Hey everyone, happy 2025! Enjoy the next chapter!
Chapter seventy-one: Caverns, Part 2
We made our way through the narrow railroad in the middle of the extensive cave system…being careful not to fall into the black abyss below or get lost from the main route. We soon made it to a man-made bridge that cut through a massive sinkhole…this just got interesting.
"Oh boy…" Jennifer Jenson anxiously gulped as I rode on her back.
"I find it hard to believe someone could build something like this for just a train…" said Rigel.
I also thought about this: this old cave system was probably repurposed for the Johto-Kanto War years ago…since some members of Team Rocket were veterans of the war. It would explain how they're using it to get to Verdigris. The real question is: where exactly does this lead…a train station, a secret underground lair…what exactly?
Once we're across the bridge we can see the tracks slowly ascending toward an exit at the very top…freedom at last!
"Looks like that's the way out" Jen stated, putting her hands on her hips and smiling gleefully. Eev next to her yipped a happy bark to support this notion.
"Well then, what are we waiting for? Let's go!" Rigel said, running ahead, as Orion and Charizard followed closely behind.
And so, our group started ascending…making our way there; however, soon something stood in our way…of course...
It turned out to be a wild Pokémon: a Golem…two of them, in fact!
The Ground-Rock types roared at us…blocking our path…forcing a confrontation. Jen is quick to react: throwing a Pokéball in the air to release her Dragon/Ground type, Gabite, into battle.
Turns out: both Jennifer and Rigel didn't have Water-Types in their teams…a fairly BIG problem. I mentally facepalmed…that's when I actually realized that throughout our entire journey…we had every chance to get one! I made my case to the pair, "we oughta get one of you a Squirtle…"
They didn't have time to give a rebuttal, for both Golem moved toward us and we were forced to jump out of the way…
Rigel pointed toward the opposing group, "Charizard, use Slash!" I gulped…using him under these conditions is a very risky play against these Rock-Types. Jen has the right idea, Gabite is a better play here…especially since I know the move she intends on using.
The Golem that Charizard flies toward suddenly curls itself into a ball to protect itself. The reptile repeatedly scratches the rocky hide, but it proves to be futile.
"Rigel…use another Pokémon!" I instructed and thankfully: Rigel considered it…especially after one of our foes went in and used Rock Throw against the orange lizard! The flying beast is forced to evade the dangerous attack but is unfortunately struck by some of the rocks. To spare him of a worse fate, Rigel calls Charizard back into his domain. Soon afterwards, the teen turned to Orion and said, "go ahead and use Body Slam on them!"
Meanwhile, Jen pointed at the other Golem and shouted, "Gabite, use Iron Tail!"
The purplish monster's tail suddenly glows brightly as bright as a headlight just enough to catch Rigel and Orion's attention. It's clear they had never heard of or seen the move before. Gabite rushed for one of the Golems and yelled…jumping and slamming their hide with its tail. The result is the wild Pokémon fainting from the attack.
Rigel/Orion were both shocked and pleased to see what had just occurred, but they didn't have time to dwell on it much longer, for the last Golem started going for Orion. The latter used Body Slam, but the opposing foe jumped out of the way. Again and again the small Pikachu would miss his mark and he would get increasingly frustrated.
"Stand still!" He made a jump toward the Rock/Ground-Type but ended up face-first into the ground…having missed again. Orion had enough…he could see that the Golem was toying with him at that point and was embarrassing him in front of his friends. Suddenly, he sped up…using Quick-Attack to prioritize against his opponent…and shortly after the latter was struck. It did some damage, but the creature's entire body began to glow brightly.
Orion's beady eyes blinked…looking at his adversary in confusion.
Jen gasped, "Orion, get out of there, it's using Self-Destruct!"
With no hesitation, the Pikachu jumps away and runs on all fours to safety…just as the last Golem explodes…shaking the entire cave! The explosion causing Orion to fly toward us…with Gabite jumping to grab him in mid-air.
Once all that was over, silence took over before we all laughed at what had just happened.
"Hopefully my trainer doesn't teach me that move…" said Eev before Orion laughed…still on Gabite's arms before they suddenly dropped him on the ground…silencing his laughter. I just rolled my eyes at the scene, soon giving a smile of relief.
Suddenly my left ear twitched and I turned to face the humans.
"So, what is that move anyway?" Rigel inquired as Orion ran up his back to rest on his trainer's shoulder. Jennifer smiled, deciding to hold Eev in her arms, "it's a Steel-Type move."
"Steel-Type…is that a new type of move?" The Fourteen-year-old asked as we all continued our trek up the path.
Jennifer smirked, "not in Sinnoh. You really thought there weren't more Types out there?" She chuckled soon after, "by the way…Orion could learn the move at some point…"
Both Rigel and his best friend crept up to her in a comedic fashion…both of their eyes glistened at the revelation, "awesome!" Both murmured.
"Yea, I think a Technical Machine ought to do, but Kanto probably doesn't have it yet…"
"I can see it now" Orion brought a fist down with quite a mischievous look running down his small yellow face, "defeating the mightiest enemies with that move…I'll be unstoppable!" He said in his high-pitched voice before Eev laughed at the ridiculous gesture in the background.
…
Not long afterward, we continued our trek up the cave, soon making our way to the very top where the exit is! We all heaved a sigh, relieved that we are leaving this cave behind finally; however, there's one slight problem…
The ground began to shake as we all stopped in place…feeling the slight tremors intensifying. Confusion turned to worry, "w-what's going on!?" Rigel exclaimed, falling on his back. In fact, we were all barely able to stand by this point! To our surprise, something HUGE erupted from the ground that ROARED at us…soon blocking our path!
We all look up in horror: It's a wild Onix! Why can't we just go one day without a battle?