did they get so hurt?"
I swallowed hard, replaying the events in my mind. "We were on Route 206, and we ran into this trainer named Derek. He challenged me to a battle. At first, it seemed like a normal fight, but things went downhill fast. His Ivysaur was tough, but Nova managed to take it down. Then he sent out an Abomasnow."
Nurse Joy's expression grew more serious as I continued. "Nova did his best. He even evolved into Quilava during the battle, but Derek's Abomasnow was incredibly strong. It used a move called Wood Hammer, and I heard a sickening crunch when it hit Nova. It was brutal, and Nova was knocked out cold. Rukia also took some hits from Ivysaur's Leech Seed and Razor Leaf."
Nurse Joy listened intently, nodding. "It sounds like Derek's Pokémon were well-trained, but perhaps too powerful for him to handle responsibly."
I nodded, feeling the weight of the memory. "Derek boasted about buying his Pokémon from a top-tier trainer. He didn't seem to care about them, only about winning and showing off his 'strength.' Nova and Rukia gave it their all, but it wasn't enough."
She placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. "It's understandable. You care deeply for your Pokémon, and that's evident. But I want you to know, what happened wasn't your fault."
I looked up at her, confusion in my eyes. "But I let them get hurt. Derek's Pokémon were too strong."
Nurse Joy shook her head. "Derek used Pokémon he clearly couldn't handle. It's apparent that he bought his strength rather than earning it through proper training and care. I'll be putting a mark on his league profile about his behavior and practices. Trainers like him need to understand that their actions have consequences."
Her words were comforting, but I still felt a weight on my shoulders. "I just... I wish I could have done more."
"You did everything you could," she reassured me. "And now, you can learn from this experience. There are some basic first aid practices that every trainer should know, and I'd be happy to teach you a few things that you might not know."
Nurse Joy spent around an hour with me, teaching me all sorts of important and helpful bits of first aid that I hadn't known before. She covered how to treat burns with ointment and the importance of keeping the area clean and rested. She demonstrated how to properly apply a bandage and use antiseptic wipes on a model Pokémon, emphasizing the need to change bandages regularly and monitor for signs of infection.
"For injuries like cuts or abrasions," she explained, "clean the wound with antiseptic wipes and apply a bandage to keep it protected. Change the bandage regularly and monitor for signs of infection."
I watched intently, committing each step to memory. "What about more serious injuries?" I asked, thinking about the crunch I heard when Nova was hit.
"For serious injuries, it's crucial to get to a Pokémon Center as quickly as possible," Nurse Joy said, her expression serious. "But if you're far from one, keep your Pokémon comfortable and immobilized if necessary to prevent further harm. Using a Potion can help stabilize them until you reach professional care, putting them back into a PokéBall to transport them prevents them from hurting themselves any further."
She then taught me how to handle potentially broken bones, something that didn't normally happen with trained Pokémon, as most domesticated and trained Pokémon learned to hold back enough naturally to avoid causing permanent harm. She explained how to create makeshift splints using items that could be found in the wild and how to carefully immobilize the affected limb to prevent further damage.
Nurse Joy handed me a small first aid kit. "This is for you. Make sure to practice these techniques and always be prepared. Your Pokémon rely on you, and being equipped with the right knowledge can make all the difference."
I took the kit, feeling a renewed sense of responsibility. "Thank you, Nurse Joy. I won't forget this."
She smiled warmly. "You're a good trainer, Rusk. Your dedication to your Pokémon is evident. Just remember to take care of yourself as well. They need you to be strong and healthy too."
Nodding to her, feeling a deep well of gratitude. At least not all Nurse Joy's are terrifying…
A frown marred her face as she looked back towards my two partners, "Now, you should get to bed for the night. We've been here a while and your Pokémon need rest, you can come check on them again in the morning." Ushering me out as she spoke, leading me to the front desk where she gave me a small key for room for the night.
Sitting down in the small room, my mind couldn't help but drift off to the thoughts of what If things had been worse, or what if I didn't get to the center quick enough…
I could already tell I wouldn't be getting any sleep tonight, instead of just pacing around all night I figured the best use of my time would be to try and plan ahead.
I have some important events coming up, first the job in the forest in about a week's worth of travel from here, and then Dawn's contest around a week after that. Thankfully the job shouldn't take that long so I won't miss it.
A small yawn escaped me as I laid down against the bed, the adrenaline that had flooded me earlier had taken more out of me than I thought, a lull of drowsiness had started to pull me into the realm of sleep.
A single thought crossed my mind before I fully went under.
I should really start trying to learn Aura properly… and I definitely should've punched that douche earlier too... next time for sure…
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That was chapter 12 folks, Rusk's first proper loss and it was to a rich douche named Derek... not Rusk's happiest moment either, but he'll bounce back eventually.
More importantly, chapter question time! while this has nothing to do with the story, what are some of the songs you like the most? i need more music for my writing playlists.